Our most affordable fork, the Magnum still beats the pants off the competition with coil/MCU internals, Magnesium casting, Microlube lube system, and disc mounts. For the budding enthusiast who won't sacrifice performance.
Gack TrailMod, Manitou Dorado SC, Hadley 20mm front/SS rear hubs, Sun Mammoth Rims, IRC Kujo DH, Chris King NoThreadSet, Profile Pro Crankset, Profile XXL BMX Stem, Profile Imperial Chainring, Primo Super Tenderizer Pedals, Poverty Sofa Seat/Post, Magura HS-33 Brakes
Bottom Line:
These are good forks for beginners. They were my first suspension fork and I got a lot of use out of them. They are pretty hard to mess up at entry-level riding, and will get the job done.
Once you hit their limitations, though, the problems with the fork just keep coming. You start to notice that the springs aren't burly enough to handle much air and you end up bottoming out a lot. Once you get more advanced, it's definitely time to upgrade. If you understand that, and still want this fork, by all means, it will do the weekender well. This was one of several forks that made me a die-hard Manitou/Answer fan. I will never buy another company's fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dag
a Cross Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway Date Reviewed: August 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Cheap, light, quite plush, no stiction
Weaknesses:
Not stiff enough. Adjustments has little effect.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z-something
Bike Setup:
Schwinn rocket 88 stage 3
Bottom Line:
My first full suspension bike, have only ridden hard-tails with rigid forks. The main problem with this fork is lack of torsional stiffness. This was evident on my first day out with this bike. Since then I've been looking for a new fork. I mostly ride technical trails, and I want something that is predictable. It doesn't give me the confidence I expected from a suspension fork. Will probably replace it with something stiffer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockford Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Came on a bike
Strengths:
Fairly durable, smooth, not expensive
Weaknesses:
Almost to smooth and bottoms out very easily, I did a small 3 foot drop and the fork completely bottomed out and the tire some how smashed up into the fork!
Bike Setup:
Some upgrades; platform pedals, bike computer.
Bottom Line:
This fork is great for beginners. Its not heavy and I would recomend it for some one thats light weight. Im 150lbs and it bottoms out. And its cheap.
SO HAVE FUN RIDIN DEM TRAILS KIDS!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Longmont, CO Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
OEM w bike
Strengths:
Good starter shock, better than most low end OEMs
Weaknesses:
Not enough travel, "stiction" at the top of the stroke
Similar Products Used:
Rockshox Indy
Bike Setup:
Came stock on Schwinn Rocket 88 Stage 4
Bottom Line:
A decent OEM 80mm shock. Good enough for most beginners. Not a lot of travel, if you find you're bottoming, upgrade or change springs. Pretty average shock for a mid-range bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Owmy Toehurtz
a
from i don't recall Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
none really...
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
a local bike shop
Strengths:
Very plush, really good for learning on, pretty smooth ride.
Weaknesses:
They bottom out frekin! hard, i went off a 3-4 ft. drop and my arms went all numb, make a kinda weird noise.
Similar Products Used:
judy tt's
Bike Setup:
raliegh m80,
Bottom Line:
They are pretty good for learning on, but when you start hitting the bigger stuff, your arms are gonna hurt, i can tell you that, if you are OK at biking, you won't want these shocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Downhiller
from Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Freeriding, Dirt Jumps.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Came with bike.
Strengths:
Light, has damping, adjustable damping, easy to clean, disc mounts.
Weaknesses:
Stickers peel easy, not enough travel, bottom out to easy, not stiff enough.
Similar Products Used:
Similar to this, hmm... Marzocchi EXR and MXC are a bit better though, few Roxshox, other Manitou forks.
Bike Setup:
Trek for DJ'ing.
Bottom Line:
If you're fairly new to the mountain bike scene and want forks without forking over a truck load of cash then these would be a good choice. Riding around town, or mild trails they'll work great.
The day I got my new bike they seemed ok. I set out to the jumps and bottomed them out first drop. Long story short, after not having enough to replace them due to saving for a 5Hun, they're so soft from abuse that just me leaning on them they bottom out, adjuster doesn't work, cornering and bumps can twist them enough to rub brakes.
