Bike Setup: Nokian Gazzaloddi Dual Halo Tornados 26”, Hope Mono Mini F/R,DMR V8 and BBB head set.
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Submitted by
Kelly
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, BC Canada eh
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003
Strengths: very smooth on small bumps, can take a fairly big hit, light compared to competition
Weaknesses: adjuster knobs seize up when exposed to air! Poor seals
Bottom Line:
I bought 3 pairs of these forks for my bike and for my friends. I put zipties around the bottom of my fork boots and kept the airholes in the boots pointed away from the tire. After 2 years of riding in everything, I rebuilt all three. Mine were still like new inside! One friend, equally anal, was pleased to see his were perfect as well. The other guy didn't care about the boots. THe stanchion tubes were worn through the annodizing and there were just about siezed up. Two of us are still riding them. Bottom line: way more active and smooth than Psylos. Way cheaper than Marzocchi. But stay away if you don't keep them clean.
OK, i've been riding x-country, and did a few races last year on this fork. I've owned it for a few years, but bought it used. For the first time since i bought it, i decided to finally rebuild it and change the oil (i dont think it was ever done since it was new!)
Now, when i was riding/racing on it last summer, it felt awesome... nice and soft and worked great...
well, i opened it up for rebuild, and there was NO oil in it!!! bone dry!! not even a drop came out. Also, upon further dissasemby, i found that the compression rod on the non-TPC side was BENT! This fork has abviously had the crud kicked out of it, but was still working awesome!!!
I was so suprised... i love how rugged this thing is... you dont even need to take care of it and it still works good enough to race on :) I cant wait to feel it now that its been rebuilt!!!
The only negative is that the knobs are total junk. i had to use vice-grips to turn mine cause they just stick. cheap plastic :( oh well!!!
Bike Setup: Jamis Diablo - Carbon frame, full suspension, X-Vert, Hayes hydro disc, Mavic Crossroc tubeless, raceface+XT drivetrain
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Submitted by
Tilman Marsh
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002
Strengths: None
Weaknesses: Hates the rain and dirt,we get in the UK Everytime riden in bad weather it fills with water and locks solid.Seals do not prevent water from entering fork. Finish on legs wearing off in less than 1 year. Damping rod broken. Adjustemnt variations impossible to work out or to notice any difference. Bike shop rekons fasr too complicated for what they are.
Bottom Line:
When I can afford it, they are going a new set of bombers MXC's to replace them
Similar Products Used: manitou FS-Ti Stroker 80mm, rock shox quadra5
Bike Setup: now a days with xero absolute with swell stuff.
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Submitted by
Ryan Blair
a Downhiller
from Bonanza OR
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001
Strengths: excellent damping, w/ good range of rebound control. the most burly looking fork I've ever owned.
Weaknesses: it's weird, from the the day I got these things, the the stinkin' bushings have been all sloppy, you know, it feels like your headset bearings are loose. The cheezy looking plastic preload adjuster seized on me.
Bottom Line:
Sweet fork, I love the rebound/ compression adjust. this fork takes picnic tables, 3+ foot drops no prob. but it starts to get a little noodly at speed, but I think it's from the sloppy bushings If you bought a man. X-vert from price point, e-mail me and tell me if your bushings are sloppy because I want to know if all of price-points X-vert forks were sloppy, or just mine.
I'll give it five 5 flamin' dog terds for overall and I'd like to give it 20 million flamin' dog terds for value (ain't that a scary mental picture?!)but I can only give 5
Similar Products Used: some Zoky on my moms bike, Z3 I think, short trav, but excellent, I mean superb action (I can't even imagin how one of those 5" Zoky cushers would feel!) Old RST Crappy old RST Manitou SX-LE And some ancient Tioga forx
Bike Setup: Haro EX 1 Sram 7.0 throughout Mavic 221's Pazzaz DH carbon bars, Odyssee v's
This is a good fork for how much money it was, its pretty smooth, mine bottoms and tops out a lot, and its not very good over small bumps, I wouldnt suggest it for downhill, I raced it once and it was alright butits good for ds. Like I said it is really adjustable but once you have it set really loose it starts to top out. But overall it is a nice fork.
