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Submitted by
American Lesion
a Cross Country Rider
from Venango County
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Oil Creek, Allegheny, and East Sandy Creek Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Dirt cheap. Great way to pay off the computer guy for working on your machine....by working on his bike. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Cheap, cheesy, chromed-steel crown. Flimsy rubber boots. No adjustability | | Similar Products Used: | SR Duotrack, RS Judy TT, Zokes BLT, Zoom Gordo 650 Dual Crown, Manitou Magnum Sport. | | Bike Setup: | (his...NOT mine)Sunrace M40 rear Mech. Shimano 7-spd chain, Sunrace Mega Drive 7-spd freewheel, Alex black ano rims, Altus hubs, SR crankset, BMX-style alloy platform pedals, Exage 400 front mech, Deore Thumbies, Rhino Riser bars with cross brace, Kalloy quill stem, Tange headset, Tektro front, Nexave rear Linear pull brakes, Pyramid alloy brake levers (long-lever-style, with adapters), Mushrooms grips, SR Laprade seatpost, Brooks leather saddle, Cannondale hardtail frameset (circa 1994), Specialized tires | | Bottom Line: | Obviously, this bike is a piece-together job...mostly my leftovers, and the fork was purchased in exchange for some work my computer tech dude did in exchange. The fork is generally unimpressive, but serves his purposes....at $10, I'd say its the best fork in its price range (probably the ONLY fork in its price range). The feel is spongey soft and it bottoms out easily. I'm usually not one slam bargain components...and I guess I'm not slamming it...but you certainly get what you pay for here. This would be a fine fork for the occassional rider, but not for anyone remotely serious. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
grim reaper
a Downhiller
from Poland
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | anything downhill... | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | a local store (NOT a bike store!) | | Strengths: | brake mounts are strong, doesn't lockup when braking hard, still better than other 'el cheapo' front shocks,
none else | | Weaknesses: | the springs are WAY too weak for my weight (180+lbs), there's no manufacturer's website, I got no manual, nothing - no idea how to set preload,
bottoms out VERY easily,
clunking sound when bottoming out,
no damping,
no manufacturer's website,
no way to mount disc brakes on it,
overall weak and useless. | | Similar Products Used: | another 'el-cheapo' no-name 'made in china' front shock that came with another 'el cheapo' no-name 'made in china' bike - this one is a few times WORSE than my ballistic cr*p (no comments!) | | Bike Setup: | 'el cheapo' no-name steel frame (but extremely durable), 'made in china' no-name useless rear shock, no-name s***ty derailleurs (sp?), everything else replaced with high-quality (and expensive) stuff | | Bottom Line: | I'm not 100% sure what my front shock exactly is - I'm only sure that it's Ballistic and that it has '600' on it (everything else got torn before I was even interested with checking what model was this), but I had a chance to test another 2 ballistic products (both were front shocks, but on other bikes), and it's all cr*p! Especially mine - it has WAY too little travel, bottoms out too easily, doesn't handle small bumps at all, has no dampening, and - it's biggest weakness - it doesn't have disc brake mounts! It's only strenghts are that it doesn't lockup when braking HARD (like doing a stoppie) while some front shocks do, and that some other are even worse...
Anyway, I wish I could rate it at -10!
