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Submitted by
Derik
a
from Hamburg
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | can't tell You ... | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Great fork! stiff, offers excellent contol | | Weaknesses: | only 63 mm of travel, not 80 mm like Cannondale says
needs a lot of maintenance
stupid cartridge construction (travel is limited by cartride cap - that can blow cartridge) | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Psylo, SID Race | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll, Shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | The ride with this fork is excellent! I mostely ride single track in a wood with lots of roots and Trees in your way. I never felt, that the fork is a its limits. The ride is much softer than with a SID. A psylo offers a softer ride, but none has the steering accuracy of the fatty! Cornering is verry fast! But on a Yekyll your tail feels a little too plush, a little out of ballance.
There are a few things to think about: The fork has roller bearings. If water or dirt get's into the fork, it's done. So look under the boot regulary, keep it clean and grease the racings regulary!
The travel is only 63 mm with the Fatty D 80 cartidge and not 80 mm as discribed by cannondale. My Dealer says that is normal, no fatty fork has 80 mm.
The construction of the cartridge ist stupid, because hard drops can blow off the cartidge head. That is, because the travel of the fork ist limited by the cartridge cap and not by the limit stop under the lower collar. This means, that every time you need the whole travel until the limit, you weaken the thread of the cap. (The cap is made of plastic - a kind of nylon ..) There is no "security space" inside the cartridge. So, no wonder, some guys blew their cartridges!! I asked Cannondale for a comment, and they wrote me an e-mail, saying that the travel of the fork is limited to 65 mm, depending on the cartridge and that limitation of travel by the cartridge cap is normal, because they use lots of different cartridges in one fork and they couldn't make the D 80 cartridge shorter. (For me it's a mistake!!!!!)
Fork maintenance is complicated. You can do an oil change by yourself, but the disassembly of the roller bearings requires special skills. My dealer ordered a Cannondale-tech-video for me, that discribes the whole issue. My first do-it-yourself-maintenance-program took three hours, because I could'n get the bearings back into the fork! Now I know the trick and I guess next time I can do it in less than one hour.
My opinion is that a fatty is great for a hard and soft-tail. I would not recomend it on a fully with more than 70 mm rear travel.
I will ride the fork untill it's done. Than I will change to 100 mm of travel, to get the right ballance between tail and front. Also I will look for a fork, that is easier to service (like e.g. manitou). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Racer
from virginia
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Dependable, low maintenance, fairly light-weight, stiff steering. | | Weaknesses: | Not very plush, only 80mm travel, Beats the crap out of you in the singletrack. This fork is more suited for a smooth course without a lot of rocks and roots. If you race on the east coast then switch this fork out with something better. Get a set of problem solvers headset reducers or a CLC cannondale adaptor and get rid of this mild mannered fork for something a little smoother. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou mars, Rock Shox Judy, just purchased a Duke 100 to switch this thing out, I'll let you know how it goes. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale jekyll, Rock Shox Duke, hand built 517 rims and hugi hubs, titec 118, avid ti levers and xtr brakes, eggbeater s pedals,xtr derailleurs. | | Bottom Line: | If you're a recreational rider then this fork might be ok but if you ride tough technical singletrack and race the way I do then you need something a little more plush. This fork is pretty dependable however I blew the cartridge in it in about 6 months or so. If your cartridge breaks you'll get an annoying top-out clunk that sounds like your headset is loose but it's not. You also have to pay big bucks to get a new cartridge. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JR
a Cross Country Rider
from mission viejo CA
