The Sette Ace was sent to us by the kind folks of Sette USA as a demo bike. Here’s a bit of info before we start with the review.
Price: $999 from Pricepoint.com
Specs:
Frame Aluminum 7005
Size(s) Small (16.5″/42cm)/Medium (18.5″/47cm)/Large (20.5″/52cm)
Fork Rock Shox Tora 302 Air (4.72″/120mm) w/PopLoc
Rear Shock Rock Shox Monarch 2.1 (4″/101mm)
Shifters SRAM X7, 9-Speed Trigger
Front Derailleur SRAM X7, Low Clamp, Blk, 34.9 Top Pull
Rear Derailleur SRAM X7 Black Long Cage
Shifter Cable/Housing Jagwire Slick
Brake Levers Avid Juicy 3
Front Brake Avid 160mm Rotor
Rear Brake Avid 160mm Rotor
Hoses Avid Hydraulic Hose
Crankset Truvativ Firex 3.3, 175mm, Black, 44/32/22T
Bottom Bracket Truvativ Giga Pipe XR, 73mm English
Cassette SRAM PG-970, 11-34
Chain SRAM PC-971
Headset FSA 1-1/8″ Standard – Black
Handlebar Lightweight Alloy Riser Bar- Black
Grips Durable Ergo Grips – Black
Stem Lightweight Alloy – Black
Saddle High Performance Saddle – Black
Seatpost Lightweight 6061 Alloy – Black, 31.6 x 350mm
Rims Mavic XM719 32H Black, Presta Valve
Front Hub Shimano XT M756, 6-bolt Disc Brake, 32H black, QR
Rear Hub Shimano XT M756, 6-bolt Disc Brake, 32H black, QR
Spokes 14/15 Gauge Double-Butted, Stainless Steel, Black
Pedals Shimano PD-505, Silver
Front Tire Kenda Krusher 26″ x 2.1, 60 TPI
Rear Tire Kenda Krusher 26″ x 2.1, 60 TPI
Color(s) White
Warranty 5 Years
Weight 29.8lbs/13.5kg (w/Pedals, Medium Size Avg.)
The bike was shipped to the MtnBikeRiders.com HQ in the same way it would be if you purchased it from Pricepoint.com. After assembly, I made sure everything was tight, aired up, and lubed. I set my air shocks to have at least 25% sag. I took a quick spin around the block and right away the bike felt very nimble and agile.
One the first day out on the trail, I chose to test it on the Fullerton Loop. This is a simple trail that combines some climbs, descents on all sorts of terrain that ranged from single track to pavement.
One thing I need to note, the Sette Ace weighs in at 29lbs (used my scale in the garage). Though its not a super light weight XC bike to some people’s standards, the bike felt light and quick. During a nice pace on the single track, I was able to get it on the big ring and mash on the pedals to see how fast I could get this bike to roll. I’m not your typical XC rider that weighs in at 130lbs. No sir, I’m a big boy, I’m weighing in around 206lbs right now. So that meant there’s more effort on my part to get me rolling fast on the trail. With that in mind, the Sette Ace is easy to get up to speed and maintain the pace. Quick turns and switch backs are not a problem because the bike responds like a small sports car.
Let’s talk about aesthetics for bit. We all know that when you’re looking for anything, a major factor on your decision relies on how the product looks, right? Sette Ace goes with a classic white look with a few gray and black accents on the frame. Most of the folks that I showed the bike to, all liked the all white scheme. In fact one of our friends even mentioned that the Ace reminded him of his old Santa Cruz.
On the Sette Ace, there was one feature that was new to me since other bikes that I’ve tested didn’t come with it. It’s the POPLOC System on the Rockshox Tora. Other forks do come with a lock out, but having the remote ready to when ever you need it means you’re saving time and you’re keeping both hands on the bars, which translate to safety. When I first got the bike, the fork felt like a pogo stick, but that was quickly remedied by making a few quick adjustments on the rebound and after that, it was like butter. The RockShox Tora never flexed during my testing nor did it give me any problems. Air pressure stayed the same throughout the time I rode the bike, about a good month and a half.
Strengths:
Climbs REALLY well. As long as you have your air pressure correct in the rear shock, you’ll have a very efficient ride going up and down the hill.
Very nimble and responsive.
It has a potential to be a good 4x rig…its a vision I have for this bike…
Never bottomed out (yes it can handle jumps)
Great mix of good parts. Rockshox, SRAM X7, Avid and Truvativ
Shifts like butter, thanks to the Jagwire cables and housing.
Weakness:
Wouldn’t be so bad if it was at least 26-27lbs. But then again, the rider could simply lose the weight difference through a simple diet plan.
Brake rotors warped. I noticed that there was a slight warp to the rotors when I first got it. The demo bike I rode was previously tested by another organization. So its possible they had something to do with it. Other than that, the bike stopped on a dime.
Summary:
The Sette Ace is a pretty decent contender amongst other XC race bikes in the market. It has good parts, an awesome price point and it looks good. I also have to mention how this bike rides overall. Though its not as plush and squishy as my ALL Mountain Bike, it certainly is quick and very responsive. I certainly liked the Sette Ace and Priscilla did as well. The Sette Ace is the perfect bike for guys or gals who have been riding a hard tail and want to step into the Full Suspension XC bike without breaking the bank. You really can’t go wrong with the Sette Ace, low price ($999), great parts, light enough to race with and the white frame is simply HOT!
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