Submitted by
Kerry
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna Date Reviewed: December 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Vapour
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Cyclepath
Strengths:
Strong without being overly heavy. So smooth.
Weaknesses:
Lack of adjustments, but for the price I can't complain.
Similar Products Used:
tried old red Boxxers and Fox 40. Rode a Mr.T for 4 seasons.
Bike Setup:
Bullit- mostly stock build
Bottom Line:
I've only ridden this fork 3 times on the trails but coming from the Mr.T makes this fork feel like a dream. The Fox 40 I tried felt mushy compared to this fork but that is most likely down to rider setup. The stability and control is amazing and the ability to crank it down to ride up has made all the difference between a wobbly ride up and a totally comfortable and controlled one. I can't wait to ride this fork all season.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dusty D
a Downhiller
from Reno, Nevada, USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, S. Lake Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Rim Tours in Moab, Utah
Strengths:
Beefy, Adjustable, Buttery Smooth w/travel left over for big hits, mucho tire clearance. Travel adjustment knob is made of metal and is durable. Looks GREAT. Says "RIDE" on it :)
Weaknesses:
Expensive, Squishy on the climbs (expected), Bumpers crack and fall apart (expected), No Tullio (C'mon Rock Shox . . . what happened? Tullio was a GREAT feature.). Axel has a plastic (why?) screw in keeper that can be tough to get out.
Similar Products Used:
Shiver DC
Bike Setup:
Extra Large "Burnt Champagne" Chaparral frame, w/an 05 Boxxer RIDE (5"-7" adjustable DC fork) w/Core-Rat fork guards, Romic rear shock w/850lb spring (just upgraded from 750lb spring, 850lb is strongest made for this stroke length), Front: Mavic EX 823 Disc UST w/Michelin DH16 Tubeless 2.5", Rear: Mavic 321 Disc w/Intense 909 FRO 2.5" & Maxxis DH tube, FUNN front bars, Race Face Diabolus stem, Chris King Headset, Hayes Mag hydro disc brakes/levers w/8" rotors front & rear, Shimano XT cranks, Shimano SPD pedals (or Wellgo platforms), Shimano bottom bracket (size?), 22/32 FSA chainrings, Race-Face bash-guard, Shimano XT rear cassette, Shimano LX shifters, Shimano chain, ODI Ruffian lock-on grips, Praxxis seat-post, WTB Speed-V saddle.
Me likee very muchee. I am not picky, SPV can kiss my SP-@ss, I'm not trying to win a cross country race and I ride a Banshee. If you desire an adjustable fork, there aren't that many options. If you desire an adjustable DC fork, there are even LESS options. I feel blessed to have this great adjustable front fork in such an easily monopolized sector of the market.
Stock, it's EXACTLY what I wanted. It is burly, inpiring confidence on take-off and (more importantly) landing. I ride extremely rocky trails at Northstar Downhill MB park. This fork eats up the babies' heads and doesn't bottom out on the 7' drops.
The first 4 inches of travel are so smooth that you fully expect it to bottom on you. But despite launching off some fairly large hits, my seals have yet to wipe the upper-most inch of the stancions. I have no desire to purchase stiffer springs.
Coming from a Shiver DC (ultra plush, very wide, super burly), I don't even consider this a step back. It is a definite UPGRADE. In a perfect world, I would say invert it, because that way, you'd have the weight of the lowers up where you could control it.
I'm goin for it . . . 5 and 5
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt holgado
a Downhiller
from london Date Reviewed: June 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
penshurst
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$365.00
Purchased At:
woolly hat shop
Strengths:
Stifness/tracking, adjustability, weight, direct mount stem compatability.
Weaknesses:
Stock spring too soft.
Similar Products Used:
Jr T, Monster T's, Boxxer Race
Bike Setup:
custom big hit expert, Swinger 4-way, Boxxer Ride, Hope Mono M4's, XT, E13, Singletracks on Deore, Gusset thru hub.
Bottom Line:
For a bike as adjustable as the 2004 bighit (sad to see them go, demo 8 too heavy for me), the Ride is a great fork to pair up with (true freeride capabilities with the u-Turn). Its held up well to abuse so far and has taken some big drops with ease.
My only problem was the spring, as out the box it was too soft for me (sram say its set up for a 65-75kg rider, but at 73kgs, it was still a bit soft). Swapped for a slightly firmer spring and all is good.
Maintanence is also real easy. If youre over 73 kgs, think about getting a harder spring (TF Tuned does one now).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Tan
a Downhiller
from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Date Reviewed: May 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rock Garden, Bukit Kiara
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
KSH Bicycles
Strengths:
U-Turn, definitely. IMHO, doesn't make it any less of a "real" DH fork. Stiff, feels real solid. Direct mount stem compatible.
Weaknesses:
None so far. Found the new disc mount sizing a bit confusing.
This is my third thru-axle fork and second dual crown. I don't know what I was thinking when I got the Dropoffs. Don't cheap out on major parts, especially forks & frames, ESPECIALLY not if you're going to race them DH. The DOs, while probably good enough for just plain hucking, suck on the bumpy stuff as they have no rebound adjust. And the QR20 bolts broke while I was riding so the other assorted locking hardware just fell off, never to be found.
Enough about the DOs, the Ride rules! 7" is enough for me, and where I am, there aren't any chairlifts so dialing the U-Turn down to 5" helps a lot for climbing. At first I thought the Ride might not be a "real" DH fork. If anything, the Rides have helped me be a better DHer simply because I can do more runs. Riding is faster than walking up the hill. Think of them as an old Race with U-Turn, if you will.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Oliver Tan
a Weekend Warrior
from Anaheim Hills, Ca Date Reviewed: November 26, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Waterfall
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
SM dist.
Strengths:
stiffer than old boxxer (marz. stiff) new crown rules, as does the new drop crown U-turn, turns me on to be able to crank 5-7 inches
Weaknesses:
same old RS damping, takes work to make it feel right
Similar Products Used:
if one took a Super T and smashed it with a Psylo
Bike Setup:
Sinister Ridge X-9 Saint
Bottom Line:
Uber FR fork, especially for 'core HT's. I can crank it down to 5 inches, stiffens up the spring, and do some dj's, urban, climbing. up it to 6 inches for trail rockin'. up it again to 7 inches for righteous dh'ing or hucking. I get a nice 62 degree HA at 7 inches. I wonder if Stratos ID carts would make a difference in the damping.
$ 700.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