VERY bottom line: DO NOT buy this unless you got a lot of money to waste and your body to risk! (if you can find a dealer, that is). If you got it with your bike (like me), get a decent front shock (even a well-maintained used one if you're low on $$$ like me), and until you do - drive slow and carefully, and don't even think about XC/DH/FRing on it... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nikolas
a Weekend Warrior
from Greece
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | ARE YOU KIDING ME? | | Weaknesses: | bottoms out even when with my cat on the bike,the adjusters of the spring,heavy,basicaly EVERYTHING | | Similar Products Used: | NONE as bad | | Bike Setup: | gt pantera judySL lx-xt | | Bottom Line: | Ballistic EX800A:Do N-O-T by this fork.if its on your bike throw it away.Do not by any ballistic product.The so called company has no web site.no adress.no phone.no dealers.no service.no product support.NOTHING.Mean whot is this crap?Is it a ghost-ship or something?My fork worked excelent-For 2 days.Anf it must be a recor for ballistik.After that,on the 3rd day,the fork bottomed out and would not come back up!!!!!!!!!!I opened it up,re-greased the springs and found out that there were small rocks,dirt and water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!inside the legs.thet one fine day the adjusters(2 screws)whitch were in the total tight posission came back up on there own.I replaced them from a set of thrown away ballistics from the bike shop and the same thing happened to the seccond set ass well.I tried hopelesly to find for any kind of product support for this piece of s it(the 'h' is missing)and nothing came up.If you are suisital,like to spend your money on nothing,whant products from no-excisting companies and enjoy forks that bottom out under the MASSIVE weight of a cat then pleace,GET this fork(That is IF you can find a dealer)I wish i could rate them minus5 chlies.I could never,ever,ever imagine a pruduct could be this useless | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Eureka, CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything offroad | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | N/A... Free!!! | | Strengths: | This fork has no strengths. I'm afraid I'll DIE if I use this fork which is on a Mongoose A40R, quite possibly one of the worst bikes ever made...besides a huffy of course! | | Weaknesses: | Bottoms out all the time, clanks like crazy, very loose and seems like it will break apart. I tried to jump a curb and almost fell on m face. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Judy, Psylo, SID, Duke, Manitou Black, Marz Z1, Z5 (at least I've tried these). | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose A40R with stock components--I got this bike free as something to ride in the rain, but even then I probably won't. | | Bottom Line: | Maybe some hobo or a 5-year old kid could benefit from the Ballistic shock, but I certainly won't. At least on my Gary Fisher I don't have the feeling of Death reaching out for me on every ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ollo ollo
a Weekend Warrior
from here
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | oregon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | mongoose d40 24" | | Strengths: | ethqrjyrqyjurrayjartjtsyjkfgjwtuhyut | | Weaknesses: | 5wuw56uw56i57yki75tswiyk75wikw | | Similar Products Used: | 57ikw57ikw57ikw57ikw57ik5w7ikwikw5 | | Bike Setup: | 5555wi57ikw7iwiw777w7wiw5 | | Bottom Line: | 7iw57iw57i5w7iw5iw57iw57iw57iw | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hubert larson
a Downhiller
from northern illinois
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | down hill run | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | toys r us | | Strengths: | the front shox r still kickin ass and i have rode my bike hard the back shox r kickin the frame is good | | Weaknesses: | my gears got all messed up i cant go into 21st gear know but i can fix the rear the wheels dont do to good in sand | | Similar Products Used: | cheap full suspencion bikes | | Bottom Line: | this is good for dirt trails can handle jumps pretty good and for a cheap bike it is a good choice | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mario
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | where do I start? | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Toys R' Us | | Strengths: | can be used for scrap metal... if it didn't have so many parts made from plastic. | | Weaknesses: | take every possible thing that could go wrong with a fork, and multiply it by 10. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | I got this Mongoose R-30 with a Ballistic 105 fork at Toys R' Us for $150 to have a cheapo bike to run around town in, instead of having my new Giant Warp stolen at the grocery store. Bad Choice. | | Bottom Line: | The Ballistic 105 fork is so extremely horrible, that I wouldn't even give it away in fear that someone would come back trying to sue me for a broken arm or something. After riding the bike for about a week and a half, it froze up to the point where it wouldn't move at all. I got some old grease, which helped a little. Then, one bright and sunny day, I was taking the bike apart, when I noticed some rust on the crown. I took a closer look and it was a crack, and there were 2 more on the other side. To make my day better, Ballistic has no website or phone number that I can find, and the Parts Service phone no. on my bike has been busy for 2 weeks. Really, now how is a 1-800 no. going to be busy while trying every hour on the hour from 3pm to 4am!?
Then I find the fork to be recalled for breaking in half, or something, but my serial no. wasn't included. What a bunch of crap! Even if it was, I'd have no way of contacting the so called company anyway. If you work for Ballistic, you should be ashamed of yourself because of all the crap you put people through. I can get better service at a self-serve gas station.
