The Six is designed for the entry-level rider who doesn’t want to sacrifice performance. Key features include 28.6 mm stanchions, convertible travel from 80 mm to 100 mm and a new Reverse Arch casting.
Submitted by
Leonard
a Cross Country Rider
from Rotterdam, the Netherlands Date Reviewed: May 16, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
* cheap * looks good
Weaknesses:
* Heavy * lack of adjustments
Similar Products Used:
Fox 32, Rockshox J3, Rockshox Dropoff, Votec.
Bottom Line:
Not a very good fork...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Rose
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: September 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$75.00
Strengths:
Solid shocka for the price.
Weaknesses:
Heavy.
Bike Setup:
Avid, Deore LX, SRAM
Bottom Line:
The 74mm post-mounts make it difficult finding adaptors to suit disc brakes. Does anyone know what kind of adaptor will allow the fitting of Deore BR-M515 front mech disc brake with a 160mm disc? My LBS (which is good) didn't have anything.
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Submitted by
Matiss
a Weekend Warrior
from Thunder Bay Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Rollin' Thunder
Strengths:
Strong, Looks Cool
Weaknesses:
Heavy, Compresses most of the travel when I sit on the bike, Post Mount Disk mounts, Doesn't do much soaking up of bumps
Similar Products Used:
Old RST 281, New Marzocchi AM1
Bike Setup:
'05 Jamis Durango
Bottom Line:
Don't get this fork. I does not do what a suspension fork is supposed to do, like soak up many bumps. It's heavy too. Tried to install new disk brakes, and had to get a special adapeter. The adapter needs huge bolts which I could only find at a Home Depot (three bike stores and a local hardware store didn't stock these huge bolts). If it comes on the bike you are looking at, don't get it. They are strong, and do look cool.
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Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville, Fl, US Date Reviewed: October 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Santos & 49th Ave
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
The price couldnt be beat. I got this fork at Jenson's website for $75.
Weaknesses:
Actually on the first day of use I noticed that one of the seals stuck completely to the stanchion and popped out of the lower assembly. I tried over and over to get it to stick back in but it prefered otherwise. I called customer service and they sent me a new lower from the Six Sport. I have yet to replace it.
Similar Products Used:
Axel Elite
Bike Setup:
This is my commmuter beater bike. Its a Trek 3500 with the Six fork, LX-Rhinolite Rims. Its been a good bike for riding back and forth to school.
Bottom Line:
I wanted a reliable, cheap fork for the daily commute. The Six has only been one of those things so far ($75). While the warranty department was very friendly and quickly sent me a part to fix the problem I dont feel like I should be doing the warranty work myself on a defective product.
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Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Wake Forest, NC Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Hmm....
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Dicks Sporting Goods on bike
Strengths:
Looks wonderful. Great trail riding- very soft on hard hits. very discreet, quiet, and practical. AWESOME for a stock fork.
Weaknesses:
Uncomfortably soft to ride on roads for long distances. non-adjustable (Makes Braking feel ineffective, since it goes down.)
Similar Products Used:
none, first of its kind.
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Warrior disc. $350 bike with all i need on it- front\back hayes, t6 aluminul, 24 speed, truvativ, acrea, ect..
Bottom Line:
If you've always loved biking and would like to get more serious- and see a bike with a manitou six six fork on it, buy it. it usually indicates the bike is good. Do not buy it if it doesnt come stock on a bike simply because its not road-compatible and can be tiring on cement. otherwise- amazing fork and dont plan on changing it untill it breaks down on me.
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Submitted by
Greg Notmyname
a Cross Country Rider
from Aplace,Thatsin,USA Date Reviewed: December 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Whateva
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Well to start it is kinda cool lookin. It handles suburban riding pretty well.
Weaknesses:
Flex is rediculous. The PL adjust doesnt do much.
Bottom Line:
Well, I like the fork for my use(X Country), it wasnt made for jumping. It can handle a foot or two drop and take it like a champ but any more and you probably will break the fork. It is a great fork if it comes on the bike because it does not drive up the price of the bike greatly. I can enjoy a good trail with this one and not fear anything but inexperience. As for it turning to a rigid, man you got a defective fork and should just return it, I've given mine a cross country beating and it is perfectly fine. My only gripe is that it flexes quite abit. I weigh 155 and when i stand up and pump the rim rubs both of the front brake pads. The wheel moves visibly and it is on there TIGHT. So yeah it is a good fork, just not something I would upgrade to.
