Submitted by
scott oakley
a Cross Country Rider
from cornelius
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2005
Strengths: Light weight and plush
Weaknesses: Reliability
Bottom Line:
The world cup SID came stock with the bike. I rode a couple of months on my buddy's Diamond Back DBR Team issue hard tail w/Manitou Carbon SX. This is an XC rated fork. The biggest difference is how much more plush the SID is. I set positive and negative to the suggested limits and have had no problems. It does not leak air nor oil. I use Lizard Skin fork guards. I've had it for 6mnths and currently ride about 40+mi a week.
Now for the bad news. While descending I noticed that the fork remained compressed. I got off the bike and it slowly rebounded. I got on the bike and tried to ride some more when I began to bottom out on every root. Needless to say, I just turned it in for service. We'll find out how bad it is.
Now I'm back to riding my buddy's DBR w/ Manitou Carbon SX and I just can't dial it in like the SID. I have been looking for something comparable, but I think the closest fork would be the Manitou Skareb Platinum w/SPV or the Fox 80x w/Terra Logic. Hopefully, I won't need to buy another fork.
3 Chili's because as far as value is concerned, it's cost way too much. The Skareb is found on many XC racers' bikes and it cost much less.
4 Chili's because if the only thing wrong is a blown seal or bushing, it's still a great fork. I know I've been aggressive with it. I've ran into trees, 2-3ft drops, endo's, etc.
Submitted by
Austin m
a Racer
from highlands ranch, colorado
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2004
Strengths: Nice and light with smooth rebound. Remote lock-out is nice.
Weaknesses: Lock-out gets stuck when really dirty
Bottom Line:
I chose this fork because it is top of the line and I wanted it. It ended up being the best racing fork I have ever ridden for x-country! I would say you should get it if you are a racer, but if you dont take care of things, dont get! Keep it clean and it is the sweetest lightest fork ever!
Strengths: -lockout -lightweight (read, reasonable weight) -pretty blue color
Weaknesses: -short on travel - way overpriced (at retail price) -flexy?
Bottom Line:
The lockout is the greatest thing sinced sliced bread. I wish every fork had one of these, its great for hammering out of the saddle. It is a little tricky to set up though.
I think most suspenion forks are over priced, the SID WC is a prime example. Overall, it's not a great value. I also think most suspenion forks weigh way too much, but the SID comes close to meeting my demands on this front.
What sucks about this fork is that it only gets like 67mm of travel. That's like 20% less then advertised, shame on Rock Shox. Had I know how little travel it gets I would not have bought it. But it makes up for it in the fact that the little bit of travel it does get has a nice firm and progressive feel to it.
Many people say this fork is too flexy, personally, I don't notice. I weight 140ish pounds so maybe I'm too light to notice. Maybe I've been riding flexy forks for so long I can't tell. I can tell the rigid fork on my SS steers more precisely, but it's rigid so it should. The Minite on my FS bike doesn't seem any more or less flexy, but with 130mm of travel, a rear shock, and very different geometry, there's a lot of background noise.
When I bought this fork for my race bike I was looking hard at at Fox F80X as well. I found the SID on super sale and in the end couldn't justify dishing out an extra $300, for a fork that weighs half a pound more. And the deciding point was that the pretty blue color matched the new blue paint job on my bike really well.
I'd reccomend this for for lighter riders (<150lbs) (especially women looking for a fork that you can tune to your lighter weight) and racers (maybe the light weight won't make you any faster, but the lock out on the fork sure will). Overall, I give it a three chili's "Good" rating.
Similar Products Used: RS Quad 21R, RS Judy SL, Manitou Mars C, Manitou Minute 3, RS Mag 21
Bike Setup: Salsa Ala Carte with XTR and stuff
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
max
a Cross Country Rider
from maple grove, mn, usa
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004
Strengths: very plush, very light. plenty stiff. no sticksion. mine sat all winter and did not lose substantial air pressure
Weaknesses: price
Bottom Line:
If you can swing the entry fee, why not? it is an awesome fork and well worth the cash. i have never regreted the purchase. i hardly ever use the lockout, i might remove it. if you look around you can get a good price.
Strengths: Very lightweight. Remote lockout. Looks very cool.