If you want a whole lot of nothing, then I highly suggest purchasing the Ballistic 105 fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Cali
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any gnarly one.... | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lasted 5 yrs!!! | | Weaknesses: | Too much front to back play in forks from the git go, didn't like the stiff setup... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | '96 GT Tempest, lots of upgrades.... | | Bottom Line: | This shock came with my bike, was not impressed with lack of support for the forks, LBS didn't even know who made em. I ended up visiting Ace Hardware and bought a couple of springs for the shock, took out 2 elastomers from each side and threw the springs in, MUCH IMPROVEMENT!!! lol, talk about homegrown... anyways, never rebuilt, tightened screws here an there, just managed to put stress cracks in the crown (both sides) and blew out both sides of forks recently after 5 yrs and thousands of miles of HARD ridin'.... Not bad fer a cheap fork... (NOTE: with any shock setup, you should ALWAYS check your forks before/after a ride to make sure it is up to the next ride. Don't get caught with yer shorts down an take a nasty fall cuz u didn't check yer gear) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ben robinson
a Downhiller
from kalgoorlie,WA, australia
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | perth,mundaring, WA, australia | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Bryces downhill works | | Strengths: | change the pressure, softness and how much travel | | Weaknesses: | cant set it to exact pressure to not bottom out. its either more or not enough. i prefer more. | | Similar Products Used: | none i know of. | | Bike Setup: | i have the spring half way down the shock and the compression on soft as. | | Bottom Line: | if you are a serious downhiller i do advise you to get one for the comfort and speed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Penticton, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Wal Mart :) | | Strengths: | Nothing | | Weaknesses: | Lets See.....Messed up 'clank' sound when compressing, bottom out after hopping off curbs, Not strong, not even adjustable preload, no damping. Hell even RST makes better shocks then this | | Similar Products Used: | RST 281EL, Rock Shox Jett, 2001 RS Judy XC's, Marzocchi Bomber Z1 QR20. | | Bike Setup: | None right now, gotta buy another new one. | | Bottom Line: | I spent $300 at walmart a few years ago on a mongoose with ballistic 105 shocks. They were good for about an hour. After that the clanking noise wouldnt go away, it was too stiff, and a few months later one of the 'arms' snapped after a pitiful 3 foot gap. I was lucky i didnt get hurt. I stuck a screwdriver between the crown and the broken 'arm' to hold the shocks together. I took another 3 foot jump, sure enough the other 'arm' snaps as well as the screw driver....I was unconscious and woke up in shock for a few hours in the hospital. Lost 3 teeth, concussion and broken shoulder. Walmart wouldnt even refund anything. What a piece of garbage shock....everything else on that walmart bike was great though, super light, great brakes, strong rims and good shifters. It was an awesome bike too, despite coming from walmart. I shoulda put in some RS Judy's or something. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc Hawk
a Downhiller
from Mirror, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | psychomatic | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Toy's R Us | | Strengths: | Lots of travel, cheap | | Weaknesses: | bottom out way to easy, ugly, noisy, weak | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Dual suspention, 1999 Dunlop Whiplash, XRims, Shimano rapid fire shifters, 850lbs rear shock, Fox racing decals, Front & rear fenders, Shimano Altus crankset. | | Bottom Line: | These shocks are not a good mach for this bike. they bottom out on small jumps. ugly as hell. good for obsorbing small rocks and bumps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shane
a Downhiller
from North Van
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ladies Only , Circus | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | none at all | | Weaknesses: | The shock is damn ugly, bottoms out on curbs, doesn't sound sturdy, and it can't be adjusted, also it is made or low grade materials! | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing this shi!!y, but i have used rock shox judy TT,C, Xc, and da Boxxers | | Bike Setup: | Currently a Brodie Bruzza 2001 after i got rid of that old POS mongoose | | Bottom Line: | Ballistics are really bad! They bottom out soo easily. Being an extreme DH biker, these shocks bite the big one! Made of bad material they are low end shocks! I mean really low! i did a simple 4 foot drop and the steerer tube bent! and I only weigh 100 lbs. So, think twice if u r intending on buying this! it maybe ok for city riding or whatever, but all in all.. i wouldn't ever go near it again! It doesn't even deserve one flamin chili! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lance Lorenz
a
from North Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Empire Lakes | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Freddy Meyers | | Strengths: | hmmmmm. Well it has a reflector on it. Those are good. Its plush until you bottom it out. 60 mm of travel helps but not much. | | Weaknesses: | -I think the fork is being recalled but I donno.
