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Average Rating
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2.34/5
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# of Reviews
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71
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MSRP
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$ 249.95
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Weight
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Description:Features:
80mm travel Coil, TPC damping, adjustable preload & rebound & compression, Semi-bath with Evil Genius Seals, Magnesium RA (Reverse Arch) casting, Alloy steerer tube
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Submitted by
nealfix
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Weaknesses: | To much flex. The tire rubs on the brake pads under light load and on the fork itself under heavy loads. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic. | | Bottom Line: | I am looking for a different XC fork. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rinmeister
a Weekend Warrior
from Mook, Limburg, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Mook | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came with the bike | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Arch broke | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Judy | | Bike Setup: | Epic 2003 | | Bottom Line: | I read all the comments and bargained with the seller. Got the bike for a fair price, seller insisted that the fork was fine though, he just had it serviced.... Cycled on it first time and noticed that the front wheel was not aligned straight. When I hit bumps it would scrape against the fork. I inspected the arch and then I saw the crack on the right side of the arch! I took it off, it was really flex, and then it broke off in my hands. Needless to say I bought a new fork. What a piece of crap! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike fluke
a Weekend Warrior
from greensboro, nc
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | grapevine lake texas | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | looks cool with bike it came on...a giant xtc2 2003. | | Weaknesses: | mushy and weak, likes to compress quickly with no feel of control. almost fell over the bar too many times... | | Similar Products Used: | marzoochi bomber | | Bike Setup: | stock 2003 xtc2 w/ velociraptors | | Bottom Line: | i am finally replacing this completely worn out and useless fork with a 2007 marzoochi xc600 i found on sale at blue sky cycles for $229.00. according to the specs it is 1/2 pound heavier, but is worth the extra 20mm of travel. i have a marzoochi bomber that came stock on my 2001 sugar 4 and it is really solid... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Kenan
a Downhiller
from Sunland, CA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Wilson | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | 150.00 | | Strengths: | it felt like a real shock | | Weaknesses: | shock cracks in half | | Similar Products Used: | sherman n1, rockshoks,and a defective parachute | | Bike Setup: | hard tail home grown shwinn with juicy 7 8" rotor brakes with out steering | | Bottom Line: | well yet another statistic...the shock bridge had a catastrophic crack that sent me hurling to the ground at a high rate of speed. i realized that i was heading to the ground when the bike went to the right suddenly and unexpectedly. First my left hip hit the ground and bounced onto my right shin cutting a 7" long gas into my shin. Then i went air bourne again. I spun around in mid air and bounced back onto to my left hip with an even greater impact and slid down the trail in the fetal position until i grinded to a halt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Kenan
a Downhiller
from Sunland, CA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Wilson | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | 150.00 | | Strengths: | it felt like a real shock | | Weaknesses: | shock cracks in half | | Similar Products Used: | sherman n1, rockshoks,and a defective parachute | | Bike Setup: | hard tail home grown shwinn with juicy 7 8" rotor brakes with out steering | | Bottom Line: | well yet another statistic...the shock bridge had a catastrophic crack that sent me hurling to the ground at a high rate of speed. i realized that i was heading to the ground when the bike went to the right suddenly and unexpectedly. First my left hip hit the ground and bounced onto my right shin cutting a 7" long gas into my shin. Then i went air bourne again. I spun around in mid air and bounced back onto to my left hip with an even greater impact and slid down the trail in the fetal position until i grinded to a halt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr. Lumberg
a Cross Country Rider
from Mesa, AZ
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Cool nickname like "Mani-POO"
Cheap. But... | | Weaknesses: | ...you get what you pay for. From day one this thing was very flexy and suffered considerable stiction. After making a hard turn I'd suddenly have brake drag on the left side because the two sides of the fork wouldn't return evenly, leaving the wheel leaning to one side. I quickly got into the habit of throwing my weight on the bars to force an even compression return after hard cornering. The adjustment knobs did nothing. And it disassembles itself before your very eyes. | | Similar Products Used: | The usual suspects. | | Bike Setup: | It's gettin' there... | | Bottom Line: | Run, don't walk away from this thing. If you order an older bike that has this on it try to swap it out or get credit towards a different fork. Even the SID is a step up.