Weaknesses: None - But, if you go off 10 foot drops like the idiot below, than of course you will break the fork. What were you thinking? Carbon is not totally indestructible.
Bottom Line:
This fork is totally intended for XC racing. Very lightweight and the travel is freakin' plush. I have never ridden a better fork that is lighter than 3 pounds and absorbs everything in its path. Bottom line...this is a nice fork. I haven't had any problems with my fork.
Don't go off of 10 foot drops! I bet SRAM will be telling you the same thing.
Weaknesses: Doesn't hold air, brake boss/spring tab hole structural failure on lowers.
Bottom Line:
I'm a Semi-Pro MTB racer, 168 lbs, 80mm travel, 145psi +air / 130 -air, fast rebound.
I was highly excited about trying this new fork on my new team bike. I have ridden my old SID the past two seasons and very impressed with it, aside from some general issues related to normal wear.
1. Setting up my new bike with the new Carbon WC version, not so happy. I set it up with my usual air pressure levels, inflating positive first, then negative. My fork was flat, completely compressed after less than 24 hours and no riding at all. *Very* confidence inspiring... My old SID never did this.
2. I began to install my Avid brakes, a task I am completely familiar with, as I have been using Avids for 7 years. After putting on the first one, I remembered that I had better put some grease on the ti brake bosses. So as I attempted to unscrew the boss bolt that fixes the brake onto the fork, there was a snap sound. My little spring tab that fits into the little hole adjacent to the boss broke through the metal of the fork, as it flaked away the metal around the hole... apparently a weak/defective void in the metal.
Regardless, even though I have had wonderful experiences with my old SID SL (aside from my lock out cartridge turning out of the fork crown, still rigid at the Sandpoint NORBA race, and later blowing out my dampening cartridge last year at the Oregon Finals), I'm not really stoked about this new one yet. We'll see how the warranty dept. handles it.....
If it performs like my old SID SL, I will give it 5 chili's all around... unfortunately, not so yet.
Similar Products Used: Sid SL 2002, '99 Marzocchi X-Fly
Bike Setup: Epic S-Works, formerly Rocky Mtn. team only hardtail
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gerrit Slomma
a Cross Country Rider
from Berlin, Germany
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2004
Strengths: lightweight indeed, cool appearal
Weaknesses: where's the travel gone?
Bottom Line:
It is very light, indeed. And the carbon crown and steerer are looking killer. But it doesn't work at all at low speed (below 12mph/20kph), only some lousy 5mm. If you're going faster the fork begins to work better than the Sid XC/Pilot Race (both of them actually the same fork). The travel is not 80 mm at all, decompressed it accounts of 72mm setup for me (+80psi/-50psi) it has some 66mm. VERY POOR! The Rock Shox Pilot Race also claimes to have 80mm but provides decompressed some 89mm. THAT'S A DEAL! The lockout is very sensitive to the amount of oil in it. To less and there is some travel left. Setup the remote-lockout is a bit tricky. Don't care about the provided cables, get shifting-cables from Shimano along with the housing, way better! After all it is a bit disappointing: The Rock Shox Pilot Race is easier to setup, performed better at lower speeds and provided more travel. The SID Worldcup is lighter, looks cooler and works great at highspeed. If they do think about the fork's travel (add 20mm you guys at SRAM!!!!!!) and add some volume to the air-cartridges to make them work at lower speed it is worth the 750$. At the current state it is worth only the price of the Rock Shox Pilot Race + 100$ for the carbon crown and steerer and less weight, let's say 400$ But it is worth a buy if you are out the most time at highspeed!
This is the best race day fork out there. Super smooth, predictable, and light! The carbon rides better and is also a bit stiffer than the standard SID. Rockshox started the suspension craz...and they are still leading the way! It is expensive, but worth the money if you got it.
Submitted by
Chance Richie
a Racer
from Bainbridge Island, WA
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2003
Strengths: Lightweight, easily-adjustable, did I mention lightweight?
Weaknesses: None for my application
Bottom Line:
If you use this bike for what it is intended for, XC racing, there is nothing on the market that compares. It doesn't have a lot of travel but who wants that during a Norba style race? I have the pleasure of having different bikes for different applications, so if I were looking for an all-mountain fork I would take my Marzocchi anyday over the SID. However, for racing there is none better than the SID WC.