-Bottom's out faster than you can say clonk. I weigh 105 and can bottom it out doing wheelies.
-Heavy, I think, (Im too afraid to take it off I probably cant put it togther)
-Noisy. Makes a loud Whoosh noise. I guess thats not good.
-Dropouts suck. Look like tin foil. About as thick as tin foil too. Jut out way too far. If they were smart they wouldve put em under the fork legs. Or else reinforced them better. I heard about some kid that broke his dropouts going off an 8 inch or so drop.
-Not Enough Travel
| | Similar Products Used: | I just bought a Judy XC but havent ridden it yet cause its going on my new frame. | | Bike Setup: | Good Ole Royce Union. The fork says 600 XL on it.
got a great specialized Tire on it.
Bike is covered with WD-40. Startin to rust. | | Bottom Line: | Crap. Im takin this thing back to Fred Meyers, since I'd rather have a non recaled one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Reid
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar Rapids
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | whoop-de-doops | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | dumpster behind bike shop | | Strengths: | None to speak of. | | Weaknesses: | Loud noises, no rebound control, easily bottoms out, untunable, heavy, flexy, cheaply made, etc. | | Similar Products Used: | I've never used something similar to this POS, but I have ridden SX Carbon, Judy XC, Z1, Z5. | | Bike Setup: | The fork was on a POS that was claimed to be made of corbon steel-titanium-vanadium alloy. I have a Trek Fuel 100 with Mars Super (no brake bosses), Hope Mini, Crossmax Disc UST, Gripshift Woody, etc., etc., etc. | | Bottom Line: | I would not reccoment this fork for anyone. Even people who are just getting into off-road riding or really need a fork in short time would do better with a rigid fork. At least a decent rigit fork will go in the direction you point it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Sipes
a Downhiller
from Ben Lomond
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Sage, Gazos Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | JC Penny | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose D50 | | Bottom Line: | This is good for beginners or people that can't afford the more expensive products. It is better than most people make it sound, coming from a downhiller who does some pretty wicked stuff. All downhillers around here and on MTBR like it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Ha,Ha!!What goddamn strengths? | | Weaknesses: | -WEAK!!
-CHEAP!!
-UGLY!!
-NO TRAVEL!!
-BOTTOMS OUT OFF OF CURBS!!
-BOTTOMS OUT IF YOU STAND ON IT!!
-BOTTOMS OUT UNDER THE WEIGHT OF MY 8-YEAR OLD BROTHER!!ON PAVEMENT!! | | Similar Products Used: | There is almost no other fork THIS bad!!! | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | What a cheap piece of crap!!
..And I thought the RST 381 was bad!!This takes the cake!!Should it be any surprise that this is a Wal-Mart fork?!
Buy it if you get a thrill out of riding this crap.