There's a reason why it's not being made anymore. This came on the Kokopelli Race as stock equipment; the frame is unfortuneately also no longer in production despite raves but I found I new one I guess BicycleBuys.com forgot about in its basement, which is how I came to own a new '03 model late in '05.
Long story short, I intended from day 1 to replace it by summer anyway with a Zoke or Fox; this has been mostly street ridden so far and I could deal with the issues for now.
I found this review however and was curious to see what others were saying about it. What did I find? Time after time people were having complete failures around the arch so that the lowers would separate from each other, lock the wheel, and give the rider an assisted dismount over the bars. I ran out to check the state of mine, which in anticipation of summer has seen mostly street use, remember, and sure enough a crack about 1/4 inch deep was visible on the right lower where the arch joins to it.
Manitou has been taking care of these under warranty according to others here but doing it in a very shady way; something this potentially serious should get a full recall. Imagine your front locking up on a rocky downhill or while riding along a busy street 'cause you didn't know about the issue.
On a lighter note, I got the Zoke I wanted to replace this turd...
I wish I could give it a zero. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Houston Texas
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | ant hills, Memorial Park, Austin TX | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Dlr. in Houston | | Strengths: | NONE! | | Weaknesses: | Broke! | | Similar Products Used: | none, my first full suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | K2, Race Face crank, xt components, etc. | | Bottom Line: | What a joke.
After purchasing a K2 Razor, which was equipped with this piece of crap fork, did I begin reading reviews on MTB, SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went back to the dealer and told him that this fork is going to break at the arc which I had concluded from MTB reviews. He told me not to believe everything I read on MTB.
Yesterday while riding at Memorial Park, (I have a total of 3hrs. 48 minutes on this bike) I was traveling down a steep trail while turning on one part of the trail I moved over going downhill and all of a sudden my front wheel planted in the ground, as if though I locked up the front brake.
My feet went over my head, my head slammed into the dirt and then the bike slammed on top of my head taking a chunk out of my helmet and gashing my forehead.
My friend who was riding behind me asked if I was OK. I got my bell rung so hard I couldn’t even talk!
What a joke. I could have easily broken my fricking NECK!!!!!
I looked at the fork to see what the heck happened and lo and behold the fork broke on the right hand side of the arc. I do not jump or do anything stupid. (I’ve got 2 kids!) I am just your normal semi-aggressive weekend rider.
BUYERS BEWARE. Get rid of the fork or you too will go down flaming and burning.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Ireland
a Cross Country Rider
from Bolton, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Albion Hills Black Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light weight | | Weaknesses: | Broken Arch | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC2 with Avid Mech Disc Brakes | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden my bike without any issues for the past couple of years and been generally pleased with this fork. It seems to handle the bumpy stuff quite well without any issues bottoming out or being too spongey.
At the end of a recent 24 hour endurance race, I noticed one of the lowers spun on the fork as I was putting it in my trunk. Upon further investigation, I found like many of you, that the upper arch had cracked clean through the casting. This might have explained the bottoming out I was experiencing periodically over the weekend. Not to mention the three rather violent excursions over the handlebars due to the bottoming out. Unfortunately, the cause of my accidents was not realized until after I discovered the damage to the fork.
Following the race, I emailed Answer with the facts and Bobby called me within a couple of days with the reps name to address it with. I took it in to the LBS for repair. I had it back within two weeks. While this seemed long to me (I usually ride 2-3 times/week minimum), it is really pretty good. Especially considering it was almost a full year out of warranty. I guess they realized it is a manufacturing defect and didn't have an issue replacing it.
