|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
dave
a Downhiller
from Cortland, Ohio,U.S.
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | This product has almost no flaws but i would really like to knoe where i can get that elastomer spring kit please help me out | | Weaknesses: | None that i have seen | | Similar Products Used: | Boxxer | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Iron Horse Sgs Dh | | Bottom Line: | This shock is really good but i cant seem to find the elastomer springs for it if anyone reads this please help me out and give me a site or a store that woudl sell them to me. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bigripper
a Downhiller
from Boston/Seattle/Salt lake/Breck
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn/porcupine rim/victor falls/Vail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came stock on my 98 beast | | Strengths: | 5 inches of travel. Low maintenence. Affordable. Easy to upgrade to stiffer elastomers/springs. | | Weaknesses: | Aren't compatable with disc brakes. Preload adjusters on top caps spin freely without adjusting anything if you peg them all the way to + or -. Disassembling the fork lowers from the uppers can be tricky if the allen bolt under the dropouts decides it wants to rotate freely. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox boxxer, jr. T | | Bike Setup: | 98 beast, chubby LT, XT/RaceFace drivetrain, Mavic 521's, Magura HS33 brakes | | Bottom Line: | This is a good entry level DH/FR fork. For the price that Nashbar was selling these, $125, You can't beat it. This isn't a dream fork, and it isn't something I would have chosen by request. But since K2 decided to spec the Beast with it, I ended up with it, used it and I have very few complaints. The worst thing about this fork is that you can't upgrade to disc brakes. OH, and For all the people who claim to bottom this fork out, or flex it, I'm calling BS! I'm 220lbs and do some pretty aggressive trail/DH and freeriding with this baby and I have'nt bottomed out or noticed it flex once! And if you have these concerns, you can upgrade the elastomers and/or springs to heavier ones. I am running stock springs w/5 tan and 1 pink elastomer in each leg. It's smooooooooth! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BIT
a Downhiller
from chile
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | caleu | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | jason usa | | Strengths: | resistente a wascasos frontales
sensible igual para ser de elastomeros
facil de mantaner
los bujes duran
facil de mecanizar
fuelle sy retenes para barro que si sirven
| | Weaknesses: | flexi torceduras laterales
elastomero no es para siempre
solo para disco de 8"
| | Similar Products Used: | hi 5
| | Bike Setup: | k2 beast nada de ke kebrarme | | Bottom Line: | aH?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
russell
a
from washington dc usa
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | stole it form a friend | | Strengths: | it keeps my front wheel attached to my bike, thats about it. | | Weaknesses: | flexy, heavy, bottoms out easily, cant adjust it | | Similar Products Used: | jr t, sherman firefly | | Bike Setup: | dmr sidekick on trailpimps and other than that a light bike (yeh right) | | Bottom Line: | crappiest fork ever, but i got what i paid for a guess. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffrey Slim
a Downhiller
from Stadskanaal, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | City centre | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$113.00 | | Purchased At: | 6-03-2002 | | Strengths: | It's very good for freeriding. The Noleen Chubby lt has a great travel and is very strong. | | Weaknesses: | The colour is bad : orange | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou x-vert 98 | | Bike Setup: | Merida fireball pro, Amouba handlebar, Vuelta airline1 wheels, Schwalbe fat Albert 26X2.35, LX rear derailleur, Truvativ stylo 2 Crank with a hussefelt chainguide, Magura hs33 raceline brakes. | | Bottom Line: | It's a very good suspension with a large travel. It's very good for freeriding en stunts. This is a fork for beginners but is very good, except the colour. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luc v/d Wolde
a Downhiller
from Stadskanaal
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | City centre | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$105.00 | | Purchased At: | 26-07-2002 | | Strengths: | Great suspension with a great travel. It's very good for freeriding. Like: Jumping, to take stairs, others thing like that. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing | | Similar Products Used: | I don't know | | Bike Setup: | Giant Boulder fs1 aluxx front suspension 2003 series, Amouba handlebar, sram3.0 shifters and derailleurs, Vuelta airline 1 wheels. | | Bottom Line: | It's a great front suspension and it's very good for freeriding. It has a great travel. The noleen chubby lt's a looking good fork. It was orange and i've painted blue and red. Bye bye | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blake Roberts
a
from Houston,Tx
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Bowl in the ant hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bluff creek ranch | | Strengths: | strong and cheap | | Weaknesses: | small travel, bad mechanicks | | Similar Products Used: | rockshox | | Bike Setup: | 1999 k2 team rs superlight | | Bottom Line: | good for grannies or 180 mile road rides | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vinnie
a Racer
from USA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Strengths: | strong and durable. i took it on a downhill coarse and i cant say how nice it was. i was surprised to see how it took all of the bumps and how tight of a radius of a turn u could put on it(this dosent matter on the downhill coarse though) | | Similar Products Used: | JR T's | | Bottom Line: | this is a great fork and it will take what ever abuse u give it. u can not beat this thing. i put and extender cartrage on it and it is now a coil air assist and i love it. it now has 6+ for travel. it is great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Downhiller
from ny
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | you wont care when you kill it. | | Weaknesses: | FLEX, you can bottem it out on any thing! cant put disc brakes on it. | | Similar Products Used: | nill | | Bike Setup: | ds1, the chubby, shimano xt / lx, and mr dirt chain guide | | Bottom Line: | the fork stinks like flamin sh*t, I dont know why i bought it. DONT buy this fork if you get it for some stupid reason get the spring kit for it from cambribike.com it will make it much better but dont worry it will still be VERY flexy and will still sink like flamin sh*t.