Again, not for hard use!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Max
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore Date Reviewed: February 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
came as stock
Strengths:
smooth
Weaknesses:
caps blow off too much, not quite stiff enough, only single sided coil
Similar Products Used:
00 rockshox jett, 02 manitou spyder r
Bike Setup:
00 giant iguana se
Bottom Line:
was good for local riding, but take a 2 foot jump and its gone. if you just ride around town its fine, but dont consider doing anything tough. i just upgraded to a 03 rockshox duke xc uturn. its worth it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian C-S
a Cross Country Rider
from Franklin, NC, USA Date Reviewed: December 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Tsali
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Strengths:
Its travel is the smoothest of any fork I've ever used. It's also not to complicated to clena the inside of fork. (sweet and simple)
Weaknesses:
Almost too smooth. Not too stiff.
Bike Setup:
Raleigh frame, LX components, Mutano raptor tires
Bottom Line:
After about the first 6 months were plush and wonderfull, but later on the travel got so smooth that my front tire started rubbing the crown off of 2-3 foot drops. It's easy to take care of, so it's perfect for a begginner. And best of all, it won't take a chunk of chage to buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James W
a Cross Country Rider
from Kingston Date Reviewed: December 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Fort Henry
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Kingston
Strengths:
The strengths are fast single track and lots of roots.
Weaknesses:
There is one weakness. It is the product doesn't absorb everything you would like it to if you are 100 pounds or lighter.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is it is a very well rounded fork for someone who got there first good bke. So if I were you I would get this fork for your first good bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gunther Vanopdenbosch
a Racer
from Leuven, Belgium, Europe Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Cross Country
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Local Bike shop
Strengths:
Looks good, comfortable feel, does the job for recreational riders
Weaknesses:
Compression button hard to turn
Bike Setup:
Came with the bike: Standard Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo 2001.
Bottom Line:
For anyone using its bike recreationally, putting value to comfort and not weighing more then 85kilos, this fork should do. For the hard work, a little to soft, but in hardest position good for road use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allen Weston
a Weekend Warrior
from Alamosa Date Reviewed: September 19, 2002
Favorite Trail:
penitente canyon, wagon wheel loop
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came on specialized rockhopper
Strengths:
awesome travel for me, a 14 yr old obsessed rider, i like it, it came with the bike
Weaknesses:
this last weekend mountain biking, i took on about a 2 ft dropoff, and the seals broke, leaving me with a leaking shock
Similar Products Used:
um, none for me, uncle has fisher suger3+, friend has fisher marlin, both good rides
Bike Setup:
specialized rockhopper, sigma sport computer, good tires, stock wheels, shimano deore front and rear derailleur, specialized body geometry seat, red and silver
Bottom Line:
i loved this shock, but it made me bad when the seals broke, considering that it isnt even an air shock, awesome shock for beginners and middle class riders, but definately not a very experienced riders fork, good for the money, but i dont think that they are made anymore, not sure though- but i like the manitou name and the rock shox name next to that- check them both out and compare before buying, you wont regret it! thanx- peace out!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashua Date Reviewed: July 19, 2002
Favorite Trail:
anything
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
10 Speed spokes
Strengths:
decent travel, easy located micro lube, cheap, works well, and very dependeble for me so far, compression adjuster, looks cool
Weaknesses:
no preload, compression button hard to turn
Similar Products Used:
manitou black
Bike Setup:
gary fisher tassajara manitou magnum shox, shimano deore deraileur, bontrager seatpost, san marco saddle,velociraptor tires, bontrager wheels
Bottom Line:
i love this fork, it is great for me and it is not the crappiest thing i own for once... it has a good amount of travel for me, but not much.. my cousin has a manitou black fork and he said this was an awsome fork.. that is pretty impressive to have a fork like this be compared to that... this is not the best fork, but it definately isnt the worst fork... for any beginners and intermediate riders, i reccomend this fork to you..... HAPPY TRAILS!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lou
a Cross Country Rider
from Portola Hills, Ca USA Date Reviewed: April 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Price - at $50 who can complain?, yellow color is pretty nice, not overly heavy and plush. Very smooth ride for cross country. Doesn't mess up geometry and handles pretty well at fast speeds.
