Mountain Biking

Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike Review

This is the first bike I’ve had in about 12 years. After getting over the sticker shock of “adult bikes” I spent weeks researching the many options. It immediately became clear that no matter what bike I got, I’d still probably end up spending hundreds more to customize it with the components I wanted. That is, until I found this one on Amazon for a really great price with free shipping.

THE GOOD:
The components on this bike alone (Sram shifters/derailers, Avid disc brakes) are all top of the line and could easily add up to what I paid if purchased separately. The two water bottles and rear rack are a nice touch. The adjustable front suspension makes for a comfortable ride. If you are a hardcore mountain biker this bike probably isn’t for you – but you already knew that. These are the same bikes used by many police forces so I am fairly confident it will hold up to the minimal punishment that I deliver.

THE BAD:
1. The assembly instructions are lousey. They are too generic and look like could be for a different bike. They seem to assume that you already know what all of the parts are and how they work. It took me longer than expected to assemble, but it wasn’t too bad. The company does provide a technical support number and, to their credit, the folks there were very helpful. One of my shifters was broken in shipping so they sent me a new one right away, no questions asked.

2. My only other complaint is about the kick stand. It is a piece of junk. There are two bolts that go through a plate and just clamp it on to the frame tubing. Square plate clamped on to rounded tubing = bad idea. I have found myself tightening it up about ten times now because it starts to slip and eventually gets to an angle that can’t hold the bike up properly. Seriousl, I think the manufacturer could have come up with a better design here.

Overall I think this bike is a great value. It’s got everything I need and is built with (mostly) quality components. I did end up buying a bunch of accessories after the fact but nothing I wouldn’t have had to get for any bike (air pump, patch kit, etc). I look forward to enjoying it when the weather gets nicer.

Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike Feature

• Smith & Wesson Law Enforcement Bicycle offers a lightweight aluminum frame and mechanical disc brakes
• Features Sram X9 shifters and derailleurs
• 36-spoke wheels with HD Box rims
• Includes a rear carrier, water bottle and cage, and rear mount kickstand
• Limited lifetime warranty on frame, one-year warranty on parts

Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike Overview

The Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike gives you durability and comfort for riding on the road or trail. It features a lightweight aluminum frame with a 27-speed drivetrain while the front suspension is a Rockshox Judy J4 fork. For great stopping power, this bike features front and rear avid disc brakes. For quick and accurate shifting through all the 27 gears, the shifters and drive train are Sram X-9 trigger shifters. Added bonus of this bike include a water bottle and cage, rear rack (which is perfect for taking accessories on the go with you). Rockshox front suspension, ergonomic bar ends, and a gel saddle. The thumb shifters and mechanical disc brakes give you control in all conditions.

Specifications:

• Frame: Aluminum
• Fork: Rock Shox Judy J4
• Front Brake: Avid BB 7 Disc
• Rear Brake: Avid BB 7 Disc
• Brake Levers: Avid SD7
• Crankset: Truvativ 5D
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM X-9
• Front Derailleur: SRAM X-9
• Cogset: Sram 9-speed 11-32T
• Shifters: SRAM X-9 Trigger
• Rims: Alex DM-24
• Rear Hub: Joytech 36H Disc
• Front Hub: Joytech 36H Disc
• Tires: Kenda K-193 26
• Pedals: Wellgo Alloy w ½ Toe Clips
• Seat: Velo S&W Saddle
• Seatpost: Alloy 350×30.0 mm
• Handlebar: S&W Black Alloy
• Rear Carrier
• Rear Mounted Kickstand
• Water Bottles and Cages
• Bar Ends

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide

Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it’s important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

• Road and Racing Bikes–As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels, and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
• Mountain Bikes–With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing, and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike–even one that you use regularly on trails–adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
• Comfort/Cruiser Bikes–For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike’s price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

• Entry-level–You’ll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
• Mid-range–Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you’re looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the “sweet spot.” Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
• High-end–Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultralightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

• Stand-over Height–To find out if a bike’s overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you’ll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you’ll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
• Top Tube Length–You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half, and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike’s posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
• Bikes for Women–Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women’s bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don’t forget these crucial add-ons:

• Helmet (this is a must!)
• Seat pack
• Lock
• Hydration pack, or water bottle and bottle cage
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

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Customer Reviews

Nice, but not a 00 plus bike – Some Guy – Palm Bay, FL USA
If you shop around enough, you can probably find bikes in the 0 range that are better deals. In fact, you may want to consider if it is worth paying 0 for what is essentially a very high quality comfort bike since it is not fully configured as a real mountain bike as pointed out by another reviewer (It could be for about in swapouts).

The derailleurs, brakes, shifters, and fork (Rockshox Dart 3) are high points. The frame is ok and the wheels are sturdy. Most the other components are merely acceptable. They appear to be manufactured generically and painted in as many places as possible with the Smith & Wesson name or logo. Although S&W is not a recognized factor in the bicycle world, I guess the belief is the more S&W logos the more appeal to those that own other S&W items. I count at least 13 on the bike.

The disappointments I have come across are attention to detail for a bike in this price range. The threads in the frame bosses seem to be weak and poorly threaded. I couldn’t attach one of the included bottle holders with the included screws because they were too short, also, I think one of the rear rack bosses is close to being stripped. The rear brake cable is fully sheathed (insteaded of being bare cable along the frame as the other cables) and not well attached. This adds weight and clangs on the down tube when going over even minor bumps. It must be an easy way for the manufacture to switch between the Custom and the Smith & Wesson Tactical Police Mountain Bike models, since they have the same frame but different rear brakes.

The rack is not very good; I replaced it with a Topeak Explorer Bike Rack (because of the way the rear disk brake is mounted on this bike, you don’t need to get a rack specially made for disk brakes; the included rack certainly wasn’t).

Don’t pay more that 0 and consider either a more-consistently equipped mountain bike, a comfort bike, or a hybrid. This bike kind of jumbles these objectives in an expensive package.

Bad experience – G. Morris – Silver Spring, Maryland United States
Ordered the S&W Custom Police Bike and they sent the S&W Perimiter Police Bike. Had to return it for credit seeing they refused to replace bike with the one that was ordered. I will always check to see who I am dealing with when making purchases from amazon and be carefull not to deal with Fogdog ever again.
The customer service at Fogdog were polite and helpful, not their fault the order system was screwed up.

clydesdale bike – garyyager – Suwanee, GA United States
This is a hard core mountain bike built strong for big guys, that unfortunately has been tamed for the city. It’s set up for an upright riding position; the frame has a slightly shorter top tube and it a high rise stem. The tires are semi-slicks designed for road / light trail use. But it’s heart is a serious mountain bike. It built of high end off-road components (X.9 drive train, avid disc brakes, Chris King headset, truvativ cranks and a rockshox dart 3 fork). The wheelsets are super strong.

It’s easy to unleash it’s potential. Replace the the slick tires. Replace the high rise stem with a longer, low rise one. Lose the rack and kickstand. Add some clipless pedals and it’s a serious off-road bike.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 30, 2010 04:05:32

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