Pacific Havoc Men's 26-Inch Dual Suspension Mountain Bike

by Pacific

Product Features

• Stylish 26-inch, 18-speed mountain bike for men in gray/blue
• Full (or dual) suspension provides shock absorber to back wheel and front fork suspension
• Lightweight, hand-built Hi-Ten (high-tensile) steel tube frame
• Index torque drive twist shifters
• Sport saddle, all-black rims with MTB hubs

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The 26-inch, 18-speed Pacific Havoc men's mountain bike offers an advanced design that maximizes riding comfort on even the most challenging trails (or bumpy city streets). It has a full (or dual) suspension, which adds a heavy duty shock absorber to the back wheel in addition to the front fork suspension. This full suspension provides more comfort and greater control as you attack the trails. It also features a lightweight, hand-built Hi-Ten (high-tensile) steel tube frame. Other features include index torque drive twist shifters, linear pull brakes, three-piece crank, comfortable sport saddle, and all-black rims with MTB hubs.

Specifications:

• Frame & Fork: Hi-Ten Suspension Frame with Vortex Fork
• Handlebar / Stem: MTB Riser Handlebar and Stem
• Shifting System: 18-Speed Index Torque Drive Twist Shift
• Brakes: Linear Pull Brakes
• Crankset: 3-piece Cranks
• Wheels: 26" x 1.5" Black PC Rims with MTB Hubs

Assembly of the Bike:
This bike comes mostly assembled. Minor assembly is required before the bike can be used.

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 ultra-lightweight 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 bottles and bottle cages
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Product Description

Ideal for your next adventure down the bike trail, the Pacific Havoc provides a comfortable and easy ride. Designed with a unique dual-suspension frame, the Horizon is ready to take on the road ahead. The front and rear coil suspension shocks provide support and protect you against bumps in the road ahead, and the knobby all-terrain tires grip the track or road beneath. Equipped with 18-speeds and linear pull brakes, the Havoc gives you the control you need to get moving or stop you when you're ready to end your journey.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 49.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000DZM3NE
• Item model number: 264088P
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,517 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overall decent bike after some initial difficulties, May 8, 2006

By 

Charlie Sears (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pacific Havoc Men's 26-Inch Dual Suspension Mountain Bike (Sports)

I have had two of these bikes (Pacific Cycle Havoc Men's 26-Inch Dual Suspension). The first was returned defective after the rear tire separated from the rim and blew out (fortunately I wasn't on the bike when the tire blew, having noticed that the tire looked odd and brakes rubbed, so no one was hurt). The second bike I still own.

Construction-this appears to be a solid bike. It's certainly not light (I had to carry it a ways after the tire failure).

Suspension-I like the suspension, but had not ridden a bike with a spring suspension before, so my experience is limited. After I go over a bump, the suspension bounces me up and down a bit.

Ride-the bike moves smoothly and the 18 speeds seem to be enough. The right shifter has 6 numbered spots and works well since I adjusted the rear derailleur a bit closer to the wheel. The left shifter just has areas marked H, M, and L, and once in a while I have to adjust it after shifting with the right.

Manual-the manual has lots of information on assembly/adjustment, and is easy to read. A single manual applies to many models so it took me a while to figure out which section about the brakes applied to my bike. Manuals are available online.

Support-I called their support and waited on hold for a few minutes, then spoke to a person who communicated well and seemed to know what they were doing.

The only problems I have had are the flat tire mentioned above, and one problem with the chain--I was shifting upward with the left shifter and the chain came off the gear. I was able to get it back on fairly easily.

Edit--I had problems with the rear tire and with shifting on the second bike, so ended up returning it as well.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars dont bother with these kinds of bikes, August 14, 2006

By 

on the nile (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pacific Havoc Men's 26-Inch Dual Suspension Mountain Bike (Sports)

Im no expert in the field of bikes but after receiving the Pacific Havoc and spending approximately 3 hours to get it working well, i realised that these kinds of dual suspension mountain bikes just arent worth it.

