Product Review: Fezzari Alta Peak

About The Tester: My name is RL Policar, Co-Founder of MtnBikeRiders.com. I received the Fezzari Alta Peak in November and have been using the bike for most of my rides. I tested the bike in various trails and conditions. I am 5’7″ and weigh 190 lbs (yeah I know, I’m working on it)

Testing Ground: Fullerton Loop, San Juan Trail, and Big Bear.

Product:

The Fezzari Alta Peak XR is a great cross-country high-performance bike.

Price:
MSRP $1,950
Online Direct Price $1149

Specs:

Frame Fezzari® Racing Design Technology, Premium Aluminum frame, sealed cartridge bearings, 100mm travel, replaceable derailleur hanger, water bottle bosses

Rear Shock RockShox® Ario 2.2. 3-way adjustable with preload, external rebound adjust and lockout. Can be tuned specifically to rider weight and riding style.
Fork RockShox® Tora 302 100 mm travel. 3-way adjustable with preload, external rebound adjust and lockout. Can be tuned specifically to rider weight and riding style.

Headset Fezzari “Deep Cup” design, black alloy with oversize bearings

Stem Aluminum 4-bolt, TIG welded, anodized black. 17-degree rise.

Handlebars XC mid-rise bar, 30mm rise, 590mm-630mm width, shot-peened anodized 6061 alloy, black

Grips Velo® MTB grip, black, double density Kraton

Brakes New Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic discs, 160mm rotor

Brake Levers Avid Juicy 3 adjustable reach. New smoother operating function.

Front Derailleur Shimano® M-530 Deore, 34.9mm clamp, top pull

Rear Derailleur Shimano® RD-M761 Shimano XT

Shift Levers Shimano® M-511 Deore Mega 9 STI Lever Set

Cassette SRAM® Powerglide II PG-950 upgrade 11-34T, chrome plated

Chain Shimano® HG-53 Super-narrow, 9-speed, 11x34t

Crankset Truvativ® Blaze Power Spline, all-mountain, aggressive cross-country, forged 1-piece

Chainrings 44Ax32Sx22S, 4-bolt 104/64mm pattern, replaceable chainrings

Bottom Bracket Truvativ® Giga Pipe SLLT Power Spline, sealed cartridge bearings & CNC’d steel cups

Pedals BMX-style Fezzari Racing flats. Aluminum, CNC machined Cr-Mo axle, sealed bearing.

Rims Mavic® XM117 Disc. 15Gx32H alloy, diamond-shaped doublewall, black anodized

Front Hub Fezzari disc, 32 hole, high-grade loose ball bearings, alloy Quick Release

Rear Hub Shimano® M-475 disc, 32 hole, loose ball bearings, alloy Quick Release

Spokes 1.8mm (15g) black stainless, brass nipples

Tires Maxxis® Larsen TT 2.0 World Championship Tires

Saddle WTB® Speed V Comp with high padding

Seat Post Alloy, blast black, 31.6 x 350mm

Seat Binder Alloy, black anodized, 34.9 mm Quick Release Clamp

Strengths:
The Fezzari Alta Peak has to be one of the best values in full suspension bikes. It was very difficult to find a bike with the same components for the same price. I checked out the Trek Fuel Ex6 only to find that the bikes are similarly spec’d but it didn’t have hydraulic brakes as well as the low price of $1149. The Trek retails for $1399.

The Alta Peak also demonstrated its strengths through the most important aspect of a full suspension bike, it’s suspension. The Rockshox Ario provide a softer and smoother ride as well as the ability to lock out the shock during climbs. The Rockshox Tora fork complimented the bike’s rear shock by providing plush riding, and lock out features. When both ends are locked out during a climb, you would think you were riding a rigid bike, thus making your climbing experiences more efficient and surprisingly great for switchbacks and technical trails.

Though the bike climbs well, the four bar link suspension also was great in absorbing pedal bob and the bike was a great descender. Many times I’ve taken the Alta Peak in some of the most challenging single track and descents with very little worry about it’s performance or comfort. In fact, during my recent ride in Big Bear, Ca. the Fezzari Alta Peak performed like a well oiled machine against the rocky and technical trails that the mountains dished out.

Weaknesses:

The bike it self didn’t have any issues, it just took me a while to find the manual from the Rock Shox website. But once I learned the proper inflation guidelines for the Ario Rear Shock, I was on my way.The bike didn’t have any flaws. Nor did I experience any problems during the testing period.

Overall Opinion:
The Fezzari Alta Peak is a great bike for the money. It would be hard for the big bike companies to try and create a bike with the same specs for the same price. The bike performs like a dream, my favorite part of the bike would be the rear shock. The 4 bar suspension virtually eliminates pedal bob yet it still absorbs the nastiest trails.

The Alta Peak not only looks good, but it will also feel good to your wallet, the $1149 price is way lower than what most competitors would sell a bike of this class.