Just a quick review of my Goblin from your average 200lb weekend warrior:

Strengths:  You can't beat the components for the price. Everything is well matched, higher end components for this price point without being a mishmash of high end and low end components.

Out of the box it took 30 minutes to assemble, and everything except the brakes were perfectly dialed in. The Reba fork is butter smooth, and the X7 setup shifts flawlessly. The 2x10 gearing is different than what I'm used to, but I find myself searching for a gear much less frequently. I think it took longer to unpackage the bike than it did to assemble. Love the green color, but I see Trek/Fisher is rolling something similar out for 2012.

The bike just charges through the soft sand here locally when my 26" bike would get swallowed up. My average speed is higher as well.


Weaknesses:  As with all mail order bikes, you need to be able to wrench on your own bike or have access to a very understanding bike shop (as in, why didn't you buy from us...) I'm still working on dialing in the Elixir R brakes, as I still have a little rub after truing the calipers, and the rear brake is much softer than the front. I also found the 640mm flat handlebar is much too narrow for my preference, and the stock saddle is rock hard. Granted I haven't been overly sore from the saddle either.

Similar Products Used:  
Specialized Rock Hopper Comp 29er
Fisher Cobia
Cannondale SL2

Bike Setup:  Stock w/ Syncros 710mm riser handlebar w/ Ergon GX1 grips and caged pedals.

Bottom Line:  If you find yourself in the situation I did, the Goblin is a great buy. I test rode several bikes that really didn't do much for me, and decided I wanted a Fisher Cobia at this price point from a previous test ride. The problem was, nobody within 100 miles could get me one until the 2012 models hit sometime in August (it is May now). That was just too long for me to wait. Turns out, it was a similar situation for Felt, and Giant. I was left with options that were $500, or $1700. My budget was right at $1200. The team at Airborne was very knowledgeable, and assured me I would love the bike which was true. They even said if I rode it, and didn't like it they would let me ship it back for a full refund. I couldn't argue with that, and the good news is I'm keeping the Goblin! I ended up with much nicer components than the Fisher for the same price, and the frame fit and finish is excellent. If you can get over the "name brand" issues, you will be rewarded with an excellent product and a knowledgeable company backing it up.

From: westbayou@gmail.com | Created on: 7/11/2011 8:46 PM

I've been riding the Airborne Goblin hard and often (insert crude joke here) since I received it back in early May. Aside from riding and training rides, I've also had a chance to race the bike in 2 Wisconsin Endurance Mountain Bike Series (WEMS) endurance races as well a 15 mile CAT 2 Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) race. After all this riding, I feel I'm ready to render an opinion on this 29er phenomenon sweeping the Midwest and on the Airborne Goblin specifically.

You have probably heard a million different opinions on 29ers just like I have. "They climb great," or "they are harder to climb" or "it has the equivalent of 1 inch of travel due to the larger wheel size." I set out dismissing everything I heard about 29ers so that I could form my own unbiased opinions about the bike. The following thoughts are from a guy who was a bit of a skeptic on the 29er thing who loves riding technical terrain on a 26 inch full squish bike.

I left my bike mostly stock until shortly before my first race when I replaced the stock WTB Laser Disc wheels with super light Sun Ringle Black Flag Pro's and the WTB grips with Ergons. I didn't find the weight of the Laser Discs bothersome like others have, I just wanted something to make the bike really fast for racing. Thus the change to the Black Flags. As for the grips, that's just a personal preference. But now onto the bike.

First and foremost, the Goblin is a 29 inch bike that is also a hardtail and none of that "built in travel due to the larger wheel size" talk will make you forget it. Not that there is anything wrong with a hardtail. My last race bike was a hardtail and I can tell you it was very fast and efficient and I can definitely say that about the Goblin. It is a fast, fast bike; faster than my previous race bike.

