Submitted by
richard
a Downhiller
from bronx ,NY ,usa
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2001
Strengths: Some looks, stiff.
Weaknesses: Week ass fork, it's for posers, all show and no go, fork has too much stiction, the air spring is shi+, too heavy, the travel is overwhelmed by weight of fork CAN"T STAND UP TO FREERIDING(forget about downhilling or racing)warranty SUCK'S, company sevice SUCK'S,
Bottom Line:
The FR4 does not deserve FR in the name cause it can't take free riding without colapsing. It's just a big disapoinment, it has the looks and no balls, NO BALLS! It's meant for posers who just want to look tough, if you are real free rider don't buy this fork, it will be a waste of your money. IT'S ALL SHOW AND NO GO!
Weaknesses: Not strong enough for freeriding,week stantions , bad design, a lot of stiction, not enough travel to justify weight.
Bottom Line:
Bad design, the fork's stantions keeps sliding up the crowns even with proper torqued bolts, so I titened the crown bolts little more and the week ass stantions colapsed like tin foil. Most triple clamps have thick stantion walls by the stantion clamps, this one doesn't so it can colapse easy if torqued a little past recommended tq. level. Even though the fork is an open bath design, it's still very sticky. More weight than travel, too litle travel to justify so much weight. They added the weight at areas not needed and removed from the critical areas. My conclusion is that stratos has not much experience in designing freeriding forks and it shows up in the FR4, i have friends who have the mx6 and s8 but they dont ride as hard as I do, I am 5'7" 145lbs and rarely ever wipe out I now have a bent useless $500 fork that i haven't even gotten a month use out of, i dont think that i want any more stratos products because of thier week thought out designs and too expensive products. This fork is for posers and not real freeriders, so don't even think of downhilling on this thing or you will be in some serious pain from bussing your ass. Get the new x vert dc, super T, jr T or a boxxer.
Similar Products Used: marzocchi's, x vert T, 01 jr T, headshocks, rock shoxes(3 or 4)and the first stratos made.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
perry sasser
a Downhiller
from boston
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2001
Strengths: smooth, stiff, good free ride or entry level fork
Weaknesses: bolts cannot be tightend enough to prevent twisting w/o creating sticktion.
Bottom Line:
I ran this fork for a year free riding and It is great there, looks nice, pretty stiff, not to heavy and smooth action. I started to race it however and it is not really suited for monster hits. Two other guys on the curcuit where running the same fork and had their stancions twist. You cannot secure the fork brace enough to take the big hits without crushing the legs. Eventually my time came up and the fork twisted in the brace and blew a seal out during the race. Bottom line - good freeride - don't race it if you care about finishing. Oh yeah, web site is good, human contact there is almost impossible and they seem to not ship things that they are supposed to as standard practice. Nice for light free rider an entry level dh but but it won't get you past there.
Strengths: Looks Badass, feels like alot of 6"ers I'v tried
Weaknesses: Guys at Stratos don't care if your not riding if they already have your money, Very Unhelpful, Rude. Warranty Nightmare
Bottom Line:
I was very happy with Stratos and this fork(i know I talked a couple people into buying Stratos)until I had a problem with it- While rebuilding my fork, my buddy noticed my sanctions were bent pretty bad, so they sent them to Outdoor Gear Canada-in Van. City, the Canadian distributor. The guy there told me he was waiting on a parts order from Stratos that should have been there the week before. Next time I talked to him he said the order didn't come with any sanctions, so more waiting for Stratos. Then he told me I would have to talk to the guys at Stratos to get them to O.K. the Warranty claim cause the sanctions were so bent. Then Dave at Stratos said my dropouts was pulling out of the bottom of the fork and I would have to pay to fix that and the sanctions!!! So after freaking out a lot(I've been hurt since before I got the bike, so I've still yet to drop it more than three feet and haven't had the chance to crash it yet) He said they would cover it and they would ship the parts to OGC that day. So.... while trying to find out what was going on two weeks later, I found out they still haven't even shipped the parts! So it's been over five weeks of sunny days they've been gone and no word on how long it's still going to be! (Stratos hasn't called me even once since the start, so I've also had to spend about $20 in long distance finding out they still haven't done jack about it.)
STRATOS SERVICE SUCKS
SO... If it wasn't for no customer service, I'd be happy with them, but now, whenever anyone asks about them, I'll have to say they're not worth the trouble.
