Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Liverpool England
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2006
Strengths: Very smooth and deals well with the small bumps Like the black paint work and great with disk brakes
Strong and tough coped with the many rock gardens I have thrown at them over the years
Weaknesses: Oil leals and have to replace seals quite regulary after riding in heavy mud
Can be a bit soft for my liking, even set with the hardest rebound.
Bottom Line:
Good fork for the price and have lasted me a long time but are prone to oil leakage. I think after 4 years I have given them one ride to many and are giving up the ghost, can't grumble though.
Strengths: super plush/smooth, inexpensive, grease ports are awesome
Weaknesses: somewhat flexy
Bottom Line:
I had to write because after I already bought the fork, I read the scorching reviews below, and they scared the bejeezus out of me. But now that I've ridden it for over a year, I think it's great! Do it leak oil? Yes, but maybe like 3 drops per ride. I've checked the oil several times and it's nowhere near being low. Is it flexy? Yes, but I weigh 200 lbs. Everything is flexy. Is it still a great deal for the money? ABSOLUTELY. This is a super cheap, entry level fork, but it outperforms anything in its class in terms of plushness. You cannot beat oil dampening and the microlube ports keep it smooth as silk. I bought one used for $50. If you can find a deal like that buy it! Just remember that you're not going to get a $500 shock performance.
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Nashua NH USA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002
Strengths: Light years ahead of Jetts, judies.
Weaknesses: Note yet. . . Tepid reviews from some people
Bottom Line:
Good fork. It came with the bike after I destroyed a Hardrock comp fs. That bike had a rs jett on it, which was a joke. The jett required a "perfect" bump to make any diffrence. The biggest drops I encounter are areound 2 feet, and I way 115, so the shock isn't abused. It has held up fine for me. It hasent leaked or done any of that crap. This is not some cheap fork sold on huffies either. If you are looking at a mid priced front suspension, give this fork a second look.
Submitted by
Adrian
a Cross Country Rider
from Dunedin, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2002
Strengths: Light, with alloy steerer. Low maintenance, reliable. Smooth. Has fork boots.
Weaknesses: Stock coil and elastomer are way too soft for grown-ups.
Bottom Line:
Much improved with a firm-ride kit. Rode it for two years. Works well in it's intended role, would recommend it to any XC rider. (Everyone knows kids have a habit of breaking things, as the preceding reviews show...)
Submitted by
Willi w
a Cross Country Rider
from ohio
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2001
Strengths: it has none
Weaknesses: it has a lot leaks, the seals are junk after three rides i destroyed the seals and no drops at all. I weigh 150 lbs i think the fork is built for 90 lbs women
Bottom Line:
it is not worth your time it is a hassle i have had to send it back twice for broken parts, the warrenty is good but i olny weigh 150 lbs and i destroyed it and i ride cross country not down hill no trick cross country. if you are light and have a tight budget go for it but if you are close to 150 run away form this product
Weaknesses: EVERYTHING!!! This fork is the biggest piece of crap i've ever seen. After the first day, the stupid poorly thought out plastic top caps leaked. The bike shop refused warranty, as they said I must have abused it. (I guess it's not made to go off the curb at the end of my driveway.
Bottom Line:
BUYER BEWARE!!!!! Riding last weekend, i went off of a small jump at the local state park. Upon landing, the left side PLASTIC top cap shot off and hit me in my left jaw, along with the spring. OUCH. now i'm sitting here a week later with my face still twice the size it's supposed to be. Manitou really screwed up on this one... Still.... i must have been abusing this fork for it to happen... i don't tihnk so. i'm 5'7", 145 lbs. this fork should not do this!! The fork was never good, it's very flexy, leaks everywhere, and has all the essential parts made of plastic, so as to come off and shoot at me. I'ts kind of a good story to tell though... how many people can say there bikes shot at them?? : ) Thanks a lot.. similar experience? email me-- Bry0940@aol.com
This Fork came stock on my 2000 Trek 6500. For XC and Singletrack it's a good fork, but for jumping anything higher than 3 feet(stairwells, dropoffs) I wouldn't recommend. Initially it had a leak at the top right cap. This was resolved with a new o-ring. After 10 months of use, and a few big jumps it developed a slow leak at the bottom. This was fixed under warranty. Overall, I'm not impressed, but I do like the oil fill nipples. Thats a plus
Submitted by
scott c
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary,albert,canada
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2001
Strengths: easy to lube but not much else
Weaknesses: everything, the spring, seals, damping, rods, adjustment controls, bolts MANITOU PUT PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE THE FORK, THESE BREAK EASILY, BE VERY CAREFUL ,DO NOT GET THIS FORK
Bottom Line:
i've had this fork for just over a year and it has been awful, everything breaks or doesnt work, so far the parts that have broken are the spring, the adjustment thing, the compression rod, the seals, and the plastic bolt,which cant be replaced, now i need to go and buy a new goddamed fork. im getting marzocchi, dont even think about manitou, what kind of company puts plastic parts into a $300 fork? its a total disgrace and now i have to go and spend $400 because of this stupid piece of crap breaking!
