Submitted by
Rost22
a Downhiller
from Caracas, Venezuela Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
San Luis Bike Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
Bicicletas Gian Carl
Strengths:
Cheap, high quality, soft
Weaknesses:
the preload doesn´t make many diference
Similar Products Used:
RST Omega
Bike Setup:
Gios MTB Pro
Bottom Line:
Im very happy with this fork and my teammates too
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zachariah
a Cross Country Rider
from Palm Desert, California USA Date Reviewed: April 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hurkey Creek Park(24 Hours Adrenalin Course)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Strong
Weaknesses:
Heavy, makes awful clunking sound when topping-out, preload adjustment is useless, nasty speed wobble when riding hands-free.
Similar Products Used:
RST Mozo- another lousy fork, but the Rock Shox J2 is "BADDER"... lol
Bike Setup:
Trek 4900 Disc hardtail
Bottom Line:
At a hefty 5.25lbs, this is Rock Shox sub-entry level fork...and it clearly shows. Your energy will be challenged whenever an obstacle pops up...because your front end certainly will not. And, when you do finally heave your front wheel up- it will be confirmed with a loud click, as the fork stanchions top-out. The preload dial is completely useless, as there is no way to control what this fork does best- top out and bottom out.
Do yourself a huge favor whenever buying a bike spec'd with this front suspension...immediately REPLACE IT, and toss it in the trash. That's right, don't make another rider miserable with it...just scrap it. I weigh 160 and this fork failed to do anything a much lighter rigid fork could.
The nearly six pounds of dead weight is best removed for something that closely resembles functioning. Most bikes can easily be ridden without hands- but with the J2 you will be shocked at how much instability and excessive stiction the fork has and will immediately have you grab the bars...yeah, they are that crappy!
What makes a mountain bike "affordable?" You guessed it...the Rock Shox "Judy2" The first-generation is FAR BETTER than this model. Its a hair just above Wal-Mart quality, and no more. Shame on you, SRAM!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mmjf9696
a Weekend Warrior
from Republic, MO, USA Date Reviewed: March 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
S Pen
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Cycles Unlimited
Strengths:
Rebound adjustment, lock out, preload adjustment.
Weaknesses:
entry level
Similar Products Used:
dart 2 and 3
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar xlt, fox float rear shock, hayes sole disc brakes, rock shock J2.
Bottom Line:
This has been a good shock over the last 2 years. I have become a better rider because of it. It allows you to go over just about anything on a normal XC single track. I have taken a 3 foot drop right on to it and it worked great. It is really easy to adjust to your body weight so you can get it just right.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
biga6462
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, Tx Date Reviewed: January 19, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Tough and Sturdy
Weaknesses:
Not very plush
Similar Products Used:
Manitou - Axel, Fox Vanilla
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 70
Bottom Line:
This fork came on my Trek Fuel 70. I didnt think it would be great but it has proved itself. I have put over 1,600 miles on it and still works like new. This fork has taken a beating and has never needed any type of servicing or adjustment. The only reason I stopped using this fork is because I came across a good deal on a Fox Vanilla. I recommend this for anybody who wants a fork you do not have to spend a lot of time maintaining or if you are a beginner. If you are racing you probably want to go with something else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brady Opalenik
a Weekend Warrior
from South Hadley, MA Date Reviewed: July 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
petes wicked (Batchler st, Granby MA)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
N/A
Strengths:
Good for light people
Weaknesses:
not enough travel and strength for someone 160 pounds or more
Bottom Line:
These are the worst brand forks ever, i hit a jump 1 1/2 feet high and they exploded and i got all of the internal parts shot at my face. it blew up cuz they made the top cap out of plastic not metal so somthing was going to happen eventually. my injuries were concusion, neck problems, scars on my face almost loss of teeth.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott
a Weekend Warrior
from langley, canada Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Sport Mart
Strengths:
Awesome, best suspension i've tried
Weaknesses:
None!!
Similar Products Used:
cheap ones on my old wal-mart bike..
Bike Setup:
Columbia tasman, hayes disc brakes, 29 speed shimano EZ fire shifters
Bottom Line:
Awesome, these forks came stock on my bike ($599 CAD)
I love them, and the whole bike setup!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
phil
a
from canada Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
great fork for riders that dont want to break the big bank to have a good fork
Weaknesses:
not alot of rebound controll
Bottom Line:
a f***ing good fork
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ryan bazley
a Weekend Warrior
from plymouth Date Reviewed: March 31, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
halfords
Strengths:
great rebound
Weaknesses:
the adjustment does'nt make much difference
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
gt aggressor 1 frame
Bottom Line:
For the money they are the best shocks ive had !!!
if your going to buy forks for thet money these are the 1's
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert McGregor
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississauga,Ontario Canada Date Reviewed: March 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Skiis and bikes
Strengths:
Light,Strong and typical Rock Shox quality
Weaknesses:
I think I may have paid too much for them
Similar Products Used:
Rock shox Duke, DJ3's, Dirt jam comp.