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | whiting to santiago | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | REI fountain valley | | Strengths: | worked ok for a year. Moderately light, no complaints with weight. Seemed to have no stiction, never needed a hit to activate. Pretty stiff all in all. | | Weaknesses: | Service nightmare. Everything that cannondale sells generally has to go back to Pennsylvania for service, most stuff can't be done by your local shop; this means a month w/o your bike. I have had this shock serviced 3 times for the same problem in the last 6 months, 3 of which were spent waiting for it to be returned. Oil leaked right out the bottom of the fork each time I got it back, and rebound damping went away. Bret the service guy at Cannondale is giving my guy at REI a hard time too. I had to call myself to get them to do any more to it. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Forx Vanilla RLC/Headshok Lefty/Rock Shox Judy XC | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Cannondale F600/All XT drivetrain/Easton CT2 carbon h'bar/weyless carbon seatpost/selle italia octavia gel saddle/panaracer fire XC pro 2.1 tires (blue)/shimano PD-M545 pedals/ | | Bottom Line: | Keep it dry, that may have been my problem. It worked for about a year, but after that it has been nothing but a headache. I am looking into getting an answer manitou mars super, sounds like a good deal. I am glad that Headshok does not sell this fork, but that it is only found on cannondale stock. My opinion, buy your forks from the pros cannondale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XC rider from PA
a Racer
from PA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | smooth for the first 4 months
| | Weaknesses: | - im 135lbs and blew out the cartridge 3 times within 1 year of riding
-after the 1 year of riding you have to pay for the shock to get fixed because the warranty runs out
-the only adjustment you could make is the air pressure
-when the cartridge blows out you feel like youre on a pogo-stick | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | jekyll without any original parts except the headshok | | Bottom Line: | If you plan on getting a cannondale leave yourself with enough money to buy reducer cups, a headset, a stem, and a quality front shock, because my friends i ride with have the same problems. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffrey
a Cross Country Rider
from Milford MI
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | On this website classifieds. | | Strengths: | Very plush compared to my old DD50 shock. Compression is a major upgrade due to the air cylinder which can help with preload adjustment. | | Weaknesses: | Would love to have rebound control knob instead of just oil weight changing. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale DD50 headshock | | Bike Setup: | C-dale F600. Sram 9.0sl drivetrain. race face turbine LP crankset. Avid mag speed dial brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Retro fitting this shock on my current bike was a huge upgrade over what I previously had. I wish it had rebound adjustment externally as it needs to be slowed down due to my clydesdale like stature over the rough stuff. Other than that it has made a huge difference already in the 2 months I have been riding it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thady mcandrew
a Weekend Warrior
from aberdeen
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | 0f a friend | | Strengths: | really precise steering lockout and weight | | Weaknesses: | costs a furtune to up keep | | Similar Products Used: | rockshock judy tt | | Bike Setup: | cannodale f800sl slalom xtr groupset magura brakes | | Bottom Line: | a really plush fork, hard a nails. I would never look back
the perfomance will allways outweigh the cost of the upkeep | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christian M
a Cross Country Rider
from Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyrolean MTB trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Sport Neuner | | Strengths: | Excellent response, incredible steering precision, amount of travel, lock-out possibility | | Weaknesses: | position of shrader valve | | Similar Products Used: | Headshok Fatty D, Rock Shox Jett T2 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll | | Bottom Line: | Great fork, would never change it against Rock Shox or Marzocchi (or whatever is on the market). I've used my old Fatty D for more than 3 years and never had any problem. This one seems to be even better, because of the larger amount of travel and the the fine-tuning by an appropriate air pressure. The lock-out works great on paved roads or climbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pave
a Weekend Warrior
from Turku, FINLAND
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | T.Saario, Turku, Finland | | Strengths: | Weight, stiffness, low friction | | Weaknesses: | Needs constant care and service. Only for XC-use cause of the limited amount of travel. | | Similar Products Used: | WP Rond HP3 / Rebel, HeadShok MotoFR / Fatty SL, RS Judy 100, soon RS Boxxer 151 | | Bike Setup: | "Slightly" tuned SV700 ´00 | | Bottom Line: | One year behind:
- One exploded valve -> damage here and there -> warranty repair.
- Compulsory oil change after every 900 miles /1500 kms (until now five times). After that there will be slack on the beginning of the travel.
