Strengths: Good XC (as long as the course has no roots or downhills with a few bumps) Good for climbs
Weaknesses: Bottoms out ALL the time so easy. I pumped it up 100 PSI past what it was supposed to be for my weight and it still always bottomed out. Good thing i had just borrowed it and it wasn't mine because i HATE it. Maybe I got a faulty but i have checked out 2005 Sid shocks and ridden them and they are way nicer, definetely buy a newer sid instead.
Bottom Line:
It sucks for bottoming out all the time. Really good climber though.
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi MXC air, Manitou Axel comp RTWD, Psylo SL 01, Jett Race, Pilot XC..
Bike Setup: Orbea Lanza team 04' whit evolve XC ISIS crank arms, Sram equiped, avid SD5, Crossmax...
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Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington DC
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2004
Strengths: One of the lightest suspension forks out there. Remote lockout works well.
Weaknesses: Too much rebound dampening causes the fork to "clunk" (an expression used by another reviewer). It feels like the steering stem is loose, but its not. I could use high speed and low speed dampening but that would only make the fork heavier. The air only dampening is very susceptable to ambient air temperature.
Bottom Line:
It does what its intended, cross country riding, i.e. mix of regular roads with fireroads, some flat or gravely single track. Would not use it for at speed downhills or any jumps over a foot.
Similar Products Used: pogo stick (Cannondale headshock)
Bike Setup: NRS1, disc brackes
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Submitted by
Ricardo Brunato
a
from S.F.doSul, SC, South Brazil
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004
Strengths: Light weight,
Weaknesses: The Price, some times its difficult to tune the black-box remote control/locker.
Bottom Line:
Great component. Lightweight, Strong and Stiff enough for a 200 pounds rider. Never use fluid not indicated by factory and do preventive cleaning and maintenance, and it gonna work like new.
Strengths: Light and very tunable. Very have very little flex when used for XC racing.
Weaknesses: Have not found one yet
Bottom Line:
The best of the bunch for lighweight XC racing. Unlike my 2000 SID's they go where you point, them they are a lot stiffer. The Marathon's were great but 4 inches only works on a bikle designed for 4 inches of travel and Skareb are lack adjustability of the SID's and bob like crazy.
Similar Products Used: 2000 SID SL, 2002 4 inch Marzocchi Marathon, 2004 80mm Skareb Super
Bike Setup: 2001 Sugar 1
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Submitted by
Frank
a Cross Country Rider
from Puget Sound, WA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004
Strengths: Light. If you are a pro racer and can get your shock rebuilt every race go for the SID team.
Weaknesses: Flexy, Rebuilt 3 times, Lockout never worked, inconsistent performance,
Bottom Line:
This shock has given me nothing but problems. The lockout would not disengage. Blew the valve. Lost all + air twice, Fluid leaks into air chambers clogs valves. All with a total of 540 miles on the shock. Had is in 3 times for repair. No Avail, just blew it up again on a slow speed narrow twisty singletrack.
Weaknesses: I have never ridden anything but a manitou magnum and this SID. I love it, so there are no weaknesses. It doesn't get much travel, but i just point it downhill and rip. And rip it does. My guess is that i would change my opinion after riding something like a fox 100x but whatever. It kicks ass on the race course, thats for sure.
Bottom Line:
If you can handle not getting full travel even on technical downhills and are still in the dark like i am and want to race, why not, its great. I have no problems with flex, seals, or anything. It hauls. Nuff said.
Bike Setup: Titus riddler HT, shimano xt everything, xtr disc calipers, mavic crossmax xl wheels, selle slr saddle, thomson post and stem, michelin comp s tires, control tech bar ends, cb pedals, easton ec70bar
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Hartford, CT
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2004
Strengths: Looks, light, plush ride but not mushy, lockout is great on steep climbs. I am a 180lb rider and love to ride fast and hard: rocks, logs, blistering downhill, rivers, etc. Fork has taken all the abuse extremeley well... haven't noticed any tortional bending that some people have complained about.
Weaknesses: The first time I pumped air into it, it leaked... replaced the seal, and since then no leaks, no problems.
Bottom Line:
It was a great buy. Decided to go with the Sid Team after seeing that Giant's stock NRS's came with them. Read these reviews after the fact and probably would have gotten a different shock had I, but after only that one fleeting leak the shock has performed flawlessly. My suggestion is go with one of them nice SPV deals from Manitou or Fox.
