This was my first mountain bike that I bought used while living in TX. Great for flat TX, but definitely needed more bike when i moved to the front range CO.
As an entry level race 29er it is a good buy, especially if you buy it at the end of the year. If you ride a lot you will outride the componentry though
Pros For the 2010: the tora fork isn't too bad for the price range, frame is stiff, stock wheels are strong and fairly light,
If you ride hard and often you'll probably need to replace or repair parts. Great if you're a beginner. But if you're hardcore, instead of spending $$$ on upgrades, buy a more expensive bike with better components
Pros I've got the 2010, deep pearl blue. Love the color.
Corners nicley. The Ranger wheels are surprisingly strong
Cons The tires are horrible, but easy to replace. The bars are 600mm, 15 deg back sweep. For me being a little bigger I had to swap out and put wider bars on. The bike is a little on the heavy side. The bar was a 25.4, instead of your more common 31.8. So I had to change the stem too
Great bike for the money. I would recommend it to anyone looking to get into a hard tail 29er.
Pros Bike is rock solid. I have about a hundred miles on mine and haven't had a single issue. The components may not be top of the line gear but they do the job just fine.
The price is right.
Cons BB5 brakes felt like junk. Upgrading to a better mechanical setup or a hydraulic setup is a must.
Stock tires aren't that great on loose surfaces, especially gravel.
I recommend this bike highly. If you're gonna buy a front suspension only bike, this is the one!!! Beutiful paint a color scheme! I can't wait to ride it again!!! Just waiting for the rain to subside a little!!!
Pros 29" is the way to go! Would never go with another 26er! Rolls over anything. Front suspension locks out for pavement riding. Unlocked, it takes the bumps like no other. Great value for the price.
Cons I would change the rear derailleur and the tires. I was slipping and sliding until I put on some WTB tires on front and rear. I want to go hydraulic with the brakes! Doesn't have a rear suspension.
I would only recommend 29ers for larger or taller riders because they will benefit more from the giant wheels and different geometry. I'm 6'2" ~200+ lb and it has worked wonders for me. This is a great entry-level bike for someone looking to get into 29ers.
Pros Niner geometry is great. Rolls over everything like a monster truck. This was my first 29er and the value was really great. This fork is a beast, has performed like a champion and needed very little maintenance.
Cons Components...well, you get what you pay for most of the time. The wheels are nice, but the Shimano M475 hubs are super cheapo.
I love it so much I bought the girlfriend one. NO reservations.
Pros I have the G2 2009 Silver Cobia. This bike is SOLID. I did a lot of reading about the 29 bit and I am glad I went with this one. The bike swallows obstacles with ease. To be honest, after having ridden 26ers, my confidence with this bike exceeds my skill. I find myself doing things I shouldn't and the size and strength save me. It goes where you tell it. It handles well in tight places. Maybe my friends ride slow, but I have no trouble keeping up.
Cons I have to agree with Marsh from December 10 review. The brakes do not cut it. I have the 15 inch with about 100 miles under me. I am ready to replace the brakes cause they don't hold well. I also do not like the tires but I wonder if thats just in my head cause I see cooler ones. The only thing I have upgraded is to Welgo Platform pedals.
This was my first 29er and I was very happy with it. 29" wheels effortlessly roll over 10" rocks and logs. They also tend to float through mud and sand. Frame has no flex whatsoever and I actually broke it (I weighed 260# at the time), but the bike handeled very well. This is a great entry level 29er and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to go more places faster, but definitly replace that front brake with a hydraulic.
Pros This is the most economical 29er I've seen. Strong wheels & good derailers. Decent fork with lockout. Good handling. The bike is kinda' heavy so it makes you stronger.
Cons Brakes suck! I even got the manufactures rep to admit they are under-rated for the application. I ended up replacing the front with a $40 hydraulic unit from ebay. The bike is kinda' heavy so climbing is harder.