Weaknesses:
Bottoms out very easily on 1+ foot drops, you can adjust them to a point, I ordered the stiffy kit (firm springs) from Manitou. Longevity remains to be seen.
Similar Products Used:
RS SIDS, Zokes, suntours
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hard Rock II
Bottom Line:
Very plush and ample for cross country and recreational riding. You should get the firm spring/coil kit ($15-20) for this one if you're 175+ lbs rider like me. I basically use this on my thrasher/back-up bike. Not recommended for free-riding or racing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Wyckoff, NJ, USA Date Reviewed: April 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Ski Barn
Strengths:
It hasn't completely broke with me YET (feels like its going to)
Weaknesses:
Bottoming out at will even when riding on a straight road. Bottoming out realll hard on 3ft. drops. Really bad sounding fork. Not recommended for people who ride bicycles at all!!! WORST FORK
Similar Products Used:
NOTHING AS SH*TTY AS THIS
Bike Setup:
Specialized Rockhopper
Bottom Line:
Dont get this fork unless you are riding plain old street. If you ride trails get something with more travel. Recommended: Do Not Do Big Drops With Fork. It will fall apart!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
robert smith
a Cross Country Rider
from new york Date Reviewed: March 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
did not cost much
Weaknesses:
since it was so cheap,nothing
Similar Products Used:
rox jett t2,suntour mg80,marzocchiz4 air
Bike Setup:
5 year old trek 6000 8spd 1x8
Bottom Line:
great fork for recreational riding,i use my trek mostly to get to and from work about4 miles .theres a 3/4 mile river trail on the way home i ride,nothing to technical fork works fine for that.bottom line if your a beginner, ride to get around or, do light trail riding this forks for you.DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $100 with shipping for this fork
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Troy Nazarchuk
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
U of A
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Alpine Designs Sandpoint, Idaho
Strengths:
Fairly good fork,good for small jumps no drops
Weaknesses:
The crown hits my tire and makes a funny ping sound??? bottoms out when i land a small or big drop. The adjustible pree load doesn't do anything that i have seen and its hard to turn.
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
N/A
Bottom Line:
its allright i thought it was the greatest when i first baught it, now its allright but manitou could have done a better job
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Glastonbury, CT Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles East
Strengths:
smooth with adjuster on top and duralube for quick adjustment and easy oiling, disc brake mounts
Weaknesses:
bottoms out way to easily and not enough travel
Similar Products Used:
Jett Rock Shox, Judy's
Bike Setup:
2001 Schwinn Mesa GSX
Bottom Line:
Good shock at a low price for beginners...smooth and will not stick. However bottoms out and low travel can be a pain. Overall, pretty good suspension
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Downhiller
from North Creek, NY, USA Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Gore Mtn.
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Came on a custom Voodoo bike
Strengths:
Very plush!! Great for cross-country, but I'm not into that stuff.
Weaknesses:
Not enough travel. Every jump I hit bottomed the thing out. Bushings also collapsed after a year.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox DHO(owned), Rock Shox Boxxer(demo)
Bike Setup:
Voodoo Zobop, Manitou Magnum '99, Rock Shox Rear Travel, Shimano LX component series, Titec handle bar, seatpost, and stem, WTB other components.
Bottom Line:
A very good fork for a small person who likes cross-country. Anything past that is too much for the fork, as I found out. I now have the Rock Shox DHO, which is great for me!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Dwulit
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa,ONT Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
P27
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
AWARD
Strengths:
Light, look okay, smooth.
Weaknesses:
rubber dust boot, adjustable but not tough enough. It says to turn the adjuster on the left stilt 4 turns to get the stiffest as possible. (could be stiffer)
Similar Products Used:
Marzochi Z4
Bike Setup:
GIANT ATX 860 (2000)
Bottom Line:
relativly cheap, came stock on the GIANT ATX 860, easy to lube, through the injector hole. Disc break compatible, doesn't recoil like a biatch. Overall Decent shock,I'd say it compares to the 98-99 Judys.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gaoo
a
from Quebec Date Reviewed: February 26, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Bromont
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
ouf, kind of light, works (at least the first month)
Weaknesses:
seals (if we can call these), ohoh no bushings!!!, all plastics parts (insides), mcu(please make an evolution) ...
