Submitted by
CO Mtn Biker
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado USA Date Reviewed: June 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any in the Great Rocky Mtns
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
Solid product, external pre-load adjustment, I'm 175lbs and haven't bottomed out off 4-5 ft. drops. (I do have the 100mm J1 version though).
Weaknesses:
Pre-load knob design could have been better for easier use. weighs in at just under 4 lbs. Lighter than my old fork but shaving some weight off would've been nice.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou with extra firm titanium springs.
Bike Setup:
Full suspension Klein Mantra Comp. Don't laugh its still lighter than a lot of new full suspension bikes!
Bottom Line:
I've ridden for many years. I ride fairly hard & technical trails. I think its a pretty decent fork for the money. Good for entry level to more experienced like me. Don't bash this fork, its good and solid for the price range. You want a lighter, more adjustable fork you have to spend a lot more to get it. Great overall fork for the budget mtn biker.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob58
a Cross Country Rider
from Coos Bay, OR USA Date Reviewed: June 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Winchester Trails
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Bay Area Bike Center
Strengths:
It's a decent entry level fork, travel is ok enough to do light off road trails and street.
Weaknesses:
Load adjustment does not work well, flimsy build compared to other forks I have used, and just afraid if I jump a bigger jump that they will break! My Manitou forks were terrible for dampening, but a lot stronger than these.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi DJ3, Marzocchi DJ2, Manitou ?
Bike Setup:
2006 Rocky Mountain Soul
Bottom Line:
Would I put out money to buy these forks seperately (if I had to buy a new set of forks)? No. I think the Marzocchi MZ SUPERCOMP would be a better fork for the money.
I will wind up replacing these forks with a Marzocchi fork of some flavor. Would prefer a DJ3, if I can afford it.....
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Submitted by
Dylan Marriott
a Racer
from Bundaberg Queensland Date Reviewed: February 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
With bike
Strengths:
NOt much
Weaknesses:
Bottomed out about 4 times so far.NOt very durable.Crap adjustment...and more.Gettin new 1's
Bike Setup:
Giant and a kona stinky
Bottom Line:
Alrite for not hard riding or racing.If you are getting into hard riding or overly hard riding or racing they will bottom out and brake within a couple of rides..like mine lol
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Submitted by
Sam Vilneff
a Weekend Warrior
from Marmora Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bloody mary
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Sport Chek
Strengths:
doesn't bottom out, has a decent sag on it, strong, durable, maitnence free,
Weaknesses:
hard to adjust, thats about it, nothin really lol
Similar Products Used:
i dont even know, it was on my first bike, Arashi, Pffh
Bike Setup:
IronHorse Warrior Team FS Disc
Bottom Line:
its a great fork, good for just your average trail ride and downhill ride , no issues with it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Green Lane, Pa, USA Date Reviewed: July 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
green lane park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
My workplace
Strengths:
Decent entry level fork. Good amount of travel for XC riding. It's easy to use and has not let me down yet! Can run both v-brakes and discs.
Weaknesses:
Preload adjuster is very hard to move. Fork is somewhat stiff, and a bit heavy.
I work at a bike shop and got this fork for $5 because it was an internal warranty issue. I fixed it and the bossman gave it to me cheap. I've had no issues with it, but it hasn't stood out either. I would recommend this fork as a back up, or as a decent entry level upgrade for a budget minded rider. $5 is a fluke, but this fork can be had cheap on eBay. After fixing this thing I've ridden in dust, mud, and through numerous streams, and I haven't done one bit of maintenance to it. It's nothing special, but it isn't bad either.
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Submitted by
simon
a Cross Country Rider
from PEI, canada Date Reviewed: July 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
brookvale
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
niceish movement of travel, easy to remove spring and change, small bump sensetivity
Weaknesses:
preload knob is really hard to move, very bouncy with almost no dampening [it feels like a trampoline on the trails!]
Bike Setup:
'06 rocky mountain vapor stock except for a pair of spd's
Bottom Line:
great fork for the money but consider upgrading to a rock shox tora or a marzocchi exr pro for more dampening
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
billc
a
from southampton,ny Date Reviewed: June 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
dirt cheap on ebay,i like the 4 inches of travel,and there hard to bottom out.i haven't had them long but i like em so far.
Weaknesses:
stickers,so i removed them
Similar Products Used:
gila tl
Bike Setup:
2002 k2 zed 2.0. just finished rebuild after crushing it with an f250 4 years ago. only survivers were the frame(k2...i believe!!),shimano cranks/shifters/brakes. got new vuelta vision rims,titec hellbent xc bars ,cane creek s-8 headset,kore stem,odi lockons,and just ordered new avid bb7's...making the swap.
Bottom Line:
for the price ,you cant go wrong. i'm an agrresive xc rider,and so far so good with these.
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Submitted by
Sawyer Boswell
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
anything
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
This fork is good for beginner bikers learning to ride the trails.
