Motobecane Fantom Elite Review – Part 1
So the bike was delivered by UPS yesterday. The shipping took about a week, from TX to CA. I’m pretty satisfied with the overall transaction. It actually exceeded my expectation. I placed an order on the 1st, the following day I received my UPS tracking number. The transaction is through Paypal. I was skeptical at first because I don’t really trust Paypal when it comes to large amount of money. I’ve been scammed on Ebay before and I tried to get my money back from Paypal but never got a penny back. Anyway, the transaction with Bikesdirect went smoothly.
The Package:
The bike came in a big box. It has Motobecane’s name on it and instructions on how to stand it up. There’s a small rip on the side but when I checked, it didn’t look like it damage anything inside. I give bikesdirect an A+ for a very well done packaging. All the parts are securely and nicely arranged inside the box. I didn’t see any scratches on any of the parts. The brake and shifter controls are already mounted to the handle bar and the cables are also wired up. The quick release skewer for the front hub is zip-tied to the detached front wheel. The seat is also detached but its already mounted to the seat-post. The small box contains the free pair of Gravity clipless pedals and a white reflector. The box also comes with a bunch of parts manuals and a generic owner’s manual that I didn’t bother to use.
Inspecting The Bike:
Before I began assembling the bike, I thoroughly inspected the bike first because some parts are zip tied and locked. I didn’t need to do this yet but it’s easier to work on something when everything else is freely moving. Besides, I might even forget about them and who knows, they may do some damage to the bike.
Plastic caps on front wheel hubs
Plastic cap on rear wheel
Plastic cap on rear wheel
Crank arm is zip-tied to the wheel
Plastic fork stand
Assembling The Bike:
As you can see from the picture above, the bike is about 90% assembled. All that’s left to be done is mounting the hydraulic brake to the fork, attaching the front brake rotor to the wheel, mounting the handlebar to the stem, installing the seat post and the pedals. Bikesdirect made it really easy for online customers to assemble the bike. It’s almost RTR (ready-to-ride). You don’t even need to set the hydraulic brakes because it’s already bled and set unless you want to adjust it to your own taste. It’s really that easy to assemble this bike. But if you prefer a fully assembled bike without putting any labor on it, you can take it to your local bike shop and they’ll do it for about $50 to $70. To those who wants to get their hands dirty, you might find the following instructions useful.
Tools Needed:
- Allen Wrenches
- Torque Screw/Nut Driver (required but I say its optional)
- Pedal wrench
- Cutter (this is really just for cutting the zip ties)
Assembly
1. Start by removing all the plastic caps, zip-ties, paper wrap and rubber bands.
2. Mount the handlebar
Use a 4mm allen wrench to loosen all four bolts
on the faceplate of the stem clamp.
Position the stem clamp directly in the middle of the handlebar.
Rotate the handlebar until you achieve a relax position of your wrist.
Once set, secure it with the front plate and four bolts.
3. Remove the quick release skewer from the front wheel.
4. Attach the brake disc/rotor to the front wheel.
The disc package comes with 6 bolts and 2 zip ties
for securing the brake cable to the fork.
Lay the disc to this side of the hub. Left side of the wheel when mounted.
Make sure that the disc facing up has the markings on it.
You’ll also notice the directional arrows on the disc.
This is how the disc should be rotating when the bike is moving.
The bolts are applied with the blue thread lock coating
so that they don’t come loose during bouncy rides.
If you have a torque driver, torque the bolts at 55in-lbs.
Or you can just do it by feel 
Try to use a criss-cross pattern when tightening the bolts
for best equal torque distribution.
5. Install the quick release skewer. The cam can be positioned on either left or right.
6. Mount the front caliper to the fork
Remove the red plastic tab and save it for later
when you need to service the caliper.
The caliper already comes with the right bracket for the fork.
Loosen the two bolts on the caliper and bolt it to the mounting tabs on the fork.
Torque the bolts to 80 to 90-lbs.
7. Mount the front wheel and make sure that the disc seats properly between the caliper’s pad. Tighten the skewer and lock the cam by pushing it towards the wheel. Secure the brake cable to the body of the fork by using the provided zip-tie.
8. Install the seat post and adjust according to your height or your desired position. You can also adjust the seat by loosening the bolt underneath. I found the top tube on the fantom elite to be short for me so I slid my seat backwards.
