DJ/STREET HARDTAILS ROUNDUP - Read This Before You Ask...

[hubbie]

In an effort to minimise "What DJ bike should i buy" threads i thought, and site suggestions agreed, it's time for a bike thread of this type. Submit your own experiences. Please use the template, (make it bold). all questions are to be in non-bold. and try to keep photos of the bike in standard guise. Please don't copy-paste other peoples reviews.

I'll hit it off with my bike

Make/Model: 06 Giant STP1
Price: $1450
Rating: 8/10
Web Link: Giant STP-1
Strengths: Quality of parts that you get for the money is great. Has held up very well. Looks great in white. Affordable. Light (comparatively)
Weaknesses/Known Problems: Have had slight problems with the forks topping out, but a bike shop can change the oil and wind down rebound to fix that. Seat felt a little weak to me, and bent. Mass Produced bike, everyone has them. Bottom Bracket comes a little loose sometimes
Similar Products Tried: kona roast 2004, Norco Sasquatch 05
Bike Setup: I advise that you put 2.35in or larger DH tyres on for offroad riding. K-rads are slippery on anything but hard-packed dirt. A new seat is good too
Bottom Line: Great Bike. If you don't mind joining the pack and taking abuse from some wankers just cos it's an STP, i'd definitely reccomend it. If you have the extra money, get the STPzero
Picture:

 

[NoFearNick7]

Now if everybody posts in this we'll all be happy You should probably also not just restrict this thread to DJ/Street bikes. And maybe a picture part


Make/Model: Norco Bigfoot 04
Price: $1200
Rating: 8 / 10
Web Link: 04 Bigfoot
Strengths: Strong frame, quality components. Ripe for upgrading. Rides like a dream
Weaknesses/Known Problems Forks! Low quality Marzocchi forks. And the brakes and stem! The forks topped out heaps, the brakes didn't work and the stem.... well the stem was just overall bad.
Similar products tried Giant Rincon 05
Bike setup Dirt Jams, HFX 9s, Hussefelt stem, Easton Bars, ODI grips, Race Face bashy, XTR shifter, Maxxis Holy Rollers.... Apart from all those upgrades its pretty much stock
Bottom Line If you see it for a resaonable price ($700) get it and upgrade the forks, brakes and stem. It is an awesome all round hardtail, i've done all kinds of riding on this and it still rides like a dream!
Pictures:

 

[brad of sydney]

Make/Model:NS Bitch
Price:$650
Rating:9/10
Web Link:www.ribbed.com.au
Strengths:Very strong and reliable frame. Have the option of Gears or Single speed.
Weaknesses/Known Problems:Any scratches are very noticable on the black frame.
Similar Products Tried:Last Raffinix
Bottom Line:Great frame, you get alot for your money, has a Two year warranty.
Picture

My built up one:

 

[Mugger]

Make/Model: 06 Giant STP0
Price: $1900
Rating: 9/10
Web Link: STP 0
Strengths:Parts on the bike are amazing, great value. Juicy 5's, Pikes and Holzfellers cranks to keep you going. Easton bar and stem great addition as well.
Weaknesses/Known Problems: The deraluir hangers are extremely weak and will snap if your rear mech isn't set up properly (stock Sram X.7). Wheelset is light but not the strongest, held up for me so far.
Similar Products Tried: Norco Shore Range 04, 05 & Specalised P3
Bike Setup: Get a chainguide if you want to hit up some DH tracks, stock setup will do decent job but could go better. Tyres are fun on dirt till you eat it on a corner, worth investing in some more dirt orientated tyres instead of the krads.
Bottom Line: Great value bike, if you want a good bike under 2 grand this is bike to get. Forks are amazing and offer a large amount of adjustments to suit the riders need. Its an STP, most people have one but for what you get its worth it.
Picture:

 

[Trialsguy]

Make/Model: NS Bikes Suburban Frame
Price: $749
Rating: 9/10
Web Link: www.ns-bikes.com
Strengths:High quality 4130 cromo frame with internally releived headtube.
Geometry is absolutely mint! short chainstays from 375-410mm and extremely light 2.4kg. 2yr warranty
Weaknesses/Known Problems: Warranty doesnt include triple clamp fork use (who would anyway!) only comes in brown, black or white
Similar Products Tried: 24 toy, 24 pornking, NS streetlegal, Last Raffnix
Bike Setup: Suits a low travel fork like pikes or Sherman Jumpers (gold labels now) SS is my preferance, but gears can be used.
Bottom Line: Best value cromo frame available! amazing quality with perfect geometry and not overpriced!
Picture:

 

[ona rampage]

Make/Model: Pornking 3 Frame
Price: $999
Rating: 9/10
Web Link: WWW.RIBBED.COM.AU
Strengths:Light weight. Geometry is fantastic. short chainstays, which are adjustable, so you can run single speed or gears (and the brake mount moves with the adjustments!)
Weaknesses/Known Problems: none that I am aware of, maybe $$$
Similar Products Tried: Rampage (a lot heavier, and not anywhere near as good geometry)
Bike Setup: Suits a low travel fork like pikes or Sherman Jumpers, SS is or gears can be used.
Bottom Line: Excellent frame, still with some bling value (imho)
Picture:

 

[Pete_10]

Make/Model: Norco Ryde
Price: $1299
Rating: 8/10
Web Link: http://www.norco.com/ts/pass/norco0...oc=fs&sloc=sx&tabloc=1&id=ryde&col=matteblack
Strengths: frame, wheelset.
Weaknesses/Known Problems: forks are a bit dicey
Similar Products Tried:
Bike Setup: standard except front tyre. maxxis highroller 2.5
Bottom Line: good bike, excellent choice if you dont want an stp
Picture:

 

[cam-o]

Can we add disclaimers please?

Guys, there's at least 2 reviews in here done by the importer of the product being reviewed. Personally I'm not convinced that's overly impartial but if people are happy then I don't feel that strongly about it. Can we at least add a line to the reviews stating that you are the importer/distrubuter?
I'm not accusing anyone of rigged reviews here, lets just make sure all the facts are obvious.

Edit: Nicho, props to you for removing your review voluntarily. Maybe we can have another sticky version of this where vendors (who are Farkin supporters/advertisers) can do a review of their gear and it is obvious that it's a vendor opinion?

 

[hubbie]

fair point! I trust they aren't lieing, but a customer review would be good

 

[-DAvo]

Make/Model: Giant STP 1 (04.5/05)
Price: $1499
Rating: 7/10
Web Link: www.giantbicycles.com.au
Strengths:for the price,and the spec list, cant complain
Weaknesses/Known Problems: poor stem/bar/pedal combo, wheres the uniqness!?
Similar Products Tried: 24 LeToy, Nicolai 2MXTB, Norco Manik (04), Kona Stuff (05), Haro Escape 8.3 (03)
Bike Setup: had mine set up with pike sl, saint cranks, mtx/roulette wheels, blackspire chainguide, XT drivetrain, easton stem/protaper bars, juicy 5's, all BEFORE the 2006 zero was released
Bottom Line: yeah good bike, everyone bags them cos every second guy and his dog has one but good on giant for bringing out a workable jump bike with half decent parts for the price.
Picture:


Make/Model: TwoFour LeToy4
Price: $990 frame only
Rating: 9.5/10
Web Link: www.ribbed.com.au
Strengths: bombproof. pure bike porn. sliding drop outs that work! great geo
Weaknesses/Known Problems: None that i know of, personal gripe was the use of a bmx bb but for this type of bike its common
Similar Products Tried:
Bike Setup: forks- (went from pike sl->marzocchi 66rc->marzocchi z1fr1->fox36talasR ) mtx/hadleyss, thomson, juicy7/goodridge..
Bottom Line: holy shit this is a sweet frame, zero flex, looks that could kill, and a joy to ride
Picture:

Make/Model: Nicolai 2MXTB
Price: rrp is $1950
Rating: 9.9/10
Web Link: www.rouler.com.au
Strengths: its a nicolai.. quality of the build (faced bb,headtube,brake mounts) weight, colour options, perfect geometry, totally customizable, dosent get much sweeter than this
Weaknesses/Known Problems: price will put a lot of people off.. other then that., nope, zip, nada, nothing
Similar Products Tried:
Bike Setup: this bike suits a street set up OR freeride set up. either way it handles like a dream
Picture:

 

[2 smooth 4 u]

