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Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Chester CT
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the shute | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | this is a pretty good fork for the money
it isn't as bad for me in the cold (i don't ride it in the cold) and it isn't that bad for a novice rider or and entry level racer | | Weaknesses: | they are somewhat older | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox | | Bike Setup: | arch rival 50's, the fork, stx rear derailleur, velociraptor tires | | Bottom Line: | This is a good entry level fork
i wouldn't go taking it off any huge drops but the 80 mm of travel soak it up alright | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from chico, ca
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | the shoots off the north rim | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | great shock for the novis people | | Weaknesses: | they suck when its cold | | Similar Products Used: | judy c, xc ,and jetts | | Bike Setup: | 98 rockhopper comp fs, 98 manitou pro forks, xt/lx/stx-rc a little of everything mavic 222 rims with gt cnc front hub and xt back hub | | Bottom Line: | if you are just sarting out its a great shock but you will upgrade fast (and mine came with dampers!!!!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MICHAEL CALDWELL
a Cross-Country Rider
from CLAWSON, MI
Date Reviewed: December 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
PONTIAC LAKE | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
HASN'T BROKE YET (COMPLETELY)
LOWEST MAINTENANCE POSSIBLE | | Weaknesses: |
NOT VERY RESPONSIVE
FLEXES LIKE CRAZY
MAKES YOUR BIKE LOOK LIKE A KMART BIKE | | Similar Products Used: |
ROCK SHOX INDYS
HAND FULL OF HIGHER END MANITOUS
SPECIAIZED FUTURE SHOCK
(REMEMBER THAT!) | | Bike Setup: |
'97 SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER (BLUE)
STOCK AS CAN BE - WHAT A NICE SET UP FROM FACTORY BESIDES THE FORK OF COARSE. (NICE RITCHEY TOUCHES) | | Bottom Line: | THE BOTTOM LINE IS I WAS RIDING RIGID BEFORE THIS FORK, SO YOUR BETTER OFF WITH THIS FORK THAN HAVING NOTHING, WHICH ISN'T SAYING A WHOLE LOT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MY $1000 BIKE WOULD COME WITH SUCH A PIECE OF CRAP. I HAVE A MARZOCCHI Z.2 ATOM BOMB ON ORDER AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT I'VE BEEN MISSING! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Romeo
a Cross-Country Rider
from Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Rocky root trail | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light, takes off the edge of bumps. | | Weaknesses: |
No damping. | | Similar Products Used: |
Scott Unishocks(long ago)
Rock Shox(not as long ago as above)
99 Marzocchi Z3 LT | | Bike Setup: |
97?/98? Klein Pulse Pro frame, Performance Ti flat bar, Avid 1.0 levers, Avid 10 brakes, Aheadset, Titec Big Al stem, Thudbuster single pivot post, Flite saddle, 99 XT derailleurs, 99 Xt cassette, Kooka cranks, 98 Ritchey WCS Ti pedals, FSA Ti BB, 99 SRAM Plasma shifters, Titec shorty barends, GT CNC/DT Revolution/Mavic 217 wheelset with Panaracer Fire XC Pro Comp tires- 22.5lbs | | Bottom Line: | I like the fork because it is light, does the job of saving me from the harsh Klein ride, is easy to maintain, and is durable. After all there are no seals to blow or leak, right? It was included with the frame, both new. When it goes, I will go for something more high tech, like an SX-Ti, or a SID, or maybe even a Marzocchi Super Fly. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross-Country Rider
from college station, Tx
Date Reviewed: November 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Light-especially compared to the new crop of heavy forks. 4lbs for a Judy? Forget it. Also quite stiff cmp'd to an Indys or comporable RST's. Cheap, if you can find it. | | Weaknesses: |
Standared drawbacks of an elastomer fork--no damping, limited big-bump-ability, slight temp effects on feel | | Similar Products Used: |
Indy, Judy, Z3, Jett, Spyder, Mach 5, Headshock | | Bike Setup: |