I would onley recomed it to some one on a low budget who is just learing to ride DH. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lwh
a Cross Country Rider
from charlotte nc
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | catawba | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | lots of travel, easy to maintain, very durable, price | | Weaknesses: | color, who could this appeal to. Steering is a little slower, but not unbearable, it is a downhill fork so this should be expected. | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox, manitou | | Bike Setup: | cross country alum frame | | Bottom Line: | I am 275 pounds(plus 100 oz.camelbak) and ride three to four times per week, I have had no problems with this shock. Overall I am extremely happy with it and feel confident that it will remain in one piece through the ride. I have gone over the front pretty hard twice and have not twisted it. The trails are dusty here but the boots have kept everything clean. If you hate working on your bike buy this shock set it to your liking and ride. At my weight and with the amount of singletrack ridden I bust alot of stuff but haven't even messed up the paint on this shock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garson
a Downhiller
from WEST MASS!
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came stock on 1999 K2 beast | | Strengths: | Price (however, you get what you pay for), can be smooth if set up right. | | Weaknesses: | Where should I begin? They are SOOO flexy, and I'm 5'10 and 135 lbs. They are really weak. My friend took out one elastomer stack on his one (which he sold after riding it a month), to see what it would ride like with softer elastomer, and bend the damn stanchion tubes riding once around a parking lot! They bottom out way to easily (I can bottom them out if I land on my back wheel when I rock forward on something as small as a three foot drop). Finally, I actually wore the internals out, causing the stanchions to move inside the lowers. | | Similar Products Used: | Risse Trixxy 1999, 2001 (my friend who bent his stanchions bought a trixxy, and sent it back to get 2001 everything)white brother ud150, boxxer, marzocchi z1 dropoff qr20 (sick) | | Bike Setup: | K2 beast, noleen chubby, blackspire chain guide (the best), Race face northshore xs isis splined cranks, odi lock on grips, mavic d521 wheels, kujos | | Bottom Line: | The fact that I'm a really agressive freerider/dirt jumper/urban rider probably has a lot to do with it. I have done some really big drops with it (almost 15') but my normal everyday sessions usually don't inlude anything over about 9'. Plus I'm 135lbs and 14 years old. I know that there are a whole bunch of people out there who put a bunch more abuse on forks than me. I imagine that these would be a good fork for anyone who is a less agressive, probably older casual trailrider, who needs the extra travel because of a bad back or something, and for these people, this fork is ideal. However, this won't stand up to the rigors of everyday freeriding. The only other use for them that I can see is if you are building a freeride bike, and don't have enough money for the fork you want, buy one of these and use it until you have the money for the fork you want, because I'm sure that these could hold up for a month or so without to many problems. For agressive riders, though, these forks just won't last. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike D!