Bike Setup: S.C. Heckler, FR4/5", Hayes, 321's, Raceface, Azonic, XT
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jeremy Hoyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne Australia
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2001
Strengths: Everything you read here
Weaknesses: See below
Bottom Line:
12 months on... things I've learned: As others have said, see the website for info. Manual might be crap (I didn't even get one!) but the site answers many questions. And the Stratos guys are the best in the business for helping you with questions. Be VERY careful not to overtighten the crown bolts - you can crush the stanchions easily, resulting in massively reduced stanchion strength. Learn how to set the airspring - incredibly important for keeping the original 'bottomless travel' feel. And get the right coil springs for your weight. Requires minimal maintence (good, because any oil-based fork is a bugger to work on in your lounge room). Get a shop to work on it as it requires quality, dedicated tools and vices to be done properly. Worth the money and peace of mind. If only it weighed a pound less - the weight is noticeable up hills. If you're going down, just let it blow your mind with it's performance. Overall, a superb performer, beautifully built, and perhaps the perfect fork.
Similar Products Used: Many double triple clamps and regular forks
Bike Setup: Intense Tazer
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Submitted by
Andy S
a Weekend Warrior
from Wakefield Ma
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2001
Strengths: it looks the balls. 5 very plush and progressive inches of travel. go with the 20mm axle. uses atf for lube.
Weaknesses: no boots. no bumpers. stickers were but-ugly.
Bottom Line:
A great fork! great craftmanship. It takes a little while to dial the fork in with the correct amount of atf, and I needed the heavier spring-set. Be sure not to over torque crown bolts.
Strengths: Looks better than any other fork, Build quality like no other, Plush ride, Black stantions, 5"travel upgrade included, Rebound that works
Weaknesses: Factory set up is way to soft for anyone over 12 stone, Manual is not worth having, No external preload, V-Brake set up is tricky.
Bottom Line:
Brilliant fork out of the box and has really smooth action. Put the upgrade in straight away and its wicked. If your over 12 stone put more oil in or upgrade the springs. You cant get much better. Download the new manual from Stratos website
Weaknesses: Incomplete manual, confusing setup compared to my Z1
Bottom Line:
This fork looks much better in person than it does on the Stratos webpage. BTW the webpage is the place to go to figure out setup and maintenance issues, and the factory guys are also a great resource.
This fork easily equals my Z1CR in plushness, and far exceeds it in rigidity. I was not prepared for the huge increase in steering precision, especially at low speed, like when you're picking your way up a rocky trail without enough speed to blast over the rocks. While I do have to gear down about 1 cog, presumably because of the increased weight over the Z1, I find myself cleaning more previously unrideable sections due to the added travel and steering precision.
A no-brainer 5 stars for value given the current market price, and its perfect performance is marred only by the lack of a good manual. If you're not willing to spend some time on the phone or the net to get this fork set up to your satisfaction, it may not be for you. That said, I think it's a great deal for a DC fork.
Similar Products Used: Z1CR, Z1 Alloy, SXTi (ugh!)
Bike Setup: 4.5 inches rear travel by 5 inches front, Fat Tyrannoraptor tires, Hayes disks.
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Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Goleta, CCA
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2000
Strengths: Function in all phases and manors...Stiff, Carves trails, Point-and-Shoot, Feel (plush) lightweight DH'ng
Weaknesses: Not fully externally adjustable.
Bottom Line:
"H" below made the initial mistake of not finding out the fork uses ATF, the most highly tested lubrication on Earth - and yes, anybody can easily prove it - transmissions on cars are very expensive to replace and Ford/Chrylser/BMW/Saab and Mercedes Benz don't want to replace them under warranty (i.e: free to the consumer). ATF is cheap and available just about everywhere in the Western World (and I add the UK to that, even though the plumbing takes a little getting used to [but not as much as France or Italy])
I have the 20mm axle set up (modified the King Hub, but that's only because they used to be just up the street from me) and replaced the stainless steel bolt (8mm x 1.25mm x 10mm) with an aluminum one, then drilled and tapped the hole to allow the air spring adjust to be easier.
Manual was pretty terse, but the website helped and I talked to the guys (email and on the phone) and learned everything I needed in a short time.
My Z1? Almost as smooth and flexier. The QR20 is a giggle and some day I'll tell you why...
