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Average Rating
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4.29/5
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# of Reviews
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21
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Weight
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Description:Light and stiff, with travel to 130mm and available Motion Control Damping, Recon is the choice for All Mountain bikes.
Key Features:
-Motion Control Damping (351)
-Stiff 32mm 7075 aluminum upper tube
-Disc specific or bossed lower leg options
-Forged 6061 hollow aluminum crown
-Solo Air and U-Turn coil spring options
-Compatible with all PopLocs
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Submitted by
jayboy125
a Cross Country Rider
from Devon
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | red trail, holdon hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | merlincycles.co.uk | | Strengths: | smooth when riding, strong, light and really good quality feel to them. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | rockshox recon 351 dual air | | Bike Setup: | Saracen Vortex le with rockshox recon 351 forks. | | Bottom Line: | amazing forks i advise anyone thinking of getting the to do so . they are good for everything pretty much, i do downhilling, jumping and cross country, and they take all of it perfectly. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Benjamin Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Felton, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bay Area Ridge Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | Family Cycle Center, Capitola | | Strengths: | U-turn travel adjust is the greatest! I added it to my Gary Fisher Hardtail and it was like having a new bike. Shorten the travel for climbing, raise it for descending, put it in the middle for technical riding; it changes the head angle, gyroscope angle for excellent handling on any terrain. More than enough suspension for one wheel. | | Weaknesses: | I would like the u-turn nob closer to the handlebars/easier to adjust at short notice. | | Similar Products Used: | rockshox jett, rockshox judy | | Bike Setup: | geared hardtail w/ low handlebars, high seat
high speed trail commuting | | Bottom Line: | I would like a u-turn on every fork I get from now on; sadly that bike just got stollen and my replacement is a 29er. They don't currently put u-turns on 29er forks but I'm hoping someday that product will be available. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
craig
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Castwood Park ,Ballwin, MO | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ordered and installed , mesa cycles | | Strengths: | I can tell a big difference from the RST that came stock and this fork, at first I was worried from all the other up and down reviews for this shock..It handles on rocky trials and on pavement amazingly well, im not sure but I think shock might have a greater rack for better handeling and peformance.. | | Weaknesses: | Slight decrease in pressure but far as I told it suppose to do it | | Similar Products Used: | RST GILA came stock on trek bike | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Trek 4300 disc WTB weirwolfs,other then shock its stock | | Bottom Line: | From this being my first real upgrade for shocks it great, if you dont mind the slightly high price tag it a super investment if you are going be doing much incline and descent on rock/ boldgers, Heck alot better then the stock trek one RST gila but was okay if just everyday cruise on trails, but I wanted a beefer front end, Exactly what it is and what I got 4flamin chilis for the money $400. and 5 for the performance/ handling | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a
from London UK
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Got it off a friend | | Strengths: | Light, Sensitive, Good Value for price i payed, looks good, you can adjust travel etc | | Weaknesses: | The skewers you use to adjust the travel are made from plastic my one broke already, otherwise none | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Tora | | Bottom Line: | Decent Fork for the price payed would advise it to a friend | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis Grant
a Cross Country Rider
from Windsor
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Fanshawe Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle World, Windsor | | Strengths: | Functional rebound control, air spring with adjustable pressure, compression-based lockout with blowoff. | | Weaknesses: | Less adjustments than higher-end models (Reba, Revolution), conversion to Poploc remote requires swapping damping cartridge, plastic screw cover for air fill valve uses fine thread that strips/crosssthreads easily | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour XCR | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Giant Yukon Canadian spec | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Single Air sprung, non-poploc, 4.35" travel model.
The Recon 351 is RockShox's midrange XC/AM fork. It shares a similar chassis and similar internal mechanism to the higher end models, but has less in the way of adjustments.
The Recon 351 features air springing, adjustable rebound, and adjustable compression with a lockout feature. More advanced models add the ability to change positive and negative air spring pressure independantly (the Solo Air mechanism in the Recon 351 fills both chambers to the same pressure) and allows the blowoff pressure on the lockout to be tuned (on the Recon, this pressure is fixed) and offer variable travel lengths.
Mine did not come with the bar-mount poploc remote that allows compression and lockout to be changed while riding, and upgrading to the remote involves changing some internals on the fork, so it isn't as simple as buying the remote and cable to add it.
The rebound adjustment works well and has large control authority; the fork can be taken from heavily underdamped to slightly overdamped. The compression adjustment seems to have less authority; my impression is that you have a baseline compression setting and "locked out" more than a real range of tuning settings. Happily, the baseline compression setting seems to work fine for me so I don't miss the adjustability. The lockout lever sits on the top of the right fork leg and can be reached easily enough to be activated while the bike is moving (over smooth terrain at least) Even when locked out, the fork retains a certain degree of travel and will still absorb some bumps.
