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.
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"
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Submitted by
XCkiller
a Weekend Warrior
from North Royalton OHIO Date Reviewed: December 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
West Branch
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
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
Bike Setup:
Ibex Ignition Super, manitou relic fork
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
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Submitted by
dtmartin46
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dakota Ridge Hogback
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Old Supergo
Strengths:
Low Price, has needed no maintenance, lockout works 100%, easy to inflate/deflate chamber. No leaks.
Weaknesses:
Not very adjustable.
Bike Setup:
Weyless SP, TORA 318 Air upfront, Manitou Radium in the back
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.
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Submitted by
Roman
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel Date Reviewed: October 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
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!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
mongoose otero elite
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.
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Submitted by
Jorge Sanz
a Weekend Warrior
from Madrid, Spain Date Reviewed: January 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Cercedilla, Madrid, Spain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came stock with Prophet 3
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.
I was a bit disappointed with the problem. The distributor is sending a replacement one, but no riding with my new bike this weekend!
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Submitted by
Rex
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA, USA Date Reviewed: December 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
I don't discriminate.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
Found it on MTBR.com
Strengths:
Lockout, Cool name, it fit my bike
Weaknesses:
Manitou's proprietary B.S.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float R; Fox Vanilla
Bike Setup:
I like to go uphill and then go downhill. This usually happens between 3 and 4 times a week.
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.
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Submitted by
solo rider
a
from san diego Date Reviewed: April 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light, no stiction, lockout
Weaknesses:
Overdamped rebound damping, typical air shock spring rate ramp up
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,
Bike Setup:
'01 Santa Cruz Bullit
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.
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