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Submitted by
Paul Hyde
a
from Vigo,Kent. UKDate Reviewed: September 3, 2006
Strengths: Light,nice action. MRD fork crown.Easy to work on.Weaknesses: Stickers.Manitou only keep spares up to 3 years old! Lucky we've got Ebay !Bottom Line: Great fork, can't understand why some people give them bad press. Perhaps i just got a good pair, they don't leak air or oil, and they survive in good old English mud. Had a pair of old SX Ti Manitou's and they had the proverbial worn bushes clunk, and defective rebound adjuster.Recently bought a pair of Bomber Z2's and put on, couldn't tell the difference, other than the extra heft of the Bombers (4.25lbs !)Refitted the Mars and i'm very happy with them.
These forks are the nuts!
Favorite Trail: Anything challenging off road.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At: Ebay
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Bombers, Manitou SX Ti
Bike Setup: Stumpjumper M2 Comp. Mavic Crossrides,XT/XTR mix.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Crosby
a Cross Country Rider
from Glenside, PADate Reviewed: November 11, 2002
Strengths: When its in one piece its a great fork. Adjustments actually make a difference. Again, when it is working!Weaknesses: Poor, poor quality. This thing just keeps breaking. Too bad, because it works well, is light and stiff. I will never buy another Manitou product. Sick of sending it back to the factory. Seals, leaking air, blown out grease ports! You name it. Manitou should be ashamed.Bottom Line: Nice when its not broken, which is rare.
Favorite Trail: Blue Marsh
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$199.00
Purchased At: Colorado Cyclist
Similar Products Used: Sid, Judy
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Superlight. XT/LX kit. Vanilla coil over on rear.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Szuder
a Cross Country Rider
from Poland, PoznanDate Reviewed: September 27, 2002
Strengths: super light, stiff, adjustable, better and cheaper than SIDWeaknesses: noneBottom Line: I don't need to service my fork for only 20 hours of riding like in Rock Shock. I think it's a great one for all cross country riders! And of course the Microlube porst helps you to keep your fork clean all time.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$229.00
Purchased At: Supergo
Similar Products Used: Rock Shox Judy XC '96
Bike Setup: Focus Killer Bee,'96,full XT and XTR front breake.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Vince
a Cross Country Rider
from OregonDate Reviewed: September 4, 2002
Strengths: Lightweight, easy to mount discsWeaknesses: Lightweight (see below)Bottom Line: The air leaked out on the first day. Seems the fill valve was cracked along the botttom thread. Looks like they made it out of a real light alloy, easily breakable while you (or your LBS mechanic) are adding air. Come on, how much could this little part weigh if it were stainless steel? One place they shouldn't skimp IMHO. My LBS replaced the entire fork with a new unit and haven't had any problems. They perform well, a little soft though.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: came with bike
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
BONDO
a Racer
from BOISE, IDAHODate Reviewed: August 30, 2002
Strengths: first air shock. Love the infinite adjustability and feel. Good adjustments for damping and compression. Actually feels like something has happened when you turn the valves.Weaknesses: Stanchions could be larger to reduce flex. Out of saddle sprinting and rough conditions cornering can flex brakes into wheel rim as fork stanchions flex. Brake arch?Bottom Line: For the price good luck finding anything in its league that doesn't break, creek, leak, flex like a wet noodle, or need new seals every 500 miles, etc. I have raced this fork now for 2 seasons and it is just now getting worn on the main bushings. Set up problems included initial air leak which I attribute to fork sitting in box under pressure on some distibutor's shelf rather than the design. Read manual, pulled off top cap and added about 5-10 cc of oil and have not had an air leak since. Very user friendly.
Favorite Trail: sans people/nowhere near boise
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At: SUPERGO
Similar Products Used: Rock shox and various Manitou products from Manitou 1 back in '91.
Bike Setup: '99 S-works FSR frame, custom component package, Chris King laced to Cross Max rims w/14 ga. spokes
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Littleton, CODate Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Bottom Line: This is a great fork. I have trained hard and raced at the expert level with this fork for two seasons without any problems. The fork seems to work as well now as it did new. I top off the air, add a little Prep M, and wipe the legs under the boots about every 2 weeks (about 10 rides). I changed the oil and cleaned/re-lubed the bushings after last season. The fork has never had a problem holding air. The compression and rebound damping are easy to change, and they very noticably change the fork's response. I have found that setting the compression dials in the middle of their range with about 120 lbs of air pressure is good for me (I weigh 160 lbs). I'll buy another lightweight Manitou when this one wears out.
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At: jensonusa.com
Similar Products Used: Rock Shox Judy XC 1996
Manitou FS 1997
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
TienShan MtBiker
a Cross Country Rider
from WoodsideDate Reviewed: May 24, 2002
Strengths: This is my 3rd post regarding this fork. Again I am very pleased with Manitou's customer service. After they fixed my air-leak problem, the fork has been working very nicely.
Plush, good response and rebound.Weaknesses: Initial air leak. Maintenance work may be a hassle. Well, I can't complain too much.Bottom Line: For the price and performance of the fork, this is a very sweet deal. Now I have a LockOut installed, it's even nicer. I have more control of the adjustment now.
Favorite Trail: El Corte De Madera
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: Performance
Similar Products Used: Rockshok,
Bike Setup: DEAN Ti Frame, Seatpost, Handle bar and XT groupo.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Wrecks n effect
a Weekend Warrior
from ColoradoDate Reviewed: May 14, 2002
Strengths: light, extremely adjustableWeaknesses: leaks airBottom Line: The fork works great. At first I was disappointed with it because it leaked air. Went to the Answer website and learned the air stanchion needed oil. Put in 30wt shock oil (from local motorcycle shop) and it works great. Good product. Maybe they should include this little piece of advice in their maitenance manuals.