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Vegas, NV
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Cheap, 4 inches travel, simple design, easy maintence, durable. | | Weaknesses: | tight turning radius, paint chips easily but who cares | | Bottom Line: | If you're low on dough, it's a great choice. If you can't afford a $500-$1000 fork this will do you fine. Has held up strong under 4-5ft drop ins onto slickrock. I weigh about a buck 80, and have never bottomed out. Gotta go with 5 flaming turds. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | inexpensive, 5 inches of travel for that cost?, look somewhat attractive, ok for jumping, head turner | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | manitou, rock shox, stratos, others | | Bike Setup: | ddg shooter setup for slalom and dirt jumping | | Bottom Line: | i got this for a fork for christmas and have had nothing but good from them so hard. it was a great deal for the cost, free to me but cost my parents some dough. great for freeriding and some slalom/jumping. could even be used for aggressive x-country. a great buy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stan
a Weekend Warrior
from Arcadia
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any... i'm a beginner tho | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR classifieds | | Strengths: | Easy maintenance, simple design, upgradeable to springs, looks good, it's just a nice solid fork... | | Weaknesses: | the color! also, i can't tell what the top caps are made of but they can't possibly last too long... it's a bit flexy as well | | Similar Products Used: | SID XC, girvin xlink | | Bike Setup: | azonic DS2, maguras, chubby, XT/ titec parts | | Bottom Line: | A great fork for the money. I bought mine slightly used for $150, and that's after it had been repainted black and upgraded to full springs. THe unprogressive nature is bad for some people, but it has yet to bottom out for me. Maintenance is extremely simple! it takes less than 20 minutes- just take the fork apart and lube every part. IT's that simple! It may not be the best fork in the world, but forks don't get much better at this price... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
billy
a
from nelson
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | simple design, lots of travel | | Weaknesses: | Not very rugged | | Bottom Line: | These are a nice fork but they bend easily. I jacknifed at low speed and went over the bars and when I picked up my bike they were bent slightly. they were still rideable but never the same again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Downhiller
from Greensboro,NC
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Its strong as hell and i have never had any problems w/ it and it has tons of travel and gets alot of stares | | Weaknesses: | tight turning radius but it is not that big a deal and u get used to it | | Similar Products Used: | judy,jett,sid | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose w/ chubby lt,shimano xt rear, spin wheels w/ panaracer fire dh tires, statos helix expert rear shock, mrp chain guide, stiffy short stem, titec hellbent dh bar, shimano platform clips, raceface turbine crank, and shimano rapid fire shifting | | Bottom Line: | this fork is awsome. it has never given me any problems and has survived the sickist hills and up to 7 ft drops. it has even survived falling in a 4 foot hole while goin bout 20mph. i would definatley suggest getting this fork. it has a great price for all of those w/ little cash to spend. five flaming dog turds all the way!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin
a Racer
from new york us
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | cheap 5" | | Weaknesses: | knee basher, but i seem to be the only one btchin | | Similar Products Used: | z1 | | Bike Setup: | super v100fr | | Bottom Line: | it rocks, if you like knee pads. but what are the specs on the disc brake. anyone, buler? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex
a Weekend Warrior
from florida
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | santos | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | very, very cool shock, love the travel, seems to be tough i dont think i can brak it riding down here in florida unless an alligator comes at me. | | Weaknesses: | turn ratio limited because of the triple clamp. | | Bike Setup: | kona homegrown with bontrager wheelset, raceface cranks, mavic riser bar. tioga headset, maxxis helter skelter tires, selle seat, rapid fires shimano and pro max brakes. | | Bottom Line: | i like the travel and feel, the single track in florida is very rooty with major cypress tree spikes sticking out everywhere and these shocks soak it all in nicely. Also leaves some room for those drop offs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gord Chadwick
a Weekend Warrior
from Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Woodlot Gold | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Caps | | Strengths: | Great Rebound, they suck up anything you throw at them. Just when it feels like your out of travel it gives you a little bit more. They not too plush so you dont get thrown around too much.. A really great ride for such a reasonable price. Very easy to maintain. I m doing average 5-6ft drops and havent had anytrouble yet.
| | Weaknesses: | None Yet. The paint chips a little easy but that dont matter. | | Similar Products Used: | None yet Huge upgrade from Rock Shox | | Bike Setup: | Specialized P3 Nolleen forks LX | | Bottom Line: | For the money I paid i couldnt have asked for a better fork. I see guys out riding with there boxers and Monster T's. Oh and dont get me wrong they are definetly a smoother ride. But i am always seeing broken seals and leaking oils. I have not had a problem yet with the LTs. And they are a plush comfortable ride. Giving you the "BiG RIDE" feel and the controll you need. This is my first triple clamp fork and i love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Piper
a Downhiller
from Foxbor,Mass,USA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything fast, steep, and lots of drops and air time! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Cheap! Great for jumpin, dropin, and big objects goin fast. Great for clibin to the top of hills then bombin down them. Can keep up with ur Xc budds, yet still hang out with the crazy freeriders. Also really easy to keep up with normal maitnence. | | Weaknesses: | Plushnes goes away and comes back alot, ull find it stiff at the end of some rides. Not very good initial pluchness for small bumps, great for east coast stuff with lots of big hits, not little small fast stuff. Small click on the wipers when returning. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox jett C,RS Judy XC, Manitou xvert | | Bike Setup: | suped up walmart special mongoose d60R | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for anyone takin big jumps and drops, not really great for easy trail ridin. If it comes down to just a more expensinve fork, or this cheaper fork and some other components, go with the fork and components, the fors wont get much better untill you get into the grand level. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will H
a Downhiller
from chilliwack BC Canada
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Brads | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | vancouver | | Strengths: | cheap, plush | | Weaknesses: | not very adjustible | | Similar Products Used: | z1 drop off | | Bike Setup: | k2 animal with noleen shocks | | Bottom Line: | A very good schock for the price. If you want an affordable and reliable shock get this one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grandma
a
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Colonial Stadium | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | - Unbreakable (Almost)
- Huge travel for the cost
- Cheaper than anything else on the market for this high
quality of fork. | | Weaknesses: | -Turning Radius (But who is going to need to turn a 90 degree corner when you are riding anyway) | | Similar Products Used: | - RST Hi 5's (Junk. As my local bike store says "Full
coil with no oil is not a good fork)
- RST 383r | | Bike Setup: | K2 Beast '98 (Fully stock) | | Bottom Line: | This fork is great for anything. I have done dozens of 4.5 - 6 foot drops and haven't even scratched them.
