Submitted by
Myles Collins
a Downhiller
from Richland Center WI, United States
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2007
Strengths: light and rigid as in strength.
Weaknesses: During warm days it is ver plush, but during cold days its like riding a rigid.
Bottom Line:
This fork is a great fork at first, but after about 3 years of hard riding it starts to have problems. Starts to creak and feel like crap even after changing the fluid.
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Grande Cache, AB
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2005
Strengths: Lockout useful Durable
Weaknesses: Oversprung
Bottom Line:
This fork failed to impress me from the beginning. While I have used other Manitous with success in the past, this one was oversprung for my weight (165 lbs.). It truly beat me up on the rough trails. In the 80mm mode, there was so much preload that the fork was essentially locked out.
With the purchase of a Marathon S, this fork has been moved from my full sus trail bike to a hardtail, where its shortcomings will not be so evident.
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Corona, California
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2005
Strengths: Great experience with customer support/warranty service.
Weaknesses: Difficult to get a usable spring rate.
Bottom Line:
These forks are okay. I have the 100/120's. The 120 setting is a little too soft for my liking as it bottoms out frequently, and the 100 setting is a little too stiff. I usually keep it on 100mm with min. rebound adjust, that seems to handle most of the terrain I ride okay.
I bought my Specialized used on eBay. The previous owner had upgraded the forks to the Manitou's and upgraded to Hayes hydraulics. It seems he tightened the front caliper down too much and stripped out one of the mounting holes.
I emailed Manitou warranty service and after asking when the forks were purchased, promptly sent out new castings, oil and a sticker pack. I got the replacement parts in only a couple days. I'm very impressed with the warranty service.
Similar Products Used: None of any good quality. Cheap-O RST forks that really suck.
Bike Setup: '03 Specialized Rockhopper FSR XC, Hayes hydraulic discs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Mesa, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2004
Strengths: Closeout price. Fairly stiff.
Weaknesses: Mediocre performance. Poor design. The travel is adjustable, but if you change the travel, the spring rate changes so much that the fork is useless in the other setting. I guess, you could just buy another spring and simply change springs when you want to change the travel. No, wait a minute. You don’t want to change the spring as you are likely to break the travel adjust wire that slides up through the spring. It’s very easy to break, as it is very very thin and you will not even know it is there until after you break it because Manitou failed to put it in their manual. Manitou's customer service is beyond poor.
Bottom Line:
The fork's performance is almost adequate (as long as you don't change the travel). Even though I only paid $200 for the fork, I paid too much. Based purely on performance,there are better low cost choices out there (ie. Marzocchi MX comp). However, when you factor in Manitou’s abysmal customer service, this fork should be avoided if at all possible.
Similar Products Used: None!!! I also have a Manitou SPV rear shock. When the spacer that fits between the shock and the bike wore out, Manitou sent me a new one for the low price of $20 (for a 50 cent part). The bad news was that it took them almost three months to get me the correct item (they never returned one phone call or email I sent them and only sent the item to my bike shop after months of pestering).
Bike Setup: Specialized Enduro
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from SF, CA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2004
Strengths: Stiff
Weaknesses: If you pull the fork up, there is a gap. Damping sucks.
Bottom Line:
How anyone can give this fork 5 chilis is beyond me. The fox forks absolutely blow this away. The marzocchis are infinitely more superior. I walk away from every ride with beat up and bruised hands. It is maybe a 2 chili but I'll give it 1 to counteract all the fives. If you have the choice to spend twice as much, you will definitely get five times as much fork.
Submitted by
Mikey
a Weekend Warrior
from Clarks Summit, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2004
Strengths: I used Answer forks for a long time, so when this fork came with my bike, I had a good feeling. My first day on the new bike, I went to Plattekill, NY, for the first time ever (ow). This fork took a serious beating...and also lay a serious beating on me. Pluses: Microlube ports easy to use, adjustment controls easy to use, if a bit cheesy (plastic everything). Rebound damping works great. The fork is stiff and strong. I have to admit, I am picky...if you are not, this fork could be a great value, as it is now cheap, strong and works OK for most.
Weaknesses: Minuses: Stock spring too soft, No compression damping whatsoever...despite changing the oil, changing the coil spring, and playing with the shim stack. Dives on braking, bottoms out on drops, stacks up over whoops. I did a huge face plant at Platte because of these problems and it hampers my riding to this day. Seals do not work very well at keeping water and dirt out. And, of course, the stickers fell off...LOL
Bottom Line:
I hated this fork from day 1, and nothing I have found works really well to fix it. Right now, I got my cut-off saw out and I have 1/2 of the medium spring and 1/2 of the heavy spring in one side, and 10 wt. shock oil in the other, with a 12mm steel washer on top of the shim stack to squeeze some kind of compression damping out of it. I just ordered a Marzocchi Z-1 SL to get away from this thing and can't wait for it to arrive!
I weigh 150 and switching to the Soft spring ($20 well spent) helped this forks handling alot. When I first got this baby, the fork stroke was smooth as butter but after 3-4 months of riding and babying (cleaning ,lubing microports etc...) the stiction was getting ridiculous to the point of locking up the initial stroke. I ordered new lowers (bushings etc) and its back to its original buttery feel but I'm somewhat wary at this point. The bushing and internal lubing design is inferior to Marzocchis in every way. My Z2 Air is 2 years old and all I've had to change out is the oil every 6 months and its smoother than the Black. STILL the coil design ramps up better than air and doesn't bottom out on jumps, just not quite as adjustable as the Z2. Cool fork as long as your bushings hold up.