- Oil change and repair CAN be done rather easily by yourself, only some special tools needed.
- Thin oil must be added to the bearings every now and then for smooth action: bike upside down, open the fork boot from upper tie and dropp oil to bearings. Pump the fork few times to spread the oil and close the boot.
- Condensation water MUST BE REMOVED from inside the fork boot regularily. Rusty bearings will not work...
When you remember these and don´t abuse the fork with hard freeride/DH, SuperFatty will be excellent. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a
from CT
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | with a 2001 F700 | | Strengths: | has a lock out, really plush | | Weaknesses: | too loose, bottoms out | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox judy | | Bike Setup: | stock except for pedals, codas suck, upgraded to Shimano pd M858 from old bike | | Bottom Line: | This shock is awesome, except for easy bottoming out. It is really plush for only 80mm travel, great for technical trails because it turns and handels like a dream!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Burts
a Cross Country Rider
from Martinsville, NJ
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Chimney Rock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | bike-n-gear (middlesex) | | Strengths: | Beautiful steering/travel and absolutely no bob
Unique appearance | | Weaknesses: | maintenance | | Bike Setup: | 2001 c-dale f600, selle italia saddle, easton stem and handlebar, coda bar ends | | Bottom Line: | A fine shock that is delicate when it comes to maintenance. Rides beatifully while horizontal...keeps your wheels on the ground. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from HP, NJ
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hartschorne Woods, Clayton Park, Snowshoe Mtn (WV) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | bike n' gear (edison) | | Strengths: | -- on-the-fly adjustment/lock-out.
-- responsive.
-- stiff.
-- excels in tight single-track.
This fork is outstanding for x-country conditons. It can't be beat in tight, winding, technical single-track. It's very stiff around corners and easily absorbs ruts/roots. On-the-fly adjustment/lock-out is a welcomed feature as you approach the steep inclines. Isn't meant to take more than a few rides down the super rough stuff. Say, a weekend of riding at Kilington (VT) or Snowshoe (WV). | | Weaknesses: | -- high-maintenance.
-- protective boot tears easily.
This fork needs more attention than an insecure chihuahua. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know how to service a headshock, but a personal friend who takes care of it for me asks me to bring it in atleast once a month to have a look at it. He usually finds something. God forbid you get a hole in the protective boot and allow the outside in. If you don't mind giving it that type of attention, it's a great x-country fork. | | Similar Products Used: | 00 Marzocchi Z1 MCR | | Bike Setup: | 99 Super V Raven 700 | | Bottom Line: | Great performing x-country fork that's not worth the maintenance aggravation. I'll give it 4 chilis for that reason. As far as value, the amount of cash put out for maintenance on it so far could've given me a nice start on replacing it. It gets 3 chilis for that reason. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Roth
a Cross Country Rider
from Mission Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | aliso & wood canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | REI Inc. Santa Ana | | Strengths: | Cost Effective
Unmached rigidity and steering capability
Zero longitudinal play (forward and back)
Ultra Responsive to "mini-bumps"
Extremely Light (bike weighs a little over 20 lbs.)
Lock-out is a leg saver on climbs
Disk capable (for some $$$)
| | Weaknesses: | Pain in the butt to tune
Looks really weird
fork specific tools, must take it to pro for most work
needs special fork pump for 150+ psi
| | Similar Products Used: | Manitou xc
Rock Shox Judy XC
| | Bike Setup: | 2K1 Cannondale F600 | | Bottom Line: | The features outweigh the service drawbacks
If you need a light fork, super fatty d is perfect
If you need precise steering, ditto
Make good friends with your dealer and service monthly to prevent failure!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
God
a Cross Country Rider
from Winchester, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$440.00 | | Purchased At: | Cannondale Dealer | | Strengths: | the whole damn thing | | Weaknesses: | the air valve on the bottom is inconveinent but who cares | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale SUper v 1000
2000model | | Bottom Line: | This is a lightweight good shock.
