|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
scott steger
a Cross Country Rider
from Elk Rapids, Mi, USA Date Reviewed: August 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | VASA single track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Brick Wheels Cycle | | Strengths: | this fork has an uncanny ability to deal with a riders mistakes and still keep the front wheel connected to the dirt.
its travel is supple but still gives the wheel plenty of room for roots, rocks, and steps before bottoming out. | | Weaknesses: | the rebound of the fork could be faster. i have been riding this fork for eleven years amazingly it has gotten better with age. however, the spyder does not spring up as fast as you may need it to when the trail gets hairy. in its defense though, throughout those eleven years i have experienced a bottom out less than ten times. | | Similar Products Used: | RS indy xc, RS judy tt and xc, | | Bike Setup: | '98 gary fisher kaitai | | Bottom Line: | for the money you can't find a better deal on an entry level fork. it's light fork willing to tackle just about anything you throw at it. my spyder has improver with age, it's crazy. if you are searching for a used fork to get your latest bike project running, keep an eye out for the manitou spyder | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harriet C-Wagon
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham, UK Date Reviewed: February 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Given them | | Strengths: | Fantastic for just bouncing around town, but also seems to make the transition from tarmac to trail relatively well in all but the nastiest down slopes :D Perfect for a light rider such as myself. | | Weaknesses: | Can be a bit soft at times (but that maybe the pies I ate for lunch). | | Bike Setup: | Beefy old ridgeback | | Bottom Line: | Not half bad as they were given to me with the bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
glenn meyer
a Weekend Warrior
from dansville Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the beast | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | it is a beater fork. what i mean is it takes a lickin and keeps on kickin. | | Weaknesses: | too soft. downhill tires rub an awful lot on the steerer. | | Similar Products Used: | judy c | | Bike Setup: | shimano lx/stx rc | | Bottom Line: | good fork for lighter riders | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike K
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, Coquitlam Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any where | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | This is 2nd edition of the one under | | Strengths: | well, i did something no one would have done. It blows up my warranties, but it worth it ( who cares anyways?)
HERE'S WHAT I DID.. I OPENED BOTH CAPS AND TOOK OUT THE MCU'S AND EMPTIED MY SHOX BY PUTTING THEM UPSIDE DOWN. I POURED SOME OF MY SHOCK LUBRICANTS MIXED WITH CHAIN LUBES . THEN, I PUT A NEW SPRING AND INSTALLED XXX SEAL THAT MY FRIEND HAD ON HIS JUDY TT.( CRAP) I LOCKED EVERYTHING BACK, AND, I HAVE A PLUSH, 3.5 INCH TRAVEL!!! I LOVE IT AND I OPENED THE BOTTOM AND INSTALLED REBOUND DAMPING TOO. I M GETTING A NEW SHOCK, BUT WHAT THE HECK! IT 'S FOR FUN YOU KNOW. TESTING YOURSELF. | | Weaknesses: | NONE AFTER MY HOME-STYLE UPGRADE.. UM....... LONGER TRAVEL? | | Bike Setup: | MY GOOD CHARGER | | Bottom Line: | WORTH THE TRY, MY UP GRADE REALLY MADE MY SPYDER TO A JUDY XC! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike kwon
a Cross Country Rider
from Coquitlam, Vancouver Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | under power lines (ZAP!!!) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | sort of plush,(joking) | | Weaknesses: | the caps, absorbs Nothing. rather get a syncros rigid forks. compare to others, it's a crap bottomed it out in the shop when i bought it. | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox boxxers, psylo sl, xc, bombers flighlight Z5,Z4,Z3,Z2,Z1, mazocchi shivers, | | Bike Setup: | shimano stx rc's, alvios, this fork(dah!) | | Bottom Line: | never buy it. i got it because it was on my good bike.(except the fork...) will get new psylo's on it. boxxers and shivers are too stiff for me. ( i weigh only 130 lbs!) better than RST craps though. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Vallery
