Axel continues to be Manitou's best-value priced fork for 2005. And it's feature-rich! You get adjustable travel from 70-100mm via Rapid Travel Wind Down and a lockout knob for great climbing performance. Magnesium reverse-arch style casting keeps them super stiff.
Submitted by
Dominic Libby
a Cross Country Rider
from Milton Date Reviewed: January 24, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
w/Jamis frame on eBa
Strengths:
Smooth, Lockout, compression & rebound work perfect after oil change and proper amount installed.
Weaknesses:
Weight and mini boots on seals. Little flexy(28mm stanchions).
Similar Products Used:
I have 6 bikes so I try lots of forks. Here's what's close for comparing. Marzocchi Marathon, Marzocchi MX, RockShox SID, RockShox Reba, RockShox Duke, Fox Float RCL,(keep in mind the Reba, Duke and Float mentioned are 32mm stanchioned forks so they're stiffer), Manitou SX-R, Manitou R7.
Bike Setup:
'05 Jamis Exile Steel hardtail frame.LX Crank & fr, derailleur, LX Hydro's Disc brakes, RaceFace Next SL Post, RaceFace Deus Stem, Nashbar Carbon Riser Bars, FSA XC300SL Wheelset, FSA Headset, WTB SST.98 Saddle, Sram XO Twist Shifters & X7 Rear derailleur and an OEM 80mm travel Manitou Axel w/air, rebound, Lockout and compression adjust.
Bottom Line:
I wasn't to sure about this fork. It came on a frame I bought on eBay. Very low miles and looks near new. I figured I'd sell it on eBay but then I researched how cheap they're selling for(probably because of the low reviews). So I decided to check it out and keep it.
Right away I noticed it's very smooth in its travel(80mm) and the rebound worked great. I wasn't getting the compression dampening or lockout to work. It felt like my old Manipoo SX-R with low oil. So I drained the oil using the service guide and owners manual for reference and refilled it to the proper level(115mm from the top) using 5w Finish Line Shock oil. The thing has really come to life and all the functions are now functioning. She's a little chunky(4.4 lbs.) but I like it's feel so I'll keep it for a while. Very simple to service and it smokes the newer cheaper line of RockShox(Darts) and Marzocchi's(22's, 33's, MX's).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Local
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$175.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Price point, perfomance (compared to what it replaced)
Weaknesses:
None to date
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy, Quadra 21, Suntour SR
Bike Setup:
Giant Rincon, with some moderate upgrades.
Bottom Line:
When I compare this to the stock fork its leaps and bounds above it. My '06 Rincon came with a Suntour SR fork with 75mm of useless travel. I guess in short, expect to get what you've paid when it comes to this Manitou. I mean; you don't buy a Chevy Cavalier and start complaining that it handles like sh1t and is slow as hell. If your primary riding is X Country with the occasional romp down some hills or some raunchy single track, you'll be fine (atleast I have). Nothing has broken, performance has been good. For a new fork in the beginner to weekend warrior class, the price was right compared to my other options.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Heavyh20
a Weekend Warrior
from Greensboro, NC Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
$$$, beginner affordable (make sure you've adjusted this fork for the weight of the rider)
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Suntour crap
Bike Setup:
Coil EX
Bottom Line:
Fairly robust beginner fork. Not for extreme riding or nut drops. Price is great. Have fun now get out there and ride baby . . .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jap
a Cross Country Rider
from Nijmegen, the Netherlands Date Reviewed: November 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Kersten wielersport
Strengths:
Plush, durable, adjustable. Nice ride, soaks up everything up to moderate speed.
Weaknesses:
I'm not sure the rebound knob does what it's suppost to do. It is not very stiff.
Similar Products Used:
Rst crap, RS, Black.