Bike Setup: Orbea hardtail, XTR shifters, Paul's brakes and levers, Easton carbon, Raceface Next cranks, American classic hubs and BB. Candy SL pedals, Stan's no tubes. Bike weight=19.8lbs
Strengths: even the "light waight" of this fork is qwestionable.
Weaknesses: flimsie feeling under presure, weak seals and on and on, did i say i spent 700 buck, way over priced for somthing that will blow up after 10 hours of rideing.
Bottom Line:
so i work and save to get the shock of my dreams. i ride light being only 150 lbs, and thouhg i ride alot i never break components. I read all the reviews below and think "well ill take good care of it and being light i wont have any problems with it" i spend the 700 hundred on it and go to town on my new crown jewel, carfilly recording the hours loged on it so i would be sure to get it serviced in time. ten hors go by and the thing wont hold air any more. the guy at the bike shop tore it apart and there befor my eyes is a desolved seal and durt oil. call me crazy but if i spend 700 dollers on a fork i expect it to do everything short of bare my children. my advice to any one thinking of geting this fork is to avide it , this is not a fork for actully rideing this is a fork for laying down and avoiding. there is nothing rewarding to this product.
Strengths: Lightweight, excellent adjustability, looks sweet, dampening and rebound second to none
Weaknesses: Steerer and crown are really brittle (an inherent weakness of anything carbon), lockout craps out way too quickly, max travel is questionable, a bit flexy under extreme brake force
Bottom Line:
If you're doing just flat out XC racing and you're looking to shed excess pounds / grams off your ride, this fork is unbeatable, period. I'm not a big fan of the lockout though, as it tends to have a mind of its own and craps out after a while, needing constant servicing. Also, like most people on here have noted, the full travel of the fork is questionable, and it seems to be sorta flexy under extreme braking conditions. I also wouldn't recommend any big drops or putting this thing through any big hits, because I've seen some really bad sh*t happen with anything carbon, and wouldn't leave it to chance. Otherwise, while the price is sorta steep, if you got the money, go for it.
Similar Products Used: Fox Vanilla RLC, Manitou Skareb Super
Bike Setup: Airborne Black Widow w/ full XT/XTR, Rock Shox SID World Cup, Avid Juicy Sevens, Mavic 317s on Chris King ISO Disc hubs
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Potter
a Cross Country Rider
from Falmouth, Ma. USA
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2003
Strengths: Super Light, Carbon steerer and crown will stand up to anything but overtightened front closure stems. This shock is outstanding.
Weaknesses: If your using a front closure stem, beware tightening it down too much. Itll crack the steerer and youll be out 300 bones to replace it.
Bottom Line:
If you can afford this fork, buy it. Dont overtighten the stem or you'll be sorry, but it will stand up to anything normal riding can dish out. If you have any problems, rockshox is great about helping. If you own an older SID, TRADE IT IN! Through the pioneer program you can get one of these for short money. This shock rules.
Similar Products Used: Older SID's, Manitou mars, FOX float RLC, Marzocci bomber Z1.
Bike Setup: 2003 Tomac 98 special pro. Magura SL discs and 317 disc wheels. sram halfpipe 9.0 shifters, time pedals, FSA ti bb, bontrager racelite cranks, fsa stem.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Bennett
a Racer
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2003
Strengths: less than 3 lbs, infinitely adjustable, plush, lock-out
Weaknesses: not getting full travel
Bottom Line:
I've been racing on my '03 SID World Cup for nearly 6 months and it has been fantastic! My racing has included several Canada Cups (Bromont, Hardwood, and Tremblant), several O-Cups (Pleasure Valley and Calabogie), a 24 Hr solo race (6th) and 3 local races, plus countless hours of just-riding-along and training. All the while, my World Cup has performed flawlessly and has required zero maintenance/service despite wet-n-muddy conditions and air pressure has remained constant with only a minor drop in pressure over several weeks.
My fork is 1305g (2.87lbs) cut to 195mm, no brake bosses and with a non-remote Climb-It Control lockout instead of the remote. I was forced to install the non-remote Climb-It Control lockout since the standard remote lockout was too high and hit my downtube. The lower-profile non-remote Climb-It Control lockout worked perfectly to provide the necessary downtube clearance. After reading several reviews about problems with the remote lockout sticking, I'm glad I went with the non-remote lockout...it works perfectly and comes in very handy for non-technical sections, climbing, etc.
