This has been my first 29er. I came from a 26 ss and this bike is actually lighter. As with any 29er, it doesn’t roll up to speed like lightning or anything, but it’s not too bad for the larger wheels. It is quite stable, and is definitely better on the descents than the 26 hardtail. As far as going uphill it isn’t a featherweight, and I noticed it on longer, steep climbs. However, I was pleasantly surprised on short punchy climbs, where I felt like I have rocket boosters.
I think the first thing I noticed, even before riding, is the awesome component spec. You can’t really get any better bang for your buck. With Laserdisk wheels, a Reba fork and a 1×9 x-9 drivetrain, I have found this bike to be great for the midwest cross-country style racing that I do. While the Avid bb-7 brakes may not be all that great, they get the job done and round out a high-performance, low maintenance component package. Even with the great component package, I have made a couple switches, mainly just from personal preference. I switched out the seat to a Bontrager race, and changed the travel to 80mm, got a narrower flat bar, and a negative rise stem to make the bike more suitable for cross country racing.
Overall, I would say this is a great bike, especially if you are looking for a more budget oriented do it all 29er hardtail.
Product Description :
Super lightweight and strong U6 double butted aluminum alloy tubing frame with a replaceable rear derailleur hanger. Race worthy RockShox Reba SL fork with 100mm of travel. Sure stopping Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors. SRAM X.9 shifter and rear derailleur combined with the Truvativ Stylo 32T crankset with chainring. Sturdy, smooth rolling Redline sealed bearing hubs laced up to 29” WTB Laser disc trail rims. Available in 4 sizes ( 15”-21”) center to top.
BUYING ADVICE
Redline will never rival the big guys for product selection, but they give every bike company a run for the smiles-per-mile award. The D660 is a blast to ride, and did we mention that it comes at a great price? If you are getting into our great sport after making the mistake of buying a $198 mountain bike, the D660 will make you feel ready to enter a World Cup event (compared to your old bike). If your current bike set you back thousands of dollars and has smoothed every bump in the trail and leveled the toughest hills, the D660 can bring the challenge back into your riding. The D660 works on a lot of levels, and they are all fun.
Source = mtbr