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Submitted by
Brandon
a
from Johnson City, TN Date Reviewed: October 29, 2004
This is my first suspension fork which came with my new bike. I had fallen out of the sport back when Rock Shox was the only thing going and they were super expensive so this is my first. For a fork that came on a relatively value priced bike, I think it's quite good. I've found in the 2003 model manual for the Six, it references that the stock spring in this fork is intended for riders 150-170 pounds. That seems a bit ridiculous to me since most riders I know are at a minimum 170 pounds.
As for it breaking....forget about it. I'm 265 pounds. I was 280 when I started on this bike and fork. I've been doing intermediate single track with tons of roots, rocks, branches and trees and this thing is taking a beating. Though it's a bit soft due to my weight (need to get that firm spring kit), you can say this fork won't take a beating. It's not made for taking monster drops but it will definately take an aweful lot given the weight and force I'm making it support. If you can break this fork, then you are just abusing it and/or not using it for it's intended purchase. Don't try to make it a jumping and 15 foot drop fork. If you want to do that kind of thing, then you're going to have to fork out the bigger money...you can't be a cheap ass and get a product that will take that kind of hits.
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Submitted by
tom Becksted
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson Date Reviewed: September 11, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Fantasy Island
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Stock on G.Fisher Marlin
Strengths:
Keeps my tire on. Doesn't talk back.
Weaknesses:
No damping control. Damned heavy (4.5lbs)
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Pilot C, SID Team
Bike Setup:
G. Fisher Marlin: XT (front/back),Thomson Elite (stem & post),Monkey Lite XC bars, STOMP pedals, Rock Shox SID Team
Bottom Line:
For the price, I think its a decent fork. I wouldn't pay more than $75 though. Damping knobs don't do anything but spin around & its heavy. I used it on rocky trails & roads where it performed as designed.
Don't get this fork if your going to do any jumping/dropoffs. After a few jumps (actually alot) & some short drops, one of the boots practically blew up & i see some kind of oil/grease seepage....
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Submitted by
Jerry Macrame
a
from Seattle Date Reviewed: July 16, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Galbraith
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Peak
Strengths:
Let's you steer the bike!
Weaknesses:
Everything! This fork seems OK for the first couple of times you ride it, then it turns into a rigid fork!
Similar Products Used:
My crappy Mozo M30 fork is WAY WAY better than this thing!
Bike Setup:
Came with friend's Jamis Durango.
Bottom Line:
This fork blows chunks! Do not "upgrade" to this fork. If it came with your bike then ride it till it's toast and get a MArzocchi or fox.
This fork doesn't even have standard disk brake mounts! WTF?!? You have to buy an adaptor to put on real disk brakes!
Bottom line, this for is a downgrade from a rigid fork because it performs the same, but weighs more!
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Submitted by
thomas bixby
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
captain jacks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
old town bike shop
Strengths:
adjustable travel durable
Weaknesses:
no oil dampening
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
gary fisher marlin
Bottom Line:
Great shock for the price a little bouncy because of the lack of dampening. I can hit 3 foot drops all day with this shock. I dropped my bike really hard against a rock and it didn't hurt the shock at all. This shock is great for a entry level XC rider.
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Submitted by
Kyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Fall River. Nova Scotia , Canada Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
wopper dropper
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Sportcheck (came with bike)
Strengths:
will take a beating, look good , preload adjuster, can bounce on them.
Weaknesses:
the disk brake mount is different. nothing eles realy
Similar Products Used:
stupid rst
Bike Setup:
Ironhorse sonic, all stock but derailer upgrade to
Bottom Line:
There great for coming with a $$300 bike. u can realy have some fun on them. they take the bumps out of the trail realy well and realy keep your tire on the ground.
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Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Arkansas Date Reviewed: March 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Adjustable travel from 80 to 100 mm, adjustable preload
Weaknesses:
none yet
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Marlin (shock came on bike)
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is the shock performs it’s intended function. It is a shock made for cross country riding. The shock had a sticker on it from the factory that said not for jumping cross country only. I have seen some bad reviews of this shock saying it breaks. Most of the people were doing like 5 ft drops saying the shock broke. I am not surprised it broke from a 5 ft drop off because it’s a shock that costs less than 200. If you compare it to other shocks in its price range and category it’s a good shock. I am 200 lb and haven’t had any trouble on XC trails with moderate jumps. I believe it can’t be bought by itself and is only a shock that comes on bikes but I am not sure. Don’t be afraid of the bike if it has this shock on it. If you are going to be doing major drop offs save your money and buy a jumping shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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