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Reviews 1 - 15 (94 Reviews Total)
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Submitted by
rob
a Racer
from worcDate Reviewed: April 17, 2002
Strengths: Nice feel!!Weaknesses: Not forhard ridin + need f loads of servicinBottom Line: Nicefork,not for hard riding + need to be serviced alot!!
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a
from Townsville, QLD, AustraliaDate Reviewed: January 18, 2002
Strengths: Strong, easy adjustmentsWeaknesses: Very stiff at times, need warming upBottom Line: I used to have a crap pair of RST's on my bike but then put these on. I think i am still in the wear in process, but them seem to be really stiff. I havent replaced the elastmers *yet* and am considering it. If you know how to make these forks softer, email me your suggestion
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Top Brand Cycle Supplies
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt N.
a Cross Country Rider
from Flemington, NJDate Reviewed: July 18, 2001
Strengths: Price, stiffness.Weaknesses: Reliability (warranty issues), can't use full travel, graphics flake off.Bottom Line: My original sliders got recalled because of risk of dropout breakage. The German mechanics who put it back together forgot a bushing, which led to the enjoyable experience of riding the Dolomiti Marathon with the damping shaft ramming through the bottom of the slider and thrusting 2" beyond the axle every time I hit a bump (perhaps the only time I ever got full travel out of the fork).
I eventually rebuilt the fork, added soft elastomers, used lighter oil for better rebound performance and put the thing on my wife's bike, and she's happy with it even though the yellow and white graphics have almost totally flaked off.
Springs would definitely improve travel, but at 3.2 lbs (alum. shaft), this fork is already heavy enough.
Bottom line: if you get one cheap, and are willing to tinker, it's worth it.
Favorite Trail: Tequepis, Santa Barbara or the one through the cowshed at the Dolomiti marathon.
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Manitou III, IV, Mach 5 SX, 2000 SXR, and most Rock Shox.
Bike Setup: Fisher Supercaliber, SXR with Englund kit, King HS, Syncros stem, Bontrager Ti bar & barends, XTR drivetrain/levers/V-brake, White Industries/Syncros/DT Revolution/Rigida carbide rims, Mythos XC, Salsa Flip-Offs, Race Face cranks, World Class Ti BB, Easton CT2 post, Avocet 02r Kevlar, King cage.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, ArizonaDate Reviewed: January 25, 2000
Strengths: The Mach 5 SX's greatest strength is Manitou's customer service.Weaknesses: The oil cartidge in my Mach 5 SX has broken twice.Bottom Line: This fork has served me well for around 4 years and I ride at least 4 times a week. The oil cartridge has been my only trouble. The first time it broke was shortly after I purchased the fork. The second time was just recently.
I liked the Mach 5 SX. It served me well for 4 years.
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Similar Products Used: Judy SL, Jett, Manituo Magnum
Bike Setup: I put speed springs in my Mach 5 SX.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jean-paul
a Cross-Country Rider
from montreal , quebecDate Reviewed: December 31, 1999
Strengths:
cheap !!!!!Weaknesses:
creaking sound , bottom's out , decals are all finishedBottom Line: This fork has lots of problems , but thats normal cause my friend that weighs 160 pds bought it 2nd hand.Its about 2 years old , has been thru downhilling by 2 owners and now my friend is selling it on a trek 7000 zx. I looks like a lemon , but is really good for the price.Work out the bugs ( add speedsprings and fix the crown ) and You get a sweet fork. Who's buying the zx ? I am .
Favorite Trail:
Secret singletracks !
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Similar Products Used:
indy c , spyder , judy c, judy t2 , judy xc lt , z4 alloy ,
Bike Setup:
trek y5 (stxrec , lx , xtr ) and a 1997 trek 7000 zx ( stxrc , lxt)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rodzilla
a Cross-Country Rider
from Fairfield CA.Date Reviewed: December 27, 1999
Strengths:
Its better than a judy.Weaknesses:
Damper hardly does anything.Bottom Line: Its served me well for about 4 years. The first one got recalled by the factory so i sent it back and it took about 2 weeks to get.(not bad}But when it came back the dammper adjustment hardly works at all. Its old tecnology but you can get them for cheap now. Next im getting a new bommer.
Favorite Trail:
rockville hills
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Similar Products Used:
Rock shock Judy
Bike Setup:
Klien Xt-XTR mix.High end wheels Velocirapror tires
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott
a Cross-Country Rider
from brooklyn, nyDate Reviewed: October 18, 1999
Strengths:
light, laterally stiffWeaknesses:
creaky, busted the damperBottom Line: blew the damper so the fork is either a stiff pogo stick or it blows through the range on every hit. its torsional rigidity is quite good but the shock performance has always been lousy.
i heard there was a Manitou recall on dampers a while back. has anybody tried to take advantage of that recently?