Compared to the spring-preload-only, undamped Suntour XCR that the bike came with, this fork is a dream. It can be quickly set to absorb big hits without kicking back and ejecting the rider from the bike. Even with compression at full soft, there is no bob under full power when seated (although it will bob mashing out of the saddle unless the lockout is engaged) and the fork makes full travel with the air pressure set correctly.
This fork didn't noticable change the ride quality of the bike - the Suntour was plenty free to move over bumps - but it has completely transformed the predictibility and stability of the bike. There is no longer any ricochet over roots, rocks, and transitions - the fork just soaks up the hit and the bike stays pointed where I intended. This fork solved my only real complaint with the bike.
Even on sale as a model year clearout it was still very expensive (as most forks are) but it was half the price of a Reba for almost identical performance and weight.
Needing major surgery to fit the poploc remote is annoying, and the screwcap that covers the air fill valve is threaded with an inexplicably fine thread that crossthreaded in a heartbeat, but these are minor niggles. Overall, this was a great addition to my ride.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
saint
a Racer
from sudbury, ont, canada
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | devil's elbow | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | adjustable, sturdy and plush. easy to service. | | Weaknesses: | none as of yet--maybe a little heavy, but hey it's a spring fork. | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar XC expert, xt drive train, crossmax sl wheels, kenda small block 8 tires, juicy 5 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I put this fork on my Dakar while I rebuilt my Fox 100rl. I raced the bike with the fork set at 90 mm, and to my suprise it worked great. Very sturdy--smooth stroke. It meshed very well with the rear shock and the bike was point and shoot. The 85-130 adjust allows me to go all mountain if I wish. I may just leave the fork on the bike. I did switch to the extra firm spring as I weigh 80 kgs. rebound dampening works great, as does the motion control. good all purpose fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco Soares
a
from Figueira da Foz; Portugal
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Serra Boa Viagem | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | infobtt.com | | Strengths: | Easy blocking system, good behaviour when pushed almost to the limit in soft downhill rides. Zero maintenance so far. Good rebound tuning, it really works well and compression is easy to find the correct setup also. | | Weaknesses: | Not as resistant to tortion as I would like, but for the price paid is pretty good. | | Bike Setup: | Olympia E-type, FOX RP3, XT tramsission, Deore hydraulic brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Very good fork, ideal travel for the intended use. To be honest I almost never reduce it from 130mm, so if you are considering buy one of these I suggest you buy the one with 130mm with no travel adjustment. Unless you demand aerodinamic position for the rolling roads.
Only thing is not working optimal now is the blocking system, and it is not in the weaknesses because it was my fault. I was making some nice jumps in a MX runway, and in one of the times I climb to the top of the hill, came down and forgot to unblock the fork. In the fisrt jump the valve was damaged, and now it only works sometimes... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PK
a Weekend Warrior
from MPLS
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | adjustability-ability, light weight, smooth | | Weaknesses: | stock spring | | Similar Products Used: | psylo, mx, z150 | | Bike Setup: | AM/XC Hardtail and Fully | | Bottom Line: | 351 coil U-turn - This fork is a great XC/AM fork. The external rebound & compression adjustments are easy to tweak and actually make a difference, allowing you to dial it in just right. The lockout and u-turn allows the fork to perform in any situation; climbing, descending, light jumps and drops. I've used it on a hardtail and a fully and ridden it hard all season. Plenty of abuse and it's still going strong. The only thing I did was replace the u-turn coil with a Firm, as it comes stock with a Medium and that was too soft. The crown is beefed up compared to the old psylos and overall the entire fork is very stiff for it's weight & intended use. Overall it's a great value if you don't want to step up to pay for a Revelation and think the Pike might me overkill. The new RS stuff by SRAM is good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from boise
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | georges cycles | | Strengths: | price, performance, looks great, remote lockout included, easy to work on.good support and online maintenance guides | | Weaknesses: | none yet, really soft spring comes stock, had to purchase heavier rated one at $40.00 | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou, Marzocchi | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Heckler | | Bottom Line: | installed a heavier spring right off, this fork is suprisingly good considering it does not have open bath and dual coils like my Marzocchi on my hardtail, the pop-lock and travel reduction is necessary for climbing with this bike, the floodgate/stable platform upgrade is something I was not interested in, I rather have the suspension fully active or nearly locked out as the recon 351 provides....stable platform is overrated and overpriced, was hesitant to purchase this fork due to concern with reliability of the seals, owned by Avid now so that was enough to influence my purchase , Marzocchis have worked so well for me in the past however the price of the Recon and the features was hard to pass on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joey C.