Submitted by
Christian
a Weekend Warrior
from Dubai, U.A.E.
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2001
Strengths: none
Weaknesses: Flexes like a twig around corners (the bike rocks on braking like if the headset is loose and the disc brake rubs when cornering), leaks oil, too narrow 1 inch stanchions, poor seals and too small bushings + lots of stiction.
Bottom Line:
I would never buy this fork if it hadnt come on the bike already. This fork gives very little confidence on decents unlike the z4 which is much more plush and looks fantastic. As soon as I get the money i'm upgrading to a RS Duke or psylo...worth every bit of the extra cash when you consider how much more fun you can have.
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Z4 (tons better- on my second bike),RST 381(pile of ****, but doesent flex as much)
Bike Setup: Marin Nail Trail, hope discs, deore groupset.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ronnie
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Vegas, NV USA!!!
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: None other than suppliers around here do not know that there are upgrades on this bugger!
Bottom Line:
Good shock for the money. Nice and cheap. My only griep is that a lot of people do not know you can get a cable hanger and other add-ons/upgrades for this fork. Otherwise I have not had any problems with it thus far. Good little shock.
Similar Products Used: Rockshox Judy c, Judy sl, Psylo
Bike Setup: Mongoose hilltopper, 99 GT XCR 4000, Custom built
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jason howe
a Weekend Warrior
from palmer
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2001
Strengths: its good for light xc riding
Weaknesses: its poop
Bottom Line:
its good if your not freeriding. when i first got it i cleared a road and it didnt bottom out now its all poopy. im getting it maintaind this week to make it ridable until i buy a better one. still i give it 2 piles of flaming poop because it would be fine for some one else
Bike Setup: 2000 gary fisher tassajara , Lx rear derailer ........
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
tropsyx
a Cross Country Rider
from Sofia, Bulgaria
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2001
Strengths: It's cheap......Looks good,the oil dampening.Overall i like it.Right now it's in the shop for fixing the leak.
Weaknesses: It leaks,i don't understand why the **** it leak's. Maybe Manitou engineers missed something, 'cause as i read it is very common that leaking :(
Bottom Line:
I don't ride a lot,but i think that the fork works very good.It's not a fork for extreme DH(!!!!!!!),although i downhill sometimes.I think that the OEM spring is very weak, and it'd be good if i change it.
Similar Products Used: none, my first suspension fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
cameron keller
a Cross Country Rider
from mississauga,ontario,canada
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001
Strengths: colour,good value,absorbs good when broken in
Weaknesses: cheap looks with little rubber guides and cheap decals,
Bottom Line:
From what ive noticed these shocks work well over light terrain when the going gets tough they lack in there rebound. However for there price they seem decent im 185 5 10" and do a lotta single track AND ocasionaly will go at high speeds 40kph over rocks roots and shale and so far have noticed no performance decrease the only fault is there lack of rebound (they tend to stick) and of course the cheap decals and rubber guides i hate those sh!tty rubber guides they look so cheap.
Similar Products Used: none my first front suspension
Bike Setup: hookooekoo disc stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon Burns
a Cross Country Rider
from Council Bluffs Ia
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001
Strengths: I love the quick adjustable coil. It really gives a good stability to weight ratio. the microlube feature is the coolest.
Weaknesses: be carefull not to overload it with grease. Not enough travel at 76mm- easy to bottom out.
Bottom Line:
i think it is one of the best cross country suspensions you can get for the price. if you plan of going big get something elese. If your just the average rider like me its great!!
