Similar Products Used: manitou stance marzocchi dj 4, dj 3 pikes
Bike Setup: norco 125
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Submitted by
SoLaMaNdA
a Downhiller
from London, England
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2004
Strengths: Brilliant small bump sensitivety. Takes big hits well. Once setup for your weight no other fork will compare. Even the QR version is very stiff.
Weaknesses: Needed slightly heavier oil weight to get best performance. Lack of preload adjust.
Bottom Line:
Best 5" travel fork by far. After a little tinkering it will be perfect.
Strengths: Great looks, strong,nice plush travel better than other forks i've ridden. No flex at all even with QR. Hardly ever bottoms out even doing 5' drops on to concrete,although the standard sring is probably to soft for me( 6'2" and 14stone)
Weaknesses: Caliper mount!! Why do you do it Manitou? cost me about 50 quid for hope caliper half and 205mm disc. Great for extra braking power also great for braking the bank. If you arn't all ready set up for Manitou caliper mounts don't forget to take this expence in to acount.
Bottom Line:
exelent fork but trading in for 2005 6" travel version to get slacker head angle.Even though this is the company that said 5" was the most travel you could get with 1 1/8" steerer, may be the Marz Z150 has revealed the truth in the one point five verses 1 1/8" debait.
Bike Setup: AC Team frame,Hope hubs & brakes, sun rhino lites, Easton & shimano bits else were.
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Submitted by
Mike S.
a Downhiller
from Knoxville, TN..USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004
Strengths: Reverse arch
Weaknesses: Broke fender mount off back of fork with reverse arch !! Downtube mud fender will work i guess,{Peaty uses one all the time}..
Bottom Line:
This fork is great.I think it's the Firefly,mine is Black & thought it had spv on the RH leg...ANyway's whatever it is,it's better than the Z.1 i had no doubt{sorry Marzocchi}. Reverse arch IS better & this fork doesn't bottom out as easy ! Seems like a winner!
Similar Products Used: 03 Z.1={2.7" Mobster rubs, & fork bottoms easier than the Manitiou}---02 Shiver DC{great fork}.
Bike Setup: 03 lg BULLET--24" Trailpimp---26" Singletrack---E-13 srs guide/36t ring--Avid mech. brakes...etc
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Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Eau Claire
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2004
Strengths: Stiff as h^$#ll! Travel, Travel, Travel! 110-130mm in a single crown fork is groovy! 20mm hub hook-ups, beefy! 32mm stancheons. This is a heavy duty fork. Tons of adjustment capabilities too.
Weaknesses: Not really a weakness but its heavy, and the factory spring and oil leave it a little plush for my taste. The rebound adjustment, as cool as it is, doesn't semm to make a noticeable difference.
Bottom Line:
This fork kicks a#@$! Freeriders, dirt jumpers, urban cowboys, buy this fork(or at least one in the Sherman family). Cross country, light weight fanatics, don't. This is by far one of the most impressive forks I have used. Its plush but sh&^%&t-kickin' tough! This is the clear alternative to spendy double crown forks because it's built on the same premisis, tough. The name says it all, its a tank. Even on the biggest hits, you may blow a seal (if that, even) but you aren't buying a new $500 fork. I will buy another if I ever wear this one out. Only thing I would like to see is a heavier oil and spring. Good show!
Strengths: it seems to be strong, ridgid and the ability to switch the travel on the fly is a great feature (i use it ALL the time),i think the decals and the powder coat finish look pretty rad (exept they use bad glue for the decal, so i think its going to fall off soon). the reverse crown, i find, makes it much more ridgid and reponsive.
Weaknesses: it needs to come with heavier coils and/or oil or somthing, cause im a small guy and i find it too soft.
Bottom Line:
its wicked and super smooth, but needs to be stiffer, and cheaper.