I notice the UK guys don't seem to get much help - phone calls to the US are too expensive, I guess, and the Time Zones are way off...
I thought they'd get decent help from Hotlines (my Scottish buddy bought them from the Hotlines dealer in Yorkshire)
If stupid-proof was the only way to build a fork, my guess is Yamaha and Honda would be out of business by now.
Well I just thought I'd post an update of the fork review after riding it seriously for a while. The manual is still a joke, and I had to find out about the left leg air assist the hard way. (wrist slammer)
Getting into the fork, especially this left leg business (20mm axle), is a pain. The fact that you almost definitely need a vice to maintain this fork is also a pain. Finding 12wt oil is a pain (so I use 10wt and 15wt). That they don't ship stanchion protectors as standard is a pain.
But once you've come out of the workshop sweating and swearing, and actually go ride, it's (sort of) worth it - it really works superbly on the trail, with the coil and air springs working in prefect harmony to absorb everything in sight.
However that's no excuse. It shouldn't be this painful to tune the fork - and you can only get the best out of it when you do tune it - some more thought needs to be out into the design of the innards of the fork to make it easier to tweak.
So, after considered thought: The good: superb function, excellent visuals, good manufacturing quality, excellent tuning possibilities The bad: crap tuning accessibility, ocean liner anchor weight, and a manual that's so crap it really only deserves to be used as toilet paper - if it wasn't printed on so stiff paper.
All in all, definitely above average and to be considered if you're a real hardcore rider in the line for a good dual-crown, mid travel fork.
If you're anything less than a single crown fork twanger/snapper though, look to the single crowns like the Z1 CR/QR20. Easier to adjust, functionally just as good, lighter and cheaper.
Favorite Trail: anywhere I don't have to go uphill (especially with a FR4)
Duration Product Used: 6 months
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Submitted by
FreakRider
a Weekend Warrior
from Alaska
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000
Strengths: Stiff, Stiff, Stiff, makes my old Z-1 look like a Judy. Awesome machine work! This thing is a work of art. 5" travel, open bath and killer looks Stratos' customer service is second to none
Weaknesses: Wish it were a little lighter, mine is just under 6 pounds
Bottom Line:
This fork is absolutely awesome! I have been searching for the best freeride setup and I think that I have found it. The Helix Pro in the rear gives me about 5.5 inches in the rear and it mates perfectly with this fork up front. After breaking in the FR5 is every bit as plush as my Z-1 Bam and tracks straight as an arrow. I am 215 pounds and on fast DH runs I would get bounced all over the place with the Z-1, now the front end goes everywhere I point it. It has made me faster than I ever thought I would go on an MTB. This fork is sssoooo plush and stiff, the sliders are almost bigger than my frame tubes. It is way overbuilt, the machined crowns and disc mount and fat stanctions tell you this thing means business. 180 degree offset gives you tight trail ability. Once you get it setup it is pretty much maintenance free, unlike true DH forks that need a lot attention. If you are looking for travel, stiffness, QR compatibility, and mega plushness along with the best looks around then this is your fork.
Similar Products Used: Z-1 Bam(awesome), Boxxer(too much maintenence), Judy(cunt), Manitou(crap)
Bike Setup: K2 5000, FR5, Helix pro rear shock, 9.0sl rear/XTR front der, Grimeca Front disc, HS-33 rear brake, XTR/F519 rear wheel, Real disc/F519 front, '00 lx hollowtech cranks, Monkey bar, a FREERIDE MACHINE!!
Strengths: Very solid, rigid and precise for it's relatively light weight. This fork is perfect for what I do-every DH race that comes along- Mammoth, Dville, Northstar, and every other trail ride I do with friends, This fork will go uphill great! This is my only bike, and 5" is the perfect compromise for me out here in the West where it's fast and furious, but more jagged granite than slippery roots. I ride a short-travel FS beefed for all around FR/DH AND THIS FORK IS THE BUSINESS. The machining is great and you can see what they did....not like some mass-produced multicast clone. I came over from the Bomber Cult , and the truth is M does NOT have a monopoly on sMooth plush travel! This thing is very tuneable and will come factory-tuned to your style and weight. Stratos accepts trade-ins, too! Bye-bye Z1, your seals left a bad taste on my disc pads!