For this price it doesn't matter if you do bust them because they are so "CHEAP"!!!!
These forks are also so easy to maintain! I have taken them apart to grease them twice and havent had even a slight problem.
If you want great forks at a cheap price, go to www.nashbar.com and pick up a pair NOW | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Sandy, UT
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything at Deer Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | You can't beat the price. 5" for $130!!! Travel feels good. And the mango color matches my 'Dale! | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Turning radius sucks. | | Similar Products Used: | Headshock DD60 - Stock on my 'Dale. | | Bike Setup: | Canondale Super V 900, everything stock except for the SRAM ESP's. Added a Cane Creek C4 headset and an Easton Monkeybar with the fork. | | Bottom Line: | Since this is my first real experience with a long travel fork, I don't have a lot to compare it to, but hey - it works for me - I absorbs the stuff I used to bottom my DD60 out on. I'm a bigger guy and it just feels nice. I give it 5 chilis for value and 4 chilis overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K. Savage
a Weekend Warrior
from SC
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$129.00 | | Purchased At: | www.nashbar.com | | Strengths: | FIVE freakin inches of travel!!!!
Great quality, Looks great, super plush. | | Weaknesses: | none at all. | | Similar Products Used: | rigid fork | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale M400 basically stock | | Bottom Line: | Somebody pinch me please, am i dreaming? FIVE inches of good travel in a DH type fork for 129.00??? YOU BETCHA..This fork has elastomers but they work good and wont bottom out...you can take HUGE jumps without problems.
Easy to upgrade to springs later. This fork is worth every bit of the 400.00 retail price but is such a bargain at 129.00 i couldnt pass it up. I have not found any shortcomings with Noleen Chubby yet. Cant get much better than this...I gotta rate it FIVE BURNING JALEPENOS!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dick Gazzinya
a Weekend Warrior
from Kamikaze DH
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Your Mom | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Cheap, seems to work at first. Seems to be stiff enough. Does drops OK. Jumps OK. | | Weaknesses: | ELASTOMER SPRINGS!?!?! Yuck... Replace these with Mountainspeed. Non-adjustable damping. Manual says that the speed sensitive damping is effectiverly good for everybody. Parts not readily available, but it doesn't require much maintenance. | | Similar Products Used: | Various Rock $hit, 'Zocchi is nicer and more serviceable. | | Bike Setup: | Huffy Barbie dream bike that I picked up at a garage sale, XTR, Raceface, King Headset, modified rear swingarm with 15" of travel, Stratos Helix Rear, Nokian 5" wide DH tires. | | Bottom Line: | The shock works, I guess. It broke in after a few hours' riding, and started to feel better. Can't beat the price though.
I don't know where the dude below gets that it works better than a 'Zocchi. Maybe if you ride a bike path and want something super stiff, not plush. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a Downhiller
from victoria bc canada
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | circus | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | the plush 5 inches
easton tubes | | Weaknesses: | turning radius
it doesnt matter when your flying down the hill doing 50 miles an hour | | Similar Products Used: | jr t, drop off '99-'00, judy 100, rst delta | | Bike Setup: | k2 flying monkey discs mamoth wheels rock ring | | Bottom Line: | this is a awsome fork and feels good and plush to ride
i recommend it over bombers less matence andworks better and cheaper | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Value for money decent fork without spending and arm and a leg. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Judy XC, Crappy RST | | Bike Setup: | Proflex 856, full XTR components, mavic 517 wheels, Noleen NR1 rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | What can I say. Its a decent value for money fork. It never bottomed out me. But if you want a sweeter ride, upgrade to mountain speed springs which rides sweeter than the elastomers. No complaints from me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JAMES STAUBER
a Weekend Warrior
from STATEN ISLAND, NY
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | huber woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This is reaaly an update froma an earlier post. I am writng in response to a previous post by JW trashing the shocks. I weigh 230 pounds and these shocks have stood up very well to the punishment I have given them. They perform flawlessly. As for JW he sasy he had gone through 2 pair in less than a month. I don't believe it. If the shocks were as bad as he claimed why did he replace the original with another Noleen?