9. Mount the pedals and your bike is now complete and ready to ride. Make sure to check if the brakes are all working properly. You may also need to inflate the tires. On-road, I normally inflate my tires between 50 and 60 psi and for off-road, it’s between 35 and 40 psi.
First Impression:
Honestly, when I first saw the bike on the website, I wasn’t too impressed with the frame’s design. I also wasn’t digging the black frame. But now that the bike is in front of me and fully assembled, my pessimistic view about this bike all went down to drain. The 16″ frame actually looks better than the larger ones. The gap between the top tube and down tube when they meet on the head is not apparent anymore. And the matte black finish… it’s gorgeous. I really love this bike now. The welds are beautifully done. I just wish they spend more time in smoothing it out. The pre-assembled parts looks pretty good to me. It seems like they were put together well except for the stem which I have to align, but this is minor.
Now for the cons. Let me start it off with the front brake cable. Out of the box, the cable is kinked. This is not something that I can ignore because this is a hydraulic cable. It actually affects the braking. It’s inconsistent and seems to lose pressure every time I squeeze the brake lever. I already emailed bikesdirect about this and I’m just waiting for their reply. The top tube is also short for my taste. I had to slide the seat backwards so I can get a better seating position. The free pedals are ok but I would definitely get something better. Oh well, it’s free! And lastly, this bike is quite heavy. It weighs approximately 29.5 lbs on my bathroom scale. I’m sure there is still room for improvement but I need to loose my own baggage first before I put this baby on a diet.
Overall, it’s not a bad bike for under $1000. But the real test has yet to come. I’ll probably just break her in on a smooth pavement for now then we’ll make her eat some dirt later.
If you are not picky about brand names, I suggest to check this bike out from bikesdirect.com.
Any updates on your Elite? I just ordered mine and should receive it w/in a week or so.
Cheers,
Patrick
I’ve been looking at Bikes Direct and Moto for a while now but am afraid to pull the trigger due to the bad press that is out there on various BB about bad customer service, damaged bikes, and the old bait and switch on forks, shocks, breaks etc. What put you over the edge to go with BD?
Patrick, I’ve been riding my bike and like it a lot. This bike is worth more than what I paid for. I’ll write a full “part II” review very soon.
Tim, do not be bothered with all the reviews out there for BikesDirect. Most of those people that bashes them haven’t even dealt with BD at all or never bought a bike from them. The front brake hose on my bike was kinked and they sent me a new one right away with the bleeding kit. They’re very responsive. What really made me go with them is the very low price on their bike. I can fix my own bike so I don’t worry about sending it back to them for repair. If you’re not comfortable with this, I’d recommend going to your LBS instead. But for the money that your saving from BD, I’d use that to get your bike fixed at your LBS and believe me, you’ll still have some change left
So far, so good. Assembly was a snap and it rides beautifully. Friends who have seen it marvel at the components and are equally impressed with the frame. The value is, quite frankly, unmatched.
Tim: I’ve had bad experiences with one of the LBS’s here in my home town that rival anything I’ve read about BikesDirect. Truthfully, if I had piles of disposable income, I’d have bought from one of the more reputable LBS’s, but what you get for less than $1000 from BikesDirect is remarkable.
For me, it really came down to getting the most for my $$’s. I didn’t want an entry-level bike and I couldn’t afford a comparable Trek, Giant, Cannondale or Specialized for anywhere near the same price. I do feel a bit guilty for not buying locally, since it is a mantra I preach when buying most things, but this was a bigger purchase than my morning coffee or a bit of Mexican food. $1000 would have gotten me on a decent bike if purchased locally, but the allure of XTR, Recon 351′s and Juicy 5′s for under a G-note was just too strong.
I’m glad you’re happy with your purchase. There’s nothing wrong buying stuff online. With the huge discounts LBS’s are getting, they can do better with their pricing and be more competitive with online shops. Enjoy your bike!
Henry,
Thanks for posting this review, your pictures and positive words helped push me over the edge…and I finally purchased my Fantom Elite this afternoon. I hope everything works out!
If you have any advice on some nice trails in the San Jose/South Bay area, let me know!
Thanks!