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, Tx. Date Reviewed: February 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | KHS bike dealer | | Strengths: | It's a shock | | Weaknesses: | It dosent take much abuse | | Similar Products Used: | Ridget, 00 Mars C | | Bike Setup: | 99 KHS COMP | | Bottom Line: | This shock and this bike are not for a hardcore rider. This shock bottomed out so hard that it skeeted a wad of grease right in my face. If you like to catch air, hit roots ,and rocks hard you will be let down, hovever I knew this when I bought the bike I'm just broke. For flat trail riders are broke people only! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike S
a Downhiller
from Knoxville, TN Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ?? | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | simple design-"micro-lube"[saves U from having to uncrew pre-load caps] | | Weaknesses: | ? | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi z-3 4"--Rockshocks indy xc -Manitiou Pro-C-Manitiou X-vert 99-4"[leaked slightly]" | | Bike Setup: | 00 Azonic DS1 -Azonic 1.5" risers -Tioga 2.1 DH front /Richey ZED-2.1 rear-A/C upper guide-chain tens.-42 tooth only-12-26 cassette-XT .. | | Bottom Line: | I took 2 hours tinkering with it to get 3" travel. I used Marzocchi soft spring on left leg & bunches of elastomers on right."it's very firm now for jumping & DH--I modified it from DOUGALS.8m website..it helped..I like simple design forks W/O tpc & all that stuff that might leak..because they always do!Except Monster-T..I wish the Pre-load caps were metal, like on Marzocchi's..Plastic kinda sucks | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Atl, GA Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | tough, works suprisingly well | | Weaknesses: | not exactly pro material | | Bike Setup: | 95 stumpy with cheap parts | | Bottom Line: | i use this fork for riding around college cause it works well and it's so cheap, like everything else on my bike, that i won't cry if the bike is stolen. i was actually suprised at the ability for this fork to absorb som rough stuff. i only use it on roads and sidewalks, but do some drops (2-3')and long stairways eyery day and the spyder hasn't bottomed out and in fact gives a very smooth ride | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yak Denno
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxford,England Date Reviewed: August 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Shotover | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | CycleCare | | Strengths: | Sturdy,strong,handles and turns well,plush for 70mm. Takes up the jumps,doesn't bottom out easily. | | Weaknesses: | Could have nicer stanchions,better sealing and a bit more plush.Couldn't take a serious beating. | | Similar Products Used: | Headshox Fatty. | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar,Manitou Spyders,STX-RC,XT,Azonic,Funn,24seven. | | Bottom Line: | It works amazingly for the price.It can take a sound rip around and takes the edge off the hard hits.Sweet handling and hey,its Manitou,one of the most reliable fork builders. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirk Riley
a Cross Country Rider
from Highland, MD Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any fun single track | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Hmmmm, let me think.... NONE! OK, at least it's still in one piece, I will at least give it credit for that. I have beat the hell out of this fork and even though I hate every thing about it's still in one piece. | | Weaknesses: | First off, the fork came with my bike, if I knew the fork was going to be such crap I would never have bought the bike. It's wobbly, lower legs move around a lot, doesn't corner well, bounces off of every thing it doesn't bottom off of, I'm 165 lbs. and can bottom it just doing a 3 inch bunny hop, fork boots come off, Instead of inspiring confidence this fork scares the crap out of me (I'm saving up for a bomber), ever since my first ride on it it feels like it's loose and is going to fall apart. | | Similar Products Used: | Suspension? Huh, what's that? | | Bike Setup: | 2 wheels, a frame, a handle bar, some brakes and some shifter gismo's. Oh yeah, I almost forget about the seat! | | Bottom Line: | It's good for riding on flat roads with tiny bumps and no turns. For example, canal roads, sidewalks, and paved bike trails.
