Gary Fisher Cobia 29er First Impression

November 21st, 2005 by Tim Grahl

I picked up the Gary Fisher Cobia from the Official Blue Collar mechanic, Troy Crews and took it out last night for the first ride.

I’ve been riding the Gary Fisher X-Caliber a lot lately so the Cobia is the same frame with a stepped down component set in order to shave $400 off the price and keep this 29er under the $1000 mark.

The Cobia comes stock with Shimano M-511 Deore shifters and rear derailleur. It also comes equipped with Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes and Bontrager Sport cranks. The Rockshox Tora 318 come with the lockout feature and 80mm.

Riding felt good and fast as 29ers usually do. Shifting did well and I pushed fast changes on ascents trying to screw with it some however the front and rear derailleurs hung with me pretty good. However, from past experience with Shimano rear derailleurs, I’ll be looking to see if they maintain the shifting over a long period of time.

I rode with less air in the tires then I have been lately on both the X-Caliber and Redline Monocog. I can tell a huge difference in added suspension and handling.

No wrecks last night surprisingly so we’ll see how it holds up through that.

So far it’s looking like a good budget minded 29er.

You can check out pictures of it in the Picture Gallery on TwentyNineInches.com.

14 Responses to “Gary Fisher Cobia 29er First Impression”

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1 kc p on Nov 29th, 2005 at 4:18 pm

the cobia is a fantastic bike and i havnt changed much since i picked mine up. my only problem is the back wheel rubs on my chain stay when i accelerate. great bike though
2 goatsage on Dec 13th, 2005 at 6:33 pm

Have owned a Cobia for about a month. 3rd Mnt bike in as many decades. Like the big ride but it seems to drag when I coast, as if it’s meeting a lot of resistance. Could this be a 29er trait? Maybe the tread? My old Rockhopper Comp just loves to glide w/ minimum effort.
3 David Harris on Dec 27th, 2005 at 4:07 pm

Just came back from my first ride. Bike was great. Luv the 29s all that is written is true. Yes gaotsage those big meats they call tires offer a little more contact to the ground…. I have a suggestion send me your cobia and ride your old Rockhopper…. Or maybe I will trade you for my old rockhopper… Both bikes are great however the 29s are a treat. They just get up and move. The bike handles great in the mud… I gotta go wash off my keyboard now ( yes I just got off the bike ). I traversed a steep switch back and the overall feeling of the bike was a little tall in the saddle and at the bars however I felt confident that the bike will continue to delight me.
4 goatsage on Jan 16th, 2006 at 1:19 pm

David,
Sorry, no trades! I’m keeping the Rockhopper for those times I need a BMX experience (sure seems that way after the Cobia). I agree about the “tall feeling” but got used to it very quickly. Did I mention “no trades”…?
5 Brandon Miller on Feb 1st, 2006 at 2:02 am

I’ve been hunting for feedback on this bike and can’t find a whole lot. I am pretty sure I am going to get it, just deciding between the 15 and 17.5. I am 5′10″ with a 30″ in seam, leaning toward the 15. Also looking for a road tire suggestion and I want to commute with it as well as trail ride.

thanks..
6 Gerb on Apr 24th, 2006 at 11:26 pm

I just bought a 06 x-cal. Only had it for a few days so no detailed review yet. If you are looking for road tires try the Bontrager Race 700CCx32 that every Trek/Fisher store is pushing now(grey stripes on the sides). Got them for $20ea. They roll real quick on the street. Just make sure you swap them out for something with tread when doing anything else but pavement though.

Gerb
7 Patrick on May 16th, 2006 at 7:59 pm

Fellas,

Since I am 6′2 230lbs, this bike reminds me when I was a kid, while riding my big wheel tricycle around. I can’t consider anything else smaller than 29in wheels now. I think it’s best off for a rider under 6ft.

I felt I had to pedal harder on a 26 than a 29. Even though the 29er has it faults, like taking on quick turns, and is a bit slow off the start. Other than that, it’s all in all a smooth ride. Not like I am using the bike for competing or anything like that.
8 Patrick Sullivan on May 26th, 2006 at 1:57 pm

Patrick,
I too am 6′2″ 230lbs and am curious about what size frame your riding for that Cobia. I’ve never ridden a 29er. Would you, or anyone else, say that 29s are beneficial to someone my size?

Glad to here they handle mud well (I ride in NC)but whats this “tall in the sadle” feeling that earlier posts mentioned? Did you notice that?
9 Hawkeye on Nov 24th, 2006 at 12:16 pm

I am 6′3″, 215 lbs. I have had three previous 26 inchers, the 29 inch Cobia is just more comfortable. I like the big ride, and it handles just fine on twisty singletrack, once you get used to a rather slashing approach between trees. Rolls real fast, and the momentum is the key. Also easily switch to Cool Road Bike with new tires.

