Submitted by
caid
a Downhiller
from Redlands california
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2011
Strengths: plushness!
Weaknesses: so flexy that when you really stick a corner or a berm, the fork literally compresses about 2 mm more on one side, which demonstrates killer plushness at the same time. Lockout is busted. You go ahead, grab a handful of brake. That thing moves like 3 inches back!!
Bottom Line:
it's seasonal, it would probably be good to ditch it after a season for the next model, if you don't snap it in half before then. I didn't crack the arch, but I'm a measly 160 lbs and 6' tall. At least I scored it!!! I dint remember how much was paid but it was less than 150 us dollars.
On the other hand, it's plush!!! It moves if you hit a sidewalk crack, not much butnit does. It might be the flex though. Ya never know. It really does soak up bumps nice though. And it's light. For a fork from 03, I must say that it performs well for it's price and weight. Minus the sheer amount of flex!!! I don't see the one sided brakerub on cornering only because my brakes are set awkwardly. It twists too. If you have your bike standing still going for a curb hop and you turn the bars to keep your balance, the fork moves more than your wheel. So rigidity, sucks. Actual travel on the other hand, rocks. I wouldn't buy this fork and use it for more than a season before replacing it with something stiffer/better in general. I'm on a specialized hr comp it has full slx, a head, answer and such, with a marz 4x fork. When I get off of the salsa, it feels like I have weights hanging from the front of my bike, and the travel isn't near as plush, but good lord... It's noticeably stiffer and so much so, that I'd rather deal with the weight than the flex.
Submitted by
flipsidem
a Cross Country Rider
from Centennial, CO
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2011
Strengths: Light weight, simple, inexpensive.
Weaknesses: Limited adjustability, flex.
Bottom Line:
I haven't had any problems with this fork. I race XC at Winter Park and it hasn't let me down on the rougher sections that I have encountered. When I first started racing XC I had a really heavy bike. My focus when building the bike that this fork is on was keeping it light. By the way, I didn't pay $350 for the fork, I bought the frame and fork together for ~$350 off eBay. $350 would be way too much for this fork. I am not a guy who spends a lot of time analyzing how my suspension is performing, so I honestly didn't notice that the brake rubbed from fork flex until I came here and read a bunch of negative reviews and actually looked for it. The type of riding and racing that I do is more about how fit you are than how good your bike is, but most of the other racers ride really nice/expensive stuff. This fork has worked well for me. I am happy that it hasn't snapped on me. I am ~185lbs, but I ride pretty conservatively. All of the negative reviews have me pretty worried about getting messed up as a result of this thing breaking. I am probably going to switch up bikes altogether because of this fear.
Similar Products Used: Rock Shox Dart, Maverick SC 32
Bike Setup: Jamis Dakota, all x-9, Truvative FireX cranks, Avid Ti, v-brakes and levers, Thompson post and stem, Forte seat, Vuelta wheels. Weighs about 24lbs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Muzz
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2010
Strengths: Allowed the wheel to go around. Reasonably compliant for an averagely priced fork
Weaknesses: Flexy. Broke
Bottom Line:
When I got the Giant back in 2003 reports were already beginning to surface about this fork breaking. I expressed my concernes to the firm I purchased the bike from and agreed to keep an eye on it. I regularly check it, but for some time I have been sick of its only average performance. I recently did a 70km+ event, and thought that I must have been bonked to the max as I kept going off line on the single track and all over the place on the fast downhill gravel sections. Was doing the service on the bike and sure enough, there was the dreaded break on the right hand side. Went to the bike shop who sent the fork to the Manitou suppliers who said it was too old and sent it back, even when it went to them with the reports from MTB Review users.
How I didn't kill myself I don't know. This fork is a pile of excrement, Manitou sucks and I will never put anything from Manitou Answer on my bike again. Stay away from this product. its lethal.
Bike Setup: Giant NRS2. Fork was fitted to bike when sold.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
mtnrun
a Weekend Warrior
from Idaho
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2008
Strengths: I havent observed any.
Weaknesses: I just bought a Marin Eldridge HT with this fork on it. I haven't even ridden it on the trails yet and the fork already scares me. My observations from riding to work on roads and paved bike trails: 1) I can see one side compress before the other 2) my brakes rub during turns, even very slight ones 3)when standing and riding in a straight line, while shifting the bike from side to side the tire is rubbing quite a bit.
I weigh 190 lbs and am 6'3" but this fork seems really dangerous to me.
Bottom Line:
Its not worth a dollar. I wont ride it on the trails after having these problems and then reading the reviews on here. It seems like only a matter of time before it breaks
Submitted by
rinmeister
a Weekend Warrior
from Mook, Limburg, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008
Strengths: None
Weaknesses: Arch broke
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!
Submitted by
mike fluke
a Weekend Warrior
from greensboro, nc
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2007
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...
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...
Submitted by
Steven Kenan
a Downhiller
from Sunland, CA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007
Strengths: it felt like a real shock
Weaknesses: shock cracks in half
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.
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
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steven Kenan
a Downhiller
from Sunland, CA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007
Strengths: it felt like a real shock
Weaknesses: shock cracks in half
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.
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
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mr. Lumberg
a Cross Country Rider
from Mesa, AZ
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006
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.
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.
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.
Favorite Trail: ant hills, Memorial Park, Austin TX
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: Dlr. in Houston
Similar Products Used: none, my first full suspension bike.
Bike Setup: K2, Race Face crank, xt components, etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Neil Ireland
a Cross Country Rider
from Bolton, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2004
Strengths: Light weight
Weaknesses: Broken Arch
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...
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Powder Springs
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2004
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
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.
Favorite Trail: Internationa; Horse Park Conyers, GA
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Purchased At: Roswell Bike
Bike Setup: Epic w/ Avid mechanicals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Racer
from Morrison
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004
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.
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.