Pros This bike is awesome. It handles all terrain with relative ease. No worrying about what line to take, juts point and go! The components could use some upgrades, but once done the bike is amazing. Get used to being the slowest person on flats and uphills as the big wheels make it tough to get going. But on downhills you find yourself leading the pack or crawling up your buddies backs.
NO verdict. This is 100 percent positive review.This is the bike. When it comes down to getting over a big rock or a urban obstacle the cobia can do it. With its amazing 29 feel it doesnt get better. If you want a bike for the money this is it.
Pros This is the bike. When it comes down to getting over a big rock or a urban obstacle the cobia can do it. With its amazing 29 feel it doesnt get better. If you want a bike for the money this is it.
I fell in love with this bike in the first 5 feet I rode it. For the price, components seemed a bit on the cheap side. I do some city riding, so fitting the existing rims with 700X37c cross tires worked great.
Pros The 29er feel! It takes a while to get used to sitting taller due to the 700c wheels and not even worrying about your line. Tires seem to roll over anything.
Cons Front derailleur only has 1/2-3/4 inch of clearence front back tire, constantly gets bogged down with mud. The cable routing is a little odd, frame scratched from contact with cables. I know, a mountain bike will have battle scars, but not right out of the box! Since it's a longer frame/wheel patch, you're in for a treat on tight switch-backs, get used to going very slow. Tire grip is marginal on anything but hard-pack. The Shimano pedals get clogged with debris; don't shed mud, and are a literal pain to get out of on anything but the loosest setting.
Nice bike to start with
Pros
Fast
Cons
| ThankSolid
This was my first mountain bike that I bought used while living in TX. Great for flat TX, but definitely needed more bike when i moved to the front range CO.
Pros
solid bike and components for the money
Cons
| Thankheavy, only 80mm travel
This is was my first bike. Despite the heavy weight and upright geometry, I really love the bike. It just feels so stable underneath.
Pros
cheap, stability
Cons
| Thankheavy, geometry
First mountain bike I have owned and love it!
Pros
Everything
Cons
| ThankNothing
Pros
Fast, durable, tough, great downhill, components.
Cons
| ThankRear derailluer, upgreded to Shimano X9(awesome by the way
As an entry level race 29er it is a good buy, especially if you buy it at the end of the year. If you ride a lot you will outride the componentry though
Pros
For the 2010: the tora fork isn't too bad for the price range, frame is stiff, stock wheels are strong and fairly light,
Cons
| Thankbrakes suck
If you ride hard and often you'll probably need to replace or repair parts. Great if you're a beginner. But if you're hardcore, instead of spending $$$ on upgrades, buy a more expensive bike with better components
Pros
I've got the 2010, deep pearl blue. Love the color.
Corners nicley. The Ranger wheels are surprisingly strong
Cons
| ThankThe tires are horrible, but easy to replace. The bars are 600mm, 15 deg back sweep. For me being a little bigger I had to swap out and put wider bars on. The bike is a little on the heavy side. The bar was a 25.4, instead of your more common 31.8. So I had to change the stem too
This is a solid 29er hardtail and the frame can be seriously upgraded. I know this is trivial, but I really love the color of this bike!
Pros
Sitting between the wheels feel so cool. This is a super stable 29er!
Cons
| ThankWeight
Great bike for the money. I would recommend it to anyone looking to get into a hard tail 29er.
Pros
Bike is rock solid. I have about a hundred miles on mine and haven't had a single issue. The components may not be top of the line gear but they do the job just fine.
The price is right.
Cons
BB5 brakes felt like junk. Upgrading to a better mechanical setup or a hydraulic setup is a must.
Stock tires aren't that great on loose surfaces, especially gravel.
| ThankBeginners bikers
Pros
Good price for a good bike. You aren't going to get the best components, but you can always upgrade.
Cons
| ThankNot the best components.
I recommend this bike highly. If you're gonna buy a front suspension only bike, this is the one!!! Beutiful paint a color scheme! I can't wait to ride it again!!! Just waiting for the rain to subside a little!!!
