Submitted by
jack_read
a Weekend Warrior
from New England
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2010
Strengths: Plush yet solid! Soaks up the bumps very easily, from small to reasonably big. LIGHT! 3.2 pounds. Very reliable.
Weaknesses: None at all.
Bottom Line:
I had RockShox Quadras that came on a Trek 930SHX that I bought many years ago. That fork did not seem to serve any function beyond a rigid fork. Because of that experience I was predisposed not to like the Judy SL, as it, like the Quadra, uses elastomers in its design. I was very pleasantly surprised! This fork is great. It's soft enough to smooth out the ride in a very meaningful manner and tough enough to put up with the abuse I throw at it. It's a great fork. The oil damping works very well. When I got it the elastomer was dry and crumbled, but I replaced it with a piece of 65 durometer rubber tubing that I bought from McMaster-Carr. I bought a few different durometers and this one is just right- plus the diameter is a perfect fit. I'm totally happy with this fork. I like it a lot more than my Duke XC air fork; the spring rate in the Duke is way to progressive (it's air, after all), so it goes from soft to way too hard yoo quickly compared to the Judy SL.
Similar Products Used: RockShox Duke XC, Dart (ick), ancient Quadra.
Bike Setup: Independent Fabrication Deluxe, Judy SL, XT derailleurs, SRAM Attack grip shifters, XTR brakes, Crux Cranks, Chris King, etc...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Chester, SC. USA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2004
Strengths: Simple to use, do the job without complaint and from what I see are capable of more than I ask of them. Just check the air pressure periodically and add a drop of oil on the top seals every now and then. I have the 100 mm travel version, and they ain't bottomed out on me yet.
Weaknesses: None I have found so far. I still use the needle valve, it fits nicely into a tool bag and I have it screwed into a short (3") hose so it can be easily used with my floor or frame pump.
Bottom Line:
Forks were selected by the shop owner when we were building this bike because my experience with "real" mountain bikes was very limited, and I have have grown to trust his good judgment. I wanted something durable enough for medium hard trail riding, yet simple to maintain. So far, the Judy Air SL's have done this very well. Sure, a pair of Marzzochi Bombers would probably work even better and certainly have more snob appeal. Maybe when I win the lottery...
Haven't had any of the seals bust, air or oil. Nor have I noticed any noises or shuddering/steering problems. They ride smooth and have absorbed just about everything they have run over so far. And I have encountred a few things that would have flipped my old rigid for sure, Bunny hop or no. But then that's what shocks are for, right?
However, I'm not a "rad" rider either. I don't go jumping off the face of Table Rock or bombing down the face of mountains at 100 MPH or anything like that. Just basic trail stuff (Flat to mountainous). I weigh between 165-175 pounds, depending on the time of year. I never have had to inflate the forks beyond 15 pounds. I use the weight to PSI guide then tweak that as recommended in the instruction manual. Yeah I know, so I'm a Phred, I actually read the instructions! Maybe that's why some of these others have blown seals?
Similar Products Used: None. These are my first Sus. forks.
Bike Setup: Rocky Mtn. "Reaper" H.T. frame, Mavic "Cross Land" wheels, Hayes HMX-II disc brakes and other assorted mid-high grade stuff.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
doug powell
a Cross Country Rider
from waterford, mi. usa
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003
Strengths: The price is it's strength. if you get a year out of it' it's paid for itself.
Weaknesses: All the bad reviews, that make you think twice about buying it, but then remember the price.
Bottom Line:
I'm leary about this prduct, due to all the conflicting opinions. Do the individuals who blow these shocks out. know to how match the equipment to there intended use. Do they read the instructions before they pump it full of air? There are way too many stories of blown seals. It seems odd because doesn't this shock have the XXX seals as the better rock shox? I'm praying that My 180+lbs doesn't destroy this shock on the first ride. P.S. all you guys that blow them out riding off curbs, maybe you need to be on a BMX
Similar Products Used: Manitou X-vert air. rock shox sid sl.
