Submitted by
Henry
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler, AZ USA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Flagstaff, AZ (Fire Roads)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
OEM takeoff
Strengths:
Very Stiff, Easy to maintain and relatively light
Weaknesses:
None (If purchased at a reasonable <$350 price)
Similar Products Used:
Fox, Marzocchi, Manitou SX-Ti and RST
Bike Setup:
Cannondale CAAD3 Hardtail
Bottom Line:
This is an solid fork that offers the stiff, minimum flex performance of similair forks like the FOX RCs without the steep price. I would look to either the Cannondale HeadShok or RockShok SID if you are a weight weenie looking for a fork that will really perform on the scale.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Florin Avram
a Cross Country Rider
from Novi, MI, USA Date Reviewed: August 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Highland St. Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
Front end bounces. I took a very bad fall and broke one finger soon after I instelled it. Massive oil & air leak after less than 70 hrs. of riding
Similar Products Used:
manitou black elite
Bike Setup:
trek hard tail
Bottom Line:
I regret that I bought this shock. I will stick to either more expensive forks or I'll switch to no front suspension, maybe even single speed mtb.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shane lewis
a Racer
from CT Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Penwood, coales, robinson
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Colarado cyclist
Strengths:
100 mm.
Weaknesses:
Rock Shox stickers fell off very quickly
Similar Products Used:
SR Sontour
Bike Setup:
Specialized HardRock A1 FS Sport, Full LX, Time ATAC alium pedals.
Bottom Line:
Great Fork. The fork is very active.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jens Jacob Iversen
a Weekend Warrior
from Århus, Denmark Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Simple and Light. Quite strong with good steering precision.
Weaknesses:
hmm... would be great with a lock-out.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox jaudy sl
Bike Setup:
CUBE team litening, sram 9.0, Magura Louise front, HS silver back, TIME pedals, Raceface Turbine LP, TA Specialites chainrings, ritchey seatpost,flat bar and stem, sram 9.0sl hub with x517. No shimano.
Bottom Line:
The fork is a major upgrade to the judy sl. Much stiffer and with the ability to ride faster with greater control. Of course there is always space for improvements for example a even more rigid crown and thicker legs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grant
a Cross Country Rider
from Macon, GA Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Dauset Trails
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Breakaway Cyclery
Strengths:
Stiff and adjustable.
Weaknesses:
No rebound adjustment (no biggie).
Similar Products Used:
Rockshox Jett fork (1998 version, oh yeah)
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude with mostly original equipment
Bottom Line:
This is the Duke that only comes on a fully built bike. I love the Duke. I don't do any "big hit" stuff, but it feels great floating over rooty sections. Once you get the PSI right for your weight, it tracks extremely well in corners and, dare I use the old cliche', inspires confidence. Oh yes. Some say it is heavy, but my bike weighs in at around 24 pounds, so it's obviously not an anchor. Having never used the version with rebound adjustment, I can't say as I miss not having that feature, but that's the only thing missing here. The Duke is the working (wo)man's XC fork. Good deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miguel
a Weekend Warrior
from Harlingen, TX, USA Date Reviewed: December 6, 2002
- flexes more than the steel forks I had before - plastic damper cap - aluminum upper tubes
Bike Setup:
Aluminum hard-tail, LX components, Titec stem and bar, Rhyno-Lite wheels, susp. seatpost.
Bottom Line:
Great forks for the price. RockShox recommended air pressure is a bit high. I weigh 170lbs. and keep the fork at 105 psi. for 25% sag. Don't buy this fork if you're a weight conscious XC geek. The fork lacks a rebound adj. knob, but this can be adjusted by changing the oil weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Skyler
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT Date Reviewed: October 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
tour de suds
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
colarado cyclist
Strengths:
does not take alot of work to maintain these shocks
Weaknesses:
heavy
Similar Products Used:
juddy tt
Bike Setup:
trek 4500 with disc brakes
Bottom Line:
built real well and were a nice up grade from my Rock Shox Juddy. the only thing that i dont like is that their is not a lockout on these shocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mundy
a
from tulsa, ok, usa Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$160.00
Strengths:
everything
Weaknesses:
nothing
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
sumting
Bottom Line:
I have been impressed so far. This shock is stiffer than the manitou could ever dream to be. Somewhere under the Bomber though. But than again much cheaper than the bomber. Works well on stairs and small hits. Tell you more about the bigger the hits as I do them. All and all if you can find this shock for under $150 do it!!!! Just found out today it is upgradeable to XC/SL by buying three or four parts. Gonna try that next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntersville NC USA Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Foxboro Stae Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Smoothness on virtually all size bumps. Rather light for the price.