Hawk
10 Patrick on Dec 1st, 2006 at 10:26 am

Patrick Sullivan, I have been “out of town” for quiet a while, sorry for the delayed responce. I ride a 19 inch frame, very smooth, and comfortable. The seat with needs some breaking in though. I also changed my pedals to shimano clip ons, and what’s nice about them is that you can wear normal shoes even sandals if you’d like.
11 Charlie Meienberg on Dec 21st, 2006 at 4:31 pm

I’ve been riding my Cobia for a little over a year. I love it (mostly). To anyone looking to buy a GF 29er, I’d recommend stepping up to the x-caliber. The component upgrades are definately worth it. I’ve only had a couple problems with it. The deore rear derailluer just wasn’t cutting it, so I upgraded to the SRAM X7. I also choose to upgrade handle bars and stem, although the OEM was acceptable. A more major problem (which I’m dicovering is all too common) is the frame broke at the seat tube. Whatever you do, make sure that your seat post extends well past the top tube intersection. Just having it past the minimum insertion length is not enough. If you can’t get several inches of seat post past the top tube intersection, then buy a longer seat post. I’m 180 pounds, by the way and cracked the frame way too easily. Other than that, I love the bike. It handles wonderfully, smoothes out all but the worst bumps, and steps over obstacles so easily. It is flat out FAST and climbs great.
12 Scott on Aug 27th, 2007 at 3:23 am

Love my Cobia. Started off on a Trek 4500, then needed something to take me even further, and it did indeed. I feel the bumps a little more,but maybe thats just me. Softer tires might help. The brakes work well, but I get alot of squealing from the pads rubbing. Taking a closer look I see the inner pad always angled and rubs against the rotor slightly. It took some fine tuneing, but have reduced the amounts of noise. Other than that, its awsome. Everyone wants to know about it. Have a great sense of pride just having here in my living room, let alone on the trail. I’ll take it downtown here in San Antonio, hit up some stairs- several flights, go on some tight trails, and just started doin a little jump’n and huck’n on it. A little though. Not for severe drops however, or huge air. but I really can’t say, just never have, seems like alot more bike going up, therefore alot more bike might come down on you. Another added feature are the clipless pedals mine came with. Can’t ride any other way. It was between the Cobia (29″) or the Trek 6500,6700(26″). Don’t regret it at all. Word of caution, I drive a 4×4 Xtd bed F250, just fits in the bed length wise, anyone with a short bed, car or SUV might have a more difficult time hauling this one around. Not that its not possible or worth it otherwise. Just take off both wheels and it’ll slide in your backseat. oh yeah, the saddle is a little dissapointing. Would replace it, but thats about it. Get it, Ride it, and Love it!
13 Jon on Sep 12th, 2007 at 4:11 pm

Old ride was a 1997 Stumpjumper, got me through single track pretty quickly…weaving between trees and all. Upgraded to the Cobia in April ‘07 and really took to the feel of a 29r, so much so, I have been riding Lynchburg and Roanoke trails every other day since. Over 800 miles later, fifteen pounds lighter and a hell of a lot stronger, I have new opinions, good and bad. The bad: It does ride tall, so much that it feels unsafe on more advanced trails (size down, maybe two sizes down), the frame also seems to snake when you have to weave in and out of trees (could be a size issue), it pushes in the corners of any soft trail (could be tire tread but probably not), the frame always make a clicking sound when I turn either direction..sound like a cracked frame but I do not see any cracks. The good: For my main goal, exercise, fun, some challenge, road/ hard trail speed, climbing, it does the job better than my Stumpjumper. However, now that I am back in shape, feeling a little braver and more savvy on componentry, I may test out other 29r’s, ones that have been professionally sized for me. I really wish the expert sales staff at my local bike shop knew to size down the frame for me. I agree w/ Scott, one wreck on this bike and my saddle irreparably broke. As far as tire rub, none to speak of…maybe its because the bike is too big for me, I don’t know. BTW, great advice Charlie; I read your post and did not put my higher-end seat post and saddle on my new Cobia because the higher-end was considerable shorter than the stock seat post. Thanks. And Charlie, the new Cobia frame has reenforcement at the post; they must have read your comments too.
14 Self Storage Mossley on Aug 23rd, 2010 at 8:35 pm

Certainly got us thinking here are work, expect a few replies later.

Gary Fisher Cobia 29er First Impression

14 Responses to “Gary Fisher Cobia 29er First Impression”

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