Otherwise,BE SMART AND STAY THE HELL AWAY!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tryon Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Wal-Mart | | Strengths: | it sucks but has good absorption | | Weaknesses: | The peice that goes in to the headset snapped, it rust fast non-adjustible | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shock jett c and judy xl | | Bike Setup: | Full suspension | | Bottom Line: | This fork sucks. I only had it for a year and it snapped while i was riding. It broke right above the crown and and i crashed. I brused my rib and scrached my driveway. Get this fork if you like cheap crap that breaks when you ride it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Roni
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin, OH
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Alum Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Works fine. Plenty of travel for me, who weighs 150 lbs. | | Weaknesses: | Makes an odd noise, but I think that many other shocks do the same - not sure. | | Similar Products Used: | I rode the Cannondale Lefty before. | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose XR-500 with Fireball Rear-Suspension, 24 speed. | | Bottom Line: | Plenty of travel for my 150 lbs body. I would wonder about a fatter person and if they would bottom out alot. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cole
a Downhiller
from blue ridge mt SC
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | good for the money, nice travel, holds up nicely | | Weaknesses: | bottoms out to quick, if not lubercated doesn't work with crap | | Similar Products Used: | judy xc, and of the the sid long travel | | Bike Setup: | mongoose d-40 | | Bottom Line: | good fork for the money, i would recemend this fork to some one who is new to mt. biking, or someone who screwed there last fork up and needs a new one quickly | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | cheap
works fine
takes just about every bump | | Weaknesses: | loose suspension
bottems out easily
| | Similar Products Used: | judy xc
indy | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose A40r | | Bottom Line: | Get your moneys worth.
Work great for what you pay.
Does just as good as a low end Rock Shock or Manitou yet cost less.
If you are noot completely satisfied, Get a good Tune up or pay a little more for a better front shock
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Young
a Cross Country Rider
from west sussex
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ----- | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | cheep!!!! | | Weaknesses: | makes a loud cluck | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox indy | | Bike Setup: | Y frame (one cool bike except fore the ballistics) | | Bottom Line: | cheep and cheaful (in outher words what a load of rubbish)
by some cheep rocx shok instead.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin TX
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | very heavy
short
noisy | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou | | Bike Setup: | came with my solid Road Master bike. | | Bottom Line: | Product : Ballistic 105,this piece of crap is expensive even for a buck ! rigid should be worth ! I know i own a cheap bike,but hasn't broke,even the shimano dual sis that came with,just this ballistic crap is the problem.I solve it with a very good sale Manitou.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Clemson, SC
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Couldn't find any | | Weaknesses: |
It didn't work, piece of crap | | Similar Products Used: |
RS Judy XC & Jett C | | Bike Setup: |
Wal-Mart Mongoose d40
with Ballistic 105 | | Bottom Line: | As soon as i got it, i knew i had messed upi couldn't get 1mm of travel from it unless i practically stood on the handlebars. you would be better off with a non-suspension fork, at least it would be lighter. it doesnt deserve one burning chili | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a Weekend Warrior
from ware massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
back yard academy | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
strong, cheap and can handle anything | | Weaknesses: |
when you hit a large rock ; stump or branch in your path, it tends to make an annoying chung or clunk noise. but rockshox are no better, just muffled noises | | Similar Products Used: |
judy, rockshox | | Bike Setup: |
it was a mongoose d40
(best bike iver ever ridden or seen) | | Bottom Line: | if you cant find ballistics anywhere, rockshox will do ok, but try and look harder for the ballistic 105 model, and up. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Borris
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
some place in wales | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
The fork worked well and it ook the shocks and bumps well, and I think it s O.K. for going over bumps. | | Weaknesses: |
Its rubbish. | | Similar Products Used: |
I once had a bike. | | Bike Setup: |
It was a good hardtail, with, something like monster t or something, i dont remember proper. | | Bottom Line: | Its good, but dont spend time on it, or buy it borrow a friends. it might rust If you leave it in the rain. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Barberton, OH
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vulture's Knob | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
+Cheap
+They compress when you push on them really hard or when you hit something real big | | Weaknesses: |
-VERY UNactive.
