The all-new Radium line of air shocks is designed with performance, durability, weight, and cost in mind. Based on the same overall structure as our high end Swinger air shocks, The Radium RL introduce Platform Plus Damping, a more cost effective alternative to SPV that offers platform damping for improved efficiency and bump control.
Submitted by
tigermale
a Weekend Warrior
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2009
Strengths: great build, lockout,performs well under pressure *pun intended*
Weaknesses: Not really a weakness, just a thing i miss, is a lockout control on the bars, but it's no biggie, really.
Bottom Line:
I really like this shock, since it's so easy to work with, and the lockout works really well while travelling on tarmac ,uphill or hardpack flats. The rebound adjustment is good as well, ranges from the speed of a "cat yawn" to a "mule-kick"
Bike Setup: Fork: Rock Shox Reba SL 100mm, Motion Control, PopLoc
Rear Shock: Manitou Radium RL 165mm, Lockout
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT RD-M772 Shadow
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore FD-M591, Down Swing 34,9mm
• Brakes: Hayes Stroker Trail hydr. Discbrake (180/160mm
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
XCkiller
a Weekend Warrior
from North Royalton OHIO
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2008
Strengths: Lockout works great, very easy to adjust, quite durable (even when covered with mud) seems to be holding up fine to the abuse i give it
Weaknesses: Doesn't seem to be very high quality, i have bottomed it out on a 3'6' drop once but after a quck pressure adjustment it was all good
Bottom Line:
For the price the manitou radium rl cannot be beat as a XC rear shock, It has handles 5' drops on a regular basis, and has yet to bust... i have a feeling that the day is coming though, and once i attempt something over 6' i am going to regret it. But in the meantime this is a great rear suspension setup. lockout works great and the pressure is very easy to adjust. i recommend this product to XC riders and those looking to do some light AM riding
Bike Setup: Ibex Ignition Super, manitou relic fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
dtmartin46
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008
Strengths: Low Price, has needed no maintenance, lockout works 100%, easy to inflate/deflate chamber. No leaks.
Weaknesses: Not very adjustable.
Bottom Line:
This shock was a warranty replacement that I got from Supergo after the first Manitou i had leaked constantly. The first shock wasn't a Radium, can't remember the name. This Radium has worked out very, very well for me. it does the job, no questions asked, it is relatively plush, in my opinion, the only drawback I see is the rebound damper leaves a little to be desired. It doesn't seem to make too noticeable a difference in the overall ride no matter how I turn it. The Lockout feaure works excellently. I use it whenever i'm on the pavement, and it never blows out. I weigh 210lbs, and ride off of curbs, other very small drops, etc, when commuting, and whenever the lockout is engaged, it stays that way. The switch is a little loose, but functionality has not been impaired at all due to this. Great basic shock overall.
Bike Setup: Weyless SP, TORA 318 Air upfront, Manitou Radium in the back
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Roman
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2007
Strengths: cheap, easy to setup, light, have lockup- feeling like riding on hardtail.
Weaknesses: looks mooshy, when the shock gets dirty it`s a little bit hard to adjust rebound (it stuck), and you have to clean it; not usefull for jumping!
Bottom Line:
It`s chip, everage shock for cross country and singles, but not agrassive AM. I tryed to jump with it more than 1 meter (3 feet), didn`t felt good. For Xc it good choise, in lockup position there is none bobing at all even at steep climbing.
Submitted by
Jorge Sanz
a Weekend Warrior
from Madrid, Spain
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2007
Strengths: Well built, seems to have sufficient adjustments for me (compression, rebound, block, light and cheapish.
Weaknesses: The blocking feature failed within 5 hours of purchase! I faced my first ride (40+ miles of steep climbs and descents down snowless ski pistes) with no block whatsoever, so the climbs got really painful. On the fun bits, it didn't disappoint though.
Bottom Line:
I was a bit disappointed with the problem. The distributor is sending a replacement one, but no riding with my new bike this weekend!
Submitted by
Rex
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2006
Strengths: Lockout, Cool name, it fit my bike
Weaknesses: Manitou's proprietary B.S.
Bottom Line:
They use a smaller diameter eyelet than Fox and Ventana, so you are forced to jump through hoops to procure the hardware needed to install their product. You have to talk to your bike frame company to get frame measurements, talk to Manitou to get part numbers, talk to your local bike shop to order it, then wait a month to get it when it is back-ordered @ Manitou. What a racket.
I can see how Fox and Manitou might need to resort to these tactics as they are competing suspension companies, but I couldn't use the hardware that came with my rockers from Ventana either.
The bottom line is: Make it easy for people to put your product on their bikes. Otherwise, they might not use your products or they will give skeptical reviews of said products because they were such a pain to install.
Weaknesses: Overdamped rebound damping, typical air shock spring rate ramp up
Bottom Line:
This is your typical non-platform air shock. It has very little to no stiction, the lockout is very effective, and the construction looks to be top notch.
I primarily put it on my Bullit for the lockout feature, but the overdamped rebound and non-linear spring rate will force me to go back to the Vanilla RC.
A good product if you're in search of a basic air shock w/lockout. For those who crave the feel of a good coil spring, look elsewhere.
Similar Products Used: Fox Float R, Fox Vanilla RC, Fox proprietary Maverick, Fox AVA, Fox Alps 4, Fox Alps 5R, Rock Shox SID, Noleen NR1, Cane Creek AD10,
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