a
from Leesburg, VA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | bicyle outfitters | | Strengths: | plush, very adjustable, durable | | Weaknesses: | Has a little flex to it over time | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox J4, mantuini minute, rock shox pike 100mm | | Bike Setup: | 2006 custom built haro excape 8.3 | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for the money, ive landed 7 stairs on a hard tail with this no problem. 20+ steps, 5 foot drops, and so on. This fork holds up very well. Well recomenede for whatever you need | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Paisley
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles UK | | Strengths: | Silky smooth damping, poploc handlebar lockout, light weight | | Weaknesses: | None found so far | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Judy XC | | Bike Setup: | Scott elite racing, rockshox recon 351 solo air, avid juicy 5s, fizik gobi saddle, use alien carbon seatpost, cane creek stubby ends | | Bottom Line: | Up until I bought the recon 351s I was using the standard Judy XCs which came with the bike. Once I changed - what a world of a difference! These forks have good adjustability and smooth out the bumps great. I have yet to hit a bump which makes them they bottom out. Poploc allows only minor travel, smoothing out minor imperfections when cycling on tarmac. Nice and light weight too - a great addition to my bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cracker
a Weekend Warrior
from WI
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Southern Kettles WI | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$255.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicyclenut.com | | Strengths: | Stiff, simple, reliable, cheap, great action | | Weaknesses: | I have not complaints | | Similar Products Used: | Marz MX Comp, RS Psylo, RS, Pilot | | Bike Setup: | Motobecane fantom comp 19", XT derailleurs, sram 8 speed casette, truvative cranks 32/11 chain rings, bontrager seat post, WTB speed V saddle (best fit ever), Alex M18 wheels, WTB velociraptor tires, Riche headset and stem, hayes 6" mech disc brakes, shimano shifters | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the coil version. I felt compelled to add my opinion as this fork deserves a higher rating than its current one. I have added the X-firm spring as I weight 215 lbs. I've mostly ridden the fork at 100 mm setting and don't feel inclined to change it. The action is very smooth and predictable, the bike tracks vastly better with this fork. Rolling rough single track is a breeze. I can rise for short bursts to crest sharp rises without the pogo effect dominating and I'm yet to bottom out the fork. The finish has proven to be tough. I was initially pleased to have the lockout option but found I rarely if ever use it. The action is considerably better than the Marz MX comp eta that I have on my other bike. I've had the fork to pieces and, unlike the Marz forks, it is as simple to work on as you could imagine. The rebound setting is functional - half a turn makes a noticeable difference in behaviour. I have no complaints it is the best fork I've owned to date. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SCT
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | MaL Adjusted | | Strengths: | Light, strong , handles big bumps and also irons out the ripples. The compression and motion control lever is great. | | Weaknesses: | Just remember when pumping up to read the instructions. The pressure drops as the negative air chamber fills then you need to pump it up a bit more to get to the correct pressure. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Axel Comp | | Bike Setup: | XC bike | | Bottom Line: | Excellent X-Country fork. Will update review in a years time or so. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Christchurch Port Hillls | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicyle Buisness | | Strengths: | Adjustable travel great feature(if it doesnt affect reiability),coil version provides damn smooth travel, plenty of adjustability for the $.
| | Weaknesses: | Would prefere alloy external adjustment knobs too ruuber?plastic.
| | Similar Products Used: | Old rock shox,cheap marzocchis that came on bike (nasty fork) | | Bike Setup: | Konda Cindercone,maxxis crossmarks,xped clipless pedals other wise standard | | Bottom Line: | These forks have made a drastic improvement to the handling of my bike, increased confidence going down and bunus of motion control semi lock out when travel not needed. A solid performing , versitile , good looking fork. Stoked.
No good for racers or hardcore freeriders , but for over all thrashin round your favourite trail , cant go wrong for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ianko
a Weekend Warrior
from Sofia
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Strengths: | It's a good allrounder, strong build and great hydro. It's a good choice for AM and Enduro (maybe the U-turn version) | | Weaknesses: | Not verry reliable, the solo air does not hold up high PSI (atleast mine) | | Bike Setup: | RAM HT2, RS Recon 351 SoloAir, Shimano Hone setup, Singletracks, Nokian Gazzas, Easton Hardware | | Bottom Line: | The fork feels great, it works just as said from RS, but when i pump it over 100PSI when i hit somethin big the SoloAir valve seems to let lose some more air in the negative chamber and it pops of the dust seal. It drops down to 50PSI and... well it's not good. Now i run it at 90PSI (to low for me - 85kg) and i'm waiting for a reply from my retailer. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hrvoje Cop
a Weekend Warrior
from Zagreb, Croatia
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Maraton, Slovenia | | Strengths: | Very plush suspension, lots of features, great price/performance ratio | | Weaknesses: | None so far, the only thing I would wish for is that Recon comes with metal knobs for u-turn and compression like Pike does | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox pike, manitou stance, rst gila sl, marzocchi bomber | | Bike Setup: | corratec x-vert frame, funn rims, juicy carbon, michelin all mountain 2.2, a lot of funn parts and deore shifters. | | Bottom Line: | I am more than satisfied with the performance of this fork. It goes smoothly over all obstacles I've tried it on so far, mostly FR/DH trails.
