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Submitted by
Colin Mcray
a Racer
from OntarioDate Reviewed: February 16, 2003
Strengths: U dont expect to get get much for such a low price... Think again! First time i tried them with my bike i was ammased.. its all around strenght will make you a better riderWeaknesses: Well there is 1 weekness... for the heavyer riders 200pounds+ they will bottom out on you.Bottom Line: The bottom line is Manitou is about the same quality as rock shox but their cheaper! Go for manitou. Try them out once and i'm telling you that you will not be dissapointed.
Favorite Trail: Blue Mountain
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At: Orleans cycle
Similar Products Used: i've tried most manitou shox but these are my favorite
Bike Setup: My bike well lets c i got some Psylo rock shox on back i ride my manitou on front double spoked 400$ rims beauty's! and i run an Giant Iguana frame (light as hell)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a
from NottinghamDate Reviewed: July 5, 2002
Strengths: Plush Manitou Travel, excellent TPC system, pretty solid.Weaknesses: Flexy, had to replace them after 2 years.
Been replace by superior models.Bottom Line: Why do people buy RoickShox Judy's? Manitou botom end is lighter and plusher, Mazzochis are tougher and lighter! Whatever, my Spyder Rs have served me well, soaking up bumps and never pogoing - sadly they got to the state where it would cost me as much to fix them as it did to get some mega disounted (less than half price) 2001 Manitou SXs. So generally, these forks are some of the best in the budget end of the real(fully damped) MTB forks, and I beleive that manitou have kept it up with the range.
Favorite Trail: MBR trail, Coed-Y-Brenin
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Purchased At: Carsington (with bike)
Similar Products Used: Manitou SX
Manitou X-Vert E
Headshox
Manitou Six Comp
Others at various times
Bike Setup: Dawes Edge Comp 99, becoming progressivly customised.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
xico faria
a Downhiller
from alentejoDate Reviewed: September 14, 2001
Strengths: it rocks, best shocks for the money (US$950)!!!!!Weaknesses: none at allBottom Line: It Rocks, best shock i've ever used, better than Sid, bomber or the new psylo
Favorite Trail: Backyard Downhill
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$950.00
Similar Products Used: Rockshox Sid, Psylo
Bike Setup: esmaltina, shimano 7sis, Manitou spyderR
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
E R
a Cross Country Rider
from MichiganDate Reviewed: July 5, 2001
Strengths: It hasn't broken yetWeaknesses: It has to be bottom of the line manitouBottom Line: it came with the bike, one day I'll have enough money for the bombers that I want to be on the front of my ride. No one should buy this fork unless I'm selling it to you.
Favorite Trail: Highland
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: town & country
Similar Products Used: rockshox
Bike Setup: rockhopper comp
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Donovan
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville, ScDate Reviewed: June 22, 2001
Strengths: OrangeWeaknesses: Leaks & BreaksBottom Line: Followup to my post below. Noticed that the nrakes needed constant adjustment to keep from rubbing the rims, turns out the fork has cracked where the spring inserts to keep tension and the brakes from rubbing the rims. One side is missing the entire hole, and the other side is beginning to crack.
My wife had better luck with Universal Cycles, she sent them a couple pics of the cracked fork and they are promising to upgrade the shock with an SXR for no charge.
I'd say this shock is right up there with the Suntour ballistic you'd find on the huffys at walmart. It's definitely not something that belongs on a $500 bike.
Favorite Trail: Paris Mtn
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: Universal Cycles
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi's & Rockshox
Bike Setup: KHS Comp ST- wife's bike
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Richard Belton
a Weekend Warrior
from ConnecticutDate Reviewed: June 2, 2001
Strengths: It looks like a winnerWeaknesses: rebound damper inside busted after 2 months of trailingBottom Line: The Rebound Damper inside of the fork broke after about 6 months of having the bike, but I purchased it in December, so I really only had about 2 months of trailing on it and I was disapointed when I was about to hit a trail with my friends, and all of a sudden....I realized that my Spyder R that was supposed to have 80 mm of travel now was a solid fork. This peice of crap doesn't even move, but to the rescue my good " Pal" at Clarke's loaned me a rigid fork while he sent the Spyder's to Manitou to be fixed....will this fork ever be recalled? will there ever be some justice for the riders condemned with this fork? NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SHOULD CONSIDER THIS FORK!!
