I can't believe the price I paid for this bike. You get name brand parts where it really counts and the rest are all good quality, serviceable items. The frame build quality is excellent. The Fox Vanilla shock is smooth and the Manitou Axel works fine, if you get the correct spring for your weight. I took the bike for it's first serious ride this weekend. It has stable handling manners and good overall ride quality. The trail was a baseball sized rock strewn technical downhill singletrack. The Dakar was very nimble and passed with flying colors. I was incredibly impressed when you consider the price paid.

Both my brother and myself bought an '04 Dakar. We are 200 pounder, clydesdale class riders. The springs in the fork and rear shock are very light. We've both had to replace them with heavier springs. We only have one complaint. There is an annoying creak noise coming from somewhere around the seatpost or linkage pivots. I did also blow a tube on my first serious ride. They seem a little thin, but this is a very minor issue and shouldn't dissuade you in any way to not buy one.

I bought this to get back into the sport after a being away from the sport for a while to start a family. (Still on the tight family budget!) Bikes owned in the past: Specialized FSR XC Pro, Mountain Cycle San Andreas, a couple hardtails.