Submitted by
Kirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2003
Strengths: Light weight, that's it....
Weaknesses: Where to begin; let's see, we'll start with way too much flex, just hit the front break and apply pressure to the pedals....it looks like a tooth pick before it snaps. Then there's the lock-out, been in the bike shop 4 times for that $100 p.o.s., last but not least--i've been on no less than 3 rides where the fork has lost all pressure/air, nothing like being on a 30+ mile ride and your fork has no compression half way through your ride.
Bottom Line:
I ride fast and hard, but i'm only 160 lbs and don't huck, jump, or trash my equipment...that's why i thought a SID Team would be the perfect fork for me....but it's not. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED!...DO NOT BUY THIS FORK UNLESS YOU ENJOY COUNTLESS TRIPS TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. IF I'VE BLOWN THIS FORK...YOU'LL KILL IT.
Strengths: Light, which isn't really a strength because it makes the fork wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.
Weaknesses: That creaking sound is coming from where the stanctions go into the crown. I have heard this on ALL SIDs and it cannot be fixed! Too light, has about as much torsional travel as it does lateral, maintenance needed constantly, too much plastic.
Bottom Line:
I will NEVER buy another Rock Shox product until they go back to engineering school. These should be made illegal to sell in this country by the Federal Consumer Safety Board. It is the lightest fork out there but that makes it dangerous to ride. It flexes left-to-right over a pebble and makes high speed travel feel like your piloting a Japanesse WWII airplane. If you don't overhaul this fork every 2 months it will just get worse. I did get rather good at it after 10 times. I sold it and I'm glad its gone. I wish I could produce negative flaming turds. Marathon SL is the pefect remedy.
"I warned ya. Didn't I warn ya? The Rock Shox SID was forged by Lucifer himself, man!"
Submitted by
Pilot
a Cross Country Rider
from Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003
Strengths: lock out, weight
Weaknesses: needs to be dismantled before going to full use
Bottom Line:
Before purchasing this fork I read carrefully all the reviews posted on the MTBR. I was aware of the leaking air from the chamber etc. To be completely honest after first three rides the fork had to be dismantled because of clearance. It took nearly 3 hours to repair it and then I tested it one week in Chamonix giving it hard times in downhills. To my surprise, the fork survived it all and I am satisfied with it and no other problems appeared.
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsfield, MA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003
Strengths: Weight and lock out
Weaknesses: Some detectable flex, loss of air in + air chamber
Bottom Line:
This fork came through stock on my new NRS-1 (bought 2 months ago.) Really enjoyed the ride and the lock out feature for racing (XC only - NO Freeriding or hucking).
But then this past Sunday on a fairly mellow ride the shock lost all + air. I could actually hear the air escaping as it went flat. Certainly this is a risk to air shocks, but I was surprised to have it happen after only two months of owning the shock. Of note, I am an expert XC racer, but I do not huck, freeride, do drops or get air. I ride it for it's intended us. I am 175 lbs so I am not a lightweight, nor am I a heavy weight.
Thankfully the guys (Dave and Steffan) at Berkshire Bike & Blade in GreatBarrington MA have been EXCELLENT at getting the fork fixed (2 day turn around!!) and I am thankfull to them. If you need a bike and live in Western MA go to them.
So in conclusion for an XC race fork it is very nice and light, some noticable flex but that is to be expected on a sub 3 lb fork, but the loss of air (blown fork) is unacceptable on a 2 month old fork..... (thank goodness for awsome local bike shops!!)
Also, you can't run a lot of dampening or you get a clunk similar to a top out clunk. Stops as soon as you back off the dampening....
Without the maintence issues this would be a 5 chilis for performance (XC race only) 4 chilis for all around use - some flex detectable But with the blown seals it sort of stinks.....
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from san diego
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Strengths: great ride, love the lockout
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
I LOVE these shocks. Bike comes stock with SID race shock (no lockout) and I wanted lockout so I upgraded for an extra $125.00. Well worth the mondy. I have had no problems with air or oil leaking, no problems whatsoever actually in just over a month of riding. (almost everyday).
I am 200+lbs and have taken it offroad quite a bit so I am a bit worried by some of these other reviews but so far I love it!
Bike Setup: 2003 Motobecane Fly Team - (XC Bike of the Year) all XTR with FSA carbon cranks and ti. BB. Easton monkey light sl bars, easton ec 70 seatpost and thomson stem!
