Strengths: Simplistic. Lightweight. Elastomer!!!!!! Plush but not too plush. Not snappy. The PERFECT ride for 140-155 lbs riders. Great tracking. No flex. Cool mango color.
Weaknesses: Not snappy. The fork starts to get stiffer when it gets really cold (about 20 degrees F or so). Unusual disc brake mount size (usually needs adapter $$). No lockout. mango color doesn't match anything. Looks out-of-place these days with the fork boots and fat support arch. Could be a tad more responsive.
Bottom Line:
If you like simplicity and your anywhere from 140 lbs to 155 lbs this is the PERFECT fork for you. I've ridden some really nice forks and this is still my favorite!
I love this fork, I will never give it up, no matter how much you offer me, so don't ask!!!!
BEST ELASTOMER FORK EVER!!!
The value rating on this fork needs to be a 10!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Coda Headshok Super-Fatty M, Fox 80-RL, Manitou Scareb Elite, rigid Cannondale aluminum P-Bone (fantastic single speed fork if you can find one, FRICKEN LIGHT!), '01 SID race. Rock Shox Duke
Bike Setup: Neptune frame, Dura-Ace singlespeed drivetrain, XT/Sun Pro wheels, Thompson, Kore, WTB Primal Raptor
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Submitted by
Rik renard
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004
Weaknesses: Found out quickly that my stock front fork would bottomed out after medium G-out's. Thus stopping the front tire and throwing myself off. In that same month,I broke the plastic piston. Not enough travel for the weight, dampling was to soft and the rebound was unsteady, especially when travelling over 15 mph. Needless to say I threw out that fork where it belongs (dump), I would not wish this fork on my worst enemy.
Bottom Line:
This suspension fork is not on the same playing level has the bike it's self. By changing the front suspension I can now challenge my bike without the fear of not making it back home.
Similar Products Used: Rock shock 10, Rock shock 21, rst mozo pro, rst 381DH, Judy SL-- a rigid fork work's better !!!!
Bike Setup: 00 Specialized Stumpjumper XC with some personal modification, forks came stock with bike.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from SanFrancisco, Ca.
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2003
Strengths: NONE
Weaknesses: The mechanism that is attached on the inside of the outer cylinder and the outside of the inner cylinder keeping the two together when the front wheel is lifted is a POS. That mechanism gave about an hour into my ride. As I was going down a trail at about 10-15mph, I went to lift up over a root and heard pop noise. In a split second I was over my handle bars. The two outer cylinders shot strait out and there went my front wheel. luckely I walked away alive. My neck came down on my front tire and now looks like road kill. Then the outer cylinders came back around and dam near busted my wind pipe. Upon crashing I fell to my left a bit and smashed the side of my shoulder into a root, tearing muscle tissue away from the bone and bruising the bone. Do your self and your loved ones a favor and never prchase this fork and try to steer away from manitou all together because I know after an incident like that, I am. Thank You.
Bottom Line:
A kids worst nightmare;having his front wheel come off. Poor craftsmanship. Bottom out like a MF.
I WOULD HAVE PICKED NO CHILE PEPPERS BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME.
Similar Products Used: first mountian bike since bmx
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Submitted by
Ralph Machio
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Worth, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003
Strengths: Everything
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I am suprised at the reviews for this shock. I love mine. I have been riding it for 4 years now and I have NEVER serviced it! I was thinking about replacing it until a recent 12Hour race I had where I was so impressed at how well it still works that instead I am just gonna service it and ride it some more.
Submitted by
Jacob O'Neall
a Downhiller
from Eubank,Kentucky, USA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2003
Strengths: decent weight (3.5lbs), matches paint job of bike(ha)
Weaknesses: overly flexy, unresponsive to bumps, blows through travel on medium-big hits
Bottom Line:
Don't buy these, get a RST fork if you want a suspension fork you can put on and not have to work on it once it's on the bike. I have the 2001 model and it has no damping, like most of the RST's, but the ride quality is seriously lacking anything close to control. On small bumps, the fork doesn't respond, and on medium to large hits, it blows straight through the travel, sometimes dangerously quickly. Example: I have a little, two foot drop that's followed by another two foot drop, one right after the other, I rode a 80mm Judy, and it handled it just fine, but the SX-E bottomedout, causing me to take on the next drop with no travel left in the fork. That would be okay if the fork was really plush, but it's not, so I just don't have anything good to say other than it's pretty light at 3.5 lbs. A Judy is a better buy, and a Marzocchi EXR blows it away. RST makes some good forks for the people who might be looking for a fork like this, so check them out.
Similar Products Used: Marzocci Z-5 100 air, Rockshox Psylo, Judy, RST's (all are better)
Bike Setup: this for came off a 2001 Mongoose Pro Valient, but is on a 2003 Schwinn S-30 with: WTB Nanoraptor 2.0, wheels :Formula hub/Weinman rim, Ritchey Vector saddle, Kore lite 1 bar, Control Tech seatpost, shimano shifters & deraillers, Avid Flak Jacket brake cables
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Submitted by
Kees Kaas
a Weekend Warrior
from Zonhoven, Limburg, Belgium
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2003
Strengths: Nice fork for the price, nothing cheaper with oil-damping at the time a bought it.
