Cyclocross - Motobecane?

I've been recently reading here about the Motobecane Fantom Cross series of cross bikes. They've gotten good reviews based on performance, quality, and price at certain online stores. Is this still true for those who own or are familiar with these? Only negative I've seen is that they're a bit on the heavy side.

Have also heard that new cross models are coming out from them soon. Any truth to this?

i was looking into getting a fantom cross myself...whats the biggest tire you can put on there?

I fit a 44c mutanoraptor on mine. barely clears the fork, and causes some worrisome toe overlap. Also, this is for the fantom cross, the red one with the carbon fork. the steel fork on the fantom cx may offer different clearance.

I have a Fantom Cross as well. No complaints against BikesDirect; they shipped super fast.

The bike needed some tweaking and fiddling out of the box but I had mine set up in about an hour and a half. Worth the 600 or so I saved from the Lemond I was looking at in the LBS.

I've been recently reading here about the Motobecane Fantom Cross series of cross bikes. They've gotten good reviews based on performance, quality, and price at certain online stores. Is this still true for those who own or are familiar with these? Only negative I've seen is that they're a bit on the heavy side.

Have also heard that new cross models are coming out from them soon. Any truth to this?

There will be many more Motobecane cyclo cross bikes by July/August [in time for the season]
The ones we will be carrying are

FANTON CROSS UNO [steel single speed]
FANTON CX [aluminum 18-speed - crm-moly fork]
FANTON CROSS [aluminum 18-speed - carbon fork]
FANTON CROSS OUTLAW [aluminum 18-speed - carbon fork - BB5 disc brakes]
FANTON CROSS PRO [aluminum 20-speed - Ulterga / Ritchey Pro]
FANTON CROSS TEAM Ti [bike that everyone who has seen or riden it feels its as nice as you can get]

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/cycloteamti.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/CXRR.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/bikedoctor/CXHT.jpg

I have a 2006(I think) Fantom Cross the red one with carbon fork. Some where between 6-7,000 miles on it. I have beaten the hell out of it, 2 bent rd's one shattered rd's, bent hanger, killed the shifters, broke 12 spokes out of the rear wheel, now it's at the shop because a broken crank. I am amazed what kind of abuse this bike can take. Though compared to my friends tricross comp(only other cross bike I have ridden any real distance) it seems to have a much smoother ride(on road) and lighter and it seems a little stiffer in the bottom bracket. The only real complaints I have had about mine were the orginal rear wheel seemed to develop play in the hub early on, cable routing on the down tube stuff always getting caught on it, lack of rack mounts. Couldn't tell you about how it handles in cross racing since I have yet to have raced. I have been happy with mine and feel I got my moneys worth out of it.

I have a 2006(I think) Fantom Cross the red one with carbon fork. Some where between 6-7,000 miles on it. I have beaten the hell out of it, 2 bent rd's one shattered rd's, bent hanger, killed the shifters, broke 12 spokes out of the rear wheel, now it's at the shop because a broken crank. I am amazed what kind of abuse this bike can take. Though compared to my friends tricross comp(only other cross bike I have ridden any real distance) it seems to have a much smoother ride(on road) and lighter and it seems a little stiffer in the bottom bracket. The only real complaints I have had about mine were the orginal rear wheel seemed to develop play in the hub early on, cable routing on the down tube stuff always getting caught on it, lack of rack mounts. Couldn't tell you about how it handles in cross racing since I have yet to have raced. I have been happy with mine and feel I got my moneys worth out of it.


Thank you for your purchase
I am happy you are enjoying the bike

Just a note - all new Motobecane Fantom Cross bikes have eyelets and rack brazeons AND there are no cables routed on downtube.

Even on the Fantom Cross Pro we are finding customers want eyelets. This is great that CX bikes are becoming the 'do it all' road bike solution. Road training, cyclo cross, commuting, lite touring, long charity rides, -- we are seeing customers get CX bikes for every kind of use.

>"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Ghandi

Uh, wrong Ghandi.

http://www.faqs.org/docs/jargon/G/GandhiCon.html

Steve

Mike @ Bike's Direct,
Are you still coming out with an 853 steel disc CX'er this year? Saw it on a previous list but not this one.
Thx.

>"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Ghandi

Uh, wrong Ghandi.

http://www.faqs.org/docs/jargon/G/GandhiCon.html

Steve

nope. same one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi

just wondering if any of the new cross bikes will be any cheaper than the 500 dollar one for sale now

When can we get a preview of the Uno? Are any specs available for it yet?

i was looking into getting a fantom cross myself...whats the biggest tire you can put on there?

I got my moto back from the shop here is mine with Maxxis overdrive 38's, plenty of room on the front end but the back end is probably less than 1/4 inch one each side around the chainstay. Probably around 5/8 on each side of the fork.

Wow. There are three threads on these bikes.

I'm seriously looking to picking up a FANTOM CX for a second commuter. Anyone riding one of these to work with a gear rack?

Thanks!
Dean

Mike @ Bike's Direct,
Are you still coming out with an 853 steel disc CX'er this year? Saw it on a previous list but not this one.
Thx.

I was hoping for a steel geared CX'er as well. I don't care if it's got discs or canti's.

Gotta luv that brushed al ! On the Fantom cycle cross PRO.

Those tires on the Motobecane Cycle cross PRO are the most aggressive cx tire I've seen yet. How do they
roll on pavement?