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Purchased At: Clarke's Cycles
Similar Products Used: haven't had the chance ...yet
Bike Setup: 99 Rockhopper Comp A1 fs
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Clint Johnson
a Racer
from Saskatoon, SaskatchewanDate Reviewed: May 11, 2001
Strengths: Stiff, plush, good for bigfer riders, better than Judy.Weaknesses: Fork boots come off easily, leaks from hte seals.Bottom Line: The fork is pretty damn good. The only problem is the boots and the leaking. You can take the boots off, and control the seals by making sure they're on tight. Bigger riders(like me) will like the stiffer springs and adjustability of it.
Favorite Trail: da bench
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$245.00
Purchased At: Doug's Spoke n Sport
Similar Products Used: Judy SL, the stock RST that came on the bike.
Bike Setup: XT Drivetrain, Race Face Next LP w/ B/B.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Donovan
a
from Greenville, SCDate Reviewed: March 16, 2001
Bottom Line: OK so I KNOW it's a cheap shock, it came on a 2000 KHS Comp ST from Universal Cycles which was fairly cheap ($500) too. But it leaked immediately and has a huge spring effect with no damper, it's basically a pogo stick. I based my purchase on the below reviews, knowing that my wife doesn't ride hard or often, so I figured for her it would hold up fine. No the case if it leaks right out the box. So 1 measely pepper each way for the shock and lots of rotten chili's to Universal Cycles, who have given me lousy customer service and have done absolutely nothing to help me out. The last I heard they were leaving messages to Answer and blowing me off. Double whammy, no more Answer products and no more Universal Cycles for me.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: Universal Cycles
Bike Setup: KHS Comp ST
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from LangleyDate Reviewed: November 30, 2000
Strengths: Cheap, light weightWeaknesses: Not long lastingBottom Line: Don't buy this fork because it's garbage, it's not going to last. The spring would just freez all of a sudden and not work (espacially in winter.) I would recommend this fork only for people who ride streets. If you want to ride hard-core, use a bomber or a boxxer.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$160.00
Purchased At: Sports West
Similar Products Used: Rock shox Judy
Bike Setup: Specialized Rock Hopper
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Kennedy
a Cross Country Rider
from London, EnglandDate Reviewed: October 18, 2000
Strengths: Looks goodWeaknesses: Appalling build quality, plastic bolts that can't be undone, crappy ride adjusters, mind seized after about 15 rides in mostly good conditionsBottom Line: These forks suck arse. They need regular servicing but are so poorly made that you can't get them apart. My dealer did not recommend I use a grease gun regularly which might have helped, but complete seizure in six months is v.poor. I certainly won't be buying another Answer product.
Favorite Trail: Peak district
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At: Nottingham, England
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Z2 96
Bike Setup: Cannondale Killer V fat tube version
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Noppinger
a Weekend Warrior
from Towson, MDDate Reviewed: October 6, 2000
Strengths: good value. durable and well rounded.Weaknesses: If pushed real hard or you do a few big drop offs, you are likely to bust the dampening system inside. Mine broke after about 6 months of use. Come to find out, there was a manufacturers defect with this model. Many of the experienced bikers and bike shops (including Manitou themselves) mentioned there have been a number of similar problems reported. Manitou did not formerly issue a recall for the fork and they could not even tell me why not when confronted with the issue. However, Manitou was good about fixing it..for free. Haven't had any problems with it since. May upgrade to a better fork within a year or so.Bottom Line: Good overal fork for the money. Suggest this product only for an entry level to intermediate level rider. Hard core riders should seriously think about an upgrade! Would advise having the defective fork mechanism inside replaced in advance, before the warranty runs out and before you get on the trail and have this thing bust on you. You won't like the feel of the fork when it goes!! It's good to go after that!!!
Favorite Trail: Sam's Trail
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: Hudson Trail Outfitters
Similar Products Used: none. first fork.