Judging by my rating, I really can't knock this fork too much. Answer's service was good and until it broke, it was a decent performing fork. The repair consists of a beefier arch and seems to work great... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Powder Springs
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Internationa; Horse Park Conyers, GA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Roswell Bike | | Strengths: | Weak.... Looks nice. | | Weaknesses: | I'm probably rougher than I should be on this fork, but 4 months of three days a week has killed mine. I could have used a heavier spring for my 200 lbs, but now I clunck and rattle across every bump, and compression flexs the front fork so mush, the tire is scrubbing on the left side. You can SEE it. Biggest weakness on the Epic it came on. i'm upgrading as soon as I can get some new forks | | Bike Setup: | Epic w/ Avid mechanicals | | Bottom Line: | Not for bigger guys who like to downhill. It just couldn't take it. I've read that they're upgrading the lowers. I just went to my LBS to get the replacements. I'll ride them again once the new lowers are on. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Racer
from Morrison
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Dakota Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | it's hard to list any strengths | | Weaknesses: | I broke my second Skareb Comp about a month ago, same exact place on the right side of the arch. Unfortunately I jacked my wrist up during the resulting wreck and am still feeling the results of poor production. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS2 | | Bottom Line: | The bike tech. at Performance Bike said that Manitou had a bad batch of forks come out last year. Honestly I'm a little paranoid and hoping my my replacement came from the good batch. I have to give this fork an enthusiastic thumbs down at this point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Racer
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | St. Eds/Big Finn Hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Relatively stiff. Plush, soaks up the bumps well (when not locking itself out automatically). | | Weaknesses: | Tends to lock out automatically after 2 or 3 good compressions. | | Similar Products Used: | Judy, SID. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Epic | | Bottom Line: | When they aren't locking out by themselves, the fork gives a nice ride. Sucks up the roots, logs and moderate jumps with ease. No noticeable flex but I'm only 140 lbs, and haven't had any arch-cracking problems (yet). They worked pretty well the first couple of rides but now the forks go into lockout mode after 2 to 3 good compressions, meaning I have to stop, twist the stupid lever to release the lockout, and try to get a bit further down the trail before I have to stop and do it again. If you plan on racing, don't buy this fork. All others, I would avoid buying this product unless you have no other options. Still waiting to hear from the Manitou folks about how to remove the lockout feature since I don't really have a need for it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sergiu Petrovan
a Cross Country Rider
from Romania
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | www.multicycle.de | | Strengths: | light, eats small and big bumps very well, not very expensive. | | Weaknesses: | The fork is a little flexy, as the other reviewers observed. In my case, the front wheel (brand new) touched the left brake pad when riding, even if when off the bike, there was 1-2 mm space between the rim and the brake pad. I tried different preload & rebound & compression adjustments, but the result was the same. So what was remaining: to adjust the V-brakes so that they don't touch the rim, while riding. Still, during cornering, the wheel touches the brake pads. Also, I installed a brake booster in order to reduce the flex of the fork - which helped a bit. Now this this was not a huge problem for me, but seeing that several other people crashed ( some pretty badly) because the fork cracked, I decided to ask support from Answer. I received a new Magnesium casting for the fork, 7 days after my complaint, even if I live in the Eastern Europe. I think this is something that should be known about Answer.
| | Similar Products Used: | '98 RockShox Jett SL, '98 Judy SL, '01 SID Race, '03 Manitou Black. | | Bike Setup: | Cube LTD One, custom built, XT/XTR, (www.cube-bikes.de) | | Bottom Line: | The Answer customer support is very professional. I think nobody should be affraid to buy from Answer. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, worked well. Excellent support from Manitou! | | Weaknesses: | Arch cracked, then broke. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Super Six Delux, Manitou Minute One | | Bike Setup: | 2003 NRS 2 | | Bottom Line: | Arch cracked going downhill resulting in a few scrapes. Fork was a month or so beyond the one year warranty - but Manitou replaced the lowers at no charge anyway. Excellent responsiveness and service from Manitou (Bobby was very professional and helpful). They treated me right which is why I've been a loyal Manitou user. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Haetinger
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Beach
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | District Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike (XTC2) | | Bottom Line: | Same story here..........went down pretty hard and bent my rims. Ddidn't notice my fork was cracked till after I had ridden the 4 miles out on it. Then it was done.