It's NOT good for a normal mt. biker. For example, anyone reading this. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Downhiller
from Beverly,massachusetts,U.S.A Date Reviewed: July 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Brass balls | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | You can bang this thing up well! It is durable, and great for entry level riders who are looking for their first shock. It looks good too, so u can brag to your friends about your new fork. | | Weaknesses: | When you get into DH biking like me....you need more travel, Manitou 2000 carbons here I come. | | Similar Products Used: | RST crap,Rock shock Jett, Sid SL at lowest travel. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Specialized FSR expert, Spyder forkm criss king headset, and good stuff | | Bottom Line: | I want a new fork!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Downhiller
from Killa Cali Date Reviewed: June 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that goes down! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Extremely smooth for x country. Not too much flex. Good compression adjustment. Cheap too! | | Weaknesses: | Harsh bottoming on big hits as I did abuse it for DH. one of the caps fell off, but all you need is some krazy glue. No rebound adjustment. No adapter for a disc brake. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox indy C | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR with mountainspeed kit (stratos), xt hollowtech cranks and chainrings, and soon to have the risse champ forks (7" travel) with a prostop disc brake and sun mammoth rim. Sweet ride! | | Bottom Line: | This fork is for the non-extremist rider who likes to trailride. I took this fork on the downhill slopes that were fairly technical and fast. As expected, it bottomed out like no other, but its purpose was not ment to be for downhill. Basically, if you want a cheap fork for trailride use, cant go wrong with this. It held up for DH, but not enough travel. five flammin craps for trailriding! 1 crap or lower for DH! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Serediuk
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB Date Reviewed: April 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Someplace in BC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | -Price -3.5" Travel -Adjustable | | Weaknesses: | -Adjustment cap comes off easily | | Similar Products Used: | RST 281, Indy C | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS-2000, LX/XT mix, RS Deluxe rear shock | | Bottom Line: | I bought this fork because I was on a budget to get my new bike up and going. I have been impressed with it's performance so far. Stiff or soft, this fork can do it. The adjustment caps came off before I ever rode on the fork, but that's nothing a little glue can't fix. The adjustment caps don't do much either, you're better off replacing mcu's. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Andrews
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria BC Canada Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hartland | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | -Good price, looks nice! -Has the manitou name behind it -adjustability -microlube | | Weaknesses: | -my main grief with this shock is that the adjustment Cap came off after about 3 months, I didn't even get a chance to ride it off road. and it was really hard to try to get a replacement for the cap! I'm still waiting for teh supplier to get his ass in gear and send my local shop a new piece! -the dust guard slides up once in awhile, but is fine after some dirt builds up around it :ø) -doesn't adjust all that much | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 99 Brodie Energy, nice black shocks with the red bike | | Bottom Line: | Great shock to learn to off road with, keeps my tire firm to the ground when riding over knobs quickly. Wish it had a firm adjustment though, I'm only 140 and i find it a bit soft for riding around town. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rit
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, Washington, USA Date Reviewed: March 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Cheap, good for a light rider, 140 or less, has some adjustment, doesn't flex when strong v-brakes are applied. | | Weaknesses: | too soft for a hevier rider, I'm 170, It bottoms out even when I bunny hop, needs a spring kit for riders that are too light or too hevy. when going off big jumps the tire rubs against the crown of the fork(very bad and scary), oh an the boots don't stay on very well, they come off too easy. | | Similar Products Used: | Quadra 21R, Jett series, manitou magnum | | Bike Setup: | Univega Alpina 600, quartz brakes, control stix, zoom micro adjust seat post | | Bottom Line: | This fork is good for an average weight rider(bout 140)too many complaints that its too hard for light riders and to soft for hevy riders. Its a good entry level fork for riders who don't do any extreme riding, good for light trail riding. I'd like a stiffer fork. This one is like a pogo stick, bounces too much when accelerating hard. For more extreme riders, get a fork for what you do, I didn't and now I'm complaining. I do mostly cross-country so I'm looking for a fork that I can put, shall I say it, a lock-out kit, ohhhhhhh.... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CSPU
