Weaknesses: Not a fork for beatting, Legs Two pieces
Bottom Line:
Blew the arch apart from the bottom part of the legs when I was on my first run at a local ski mtn (biking w/lift in summa) I was going down hit a bump and everything felt weird. Got off my bike finding arch hanging out, oil dripping every where and a b!tch to put back together, and now leaks at the seem. Sending it back from the LBS that I work at to get a DJI.
Bike Setup: Kona Caldera all XT, Race face Next LP and Ti BB, Also a Giant AC built up for light DH
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Submitted by
Joao
a Cross Country Rider
from Sintra
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2003
Strengths: Nice response on single tracks and quite good on fast tracks. Light.
Weaknesses: This is a XC fork, so I do not make any exterme stuff with it. Consider this, the V-Brake support do not look very secure and putting air (pressure) it's a hard work, 'cause when you take off the pump same air always came out and the PSI are between 45 and 55. Anyway, for the price is OK.
Bottom Line:
You can have it, for XC. Exterme jumps or more radical rides buy another because this is a pure XC fork. Strong look, except the V-Brakes support. To many bolts. Good response with the correct pressure. Good luck putting air on it!!
Similar Products Used: SID XC, Sync, Marzochi Z4 Air
Bike Setup: Schwinn Allu Comp, LX, FIR rims, SS spokes, SRam 7 Brakes, Roox stem, Cane Creek S2 Headset,
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Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Ann Arbor
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
Strengths: light, cheap, and a good all around fork
Weaknesses: after a couple of 4 foot drops the fork is starting to creak, its typically not a good thing when you can bend your fork
Bottom Line:
I have found that i can do almost everything on this fork. I have played around with the PSI from about 50 to 10. I ride at a low PSI, but that probibally has to do with the fact that i'm a featherweight (100 pounds) 12 year old. In general ride with a low PSI. I Absolutly love this fork, i can ride down steps to the trails, do the sick downhills, then hit the jumps and drops on the way back. Fantastic all around fork. Best for XC
Similar Products Used: Phylo XC, Judy SL, Judy TT, Jett
Bike Setup: came stock on my rainier
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Submitted by
SSUPERD
a Weekend Warrior
from MA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001
Strengths: looks like a beefy bomber fork
Weaknesses: its got the softest springs ever and I only weigh 140. You need an adapter to use the worlds most popular brakes.The Bombers just aren't as beefy as in the begining
Bottom Line:
Who the hell is this fork set up for??? This fork is sooo soft that when I did a 6 footer the fork bottomed so hard that the wheel flatspotted. Now I have a big square front wheel! I think that I would love this fork if it were stiffer and on a hardtail. For a 5 inch fork its just much too soft.
Bike Setup: Kona Stinky5,New A.T.C. Terrex 7"(the best),Azonic,Easton, King,Race Face,Sun DW's,Hayes,XT
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Submitted by
Mike Kean
a Downhiller
from Vancouver B.C
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2001
Strengths: Cheap, and good looking.
Weaknesses: Weak stanchion tubes, and came with springs that are too soft. I had stanchions sevre off in the middle after a clean 5 ft drop, ouch. Now they will not warranty.
Bottom Line:
Why they have a warranty I dont know because they dont honour it for anything that might actually break it. good price but not worth it for the pain.
Bike Setup: 00 Kona stinky, Fat 2.65 Kujos, Hayes discs
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Submitted by
Roger Audziss
a Downhiller
from Carleton, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2001
Strengths: Strong, stiff, nice looking, and upgraded with 2000 4" rods(many said it cannot be done, but they were wrong), absorbs small and big hits without bottoming.
Weaknesses: leaks oil sometimes, so I have to take it apart and push down the oil seals so it stops.
Bottom Line:
The fork is nice, smooth as butter, and better now with the 100mm rods...comparable to my Z1, and so much less pricey! Still lacks a little stiffness, but I am a downhiller, and am getting a Foes F1 for my Norco VPS2. But the fork is great for all around riding and kicking it in your favorite trails...if you got the chance to buy one, BUY IT!!! its great and very cheap, and 4" conversions are only $50.
Similar Products Used: my Z1 QR20, Shiver, Mozo 4.5XL, RST 381R, Foes F1 Wet One
Bike Setup: 2000 Oryx Sport 1000 with full Deore, and LX rear der., and XT front der.
