Strengths: Lightweight, and durable. The bike comes with a good quality level of parts. The initial tires are great for commuting. Plenty of room for accesories.
Weaknesses: The pedal straps that come with the bike are low quality and I immediately replace them. The seat is usable but a lot of others have reccommended me to get another seat due to the flatness (being uncomfortable). Had to replace the brakes after 1200 miles of use. Rims are very entry level quality, but I've yet to change them.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent bike for the all-around rider. I use to ride to school through some of the worst ride conditions I know. Shifting is smooth, weight is quite reasonable. On more than one occasion I've had to carry this bike on my shoulder with very little effort involved. Once in a while I'll compete in triathlons, so I'll put the two sided pedals on the Fantom CX (spd and normal on each side), and throw some skinny tires on the bike and I'm highly competitive. I'm up in the race averaging 20.7 mph with the people that spent $1000's on their bikes. Unless you're an excellent rider, you should probably spend a lot less on your bike.
Also I use this bike for lor long distance biking, no tours yet, but two centuries and I found it be efficient. Dropdown bars make it slightly difficult to shift into other gears to one stretching their thumb so far.
Bike Setup: Do some work, it's being shipped to you. I would advise you to know what an allen wrench is and understand how to use it. It's not that difficult, and is a great experience to learn, but you could always pay the LBS to assemble for $50 and tune up for $50.
Weaknesses: 56 cm is a bit racy for a commuter, rec rider. Changed the seat
Bottom Line:
I used to commute to work with a 29ner bike but when the hard hitting Colorado snow came, I was getting a workout. So what I really needed a cheap bike to commute in deep snow and this was it. The I haven't changed any components except for the seat and the stem to fit my need. Needless to say that this bike has gone through some rough sh%t.
Weaknesses: Toss the saddle. Wish it had a taller headtube but solved that problem with an adjustable handlebar stem.
Bottom Line:
2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross CX 3, 49cm, what can I say, after getting over the anxiety of buying a bike sight unseen, I am completely satisfied with my purchase. I bought this not for cyclocross but for century rides so I could get higher volume tires and the triple crank.
Bike Setup: Added my preferred saddle, speedplay pedals and an adjustable handlebar stem (hey, this thing has a 90mm headtube and I'm too old to be leaning that far over).
Strengths: Good wheels/tires for the price. Drivetrain gets the job done. Stiff frame transmits power well,
Weaknesses: Toss the saddle. Brakes work, but tend to rub when out of the saddle
Bottom Line:
This is a 2010 bike. I bought it as a winter/rain bike. It's heavier than my CF Ultegra bike (Duh!). It shifts great, the wheels/tires can take a BEATING and keep going, but the brakes are finickey compared to regular road brakes. It's a fine off-season bike for up here in New England.
So, I got this bike together, sort of. I had to pay a bike tech to give it a tune up. It rattles a bit. The gear shifting is quite smooth. But, It rides great. Fast as I want to go. I could go for a heavier tire, more poundage in the tire. I have it pumped to 80 the max, and it softens right out, im 205 6'1. But, I had it on my roof rack, big mouth from thule, and tried to go into a car wash today, to low, smash. Ripped the entire roof rack off, bike and all. The bike was still in the big mouth rack. The bike was fine, no visible scratches, no bent anything. Very tough, and impressed. Good for the price.
I have been riding off and on, mostly off, for about 5 years now. I was given a Bianchi road bike. It was too big, but I thought since it was free, I could get used to riding the Read More »
I'm new to this forum and need some advice on bicycle sizing. I'm looking to get a reliable but inexpensive bike for three/four seasons urban commuting in the Northeast. Several Read More »
Motobecane Fantom Cross PRO
Titanium Cyclocross Bikes
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Just saw this on BD... only $999... Is this a good deal? For what I know just the Rival group set costs more than this... And it came with a carbon fork! And a not too shabby Mav Read More »
Finally bike tuned and ready, today I took it for 8 mile ride, it feels very predictable and shifting very crisp, bike is very light for me, it came with Shimano 105 pedals, but I Read More »