Weaknesses:
none as of yet
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox mag21
Bike Setup:
Barracuda with XT
Bottom Line:
The seals went out on my mag21 after about 8 years of hard riding. Not bad. I saw the DukeC at Colorado Cyclist for an icreadible price and decided to upgrade my mag. The only problem is that my mag was a 80mm and this shock is a 100mm. I put it on myself and other than adjusting seat height, I can't yet see much difference in the geometry when riding. This shock has absorbed stuff beyond what I thought it would do. I ride a lot of single track with roots and this thing eats them up. It has done wonders for my shoulder pain!! I am very surprised on the range of bumps this shock minimizes. It has definately improved line holding.
I am a weekend warrior and for the money you can't beat it! You don't need to spend a lot of money unless you are can really take advantage of what a more expensive shock offers. I hope I don't have seal problems that some of the other raters are experiencing. I will rate it 4 chilis because I do not really know what a 5 chili shock would feel like.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J T
a Cross Country Rider
from VA Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Purchased At:
colorado cyslist
Strengths:
-price -plushness -stiff -reasonable weight
Weaknesses:
-lack of rebound adjustment
Similar Products Used:
various Rockshox, manitou SX
Bike Setup:
AL hardtail
Bottom Line:
Get this fork for the price! I have the 100mm model, the ride is great- plush travel, minimal flex, nice weight. Only downside is lack of external rebound adjustment, but it suits me fine as is. I have'nt had it that long, so we'll see if durability is ok, but so far so good. 5 chilis for value, 4 overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bart
a Cross Country Rider
from austin, tx Date Reviewed: September 28, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
100mm of travel
Weaknesses:
no rebound adjustment.
Bike Setup:
santa cruz superlight
Bottom Line:
I regret buying this shock. there is not a rebound adjustment so the front end bounces all over the trail in the rough stuff. The bottom line is you get what you pay for and this is a good $100 shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan Date Reviewed: September 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Island Lake Yellow trail. (Not realy my fave, it's just close to home)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Purchased At:
coloradocyclist.com
Strengths:
Don't know, I had a seal blow out riding it down the road in my subdivision! A total of less than a quarter of a mile :( . Looks impressive though.
Weaknesses:
Obviously the seals!!! I hear the RS response time to repairs is painfully slow.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy Special which came on my '02 FSR Rockhopper. Boing! Boing! Boing! (just my way of saying that one is like a pogo stick).
Bike Setup:
'02 Specialized Rockhopper FSR XC, stock with the exception of Shimano LX cranks (way better than the stock ones).
Bottom Line:
I'm not happy. A brand new shock should not blow a seal just riding on a paved road. I put the stock one back on so I can ride while it's out at Rock Shox for repair/replacement. I'm not even sure if I'll want to even try it again when it eventually comes back ("Screw me once, shame on you, Screw me twice, shame on me"). If it worked well enough to take it out for a ride on the trail I would rate it higher. Be careful buying one of these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J W
a Weekend Warrior
from MN Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
OL
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
store
Strengths:
good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hank
a Weekend Warrior
from Plano, TX USA Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Strengths:
Definitely buttery smooth over most small bumps. Easy to adjust positive air pressure. Looks pretty nice, although, I have the red one and would have preferred black.
Weaknesses:
No adjustment of rebound, but not a big deal at my skill level.
Similar Products Used:
Rockshox jett '01, RST Capa
Bike Setup:
Mongoose (16") Zero G3, 135mm Koshi stem, syncros flat handlbar, oury grips, memoflex gel seat (yes!)
Bottom Line:
I'm a beginner and purchased a Mongoose Zero G3 2001 (16") for $289. The Rockshox jett '01 made top-out noises and seemed a bit bumpy even going down some beginner trails. I bought the red 100mm travel Duke C and installed it myself (even was able to reuse the old star-nut).
The 100mm Duke C is a really huge upgrade from the Jett. I purchased a shock pump for $15, which made adjusting the Duke C very easy. I'm only 130lbs. for $109, this is a total steal!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stev-O
a Cross Country Rider
from AH-OHville, CO USA Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Edna Mae (Palmer Park)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$117.00
Purchased At:
undisclosed hook-up
Strengths:
Stiffness, AIR SHOCK, Price
Weaknesses:
None that I have found so far
Similar Products Used:
Manitou X-vert super, Bomber
Bike Setup:
K2 ZED SE (21"), LX components and Sunrims bigfat mammoths w/ 2.1s
Bottom Line:
I have been impressed so far. This shock is stiffer than the manitou could ever dream to be. Somewhere under the Bomber though. But than again much cheaper than the bomber. Works well on stairs and small hits. Tell you more about the bigger the hits as I do them. All and all if you can find this shock for under $150 do it!!!! Just found out today it is upgradeable to XC/SL by buying three or four parts. Gonna try that next.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Whit
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX, US Date Reviewed: August 9, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Strengths:
price, feel, looks
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
judy
Bike Setup:
homegrown pro xt/xtr
Bottom Line:
for the money this is the best deal out there. It has a good feel to it and no problems with it so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great at first, nice and firm, good rebound
Weaknesses:
Blew seals after first ride. The second day after i bought the bike, i went out riding, got back to my friends house, and the seals had already gone. We used his shock pump, and put just under 150 psi into it. I rode home, and put it away, came back hour later, all pressure lost again.