This is a fantastic shock. It is strong, reliable, sturdy and it does the job. This is really an update, I bought the fork a couple of months ago. It has never bottomed out on me, no creaks, no problems whatsoever. I weigh 235 pounds and the shock is terrific. Smooth, responsive, it keeps the wheel in contact with the ground, it takes a beating and doesn't complain. For the $129.00 I paid at nashbar, it can't be beat.
I've read some of the other reviews. I thinkk you have to adjust it for your weight nad you should not take off the boots. I've done this and my experience witht he shock has been a good one. | | Weaknesses: | color | | Similar Products Used: | Products Tried: Rock shox Judy C | | Bike Setup: | trek 6500, xt front derailleur, truvativ stylo team cranks, profile bar ends | | Bottom Line: | a great shock with 5" of travel,... eats up the bumps,.. flawless performance. Tremendous bang for the buck. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Duprey
a Cross Country Rider
from Plattsburgh, NY USA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Moose Pond Trial/ Black Brook NY | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great Travel;
Excellent Price;
Easy Set-up | | Weaknesses: | Turning radius is tight; and weight(like that really matters !!) | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Jett Race; Headshock; RST crap | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Gary Fisher Joshua F3; SPIN front wheel; RockShox Deluxe Rear susp; Shimano Deore XT Drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | Rides like melting butter over a hot English Muffin! I upgraded as soon as I finished a few rides with the Jett Race and haven't looked back once. I do mostly XC gnarly trails with lots of sudden drops and tight single track and though the turning radius is small due to the Fisher's oversize frame, I have little complaint. Buy this shock NOW! I set this up myself with no problems and the adjustments rule! I am not a racer, but push myself hard and fast. I weigh close to 190 and even on the big hits, Chubby LT keeps on hummin'! Take her home with 5 flamin' chilis! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brian morris
a Downhiller
from arnold, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | slick rock road, it not at all a road | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | the noleen forks are great, i have dropped a 8 foot flight of stairs and the were plush the whole way down. i have ridden the bike in both downhill and cross-country, great freeride fork. the stock elastemers are great for me, i weigh in at 135. great buy for someone who likes to do it all (i rode this fork on a 75 mile road ride) and is short on cash. | | Weaknesses: | slightly fexable, hard to find discs or adapters to fit the fork (at least discs that i can aford) | | Similar Products Used: | rock shocks, manitou | | Bike Setup: | 98' beast w/ sun rims rhino light wheels, grip shift, unfortunatly week crapy shimano drive terrain. | | Bottom Line: | great fork, i am still stuck on the disk brake thing. stock boots will tear if the zip ties are not cut. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Wilks
a Downhiller
from Squamish, BC
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Satan's Armpit | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | They're cheap | | Weaknesses: | The elastomers suck, they're weak, heavy, look ugly, disc mounts are incredibly weak
| | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi, Rock Shox | | Bike Setup: | Kona Nunu | | Bottom Line: | These forks are suitable for people who ride to the corner store, and nothing else. I've had two pairs of these forks. The first pair snaped off at the first crown, and the second pair tore the head tube of my bike when I landed a 3 foot drop. Kona explained that any bike that didn't come with double crown forks on it was not meant to have double crown forks on it. They also said that by putting double crown forks on my bike I voided the warrenty, and they wouldn't replace the bike. On the first pair I put disc brakes on and 20 minutes into the ride, I tore the mount off the bike. These forks are only good for taking them off your bike , and beating the sh*t out of people with. I give these 1 flamin'sh*t because I half to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
farmanimal
a Weekend Warrior
from kansas city
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | had them overnighted from nashbar for 148.00 on a close out
5 inches of travel
NOT a crappy rock shok | | Weaknesses: | elastomers.... BUT easy enough to upgrade..(call dirt works) | | Similar Products Used: | manitou... rock crap | | Bike Setup: | raleigh m7000 with a seat and pedals fox on the rear, chubby front, avids, upgraded drive train, mavic519 rear, sun cr18 front, irc mytos blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | lets think about this for a hundred and fifty bucks over nighted to you how can u go wrong...sure it may be a tad heavy (????), sure it has elastomers, so replace them. i rode this fork for a couple of months b4 getting springs, the action is better now but it still worked pretty darn good. i have launched over stumps, logs, drop offs thru rivers, mud, and beer i really cannt fault htis product especially for the money... 5 inches is way fun ... hey i gotta give this rascal 5's across the board taken in context for what it is and what it does ... :-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yugz
a Downhiller
from palos,il