It's covered under warranty so we'll see how good the new lower is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Milwaukee
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Milwaukee River | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Cory the Bike Fixer | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | defective! | | Similar Products Used: | Older Manitou Magnum lower end shock. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 NRS | | Bottom Line: | I can't rate performance much because it broke after 4 miles. It broke on the reverse arch (big surprise) and I went down pretty hard, no serious injury just lots of blood and bruises.
Manitou is going to replace it, but I think I'm going to upgrade to something more heavy duty I'm 6'1" 200lbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garry Siddon
a Cross Country Rider
from Leicester, England
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | All of 'em! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Looks cool, lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't work, in fear of the grim reaper- EVERY ride | | Similar Products Used: | Judy SL, Manitou Mars, Rond O24U, Pace pro class, girvin vector, Quadra 21R....... | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Unicoi, XTR, Thomson, etc. | | Bottom Line: | What a pile of junk. They seemed fine for my first gentle setup ride on the road. First off road excursion was a nightmare, almost no travel, in spite of endless tinkering and tuning (and I'm no novice). The forks flex, and I mean FLEX, like the lowers are made of rubber. The brakes rub heavily on both sides of the rim when I'm out of the saddle (I'm 180lbs). I then read the previous reports posted here and frankly, I'm just scared of these forks now. I spend most of my ride looking for cracks (if you know what I mean). Manitou's warranty dept assure me there's nothing to worry about- too right, I'm selling them. Do yourself a favour, buy anything else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wavemag
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | Follow up to my previous post... After I noticed the crack in my Forks I contacted my LBS who called Manitou. Manitou sent out replacement lowers immediately w/ no hassles. My LBS had them installed and I was back in the saddle within a week of contacting my LBS. The new lowers look much better, and I haven't seen any complaints about them breaking (please speak up if you've had problems with the replacement lowers).
Manitou customer service: Grade A
If you have not gotten your lowers replaced, call them immediately and have your LBS swap them out. You will be able to ride more confidently after...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Downingtown, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Hmmmmm... Looks nice. | | Weaknesses: | Broke | | Bike Setup: | Came on NRS2 | | Bottom Line: | Yup, My reverse arch broke too. Luckily without broken bones. I seem to be kind of lucky that it lasted 6 months compared to some of the other reviews. Seemed like it was kind of flexy even before the reverse arch broke. So it adds to the price of the Bike. If your bike comes with this, replace it immediately if you do any kind of technical riding. Sure I am a 200lb guy and ride technical trail. But isn't that what a mountain bike fork is for? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wavemag
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Fairly nice ride at my weight... | | Weaknesses: | Reverse arch cracking after just 6 months... | | Bike Setup: | 2003 NRS2 | | Bottom Line: | This fork came stock on my NRS2. I read some reviews about it after I bought and saw many complaints about these forks breaking. Since then I've checked them regularly after rides and sure enough my forks have a crack forming at the arch that is about 1/2 way through.
Given all of the reported failures of these forks and the injuries associated with many of them, I'm really shocked that Manitou/Answer hasn't recalled these forks. I don't care if they are good about replacing them, they know they have a bad product and they haven't taken the proper corrective action in my opinion.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Royal
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, Ga.
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Stonewall Falls | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Peddler | | Strengths: | Lightweight, several adjustments (rebound, compression, lockout) | | Weaknesses: | Just like all of the others, the arch broke. Before the break the fork was very flimsy. | | Similar Products Used: | Duke XC air, Judy TT | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic | | Bottom Line: | Fork came on Epic, which was clearly a choice to keep the price reasonable. Noticed the crack after only a few easy rides, nothing extreme. Would not recommend this fork even for light cross country riding. The only up side to this is that I discovered the crack before I rode again and called Answer. They were very helpful and promised a replacement lower in a week or so and possibly an upgrade (for $$ of, course). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Casserole
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | on da bike | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | bloody thing breaks | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocci bombers | | Bike Setup: | Giant '03 XTC2 Magura Discs | | Bottom Line: | Like a Kid with a new toy was out on my 2nd ride on the new bike and clean snapped the reverse arch off from the lower forks, buckled my front tyre,which locked up and sent me over the bars. Broke my collarbone, lost bark and plenty of bruises.