Bike Setup: Diamondback topanga comp made in usa (the last of them) all xt truvative.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
chris morse
a Cross Country Rider
from Pine Mountain, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2003
Strengths: smooth (if your not over weight) and not confusing because its simple and straight forward
Weaknesses: if you are over 150lbs. this is not the fork for you. it will blow out its seals
Bottom Line:
the judy is a good fork, if you weigh under 150lbs. anything more and you will need something heavier duty. many of these reviews have given this fork a low scoring, but the people posting these reviews are selling this fork short. many of them are over weight or just plain big. dont bash the fork becasue of your build. if your big, buy something else. for the rest of us who dont have bundles of cash to spend, we choose the judy, why? becasue it is good
Heres the story. When I first got the fork I messed up the needle valve putting air in it. Called RockShox to get a replacement and when I was on the phone the guy said the published max air pressure of 50 psi was wrong, it should be 25. So I took his advice and only pumped it up to 25, never had a problem except the fork was too spongy. I finally got to lookin for a heavier spring for it, but none exist. The guy at the LBS who had been trying to order that spring called Rockshox on my behalf and asked them about fork pressure. According to him they said that 50 psi was fine, just experiment with the pressure a little at a time. So I did, and found 46 psi to be perfect. Rode it around the street, off a couple curbs, and it felt great. Rechecked the air pressure and it had already gone down to 32. So I tightened the schrader valve core and refilled it. Ride it off the curb once and put it back up in the garage. Today, I get it out, ride it down the driveway and then just using the front brake to see how much the front end dove down, I heard psshhhhh. I take it back in the garage where the light was and oil is running all down the left fork leg. Closer inspection reveals that the main seal on that side blew. Obviously Im mad because the fork blew and that I was given conflicting advice. Regardless of how RS handles this out of warranty issue, it shows they are making a products to lower standards. Obviously I should have kept following the first recommendation I was given, but still the other guy said it was ok. That also tells me that they knew these forks had problems and couldnt be run at max pressure. I no longer recommend this fork, especially for heavier riders like myself. Its a good thing they arent made anymore, hmm, I wonder why.
Submitted by
Jarod
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester, MN, US
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003
Strengths: It doesn't fall apart.
Weaknesses: Missing parts from factory. Stupid ball needle valve that leaked before I could even ride. cheesy air assist is not firm enough even when maxed(per manufacturer's recommendation)more flex than a roll of soldering wire.
Bottom Line:
If I had any money at all this fork would not be on my bike. I cannot stand the noise generated by the steel spring slapping against the replacement aluminum topcap valve. The noise would not be present if my fork was assembled with all the parts. I cannot believe they can send a product from thier line without all the needed parts. This fork should be women's specific since you cannot make it firm enough (with the recommended pressure) for a man over 160 lbs to ride without bottoming out. I also recommend renaming the fork...since they are destroying a good name in MTB suspension fork history.
Similar Products Used: '98 Judy XC (Before judy's were disgraced by all that "Air Assist" crap.
Bike Setup: Fairly stock Raleigh M600 with Race Face Bashring and flat Handlebar with longer stem. Panaracer fire DH/XC Front/Rear
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe AZ
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2003
Strengths: Long Travel, smooth delivery of bumbs
Weaknesses: Weight, still kinda heavy
Bottom Line:
For the price I have seen these going for I would defanitely buy one. I only weigh about 145 lbs, so I am very keen on the sensitivity of this shock at low pressure. It came stock on a bike I bought.
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain ETS frame. LX/XT drive train. Avid Mech. discs. WTB Speedmaster wheels. Shimano Deore hubs. Shimano PD959 pedals. Velo Plush saddle with Shahar on top.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ben chaney
a Cross Country Rider
from decatur, alabama, us
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2003
Strengths: smooth, plush, looks good, so far so good
Weaknesses: a little flex, when there is to much air in it, it makes a little noise.
Bottom Line:
they seem to be pretty nice. I am a little nervous about jumps and drop offs but it is too early to tell. I can't believe some of these people payed more than 150 for these forks, you folks are crazy. anyways, I don't know what else a person would want in a single crown fork. it's cheap, tough, and plenty of travel.
Similar Products Used: none, it is the first shock I have purchased
Bike Setup: weyless elite frame, sun rims, al monkey bars, lx & xt components.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Stewart Terras
a Cross Country Rider
from Newcastle, NSW AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2003
Strengths: the price
Weaknesses: THE PRODUCT CONTINUALLY "RATTLES" DUE TO MISSING PARTS AND POOR QUAILITY CONTROLL. THE FORKS FLEX BADLY.