People who say tehy ride it too hard and it ain;t durable are full of crap. I have rode solid for 6 months and i broke it trying to change the shock boot. I took it in got it fixed and it works just as good. If the boot makes noise like some one said earlier it is because the quick ties aren;t on tight enough.
If you have any questoins please e-mail me cuase there ain;t no one that can tell you about this shock any better than me | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Hirschkorn
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey,B.C. ,Canada
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Very plush and add's a good feel to the bike | | Weaknesses: | The boot makes a bit of noise but that's it. | | Similar Products Used: | Bomber Z5
| | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F700 | | Bottom Line: | This shock Rules!!!! it is very plush and is very fun to ride. This Shock for shure deserves 5 flamin chili's! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny Sears
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bull Frog | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light and druable
| | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll | | Bottom Line: | I don't understand how people dislike this fork. The Super Fatty fork from Cannondale is very well made and designed as well as offers a low-maitinence tune-up. I give it 5 stars, period. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from South Bend, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Lightweight, precise steering. | | Weaknesses: | Durability, price/performance. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Super-V 900 | | Bottom Line: | This shock does *not* stand up to repeated hard riding. I have had to have it rebuilt twice already and it's broken again! The shock has develops a "dead zone" where you can compress the shock several centimeters with just light hand pressure. This leaves not much real shock travel for obstacles. Requesting replacement with diferent model
from Cannondale. If you ride hard, look for something more durable than the Super Fatty D. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cannondale
a
from Cannon, Dale, USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light, can make it stiff or loose which ever you want(air).
finnaly a very good shock comes with the bike. | | Weaknesses: | Lock out busted but can still adjust. Nothing much here. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant with Noleen's.<---umm no. Specialized with sids<--big competition with head shok | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Super V raven 700 | | Bottom Line: | This fork rules if you buy a Cannondale. Once C'dale lets headshok more availble to people with out Cannondale's BUT IT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tweet
a Cross Country Rider
from columbus, ohio
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | velo-z | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Lock-out
Very rigid
| | Weaknesses: | Dealer service only
limited travel
not durable enough for me
| | Bike Setup: | 99 SuperV900 | | Bottom Line: | This is the last call for my 1-year old headshok. It seems that this shock is just not durable enough nor has enough travel for the type of riding i do. It blew out in the first three months and it was replaced under warranty (no complaint). After the shock was replaced it does not seem to have as much travel. After a year of constant riding, the shock seems more than a bit tired and will be replaced with a Marzocchi Z1cr. I will miss the lockout feature but refuse to pay anyone to work on the now-out-of-warrany shock. Cannonadle should make the shocks that can be serviced by someone other than a dealer. I'm as die-hard cannonadle as anyone but i really believe they cheapen thier bike by putting this product on them. This shock would be great for the occasional or weekend rider but does not hold up to daily trail pounding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
R J
a Cross Country Rider
from So Cal
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rockey Peak to Chumash (Simi) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | 1) All bikes should have front and rear susp. lockouts.
2) This fork is lighter than most other forks of same travel
and product range.
3) Stays clean faily well comparitvely.
| | Weaknesses: | 1) I DONT LIKE THE FACT THAT A DEALER MUST MAINTENANCE.
