Looks a bit 'Halfords' to me, sorry!
Each to their own, like I said, I know Mavericks are more of a Marmite bike than any Singlespeed or 29er. Personally, I've always like the way they look… Very much form follows function, but it's the little details you don't get on so many other bikes that I love about them, like the Easton Rad Top Tube that's flared towards the seat tube, not the head tube, the fact that each one is named individually not given a serial number (Mine's called Medusa by the way!), the integrated Campag style headset (so much simpler and lighter than a regular headset) etc.
I have an ml7/5 and it is superb, I cannot understand why mavs aren't more popular as pretty much anyone who has ridden one knows how good they are, having said that I like the fact that you never see anyone else with one. It has been said before many times but they really do climb better than any other full sus and it is waaay stiffer than the 575 I had before it.
Yup, they are superb bikes. People who diss them generally have never ridden one. I was sceptical til I had a go on one of the first ML7's in about 2003, but a quick blast was all I needed to convince me that for a full sus "trail" bike, it's pretty much unbeatable.
Can't agree with you on the never seeing another fact though. Sadly I know at least 6 other people with a Maverick, and a couple more who have had them but sold them on! Fortunately though, I've never been on a ride where there was more than 2 together, otherwise they would have looked common! 😉
said it before – they're californian bikes. not designed for UK conditions.
and how would you ride super-steeps with that ST ?
hope you live in a flattish area of SOCAL
You there, with the vast array of Titanium Hardtails, PAY ATTENTION AT THE BACK! 😉
Designed (and first few built in) Colorado, where funnily enough they've got some Mountains that will piss over anything you care to think is "extreme" in Bonnie Scotland! hehe.
Do you mean ride up or down steeps? Well if it's up you mean, EASY… The Maverick is probably the best climbing full sus bike out there. It's got a long back end, the seat tube may appear slack but if you look at where it starts and where the saddle actually is, it has an effective seat tube angle of 72 degrees which isn't exactly slack. Also, the DUC forks lock down by 50mm lowering the front end, and steepening everything up should you need it.
If you mean ride down, well they're super stable, the saddle goes down plenty far enough (though I might put my i900 adjustable post on it too), and it's got powerful brakes! Simple no?
I hope that bike rides well 'cause it ain't a looker.
Again, each to their own. I happen to like the way they look, but I apreciate that many people don't. Does (or should, I've only ridden it down town and back so far!) ride well out on the trails though. My previous ML7 was a damned good bike anyway!
Strictly not so. BB moves independently of both the swingarm and the main frame. Sure, the BB moves, but not very much. Where a URT will stiffen as much as 50% when you stand on the pedals (or perhaps even 100% if it's a Klein Mantra!), the Maverick Monolink only stiffens by about 7-8% when you're stood, which is barely noticable, as is the BB movement.
I'm happy at least, and that's what counts 😀
