The crown jewel of this year’s Sherman line is the world’s first-ever 170mm single crown (that’s roughly 7 inches), the Breakout Plus. Utilizing onepointfive standard and SPV damping technologies, the Breakout Plus is more than a pound lighter than its closest single crown competitor, with more travel and far more adjustability. On top of it all, Sherman has proven himself an homage to durability with 32 mm stanchions, Evil Genius Seals and Semi-Bath lubrication, and a beefed up Reverse Arch casting with Hex-Lock Axle
Submitted by
J
a Downhiller
from van Date Reviewed: August 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
Good for overall riding. I can dj as well as do downhill runs on them. Havn't done much drops on them so I don't know about that.
Weaknesses:
Total piece of trash. I have broken it 4 times. Its the same thing everytime the fork stiffens up and barely moves. Rebound is slow but that is only a problem if you don't like slow rebound, I got used to it and it is perfectly fine now. DO NOT BUY THIS FORK.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
King fisher 1
Bottom Line:
DO NOT BUY THIS FORK or any other Manitou for that matter, the y all break a million times. You will spend more time sending your fork in for rebuilds than actually riding it. Its a good fork when it works but it just isn't worth it.
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Submitted by
JORDAN WINNING
a Downhiller
from SCOTLAND Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
FORT BILL
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
ALPINE BIKES GLASGOW
Strengths:
PAINT JOB STRONG
Weaknesses:
SLOWWWWWWWWWWW REBOUND SPV
Similar Products Used:
888RC2X BOXXERS
Bike Setup:
KINGFISHER STOCK
Bottom Line:
GOOD FORKS BUT TRYED BETTER
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Submitted by
andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from rochester ny usa Date Reviewed: January 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
rochester urban assault
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
full ajustments speed of rebound up and down great for urban assault flat or tranny does 7' to flat easy
Weaknesses:
blew the seals on the left side dirt jumping compresion to quick heavier oil weight helped
Similar Products Used:
marzocchi 66 rc
Bike Setup:
cannondale gemini 900 fox dts vanilla in the rear, maxxis tires, lizard skin lock on grips, easten platform pedals
Bottom Line:
good fork for the money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Cleveland, Ohio Date Reviewed: June 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mohican DH
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Spin Bikes (Came on bike)
Strengths:
Stiff, great for going big on a single crown fork.
Weaknesses:
rebound dampening valve blew out
Similar Products Used:
Shiver SC Forks
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse SGS Team
Bottom Line:
The 1.5 forks are great, real stiff, and have lots of travel. Not the plushest travel but still nice. For a single crown fork, this is great. I am about 195 lbs and would crush the stock spring. So I got the X-Heavy and it works like a charm. Blew the rebound out and had to send it back to Answer Products. Lets hope you never have to go through this hassle!!! It took several months of calling and emailing them to "get er done". They upgraded the guts of the fork and put a new top crown on it so that was cool. Overall a great single crown fork with lots of adjustment options!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mouse jockey
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005
Yeti AS-X with SRAM, Juicy 8 inch rotor, and Race Face components, Maxxis Tires
Bottom Line:
I really can't say enough good about this fork. This is not a pure DH fork but a fork made for hucking. I routinely drop 6 foot drops with occasional 10 foot to transitions so that is about as big as I have taken it. Has worked flawlessly in rain and in the desert, uphill and downhill. The SPV works as advertised for the uphill with some small bump compliance lost when locked in the shorter setting. If you ride your bike up and downhill I really can't recommend a better fork then this one due to it's strength for the downhill and the light weight for going up. There you go.
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Submitted by
todd
a Downhiller
from Rado Date Reviewed: December 29, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
500.00
Strengths:
Great feeling SPV Stiff Hex thru axle
Weaknesses:
Its leaking from the one leg
Similar Products Used:
z1 boxxer dorado avy dhf ti
Bike Setup:
none currently sold the frame for a new one
Bottom Line:
altho its leaking i love the fork, works awesome, feels great and all that jazz
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Radie Rider
a Weekend Warrior
from SouthTexas USA Date Reviewed: December 12, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Local Shop
Strengths:
Good low end damping, stiff with the 1.5, tracks well on single track, rips the down hills and takes drops and jumps well. All around a good fork and much lighter than the comparable zokes. Very good on rock gardens and technical root sections. Also very controlable in the air due to the light weight.