2) Hard to dial. | | Similar Products Used: | Tested Giant with RockShox. okay. INTENSE with Manitou. nice. easy to adjust. $$$ and hard to maintain. | | Bike Setup: | v900 with goodies | | Bottom Line: | I will purchase a new set of forks soon to see if I can upgrade without gaining wieght. Any suggestions? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Canada
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | It works great even for a guy like me who is 200 lbs. The shock is good and stiff. | | Weaknesses: | I kepp getting water in the headshock. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Super V 900 | | Bottom Line: | A good shock but their is better out their. I think it works well for the price. It is the best shock I have tryed. What can you use on a Cdale but a Headshock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe B
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bellport NY
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Stillwell Woods | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Stiff, tracks nicely! | | Weaknesses: |
Doesn't look as cool a stanchion forks (at least thats what everybody tells me) | | Similar Products Used: |
MAnitou X-Vert
Judy 100 | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F900Z w/ Magura Louise Disc Brakes, LX/XT/CODA Drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | The headshok is great, end of discussion! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rudy
a Weekend Warrior
from Lawton, MI
Date Reviewed: September 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
TK Lawless | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Claimed 80mm travel (3)
On the fly lock out
velvety smooth action
no noticable stiction
totally enclosed by boot
very precise feel
makes for stiffest lateral fork feel! | | Weaknesses: |
air valve inconvenient
lost valve cover after dealer adjusted
need special pump(pricey)
not readily user servicable or modifiable | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Stock front suspension on 1999 Cannondale Super V 900 | | Bottom Line: | Very nice indeed. Went from no suspension to this bike and am still in awe at the increase in my speed and plushness of ride. No more back pain! Originally had bike set up stiff for my weight. Chart in manual goes to 200 psi for stiffest set up with 200 max psi air pressure. I weigh about 230. It was too stiff at 200 psi but I did not jump bike--just road off curbs and hit some good stutter bumps. Went back to dealer and we lowered to 175 psi and now get almost full use of the 3 travel on biggest hits and a very nice plush ride. Lock out is nice on roads and uphills, it helps take some of the bob out--but that is mostly rear end and my pedalling. (Rear lockout would have been nice on my bike) Rebound is nice, but would like some ability to adjust this, other than changing oil, which I understand is a hassle. With this unit there is virtually no stiction as I understand there is with many other types of fork type suspension. You get a very precise feel of the trail and what your front wheel is doing. I'm 43 with a wife and kids and I don't have the time to fool around anymore with fork setup and all the aftermarket jazz such as springs, elastomer replacements and constantly lubing with Judy butter so for those that would rather ride than tweak, this fork is for you. I give it a 5! (Max must have rated his own homemade Singapore copy of Headshock!) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Sultan, WA
Date Reviewed: April 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Tree Farm | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Super accurate steering and low/almost no maintenance. | | Weaknesses: |
Cover for the schrader valve is in a terrible spot. | | Similar Products Used: |
Rock Shox Indy and Judy, Marzochi(?) Bomber. | | Bike Setup: |
C'dale Super V 900. Super Fatty D | | Bottom Line: | This thing is light years ahead of tubular leg shocks. Mud and grit are not a concern unless you end up waist deep in muck! I like the lock out on the fly ability. Sometimes you just don't need all that travel. All in all this is about the best of both worlds. Only drawback is you have to by a C'dale to get it, which is not a bad thing by any means. Also you have to buy a shock pump to adjust it. It's not perfect but I'll give it five flamers to average out that jerk Max. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ReaL
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: April 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Similar Products Used: |
97' Judy with aftermarket steel springs. | | Bottom Line: | I took me only a short test on the shop floor to realize what a fork this was over my old 97' judy.
Similar test on bomber Z5 didnt impress nearly as much... (felt sticky) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Bukit Timah | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
SUCKS!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: |
SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
A MANITOU SPYDER IS A
MILLION TIMES BETTER!!!! | | Bottom Line: | WHAT A LOUSY FORK!!!!!I HATE IT THE MOMENT I TRY
IT!!!!SHIT!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roland
a Cross-Country Rider
from Indiana
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Precise steering!!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
White Bros. Also a great shock | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Raven | | Bottom Line: | A great shock period. If Max wasn't suce a retard, maybe he would realize this. I seriously doubt if he has even tried one. I would love to give it 10 flaming peppers just for his ignorance | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob
a cross-country rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: February 26, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
i have never tried these but i felt sorry for them because no one had voted on them.!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!! !!!! ! ! !!!!! !!!! !!!! ! !!!!!! !! | | Overall Rating: |
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