Submitted by
Courtney
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003
Strengths: tracks well, doesn't develop any play even after several years. Light
Weaknesses: not very strong, can't take many big hits before the oil leaks, or the sliders pop out, or the boot rips. Can't fix anything yourself because it requires some fancy cannondale tool. Replacement spare parts and servicing is very expensive. Not very forgiving suspension.
Bottom Line:
It seems like the headshok system is a little too delicate for riders who like to leave the ground. I don't ride really hard but I seemed to be forever taking this shock back to the shop to get something fixed. The boot broke several times for no apparent reason. Oil was forever leaking from the shock (broken seals). The sliders for the needle bearings were always moving around. It's very expensive to maintain. The lockout doesn't feel nearly as good as the Marzocchi ETA feels. It was expensive to put the Marzocchi on the Cannondale - but the bike feels much better to ride. If I had known what I know now, I would never have bought a cannondale. For speedy racing types who stay on the ground. Don't buy it if you like air or rough terrain.
Strengths: Light, tight, right for a hardtail. With the right wheel and tire combo it tracks like its on rails.
Weaknesses: Limited travel, Can only be serviced by a C-dale trained mech.
Bottom Line:
My first fork, the venerable Mag 21 (on a Nishiki Colorado) tended to wander around a bit....(You could see the legs "walk" back and forth) When I bought my F1000 in '96 I was amazed by its performance. I 96 it's performance WAS amazing. Things have changed in 6 years and having ridden some newer forks I can see its limitations, but I still love it anyways. I works well on a hard tail. If your a huckster or gravity guru fergettaboutit. If your an XC racer or rider and don't mind limited travel, nothing is lighter and few track as laser-like.
Submitted by
Kevin Shepard
a Cross Country Rider
from Amherst, Ma, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2002
Strengths: Lock out feature, Looks way cool, VERY VERY STIFF, tracks very well
Weaknesses: Not enough travel, Can be noisy at times
Bottom Line:
The fork is really really cool but doesnt have enough travel for todays hard core rides. I am sold on Cannondale and will stay with them forever even the Fatty D. It is so durable and easy to maintain that I still cant believe it. Thank you C-dale I am a life long rider of your bikes now.
Bike Setup: 99 C-dale F700, icon seatpost, crowbar riser, I love it
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan Vars
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001
Strengths: Stiff as they come, and fairly light. Disc Brake compatible a bonus. Lock out a cool feature
Weaknesses: only 60mm of travel.
Bottom Line:
Decent fork but the Bike will push it's limit the firts time out. Mine rebounds like a kicking mule and thuds as it hits the top. I had the cartride replaced but it still does it due to some dampening issues. like i said above, 60 mm is no where near enough travel. alright fork Stiffness really helps.
Bike Setup: 99' F700. CT2 seatpost. avid brakes and levers.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachussets
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2000
Strengths: Lockout,looks,stiffness, weight.
Weaknesses: Could use a bit more travel.
Bottom Line:
Excellent on medium size rocks and big roots, but sometimes i feel like im going to flip over the handlebars but never do. Overall great ride and i love the lockout feature. 5 flamin' turds for this one.
I upgraded from the fatty m and boy was it worth it. How could anyone have a fork that doesn't have lock-out? My bike turns into a road bike with the twist of knob. I admit that i'm a novice but this fork feels like heaven.
Similar Products Used: Rock Shock Jett (They Suck)
Bike Setup: 99' Cannondale Killer V-700 LX-XT, Avid 1.9 levers, Coda Crank and Bar, Mavic Rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
tony king
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2000
Strengths: just plain nice to have up front
Weaknesses: becomes super stiff in the cold not an all weather fork
Bottom Line:
I love this fork... except for a few complaints. First of all, when it drops below 40 deg., you start to notice a difference in the forks characteristics and at temperatures below 20 deg, it is downright stiff (problem could be solved if I bought the air upgrade. Also, this fort is sensitive to water exposure. This summer, I had a problem with rusty bearing sliders. There was no reason for there to be water in the fork because the fork boot wasnt torn. Since then, I have become paranoid about even gently washing my bike... but I havent had any other pronblems since. Even though this fork has given me this one isolated and fairly minor problem, I wouldnt trade it for anything... except maybe the fatty ultra... or even the air upgrade... maybe next year.... or for my birthday... Ill shut up now.