Similar Products Used: marzochers super for the dollar and they work
Bike Setup: giant atx dh2
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Submitted by
John Parker
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisville Ky
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2001
Strengths: Long travel, buttery smooth, microlube, tcp, etc etc
Weaknesses: Goofy lookin boots
Bottom Line:
Great fork for someone who wants more travel for XC use. Have only used for a little while but so far so good. Besides whats that expression about first impressions??? Only prob is i might have to cut off those boots, they look pretty strange for some reason. But a hella good deal considering I paid only 50.00!!!!!!!! 5 flamin turds for an all around good product
Submitted by
Bike Guru
a Weekend Warrior
from Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001
Strengths: I've been riding it for around 6 or 7 months and its really great. It's still in excellent condition even after jumping off cars, its never topped or bottomed out and the travel is just awesome. The most controlled fork I've ever ridden, and I love it. Its got great adjustability and its light weight.
Weaknesses: Well I just think that if it had an extra inch instead of only 4 then it would be awesome. Thats why I've bought a new Marzocchi Z1 QR20 for my bike.
Bottom Line:
These forks are worth the money I bought them for and they do serve their purpose well. If you want a four inch travel fork, and a concerned a bit about weight then buy this fork its sweet. Like I said its stood up to jumping off cars and its taken a 7 foot drop off a free standing wall and it still works perfect!!!
Favorite Trail: Don't do many trails I just freeride, like Picnic tables, stairs, stuff like that.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At: Price Point Online Cycling Store
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Z5 oil, Z4 ol, and Z3 oil
Bike Setup: Yess Trials with Manitou X-Verts, Hayes 8 inch discs, 14 inch frame.
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Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Worcester, UK
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2001
Strengths: 99 Manitou X-vert (Red with orange/yellow, black and white graphics): VERY rigid steering, travel is progressive, v. easy maintenance, looks great.
Weaknesses: rebound adjuster design and details of reflling with oil
Bottom Line:
* Good for slalom-style riding as it steers so well. * Excellent for jumping as it does big-hits like no other single-crown. * OK for cross-country, but isn't so great on small stutter bumps.
When I first got the fork it suffered from a problem whereby big, sharp hits would blow the plastic rebound adjuster knob out of the bottom of the fork, leading to an annoying sucking noise. It didn't affect the performance of the fork though. The shop I purchased it from were helpful but couldn't solve it so I took the forks apart myself and was pleased to discover that, although they look quite complicated, they are really easy to service, if you have some fork-oil. TOP TIP: if your rebound adjuster blows out as described, do this: 1. Remove the rebound knob, if it isn't already out. 2. Undo the adjuster assembly at the top of the right-hand leg ('Preload') 3. COMPLETELY compress the forks (the elastomer stack and spring should emerge from the right leg) 4. Put the rebound adjuster knob back in. 5. Extend the fork and screw the preload adjuster back down. 6. The rebound knob is held in by a partial-vacuum in the lower left leg so shouldn't blow out. (Hopefully!)
The other problem I had was a leakage of oil from the left leg at the bottom (around the rebound adjuster). Basically, the oil got past the seals in the left stanchion and filled the bottom of the slider. TOP TIP: 1. When filling the left leg with oil, do it with the stanchions OUT of (i.e. seperate from) the sliders. 2. Slide the rebound-adjuster rod (sticking out of bottom of stanchion) downwards as far as it will go. This ensures there is no air below the piston inside. 3. Fill the left stanchion with oil until the level is 4" (100mm) from the top of the leg (use a tape measure). 4. Assemble the rest and you're off!
Overall, once the niggles are sorted, it's a truly fabulous fork.
Similar Products Used: 98 Bomber Z1 BAM - 110mm travel (this is a brilliantly performing fork although the seals need some work), 2000 Bomber Z3 Flylight Air - 100mm travel
Bike Setup: 98 Kona King Kikapu
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Marietta, GA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2001
Strengths: good looks, light weight for the amount of travel given, smooth over big bumps
Weaknesses: bad over little bumps, oil damping is hard to control
Bottom Line:
Good overall performance but not for downhilling. Great for rider that likes travel and is not too concerned about weight.
Strengths: Nice travel, feels plush for the little stuff, stiff enough when laid hard into a corner in front of me. Even with some bottoming-out I've never blown the seals. I like the microlube, that may be the saving grace for this fork.
Weaknesses: I'm 195lbs, so I have bottomed it out more than once off big hits and in heavy compressions. I have also had the preload adjustment lock up problem several times.
Bottom Line:
Somebody please e-mail me and tell me how to fix the annoying preload adjuster lock-up. I've taken it in several times, but it keeps happening and I keep losing my bike for a few days each time it does. Also, has anyone gotten Manitou to just send parts for that fix?