Submitted by
will
a Weekend Warrior
from maidstone, kent
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2003
Strengths: -stiff as anything -tonnes of travel -travek adjust -brilliant compression damping
Weaknesses: -had to tighten up a few bolts when it came, you would expect it to be ready to ride
Bottom Line:
these forks really are the dogs, they are amazingly smooth from day one. the travel seems infinate, as the tpc really kicks in past 2 inches, and never seems to let the fork bottom. in the 5 inch setting the fork is really good over stutter bumps and such-the-like, and just soaks them up like nothing else. the 4 inch travel setting is great for dual slalom and dirt jumping, as it takes away the first inch of ultra sensitive travel. brilliant fork, better than any other single crowner for the money ( and more )
Similar Products Used: marzo z3 qr20 2001 marzo z3 1998
Bike Setup: Identiti dr jekyll, flicks, blakspire guide, v drive x cranks, dmr wingbars, syncros bigbox wheels, and all the other stuff
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Submitted by
Mark Williams
a Cross Country Rider
from Wales
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003
Strengths: Look great, very beefy, track extremely well, very stiff and super plush. Oh, VERY strong!!!
Weaknesses: The annoying spring click that I have just started to experience, I have been informed that this is standard, didn't get it on my Freerides or DJ's though (Sorry Huw :P).
Bottom Line:
These forks are the business, saved my ass last weekend, did a drop 6ft to flat and forgot to pull up, lovely nosedive which the forks just absorbed as if it were a 6inch drop. Unfortunately my face didn't do quite so well and hit my stem, stem was fine though!! I bought these forks on the advice of a friend who already had Breakouts, these forks are not the lightest out there but they sure are strong, lush to look at and super smooth. The price I paid is in pounds, mega happy and owe Huw (my personal fork advisor) a major thank you for the recommendation, best forks I have ridden so far.
Similar Products Used: Z1 Freerides, DJ3 & DJ2, Vanilla 125RL, Marathons and some old Pace RC36.
Bike Setup: Stock 03 Stinky bar a re-valved shock and these Flick forks.
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Submitted by
Patrick
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore, MD
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003
Strengths: beefy, smooth, costs a hundred bucks less than the firefly
Weaknesses: weighs a pound more than the firefly. If you want a lot of travel adjustment, this fork doesn't adjust much (I think half an inch)
Bottom Line:
Whew, this is a great fork! It doesn't have the latest cool technology of stable platform valving,and doesn't have the gadgets of rebound damping, etc, but that hasn't bothered me at all (I'm not subtle enough to tell major differences on other forks when I've played with positive air chambers, negative air chambers, rebound damping, and all that). This fork is strong, soaks up small and big hits, and has been totally hassle free. the manufacturer's manual warned of stickiness during the break-in period, but I've not even had that--it has been smooth since day one. The fork seems burly too; I'll see how it holds up, but it's been totally solid on everything I've thrown at it. This is my kind of fork: put it on the bike and never think (or worry) about it again. However, if you want SPV technology or lots of adjustability, this probably isn't the fork for you.
I also wondered about this versus the firefly, and figured out that the firefly is the lighter twin sister. The flick doesn't seem to lose anything in performance, and I'd rather spend a hundred dollars on something other than a pound of weight, so I went with the flick; I figure that myself + camelback + bike will weigh either 200 or 201 depending on the fork, and I can't tell that little difference.
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, South Australia
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2003
Strengths: Super stiff, no flex at all (I have the 20mm thru axel version). The travel is so smooth and progressive that it inspires confidence. The firm ride kit has done wonders for the fork in firming up the ride while loosing very little in the way of feel. A good upgrade for anyone over 60kg.
Weaknesses: I bent the steerer where it goes into the crown after going over a 3ft north shore drop on an xc track and hitting a 6" high berm. I bought the Shermans under the impression that the forks should have been able to take that sort of hit. Costs almost as much as a new fork to buy the steerer/crown/stanchion part to fix the fork. The standard springs are too soft and i'm not a big guy by any means.
Bottom Line:
Great fork just dont bend it or it will cost you heaps to fix!
Bike Setup: Haro Escape 8.2, Ritchey Riser bars, Armor 7" hydro discs front and back, Sun rims Double Track rim front with 20mm hub, Specialized S-Works 2.4 front tyre, Geax Blade 2.25 rear tyre.
Strengths: Wciedk fork!Looks good and works better!Quick travel adjust is helpfull if you want to go from dirt jumping to big hits.
Weaknesses: disc tab threads are weak.be carefull other then that though none!
Bottom Line:
I have nothing bad to say about it.It has handled 10 feet with out bottoming out!it has handled 13-14 feet wicked.I have raced dh with it on my hardtail and it soaked up everything!!a wicked fork,worth every penny.buy it if you can.Im never goin back to bomber!!MANITOU FOR LIFE!
