|   Santa Cruz Bullit vs. Intense Uzzi SLX vs. ?????? | EricTheRed
Aug 2, 2002 11:27 AM | | I am looking to build up a "trail bike" that will do xc(shorter rides ~10-15miles),dh/fr (chair lift and shuttle runs) , Dirt jumping and urban. I was planning on using a Marzocchi Supper T (dual crown 7"? travle fork). I have not ridden either bike yet so i would like to know what others think about the ride of these bikes for the above aplications. I would also like some suggestions as to what size of frame i should ride, im 5'8"(only growing outward), with a 32" stand over, and weigh in about 155 including gear. I've ridden a 17" hard tail for over 3 years. Conditions are loose, rocky, and dry.
If the ride is better on the SLX then the $$$ difference will not matter to me, but if there is very little difference between the two i would probably go with the bullit.
here are some thoughts on the two, I like the Bullit cause of the NON-interupted seat tube.
I like the way the 4bar of the Intense rides (riden an enduro pro spec).
What are thoughts on the 5th element shock?
what other bikes like this would you recomend, but would like to stay way from Spec,trek,Crackandfail, Giant.
does anybody know what new improvements/changes are going to happen to the SLX or Bullit for 2003?
thanks
-e |
| re: Santa Cruz Bullit vs. Intense Uzzi SLX vs. ?????? | JimC.
Aug 2, 2002 12:01 PM | | While I may get my @$$ shot off for saying this, just get the issue of MBA with the '02 Bullit review in it, it's the current one.
No bob, rear end hooks up even under heavy braking, the 5th element just plain rocks.
I don't know the Uzzi, but if it doesn't have a 5th element shock, I wouldn't get it. The 5th Element is in very short supply, and most Bullits are sold out up here in Vancouver.
good luck & watch your sizing on the Bullit, you'll want to try a medium AND a large. Jim |
| 'AND a large'???? wow, never would have expected that... | EricTheRed
Aug 2, 2002 12:25 PM | | From what santa cruz's web site says they think i should be on a Med, maybe i need to do more research than i though...
From what i've read (mostly on passion) i think you are a big Bullit supporter(Nothing is ment by this, i'd rather
here from you than some guy who test rode one in a parking lot).
How do you think the handling is( basically does the bike feel like an extension of you when you ride)?
I have read the review(on the net) and IMO i thought they went into the ability to climb WAY too much,
I do understand its a break through to have a 7" travel bike climb but i thought it was a bit exsesive.
I'm not in too much of a hurry to get a new bike, have some big expenses coming up so i was starting todo
research for this spring, i would like to buy the bike some time in Feb and then build it myself so i can
ride it in March when the snow goes away(if we get any snow).
-e |
| yep large..., I'm | JimC.
Aug 2, 2002 12:48 PM | | 5'10" and 31" inseam. My Heckler was a medium, a perfect fit. When I moved to Bullit (car rear-ended me and mashed my Heckler &^%#@#*^%$^%@) I ordered a Medium, but when I sat on one in the shop, it was clearly too short in the top tube; LARGE fits me perfectly. I caution I use 50mm - 80mm stems, though, Eric, as I ride the 'shore and descending is the big thing for my rides.
The Bullit climbs better than the old one, but other than the lack of BOB it takes me as long as before, I notice not a big diff., but again I caution I climb like a slug on qualudes.
I'm biased toward SC, but that's because I've never tried the Intense. Had a 4 bar GT LTS, but the maintenance drove me mad. It's more plush, but that was a 3" bike.
bottom line though, we are moving to an era of no-bob, with shock design, and IMHO ANY bike without that technolgy is a step back, but hey, that's just me.
and Interbike will be here soon, you can check out the new stuff.
Good luck, Jim |
| One more question...What kind of regular maintinence do you do?? | EricTheRed
Aug 2, 2002 1:21 PM | | for the Bullit? I have read that the Intenses should have their berrings replaced about every year(depending on stuff)
I'm very envious of you living up near there. The 'shore is deffenitly on my to-do list, and would become a priority when i get a better bike(whether its ness. or not)
Thanks Jim, people like you make MTBR a great place.
-e |
| not Jim... | kristian
Aug 5, 2002 5:43 AM | | ...but I'll give my answer.
So far, the only thing I've ever done to it is check the bolt torque. This is my third summer on the bike and it feels as plush as it did on the first ride. At the end of the summer, I'll probably check the bearings and throw some lube on them just in case, but so far, the bike has been a maintenance dream!
BTW, our conditions are very dry and dusty so mud isn't a factor here (excpet for Vail last Saturday--woohoo!) |
| I disagree with Jim | kristian
Aug 2, 2002 1:12 PM | | I'm 5'11" and I ride a medium Bullit. I use a laid back post and a 105mm stem, but I really like the ride (I like small bikes though). I think you could fit on either but you will be more comfortable on a medium--especially since it's already going to be at least 6" higher than your hardtail.
In terms of a direct comparison, I've spent a little time on a friends Uzzi DH and I own a Bullit. The Uzzi felt more plush on the downhills, but also less climbable on the uphills than my Bullit. His Uzzi had vee brakes on it so I wasn't able to judge if it felt better braking on rough downhills, but theoretically it will be better (although I've never felt like I had problems on the Bullit with braking).