Similar Products Used: manitou m1,m3,m4 R.S(most of them) Girvin(too flexy) Marzocchi Bombers(well made)
Bike Setup: Cannondale F700 99 Shimano XTR/XT groupset
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DanDaDilToy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Coquitlam, B.C.
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1999
Strengths: -On the fly lock out -Look Cool -Plastic tube protects the whole shock, all weather proof -Response quicker than any other brands
Weaknesses: -Expensive ungrade -Cant fit on the other bikes, be slave od C.dale.
Bottom Line:
Super quick response on any surface, esp in the rocky or baby-head size rocks. Lock out makes mtb becomes a road bike, useful on uphill too. If you tried fatty D, you wont feel satisfy anymore with other brands. Fatty Ds new name is DL, but same components. 80mm travel is not too much or less, lower level of lefty n higher level than unsuper fetty D. i give this shock 5 chilies for SURE......
Bike Setup: Y2K v800, xt 9spd, hutcinson 1.85, avid 1.9, set od coda experts, fox float
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Johnston
a Downhiller
from Hamilton,Ont.Canada
Date Reviewed: November 10, 1999
Strengths: Killer Travel
Weaknesses: Odd ride, Thought my axe was going to break
Bottom Line:
I loved the ride for the last 2 hours of my ride. The Fatty D's were pretty hard to get used to at the start of my day. I've been riding Manitou Moc5's for about a year than demo'd the fatty's. I was too used to the shock being on the barrels and not the steer tube so you can imagine the sudden change to a persons riding style. Overall I feel the head shock isn't for me, but hay that's me!!! Thanks for the ride Cannondale. L8TER.
Similar Products Used: RST-Sucked RockShock(Judy's) -sweet ride
Bike Setup: Cannondale M1000 XTR/DeoreLX/RaceFace
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ilan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1999
Bottom Line:
My first real fork on my first real bike. After a little over a year I am very satisfied. I have the DD60 with 60mm of travel, and id rather have 70 or 80mm but that's ok. Steers and tracks true, just point and shoot. Absolutely no stiction, flex, or steering lag. Very light and very responsive. Tops out every now and then and 'clunks', which is why i'd like more travel. The lock out comes in handy when i do city commuting or road tours, turns the bike fully rigid and you can ride just as well as the roadies (kind of). I havent made any adjustments as i havent felt the need to, and i probably wouldn't try doing it myself, id probably just make it worse. Overall, a really nice fork, but i wouldnt buy another. In fact, i probably wouldnt buy another Cannondale, but thats another story. Its a good intermediate fork that should last at least 3 to 4 years until you realize headshok isn't all its cracked up to be. But it still gets 5 peppers for serving me well, and i dont plan on replcing it or the frame for another 2 or 3 years.
Strengths: -No Flex -Best shock for small bumps -almost maintenance free -light for the a shock at this price -Cannondale baks it up all the way! -On the fly lockout
Weaknesses: -Only fits on Cannondales(not that bad cause cannondale rules) -could be lighter -Should have 70mm of travel(2000 Fatty DL have 70mm)
Bottom Line:
The best cross country fork in it's price range. Headshocks are the best xc forks, period. It doesn't matter if you have a 2.5 pound Marchochi or Sid, Headshocks are stiffer, more reponsive, better tracking and turn off for sprints or climbs. Those guys using them for downhill or just writting bad reviews are nuts!
I have an old (1998?) Fatty D with hydraulic damping and coil spring. There is a nested elastomer within the coil spring which now has the suppleness of a dried carrot. It this ela Read More »
I have an old (1998?) Fatty D with hydraulic damping and coil spring. There is a nested elastomer within the coil spring which now has the suppleness of a dried carrot. It this ela Read More »
Yeah yeah, I know, it's not really viiiiintage-sniff sniff...
I have an old Fatty D with hydraulic damping and coil spring. There is a nested elastomer within the coil spring wh Read More »
Hoping I didn't screw the pooch on this one.
Last night I was replacing my 120mm stem with a 55mm one, and ran into a huge ass problem. While trying to remove the cap on the f Read More »
After all these years my '98 Fatty D needs a rebuild. As this thing's so old I'm wondering if the hot tip is to upgrade it instead of rebuild as-is. I don't have an unlimited budge Read More »