Similar Products Used: z5,judy xc(haha),judy tt(haha)
Bike Setup: 2001 Norco 125cc wif the sherman,d-wide front rim,mag30 rear(24 inch),8 inch hayes hydro front and back(mag,purple),primo pedals,kevlar dh radical seat,hussefelt cranks
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Submitted by
stephan
a Downhiller
from noyal, brittany, france
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2003
Strengths: You can set up damping, rebound and travel. Stiff, good looking with reverse arch. Rebound and damping are really effective.
Weaknesses: none for the moment
Bottom Line:
This fork works great, very sensitive on small bumps, progressive on big landing, the set up are really effective, particularly rebound. The wheel is stuck to the ground. I like the idea of the rapid travel adjust, but i don't really need it, maybe for steep climbs. But this fork works so well in 130mm travel position.
I ended up choosing standard axle Flick for riding the very rocky, steep uphill AND steep downhill riding we have around Victoria, and the occasional weedend in Whistler or Vancouver. Riding Mt Work trails in Victoria needs a bike that can handle the odd North Shore style drop, but can go uphill as well. I didn't want the weight of a double crown.
So far I've found it to be super stiff for a single crown (tortionally and front to back) fork. Inspires the kind of "point-and-shoot" riding a double crown fork does. The 32mm stanctions have no "sticktion". The TCP+ compression dampening is nice. Very plush in the first 2-3" of travel, stiff in the last 2" to handle bigger hits. If you do bottom it, it bottoms out softly.
The rebound dampening could be more effective. It works, but can't be set as slow as my old Z1. The bike shop included the heavy spring kit in the sale price. I tried the stock spring, but found it bottomed too easily (I'm 185lbs), so I did the spring upgrade and now it's very capable of big hits. The Rapid Travel adjustment is a nice idea, but going from 5 to 4" doesn't make a lot of difference. All it does is compress the fork an inch so the fork bobs less if you need to stand and mash uphill.
I'm extremely happy with the Flick. It's a perfect match for the AC1.
Strengths: Mint lookin' forx, big tubes with minimal stickers. Decent for dh or freeride
Weaknesses: Maby need heavier weight oil??. i got the 20mm axel version and all its a bit annoying all the bolts and other things needed to be tightened whenever u want to take off your wheel
Bottom Line:
nice lookin' and performin fork with heaps of travel and thick sliders that look mint.
Strengths: SMOOTH AS BUTTER TRAVEL, AND PLENTY OF IT
Weaknesses: FORK IS REALLY STIFF ON SHORT TRAVEL SETTING-BECOMES A DIRT JUMPING FORK-NOT REALLY A WEAKNESS, BUT ISN'T MUCH CHOP FOR XC
Bottom Line:
ONE DAMN SWEET ASS FORK. KILLS THE BLACKS I HAD BEFORE IT, IS MUCH MORE HEAVY DUTY (AS IT SHOULD BE) TRAVEL IS SMOOTHER, COIL ROCKS, AIR SUCKS. PLENTY OF TRAVEL-I NOSED DIVED (ACCIDENTLY) A 7 FOOT DROP TO FLAT AND THEY DIDN'T BOTTOM! BUY 7 OF EM, THEY'RE THAT GOOD! PLUS THEY LOOK BIG, BLACK AND BAD
does anyone know if its possible to upgrade a Sherman Flick to the sherman flick plus? I want another inch of travel for a fork I just got on a trade. Read More »
So I bought a used Flick for my new Chameleon. It's an 03 with TPC+ damper, 130mm travel, 20mm thru axle and what I beleive is a Ti spring.
I plan on servicing right away and w Read More »
Hey -
I have a 2005 or so Sherman Flick with a stripped post hole (disc mount hole). I called Manitou and they want $180.00 for replacement lowers (INSANE!). Anyone have bette Read More »
I've got a Manitou Sherman Flick (130/110, TPC), on an '04 SGS Expert. The fork feels pretty excellent, even with the spring being too light for me. I have the opportunity to trade Read More »
Manitou no longer has the 130 mm spring in stock. Anyone here have one that they would like to part with, or any spring that will work? I don't mind loosing the travel adjust, I Read More »
