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Home > Product Reviews > Frames > Kinesis Maxlight XC Frame Reviews

Kinesis Maxlight XC Frame

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Kinesis Maxlight XC Frame
More about Kinesis

Average Rating: 5 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 26
RRP: £199.99
Year: 2003

Description: A UK designed XC frame with snake stays for greater mud clearance. Crafted using oversize Easton Ultralight tubing. Twin gusseted head tube for extra strength. Designed for a 100mm suspension fork. Convertible cable stops for cables or brake hose. Available in 4 sizes (42cm, 46cm, 50cm or 54cm c-t). Only 1.6kgs. Seat Post Size = 26.8mm. Seat Tube 31.8mm.

REVIEWS

1 to 10 of 26 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.Page: 1 2 3

James Ransome

Posted: 08/10/06

'GREAT AFTERSALES / CUSTOMER SERVICE'

Strengths:
Light, looks great, familiar / comfortable geometry

Weaknesses:
I have one of the earlier models with slightly bubbling stickers, but hardly an issue given Dom's offer earlier in this thread

Overall:
I'd been coveting one of these for a while, my old Hardrock having been upgraded to the point where the XT/XTR/Raceface/Hope/Mavic bits deserved a frame to match.

The frame feels significantly lighter than my previous one, which suits my riding (mainly XC with some singletrack on weekend outings to Coed Y Brenin and Betws Y Coed).

The main thing that moved me to write was the aftersales support. Somehow I managed to be missing the hanger fastener (don't ask), and I wrote to Uprade bikes to ask about a replacement. On provision of an SAE, I had two spares in around a day with friendly email from the Kinesis guru! No hassle/forms/departmental shuffling, just useful, honest help. You get the feeling they care about their product. I tend to get asked to build up bikes for friends, and will definitely be recommending these as a good option.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

King of the hills

Posted: 18/07/02

'I CANT EVEN PUT IT INTO WORDS....'

Strengths:
Unbelievebly value for money! This frame weighs exactly the same as a £550 Kona! Handles well, though cant really compare it to much. Very nice colours available too.

Weaknesses:
ummmm...stickers very crappy. Just about to order some new decals for it.

Overall:
Cant really argue with it, considering it cost only 200 quid. At the Kona 100 this year, i saw millions of people with them.

What can i say - BUY THIS FRAME!! :D

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

93%

Stephen James

Posted: 25/07/02

'?????????????????'

Strengths:
it WAS light and nice looking

Weaknesses:
that chuffin' big dent in the top tube

Overall:
nice bike for the 25 mins that it lasted. light, responsive, comfortable, good accellerator. fantastic value at £200. not good value when huge stack followed by huge dent leaves it un-useable after 25 mins of its first outing at Eastnor park in the superseries FUN race. that was one expensive race!

Performance		100%
Reliability		20%
Value		20%

Overall Rating

47%

Glenn Penfold

Posted: 02/08/02

'WHAT A GREAT FRAME!!!'

Strengths:
Very light.
Looks good.
Rides excellently.
Proper hydralic hose mounts.

Weaknesses:
Paint is very thin. It scratches quite easily but they are only light ones so you can hardly notice them but you can't have every thing for £190

Overall:
I really can't praise this frame enough. It has peformed very well, the way i climb hills now makes me feel about 10 years younger.
The frame looks good in black, they do other colours but i havn't seen any of them. www.chainreactioncycles.com sell this fame for £189.99

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

93%

James Stout

Posted: 28/08/02

'GREAT FRAME'

Strengths:
handles beautifully, light, well priced, corrected for a 100mm sus fork not the 80mmm norm weighs the same as spech m4 i dont know about colours as mines black but im getting it resprayed pink...maybe!It's the perfect new school xc/hardtail enduro steed.

Weaknesses:
it does seem to scratch, but my decals are really solid, also its headbadge doesn't stick out, which I like but thats pernickety.

Overall:
the perfect new school xc steed for aspiring trail riders

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

93%

Colonal Flight

Posted: 06/09/02

'BASICALLY.....'

Strengths:
Nice and light
Great colour (Titanium)
Unbelievable price.
Very reliable.
Handles great.

Weaknesses:
Paint comes off quite easily, but nothing that you can't notice from a distance.

Overall:
For the price it's an excellent frame. Bit of a bummer changing the seatpost size and shorting my forks to suit the frame but once that was sorted it rides like a dream. Very reliable and responsive handling.

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

93%

Dom Mason

Posted: 16/09/02

'STICKERS'

Strengths:
All Kinesis frame stickers are now under the Lacquer, so they won't come off!!

Weaknesses:
Can't think of any!

Overall:
Dom from 'Upgrade' here, I designed the Maxlight, so it's good to read that you like it!! The early one's had the stickers on top of the lacquer, so they were not as durable, all stickers are now UNDER a tough lacquer, so paint and sticker problems should be solved. Anyone who requires new stickers, please e.mail (incuding your frame No.) upgrade@btconnect.com I'll send some out FOC.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Fred Hodgson

Posted: 16/11/02

'GREAT . . BUT MINE BROKE'

Strengths:
great price, looks great
very light for the money and rides fantastically.....

Weaknesses:
im not gonna slag this frame off... However i just back hopped ever so slightly, last week, and the weld at the dropout split which caused the tube that has the disc mount, to snap...(im not that heavy)so i presume the weld was weak? also whats with the stickers?

Overall:
brilliant frame..i am gonna contact upgrade and ask about my warranty and see if i can get my old frame replaced...

Performance		100%
Reliability		60%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

87%

Ross Hunt

Posted: 03/12/02

'SOOPER DOOPER'

Strengths:
Looks good imo
Great geometary for aggressive XC riding
Handles very well
Incredible value for money - £190
Quite lightweight - easton ultralite tubing

Weaknesses:
None really ......??

Overall:
All in all this really is a fantastic value for money frame. It is lively, quick and responsive out of the saddle. Accelerates well. Very 'chuckable'. For £300 this would be an excellent frame. For £190 - can they be serious?????

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

graham hood

Posted: 16/12/02

'BENT IT BAD'

Strengths:
looks cool, 16in weighs 3.5lb dead. i also found it easy to scratch the paint (unlaquered anthracite)

Weaknesses:
after i ploughed into an unmarked drainage channel on a local bridleway and bent the top and down tubes i found the steering to be a little on the quick side.

Overall:
i hope to get a new one soon. i dont hold out much hope of getting warranty on it though. some how or other i think the old 'i was just riding along' line might not do the trick. good to see the designer/manufacturers read these pages, dont you think. seems to me most of the big firms dont give a flying wotsit what we think.