Bike Setup:
NRS3
Bottom Line:
Nice fork. I've ridden it for 2 years without servicing. I ride about 60 miles a week (Holland is not entirely flat...) When you average more than 18 mph the fork shows it's weaknesses. That's why I'm replacing it, so far no problems what so ever. Cheap, reliable, strong, plush. Don't complain, just ride. Great for beginning XC warriors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Xezran
a
from GA Date Reviewed: August 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
friend
Strengths:
Great for beginners, pretty good travel (for biginners). great value.
Weaknesses:
If you hit some hardcore trails you might wish you had a better fork, But, no problem so far
Bottom Line:
Great for beginners
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bull
a Cross Country Rider
from Cluj Napoca, Romania Date Reviewed: July 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
travel, compression, lockout, rebound & looks great
Weaknesses:
very slight oil build up on uppers (if that can be called weakness)
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX
Bike Setup:
Scott voltage MX1, Truvativ, Shimano, Mavic, Hayes, Sun Rims, IRC
Bottom Line:
I think i'm just lucky, cause i have NO problems with it.I think other people are just too agrresive with this fork. All i did with it it's some trail ridding and 3 ft jumps. It works great so far. I'm planning on an upgrade if my ride skills and stile improves. It's very cheap, and it's perfect for an begenner like me. Don't buy it if u are an experience rider (so i've been told).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Lopez
a Downhiller
from Phoenix AZ, USA Date Reviewed: June 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
any one I can find.
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
its good for its purpose, which half the morons submitting downing reviews on this fork don't have the slightest Idea about!....
Weaknesses:
none if you are an entry level MTB'er... everything if you have advanced to a particular point in your skill of riding to which most will in good time...
Similar Products Used:
manitou scarib, R-7, Fox FRLT, rock shox pilot.
Bike Setup:
I have so many bikes its rediculous.
Bottom Line:
The one major pisser about this website is that you have so many complete morons that go out of there way to submitt a review about something they don't fully understand, yet are so fast to down a product... Let me tell ya something. FIRST OF ALL, this is an entry level fork! it was meant for little kids and adults starting out! which is why if you pay attention, to the rest of the component set up on your bike, what your dealing with. they probably aren't the most high end ether!!! This fork is good for what it is! If your an idiot and take it off 3 foot drops, and run it hard, a little bell should go off in your head, that you need something that is built for that, which again goes into research about similar products and there primary purpose to which, if they had done so in the first place would not have left such crap reviews out of ignorance!
Five Flaming chilies for this entry level xc fork
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bill eeyore
a Weekend Warrior
from couer d alene idaho Date Reviewed: May 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
bike paths
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
singletrack cycles
Strengths:
looks cool
Weaknesses:
everything
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
giant sedona
Bottom Line:
I weigh 150 lbs. and only ride some bike trails around in the Northern Idaho area. I hit some gnarly roots that were protruding out of the gravel trail and the fork made a huge popping sound and all this oil started to squirt out on my suit that I was wearing. I ended up paying $100 in dry cleaning to try to get the oil out, but it only ruined my suit more. don't buy this fork at all costs!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
charles eden
a Cross Country Rider
from granite bay, CA Date Reviewed: May 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
downeyville
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with specialized FSR xc
Strengths:
holds wheel on.
Weaknesses:
blows out after average use, hard to service, heavier than most. rebound damp'n did little to help.
Similar Products Used:
Rock shox Judy, Marz. bomber, Rock shox duke xc, Girvin
Bike Setup:
Spec. FSR XC, XT/XTR, avid disc, setup mostly for X-country, some downhill.
Bottom Line:
Now I know why they give it away free with the bike. Holds the wheel on in the shop, that's aobut it. Otherwise: Look elsewhere, abuse and trash it quickly or just plan on replacing very soon....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
a o
a Weekend Warrior
from toronto Date Reviewed: May 14, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
eveything
Similar Products Used:
cheap forks that worked better
Bike Setup:
trek 6500 w/ HFX 9 discs
Bottom Line:
this is a horrible fork it has no senitivity, the only time it compresses is when you stand over it and push down on the handle bars! It's like their idea of a pedalling platform is to not have the fork be able to move as soon as you start moving. I've done everything possible to make it work better and it's still garbage!