Favorite Trail: White Ranch
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$175.00
Purchased At: pricepoint
Similar Products Used: sid, judy
Bike Setup: sid, disc,
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Michael White
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas CityDate Reviewed: May 13, 2002
Strengths: Weight and adjustabilityWeaknesses: air leakBottom Line: This is the shock to have expecially for weight watchers like myself. I was in a tough spot when the air piston started to leak just a week before a race. With the help from Answer and my local bike shop I was able to get it changed out in less than three days!! That is customer service and the only reason I left this at 5 flamin turds. I weigh 150 and would recomend this for most riders near or around my size.
Favorite Trail: Landau
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$199.00
Purchased At: Colorado Cyclist
Similar Products Used: Rock shox Judy TT and XC
Bike Setup: Trek 4900 with truvativ crank, XT rear XTR front derailer. CT2 bar, Spinergy cyclone disc rims and AVID disc brakes.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from PADate Reviewed: May 11, 2002
Bottom Line: This is a very good racing fork. Probably the best for the price. It's light and has is plush but not so soft as to bob too much with pedaling.
I weigh 185# and needed to upgrade to a firm spring. It is not a very stiff fork for agressive trail riding for someone my weight.
Brand new fork leaked air. I got a replacement gasket from Manitou promptly. I asked them if they would throw in the firm ride spring for my inconvenience and they said no.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$219.00
Purchased At: supergo
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
EXtreme Steve
a
from dallas, texasDate Reviewed: May 1, 2002
Strengths: light weight, plush, better than a SIDWeaknesses: noneBottom Line: this is the best fork i have ever owned. stiffer than the SID and suprisingly plush for an air fork. soaks up everything i throw at it. highly recommend this fork.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$219.00
Purchased At: supergo
Similar Products Used: SID, sx-ti, sx-carbon
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from New YorkDate Reviewed: April 19, 2002
Strengths: Very light fork. Dust boots keep the fork clean and easy to maintain. Microlube ports make the fork easy to keep lubed. External adjustments to customize the ride.Weaknesses: Dust boots look ugly.Bottom Line: This for is really light and plush. I haven't had any problems with air leakage. I do carry a shock pump with me in my camelbak though. I'm a 150lb rider and I run 95-100 lbs of air in the fork. It soaks up the big hits when I ride the trails and soaks up the little stuff when I ride in the streets. Awesome all around XC fork.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At: Colorado Cyclist
Similar Products Used: Manitou Magnum R
Bike Setup: Chris Kelly Hardtail, Shimano XT Hydraulic Brakes, LX Drivetrain, XT Disc hubs and cassette, Easton CT-2 Monkeybar, Thompson Stem/Seatpost, Trans-Am Max Saddle, Shimano 575 clipless, Mavic 517 wheels, Panaracer Trailblazer in the back, IRC Mythos in the front.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Windsor, CODate Reviewed: April 16, 2002
Strengths: Shock is very responsive and provides a nice rideWeaknesses: DurabilityBottom Line: I was really excited about this shock until Sunday morning when I pulled my bike out of the truck and the shock was completely useless. Didn't have a shock pump so had to wait for other people to show up. Pumped it up, worked fine but was deflated again on Monday when I tried to go for a ride. It was only my 3rd ride and I'm not exactly a gonzo rider. I/m pretty po'd that this thing went out after only a few rides. Worse yet, I'm going to Moab in 2 days and hope and pray the shock will perform until I can send it back. Sounds like other people are having the same problems also. Based on quality I'd have to give it a low rating.
Favorite Trail: zoom
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: Bicycle Village
Bike Setup: '01 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
peter
a Cross Country Rider
from east coastDate Reviewed: February 27, 2002
Strengths: works great...Weaknesses: ...when it worksBottom Line: This is an update to an earlier review. Like many others, I really liked this fork and was especially impressed by its performance, low weight and low price.
However, the bushings went bad and the lowers developed play. Manitou replaced bushings under warranty but fork was gone for three weeks.
Then, air spring developed slow leak (it may have been leaking before the bushing problem, too, but I wasn't sure). Manitou was happy to fix again under warranty. However, I asked that instead of new air spring please give me coil from the new '02 Mars Comp Coil, or just completely convert my fork to the Comp. Manitou said no prob (my LBS acted as interlocutor). From shipping to return was another three weeks. I thought they'd just do the coil but instead gave me new '02 Comp Coil uppers, and from my Elite just used the lowers. I was a tad bumbed that the crown and steerer was new, no longer having that cool Manitou Racing Development look. However, I think they are functionally the same. I was pleased that they made sure to remove my King base plate and reinstall on the new steerer. Fork now feels like it did before, but smoother, tighter and yet plusher. Weight increase seems minimal but I can't quantify it. I'm assuming that this will be good. If in a few months it's not, I will post new review giving just 1 star.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: several TPC manitous, Zokes, never had an RS
Bike Setup: hardtail
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andre
a Weekend Warrior
from San Rafael, CADate Reviewed: January 28, 2002
Strengths: external rebound and compression damping comes in handyBottom Line: I've only been riding it for a few months and I just blew out the tpc cartridge. I noticed halfway through a ride that I was riding a rigid fork. I took it to the shop where I got it and found out I blew the damn cartridge. I wasn't even riding hard or on extreme terrain that day. The shop mechanic says he's seen many blown tpc's. I wish they'd have told me that before. Thankfully this will probably be covered by the warranty
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Bike Setup: Specialized Stumpjumper Comp, fork came with the bike
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