Submitted by
Mike D
a Downhiller
from Culpeper, Va, USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2006
Strengths: It can hold a 3" tire.
Weaknesses: Everything sucks about this fork. I go through seals everytime I ride. It has a lot of flex in it. Oil leaks even with new seals. Rebuil cost $100. It works good for one ride after rebuild.
Bottom Line:
DON'T BUY IT. Its no good. Don't wast your money on it.
Weaknesses: where do i start! firstly,oil leaks are a big problem and the seals are non-existant.bushes wear out quickly and the anodizing on the lowers wears off quickly too. dont buy this fork!!! its crap in every way possible.
Bottom Line:
this fork dosn't deserve a bottom line. ive got one thing to say to risse:lower your prices and get REAL engineers to design your products.
Similar Products Used: pogo sticks and that toy bike that comes with action man.
Bike Setup: kona stinky (which deserves better than this). blah blah blah..........
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Submitted by
Andres Morrison
a Cross Country Rider
from Redding
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2003
Strengths: Good design, plush, sturdy
Weaknesses: slightly flexy; people always had problems with the seals.
Bottom Line:
These are some of the best forks out there, I think. Specially considering I used to build them for a couple of years (worked at Risse). I built my own as a custom 6" with external compression and rebound adjustments, different springs, custom cartridges. This thing has saved me many a times when I should have gone over the bars, I serviced mine about every six months (usually just changed the oil and sizing strips) Buy one if you can find one, (I recomend you hand over the money once you have the fork in your possession though, or else you may be out of money and out of a fork for a LONG time)
Bike Setup: Sarazen DH; 6" Trixxy, hayes, J-5; mrp;
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Submitted by
Shawn
a Downhiller
from Norcross GA USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2002
Strengths: Good smooth travel, very plush, and lite. I weigh 230lbs and have beat the piss out of this fork for a year and have never had a problem. It soaks up the small stuff as well as the big stuff. Peal off all ths stickers and you have A solid black fork, whick is really dope.
Weaknesses: I have no complaints, the only thing I have done to this fork is change the oil to 10 weight.
Bottom Line:
This fork is sweet and is worth the money. It rides and looks good. Fork is easy to pull apart and maintain. Fork seals are the best I have seen. Also has an integrated stem option. The guys at Risse are professional and very friendly.
Strengths: Good for, i like it. stiff, wide range of tuning possibilities
Weaknesses: i have noticed a LOT of oil coming out of the lower left leg, i may have to send it back to risse, but other than that, this is the best fork i have seen!
Bottom Line:
this is the best fork i have used. it is a great deal to get the front hub and brake with the fork. i had to make fork guards for it because the risse ones are too expansive. handles drops very well, extreamly stiff when coldweather is around. . . all in all this is a good fork and if you are looking for the best deal on a dual crown fork, this is it.
Purchased At: From Risse, ordered through The Bike Shop
Similar Products Used: i used to have a 2000 marzocchi z-5 air on my bike
Bike Setup: 2000 diamondback x-2, risse trixxxy fork, profile stiffy stem, doublewides, azonic 454 crank, blackspire 44 tooth sprocket, mr. dirt chain guide, odi lock jaw grip w/ intense grip, hayes full hydo brakes, gonna get a risse jupiter-5r rear shock (a LOT better than rock shox) and going to get titec ringleader dh bars.
Strengths: inverted, can handel a 3.0" tire, good adjustability, travel options
Weaknesses: needs time to break in
Bottom Line:
This fork is the best deal out there. I had problems at Sea Otter with oil leaking out of the top cap during the weekend but Fish at Risse was really cool and worked on my fork for free and even replaced some parts at no charge. All the employees are really nice and are helpfull in tunning the fork for you. I am getting the 7" upgrade for the fork as well as the 8" upgrade for my Santa Cruz Bullit. The little companies are always awesome to deal with.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Bullit w/ 6" risse, HED dh hoops w/ risse front hub and seismic 6" dia. rear hub, Kooka DH cranks and stem, Mr. Dirt chain guide, Kore DH bars, Thomson post Tioga Dh saddle, Nokina 2.6 gazzi, serfas 3.0 front, Brooklyn pedals
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Submitted by
josh
a Weekend Warrior
from flagstaff az usa
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2001
Strengths: very ajustable, stiff, plush, relativly light-weight, very low maintenence
Weaknesses: some stiction, and oil leaks out of the top cap
Bottom Line:
this fork is very nice, really plush and stiff. the oil leaking out of the top cap is not a big deal, its just kinda anoying. i have only bottomed the fork a couple of times. they can handle 6foot+ drops easily. i wouldnt recomend them for serious dh riders but for free riding, there perfect.
