Submitted by
Oldschoolride
a Cross Country Rider
from Sanford, NC
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2008
Strengths: Laterally stiff, no stiction, neat looks, light weight.
Weaknesses: No disc tabs, no longer available (but bushing kits are still available).
Bottom Line:
Super sweet fork. There is a slight amount of adjustment in ride height depending upon how you shim it when installing. The "correct" measurement is something like 140mm, but you can go a mm or two in either direction to increase or decrease rake, trial, ride height and weight distribution. As this is essentially a 4 bar linkage in the front, you have to be careful when setting up to make sure that there is no interference when stroking through the travel.
Holds a line very well compared with a cheap telescoping fork.
Similar Products Used: Manitou Magnum, Manitou Black
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Submitted by
Chad Therrien
a Cross Country Rider
from Greensboro, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2008
Strengths: Almost no vertical flex
Weaknesses: Mechanically complex
Bottom Line:
This bike originally came with a factory RockShox OEM elastomer shock but it got sticky, as they do, and wasn't that great from the beginning. I was going to look for a shiny new one, but then I remembered my trusty crosslink mounted to a retired frame. I swapped it over to my DeVinci and instantly recalled why I love this fork!
I agree with everthing else on this review people have stated, but also wanted to say that K2 needs to re-engineer these for disc brakes and bring them back!!
Strengths: Plush, sturdy, reliable, low maintenance, just keeps goining on and on and on. Also, you realy stand out in a crowd!
Weaknesses: None so far! well maybe slightly increased wheel base makes bike a bit less responsive on tight single track
Bottom Line:
Forks went on in 98 and have been dragged around the world ever since - mainly Africa and SE Asia but also seen some action in UK. Only maintenance they ever had is a wash down and spray lube but I still don't find any play in them. Mostly used on mixture of road/jeep track and single track with some reasonably techy stuff at times. Not surprised that they are not made anymore, any company that make something that lasts for ever looses repeat business - not a good plan. The old girl, along with the forks, has now been demoted to a daily road hack and replaced with a gleaming Giant Anthem 1 which I'm still trying to make perform as well on a local XC course as the Marin did but perhaps that's just a reflection of the aging power pack. If you can still find a pair you can't go wrong for general trail/XC use but don't expect to find miles of travel if your skill level is no more than 'ride over it'
Similar Products Used: Rock shock Reba (not so similar)
Bike Setup: Ancient Marin Eldridge Grade (95) with mongrel replacemants - where me and this bike have been its normally what you can get rather than what you want.
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Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Lemoore, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2006
Strengths: Easy set up, plush, tracks like a slot car! Lighter then rigid, looks cool! Easy to maintain!
Weaknesses: ??Huh?? Not sold new anymore! Wake up K2! These forks rock!
Bottom Line:
I bought these brand new old stock on E-Bay, look for them and buy them, hell buy two, one for you and one for later when you can't find them at all! There is nothing bad about these forks if you use them for their intended purpose, XC. I ride everyday to work and back, and weekend warrior stuff on my days off. I'm 240 lbs and have yet to bottom out these forks! I don't take the big drops, 3-4 feet is all, and at my weight these forks take it without flinching! I'm going to buy another set so I can install them on a future bike. K2 really did themselves a disservice by discontinuing these forks. Technology way ahead of its time. K2 should bring the product line back, go to 4-5" travel, and make a DH and FR set. Five flamin' turds all around!
Bike Setup: Old ass 95' Haro escape, Ritchey cranks, Crank Bro. Mallet C pedals, Shimano XT drive train, Avid 7 brakes, Deore XT shifters, Zak-19 rims w/XT hubs, titanium skewers, Jagwire cables and covers, FSA headset and BB, Power tools stem, old ass Velo "Bull Horn" style bars.
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Submitted by
glen
a Cross Country Rider
from wa, USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2005
Strengths: smart shock is fantastic, great "no Bob" on hills. excellent customer support from K2
Weaknesses: carbon fiber fork legs are a little flexy. when the fork moves through its travel, it moves the front wheel back as well as up causing a endo feeling on steep decents.