Just get a regular mountain bike without the suspensions because that will be a lot easier to assemble and use.
If you intend to go on trails, then a regular mountain bike withouth all the suspensions everywhere will definitely do the job well. On the other hand, if you are hard pressed about suspension, just get a mountain bike with suspension on the front tire fork. you really DONT need it anywhere else.

With that said, onto the bike. It took me a rather long time to get it completely assembled and in good working order (3 hours). That was partially because the manual can be somewhat vague at times and for someone who hasnt put a bike together before ("minor assembly") it can become quite frustrating especially when you get to tweaking the gears, brakes and stuff. Oh joy.

The frame will probably last longer than you will, definitely. Its built solid and from the look and feel of it, its not going to break anytime soon.

The rear suspension makes this bike very bouncy and that gets very annoying after a while. The tension on the rear suspension spring can be adjusted to make it less or more bouncy but i havent tried it yet. The seat could be a lot more comfortable and a bit bigger, not to mention that after a while, it hurt my...stuff...a bit.

Im 6' 4" with an athletic build and i felt that the handlebars were a little small in length and not as straight as i would have liked.

The Gear shifters do seem to be a little hard to twist when it comes to the end gears.

The cables that take care of the front, back gears and the back brakes (3 in all) are visible on the main horizontal bar on the frame. Its better if they are under the bar and covered rather than over the bar and uncovered.

There is no place to put a water bottle or a hand held pump on the frame because of the frame and the general design of dual suspension mountain bikes.

What i do like about the bike is that it does come with a number of pre placed reflectors that can be easily removed.
The tires also spin VERY smooth...a little too fluid-y for my liking.

The seat can also be easily adjusted and doesnt require a screwdriver.

if i had to buy another bike i would definitely suck it up and go to walmart and sit on a couple of bikes and get the feel of a bike BEFORE i buy it. If i had more money, i would go straight to a bike shop and have them help me pick out a bike.

A FEW DAYS LATER

I have tried near everything to tweak this bike to get it to hit the high gear on the front and the lowest gear ont he back but no amount of tweaking seems to make it work indefinitely.

i would suggest you get it to a bike shop and have them assemble it for you.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not A Mountain Bike!, March 23, 2007

By 

G. Wise (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pacific Havoc Men's 26-Inch Dual Suspension Mountain Bike (Sports)

If you are buying a bike just to ride down the street , to the grocery store, or for short rides with your kids, this bike STILL would not fit the bill. Taking it out on the trail would be dangerous; the frame is cheap and heavy with sloppy welds, the components are terrible, the cranks are undersized for any adult, and the shocks may as well be pogo sticks.
I do not own this bike, nor have I ridden this one. I saw it in a department store. So how am I qualified to rate this product? In the past I have been employed as a bike assembler. For two separate companies I have assembled and repaired perhaps 15,000 or more bicycles, most of which were the department store variety, I'm sad to say. There are a few that were good buys for the money, most would be a disappointment for anyone who would like to use it for actual trail riding.
A note about Pacific bicycles: This is the company that a few years ago bought Schwinn bicycles, a proud maker of quality products for years before we were born. Soon after they bought Schwinn, quality plummeted, and their reputation will never recover even though they no longer own Schwinn. Pacific also did the same thing with GT bicycles.
I came across this listing purely by chance on a search, and could not get past it without submitting a review. I own two very high end bikes which I've assembled from the frame up and maintained myself. I don't expect everyone to spend the kind of money I have, it is my opinion that this bike, and others in this price range mislead the buyer into thinking that they are mountain bikes. They are not. They have flashy paint jobs and look similar to the quality one would find in a bike shop or sporting goods store.
I hope that someone in the market for a bike will read this review and be dissuaded from purchasing a poor product like this. I know that a bike from a shop will be more money, but the quality will be better, the assembly and set up will be better than a kid from Wal-Mart by far, and they will do their best to fit you to the bike and stand behind the product. By the way, I do not currently work for a bike shop, so this isn't a plug for bike shops in general. Well, that's enough ranting; ride safely.