In my opinion, unbeatable value for money. The U-turn feature works flawlessly, and enables you to custom fit your ride for any given trail in a matter of seconds. The compression adjustment is not really what I thought it would be, but it's still good. Plus, it looks good, and feels very reliable. I would recommend it to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Paisley
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Don't mind - as long as I'm on the bike! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$372.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles website, UK | | Strengths: | Light weight, silky smooth damping, lockout feature | | Weaknesses: | None found at the moment | | Similar Products Used: | Judy TT | | Bike Setup: | Scott Elite Racing, Recon 351 Solo Air, Avid Juicy 5s | | Bottom Line: | I switched the stock Judy TTs on my bike to these - what a difference! Good solid looking forks with no noticeable flex. They are silky smooth, absorbing little bumps nicely and taking the shock out of the big ones!
I have the solo air version - easy to set up - just pump up the shock to the correct pressure. I also have the poploc lockout for the handlebars - a great feature. It enables you to stiffen up the suspension at the push of a lever (useful for climbing hills) or soften it up at the press of a button (great for rough conditions). They are adjustable for rebound as well. A nice midrange fork at a good price.
I am very pleased with them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg TURNER
a Weekend Warrior
from australia
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Raymond Terrace | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Avanti cycles chatswood | | Strengths: | Don't know at this point. | | Weaknesses: | first ride out both seals blew, took it back to the lbs they tried to fix it. But when they tested it out it wasn't quite right. in the end they just replaced it. | | Bike Setup: | specialized fsr xc pro, fox shox triad rear, recon 351 front shox. | | Bottom Line: | I haven't have had a chance to really test this product yet as the front seals blew first ride out. at least the bike shop where good enought to replace the whole unit, now on to testing it. Will post another review when I have a chance to test it better. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Schmoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Anytown
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm riding. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$289.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | A very nice fork. You forget about it when your riding. It's plush when bouncing over roots and rocks, and gives the right amount of resistance off the big stuff so you don't bottom out. The 32mm stantions provide excellent lateral stiffness as well. Its light for a variable length fork too, 80-130. | | Weaknesses: | The spring that comes with this fork is way to light, it's setup for a 140 to 160 lbs rider.
140-160 Red(Default)
160-180 Blue
180+ Red | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Axel | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS3 | | Bottom Line: | Highly recommened, but be sure to buy it with the spring rated to your weight.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jules Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart, Tas, Aus.
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Wellington | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclingo | | Strengths: | Motion Control, Travel adjustment, plush coil spring, stiff. | | Weaknesses: | No adjustment to the floodgate. | | Similar Products Used: | RST, Judy C, Duke Air. | | Bike Setup: | Merida Matts Speed D Hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | These are the coil U-turn version and the on the fly travel adustment is fantastic. The coil spring is very plush with the travel wound up, great for gnarly descents and the rebound works well to soak up the bumps.(this needs a bit of fiddling with to start with but when you find a comfortable setting you can forget it).
I think this fork is great value for money with all the features they have. Having a coil spring means that they are not very light weight but the 130mm of travel and the fact that you don't need a fork pump is good compensation.
It would be handy to have the floodgate adjustment to completely tune the blow off valve but it works well for me.(77kg.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Fed Ex insurance | | Strengths: | Laterally stiff, excellent compression control, lockout, simple single air set-up. This is my first frok with 32mm. stanctions and the upgrade is very apparent. | | Weaknesses: | A bit porky. No weaknesses on the trail so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou SPV products on a steel hardtail and Haro Werx XLS. SPV works well however it is very difficult to dial in. | | Bike Setup: | Beater: 2001 Schwinn Rocket 88 Stage 2, LX, XT components, Push rebuilt Float R | | Bottom Line: | This fork was given to me as a replacement for a 2003 Duke XC which was sent in for service to Hippie-Tech. My original fork was lost in shipping and Hippie-Tech sent me this fork custom set to 90mm. travel. Wow! what a difference between the old and the new. I have been chasing a set up on this POS bike since the day I bought it and the Recon compliments the Pushed Float R very well. I plan to purchase another Recon for my singlespeed.
I would recommend this fork to burly riders who like to set it and forget it. Also, I think this would be a good singlespeed fork with the simple lockout and compression dial. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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