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Z2 Air & Z2 BAM, Manitou SX & SXR
Bike Setup: 2003 Sugar 3+, Cane Creek Cloud Nine (yeah baby!)XT & XTR, Bontrager
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Zevik
a Weekend Warrior
from Tel-Aviv, Israel
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2004
Strengths: soaks up most of everything. Takes a little urban beating on an almost daily basis, and trail bashing on weekends - and it just gets better.
Weaknesses: got the 100-120mm model, and the 100 setting is so stiff it's useless.
Bottom Line:
major upgrade for relatively few bucks. great looks. Outperforms my expectations.
Similar Products Used: bomber EXR, another black with stiffer springs, judy TT
Bike Setup: Haro X2
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Graham
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, OH, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004
Strengths: Awesome red color Lots of adjustments Rebound, Compression, Travel. Its really stiff, Disc and V, Cool design
Weaknesses: Kinda Heavy for only 100mm My Psylo Race 2002 Is lighter.
Bottom Line:
This is the fork you need If you do the following. Number one Ride bikes, thats about all. Its good for all XC and a little FR jumping, It weighs about 4pounds (kinda heavy) it comes in several colors coolest being red, Its cheap about two hundred, its cool looking It comes in either 80-100 or 100-120. So if money is a little tight get one of these. You wont regret it.
Bike Setup: 01 Specialized M4 stumpjumper XTR, Bontrager etc...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester UK
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2004
Strengths: Plush and progressive - dosn't bottom out easily, easy set up.
Weaknesses: '02 model, Crap seals - poor design of boots and lubrication rings Not built to handle British weather - don't last long
Bottom Line:
Fantastic when new .... but knackered after 15 months of riding. Bushes gone for the 2nd time. They need a complete stip down every month or so and are always filthy, poor seals causes heavy scratching. I appear to be performing heavy maintenance 4 or 5 times more frequently than friends but their Marzocchi's last and last while these have had it.
Similar Products Used: Various Marzocchi and Fox forks
Bike Setup: Specialized Enduro
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Spinner
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004
Strengths: Coil spring is responsive once you get the right spring for your weigh, damping adjustment. Great damping at high speeds, gotta hammer it to see what i mean it soaks up hits and baby heads like butter. Compression lockout.
Weaknesses: No compression damping at lower speeds, feels mushy. Useless 80/100 rapid travel adjust. In 80mm mode it feels like a fork from 10 years ago. Very tight springy feeling.
Bottom Line:
Manitous customer service is hostile.. My Rapid travel adjust blew out after a couple of weeks of riding. Called manitou for help and i had some prick on the line just being an unhelpful dick. Took to the shop i purchased it at and they had no clue what it might be.. I took it apart myself. The some junky plastic cone thing punched thru the rapid travel adjust thingamajig. Took it to the shop to show em, they said no problem we'll warranty order the part.. Still havn't seen the part and it has been quite a while.. Get the same story every week, check back on monday, manitou doesn't have it in stock
Bike Setup: two wheels a frame and handlebars, does it matter...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from San Clemente, CA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004
Strengths: Smooth, adjustable 80 - 100mm travel is awesome, no flex, my stickers haven't peeled at all
Weaknesses: Travel adjustment on bottom of fork leg is a huge pain, no lockout, adjusting compression and rebound using the knobs on the fork doesn't seem to make much difference, a little heavy
Bottom Line:
I very pleased with this fork. Haven't ridden any high-end forks but seems to work great at this price point. I reduce travel to 80mm for climbing and it lowers the front-end and stiffens up the compression alot and it climbs better. Then hop off bike to adjust travel (at bottom of fork leg! grar) for 100mm of smooth travel on the way down. Now that they've moved the travel adjust. to the top of fork leg, I can completely recommend it especially if on sale.
Strengths: Smooth long travel, rebound adjustment, great dampening, lockout, light weight
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
This is the smoothest coil fork I've ever experienced, it is just as sweet as the air. Its like a pillow for the front of my bike. If you want a great shock at a good price, this is it. Absolutely the best on the market.
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Owosso, MI USA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004
Strengths: Super plush and smooth. Lockout, rebound and travel adjustments work great. Easy to service. Keeps front wheel super stiff.
Weaknesses: In 80mm mode, there was a ratcheting noise that worried me but after about 30 miles it went away.
Bottom Line:
This fork has performed well above my expectations. It has done everything I've asked of it without complaint and it looks killer at the same time. For the money, I don't think there is a better coil-sprung fork on the market. I know this model is used for mountain cross racing but anyone looking for a good cross country or all mountain fork shoud check this one out.
I'm done with the bike for the year and I want to go through my fork. I know the bushings need to be replaced and might as well do any other parts I can get also. I've looked for t Read More »
Hey gang,
I have a Manitou Black Elite 100mm and would like to lower it to 80mm. I can't find any reference to lower this fork anywhere on the interweb.
I don't think its a 10 Read More »
I am building a bike for a friend and have both of the forks above in the title. Both have little miles on them but I am trying to decide which of them stays and the other goes. Read More »
:Greetings my fellow mountain bikers. :D
Here is my dilema. I recently [B]upgraded[/B] my bike from a Haro Vector V3 (which has a Indy S fork) to a used 2005 Specialized Endur Read More »