-Ballistic is not exactly a household word | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy XC
Indy S
Rigid | | Bike Setup: |
Borrowed bike | | Bottom Line: | I rode my friends new bike around to tell that these shocks are unimpressive. Maybe they do have a bit of travel when you run into a high curb, but c'mon, spend another $100 or $200 and get some Rockshox Jett's or Indy's which are much better balanced. If you can't afford a better bike, get one with a rigid fork. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Fernee
a weekend warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
While I dpn't own a set, my riding buddy bought the ballistic with the carbon fibre legs. Let me tel, yo how much trouble he has had. I had 4 year old Duo-track forks with 1.5 in of elastomer travel and effortlessly dropped over a 1 ft log and kept riding. When my mate didn't catch up for over ten minutes I back-tracked and found him on the ground having endoed over that log. Later when I checked his new forks, they seemed very stiff compared to my Duo-traks. Well they had seized! He now had a rigid fork. Back to the shop and a replacement stanchion (under warranty) and away. This time he rode through a pot-hole in the road and guess what? Yep, seized again! Another replacement and we're riding again. Now after just over a year, there is so much slop in the bushings that he's trying to get replacements for them. Hmmm, the rep doesn't have the right bushings and doesn't know where to get them or if they even exist. He insisted that the bushings that he gave my friend were the correct ones. Well the don't fit and now he's on the upgrade trail, having wasted his money of forks that barely work. The rating I give them I'm sure will be the rating he'd give them.
BTW: He's upgrading to Marzocchi bombers! My impression: His Ballistics never even worked as well as my 4 year old Duo-traks, and were no match for my RS Indy XC's. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a racer
from England Nottingham
Date Reviewed: September 28, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I stuck these forks on a cindercone and they have been working fine and for the money they are the best forks compered to Rocksox and stuff
Bye | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anand Suresh
a weekend warrior
from St. Louis, MO 63108
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This shock is extreme. I have owned several different shocks (Judy xc, Marzhchi bomber, and Manitou Mach 5, and nothing compares to this shock. It truly stands up to its name...Ballistic!!!! Ride on, Bra!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger Cooper
a weekend warrior
from Marlborough U.K.
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I had a pair of Ballistic 600's and after I bought my Parkpre with Judy x.c's I thought the world had collapsed. My Ballistics were MUCH better, Judy's are overated and overpriced. Well done the Taiwanese!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gavin
a weekend warrior
from wales
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These forks aren't the best but for 130 quid(I've got the 460's)you can't get any better. Put the long travel kit in the 460's and they are a lot better. Although the elastomer are a bit hard in the cold winter months. Alot stiffer than my friends manitou pro's. Hammered them and so far are alomost as good as new. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gavin
a weekend warrior
from wales
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These forks aren't the best but for 130 quid(I've got the 460's)you can't get any better. Put the long travel kit in the 460's and they are a lot better. Although the elastomer are a bit hard in the cold winter months. Alot stiffer than my friends manitou pro's. Hammered them and so far are alomost as good as new. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jorge
a weekend warrior
from barcelona
Date Reviewed: February 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Tengo montada una EX 800 en mi MARIN MUIRWOODS y estoy contento con ella.
Me gustaría saber si se puede adaptar algun kit de muelles que existe en el mercado aunque sea de otras marcas. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy
a cross-country rider
from Fruita
Date Reviewed: January 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Currently under recall!!!!!!!! If you have one see your dealer soon. This is a runner up for all time poor product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd keating
a cross-country rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
model: EX800A carbon fibre
I picked these forks because they seemed to be the best choice in the lower price bracket,cost $425 (although the EX600 is the same inside and alittle cheaper, these only cost $25 more).Anyway, they worked well and I had given them a fairly hard time without any trouble.However after only approx 500km of riding the bushes were showing alot more free play than should have been.I took them back to the bike shop who agreed that the wear was excessive.They replaced the bushes under warranty without a problem.I'm happy enough with them, they do flex abit but if you take the time to tune them they work fairly well(for the price).The only thing I do wonder is are the bushes going to be stuffed in another 500km ?????.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kieran Hewett
a cross-country rider
from Plymouth
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Two reasnobaly budget priced forks(both the same except the 800 has carbon fibre legs,is a bit lighter and more expensive) both weighing in around 3.1 pounds and offering around 2 inchs of elastomer travel, although this can be up graded with the long travel kit giving a extra 10mm.
I've run mine all winter and they have proved faultless needing only routine servicing the mud boots keeping all the kack out of the mecanicals well. A totally recomened peice of kit from Windwave and are good value if your a struggling(honest) student like me.
| | Overall Rating: |
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