Bike Setup:
GSR frame, Rynolight rear crossride front, race face cranks and HS-33 breaks
Bottom Line:
The bike these forks are on is my GF's but we bouth use it for trials and dialing in our technique. She even rides it for long runs in the woods! Nothing but good things to say here. Buy these forks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a
from England Date Reviewed: February 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
harlestone furs
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$165.00
Strengths:
mine have 125mm? which is strange but good lightish
Weaknesses:
none yet...
Similar Products Used:
marzocchi mx comp
Bike Setup:
orange gringo stock for now...
Bottom Line:
an good fork plush i like them
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrew
a Downhiller
from alamo Date Reviewed: January 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
i keeps your hands from getting hurt
Weaknesses:
everything!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
a sr suntur
Bike Setup:
crappy componets and this was the worst
Bottom Line:
i found out why the companys name was rockshox because there forks are as stiff as a rock. i hated it some much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ash
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: October 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Everything
Weaknesses:
None
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 70
Bottom Line:
For the money this is a really great fork. I am planning on using it till it wears out completely. I was under the impression that this fork was going to really suck, but I am completely satisfied with it. I have taken it through about anything imaginable and the fork still works as if it were brand new. I will probably upgrade to a better shock when this one wears out, but if you are entry level, this is perfect for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: September 7, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Cheap, trusty, Lockout is very handy
Weaknesses:
not stiff enough, not enough adjustability for my liking
Similar Products Used:
This came standard on my setup but have since upgraded to a Recon
Bike Setup:
Scott frame, SRAM x7 drivetrain, Recon fork, Shimano mechanical discs
Bottom Line:
Good fork for someone starting out ... good value, some (albeit limited) adjustability, indestructable. Lockout works a dream.. only allows 1 or 2 cm travel to dampen slight bumps... good for hill climbing. Its still working as god as the day i took it out of the shop - ive never done any maintainance on it except for wiping the mud off it. You will find yourself bottoming it out on bigger stuff. I dont know how it would go if you were doing lots of jumps, big drops, etc.. i stick to XC Expect to 'grow out' of them after a year or so
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from marietta, GA USA Date Reviewed: September 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
carters lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
free flite bicycles
Strengths:
adjustable rebound, adjustable lockout
Weaknesses:
bottomed out in 3 months
Similar Products Used:
rock shox judy c, quadra 5
Bike Setup:
mostly stock trek fuel 70
Bottom Line:
i had the rebound set on slow and this fork bottomed out and got stuck in 3 months. keep the rebound set on fast if you want this fork to last at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyler
a
from CA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Warehouse
Strengths:
Everything! Affordable Reliable Light for the price range Works like a dream
Weaknesses:
Not alot of Ajustments, just preset the rebound...
Specialized HardRock Sport Disc, Stock with the exception of the J-2s
Bottom Line:
love it, i jump this bike all the time... i ride really hard and they just take everything i throw at them... great shock, esspecially for the money...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Byron Williams
a Cross Country Rider
from Bismarck, Arkansas Date Reviewed: June 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Cedar Glades
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$79.00
Purchased At:
Blue Sky Cycling
Strengths:
sturdy 4130 steerer and uppers. Price. A little on the heavy side but you cannot really feel it.
Weaknesses:
Spring preload knob is plastic. No compression\rebound dampening adjustments other than changing oil weight.
Similar Products Used:
First "judy" level fork I have ever tried.
Bike Setup:
06'Redline cromoly SS.
Bottom Line:
After changing the spring and the oil weight to suit my weight It worked very well and the 4130 steerer has good grip and strength for my bar tugging single speed riding. For the price I think it cannot be beat for cross country riding. It was a perfect match for my cro. frame SS. I was more than pleased.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from DFW Date Reviewed: May 31, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
cheap fairly plush quiet good pre-load adjustment range able to change rebound damping
Weaknesses:
could be stiffer cheap construction: plastic everywhere, must be gentle! some stiction, esp when brand-new when set soft enough to be plush, blows through it's travel on big hits
Similar Products Used:
various lower-end forks; my fave (and reference) fork is my well-preserved Bomber
Bike Setup:
Mongoose Wing Super
Bottom Line:
I bike the moderate-intensity XC stuff heree in the N Texas area. lots of small hits, roots, rock gardens, very few bigger whacks. This fork, with an oil change, works better than expected in this role. Especially for the price - came on my bike, street price is ~100.
it's a great entry-level fork for general xc. not very stiff, but ok under my 250lb combined bike&rider load. Preload adjustment works great, i ended up setting it pretty soft to get plushness & full travel on the typical trails. It was hugely over-damped from the factory, and would pack up something fierce on multiple quick hits. Switch to 2.5 wt oil in the one leg (go to website for instructions) was quick & easy, made a world of difference.
Set-and-forget fork. once set up, quite plush and comfy going over the trails, but will bottom out pretty hard on any hit more than 18" or so. Steering accuracy is OK, a fair amount of flex present, but nothing ridiculous.
This is a $100 fork, don't expect anything more than you pay for. But for the price point, it's surprisingly comfy, adjustable, and rideable.
Overall i have to give a 3, since there is much room for improvement. but it scores well in the bang for the cash category.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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