Why is it faster than my 26 inch bikes? I think there are two reasons for that. Firstly, the momentum of the wheels tend to make them roll over things a little better and therefore loses less speed over bumps. Of course, the flip side of this is you have to develop the fitness level necessary to get and keep those big wheels rolling, but it doesn't take long. The second reason is the 2x10 SRAM X.7 drivetrain is a perfect match for this bike in my opinion. With a 39 and 22 tooth sprockets in front and a 11-36 cassette in the rear, I've never had a problem finding just the right gear. The only thing I didn't initially like was the big jump from the big sprocket to the little one. However, as you train and ride the bike you start getting a better feel for when to shift, you'll lose less and less momentum due to that big jump. In fact, now that I'm used to the 2x10 drivetrain, I found I hate the feel of my 3x9 setups. I just can't seem to find the right gear to keep my speed up at my desired cadence. I'm sure that's because my legs are now conditioned to the new gearing.

Like I said earlier, I've had a chance to race the Goblin a couple times. I did a 3 hour endurance race on a very rocky course that was probably a better fit for a full suspension bike. I did well in the race and turned decent lap times. I did, however, feel quite beat up on the last lap and after the race. A lot of that had to do with the previous condition of my back (which had been giving me problems leading up to the race). The bike actually had no problem handling the rocky course and I knew that going in from previously riding the trail on the Goblin. But riding for 3 hours straight is a lot different than regular riding and that's why if I did a race that long on that rocky of a course, personally I would choose a full suspension bike.


The 15 mile WORS race was a lot of wide open fire road with small sections of really technical singletrack peppered in. It was the perfect bike for a course like that. I flew through the wide open sections and easily rolled through the technical stuff. The Rockshox Reba fork proved competent through the technical sections and the lockout feature was invaluable on the fire road and climbs.

The second WEMS race I competed in the Goblin shined again.  I turned my fastest lap times on my home trails ever (and did so lap after lap).  I did this 50 mile race as part of a duo.  That means I had about 50 minutes between laps to recover.  This was a really great opportunity to see that the bike does more than just feel fast.  Seeing my lap times proved that the bike really IS faster on my local trails.  While these trails are not the most technical or rocky trails around they have plenty of rocks and roots to keep things interesting.

Speaking of climbing, you can add that to another thing this bike does well. Provided you condition your legs to keep the wheels rolling and to the 2x10 gearing it's easy to fly right up hills. I'm by no means a strong climber, but the Goblin allows me to get to the top at a decent pace without blowing myself up.

Another thing I like is how this bike corners. Due to a relatively low bottom bracket this bike feels very stable while cornering. The Kenda Small block 8's do their job well, too. They work very well on hardpack and even do okay in looser stuff. Due to the small knobs, the tires obviously don't do well in mud, but as tires go you can't have everything. I think the Kenda's are a decent choice here.

Now, I realize I'm talking a little bit out of both sides of my mouth here because the low bottom bracket lends itself to great corner, but at the same time it makes the bike prone to pedal strikes.  This does does get better with more time in the saddle and you learn where you can pedal and where you can’t, but this is at the expense of losing pedal strokes through certain sections.

The other complaints I have, which is a general 29er complaints, is its ability to handle tight and twisty singletrack. The bigger wheels make it harder to time turns through narrow corners. So generally, I feel a little slower through those sections. I expect this to improve slightly over time with more practice, but I don't think the Goblin will ever be as nimble as my 26 inch bikes. It also doesn't necessarily like to be in the air. It's hard to explain, but the bike feels like it would rather roll over small ledges, jumps and drops rather than being launched into the air. My riding style is not to just roll over things. I like to jump on, off and over obstacles. While the Goblin does all of this, it just seems to take more effort and ability to do so.

This last quibble is pretty minor, but I think it is worth mentioning. I wish the water bottle cage mounts on the seat tube were lower. As is sits right now its a tight fit for a 16oz bottle and getting a 24oz water bottle in there; forget about it. I'd like to see these mounts on future models pushed as low as frame design will allow (assuming they are not already).

Summing up:

There are a lot of things this bike does well and I can see why someone would want to add this high speed weapon to their arsenal. I'm really happy to have it in my collection and will most likely be using it as a race rig and at my local trails going forward. I will also be gradually upgrading it as funds allow. The intent strictly being to shed weight from the bike; not to gain any functional improvement as I'm very pleased with the performance of the stock components; especially considering the price. That said, my 26 inch bikes are not going anywhere. I find the 29er a nice addition as it does something different than anything my current group of bikes, but it is not the end all be all of mountain bikes as I've heard others claim.