They replaced the lower forks and the replacements are alot beefier in the reverse arch area. New forks are alot better. Check the reverse arch area for cracks!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wayne
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order | | Strengths: | Plush ride, easy to adjust, smooth, reasonably stiff | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy (about 1/2 pound heavier than my very old SX-Ti) | | Similar Products Used: | SX Ti, Super Six Elite, Judy SL, SID | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper, Skarab fork, RaceFace crank, SRAM 7.0 deraillers and shifters, WTB wheels/hubs, XT brakes | | Bottom Line: | This is not a fork for heavy riders (over 200 lb) or for large jumps. It is a plush cross country fork and serves that market well. If you are outside the weight limit or ride like there is no tomorrow, then get a different fork. If you want an inexpensive, relatively light (3.7lb) fork, this is it. the coil springs give a plush ride, the fork has virtually no stiction, and the adjusters all work as advertised. I give it a 4 as it could be about 1/2 pound lighter | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Amos
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All XC | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Company quick to replace with out question, (personally I think Manitou, is trying to cover their butt.) | | Weaknesses: | Flex, wobble, don't know if you're really going go the way pointed, oil leak, quality control, had to and re-aline wheel in the middle of my ride... Reverse arch broke threw me over handle bars breaking collar bone in two places and rotary cup damage!
| | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Giant, NRS 2 stock | | Bottom Line: | I don't have alot of exeperience with many forks,but, I have to say there has been some serious oversights in the design of this fork. I ride a 16 mile XC,loop everyday medium difficulty. It apparently appears that I got alot more miles out of my Scareb, before breaking,but, there were many times the sweat pouring off my brow wasn't from a hard ride. Skary should be its name not Skareb, (no terrifing). I would try to negotiate with the dealer for something a little more substantial if my next bike of choice was to have this installed. I can't speak for those who ride on pavement,but, I don't recommend this fork to anyone if I bought a bike with this installed I recommend having it changed before leaving the dealership. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Omaha, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | None it broke after 20 min ride | | Weaknesses: | Reverse arch broke locked up front wheel and sent me over the bars. I was riding carefully on a demo bike. I have a 3rd degree separation of my shoulder and collar bone. Recall time on this fork. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox cheap model but never broke on me | | Bike Setup: | Demo Giant NRS2 | | Bottom Line: | Manitou should contact all owners of this shock and replace defective reverse arch or entire shock. No one should have to go through the pain I am going through right now. They will be hearing from me. Enough of these have broken already. Cant rate this one low enough. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Olathe, KS, USA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Kill Creek, Perry Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Bikesource | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | reverse arch is inherently defective | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox Judy, RST180 | | Bike Setup: | Stock Giant NRS2 | | Bottom Line: | This shock has felt loose from the begining, I blame it for the disc brakes on the bike for constantly making noise.
