[b3rnard]

the zen is a really nice helmet, everyone has been copying the design… you see it in Bell – since they own Giro now at least in North America. Anyway, comfort and design its all there, you get what you pay for.

I recently purchased a Fox Flux helmet, only because i like the extra coverage in the back, and I got a good price for it. but if i were to go over the two again i would with Giro.

Just remember no matter how much you spend to protect your head, its all worth it 😃

[b3rnard]

[quote]
And the Specialized FSR Comp is the cheapest of the three, and is also a in-the-wool XC bike. It has the least travel, and not much in the way of components. The Fox Triad rear shock has never impressed me, and for the FSR to reach it’s full potential, needs either a better rear shock, or the Triad sent to PUSH for a rework. Avid Juicy 5 brakes are good, but I think the Hayes El Camino on the Jamis are a much better bet.[/quote]

I’ve never had the Jamis or IH but I can agree to this, regarding the FSR COMP since I have one. The frame is really nicely built, and i have no complaints about it, geometry, welds, pivots, bearings, etc..

The components definitely need a step up, I broke the SRAM chain in the first month, managed to mess up a link and so on. It’s hard to fine tune the SRAM and Shimano combo they put in, it takes a little bit of patience or add more money to it and get something better :).

Like Bombardier said, the Juicy 5 brakes are good, but in my opinion I still can’t find the Juicy part hahaha. Avid phased out Juicy 3 so now, the 5 is the bottom of the line. For what its worth its stops the bike at a dime, but you need to get used the modulation since there are no external adjustments

Fox components are always or for the most part top notch. Keep in mind what they have on the FSR Comp are the OE versions. So that one feature that’s missing in the fork or shock might be something you would like to have.

Over all it’s a great bike to start with, I would rate it in the agressive XC/all mountain bike, it really depends on how you ride it. But in the end you will find your self doing upgrades anyway, the way to go might be an Expert or Enduro SL.

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