Make/Model: .243 (the middle one with the thin round tubing and gussets at the frount)
Price: 700 or somthing dont no exactley
Rating: 8/10
Web Link:
Strengths: short geo,super strong
Weaknesses/Known Problems: a bit heavr
Similar Products Tried: norco sasquach,giant atx 840,many stps,specialised hard rock
Bike Setup: pikes run at minimum traver,24"wheels,protapers,thompson stem,juicy
Bottom Line: sick geo,super strong you can pick em up really cheap from os
Picture:

 

[Wattsy]

This is rediculous. The rating part is stupid, how can an stp be rated as equal to a NS. This is a review done by people not to sure bout how there bike's do match up to the better/same quality bike. Leave the rating part out, it's almost voidable if it isn't a professional review. I hate this thread.

 

[ajay]

This is rediculous. The rating part is stupid, how can an stp be rated as equal to a NS. This is a review done by people not to sure bout how there bike's do match up to the better/same quality bike. Leave the rating part out, it's almost voidable if it isn't a professional review. I hate this thread.

yeah, agreed.

stp's compared to norco shore bikes etc... this thread is wack

 

[hubbie]

This is rediculous. The rating part is stupid, how can an stp be rated as equal to a NS. This is a review done by people not to sure bout how there bike's do match up to the better/same quality bike. Leave the rating part out, it's almost voidable if it isn't a professional review. I hate this thread.

is that really important? it's ultimately about the reviewers happiness with the bike. Of course rating is never going to be accurate, but it'd be less useful to newbies without it. Feel free to start your own thread, no-ones stopping you.

 

[NoFearNick7]

Maybe we need a value rating and an overall rating. I think people are basing their ratings on the value for money of the bike.

 

[hubbie]

the rating is always going to be relative to something, but you can't set a certain bike as the benchmark, it just wont work. Let's keep it going how it is, and if people need help, they ask questions, we answer them. it's not hard and it's not really that important. it's about customer satisfaction. And most people will look at strengths and weaknesses, when considering a bike anyway, not a rating.

 

[leeb]

Make/Model:05 norco Torrent
Price: $2799
Web Link: http://www.norco.com/05/2005bikes/shore.php
Strengths: great overall bike, strong fame and a unique and quality list of parts, the 66r's rock and the rims are solid as well no buckles to date
Weaknesses/Known Problems: a lot of noise form the pedals just adjust the bearing tension, and mine wasnt sold with the right grips and they fell to peices, but apart from that no major breakdowns
Similar Products Tried: 06 stp1, 06 norco manik
Bike Setup: invest in some maxxis holy rollers, the kendas just wear out on the pavement
Bottom Line: strong bike, great parts and i got mine for dirt cheap
Picture:

 

[GT_Chucker_1.0_06]

Gt

Make/Model:05/06 gt chucker 1.0
Price: 999$
Rating:8/10
Web Link:www.gtbicycles.com
Strengths:frame/gears:sram/truvativ cranks/hydraulick tektro brakes/dh bars
Weaknesses/Known Problems:stock tyres crap/crank comes loose every once in a while
Similar Products Tried:stp range /norco 125/gt chucker 2.0=YUK!!!
Bike Setup:Truvativ crankset/sram gears/duro forks/jaco double wall rims/
Bottom Line:Strong frame good gears and crank! light bike

 

[youngone]

They make them - GT spec them on the '06 Chucker 1.0 (Tektro Auriga 1, hydraulic disc).
I rode one recently, they are not as good as my juicy 7s but they are okay.

 

[Krusty]

Make/Model: 06 Felt straight shot
Price: $1900
Rating: value for money: 4/10 overall rating: 7/10
web link:www.feltracing.com
Strengths: good frame, strong although alloy, sram drivetrain. Weaknesses/Known Problems: stock rims a shit (folded front on first day of riding) stock forks are stance so they r reasonable but not the best.
Similar Products Tried:
Bike Setup:sherman fireflys, single track rims, and the rest stock
Bottom Line: great bike it is awesome to ride, first upgrades that woudl be needed would be rims and forks. but the rest is good. allthough overpriced so try to make a deal with the bike shop like i did. i ended up getting mine for 1600 and new front rim for 100 laced and ready to go.