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham, AL USA Date Reviewed: March 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | So far the shock has been great! Absorbs the bumps (isn't that what they are for?) Haven't had it long enought to really eval it well, but I do like it. Can't beat it for the price! Great shock for casual off-roaders. | | Weaknesses: | Boots won't stay put. They keep coming off at the bottom. No room to put lizard skins on either. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR sport | | Bottom Line: | Good shock for the money, keep your eye on the boots! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Holmes
a Cross Country Rider
from Wakefield, England Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Deffer wood | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Ifind the fork to be very smooth and the microlube helps alot. | | Weaknesses: | it is well ard to buy microlube accesories | | Similar Products Used: | Judy T2's | | Bike Setup: | Timberline | | Bottom Line: | it rocks and looks pretty good too plus i got em for £160 | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Weekend Warrior
from va Date Reviewed: January 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | price-$300 | | Weaknesses: | Requires maintenance after 3 months | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | Decent price, nice, easy adjustability, but my covers on them have already come loose, and i believe they will need maintenance now since the shock doesn't go down half as far as my friends Rock Shox Indy C's and RST 281's even though my shocks are on as loose as they go....yet, i may be wrong since i am a beginner, so i'll give them the benefit of the doubt.....4 chili's it is! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stu
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland NZ Date Reviewed: December 23, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good design. User servicable. | | Weaknesses: | Poor factory assembly | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox | | Bottom Line: | Take them apart yourself (get a manual from answer-products.com). Spread the grease around properly on all internal parts. Carefully prise the dust seals up a bit so that the boots have something to actually lock into and re-assemble. Then you have an excellent budget fork. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Janssen
a Cross-Country Rider
from Little Chute Date Reviewed: December 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | the shock sucks | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Judy XC | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper A1 with Manitou Spider | | Bottom Line: | The shock does not move what soever. I have it on the lightest setting and it still does not move. I have gone over some bumpy spots and the shock threw me around like a rag doll. I am going to upgrade as soon as I get the money. I feel that the Rockshox Judy xc is a much better shock since it actually moves when you go over bumps. The bottom line is that the shock sucks. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Belleville, Ontario Date Reviewed: October 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Batawa ski Hill | | Duration Product Used: | tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Cost | | Weaknesses: | lack of adjustability in spring or damping | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Judy XC | | Bike Setup: | 99 Specialized RockHopper | | Bottom Line: | This shock came with my Bike and had a very limited range of adjustment. I am a 200 pound rider and found even with the firmist kit available, the shock was way to soft. Like a pogo stick climbing hills. Probably OK for a 150 pounder. I swapped it for a Rockshox Judy with a firm kit ( it works great). | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Wenatchee, Wa Date Reviewed: September 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Devil's Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Price, Cushy, Oil ports are cool! | | Weaknesses: | Dust boots don't stay connected at the bottom, making them pretty useless at keeping the muck out. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Sport | | Bottom Line: | They suck up the roots and rocks well. Although I haven't noticed them bottoming out on any of my rides, I'll probably switch to stiffer elastomers as I weigh 220. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Logan
a Weekend Warrior
from Brentwood,TN Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light cheap 70mm travel | | Weaknesses: | It came on my bike and is WAY too stiff for someone who weighs 115. The pre-load and compression adjust don't help much, you have to switch springs. Also, when i use the 35mm of travel i am getting from it, the boots dont do a thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou SX-ti Judy C and XC RST 381 r | | Bike Setup: | Marin Bear Valley | | Bottom Line: | A good budget fork, needs a little more design work and needs more support for lighter riders. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Iain