Weaknesses:
Too early to tell. Not as adjustable as the zoke but who cares. Feels better without having to dial it in.
This is a really good fork!! The greatest benefit compared to Z-150 is the weight difference plus an extra inch of travel. The fork inspires confidence for several reasons. It is the stiffest and lightest single crown. The zokes are great forks as well, but they are much heavier than the Sherman. The weight difference is very noticable as I have used both forks for all kinds of riding. For a do all fork with 7 inches of travel, this is your best bet. Not sure about the SPV debate, mine is the TPC and works excellent.
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Submitted by
Dee
a
from Europe Date Reviewed: September 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
OEM
Strengths:
progressivity, stiffness
Weaknesses:
SPV, SPV, SPV
Similar Products Used:
03 Sherman Firefly, 05 Nixon
Bottom Line:
I wonder if we are all writing about the same fork. The truth probably is that we are not expecting the same thing from a fork. Yes this one may be great for drops but I failed to tune it up to absorb small bumps. Someone is saying that his from wheel is just stuck to the ground. I only believe that if it comes from the guy who got them OEM on Gemini, SPV free. I tried 05 Nixons and I am sorry to say that for my style of riding (I want to go fast and smooth, carving with my front wheel on the ground...) SPV is a dead-end. Breakout + is a very good fork, but SPV destroys it for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from Edinburgh, Scotland Date Reviewed: September 24, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Look pimp
Weaknesses:
Everything else!
Bike Setup:
Gemini, 5th, Hayes, Mavic/In-house cannondale.
Bottom Line:
Yet another follow-up post in this saga. They've now been back to the UK distributer 5 times now and are still not sorted. Sticky travel is now limited to 5 inches with a very harsh ramp-up at the end of the stroke. Then, on a ride last night, a loud crack signalled the loss of ALL damping. Like riding a pogo stick. Sod this. I'm buying some 66s!
Also, speaking to the distributer, the recommended service interval for these is 12 HOURS. That's right. 12 hours. This might be possible if the bolts weren't made of cheese and strip whenever you try and turn them. Hmmm...
Sorry about the rant, but I've had enough of these "forks". I'm off to get some bombers that are happy with an oil change and check over once every 6 months. I understand that I appear to have a lemon set here, as everyone else seems happy, but I thought I'd let you all know.
If there was a negative chili rating, these would get them!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Martin
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, AB Date Reviewed: August 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
CBC/Bogeyman
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
RVC
Strengths:
SPV is killer if you take the time to set it up right. Fork is smooth, stiff and light for a 7". Travel adjust is handy.
Weaknesses:
Rebound damping is poor compared to a Marzocchi. Initially makes you feel dirty riding a Manitou, a company whose past forks I have complained about and hated since the Manitou 1 (I was a bike mechanic for 13 years). The Canadian distributor,OGC should be strung up for price gouging, I try to support local shops when I can and luckily RVC went out of their way to try to match what I could have mailordered it for. Although their COST was higher I paid the extra to support them. The Can dollar is worth almost 20% more than a year ago and OGC has barely changed their prices!
Similar Products Used:
Marz Z1,Z150,DJ2&3, Shiver, Talas RLC, lots of others.
An awesome fork, the Z150 is a nice fork but for the extra 2lbs, inch less travel and weak crown it is a step below. The best thing you can do to improve the Breakout is to put 7.5 weight oil in it especially if you like a slower rebound, this also lessens the annoying top out clunk when in the 5" mode. I have used this on epic XC rides in Moab with no complaints, just dropped it into the 5" mode on the uphills and opened it up on the long downhills. It has worked flawlessly freeriding in Fernie and Invermere, and absorbed everything I could throw at it in the North Shore and Whistler (at least up to the point where I shattered my Tibial plateau in a fluke fall - seriously, 3 feet to landing on my feet).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from North Carolina Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Windrock
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
mtbreview
Strengths:
Single crown - light weight, stiff, SPV rules!!!, cost
Weaknesses:
NONE - ABSOLUTELY NONE
Similar Products Used:
Boxxer, Jr T, 03 Breakout, Slider Plus
Bike Setup:
04 SGS-DH Pro with 5th Element
Bottom Line:
The fork rules. SPV is the best thing since sliced bread!!! The SPV not only elimates bob but it improves handling dramatically. You can actually feel it as you rail through turns. You may have to minimize steering movement because the SPV sticks the tire to the ground and thus makes turning extremely precise. This fork is bottomless, dropped 8-10 feet and the fork just continues to soak it up (I'm 145 lbs). The single crown allows you to turn on a dime with the only flaw being that it may spin around when you crash. If Manitou would only make an 8" single crown then the world would truly be a better place!!!