Bottom Line:
IT IS MY OPINION TO NOT EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER PRODUCT FROM THIS MANUFACTURER DUE TO POOR QUAILITY CONTROL, POOR BACKUP SERVICE, AND A SERVICE DEPT THAT CANNOT UNDERSTAND BASIC CONCEPTS OR EVEN READ AND UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN SPARE PARTS MANUAL. I HAVE SENT OVER FORTY (40) EMAILS EXPLAINING MY PROBLEMS TO THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE SOMEONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS MISSING (I EVEN SUPPLIED PICTURES OF THE MISSING PART). WHILST WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO LOCATE AND SEND THE MISSING PART. I MADE THE MISSING PART IN 15 MINUTES ON THE LATHE AT WORK.
This is in addition to my previous review. The Judy SL is a great fork for the money, but like everything its less than perfect. The biggest complaint I have seen by far is the football needle valve used for the air assist. There is a replacement upgrade valve available now. Not only it is a schreader (I know I spelled it wrong) valve, but its an aluminum cap which is much nicer than the crap plastic cap it came with. Unfortunately RS doesnt make a matching alloy cap for the non-adjust side, but this upgrade makes a huge difference in the fork being able to use a regular pump.
Submitted by
rick simms
a Weekend Warrior
from tampa, fl
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2003
Bottom Line:
I just wanted to tell John, a weekend warrior from Las Vegas, that he spelled "grammar" wrong. Also, when you write out "o yes" it's usually spelled "oh yes". I may agree with the statement "Kyle, you are a prime example of what is wrong with todays youth. You are a complete idiot who lacks the ability to communicate (write and speech capability) on any level other then that of a 4 year-old.", but how do you know if he lacks speech capability? Have you spoken with kyle? In closing, I would like to congratulate you, John, on a job well done correcting the Kyle.
p.s.- When using a possessive tense of a word an apostrophe should almost always be used.
Submitted by
Craig Seifert
a Cross Country Rider
from Glenshee in Scotland
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002
Strengths: general bump eating performance, simple internals. They look better once you remove the damn shock boots (I assure you the seals do their job without them)
Weaknesses: WHY SHOCK BOOTS, plastic topcaps, small bushings, tricky air assist valve and fairly weighty. I had loose bushings so I sent mine away, 3 long weeks later i got them back and the bushings found their way loose again so i ignored them. I hammered the forks into the ground and surprisingly they are still in one piece but there is a terrible rattle in the damping side of the internals so I got some rs 2003 duke sl u-turns instead every thing judy sl should have been.
Bottom Line:
I guess the 2002 judy sl will be knocking aroung for $175 and in this case they are well worth it but don't get the downgraded xc,c or tt models unless you want to add weight to your bike.
Bike Setup: sx alu hardtail with full deore and x517s
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Hastings, NY
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002
Strengths: Great fork for the price I got it for. 80/100mm of smooth travel.
Weaknesses: Heavy, air seals blew first time I tried to adjust the pressure.
Bottom Line:
These shocks are a major step up from the XC's I had, but they are still pretty damn heavy and the air seal is a pain. They're a good value, get these if you are looking for a quality fork for a good price.
The wear marks on these stantion tubes, dangerous? I'm guessin' it's from grit sanding off where the wipers sat... the rubbed areas are quite smooth. Is that normal?
[IMG]http://i Read More »
I am trying to get my old mid 90's mt bike back on the road and my Judy fork's elastomers have disintegrated. A couple of questions.
Is there an inexpensive spring that can rep Read More »
Hi all,
I'm rebuilding my old Judy SL for a beater SS project. After taking it apart it looks like it needs some o-rings.
Has anyone had any luck finding parts for older fo Read More »
Hey all I am needing some fork guidance/suggestions.
Tuning up a bike for a buddy when I noticed his 1996 Rock Shox JUDY SL fork wasn't working.
It would completely compress Read More »
While cleaning the garage I took a side track and did some suspension work.
For many years I have had a Judy SL (yellow with 63mm travel) hanging on the pegboard by it Answer AT Read More »