Gets on of each for working whhile it's in the shop...manitou did a great job of selling it as that's the only time it works!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Saint Louis, MO, USA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Fruita CO trails
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
lbs (came with bike)
Strengths:
allright for a beginner or someone who doesn't ride very hard and it did work alright for a couple of months (about 400-500 trail miles)
Weaknesses:
lets see, this fork would work one day correctly and then by the end of the ride it would sieze up and not move more than a few mm. When you go off 3 foot drops it won't work anymore.
Similar Products Used:
rock shox judy sl & tt, jett, Manitou six, minute 1 (great fork so far)
don't get this fork if you ride hard. I am into jumps and small dropoffs. I had this fork and then i sent it in to manitou and they sent it back, same problem same fork, sent it in again and they gave me a brand new Minute 1 which has worked amazingly so far. I am now a very happy customer!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
C C
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa Date Reviewed: April 4, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
If it worked, compression, rebound and lock out
Weaknesses:
Totally seizes up after about 20 minutes of trail riding.
Similar Products Used:
nil... previous fork was a Rockshox Judy
Bike Setup:
2005 Jamis Exile Stock
Bottom Line:
Came with the bike. Had I known about all the issues people have had with the fork in the past, I would have gotten something else. About after a month of riding, had noticed that the fork started to become stiff (to the point where attempting to press down on the handlebars does nothing) after 20 minutes of riding on the trails. My trail riding is nothing close to extreme, mostly cross country stuff. Anyways, after two more months of riding (with the problem) decided to send the bike back for warrantee work. The fork was replaced then the bike went into storage for the winter. Well, what do you know, took the bike out of storage today, and after about 40 minutes of riding, the same problem came back to visit. So, if you can, avoid this fork like the plague.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Larry
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland, New Zealand Date Reviewed: March 3, 2006
leaks oil onto uppers not a big leak but enough to cause an oily buildup. Came stock with a very light spring - probably good for a person half my weight as I measure twice the recommended sag. I am 92kg. Bottoms out easily I need to set compression 1 off from being locked out. Rebound adjust doesn't seem to do alot. Heavy for what it does.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
marin nail trail 2005
Bottom Line:
I am disappointed with this fork. Purchased this bike on end of model runout sale for $1300. I should have done a little more research on the front forks before I bought this bike. In hindsight it would have been better buying the more expensive indian firetrail as this came with a fox fork FRL 100mm. On my nail trail if I want to have a suspension setup that doesn't bottom out and this is running on very benign off road tracks,I have to run the compression 1 off being locked out, any less and it will bottom out. I have ordered some firmer springs through my LBS but I was told not to expect these anytime soon. I am wondering now if its actually worth the trouble of investing in a heavier spring, or better off in investing in some better forks. Bottom line avoid these forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
neil
a Cross Country Rider
from louisville, ky US Date Reviewed: January 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
otter creek loop
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$140.00
Strengths:
absolutely nothing
Weaknesses:
everything that can be weak about a fork
Similar Products Used:
manitou skareb elite, rock shox duke race
Bike Setup:
fuel 90, xtr levers/shifters, xtr drivetrain, thomson post and stem, wtb seat,duke race fork
Bottom Line:
this fork sucks. the first one i bought blew out in the first ten minutes of riding, so i sent it back. the second one didn't make it to the end of the street, and now the third one has failed after about a year. i don't think i'll even send it back cause i don't want another. also, it is way too soft and the adjustment does absolutely nothing (i only weigh 150 lbs.). this thing is a peice of junk. the skareb was also junk, allowed for virtually no adjustment, and gets about 30mm of travel after about a year of riding. if you want a quality fork, stick to rockshox, i have pounded the hell out of my duke, and although it doesn't get quite the travel it used to, it still performs great and doesn't leak at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Arturo
a Cross Country Rider
from Escondido, CA, 92027 Date Reviewed: January 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
TREK
Strengths:
NONE.