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | palos | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | well, it is a nice starting place, super inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | flexy, elastomers. | | Similar Products Used: | rst, rock shox judies, marzoochi bomber, ive dened a ton, and they all work | | Bike Setup: | 98 beast with 400 feet of BB clearence | | Bottom Line: | okay, i am about 200+ lbs with a death wish, and for me the stock elastomers were a joke, so i made a spacer and squeezed it untill i was happy. I was never happy, no dampening, so i greased em up with good old general purpose lithium grease from the local auto parts store (el cheapo continues)and i threw a nickel in the bottom. well, i am not sure but i believe that made it an air chamber, so i cut the lithium grease with hydraulic oil (the finer stuff, like for car jacks)-about 15CC's of it per leg-now i am getting there, but the elastomers just didnt cut it, so i bought a dirtworks otis setup (heavy oil, heavy springs)lubed the crap out of it and threw it in. BLAMMO! $130+ the cost of the shock, and its a real shock!!! still a little flexy, still a little heavy, but for around $280 where you gonna do better? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dano
a
from south burlington, VT
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | my own training loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | its real nice for jumping and its pretty bombproof(I weight in at around 200lbs and I thrash my bike like it was a BMX bike) and it has some nice long plush unprogressive travel, will act like a oil damped fork if you put tons of gease inside with the springs and stick a coin at the bottom of the springs | | Weaknesses: | the non-rising rate means that big shocks are absorbed like they weren't there, but I bottom out too easily over big drop offs, even with the stiffest spring kit mountain speed had, MS's fault really, not the forks. The bearing wear really fast and are kinda expensive and almost noone works on noleen | | Similar Products Used: | Z1cr, judy 100, old ass rst with 4.5 single crown before they were cool | | Bike Setup: | OEM beast with some minor changes like the phattest tires around(jones52-55 front, maxxis highrollera50 rear) | | Bottom Line: | sweet ass fork with good travel, yeah K2 probebly sucks in the repair feild, but I haven't had a big problem, I got a quote for $70 to real bearing it and fully clean it all out and make it real nice, so I'm not gonna freak, and it works nice for the rider who just goes around banging into everything and trying to get air off every single curb and rock and stick and person and blade of grass, so if you thrash on your bike this is the fork cause its cheep enough not to care too much and it works really well, if you think its heavy then weigh it in with a Z1 QR20 and see whos lighter for the same feel at the front end. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Downhiller
from Rossland, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Flume! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This thing is stiff, sucks up whatever you throw at it. I've hit rocks, bolders, huge drops, whatever it sucks it up! Super stiff, never flexes. Great price!!! | | Weaknesses: | the brake arch is sorta small for a downhill fork. I cannot fit certain brands of 2.7" tires. Also, it only comes with Elastomers. They are upgradeable to springs, but it is expensive to upgrade. Also quite heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Boxxer, Monster T. Costs way less, and works nearly as good as these! | | Bike Setup: | 98 K2 Beast. Race face cranks and stem. noleen Nr-1 rear shock. Xt shifters and dereillers. Rokko 2.4" front and Panaracer smoke rear tire. | | Bottom Line: | Amazing fork for the money, if you want a good freeride/downhill fork, but are on a budget, tis is the one for you! don't get the dual crown judys or RST, go for Noleen. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Lebel
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, simple design that works. | | Weaknesses: | I had cheap-ass crowns that slipped by quality control, K2 sent me a new set so everything is fine now. Othat that, nothing. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullet Bros ZZYZX DH fork. Well, not really the same. Only thing in common is double triple crowns | | Bike Setup: | I put a ZZYZX on my K2 Beast so I installed the Chubby LT on my ol' trusty ProFlex 854. Pretty cool feeling. LX/XT drivetrain, LX brakes to keep it light, Sun rims. That's aboutt | | Bottom Line: | I think you have to wait a period of "breaking-in" with the seals. After that, they're impressive. Get the speed springs although they are actually made for the regualr Chubby. Use elastomers as spacers. I use Manitou Prep M lube in the seals and springs. Keep the fork boots on to reduce headaches. The fork reacts well and is responsive. It's smooth and slick. I guess you have to play around with lube ans springs before that happens. It's extremely affordable if you want 5" of travel in front. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Stauber
a Weekend Warrior
from Staten Island
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | wherever I can ride | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This is a fantastic shock. It is strong, reliable, sturdy and it does the job. This is really an update, I bought the fork a couple of months ago. It has never bottomed out on me, no creaks, no problems whatsoever. I weigh 235 pounds and the shock is terrific. Smooth, responsive, it keeps the wheel in contact with the ground, it takes a beating and doesn't complain. For the $129.00 I paid at nashbar, it can't be beat.