Pros
29" is the way to go! Would never go with another 26er! Rolls over anything. Front suspension locks out for pavement riding. Unlocked, it takes the bumps like no other. Great value for the price.
Cons
| ThankI would change the rear derailleur and the tires. I was slipping and sliding until I put on some WTB tires on front and rear. I want to go hydraulic with the brakes! Doesn't have a rear suspension.
I would only recommend 29ers for larger or taller riders because they will benefit more from the giant wheels and different geometry. I'm 6'2" ~200+ lb and it has worked wonders for me. This is a great entry-level bike for someone looking to get into 29ers.
Pros
Niner geometry is great. Rolls over everything like a monster truck. This was my first 29er and the value was really great. This fork is a beast, has performed like a champion and needed very little maintenance.
Cons
| ThankComponents...well, you get what you pay for most of the time. The wheels are nice, but the Shimano M475 hubs are super cheapo.
I love it so much I bought the girlfriend one. NO reservations.
Pros
I have the G2 2009 Silver Cobia. This bike is SOLID. I did a lot of reading about the 29 bit and I am glad I went with this one. The bike swallows obstacles with ease. To be honest, after having ridden 26ers, my confidence with this bike exceeds my skill. I find myself doing things I shouldn't and the size and strength save me. It goes where you tell it. It handles well in tight places. Maybe my friends ride slow, but I have no trouble keeping up.
Cons
| ThankI have to agree with Marsh from December 10 review. The brakes do not cut it. I have the 15 inch with about 100 miles under me. I am ready to replace the brakes cause they don't hold well. I also do not like the tires but I wonder if thats just in my head cause I see cooler ones. The only thing I have upgraded is to Welgo Platform pedals.
This was my first 29er and I was very happy with it. 29" wheels effortlessly roll over 10" rocks and logs. They also tend to float through mud and sand. Frame has no flex whatsoever and I actually broke it (I weighed 260# at the time), but the bike handeled very well. This is a great entry level 29er and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to go more places faster, but definitly replace that front brake with a hydraulic.
Pros
This is the most economical 29er I've seen. Strong wheels & good derailers. Decent fork with lockout. Good handling. The bike is kinda' heavy so it makes you stronger.
Cons
| ThankBrakes suck! I even got the manufactures rep to admit they are under-rated for the application. I ended up replacing the front with a $40 hydraulic unit from ebay. The bike is kinda' heavy so climbing is harder.
Buy it with no reservations.
Pros
This bike is awesome. It handles all terrain with relative ease. No worrying about what line to take, juts point and go! The components could use some upgrades, but once done the bike is amazing. Get used to being the slowest person on flats and uphills as the big wheels make it tough to get going. But on downhills you find yourself leading the pack or crawling up your buddies backs.
Cons
| ThankSome cheaper components, tough hill climbs.
NO verdict. This is 100 percent positive review.This is the bike. When it comes down to getting over a big rock or a urban obstacle the cobia can do it. With its amazing 29 feel it doesnt get better. If you want a bike for the money this is it.
Pros
This is the bike. When it comes down to getting over a big rock or a urban obstacle the cobia can do it. With its amazing 29 feel it doesnt get better. If you want a bike for the money this is it.
Cons
| ThankI have no objections. i love it.
I fell in love with this bike in the first 5 feet I rode it. For the price, components seemed a bit on the cheap side. I do some city riding, so fitting the existing rims with 700X37c cross tires worked great.
Pros
The 29er feel! It takes a while to get used to sitting taller due to the 700c wheels and not even worrying about your line. Tires seem to roll over anything.
Cons
| ThankFront derailleur only has 1/2-3/4 inch of clearence front back tire, constantly gets bogged down with mud. The cable routing is a little odd, frame scratched from contact with cables. I know, a mountain bike will have battle scars, but not right out of the box! Since it's a longer frame/wheel patch, you're in for a treat on tight switch-backs, get used to going very slow. Tire grip is marginal on anything but hard-pack. The Shimano pedals get clogged with debris; don't shed mud, and are a literal pain to get out of on anything but the loosest setting.