I have two of these forks and both are performing flawlessly with zero problems. My wife has the Slider Plus on her bike and it performs almost the same. Personally I prefer the single crown. I think having the 1.5 steer tube improves the handling versus the 1 1.8 steerer on the Slider Plus.
Unless you can swing a 8" Dorado MDX then this is the fork to have (freeriding or downhill racing).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Herraghty
a Downhiller
from Edinburgh, Scotland Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Work for 6 months...
Weaknesses:
Doesn't last very long...
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla, Bombers (various)
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Gemini, Hayes, LX/XT, 5th Element
Bottom Line:
I'm just writing this as a follow-up to my previous post.
Following a drop, these forks compressed and stayed down. Damn. Turned out that the rebound assembly was monkeyed. Back to RAW in Edinburgh (UK distributer) and they were back soonish, but felt crap. After the next time, they "upgraded" them to SPV. Oh my Lord! I've NEVER ridden such a bad fork! Anything less than a kerb and these just didn't move! And that was with minimum pressure and and the volume adjust wound right out. (I'm 12.5 stone too).
I asked if they could put them back to TPC+ damping as before, as they were totally sweet whan they worked. 2 months later and I'm still waiting for the parts. Apparantly a lot of people are having their forks un-SPV'd as they also think it sucks, hence the massive shortage of TPC+ parts! Hmm. Bakc to the drawing board, Manitou. You suck!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Evans
a Downhiller
from Wenatchee Date Reviewed: June 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mine
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Don't let your friends riding jr t's intimidate you. Don't let your friends with super t's fool you. You got a Breakout Dog! There is nothing like it. Rocky Mountain knows best. There top of line Switch comes with one.
Weaknesses:
People laughf until you drop it on them.
Bike Setup:
Cannondale C-Dog Redbull rampage winning Gemini! With crap worth more than the bike itself
Bottom Line:
I heard someone hesitant to hit 15 footers. DONT BE! This fork eats it up. The ridder makes a diff also, you land right, and this fork is hot! I am sure a 888 feels better, but a 888 is also over a g and weights over 8 with not much turning radius and a bunch of people keep breakin' em. I have it 30ft road gaps and 15 ft drops with my 6" Breakout, and no problemo! This fork is Marzocchi's daddy! MAKE A DC ONEPOINTFIVE AND HAVE IT BE 10" YOU BIG PIMPS! MANITOU IS KICKIN' ARSE. Ride your jr t boy, a kid with a single crown is on your tail about to show you up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joker 1.5
a Downhiller
from Sea-town, WA Date Reviewed: May 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Boogie-man
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Your moma's
Strengths:
Single crown 7", that's unheard of! not heavy: 5.8lbs Super-duper plush feel, no bobbing coming out of big drop ins
Weaknesses:
Your bike must have a 1.5 steerer up front, instead of the 1 1/8" standard. A lot of bikes don't have this.
Similar Products Used:
Junior T, Lefty Max,
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Joker 1.5, Hayes Hyrdo 8", 321 Mavic, XT drive-train, FSA up front.
Bottom Line:
Marocchi has some serious competion here. I like this shock a little better than the Junior T.
I ride the shore tough and this shock is worthy, it hanldes the drop ins and recovers quickly and smoothly (no bobbing). Take my word for it, this shock kicks some major a.s.s. and SPV rocks too! The 1.5 steerer feels super beefy.
If your into a variety of mtb styles this fork offers it all. When I crank it over to 5" my bike turns into a fast cross-country bike. When I switch back to 7" it can handle big hits, no problem (having an Ellsworth helps too).
5 Flamin Chilis!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
martyn nash
a Weekend Warrior
from Whitland UK Date Reviewed: May 3, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Llanddowror
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Leisure Lakes Cheltenham
Strengths:
Solid, Adjustable from 140-170, easy to set up.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any yet
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy, SID XC, Talas RL
Bike Setup:
04 2000 Gemini, Grey Breakout Plus, Swinger 4-way coil at the back, Thomson Post, Easton EA70 Bars, WTB saddle.