I've read some of the other reviews. I thinkk you have to adjust it for your weight nad you should not take off the boots. I've done this and my experience witht he shock has been a good one. | | Weaknesses: | color, no adjustment other than elastomers. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox Judy C | | Bike Setup: | trek 6500, xt front derailleur, truvativ cranks | | Bottom Line: | a great shock with 5" of travel,... eats up the bumps | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Show Low AZ
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ALL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | triple clamp is cool it has very nice responce disk brake ready Easton aluminom | | Weaknesses: | limited turn rate because of the triple clamp outher than that none | | Similar Products Used: | crappy rst 680 (dont buy this fork it sucks big nuts) | | Bike Setup: | 98 aggressor lx brakes and levers xt shifters noleen chubby same as the lt, just an inch less travel lx hubs sun mamoth rear rim mavic 517 front, coda stem xt derailers race face cranks w/ topo titanium b.b. | | Bottom Line: | i havent had one bit of problems w/ theae forks they just suck up the bumps i havent seen such a great fork for the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Downhiller
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Honda Valley, (Hesperia), CA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | All that travel and ability to add a disc brake, so little cost....plus its noleen...and for all you mxer's noleen rules. | | Weaknesses: | stiff initially but i think speed springs will take care of that. | | Similar Products Used: | I think a better ? is what haven't I tried. | | Bike Setup: | '98 K2 Beast: all stock shimano xt components, american made components suck compared to shimano, Noleen Chubby LT fork painted black to match bike. | | Bottom Line: | This is a good fork, but just like anything you are gonna race it needs to be set up for your weight and riding style. Extremely Plush and jumps well too.
Buy a pair at Bike Nashbar for around $100. You can't beat that.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DHer
a Downhiller
from Portland, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | price, fairly attractive, noleen's customer service | | Weaknesses: | don't take off the fork boots or else you'll have a hell of a time with the wimpy seals. Also, DO NOT torque the lower clamp bolts too tight. The stanchions are NOT strong and will crack or break right below the clamp. I've had 3 sets, the 3rd set broke completely off during a 4 foot loading dock drop. ouch. After the 3rd set broke, I looked at the first two and they had hairline cracks that I didn't notice before in the same spot. the 4th time, the awesome customer service staff replaced my fork with not another chubby, but a stratos MX-6!!! These guys kick ass. Now if only their products did : ) | | Similar Products Used: | MX-6 (obviously), superstar 8.0, jr.T, hanebrink, etc. etc. etc. | | Bike Setup: | formerly a stock 98 K2 beast. Now I have a beast without forks and a new marin team DH with shiny gold MX-6's on it
: ) : ) : ) | | Bottom Line: | these forks really suck, but the customer service guys more than make up for it. Also, check your torqued bolts on the lower clamps!!! The fork gets negative chilis, but the guys there more than make up for it, so it gets a two. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Fields
a Weekend Warrior
from Syosset
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Stillwell woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Durability, 5 " of travel, Performance, Price, value | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox | | Bike Setup: | Specialized | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic performance at a bargain basemnet price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JAMES NATHANSON
a Weekend Warrior
from STATEN ISLAND
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Green leaf trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Sturdiness, durability, tough construction, price, performance, incredible bang for the buck | | Weaknesses: | ugly yellow color
weight | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Judy C | | Bike Setup: | stock Trek 6500, with exception of XT front derailleur and NOLEEN CHUBBY LT front shock | | Bottom Line: | This is a superb shock for the money. I bought it from Bikenashbar for $129.99. Only problem is that it didn't come with the Heavy duty elastomers. I called k2/Noleen and they sent them to me.
I am 6'2" tall at 240 pounds, I lift weights and am much heavier tham the average biker. The Noleen chubby LT are fantastic, the difference between the Noleen and my old rock shox is night and day. They provide great control and don't bottom out. The fork is smooth, predictable and you can't beat the 5 inches of travel.