Big bad Baraccuda aluminum hardail, ESP 9.0, XT, Magura | | Bottom Line: | I've had this fork for a year and a half now since it came stock on my Cuda. For a year and a half I've been thinking about replacing it, but haven't been able to justify it. This fork really blurs the line between a budget fork and a mainstream nice fork, such as a Judy or SX. It's quite light, decently stiff, simplicity itself to rebuild, very well made, and works very well for all-around cross-country. Every couple months I take it apart, clean it up, lube it with chain oil(!), and reassemble. The whole process takes about 15 min. The fork is very sensitive/active/plush on small to medium stuff (typical x-country) and only reveals it's budget roots on the big hits. Even on the big ones it never bottoms hard, it just runs out of travel (I get about 3). The fork's plushness even manages to impress people with much newer fancier forks (ie Judy's). BTW, I'm 6'3, 190lbs, ride fairly agressivly, and have probably 2500 to 3000 miles on this fork. I have yet to replace the bushing, too! It has served me well--but I want a Mars. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tristan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Wenham, Ma
Date Reviewed: October 28, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
pretty strong | | Weaknesses: |
no damping, sucks in cold weather, elastomers are crap | | Similar Products Used: |
indy sc, judy c | | Bike Setup: |
96 GT Zaskar | | Bottom Line: | bottom line.....for what i paid for it this shock has held up to some tough stuff. I've beat the crap out of this thing and it has held up well. It isn't much of a shock, but it does at least smooth out small bumps. If it's cold out, the elastomers tend to really stiffen up, but if it's warm it'll work ok. For a few bucks more you can get a better shock. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Weekend Warrior
from St Helens, England
Date Reviewed: October 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Cheap, better tha Marzzochi or RS budjet forks, easy to service, plain looks | | Weaknesses: |
No damping, plain looks | | Similar Products Used: |
Marzochi zokes (Ha Ha), now RS Judy SL's | | Bike Setup: |
Steel frames | | Bottom Line: | People seem unhappy with these forks, but for the money what do you expect. I got 2 years of regular weekend use out of mine, in the Lakes, Dales etc. Seals were fine, with a twice yearly stripdown and regular bike cleaning (leave the boots on)yes they are soft, but harder elastomers are available. I only changed to RS Judy's as the bushes had started getting sloppy, and bikeworld.com had Judys at a knockdown price. if people want expensive fork performance, they need to pay for it, but bottom line, a good budjet fork | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fraz
a Cross-Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Aviemore area? | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Steers well, looks like
a mars bar | | Weaknesses: |
CANNOT HANDLE BRITISH MUD the seals went within4 weeks , the brace collects more mud
than a sweaty hippo.The elastomers (despite very regular matience) dis-itegrated.Oh and the stock ealstomers are proably suited to someone who weighs about 12kg | | Similar Products Used: |
Marzochixc,dh3,xcr,z2,z1
Every rockshock except the ti-mag21 , every manitou since the EFC,aLL PACE forks ,Hanebrinks ,amp,girvins(even the old quasars). | | Bike Setup: |
Custom Steel bike with nice British parts.(made to measure steel bike) | | Bottom Line: | They are okay i suppose ... for about 2months before they became sloppier than my mag old mag10s.Definetly one to avoid unless youre buliding a touring bike for a relative. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a Downhiller
from BC
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
all the good ones | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Holds the wheel to the bike. allows the handlebars to steer | | Weaknesses: |
they suck. You'd be better off cramming a steel rod down there. It'd work better | | Similar Products Used: |
most bombers, rockshox and a few manitous | | Bike Setup: |
fisher joshua x1 with judy XL, big riser bar and some platform clipless pedals. Heavy but sweeeet. who cares about weight when ya got suspension. | | Bottom Line: | it is not very good. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross-Country Rider
from Blackpool
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
the dirtier the better | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Bottom Line: | This is a nice fork for a beginner - it's better than the low end rock shox in my opinion, it doesn't flex like they do! So I give it 5 burning puppies - it would be nice if it were a different colour than black. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MattN.