Bottom Line:
These shocks have come as a bit of a saviour for me, the bike it's on seems to match them perfectly, had trouble with the performance from my Talas RL that I am so happy with these. I have the grey coloured ones with my cannondale when I was expecting Black, but they do seem to match the colour.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luke
a Downhiller
from ALABAMA Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004
Favorite Trail:
sokal and me secret stash!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
cannondale factory
Strengths:
very very plush, i love it. It is the OE version that came on my '04 Gemini so it lacks the SPV but it is still awesome. 170mm of travel from a single crown is amazing, i do drops and jumps with it and i personally think its plusher than my buddies Jr. T, 1.5 steerer rules!
Weaknesses:
hmmm, i guess the fact that it is a single crown makes me not want to huck big drops to flat, like 15 feet or higher, but i typically don't do that anyway so it has no weaknesses for me.
Similar Products Used:
Rode a Jr. T, Rock Shox Psylo, and my old school Rock Shox Judy's, this is my first manitou fork
Bike Setup:
pretty stock '04 C-dale gemini 900 siemens mobile replica edition, changed the stem to a 70mm Race Face Diablous (note to anyone who wants this stem, you'lll need a 5mm headset spacer that is pretty rare to find for the 1.5) Maxxis High Rollers, Hayes, truvativ crank/bash gaurd, ODI lock-ons, New High normal XT rear derailleur (i ripped of the stock one, darn stick) Sun Ringle ZuZu flat pedals, and changed rims to schrader valve and put in some IRC torqe DH tubes. And my pimpin fox and race face stickers!
Bottom Line:
I love this fork and it has definantly made a manitou buyer out of me, i would replace this fork with another sherman if i can even manage to wear it out....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Herraghty
a
from Edinburgh, Scotland Date Reviewed: February 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Innerleithen
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
On Bike
Strengths:
Stiff, Light for the amount of travel, plush, good damping.
Weaknesses:
Range of adjustments is too small
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla RLC, Bombers
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Gemini, XT, Hayes, 5th Element
Bottom Line:
These forks are amazing. I have the OEM version made for Cannondale, so I have 7" travel, but with TPC damping. The damping is spot on, so plush, I can bottom them by pushing down on them while off the bike, but do a 7ft drop onto concrete and they don't bottom! Sweet! The action is super smooth and stiction-free, light for the amount of travel and very stiff. My only gripe is that the preload and rebound adjustment range isn't too big, but i perfect for me (13 stone). I'd definately recommend these forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jamie
a Downhiller
from felton,ca usa Date Reviewed: January 24, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
demo from santa cruz bikes
Strengths:
7" single crown with very little flex, hardly noticeable. nice adjustability,lockout and rebound dampining
Weaknesses:
ugly red camo paint, but who cares?
Similar Products Used:
dorado, jr and super T,dirt jumper 1
Bike Setup:
vp free, shermin, xt and xtr, mavic 321, hayes 8"
Bottom Line:
pretty sick fork. its been a long time since i did an x-up on a mountian bike. if you dirt jump the lock-out is nice cuz it stiffins the fork up as well as reducing travel, and if you barge trails and do drops the 7 inches are there for you when you need them. ifyou dirt jump and do trails and drops then this is the fork you need.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D.
a
from Ottawa Date Reviewed: January 22, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Bottom Line:
Just a question, hasn't anyone noticed play in they're front hub, when supposedly clamped. Manitou says its because they want the right fork leg to move, as to let the stancions slide straight in the legs. Which is understandable, it makes me think of a 7" Lefty, anyways I think it is a super fork, super plush, good travel, stiff, light for a 7" fork. But the stupid through axle is throwing me off, why not a regular through axle type, this is a floating axle, WTF.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Huw Lloyd-Lewis
a Weekend Warrior
from Wales Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bromley Bike
Strengths:
Single crown 7 inches of pure hard core travel !!!
I thought the Sherman Breakouts were awesome. But i've got to give it to Manitou these guys have cranked it up to another level. Super plush and the SPV technology gets rid of that bob!! One great hucking fork!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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