The bottom line was that I couldn't believe that his frame was twice the price of mine. I would so much rather have a Bullit and be able to put really nice parts on it than get an Uzzi with sh!tter parts. BUT, if you can afford an Uzzi with top of the line parts without flinching, it is probably the better riding bike (especially with the 5th Element to help it pedal uphill better). The Bullit will probably be more durable in the long run, but both are strong bikes. |
| Agree on part selection, and a question... | EricTheRed
Aug 2, 2002 1:36 PM | | I also would like to put nice parts on the frame.
In particular good fork,wheels and cranks.
I also like a pretty upright sitting possition, my current hardtail almost has me sitting like i'm on a comfort bike.
100mm stem and riser bars.
The Question:
Do you know how much maintinence your friend does on his Uzzi DH?
thanks
-e |
| Maintenance | kristian
Aug 5, 2002 5:37 AM | | I haven't ridden with him in over a year so I don't know how his frame is doing now. In the first two years he had the bike, I don't think he did anything to the pivots at all and it was still plush. He broke his chainstay about the time we stopped riding together regularly and I think that Intense was going to give it an overhaul the pivots just in case. I'm not sure if he's had problems since then. |
| I disagree with Jim on frame size, but agree otherwise | gonzostrike
Aug 2, 2002 3:27 PM | | I'm like you on frame size, Kristian. 5'10", 165 lbs, 33" inseam, 34" sleeve length, riding a new Bullit in medium w/ 90mm stem. Perfect for me on longer XC rides (20-30 miles) and DH. If I always shuttled, I would keep the Medium size and drop the stem to 60mm or 50mm. I run a 2002 Super T Pro up front.
In all honesty, if I was to have only one bike for everything on the dirt, I would wait for the 6" travel single crown forks and put one on the front of a new Bullit w/ 5th E, and use lighter wheels/tires (Mavic F519, 14/15 spokes, tire of rider's choice under 1000 gm).
I know people rave about the Intense frames, but I can't see spending another $1000 just on the frame. I can't believe that it's twice as good as the Bullit. This is where I agree with Jim. The Bullit truly is everything said in Mtn Bike Fiction's review. |
| great review for the Bullit,anyone got one for the Uzzi???? | EricTheRed
Aug 2, 2002 1:52 PM | | Found this link, and this review could swing me over to the bullit side, anyone got a review like this for the Uzzi???
http://www.nsmb.com/gear/new_bullit_06_02.php
Thanks
-e |
| Try here......... | clarkgriswald
Aug 2, 2002 3:12 PM | | http://www.mountainbike.com/bikes/0602_intense.shtml |
| Have you consider a Foes Fly as an option? | HaroBloke
Aug 5, 2002 3:24 AM | | I know you asked about the Bullit and Uzzi as I have been considering the same option, until I found details on the Foes Fly. Now I am really confused. Have you considered this and discarded the option? It is another top line 6-7" travel Freeride/DH with triple chainrings as well.
Hope I have not confused the issue further, just giving you another option |
| Foes Fly | EricTheRed
Aug 5, 2002 7:27 AM | | I have not seriously researched the Fly, i do like Foes though so i will be sure to look for more info.
thanks for the sugestion.
-e |
| re: Santa Cruz Bullit vs. Intense Uzzi SLX vs. ?????? | artsn
Aug 4, 2002 1:02 PM | | I was in the same spot you are now. I have owned a SLX and they are great bikes. They are real tall, real tall. Not only bb but standover as well. The seat tube thing was real lame. The bike rides sick though. I sold mine and bought a Turner RFX. The 02 is real nice. I ride all the same stuff you are talking about and I will be hard pressed to find another ride more perfect for me. There is tons of standover and the bb is just right, plus I can raise and lower my post with no hassles. Climbs well to for a 6" bike. Smooth pedaling seems to be the key to any of these bikes. I heard alot of negative things said about the SLX in regards to climbibg but pedaling smooth and stay seated and that bike will hook up on anything. But get a RFX. |
| Turner RFX, what kind of maintinence? | EricTheRed
Aug 5, 2002 7:34 AM | | I read a review the other day when i was looking for info on the SLX, and the review said that the RFX was his new favorite over the SLX.
I also dislike the interupted seat tube design, but i've riden an enduro from last year and the suspension was awsome, not that i got a lot of time
on the bike to really get to know it, but it felt very natural.
Thanks for the RFX suggestion, i'll start looking around for more info
-e |
| I ride a Quasi - Similar to SLX | gurp
Aug 5, 2002 2:50 PM | | And Ive also spent a good amount of time on Bullits, and have a little bit of saddle time on the SLX.
The SLX and Quasi feel very similar, the SLX has a shorter TT and higher BB, as well as an adjustable wheelbase. In terms of suspension performance the bikes feel pretty much the same. They are much more active while braking then a Bullit. You can feel this when going at high speed down steep rocky sections. The Bullit tends to buck around while the Quasi/SLX stays on the ground. The Bullit also seems to go through its travel quicker.
The 5th Element turns the Bullit into a much better bike, however, you can also get a 5th for an SLX or Quasi. As for the interrupted seat tube design, I can get 4" of post movement on my Quasi, and this is more than enough for me. Ive done 6ft drops to flat without running into any seat height problems.
If cash is a concern, get a Bullit. You cannot beat it for the money. However, it sounds like money isnt to much of an object, so check out the SLX, Quasi, and RFX. |
| I will look into that, thanks (nm) | EricTheRed
Aug 6, 2002 8:07 AM | | |
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