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonds,WA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any trail | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Simple
Cheap
Works | | Weaknesses: |
Cheap
Barely works
Elastomers suck in cold
I'll never buy another magnesium fork again. | | Similar Products Used: |
A bunch | | Bike Setup: |
'98 M2 Stumpy
Pyro cranks
XT BB
Azonic Shorty stem
Azonic Double wall riser
Rhyno Lites
MRP Crosspeed-1
XTR RapidRise
Single ring in front...and 1 dead fork. | | Bottom Line: | My Answer Manitou Pro (non-cartridge model) came stock on my '98 Stumpjumper back when I bought it (sometime in '97). It HAD held up to some North Shore riding, trials, urban, and other things that forks were never really designed for, and finally broke on me yesterday. While practicing on a DS course for a race later that day, I tried to clear a triple that wasn't really clear-able, and sheared the left slider completely apart right below the fork brace after coming up short on the 3rd jump of the triple. It doesn't seem to have damage the internals or anything, but I haven't completely torn it down yet. I'd get new sliders, but why when you can buy the same fork for $89 right now? Bottom line?? Time for a Z1!!!3 stars for holding up for so long, and 1 star for this fork breaking on me, making my bike unrideable. If Answer sends me a new fork (Bwahahaha, yeah, right), I'll give them 50 billion-zillion flaming cowpies (and then sell the fork). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Calis
a Downhiller
from melbourne
Date Reviewed: April 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
COWS | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
These came stock on one of my bikes back in 97' (I think) and I'm still ridin' em. TRied them out on everything from trials to downhill to slalom to cross country. Downhill means a slightly twitchy control, not good in soaking up the shock. Great for XC, light, cheap, will give a relatively smooth ride at these speeds. Mine has endured almost 2 years of absolute crap, mainly used for suicidal downhills as a pure thrash bike and they've held up pretty well with a minimum of servicing. By far outperform all the Indy's which flex and generally feel like shit (they also look like they're gonna snap). My model was spring and elastomer- i've no idea whether manitou changed the setup- and it has certainly outperform any other similar fork I've tested whether they be zokes, indy blah blah and the others that I can't remember | | Weaknesses: |
Nasty bottom out if you manage it. Not many pragmatic variations on softness (or whatever you MTB readers call it), start to flex in old age. | | Similar Products Used: |
Bomber Z-1
SX-Ti
Indy Sl & C
Judy XC
Mach 5 | | Bike Setup: |
17.5 Al mongoose hardtail, DH bars (slalom setup) | | Bottom Line: | No idea how much they cost now. If your gonna buy a fork though I'd fork out the extra dosh for a bomber. If your choosing stock bikes and they've all got low-end, simple forks I wouldn't hesitate to choose the Manitou Pro (and a nice soft setting). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Gratchet
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angles
Date Reviewed: April 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Death's Door | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Looks. | | Weaknesses: |
Unresponsive, heavy and weak. Otherwise, superb. | | Similar Products Used: |
Marzocchis, Rock Shox (sucked). | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized Hard On | | Bottom Line: | A fool's purchase. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitch Schrock
a Cross-Country Rider
from Garden City, Mo.
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Knob Noster | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
It has good travel for a lower end shock. The adjustment feature is really nice. | | Weaknesses: |
It could have a little better bottom out softness | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy indy c | | Bike Setup: |
Trek 7000 | | Bottom Line: | It's a good shock for the money. Great for trail that aren't too demanding. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a weekend warrior
from AZ
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a pretty nice fork, and I think it performs as well a the Indys (now Jetts), if not better. They're pretty cheap too, so that's a plus. The only strange thing about them is that they tend to work better in warm weather, but that's okay, I live in AZ. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny
a weekend warrior
from TX
Date Reviewed: February 11, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a really good fork, it came stock on my bike and I really like it. My friend has a Judy T2, and I think they work the same except my fork seems lighter. The only thing that I think they should pu on it is a disk brake mount. All in all though I rate this 5 chilis for price and performance. :) | | Overall Rating: |
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