The fork broke at the reverse arch and the lowers after 6 months of use, about 450 miles. Manitou needs to recall all of these and replace them with a sturdier lower. I hope the replacement lowers I get, which, to their credit Manitou is sending with no questions asked, will be an improved design that addresses this problem. Companies that continue to sell products with known defects are only hurting themselves. I will never buy another Manitou product or recommend a Manitou product to anyone. If I could give this zero flamin' chilis for both value and overall I would. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Coavack
a Weekend Warrior
from Nashville, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light weight? | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou SXR | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | This fork is brand new, came on my bike. I haven't experienced any flex as others have mentioned. The fork, however, leaves a lot to be desired in the plushness department. I've inspected it, adjusted rebound, compression etc etc and it rides like a rigid fork. I ride cross-country, weigh 185 lbs. Rides average about 15-20 miles. By 10 miles my wrists are blown out. Took it to my LBS and they agreed, it performs like a pogo stick. They're checking the internals more closely to see what can be done to rectify the situation; possibly a send-back to Manitou. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$268.00 | | Purchased At: | Phantom Cycles | | Strengths: | lightweight, price | | Weaknesses: | weak, flexy | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Magnum, Rock Shox Judy | | Bike Setup: | things that matter to this review are Giant ATX 860 frame, Manitou Skareb Comp Forks, XT Hubs, DT Champion Spokes, Mavic X222 rims | | Bottom Line: | I paid $400 australian with a trade in of my '99 Judy Forks, totally stuffed but served me well. They were a bargain buy, nothing else like them for the price around (1.5kgs, 3.4lbs). I though I was getting a good deal. I weigh 63kgs, 140lbs, and race XC. When first installed they were perfect, no breaking in at all. I got on and they rode beautifully for about 3 months. In the last 2-3 months whenever I put the power down and crank the bike side to side my wheel hits the pads, could be wheel flex but I don't think so, these wheels were perfect with old forks and first 3 months with these forks. I also find that when the fork is reaching the bottom of its travel my wheel rubs again meaning the forks are bent. They have bent without too much stress and while i'm yet to break them I've seen about six pairs of '03 forks with this casting snap where the 'Reverse Arch' meets the lowers. All on hire bikes from the shop I work in the middle of Melbourne, no rough riding around here. Bottom line, bargain buy, if you don't have much money they're awesome, just hope for the best. Five chillis for value. Overall two chillis because they just don't go the distance, really not acceptable for a fork to be sold and bend so easy. Keep saving and buy Rock Shox Duke or Sid for XC, anything Marzocci if you don't mind the extra weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince
a Weekend Warrior
from Tooele, UT,USA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | None Now | | Weaknesses: | Guess What!! Broke the %$#^ thing on the lower right fork. Crashed. Scraped the elbows, knees, hips etc. I love my helmet. It passed the crash test. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first shock | | Bike Setup: | 2003 stumpjumper hard tail. mostly stock | | Bottom Line: | Fork is at the LSB right now. Answer will send a replacement casting as a warrenty. I asked about upgrading to a Black fork. They said no problem as long as I pay $200.00. That is what I can get a new one for thru Price Point. Thanks for nothing! I guess I will ride the repaired one until it cracks then send it back again. Anyone that wants to crash test a helment should be riding this fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Epicurean
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Erwin Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Richardson Bike Mart | | Strengths: | Lockout feature. | | Weaknesses: | Coil only. No air. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Float 80RL | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Specialized Epic | | Bottom Line: | After reading the previous reviews about this fork, I was a little hesitant to purchase a bike with this fork. However, I really wanted the Epic so I was able to work out a deal. For the same price, my LBS swapped out this fork with the Fox Float 80RL. At the time, they did not have any Fox forks in stock, so I was able to ride for about a month with this one.
When compressed under hard conditions, e.g., double dips, the fork makes a strained noise. I can't describe it, but you'll know what I mean when you hear it. Because you cannot air tune the fork, the coil is a little too soft and it dives a lot when accelerating out of the saddle unless you lock it out.
After a month of pretty hard riding, it did not appear to have any cracks, but I do believe that the fork was flexing to the point where the front tire was rubbing the crossbrace. I should've put masking tape around the crossbrace to see if the tire did indeed hit it on those dips, but I didn't think of that until just now. Maybe one of y'all can try that and report back?
I've only ridden once with the Fox Float 80RL, but I can already tell that that fork is a lot better. I don't get the strained noise I mentioned above even though I rode the same portion of the course harder.
In summary I didn't think it was a bad fork, but then again I've only had it for a month. I can say with certainty that my new Fox fork is better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keith cave
a Cross Country Rider
from new zealand
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | tin bum | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | hedgehog | | Strengths: | smooth action | | Weaknesses: | after reading the reveiws checked my fork and found cracks in both brake arch sides. Not a happy lad. it has not had a thrashing at all. Manitou needs to do something quick. | | Similar Products Used: | ridden lots of forks | | Bike Setup: | oem on a giant nrs 2 | | Bottom Line: | dont acceppt this fork as standard. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeramie Prine
a Cross Country Rider
from Lander, Wyoming, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | cliff ride...secret | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | ummmmmm...Answer is good at sending a new product to replace broken fo |
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