Low-friction PTFE 30 mm aluminum upper tubes // Tunable positive and negative air springs // Climb-It Control compression adjustment // External rebound adjustment // All Travel // Tullio 20 mm through-axle available // Optional brake boss-free lowers
Travel: 80/100/125 mm
Spring: Dual Air
Submitted by
Alexander Rose
a Cross Country Rider
from Sausalito, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2004
Strengths: A lot of adjustability options, very silky operation.
Weaknesses: Fork service takes two weeks of down time on the bike. Gold is a bit on the flashy side for me.
Bottom Line:
I am 6-4 and 210lbs and this this has hung in there for over 2 years of nearly every day use with great performance. I just had it serviced for the first time a couple months ago and aside from the two weeks of down time, its been great.
Bike Setup: Steel hardtail by Swift Cycles, Rohloff internal 14spd transmission, Psylo Race Fork, Mavic 717s on Onyx hubs, Avid disc brakes, Stans NoTubes.
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Submitted by
fatcat
a Cross Country Rider
from los angeles
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2004
Strengths: The lockout is great, like having a rigid fork--amazing. The ride is pretty plush and the damn thing is very light, which is the main reason I bought it. (cheaper than a Fox Talas) It has alot of adjustments exception for the U-Turn thing which is now on the 2003's-up. Damn Sram and RS to hell!
Weaknesses: Gotta take apart the damn thing to get the 5" of travel---not really 5" anyways to boot. The gold color looks like something from a pimp's wardrobe and we's be the 'ho'. Or some gay guy's pants. Or a black comedian's dress shirt. Or an elderly couple's Cadillac Deville.
Bottom Line:
If Manitou Black Elite did not have those damn side mount posts for disk brakes, I would have settled for that , though it may be a tad heavier.
I am not a big Rock Shox fan but like the Psylo Race due to its ride and lightweight---those idiots in R&D ought to come out with a SID long travel (130mm) as another option. Nothing wrong with aggressive XC riders looking for lightweight parts who own Bullits, Hecklers, Stinkys, Turners, Intense, Foes, etc....
My "golden boy " fork hasn't leaked air or oil as of this review and I am pleased with its performance. Now that its grey and has a remote lockout and such its a even more user friendly fork. I highly recommend it for anyone under 200 lbs and for those who don't do 10 foot jumps. Those persons should buy a Marzocchi Z1 FR SL air fork.
Bike Setup: Was on a hardtail, now on a junkyass Mongoose f/s with 4" rear travel Xc bike. Rear shock coil w/ damping adjust.
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Submitted by
Jerome
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2004
Strengths: Lightness Plushness (for an air fork) Looks Adjusability
Weaknesses: Yet to be confirmed
Bottom Line:
Got this fork cheap from Supergo.com (got a few more good deals there too) and I've been happy with it since then. Set it up a 4 inches to balance the 90 mm travel in the rear (with BETD linkage, excellent product too). I've been riding it for two years now with almost no maintenance, except for Teflon spraying on the legs once in a while, and it's working like brand new. The dual air chambers provide great adjustability that helps make it react exactly the way you like depending on your riding and your weight. I weight 175 lb and ride hard and jump around and I really like the way it handles everything. This fork is really up to the task, stiff enough and light enough for my needs. As for the long-term reliability, I still have to see. It's been 2 years, as I have said, and no problems to date (fingers crossed).
Submitted by
Marcus
a Weekend Warrior
from Agoura Hills, Ca
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003
Strengths: Light weight for the travel, fairly stiff, good travel color scares bears away.
Weaknesses: Holy hell, what do you call that color!?!? Wish it were easier to change the travel.
Bottom Line:
Picked up this thing from supergo for a great price because the paint was flawed and it was their last one. Reasons I considered it were: great weight for the amount of travel (long travel had to much weight till now), lock out, and the tuneability is great. It's a very versital fork. I'm a little nervous about the long term reliability after reading about the problems with older ones, but I haven't had a problem. I'm about 220 lbs and ride it hard without a problem. I've already gotten a year of great performance from it, and considering the low price I paid, I wouldn't be to upset if it blew up soon. Doesn't feel like it's going to... it's never even leaked any pressure. I've enjoyed riding with this fork.
Similar Products Used: Judy SL, Mag 21, 80mm headshock
Bike Setup: cannondale f1000 hardtail, xt/xtr, blah blah.
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Submitted by
J
a Weekend Warrior
from Arnhem, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2003
Strengths: Airfork yet strong (no fex). Reasonably light. Versatile. Cool colour altough we all have different tastes... Lock-Out!! Dual-Air and Rebound make it very adjustable!
Weaknesses: Hasle to change the travell: One has to take the whole damn thing apart. It's actualy not 125mm of max travel, but little over 105mm, anyone who claims different should get their measuring act straight. Seals are so tight, fork needs some persuasion to get movin', once it moves it's butter smooth. Very expensive in most places. Needs to be maintained frequently and properly!
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for stiff, light and travell. This is your fork! Beware for messed-up geometry we you use max travel. Set it to 80 (little over 60 "in real life") and you're ok on geometry with unmached stiffness. Keep lubricated well to minimize sticking innertubes. I heard they leak alot, but I gues that is due to ill maintainance. Remember to take it apart before you install it, RockShox is known to have left some lathe debris in their forks; saves them cleanin' in the factory, leaves you with ripped seals after 5 miles...
