Editors Note: Yeah, yeah…..another year end review! Tis the season! So, here are my favorite things that have passed through the Twenty Nine Inches review process during the past year. I want to point out a few parameters that I used for what I chose here.
1. The product had to be in the review process during the time period of December 2009 through to the end of November 2010. Reviews that are currently in process I did not include and will be eligible for my 2011 Top Ten list.
2. They had to be products or bicycles that I personally used during this period. Nothing any of the other Twenty Nine Inches staff reviewed on their own could be considered for my list. This list doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone but me, Guitar Ted.
3. The reviewed products were provided to Twenty Nine Inches at no charge for review. I was not paid or bribed for this review. I will give/gave my honest opinion or thoughts through out.
That said, let’s get on with this……
Number 1: Gary Fisher Bikes Rumblefish II: The Rumblefish was Fisher’s take on a Trail/AM rig with big wheels. Featuring several new frame enhancements over the old HiFi line and new damper technology not seen before in 29″er wheels, the Rumblefish was an impressive introduction.
Why It Made The List: The Rumblefish II was introduced in August 2009 as a trail bike that had “only” 110mm of rear travel. Claiming some amazing benefits, I was rather skeptical going in. However; the Rumblefish II was simply the most amazing, spot on full suspension bike I rode in 2010. It not only did what it claimed going in, but with some of the new technology present on this bike, the Rumblefish redefined what could be possible with 29 inch wheels in a full suspension context.
My Two Cents The Hi Fi line before the Rumblefish was decent, but was plagued with issues in regards to the rear swing arm. Not only did Fisher solve these issues, but they employed a technology that had been being used on Trek FS bikes called the “Active Brake Pivot”, or “ABP” for short. It was originally developed to separate braking forces from affecting suspension action, (and it works wonderfully in that regard, by the way), but it had a secondary, important effect upon the frame design. It made the rear end stiffer by lowering the rear pivot point closer to the tire contact patch and lessening the lever effect the wheel has on the swing arm. Besides this, the swing arm recieved several other tweaks that made the structure stiffer and the wheel base shorter to boot. Then there is the DRCV damper which made the 110mm of rear travel feel at least an inch longer than it really was. Not only did it feel deeper, but it felt very linear, which was a promise that the system made and delivered on. Up front the geometry was slackened a bit and a 120mm Fox fork fitted with a tapered steer tube for a stable, flex free front end that did everything I expected of it very well.
The Gary Fisher Rumblefish II to my mind was a design executed very well and delivered on all its promises in spades. Not many bicycles can claim that, much less the 29″ers that come through here. Was it “perfect”? No. Nothing is, but the Rumblefish is hard to pick on. It doesn’t do out of the saddle hammering well, but it isn’t really that kind of bike. It could have more rear travel, but the travel it has is so good, both in feel and performance, that it is hard to complain about that. Plus, it keeps the bottom bracket height and chain stay length in check. Probably the worst thing about the bike was that you couldn’t find one to buy for most of 2010. That should be resolved now going forward with the new “Fisher Collection”/Trek collaboration that will put more Rumblefish bikes in more dealers showrooms. The Rumblefish also makes us hope for this technology to be used for a “bigger”, longer travel platform at some point for 29’er wheels. If it works anything like the Rumblefish, it’ll be an amazing 29 inch wheeled bicycle.
Congrats to (former) Gary Fisher Bikes and their Rumblefish II model, which snagged the 2010 top spot on the Top ten 29″er Products Of 2010 list.
Stay tuned for the Reader’s Choice Award announcement coming soon!
Wow, to me any way that sure was anti climatic. Rumblefish II number one? Slim pickings this year….pretty lame list or maybe its cabin fever….yawn.
I’ve gotta admit – that was a bit shocking!
I’ve been on the rumblefish on demo – and my experience was exactly opposite. Not a chance that I’d spend that cash on a Rumblefish… Trek paying you guys off over there?!?!
I’d agree with the above comment, “Pretty lams list”…
@Wally: Hey, you do read the top portion of every post on this list, right? 🙂 (So you know why the list is the way that it is) Secondly, “slim pickins”? No- absolutely not. I had the biggest list of things reviewed to choose from that I ever had, plus- you should take note of what I left off. 😉 (Go ahead, go through the archives sometime and check it out)
Have you ever ridden a Rumblefish? I’d be curious to know, or even if you have ridden any of the stuff on the list.
Finally, I hope you voted in the Reader’s Choice Awards. There is where the category for “best” is wide open. (This will be announced later this evening, by the way)
@LTD: Not surprised that your experience at the demo was like that. The Rumblefish takes time to set up properly, and if it isn’t, it will disappoint. (It took me more time than a demo ride to set the two I rode up correctly) But that said, once you ride it set up for you, I think it would be a different story.
We don’t get paid by anyone to do reviews here. Just so you know. 🙂
The Rumblefish is not the kind of bike I want or need where I live, but other reviews I’ve read all agree with GT’s. The people who rode it more than once that is.