Bottom Line: it's hard to ride like a wet noodle when your front end is spiking in berm turns.
Favorite Trail:
whatever i can find
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Similar Products Used:
mag 21, judy
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonie
a Cross-Country Rider
from springfieldDate Reviewed: October 17, 1999
Weaknesses:
bad product testingBottom Line: the elasomer stack shot out and hit me and the shop tech in the face twice each. broke the dampening rod clean off, real plush comapred to judys.
good customer service though, enough that i bought an sx-r this year.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Bike Setup:
speed springs
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross-Country Rider
from HanmerDate Reviewed: October 12, 1999
Strengths:
stiff but the rest of the fork is garbageWeaknesses:
damper staftBottom Line: I was hit in the fave by the adjustting cap, the dampening always leaked, and the damper shaft broke 3 times, but with a spring kit in then they wrok pretty good, but besides that the fork is garbage!!
Favorite Trail:
ski trials
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Similar Products Used:
my fathers Z2 work a hell of a lot better
Bike Setup:
Marin XT/LX
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ont CanadaDate Reviewed: September 17, 1999
Strengths:
noneWeaknesses:
everythingBottom Line: This fork is the worst I have ever used I've had it 6 months( bought it from a friend) and I have blown the cartridge 3 times and broke the damper shaft twice. I am now saving for a bomber
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Similar Products Used:
97 Judy XC,Manitou 4,Marzocchi XC-51
Bike Setup:
Trek 8500 XTR RaceFace Mavic 517's panaracer tires
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MTB
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MIDate Reviewed: July 28, 1999
Strengths:
noneWeaknesses:
manufacturerBottom Line: This fork, and the company, provided me with the absolute consumer experience I have ever had. The recall was handled pitifully. The damping is pathetic and breaks down all the time. There is no such thing as Manitou customer service. The fork's internals are crap. The crown cracked after one season. etc.etc. Never, never, never will I ever purchase a single thing from this company.
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Similar Products Used:
judy xc, marz z2
Bike Setup:
litespeed, xt
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Leon Lo
a Cross-Country Rider
from SingaporeDate Reviewed: June 26, 1999
Bottom Line: Ill tell you bout this fork.....first of all, the damper shaft breaks easily, secondly THE CARTRIDGE BLEW ON MY WHEN IT WAS ONE MONTH OLD, I REBUILT IT 10 TIMES before giving up hope on it a year ago. Same goes for my friends 97
manitou fork but there was a change in 98, Manitou forks built in 98 are real good, no prob, but then 99....IT ALL HAPPENS AGAIN.
I hope this helps
By the way...Manitou has the best customer service in the world!
Favorite Trail:
nil
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ric
a Cross-Country Rider
from ArizonaDate Reviewed: June 2, 1999
Strengths:
plush-e-nuffWeaknesses:
blown dampner in first 20 hours.Bottom Line: I am 230 pounds and I have ZERO mercy for any of my components. I blew the dampner in the first 20 hours of extreme riding. I have left the the dampner blown for 2 years now. I installed the spring kit and set the preload for about medium. I really like it! There is no stiction ( hehe constant oil bath ) and it tracks like a bloodhound for an independant slider. I used it for 2 years of 3 and 4 foot drop-offs, 50 mph descents in northern GA and now in Arizona. I'd buy it again! I'm tinking of putting a reducer on my F700 and putting it on that, blown dampner and all! I dont think the dampner should of blown so soon, so it doesnt get all the chiles.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale headshocks, Judys
Bike Setup:
Ran the Manitou on a KillerV900 and CAD2 Cannondales
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve
a Cross-Country Rider
from san diegoDate Reviewed: May 6, 1999
Strengths:
I'm thinkingWeaknesses:
cartidge, manufacturer support, parts availability.....Bottom Line: What a piece of %#@* this fork has been. It's blown the cartridge 4 times. When I ordered a rebuild kit ($30.00!), the damper rod was not the same. After contacting this chicken &%$@ company, I was told to reuse the old damper rod. Hey Manitou! Are you going to refund the price of the rod? I will never buy a product from this company again, nor buy a bike that has the misfortune of being equiped with one of its products.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Downhiller
from BournemouthDate Reviewed: April 30, 1999
Strengths:
Exelent fork for DH and Jumping, I've had no problems apart from the bushings wearing.Weaknesses:
BushingsBottom Line: Nice fork, durable and not pricey.
Favorite Trail:
Iford BMX Track and St. Catherines Hill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Indy C's
Bike Setup:
DMR Trailstar with Bomber Z4's
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