Similar Products Used: Never used a long travell fork before. Because I thought they would be too heavy and way to flexable...
Bike Setup: XTR mech, XT shifter, RaceFace cranks, Grimeca Sis8 front, Formula B4 (gold!!!) rear, Woodman Carbon Seatpost, Carbon/Alloy (gold!!!), WH-M575 with Comp S Lights (switchin' to UST soon get some Mavic 3.1X with DT swiss hugi's ligggggght!!!). Woodman Chumpa barends (ppfff very small, thank god), Selle Italia SLR.
Strengths: Light, very adjustable, don't have to deal with springs for heavier/lighter riders, plush, and damn tough for an air-fork
Weaknesses: I had a ton of problems with rock shox with I first bought it- had to send it back TWICE- but that was it
Bottom Line:
Get a 2002 or older, they worked out there leak problems. Make sure to use a ton of red rum under the seals, this seems to keep it running nice and smooth. I abuse the hell out of this fork, downhill with it cause my DH bike is broke, and the fork won't quite. I only went with air however cause its on my trail bike. Otherwise- go with a SL or a marzz. Air forks have a lot of brake dive and even though its simple to adjust, its still a pain in the butt.
Similar Products Used: boxxers, sids, marz z2, marz jr.T
Bike Setup: 4banger built up tought
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Submitted by
Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison OH, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2003
Strengths: Light, Dual air, Long travel, Lockout, Stiffness,inexpensive, almost easy to change travel.
Weaknesses: Not easy enough to change travel.
Bottom Line:
This fork is a extremly versitile fork XC, FR, Enduro. At 150 lbs with 5" (actually 134mm) and 150 psi top 80 bottom, I do either trail riding or six foot Freerides. I'd suggest a Psylo to any beginning freerider, or XC rider looking for long travel without a long bill.
Strengths: seems light, worked trouble free perfectly for 1 year in rainy, muddy condishions. took it in for its 1st rebuild after 14 months of riding, i'm hoping that this rebuild will fix the stiction. the reviews i'v seen so far are alarming, never leaked air. never leaked oil till last week
Weaknesses: so far......none that i can see. other than another inch of travle would be nice
Bottom Line:
bottom line is. i cant afford to drop a pile of coin into my sled at the moment. and i'm hoping a rebuild will keep me going for another year. the thing came on my bike. it felt pretty nice. glad i got it
Bike Setup: 2001 enduro pro. hayes, XTR yada yada yada
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Submitted by
tim
a Cross Country Rider
from moorpark ca
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2003
Strengths: great ride and adjustabilty
Weaknesses: a seals and bushings suck. warranty service sucks,takes way to long compared to other brands
Bottom Line:
this frok fells great at first. after 2 months started to leek air then i got alot of bushing play. this fork is only 3 mon. old. dont buy this fork it sucks buy a bomber ....................... will never buy any thing from rock shox again warranty service sucks................
Bike Setup: 03 specilized enduro s-works full xtr, spinergy cyclone wheels hayes mags.
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Submitted by
stephan
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary alberta
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003
Strengths: light, easy to service
Weaknesses: after one year of hard riding, always feels sticky, even after servicing. Any suggestions?
Bottom Line:
I am bummed out because it felt so good for the first month. I am thinking about drilling tiny portholes so I can inject grease on the lower bushings. Hangign the bike upside down helps oil them up but also dissolves the grease. Result: super plush for half a ride and then sticky again. Any suggestions?
Similar Products Used: Psylo SL (2 years). Easy to service but a bit heavier. Gets sticky too!
Bike Setup: SCruz Superlight, Hayes disks, XT, blah blah blah
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Submitted by
Danile B
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003
Strengths: When I mounted this shock I expected some loss of air over time. Not the case! Every time I check the pressure “Positive and Negative” It’s dead on. External rebound adjustment works great and on the fly Pure compression damping makes for quick and easy adjustment while riding.
Weaknesses: The Climb-it control could lockout in a more raised postion. I don’t consider that a weekness through. I picked up the disk specific white Forks! (Dosnt white go with everything) “NOT!”
Bottom Line:
Sorry Tom! The price was right so I’ll upgrade when this one breaks.
Bike Setup: XTR,Race Face, Chris King. Its not the dog in the fight, Its the fight in the dog.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2003
Strengths: Great adjustability, dual air is the best out there. Climb-it-Control is a very nice feature. All-travel adjustment
Weaknesses: Color what were they thinking?
Bottom Line:
This is a great fork eventhough the color doesn't go with basically anything. To change trave you have to tear down the for and swap out the all-travel adjustment spacers. If you want a decent 5 inche travel fork that is air sprung this is it
I wanted a fork that I could use for both heavy-duty trail riding and racing, and this one fits the bill. Tuning the neg. spring is a bit of a pain, but it's nice to have the option. I am running 145lbs + and 130lbs - with good results (I am around 170lbs). The lockout rocks, and I am using it more than the rear lockout on my Fox. No reliability problems so far. Feels like a coil-spring Bomber without the weight penalty. Pricepoint still has some of these for $299. I'm keeping mine.