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Submitted by
wayne lockett
a Weekend Warrior
from chicago,illinois
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2001
Strengths: price,design,looks,color(i wanted red,but had to settle for black,my klein mantra is black,so it's not too bad)plushness
Weaknesses: supposed to be heavy,but i didn't notice,adjustability(but it's not a big concern),it's not red!
Bottom Line:
i always wanted a marzocchi fork,and for the price,i took the bait.my previous fork wasn't set up right for my weight, so with this one i made sure that it was set up right.awesome performance for the price!i saw the red one at jensenusa.com for $139.99,a couple of weeks after i got the black one(i wasn't a happy camper),but the great prformance of the fork for the money made it ok.this is my first 4 inch travel fork,and it made my mantra look even sweeter!!!!!! great beginner fork,cross country fork for the least amount of money,but not the fork for extreme jumping,it's not built well for that kind or abuse.enjoy!
Bike Setup: p7 Frame xt front mech, stx rc, and avids
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Submitted by
john entwistle
a Weekend Warrior
from kelowna
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2001
Strengths: strong,beefy and hey its a bomber cheap stiff and plush
Weaknesses: heavy!!!!!!!leaks oil seals break
Bottom Line:
sweet fork and its cheap it is a bomber so its not suposed to break. Its seals break easy though. I have had this fork for a wile and it is really good it has not let me down (exept for when the seals broke)ITS SWEET!!!
Similar Products Used: rock shox judy ,manitou mars
Bike Setup: rocky mountain whistler redone
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Submitted by
Nick
a Downhiller
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001
Strengths: strong, hard to bottom, stiff, inexpensive, super plush and smooth, reliable, little maintnence required, exclent value, i like it, or did anyway
Weaknesses: this is a great fork, except its heavy. If you are looking for a nice all around fork thats super plush stiff and strong buy this. But if you are a dirt jumper liek me don't buy! i sheared off my dropouts today, scary!! buy a jr T if ur a dirt jumper, they are $450 and are just as good a value as these.
Bottom Line:
awsome fork for a beggining rider looking for quality and reliability, but if u jump or drop big thing (i broke mine jumoing off of my friends roof...lets just say i needed a CAT scan) dont buy it. Its actually one of teh best forkxs i've ever riding wether you consider its price or not, this was my favorite fork (until i broke it). Buy it, u wont regret it. -1 flaming chili cuz it broke, but i guess thats my fault
Similar Products Used: Indy SL, Judy XC, Manituos, Judy XLC, SID XC, Nolleen Mega Air (the nolleen mega air is stiffer and weighs 2.7 pounds! but inly has 3 inches of travel and is expensive)
Bike Setup: Specialized P3
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Submitted by
Jeff Swift
a Cross Country Rider
from S. Korea right now
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000
Strengths: Great shock for the money Easily adjustable
Weaknesses: A little heavy
Bottom Line:
The riding in Korea is pretty unforgiving, probably one of the best kept secrets in mountain biking. After getting used to air pressures, there wasn't anything I wasn't at least halfway comfortable riding. I must say that, especially for the price, you gotta love it.
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000
Strengths: Reliable, responsive for 68mm travel
Weaknesses: None found yet
Bottom Line:
I noticed that it takes about 3 to 4 days of riding to break these puppy in! It was really nice after I tweaked the air pressure correctly to my weigh, which is 35psi for 185LBS. I noticed the quieter action of the shock compared to my RS Indy on my Rocky Mountain Hammer.
This shock is just the greatest in it's category of pricing and travel length. It will pale in comparison to the new Flylight series, but will hold well with other shocks in this category... so be fair when passing judgement.
Best for light trail riding. I've had blurry vision when bombing downhill on rocky terrain, but in no means unmanageable. Have fun...
Submitted by
Roberto G.
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico city, Mexico
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2000
Strengths: Minimum lateral flexion Quite strong Good behavior under most circumstances.
Weaknesses: No boots A bit difficult to have the exact same air pressure in both legs.
Bottom Line:
A very good fork, you just have to take some time to adjust the air pressure to your preferences on different terrains. It feels like any fork should feel, like you are using nothing at all, it just works without bothering you about its prescence. In this price range (and even above) I think is one of the bests.