Bottom Line:
these forks are awesome for cross country, their is no bob, just a nice level ride. even when pushin uphill. the smart shock is way before its time technology that gives a magical feel to the fork. when its on, you can roll through small chatter terrain and literaly not feel a thing (magic). when its off it feels like a regular fork, you can feel the chatter. the shock uses a sensor that reads the shock piston speed, it stays soft for small hits giving a smooth ride, then when you hit a big bump causing the shock piston to speed the sensor picks that up and automatically stiffens the compression damping so you dont blow through the travel or bottom out too soon. my only fault with the fork is on steep decents. because of the crosslink design the fork leg moves up(like a regular fork)and back. the back part gives the rider a some of the endo (over the bars )sensation. I blew the rear smart shock out with less then 6 months on it, k2 repaired it free and sent the shock back w/in a week. great customer realtions. I would strongly reccomend for cross country, downhillers and free riders look at other forks.
Similar Products Used: rox shocks triple crown (bob city), manitou ti 80mm,
Bike Setup: K2 proflex carbon fiber OZ frame/w smart shock. Noleen cross link carbon fork/w smart shock, shimano XT/XTR, sun rhino lite rims
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Submitted by
Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Strengths: solid fork, not difficult to work on. Takes hits from front (such as curbs or large tree roots) well. 5 years of use without failure
Weaknesses: Slightly heavy compared to forks in it's class. Smart shock doesn't seem to make much difference. Made prior to disk brake revolution
Bottom Line:
Strong, reliable fork for those not needing much travel. Broke my Rockshox within 1 year, never a problem with this shock. Smart shock doesn't seem worthwile, took out the battery 3 years ago and does well. I love super-technical downhills and moderate drop-offs(3-5 ft.)and I have never had a problem with this shock.
Adding a Risse genesis will not bring the weight of the fork below 3 lbs. It will put it right around 3.2 lbs at best (1300+190 = 1490g). (Unless you're using the 1997 xlink, which is only 50g lighter). Considering that 3.2 lbs is the weight of the uncut manitou skareb super or a SID with lockout priced each at $450 or higher, and that the Xlink is still stiffer and more controlled than either, I still rate it as high as these top weighweeny forks.
On the other hand, the noleen with the genesis is probably not quite as plush as the skareb.
Similar Products Used: several rockshox, and the 03 manitou skareb super (just bought)
Bike Setup: Four Xlinks on four bikes: K2 Oz w/ CS xlink, Kestrel CSX w/ CS xlink, old hardtail with ELT, and son's hardtail with special 75lbs spring on a 97 short leg carbon xlink.
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Submitted by
Rick Yohanson
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseville, CA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003
Strengths: Really stiff with none of that flexing that goes on with other light forks. Light. Minimal bobbing with pedal strokes. Looks cool! Good factory support!
Weaknesses: No longer made! no disc tabs. Steering height is a bit higer than I like.
Bottom Line:
Too bad you have to buy used ones not that they're no longer made. But I just ordered a new set of bushings from K2 and good as new. I'm also waiting for my Risse Genesis to get here. I guess a few people on this site have tried it and like it. And supposedly the total weight is less than a Sid (which model?). I use my Stumpjumper to race and this is a perfect match for full fork stroke use, none of that wobbly feeling and low maintanence. Compared to my sid, it's worlds better. Lighter than my Marzocchi's and stiffer in certain ways. Definitely a different quality of ride though. Better for me.
I'll post a follow up when my Risse gets here!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Sid, X-fly, Z2 atom, Manitou crap
Bike Setup: Stumpjumper M4 Hardtail with XTR EVERYTHING. Ceramic rims. Race Face post/flat bar - don't need a riser with this fork.
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Submitted by
roger
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacto
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2002
Strengths: Light, stiff, efficient, cool to look at
Weaknesses: J-travel, no disc tabs, poor factory damper (smart shock?)
Bottom Line:
found a BRAND NEW Crosslink ELT about a month ago and bought it from ediscount bikes. Now all they seem to have (on ebay) are the "long" forks - I guess I got their last "short" steerer fork. Anyway, I forgot how tight the fork was when new until I just switched to my new one. After 2 yrs my old crosslink could use an over haul. An upgrade that's well worth it is the Risse Genesis air/oil shock to replace the smart shock. I think the shock is easier to tune and a good side effect is it drops the fork to sub 3 lbs. Weighing 200 lbs, gram counting is never an issue but I think sub 3 lbs is impressive. When I bought the new fork a month ago, it was a toss up, a White Brothers fork which I've lusted after for years or this. I chose the cross link with the risse ($400 total). Call me stupid but that's how good this fork is. Keep looking, there are still some new ones lying around. Or if you feel like buying an overhaul kit from K2, you're welcome to buy my old one!!!
Strengths: NO lateral flex. Low maintenance. Light.