Strengths: super tuneable rebound works just make sure you have enough oil light weight price great for the privateer custom built for you
Weaknesses: oil leked out of top caps although fixed easily by lubing o rings with jody butter
Bottom Line:
the great thing about this fork is the tunablility.order it staight from risse and make sure to tell them how you intend to ride the fork and include your weight.i set mine up to ramp up in the last 3 inchs of travel {heavier lower spring as there 2 springs per leg}.Also the carbon fiber gaurds will stand up to some serious punishment and a worthwell investment.I found this fork to have better rebound control and to be stiffer then the jr t.The price of this fork is what should draw more people to it less than a jr t .... more travel,better rebound great for the privateer
Strengths: feels really good inexpensive comes with hub damping adjusters actually do something unlike rockshox seals work excellent when it's working it's amazing
Weaknesses: flexy bottoms out easily doesn't come with leg guards, if you want them plan on spending another 100 bucks or more would sometimes leak a little bit out of the top caps if you have a problem Risse doesn't seem to be willing to help much
Bottom Line:
Hmm, would I recommend this fork to someone? That depends. If you are a freerider just jumping around I'd say go for it, except it bottoms out sometimes, but that can be fixed with new springs. Mine came with too light of springs. If you're a downhiller I'd say no cause it's too flexy and if you crash in the rocks kiss your lower legs goodbye. Overall I haven't had a very good experience with this fork at all. I ordered it and it came sooner than expected, which was nice, but right out of the box it was leaking. I figured it was just extra stuff so I put it on but it really was a leak so I ruined a set of brake pads. Sent it back and it took about 2 weeks to get it back. Take it out of the box and guess what it's still leaking! Funny joke, not. I sent it back AGAIN and two weeks later get my fork back finally not leaking. So after a month I've ridden it once. Well, haven't had any problems since except one of the top crown bolts stripped out when I retightened it after adjusting my headset. Took no effort at all. So now I'm sending it back to Risse again to get it fixed. Why can't they just send me a new part to keep me riding? I think Risse is full of people that don't ride cause they don't care wether or not you're riding your bike. Well, several headaches and disc brake pads later I'm getting rid of it and getting something, anything, better.
Strengths: good compression damping characteristics light
Weaknesses: Flexxxyyy!! Not much tunability (I have a 2000 model) a lot of maintanence
Bottom Line:
It is a good deal and a good fork for normal freeriding (not the freeriding magazines describe like 30 foot drops and "hucking"), but it is a little too noodley for downhill
Strengths: good price, super smooth, good color(black), sweet new wet bath dampening, great height, very tunable.
Weaknesses: they're a little flexy, they twist easily, UGLY graphics, thats about it.
Bottom Line:
I had a little oil leak out of the preload and rebound knobs on top, and a little ring on the lowers, other than that I havent had to maintain it much. The weight is good for racing, but the flexiness is questionable at high speed cornering. It's a smokin deal for the fork,hub,and 8" Hayes, and Risse is a easy company to deal with. If you want a good freeride/downhill racing fork, this is it. For big drops, no. Overall it has been great for me.
Similar Products Used: Manitou X-vert R, Noleen Chubby LT, Boxxer
Bike Setup: Giant ATX, 321's, Nokians's, Hayes, Race Face, LOVE SEAT, Titec stem,bars,post. You know the usual.
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Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from Montreal, Quebec
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001
Strengths: Looks cool, worked well for me, cheap price, the seals worked really well!
Weaknesses: Twists a little in the fork crowns, flexy.
Bottom Line:
Well, I had this on my 6" freeride bike. Yeah, I wouldn't use this fork for all out crazy DH. It's a little flexy and the crowns aren't very secure...only one bolt on each side for the upper crown and 2 on each for lower. I rode through mud and the seals worked great! I was impressed. You CAN use a 3.0 tire but it's really close. I regret selling mine...I should have kept it for my freerider. Plus mine was all black which was beautiful. Now I'll probably get an ugly gold one.
Weaknesses: Not really stiff Cartriges leak (at least my friends am mine) Not a big range to select damping (well no surprice since the cartriges are leaky)
Bottom Line:
Well if you are looking for a affordable 6 or 7' fork and you are not the ultimate dh king, then these forks are a nice option to spend your money. And hey you get a hays 8' discbrake for free. If you are looking for a durable dh killer switch to anothert fork like the big brother the champ.
Bike Setup: Mountaincycle Shockwave...this bike rules !!! ;o)
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Submitted by
chris rowen
a Racer
from breckenridge, co 80424
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2000
Strengths: Fork felt great when it was new
Weaknesses: This fork is not durable, If you ride hard DO NOT BUY THIS FORK
Bottom Line:
I weight 185 pounds and race Semi-pro and the fork will not hold up the stress that national slalom tracks dish out. I normally do not bad mouth products, but this product is NOT durable. The service I received from Risse was Great, so I feel bad complaining but how many times do you want to take things back to get fixed?!
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Bomber, I guess after riding these I was spoiled because of it's durability
Bike Setup: Spooky Metal Head (slalom bike)
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Submitted by
Daryl
a Downhiller
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2000
Strengths: Price Good travel Plush
Weaknesses: Left leg broken between crowns Reft leg cracked in same place
Bottom Line:
Had a few problems at first. Fitted boots and regreased legs which fixed the problems until they broke. They got used hard and did many races. I think the Champs would have been more suited to my style of riding. Have moved onto Boxxers but waiting for replacement forks from Risse