I going to pull the trigger on mine in the next few weeks. I like my LBS and they have always treated me well, but they are not what they used to be stock wise. And Performance Bike is not a LBS by any stretch of the imagination (support wise). With Trek and Cannondales I’ve always felt that you were buying the name and not so much bike… $800 bike w/o disk breaks and low end Rock Shox…
Shoot, I was hoping this bike was lighter than that. 29 seems pretty high for what it is… the frame is supposed to be 3.2lb, the fork is 2100 grams or so, and it has xtr/xt all over it. Is it the cockpit, the wheels, crankset or what? I thought this thing should weigh like 24/25 on paper.
I purchased my Fantom Comp from BD 1 1/2 years ago and haven ridden all over N. GA since then. My initial experience was terrific and since then the bike has performed beyond my expectations. I passed a full suspension Specialized over the weekend with a cracked frame. I mention this not to criticize Specialized as they make a great bike, only to point out that quality of the Motobecane welds are more than fine. Concerning the loyalty to the LBS. Since purchasing my bike on line I have purchased: shoes, pedles, shorts, shirts, gloves, tune-ups, etc. from my LBL ($500+ and climbing). More people riding means more money for the LBL even if some of us get in on line.
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Thanks for the breakdown of the box to build! Very helpful. I’m an old school mountain bike rider (rode/raced Klein Rascals in the early 90s) then returned to my motocross roots (YZ250) until lately. Although I will never quit riding the MXer, I definitely want to cross back over to MTB riding since I’m kinda realizing that MX is all about the younger guys.
This bike looks like a killer deal considering the component groupo. I was a bit skeptical of BD but after seeing your review and the reviews of others, I’m gonna pull the trigger and take my chances on this the bike. Thanks for the Blog man!!!!
Nice review on the bike build! I just bought a Famtom Elite and am waiting for the delivery. Can’t wait and thanks for well done overview on the build up and your input on the process!
I just purchased a Fantom Elite as well, from BD. Shipped to Wisconsin in four business days from order date, no to shabby.
Nice ride too!
I just purchased the Fantom Pro which is titanium and sells thru BD for $1700 delivered. I bought it and immediately had some buyers remorse before it arrived. Sight unseen, no dealer support, questionable frame quality, possibility of bait and switch etc. Well, I went on a trip and when I came back it was here. I built it two days ago and switched the flat Ritchey double-butted race bars for a Race Face DH upswept type. The dish on the front wheel was way off but spoke tension was even which is more than I can say for most wheels short of a quality custom build. I rode it yesterday and my other hardtail: a Ted Wojcik Soft Ride circa 1996 is my comparison. The Fantom is light, climbs very well with no troubles with front wheel lift but lifting the front wheel with accuracy is much easier than the Wojcik. The drop from seat tip to grips is inches less on the Fantom than the Wojcik and this made a big difference with back comfort and controlling the front end (especially with the rise bars I put on it). It handles very well. It is not a DH bike and doesn’t pretend to be. The SID Race shock is a nice unit but it is a 4″ travel Cross Country style fork and in my opinion is intended to just take the edge off the bumps so descending on this bike takes some careful speed control and choice of line along with well timed lift off and landing. You cannot stuff this bike into a long linear run of babyheads at speed and expect it to just soak them up like a 6″- 8″ All Mountain/DH bike. Build quality on the frame LOOKS wonderful. Proof is in the pudding but … I weigh 225 and didn’t hold back and nothing is worse for the wear: frame or “Super-Lite” wheels. I am satisfied. The price is rock bottom for a titanium frame with this group. BD bikes are a good deal. They are an even better deal if you have good mechanical skills and are willing to turn a wrench. IF you do take this bike to a shop it is my recommendation that you remove all evidence of what it is before you give it to them. BD is underselling ALL bike shop prices at this bikes price point. Bike shops resent this and your service might be affected. Just tell them it is a preproduction something or other.
I ordered my Fantom DS on the 18th of Nov. , and it is suppose to be delivered tomorrow the 22nd of Nov. Not Bad BD. I have been riding a Schwinn Delta for almost 2 years, and have entered and won a race in Michigan, rode the Moab Slickrock, and The ridge ride in Page Az.. Tonight the delta went on pretty much its last ride for a while, but I will still give it a go once in a while. I will give the opinion page an update once I do a couple laps out in Ruby on thew Fantom.