Weaknesses:
Leaks a lot of grease and broke some internal parts only in 3 months. BAD, BAD!!!!!!!
Bike Setup:
TREK FUEL 70
Bottom Line:
Leaks a lot of grease and broke some internal parts only in 3 months. If you have this fork try to replace with other it is danger. I loose control and broke an arm. Please don't take a risk, do not buy a MANITOU fork. I did not understand how TREK company use this brand on their products.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Mosher
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: December 23, 2005
Favorite Trail:
wentworth
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
cyclesmith
Strengths:
Awsome adjustments, rebound adjustment seems to be a little weak though.
Weaknesses:
Lots of oil building up on uppers
Similar Products Used:
manitou six
Bike Setup:
trek 4300 disc, manitou axel super
Bottom Line:
Good if your a weekend warrior like myself, probably not so goo if you are a serious downhil rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Elps
a Cross Country Rider
from charlotte,NC Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Beatty or Greenway
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Fork has lockout, adjustable rebound and you can adjust the stiffness of the fork. Well-sealed internals
Weaknesses:
Weight, weight, weight
Similar Products Used:
Marchozzi EXR, Fox FR 100, Manitou Minute 1:00
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Tassajara with Stock Drivetrain and WTB Laserbeam Rims
Bottom Line:
This fork is not really that bad, you can lock it out for the climbs and then open it up for the descents. I can't really feel much diffrence when I "adjust" the rebound, but there is a slight diffrence when I tighten up the fork. The lockout works well enough but the fork still moves about 3-5 MM's when it is locked out. THis fork is defintly not for a racer but it is still a good fork nonetheless
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jordan
a Racer
from Mankato,mn Date Reviewed: September 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
good ones
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Worked on a 12 hour, worked in a time trial..Lock out works, rebound still works and so does the adjustments.
Weaknesses:
flexy, dials can get stuck..but dw-40 fixes that problem. The fork is too bouncy.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Reba
Bike Setup:
Specialized fsr xc pro, Rock shox reba, Fox Float R
Bottom Line:
It worked in all of my summer races, including a 70 mile 12 hour and a time trial race. But after the season this thing started to get pretty crappy. It still works but the shock gives in too much. Kinda bad for up hills.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Barry
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, Australia Date Reviewed: August 30, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Stiff for a fork with such thin uppers, easy to service
Weaknesses:
The fork came with a spring that was too stiff and the distributors wouldn't get me the correct one. It seemed to build excessive amounts of oil on the uppers. It wasn't particularly smooth. So damn heavy but still not strong, i bent them slightly during a very minor stack and I only weigh 55kg! Also my mate had a set of 2004 versions which cracked under normal use and replaced them with the 2005 model which he has had for 3 months and already had them completely seize up mid travel which was fixed and now they've developed some strange squeak.
Raceline Comp hardtail, LX/XT drivetrain, hayes hfx9 hydros, manitou axel fork (now my 03 Marzocchi EXR air)
Bottom Line:
Possibly the most annoying and troublesome fork I've ever seen. I have since replaced it with my old Marzocchi EXRs of my "downhill" bike, they've seen way more of a thrashing than I could imagine giving the axels and they are still way better.
I don't understand the need for lockout and wind down features on a fork that weighs as much as this, you're not gonna be too serious about actually getting uphill with it anyway. I knocked over a kilo off my bike by fitting the bigger, more solid marzocchi's too it..
I guess at the end of the day they are not bad given that they came on an otherwise very well specced bike for $1400aus. Probably not the worst fork to get started with, but expect to have to splash out some more cash to upgrade when they screw up...
I can't believe manitou are still making them.