If I had burlier terrain to ride I’d look into it for sure.
Maybe some just can’t get used to the not top spec/carbonfibre/niche bike winning?
I wish this came in a frame/fork set, and I wish it would work with a Speedhub. I think the price spec seems pretty high for the parts you get. But I believe GT when he says it rides great after taking time to set one up correctly. I’d love to demo one.
Maybe it’s just me, but I was rather disappointed this year as well. Personally, I wouldn’t own anything from Fisher given their tendancy to break. I have an awesome local dealer and I know that they would take care of me but I also just don’t like the look of the Rumblefish. I think it’s …umm… not very pretty. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 🙂
I am surprised it’s number one but oh well. There’s always next year.
Gted, I may have missed it but how does the GF Rumblefish compare in ride (etc.) to Salsa’s Spearfish…I see a lot of similarities and you probably are going to be redundant in answering my question but I was just curious. I’m sure Salsa’s is less expensive. Cheers.
I was a little surprised that Salsa’s shift to titanium did not make any list. I thought it was a pretty BIG deal……………..Happy NY everyone………….
@mkrahnic: I see them as totally different bikes in purpose and in how they ride. The Spearfish is also, in my opinion, not a fully realized platform as well. (I believe it could be better) Be that as it may, the Spearfish is a “lite” version of a Rumblefish. It doesn’t ride as “big” and it doesn’t feel like a long travel bike. The Rumblefish does.
The Rumblefish is also on a whole different level in terms of refinement and technology. The Spearfish, while lighter in weight by a bit, (and not by much, mind you), is really a far simpler bike.
That isn’t necessarily a knock on the Spearfish, which with the right rear damper will become what it was intended to be, an efficient, shorter travel full suspension bike. Simple can be good, if done correctly, and Salsa is almost there.
The Spearfish actually compares more closely with the HiFi line up, and when Salsa comes out with the generation II Big Mama, then we will have a direct comparison to the Rumblefish.
Hope that helps.
@yogi: If you read the header to each Top Ten post, you’ll know why a Salsa titanium bike didn’t appear here on my list. 😉
Great bike! Best one I could find. My background is All Mtn, DH, Super D and the Rumble was best feel for me. Nimble, light and strong. I installed a Reba 140mm to slacken it a bit more.
69 ° ha. shred ready! a blast to ride!
The anticipation was killing me after so the year of the tire in the first half. Having not been on this bike I can’t say too much.. but I guess it is what it is. Thanks for the list.
GT, yes I read the disclaimers you print up top and I don’t really need the archives. I happen to read this site most everyday and when I can’t do it real time, I do got back read them after the fact.
I have not had the time to ride a Rumblefish like you have, especially since you admit it takes time to set up. Mine are more simple demo rides. But the mere fact it has to be set up says something. I’m not a Fisher guy despite a GF being responsible for me buying my first 29″er. I rode a 29″er hardtail and was floored. But then I hit a few more shops and tried a few other brands and could tell a difference – even though it was just a demo ride.
I’m sure if I took the time to properly set it up, it might impress more but then there are so many other bikes that I could also set up that present possibly better starting platforms.
I know this is YOUR list and i base my comments of past lists and in knowing we have some similar likes from past correspondence. I’m cool with you rocking the Rumblefish, I just expected something more “interesting”. Especially considering the choices out there. If we were comparing a BMW to a Mercedes that would be one thing but to me you went with the Hyundai. No offense to Hyundai owners…
Here Ted, this made me feel a whole lot better about the dick-headed comments I get on my Bikerumor posts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMEe7JqBgvg
I rode the Rumblefish at the Northeast Kingdom Trek demo in October. I thought it was brilliant, and if I had to the money to buy another bike right now, that would be it. Wise choice.
– t
The comments on this post are some of the oddest I’ve ever seen. I was a little surprised too by #1 but to be honest I had forgotten already about the review. Time flies. What surprises me more is that the Niner fork took 2nd in the reader’s choice. I bet it’s nice though. I don’t have any opinions on what I think would have been a better choice either. Hmm. Happy New Year all.
OMG GT, you done picked a Hyundai over a Bimmer! What a bunch of Debbie Downers commenting on this bike.
As a trail rider first, I will always like a well-executed FS trail bike for best of year. I have never been a Trek fan but ABP and DRCV are some of the best suspension technologies out now. I tend to trust reviewers who spend, you know, time riding a bike over blog commenters. And hey, more and more people are finding out they’re not made of money. It’s hard to ride a bike you can’t afford or find locally.
Nice Best Of list GT, and Happy New Year everyone.
Couldn’t agree more. I just got the 2011 after a year on the 2010. Great all-day bike with plenty of capabilities in technical terrain.
GT – I agree with your pick. I tried darn hard not to like the R-Fish because I thought smaller mfg’s made better bikes. I demoed alot of bikes over the past year on my quest to find my first 29er. It didn’t take many demo’s for the R-Fish to become the benchmark.