5 chilis only because I can't go any higher.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Van Nimwegen
a Weekend Warrior
from North Ogden, UT
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wheeler creek (Ogden, UT.) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | I posted a meesage on 11/17/99. The Forks were so cheap at Nashbar that I bought second just as a back up. I weighed it this time. 5.545lbs They don't call it Chubby for nothing. On a Tandem it dosen't mater that much. | | Weaknesses: | I still have that click on the left side. I may put the new one on and see whats up with the old fork. I think i'll take the combined stiff elastomers(4) and try to stiffen it up a little. Were packing a little more weight after winter and have to much preload. | | Similar Products Used: | a 3 month old Chubby LT. | | Bike Setup: | see old review | | Bottom Line: | still a great riding fork, even for two. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria british columbia
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | still havent figured that out | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The five plush inches. extremly push
no scraping feeling. the double clamp
| | Weaknesses: | The very stiff elatomers that it comes withyou can trade them in for differnt ones Thats not hard to do
thats all | | Similar Products Used: | RST Delta HL Z-1 drop off 99 and 2000 Rock shox Judy | | Bike Setup: | K2 flying monkey | | Bottom Line: | This is a great smooth felling excellent for out of bounds riding use. light for what it is | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan Atkinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria british columbia
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | still havent figured that out | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The five plush inches. extremly push
no scraping feeling. the double clamp
| | Weaknesses: | The very stiff elatomers that it comes withyou can trade them in for differnt ones Thats not hard to do
thats all | | Similar Products Used: | RST Delta HL Z-1 drop off 99 and 2000 Rock shox Judy | | Bike Setup: | K2 flying monkey | | Bottom Line: | This is a great smooth felling excellent for out of bounds riding use. light for what it is | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dano
a Downhiller
from South Burlington VT
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
waterfall | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
smooth, easy to clean, easy to upgrade springs, lots of travel, light as hell for a five inch fork | | Weaknesses: |
bad bearings wear in no time, elastomers need the coil upgrades not available from noleen | | Similar Products Used: |
lefty, Z-1, jr.T, stratos mx-6, rst something-or-other | | Bike Setup: |
98' beast | | Bottom Line: | get the coil springs from either www.bikeride.com/dirtworks or www.mountainspeed.com and this fork will rock your world forever | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Nguyen
a Downhiller
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
PLUSH, smooth, lots of travel | | Weaknesses: |
A bit heavy, wide turn radius | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou, white bros. | | Bike Setup: |
Chubby LT w/ 97 Beast | | Bottom Line: | Very nice, smooth travel. Not too heavy for XC. Pretty stable at high descent speeds. Gives feeling of control. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Atombomber
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver BC
Date Reviewed: December 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Easy to change bumpers.
Strong. | | Weaknesses: |
Seizes up after rides in wet conditions. Requiring complete teardowns.
Bushings wear quickly, and develops tons of slop.
Too heavy considering there are no adjusments. | | Similar Products Used: |
Bomber JrT, Z1, Z2Bam, Z2... | | Bike Setup: |
Stock fork on a K2 Flying Monkey. | | Bottom Line: | Alright for dryer conditions, but wet areas with lots of drops wear out this fork. IN the New Year, a JrT will adorn my bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cane Ingerman
a Downhiller
from BC
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Sweetest shock I've ever
used, I do down hill races
and it kicks ass. | | Weaknesses: |
Can't find any yet, | | Similar Products Used: |
Marzocchi Monster T and
Marzhocchi Superfly | | Bike Setup: |
98 Klien with the Noleen Chubby LT | | Bottom Line: | you can't get any better that this shock, awesome travel, a bit expensive
but super strong and light. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from Long Island
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
by my apartment | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
-Great Travel
-awesome dampning
-strong as hell
-superbe shock | | Weaknesses: |
-none | | Similar Products Used: |
-rock shocks jett
-manitou xvert-t | | Bike Setup: |
99 k2 flying monkey | | Bottom Line: | This shocks kicks ass and if you can afford it, buy it. It is better than anything else. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed VanNimwegen
a Weekend Warrior
from Ogden, Utah.
Date Reviewed: November 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Gemi Bridges, Moab | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
East to service, easy to change elastomer stack. Easy to adjust pre-load. cushy ride, 5 of travel. | | Weaknesses: |
a click has developed in the left slider. May or may not be normal. Should have come with more elastomerics, to vary the ride. | | Similar Products Used: |
Specialized future shock. | | Bike Setup: |
Burley Samba softride tandem. Bright green looks great with the yellow forks. | | Bottom Line: | I would not ride a tandem of road with a big fork. Big travel is a must when you can't lift the front or bunny hoop. The left slider click may need to be corrected but with the abuse of a tandem, you cant be to supprised. So far so good! | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 420.00