Similar Products Used:
Judy C, Psylo SL, Bomber Z3 flylight 100
Bike Setup:
Trek 6500 modified to freeride
Bottom Line:
It's a kind of really cheap fork. Can you imagine that after a month of decent use the fork as a 1/4 inches play? A trouble in the fork I tested? NO A friend of mine has the same problem! So sand, mud, water anything you can imagine enter the fork and reduce travel at 50%. And the travel: it claim 76mm: I measured 71.2mm. I think it's a comfort road fork, don't use it where it's serious. Why building a fork with plastics parts inside? An no negative travel. 'nough said, the decicion is for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big Bill Baggens
a Weekend Warrior
from oswego,USA Date Reviewed: February 3, 2001
Favorite Trail:
muddy ones
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
tough, light, smooth travel
Weaknesses:
The travel was so smooth that eventually just getting on the bike would bring the shocks down a good portion of their 80mm of travel. They didn't stay hard for long.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
on a stock trek 6000
Bottom Line:
deff. upgrade if these shocks are standard with the bike. Try to make a deal with your dealer for some rock shox at a low cost.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Pike
a Cross Country Rider
from st john's, Newfoundland Date Reviewed: February 3, 2001
Favorite Trail:
"rockey road" (oliver's pond road)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$159.00
Purchased At:
canary cycles
Strengths:
good strong one piece magnesium casting good mycrolube seal. its pretty light and it was great.
Weaknesses:
not enough travel 80 mm would have been better but its plush.
Similar Products Used:
jett rock shox xc and race (more so the xc.)
Bike Setup:
specialized rockhopper a1 fs 2000
Bottom Line:
its a defintly a good deal and this is awsome i like it alot
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Furious D.
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, CA, USA Date Reviewed: January 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
lots of 'em
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Decent fork for the bike, good for lighter riding
Weaknesses:
hard to turn adjustment knob, not enough travel
Similar Products Used:
RST
Bottom Line:
A good fork for somebody who isn't quite sure they want to do mtb and dont want to spend too much $$$
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Read
a Weekend Warrior
from Vista, CA USA Date Reviewed: January 20, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Calavera Hills - Carlsbad, CA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
The Manitou Magnum-R has a smooth compression and rebound
Weaknesses:
even with them turned as tight as possible they are still too soft for a 200+ pound rider
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Headlight, Tail light, and occasional video camera
Bottom Line:
I have a friend with a new bike having the standard Magnum fork and you can feel the friction on compression and rebound. When the same test is performed on mine neither of us could feel the binding on the Magnum-R.
I do plan on purchasing the firm ride upgrade in the spring.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberr Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Any that go down
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
all of it
Weaknesses:
not enough travel
Similar Products Used:
rst 381, quadra's, indy's, Toys'r'us,
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
When i first got them they kept bottoming out then i got a firm rider kit and after some breaking in they are plush as anything.... very nice i give them a fair beating and they hold up fine id recomend them to anyone.. but if youve got more money then get different ones....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin Date Reviewed: January 7, 2001
Favorite Trail:
love 'em all!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Looks nice
Weaknesses:
Adjustment knob works difficult. This is my wife's bike and she doesn't have the strength in her fingers to even turn it...(tiny girl fingers) I also notice a lot of stiction (did I spell that right?) in the fork. It doesn't have that smooth glide. Like most forks with boots, the boots don't stay in place.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy T2, Head Shok Moto FR, Rock Shox SID SL
Bike Setup:
Stock Schwinn Stage 4
Bottom Line:
I definately see a fork up-grade in the future. I do realize this was not a top end quality fork...you get what you pay for (most of the time) I think this is a perfectly good fork for an entry level rider. I based my Value/Overall rating on performance, not the cost of the fork because the fork was purchased on the new bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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