Similar Products Used:
Marazocchi,
Bike Setup:
Trek 6700 disc
Bottom Line:
I thought it was a good fork for the first few hours until the seals blew, luckily under warranty, although it doesnt make me happy that things like that happen, i was riding on a completely bottomed out fork only after an hour of riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rhys Lodwick
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very good fork, amazing considering the price. responds very well to small trail bumps and is stiff and tracks well. Not too bad on the big stuff either but not a jump fork.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
many!
Bike Setup:
new dawes FS
Bottom Line:
A very good fork, it came on my new bike but is amazing value aftermarket considering the prices quoted. I am going to put one on my partners bike as she gets very poor performance from her coil elastemer fork. Tracks well, rides well, but not brilliant on the really big hits. Its on ordinary trail riding that this fork really shines.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Slickrock Trail and Horsethief Bench (Fruita, CO)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Strength, lightweight, very plush
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Judy TT and XC
Bike Setup:
TREK 4900..Shimano LX cranks, LX brakes, LX brake levers, LX 9sp shifters, XT front and rear derailers, Bontrager Corvair wheels, Panaracer Fire XC tires, Rock Shox seatpost, SRAM chain.
Bottom Line:
Besides being a super deal ($110.00), this is an awesome fork. I love the fact that I can adjust the stiffness for different trails. I ride 3-4 times locally and about once every two weeks take a trip to Moab and Fruita. The ride is smooth. I got a great deal on a great fork. I would recommend it to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JC
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: July 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Trail 100
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$139.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Price, rigidity, travel (100 mm model). Thin wall cromo steer-tube adds strength without a lot of weight. Nice ride.
Weaknesses:
No rebound adjust-but rebound is ok for me as is.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Indy, Manitou SX, Marzocchi Atom Race.
Bike Setup:
Hard Tail Yeti with Rock Shox seat post
Bottom Line:
This is not a downhill or free ride shock. Don't expect it to feel like a Caddy (or hold together)over 3ft jumps. As someone commented it is not quite as plush as a $400-$500 Marzocchi (but not too far off it for that matter either). Its air-over-oil construction beats every elastomer shock I've ridden. If you are a mid-level XC rider looking for a nice ride for a reasonable price, this is a great value. The shock is reasonably light and has enough rigidity to keep it calm and controlled in turns and on descents. I check the air pressure weekly as part of my pre-ride prep. So far it holds the air pressure reasonably needing only an occasional pump or two. Bottom Line: A great $139 shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
marshall
a Cross Country Rider
from Presque Isle, ME USA Date Reviewed: June 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
singletrack
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
very rigid suspension fork.. good and plush even at 155 p.s.i... great for the price.. (closeout price anyway)
Weaknesses:
the seals blew right out of the first duke c supergo sent me.. put 175 lbs in it and started putting it on the bike and it lost 95% of the air.. was not happy, but it was obviously defective.. the new one is great
Similar Products Used:
'00 rock shox jett xc.. 90 something rock shox quadra 10
Bike Setup:
specialized hardrock comp with the duke c on front, xt brake levers, lx v brakes, bar ends, pump, and all that good stuff.. good bike for a cheaper hardtail
Bottom Line:
if you can find this shock for 150 dollars or less, buy it because it is great.. she's no marzocchi though
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland Oregon Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$149.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
30mm Stanch's. Stiff as hell. Very easy to adjust. Hellofa good deal at $150...
Damn good fork. I like to set my fork and leave it. This fork was a screaming deal. I didn't feel the need to shell out the aditional $50 for the XC, just to get the damp. adjust.
The ad promised an Alum Steer. But delivered steel. Otherwise, I bought it as a blem. And I can't find any blem.(perhaps they meant the steer)
-1 chilli for the Supergo service
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cliff
a Cross Country Rider
from Blainville Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Cycle Ponce
Strengths:
stiff, cool look, light
Weaknesses:
lack of adjustments
Similar Products Used:
R.S. Quadra, R.S. judy race
Bike Setup:
doesn't matter
Bottom Line:
This fork comes on complete bicycle only. If you are the kind of rider who like to adjust his fork before every ride and sensible enought to change 12 times the rebound adj. in the same day, upgrade or choose and other bike.
Overall it is a good stiff fork with low maintenance and simple to tune.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a
from CT Date Reviewed: January 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very Rigid, plush
Weaknesses:
none!
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Jett T2
Bike Setup:
'02 Trek 6700
Bottom Line:
Great fork, unfortunitly only comes on a new bike. very rigid and great for XC riding.A very good air fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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