Weaknesses: Some valve keeps on blowing, apparently they made it out of plastic! Bottoms easily, and I'm not a big guy!
Bottom Line:
Ok for the money and recreational riding, if you're doing tracks with a gnarly descent in, leave it at home.
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002
Strengths: Better than rigid forks (just), microlube ports, disc mounts
Weaknesses: Soft and unresponsive - don't exactly take the sting out of the trail; preload adjuster breaks easily; unpredictable steering; doesn't take 2.2+ tyres very well (hardly any mud clearance)
Bottom Line:
It wasn't till I went out to the Alps and tried a couple of *good* forks (particularly the RS Psylo XC) that I realised how poor the SX-E really is. Really only suitable for light trail riding.
If you've still got one of these sitting on the front of your FSR XC, you're not doing the bike justice!!
Similar Products Used: Manitou Spyder, Rock Shox Psylo XC, Manitou Black
Bike Setup: Specialized FSR XC ('99), BETD linkage, Fox Float RL, Rock Shox Psylo XC, F Hope Mini disc
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Submitted by
graham
a Cross Country Rider
from west yorks
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2002
Strengths: Preload adjuster, microlube ports, its black.
Weaknesses: poor damping, unresponsive steering, doesnt seem to do anything except on big drops, unconfident riding.
Bottom Line:
This fork put me off my bike, I cant believe Orange even considered it (they cant have tested the setup!!) it wasnt until i put a marzocchi on that I realised how bad it had been. Buy a marzocchi fork.
Submitted by
vince rollen
a Weekend Warrior
from robbinsville
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2002
Strengths: It's better than no shock
Weaknesses: where should I start...OK this shock wont hold a line on a fast turn, it only moves if you put your weight on it, It has NO adjustments save for a preload that only makes it slightly stiffer. After I changed my tire size from 1.95 to 2.1 it started to rub even when hopping over logs, now I must say I am about 195 lbs with all my gear on and I should be using the heavy spring kit, but that will only stiffen up thre ride and may not help the problem. So I bought a new 2002 Manitou Mars comp-coil....
Bottom Line:
This shock is the first one I owned previous bike had NO suspension so at first it was good but the more I rode and tried other shocks (friends bikes) the more I realized it just sucked I suppose it may be good if your not a very aggressive rider and weigh less than 160lbs... PS I've got one for sale if your interested!!!!
Bike Setup: Specialized FSR XC, King Hubs laced to Bontrager wheels, carbon this carbon that, Thomson stem & post
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Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City, MO USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002
Strengths: Great look, not too heavy
Weaknesses: Not as adjustable as I would like
Bottom Line:
I have had no problems with this fork, I weigh 170 lbs and ride some pretty rough terrain, and have never bottomed it out or had any issues with. I just keep it lubed and clean.
Similar Products Used: Rock Shox Quadra 21, Rock Shox Jett
Bike Setup: 00 Mongoose Pro NX 7.3
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Submitted by
Bo
a Cross Country Rider
from flag az
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002
Strengths: Fastens front tire to bike the rest of the bike.
Weaknesses: All other functions.
Bottom Line:
These are just crappy forks. They don't perform well and break easily. They're very soft, barely adjustable, have poor travel (not smooth at all), and don't last. Plan on replacing parts often and sub-par performance. Save your money to buy a Marzocchi. Given the poor overall quality, even the cheap price of the SX E is far too expensive. Save your money and buy something that will last a season.
Submitted by
larry
a Cross Country Rider
from royal oak,mich US
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2001
Strengths: 01 SX-E forks are stock on the mongoose valiant.great for the street-no oil to leak.
Weaknesses: A-ok for light use.seamed to freeze after 50 miles untill I lubed them w/manitou prep with 3 shots in the micro-lube ports.seemed to cure them.
Bottom Line:
w/no oil dampening I believe these are meant for street use.do a very good job-no longer available thru answer.no neg. problems as of 300 miles.
Similar Products Used: My 4 year old neighbor's Pacific shock(bought from Kmart)
Bike Setup: 1999 Giant XTC DS/2
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Submitted by
Ricardo Pavia
a Weekend Warrior
from Sintra - Portugal
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2001
Strengths: well.... i don't know....its color may be
Weaknesses: this fork does not work!! it does not moves when i pass by a rock!! it only moves if i put my wheigt on it!!
Bottom Line:
Whell if you make road riding you can buy it because you don't need a very good fork!!! this fork sucks!!! now i have a judy tt and it isnt good, but is way better than manitou sx-e. while sx-e doesnt move a mm the judy tt is always moving!! now i am thinking on the new manitou black or the psylo xc or sl, because i want a good fork