3 Chillis for value cos they've got the features at a low price. 2 Chilli overall cos they're crap quality but they do seem to go up and down. I guess I got what I paid for...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ted
a
from Toronto, ON Can Date Reviewed: June 14, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
looks good, feels good
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox
Bike Setup:
'04 Marin Nail Trail
Bottom Line:
The adjustments all work perfectly on my fork so I have no complaints about that. You can see the height difference when you adjust the travel dial. You can feel the fork become more plush when you minimize the rebound or more springy when you increase it. The fork feels good, it's pretty light. I think all mountain bike stuff is over priced so I would give this a low value rating but it's not too bad relative to what else is on the market.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bernie
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna, Philippines Date Reviewed: April 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
a Friend
Strengths:
It's a Manitou! Nice design and looks.
Weaknesses:
All it's adjustable features seems useless, nothings happening when you turn something.
Similar Products Used:
Marz MX Bomber air
Bike Setup:
XXtension FS w/ Deore LX 05 GRpset
Bottom Line:
This fork cannot be used for usual trail rides since its very soft and sucks so deep. Can't handle heavy drops and heavy riders. But this fork can be used maybe on road XC MTB.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe price
a
from Nova Scotia Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
direct from Canadian Dist
Strengths:
It is supposed to be adjustable? travel, compression, rebound, lockout
Weaknesses:
"Outdoor Gear Canada" the distrubutor has no concept of customer service. Sounds about right for anything associated with Manitou
Similar Products Used:
RS Psylo SL, Fox Talas
Bottom Line:
This replacement fork was to have ended an epic fork problem. From day one a Manitou SX LT leaked oil. They always wanted to wait to fix the problem. It was sent back no less than five times (maybe more, I've kind of blocked it), each time it came back something was obviously wrong with the fork. Firstly it would leak, next when you pulled up on the bars to clear something it would top out with a loud clunk. Eventually they just refused to do any thing more with it. It didn't matter to them that it never worked. My LBS couldn't believe it, but they hated to see me coming. In the end they (OGC) agreed to discount a fork. Which brings us to the Axel. This went on my sons bike. Felt okay, everything is good, right. Wrong, after one ride, the fork would barely compress. You could jump on the bars. Compression adjustment? forget it, it went form ridgid to almost ridgid. Back to my LBS (they have been incredible). They have dissassembled it and lubed everything and say it is fixed. We'll see. As bad as Manitou forks are, their customer service is worse. If only there were negative chilis
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bubba
a Cross Country Rider
from Bradenton, Fl. US. Date Reviewed: March 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Trail Sports
Strengths:
Great travel adjustments, and excellent lockout. Adjustment on compression is also a great plus!!!
Weaknesses:
First fork I got was a dud! Seal was busted. People at manitou were excellent!!! Sent me a new fork and fast. The fork comes stock with a med. spring and it's very soft! Bottomed out fast. Had firm spring put in and works like a dream!
Similar Products Used:
Marzoochi Comp
Bike Setup:
05 marin nail trail stock. firm spring in axel fork.
Bottom Line:
This fork works like a sweet dream once I got the firm spring put in. Everything works great! The fork locks out like a rock and the adjustable travel works great for transitions on road and off road! Great all around fork for the money! If you every have any trouble with it the folks at manitou are highly recommended!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mdog Doggy
a Weekend Warrior
from woof Date Reviewed: February 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Mike's Bikes
Strengths:
3 Adjustments are pretty cool, seem to handle my weight, I'm 206lb.
Weaknesses:
The rebound adjustment is barelly noticeble, if any.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale F300 stock 2005
Bottom Line:
The guys at mike's bikes hooked it up, they told me that the stock fork Manitou SIX came damaged so they replaced it with the Manitou Axel Super, so I have no idea of price. But I know I came up!! The rebound adjustment is pretty weak. But the rest works very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike H-bomb
a Cross Country Rider
from Woody Hills, CA. Date Reviewed: December 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Sulphur Springs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$301.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Bang for the Buck
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Magnum, RST Omega
Bike Setup:
Rockhopper HT, Axel Super, LX drivetrain, Avid SD-5 V's.
Bottom Line:
Travel Adj, Compression, Lockout, preload, rebound, all external adjustments, are you kidding me? Best fork I've ever used, probably gonna keep it for a good long time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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