Bike Setup: 1999 Specialized Rockhopper A1 Comp
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
NEATO
a Cross Country Rider
from CALIDate Reviewed: August 26, 2000
Strengths: PLENTY OF TRAVEL, REALLY ADJUSTABLE, LOOKS AWSOME, PRETTY LIGHT.Weaknesses: MAJOR FLEX PROBLEM.
I BROKE SOMETHING MAJOR INSIDE (IT WOULDN'T EVEN MOVE) THE FIRST WEEK I RODE IT BUT MANITOU FIXED IT FOR FREEBottom Line: GOOD FORK FOR THE MONEY, BUT NOT IF YOU AS RIDE HARD AS I DO!
Favorite Trail: CLEMINTINE LOOP
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$179.00
Purchased At: PERFORMANCE
Similar Products Used: ROCK SHOX INDY XC
Bike Setup: COSTUM BUILT GT ZASKAR
BONTRAGER RACE WHEELS, RACE FACE BB CRANK AND SEATPOST, SRAM 9.0SL, ALL KIND OF GOODIES
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
evan
a Weekend Warrior
from usDate Reviewed: August 15, 2000
Strengths: plushWeaknesses: warm up timeBottom Line: during summer = very good
during winter, try walking...it takes a good half day ride to get these things to warm up enough to make much of a difference, my friends 120 mt. bike from toys r us was giving a better ride then mine for a while, bottom line, don't keep the bike in the garage if you want a smooth ride, but then again, the manitou spyder is much better than any rock shox jett you could buy
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Bike Setup: rockhopper a1 fs 1999
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Cowie
a Downhiller
from Longmeadow, MADate Reviewed: August 4, 2000
Strengths: Worked Ok for its priceWeaknesses: After two months this was totally shot. I exploded the dampening cartridge, so I had it replaced. The first time I rode on it after that it broke again.Bottom Line: If you like to ride fast and hit big drop offs this fork is not for you it will fall apart.
Favorite Trail: Shinipsit State Forest
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Similar Products Used: old rock shox quadra 10
Bike Setup: 1999 rock hopper comp with upgraded to XT
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
MAC
a Cross Country Rider
from Etowah, NCDate Reviewed: July 24, 2000
Strengths: Adjustment
Looks
Damping
Strength
Low to No MaintenceWeaknesses: Sometimes the shock boots wouldn't stick to the bottom, But who cares, doesn't affect reliability or performence.Bottom Line: I am an ametur cross country rider and these shocks are perfect. Even though I am light (135) the shocks still have perfect damping and rebound thanks to TPC sport. They have unparalled reliability and no maintenence, I have only greased them once and never done anything else in 6 months the still work the same as when I first got them broken in. The shocks came with my bike (good choice KHS), and I have never regretted getting that bike. My friend let me use his bike on a trail ride before just cause I wanted to once. At the time his bike had come with Rock Shocks Jetts, I noticed that the shocks were stiff as hell and they where on there loosest settings, something had broken they would barely move. When my friend finally decided to switch to manitou he got a pair of Magnums. When we took out the Jett we noticed the head bar was bent due to stress, how cheap. Although the Magnums are just as dependible so far they just were to soft even for a light person like me, even on the hardest setting. They were like a pair of pogo sticks. You could really tell when my friend rode them, he weighs atleast 150 if not more. He'd pop a wheelie and when the tire came of the ground the shock would rebound like an inch from the wheight on it. On the bumps the Spyder R with it's TPC sport would rebound far faster and more surely than the Magnums. But something I don't understand, if you put a pair of 99 Spyder R's with TPC sport beside Magnums or many other shocks you will realize that the shocks are so much bigger in diameter. Why is this? Is it a strength issue? I have also heard the Spyder R's are finished with SUB-7 material and the Magnum and Spyder arn't. As you all know the Spyder series was replaced by the Magnum series in 2000, they are very much the same shock, but I like the Spyder series better. Does anyone know the difference between a Spyder R and a Magnum R? 5 Flamin' Chili things!
Favorite Trail: Ashville Arboritum
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: Manitou Magnum, Rock Shox Jett
Bike Setup: 1999 KHS Alite 2000, minor upgrades, bar ends, grips, lizard skins, etc.
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