Weaknesses: None that I have found.
Bottom Line:
I've had this fork for a couple of years now and I still love it. I agree with all the posts below that if you are using it for cross country and not taking big drops (over 3 feet), it's unbelieveable. Any other fork I ride now feels so flexy! I weigh around 200 and this baby truly has "no leen". I haven't had the maintenance issues that others have. I mean how much is there to maintain with one spring and a couple of pivots?
Bike Setup: K2 Razorback "Way Big", XT, XTR, Sun 0 lights, Easton
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Brea, CA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Strengths: Tracks straight, laterally-stiff (no wobbles), predictable steering, looks really cool, and it's pretty light.
Weaknesses: No longer being made.
Bottom Line:
The ideal buyer for this fork was someone who values precise steering, but didn't need 6" of travel. This is a great trail rider's fork: comfortable, soaking-up medium bumps and stutters, yet light, and active, but not bouncy on climbs
This is not the fork for a down-hiller, or someone who rides heavy–hitting every rock and obstacle on their way down the mountain.
If you can find one in good condition, or new (in the basement, or back of some bikeshop) buy it. I'd buy mine again, and am glad that K2 keeps maintenance parts in stock as I plan to keep riding it for a long time.
Similar Products Used: Various Rock Shox and Manitou models, AMP link fork, Head shock
Bike Setup: Trek 8000 with a mix of old parts
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Submitted by
Smokee
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2002
Strengths: NO VERTICAL FLEX!
Weaknesses: Maintenance
Bottom Line:
I have been riding this type of fork since I bought the Girvin ALU in 96. What can I say...if you want a fork that has zero vertical flex, get one (if you can find one). It does have limited travel, but I have become used to it. I'm still not sure if the Smart Shock feature actually does anything, but it has a nice feel regardless. I guess that I am pretty much screwed when it is time for a new fork because after riding one of these for so long, everything else makes the bike feel like riding a chopper. BRING IT BACK!!!
Submitted by
doug
a Cross Country Rider
from san jose
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2002
Strengths: non flexy
Weaknesses: too much high speed compression damping
Bottom Line:
well i caved and bought a Z2 atom 80 for better small bump absorbtion. i rode with it for some time however i couldn't stand the flex so i put my crosslink back on. i appreciate the crosslink even more now. if you want to slice and dice there's no comparison
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Webster, NY
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002
Strengths: Quick steering, good feedback, less to maintain
Weaknesses: Greaseports, damping options
Bottom Line:
I'm reviewing this in retrospect since I've replaced this fork a few months back. Not that it was bad, but I needed something to suck up bigger hits and I starting riding more aggressive stuff. This fork is very good for what it's designed -- XC riding. Steering is quick through very tight, twisty singletrack, it feels stiff, and gives you good trail feedback via the legs (which could be considered a weakness in the plush department). As far as maintenance, it's good and bad. It takes less to maintain than your typical telescopic fork, but the process itself can drive you crazy. When it works like it's supposed to, it's great, but more often than not, the holes that the grease should go into don't line up with the port holes, so you often have to take the fork apart anyway. Fortunately, there's not much to take apart. Also, trying to order a new bushing kit from K2 is a pain (customer service issues). It'd be nice to have some control over rebound damping, but I guess Noleen wanted to make it affordable. This is a good fork to pick up to complement a 3"-or-less travel FS bike.
Similar Products Used: Similar to the CrossLink? Hard to find.
Bike Setup: K2/Proflex 3000
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Submitted by
Plowboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2002
Strengths: Superior tracking, easy maintenance.
Weaknesses: No longer available.
Bottom Line:
I was very dubious about this fork until I rode it. While it doesn't have the buttery smoothness of the Z4 on my old hardtail, the Crosslink tracks very precisely and is very forgiving of my frequent navigation errors. About every three months I do the relube drill (exellent manual is available on-line from K2)and have had no trouble but you really need a torque wrench. Ran a couple of experiments with the Smart-Shock on/off and discovered it really does work better turned on. Too bad they don't make them anymore, but if you find a good deal on one, don't shy away just because it looks different.
Going to be visiting Grand Junction next week on my way back from Moab. I've heard from a buddy that you can shuttle Ribbon, then link to Eagle's Wing and Holy Cross for a pretty Read More »
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fyi
Devo and The Dummy... again.
[url]http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=7309329&posted=1#post7309329[/url]
I just returned from a touring trip with a buddy from Eure Read More »