My advice regarding 29ers: Don't believe the hype about 29 inch wheels. Ride one and find out for yourself!

From: martin.tank@gmail.com | Created on: 6/21/2011 4:50 PM

First let me say that I only ride 29ers and have ridden a few over the past years, mostly hardtail.

This bike has many features that you will only find on a rig twice as much. The X7 drive train is a dream and I foresee all XC bikes moving to a 2X10 in the near future. The Reba fork is a solid pick all the features and much more manageable maintenance intervals than a fox or white bros. I couldn't forget to mention that this ride sports Avid Elixir brakes which was another key reason I had to get my hands on one.

Out of the box it is ready to go but my only feedback is to make sure the small block 8s fit the terrain you are riding.  They are designed for hardpack XC trails.  Normally, that is what you have during the summer in the midwest but with all the rain this year thus far, that is not necessarily the case.  

All in all, you won't find a better bike under 2k and the Cool-Aid Green Goblin is well below that mark.

From: zeis2@msn.com | Created on: 6/11/2011 10:07 AM

What a joy to ride, so many upgrades from my last 29er at an affordable price.
Now I have learned the 2×10 Sram gearing it is a blast. I typically ride SS so on the Goblin I leave it in the big chainring the 39 tooth works perfect with the larger wheels combined with the 10 speed cassette. The brakes are nice after after a short bed in time, if they can stop me at 255 pounds on some tight single track in El Morro Ca  you should no problems.

From: erichunner@gmail.com | Created on: 5/10/2011 2:01 PM

This bike is down right fun!
From all day epic rides to a quick spin at your favorite local trail to mid summer xc races, this bike covers it all.

As a Flight Crew member I have had the privilage to spend a lot of time on this bike already and I can attest to all the above statements.

The 80 mm Reba is just enough travel to soak up all the little bumps and roots, to the occasional unexpected larger drops.

The x-7 2x10 drive train is not only a fun change up from the traditional 3x9 but it is also much more  efficient. With a wide chain ring spread in the back it is guaranteed you will not run out of gears or wish you had more.

If you want a great 29er at a very affordable price, this is the bike for.

WARNING: Be prepared to sell all of your 26 inch, small wheeled bikes. This bike is just too fun!

From: bonneykevin@hotmail.com | Created on: 4/25/2011 4:52 PM

Because I'm on the Flight Crew,I'm one of the lucky ones who got a pre-production model of the Goblin.

My initial thought was "It's just another aluminum frame".  I was so wrong.  This is one of the more comfortable  frames I've ever been on and the designers hit it out of the park with a fine balance of efficiency and comfort.  

Geometry numbers show a 74 ST and 71.5 HT that brings out the best in a 29er.  Nirvana has been discovered on this ride with stability and responsiveness together in perfect harmony.  Things like switchbacks and tight techy areas that normally slow a big wheeled bike down a bit are a pleasure on the Goblin.

In addition, it looks really hot too!

This is my first 2x10 experience and after the learning curve, I'm hooked! The perfect gear is always only a click away.   2x10 will be the future.
The bike came with X7 and the bike snob in me swapped it to X9... I wish I saved the money, it wasn't worth it.  The X7 is awesome for the $.

The Rock Shox Reba is a solid spec and does exactly what it should with no issues.

160 Elixer R's stop you at both ends. I personally find it plenty of stopping power, but I do know more than a few who prefer 180's... personal preference I guess.

The rest of the bike is a solid spec and any bashing is nit picking due again, to personal preference.   Things like handlebar width (I found it a bit narrow), saddle, tires, etc. are all easily swapped.

If you want to try a solidly speced 29er and the wallet is limiting, get the Goblin! You'll be hard pressed to find a better deal for $1200.

Are you a racer boy looking for a new ride?  This is a strong chassis to build around.  My 22" is coming in at just below 27 lbs without any super light parts on it (Friendly reminder, it's a non stock build).  
I could easily drop more weight on it if I needed too.

Get the Goblin... you'll be smiling ear to ear!

I'll give the bike four stars so I don't come off looking like a total  fan boy...

From: Toddre95@sbcglobal.net | Created on: 3/31/2011 9:37 AM