Weaknesses:
If you're a really good biker and like to ride hard, you'll have to go for another fork
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Dirt Jumpers
Bike Setup:
Tribal Tahiti Full Suspension
Bottom Line:
This fork is over all god for street, and trail riding, good for people learning to bike and developing their skills.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake Date Reviewed: May 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Anything Technical
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
Came With Bike
Strengths:
Cheap has some adjustable travel. Strong
Weaknesses:
The shock is a bit hard. Wouldn't buy it if you are a bit of hard rider.
Similar Products Used:
Dirt jumper 3
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Maverick Trail Team 2006
Bottom Line:
if you are tight on a budget and a novice rider it is alright. i would not by this shock again if I had the chance. low travel, it is just not the best shock you can get for your money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Leighton Chiverton
a Downhiller
from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Bike store
Strengths:
Great, fork. I love to hit trails hard and fast and I have only managed to bottom it out once. Great for ramp riding to. If your starting out and don't want to empty the bank than buy these forks. The J1's are a srong beginning fork.
Weaknesses:
Adjustment is a bit of a pain but other than that it's great.
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse Warrior Team '06
Bottom Line:
Great fork to begin with. I'd reccomend it to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Ohio Date Reviewed: December 31, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Durable.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Bike Setup:
Ironhorse Warrior.
Bottom Line:
This is a very strong and reliable fork. I dont think i will change it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Angus McVey
a Cross Country Rider
from scotland Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Kirk forest Aberdeen
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
With bike
Strengths:
Reosnably priced and good travel for the money.Optionable travel to fit price range.
Weaknesses:
Hard to tune but it can be done.Not that tough.
Bike Setup:
My J1's are on my claudbutler rock hardtail and I have 100mm model of J1.
Bottom Line:
Rockshox J1's are brilliant forks for the money. And there great!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bryce koperski
a Cross Country Rider
from edmonton,alberta,canada Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
sport check
Strengths:
its awsome for the price you cant get a better shock for that price. Dosent bottom out easily works very well.
Weaknesses:
if the temperature drop a little it will barly work.
Similar Products Used:
rock shox judy tt, Marizochi mz 3,
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse warrior team fs.
Bottom Line:
Any one who wants a shock that will work but doesent want to pay lots of $$$$$ has to buy this shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Regis
a
from Pittsburgh, PA Date Reviewed: October 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
good travel, you get a good product for the price
Weaknesses:
cheap construction, made in china
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi All Mtn, Marzocchi Zokes
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Wahoo, Marzocchi All Mtn 1, Hayes disc brakes... pretty much stock
Bottom Line:
This fork came on my 2006 Gary Fisher Wahoo. It seemed to keep up with some very agressive XC riding well.
It only lasted about 3 months though. I broke the crappy plastic preload adjust off.
It can be a nice fork for someone looking to get into mtbing, relatively versatile in that repsect. Just go easy on the preload adjust knob...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ike
a Racer
from canda Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
its very strong and looks good. i've never botomed it out even on 6 ft drops! Its better than other low ends shocks. it doesn't flex alot.
Weaknesses:
The adjuster doesn't work great, other than that there is none
Similar Products Used:
j2 j3 j4 marzzochi m1 m2 m3
Bike Setup:
warrior stock gonna upgrade the shifters
Bottom Line:
This is a great forsk. its good from begginner to advanced riders. you should buy this one. i weight 170 and oof a 6fft drop it didn't bottom out.
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Submitted by
Jacob ????
a Downhiller
from British Columbia Date Reviewed: July 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Softball City Bike Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$396.00
Purchased At:
A Store
Strengths:
everything
Weaknesses:
hard to list
Similar Products Used:
nothing
Bike Setup:
all preassambled
Bottom Line:
This J1 fork is awsome. it does nice drop offs and hard to bottom out on.
this 4 inch travel fork has great suspension.
i am very suprised how the fork turned out.
gooooooo rockshox
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from poughkeepsie Date Reviewed: June 14, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Great shock. never seems to bottom out even on some of the trails I have seen older Manitou's bottom out on. Takes drops nicely. Easy to adjust.
Weaknesses:
The adjustments while easy to make are not noticed that heavily when the shock is new but once it breaks in it is nice.
Bike Setup:
ironhorse
Bottom Line:
great shock for the money, certainly not top shelf but it is a great shock over all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kenneth
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston Date Reviewed: May 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Ant Hills
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Northwest Cyclery
Strengths:
quality low end shock
Weaknesses:
adjustments seem to make little difference between hi and low
Bike Setup:
Garry Fisher Wahoo
Bottom Line:
For 6', 140 lbs. this shock seems to react perfect on some tough trails for me. I went from a non-suspension Rock Hopper and have loved the front suspension. I've been surprised with the great handling for this entry level shock. Any pro knows already they should not buy this shock but if you're on a budget and still want to run tough on the trails it has been perfect for me.
$
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