Weaknesses: I can't think of any, any FR, jr DH or slalom dog will be happy with it. Not recommended for someone looking to upgrade their dual-crown SID
Bottom Line:
Incredible value as are all the Stratos forks, Superb performance so far! get the 5 inch cartridge!!!
Similar Products Used: (2)Z-1's...borrowed various Mr Dirts, Monster T's, Boxxers from DH peeps for short tests
Bike Setup: Heckler, FR/5 w/20mm thru axle, Fox TC shock, MRP/40T, front=Hope DH04/Mavic 321/Bulb rear= Chris King hub Mavic 521 xtr V brakes (don't use em anyway) Hurricane 100 post/Azonic Hot Seat, Race Face cranks, Atomic Labs Flatboy II pedals, 75mm Azonic Shorty stem/2" Doublewide riser, various tires, right now a Maxxis High Roller DH 2.5 on front, Tioga 2.3DH (MODIFIED) on back.....I know, kinda burly for an XC(!) frame, but that's the truth my friends.
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Submitted by
B. Treglia
a Downhiller
from Lima, Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000
Strengths: Very active and very rigid feeling fork. Lots of beautifully machined aluminum - no plastic. Uses readily available tranny fluid as fork oil. Can be maintenanced with regular tools. One of the few 4" travel forks w/ thru-axel availability. Arch can be adjusted to fit any size wheel/tire. Rebound dampening has wide range of adjustment. All the internals appear well constructed and not too complicated. Travel, compression dampening, preload can all be adjusted with additional parts.
Weaknesses: Preload not easily adjustable. Thru-axel design should be easier to work with. No fork boots. Kinda noisy.
Bottom Line:
This is the absolute best performing fork I've ever used. These tubes, in stock form, soak up the nasties very well at speed. Just watch a rider w/ one on his scoot and you'll see how active the fork actually is compared to others. The fork is very rigid and confidence inspiring. The stock springs may be a little on the light side for a 170 lb+ aggressive rider. It's definitely one of the kewlist looking forks made. Log on to Stratos if you need info about working on this fork. The guys at Stratos are very helpful.
Strengths: Stiff, plush, working rebound, tunablility (despite what others have said), killer looks, bombproof, most bang for the buck
Weaknesses: Yeah, right.
Bottom Line:
Awesome performance. Feels like the stroke is longer than 5". If you're bottoming this fork excessively like some of the reviewers, you don't have it tuned correctly. I will admit that tuning can be cumbersome if you don't know how to do it. But it really is quite easy. Instructions are now up on the Stratos web site and Randolph is always ready and willing to handle any questions you may have. Hell, call ME if you want to. Why complain about the lack of an external preload adjuster when it typically remains constant once set? And an external adjuster is available as an option, by the way.
The air assist feature is awesome.
If you can dish it out, this fork can take it. Awesome quality.
To all those who piss and moan about this and that: Quit complaining about "flaws" in design that can easily be detected BEFORE the purchase. Lift it. Is it too heavy? Then DON'T BUY IT! Look at it. Do you see any external compression and preload adjusters? Don't like that? then DON'T BUY IT!
Bike Setup: Schwinn 4-Banger w/Risse Jupiter-5 piggy-back (5.5" wheel travel), King Headset, dual Hayes hydros, XT Hollowtech cranks, Easton Risers, Azonic 50mm shorty stem, Titec Berserker DH on Thompson post, Tioga Factory DH 2.3s on Sun Rhyno Lite rims, DMR chainguide, Kooka Crankcase
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Submitted by
Shawn Austin
a Cross Country Rider
from Milford, MA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2000
Strengths: Great performance, rigidity and quality of construction. Turning radius is excellent. I do a lot of steep techinical uphills, and I have not hit my knees once. Also a great value for what you get.
Weaknesses: No boots (an I have been unsuccessful at finding any that will fit yet - can anyone help here?) Need to buy bumpers (these should come with the fork). At a shade over five pounds, it may be too heavy for smaller riders, weaker riders. It's just right for me, though. The finish, which looks really nice new, tarnishes when it gets wet if you don't wipe it down immediately. Come on guys!
Bottom Line:
Great fork! Awesome performance. Worried about the lack of boots after my Marzocchi woes, but I'm still searching to find ones that will fit. Lizard Skin makes good fork bumpers to protect the frame - I highly recommend them. If they didn't work so well I'd take a point off for the tarnishing issue, but the fork's just too solid to give less than a 5, unless durability/ maintenance issues arise.