The "Slippery Silver" stanchion coating truely helps to eliminate stiction in the fork.
When I originally set the fork-up as per RockShox's manual, I hated the fork. I emailed RS and quickly had a reply to try a new setting: 1 - for +ve pressure: body weight - 20psi 2 - for -ve pressure: body weight - 50psi 3 - rebound 3 turns-out from full fast.
With these new settings (+120psi/-90psi), my SID World Cup became a completely new fork and is perfect for my style of racing/riding.
My only complaint would be that I am not getting full "claimed" travel of 63mm. Instead, I'm only getting 53mm. This is actually up from my previous 48mm when I initially installed the All-Travel spacer. A teammate has a SID Team set at 80mm but is only getting 65mm. We both love the feel of our SIDs, but just wish we could have this feel with full travel.
FWIW, I race Expert XC, weigh 140lbs, and use B4 SL discs. I have not had a single issue with using discs on my SID...granted, I am fairly light. However, a 185lbs teammate of mine is using a SID Team with Magura Louise and also has no issues with SID, discs and flex.
Bike Setup: Seven Ti disc-only singlespeed, FSA Carbon Pro cranks, FSA XC-120 stem, FSA Platinum Pro Ti ISIS BB, Moots Ti post, SLR saddle, 959 pedals, King rear SS disc hub, Formula B4 SL discs, etc.
Strengths: Light, Carbon good strength/absorption, Infinetly adjustable, Looks killer...
Weaknesses: Remote lockout needs cleaned after every mud-ride and lubricated before every ride. Really flexy (although I'm coming from Cannondale {best forks ever}).
Bottom Line:
I bought this fork because I was building up my Fuel 100 frame and it was stock equipment on it. I noted Rock Shox had generally good reputation. Fox was too heavy for my racer likings and Marzzochi just isn't XC Race in my mind.
I loved the fact that the remote lockout allowed easy access compared to the crown lockout; but Rock Shox still hasn't created a remote lockout for their rear shock (*Hint*Hint*). I didn't like the fact that the lockout was really stickey after mud and needed such labor.
Cutting the forks steerer was a bit of patience with hacksaw and sand paper. Once I got it mounted, I just setup the air pressure to what R.S. had recommended and set the rebound to my normal likings. I didn't seem to have a problem getting air pressure right due to I'm so used to the SID.
The ride; it was really smooth and surprisingly plush. I loved the way it took big hits and small hits-both allowed the stroke to be very smooth. When I hit my XTR discs, I was a bit dissapointed to find such flex in my fork. I hear people talking about being too heavy for the fork, but I looked everywhere in the users guide and only found a max PSI warning. I am probably what most people consider to "big" for this fork, but I'm within the max PSI-so all is good in my opinion.
The lockout was a bit of a trick at first to get the cable tension right, but once I did it proved flawless on climbs. The lockout was nowhere as stiff as the Cannondale's, but I've come to live with it and it does have a bit of give for blow-threw.
I can't say enough good things about this fork and there's only so little wrong with it. I did note one day, however, when I unscrewed my air pump from the negative chamber, the negative chamber has a habit to "spit out" fork grease into the pump and sometimes gets on the disc rotor (errr).
I rated this fork the best of value because it is a extreme XC use only fork and what you pay is what you get. I gave it one less from overall because I have had some issues with the sticky remote lockout and the stickers don't stay on (R.S. needs to degrease the sliders before applying stickers).
Strengths: The Black Box carbon is sweet, carbon steerer is nice. The idea for the remote lockout is much more convenien than the little knob on the crown. Generally an attractive design.
Weaknesses: RS lies horribly about the weight! Advertised at like 2.6 and is actually 3.1 lbs. Lockout worked for like a month and now doesn't work at all. Considering the true quality of the product it is extremely over priced.
Bottom Line:
Well its a nice product and works fine, but the only reasons I bought it was for the Lockout and the weight: and the lockout doesnt work and it weighs half a pound more than advertised. If I knew this stuff ahead of time, I wouldn't have bought it, no way.