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Price stiffness boots travel quality | | Weaknesses: | Slightly odd smell | | Similar Products Used: | indy s jett t2 SX judy XC | | Bike Setup: | RSP 150 | | Bottom Line: | VERY GOOD GOOD BUDGET FORK MUCH BETTER THAN ROCKSHOX | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kiana
a Weekend Warrior
from Parker, Colorado Date Reviewed: August 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Three Sisters | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good for rough and rocky trail ridingAffordable Price | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M600 | | Bottom Line: | Its a good shock go buy one!!! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JEREMY
a Weekend Warrior
from JACKSONVILLE Date Reviewed: August 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | HANNA PARK | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | GREAT VALUE DOESN'T FLEX AS MUCH AS AN INDY COOL GREASE PORTS MAKE FOR EASY MAINTENANCE | | Weaknesses: | NOT MUCH RANGE ON MICRO-ADJUST RUBBER BOOTS DON'T FIT VERY SECURELY | | Similar Products Used: | INDY XC | | Bike Setup: | UNIVEGA ALPINA,LX,SPIN WHEELS | | Bottom Line: | I LOVE THIS FORK! IT SMOOTHES OUT TREE ROOTS BEAUTIFULLY,DOESN'T FLEX,And IT'S A JOY TO RIDE! AND THE GREASE PORTS ROCK!! UNLESS YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAN BRAINS, THIS IS THE FORK FOR YOU! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross-Country Rider
from Saddleworth .. UK Date Reviewed: August 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Price..adjustability from soft to firm... soaks up the bumps no trouble...grease ports | | Weaknesses: | Rubber boots are useless..bushes are pathetically inadequate. | | Bike Setup: | Orange EVO2. Forks came stock. | | Bottom Line: | Please bear in mind that a bike supplier might spec a lesser fork than the frame deserves to make for a more attractive sell price. How I wish I'd have upgraded. The bushes began to wear after about 3 weeks of use and sound pretty awful now(I ride about 7hrs a week). There is now around 3mm of movement at the hub now and I am in the process of trying for a warranty upgrade. Why have 4 tiny bushes, It just does't make sense for the sake of 40grammes max. A good fork ruined. 2 Dungs on fire | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Sievers
a Weekend Warrior
from Des Moines IA Date Reviewed: July 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Sugar Botton, Iowa City | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Strengths: | An excelent value in a front shock. It has a decent amount of travel, without the bounce that is found in a similar ROCKSHOCK product. I think is performs as well as a JUDY C for alot less of a cost. I looked at almost all of the other shocks avaliable and did alot of research on my own by test riding the different forks and this one won the prize. | | Weaknesses: | -the micro adjust doesn't have a huge range.(have to change the elastomer) -the rubber dust gaurds don't connect to the lowers legs very securely -no disk brake compatability | | Similar Products Used: | Judy C Jett long and short Judy XC | | Bottom Line: | good shock that performs as good as any shock at any price with a similar travel. If you pay more, might find at shock that weighs less, more travel or has disk brake capability. Although, unless you are doing downhill racing you shouldn't need more than 70mm of travel. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Gonsalves
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville, Ontario Date Reviewed: July 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso Conservation Area | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Excellent feel when cornering and riding trail. Haven't bottomed it out yet though. Very good, affordable Shock for a weekend warrior. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough travel for more hardcore bikers. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shock Jettc Rock Shock Indy 98 | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Dx 3.7, '99 Spiders. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent Schock for someone who rides every weekend or so. Good for occasional racing. Affordable, easy to maintain, Excellent product. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Frisby
a weekend warrior
from Wiltshire, England Date Reviewed: November 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Got this fork a week ago, and i love it. My first impressions of the fork was it was amazing as i didnt expect it to be as good as it is. It is very smooth and with 80mm travel it handles easily what i can throw at it. It has even started to soften more since i bought it. In cold weather it needs a little warming up to become more responsive, but for £230 ($300) you cant go far wrong.p.s at first i thought it was leaking as loads of oil was comming out, i was informed that this was lubrication. It kept comming after a weeks riding, but has now slowed down, the shop i bought it from say it was just excess oil.Not a problem. | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|