Description:Stiff 32mm tapered wall steel upper tubes mated to U-Turn or Solo Air make Tora the perfect choice for today’s high value All Mountain bikes.
Key Features:
-Stout new chassis design, travel up to 130mm
-Weight saving tapered wall 4130 steel upper tubes
-Disc specific or bossed lower leg options
-Forged 6061 hollow aluminum crown
-Solo Air and U-Turn coil spring options
-Motion Control Damping (318)
-Compatible with all PopLocs
-External rebound adjustment
Stunning forks, they are an amazing upgrade on top of the old "insync" forks i had previouslly.
I just love the travel adjustment and the lockout is so helpful for hillclimbing or on the road.
The only thing i can think lets them down is the v-brake mounts which if your using disk brakes they're useless and just look ugly.
BUY BUY BUY, Bargin forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Chandler, AZ Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
GC - North Rim
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
K2 Lithium Package
Strengths:
Comfortable ride and all the necessary adjustments to tune it in.
Weaknesses:
Forks separated after ~10 rides. Top section blew (literally) apart while riding. SRAM honored the warranty via the retailer and rebuilt the shocks. Looks like the only reused section was the lowers. The upper, stem and guts were replaced. Good thing as I was nervous about them rebuilding such an unusual failure. Purchased the bike from REI and they did a GREAT job handling the warranty and the installation.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi
Bike Setup:
Lithium 4.0 - From REI
Bottom Line:
I can't find any other history or incidents of this fork failing like it did. I fact I couldn't find any failures noted on MTBR or through friends & shops. I'm sure there are better forks out there but this seems to get a lot of cudo's. This failure seems to be a fluke. I'll follow up if I have any more issues.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Philip Dial
a Racer
from B'Ville, WV Date Reviewed: December 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
B'Ville Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
John's Cyclery
Strengths:
Stiff, soaks up just about anything once you get it tuned to your liking, which doesn't take but a few rides. Excellent price for a quality air fork with lots of adjustability. Dampening works great.
Weaknesses:
DO NOT SPRAY with water hose. It washes any lube off and you will blow a seal. I would say that all these people with this problem have done so. Although, Rockshox will fix it at no cost. I don't guess that's a weakness.
Similar Products Used:
Comparable to any mid grade Fox fork.
Bike Setup:
Fuji, Mt. Fuji SL, BB7 brakes, Deore XT wheelset
Bottom Line:
This is a great for if you know how to take care of a fork. Do you powerspray your other forks? You shouldn't. Don't do that to this one. Keep it lubed and it will treat you wonderfully. I love it. I have no complaints at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach Whitmore
a Weekend Warrior
from Lutz, Fl, Hillsborough Date Reviewed: December 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Tsali, NC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Olivers cycle Sports
Strengths:
This fork is sweet, I have banged on it in every kinda way and it keeps riding like brand new. It is stiff, Plush, and smooth. All functions work as new despite the miles and abuse it has taken.
Weaknesses:
cant find any
Similar Products Used:
Bomber, many other rock shox, cannondale headshox, lefty
Bike Setup:
Cannondale hardtail
Bottom Line:
This fork is great
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Riley
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: December 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Nobel Canyon Loop Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
California Bicycles
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
I had same exact experience as posted by the rider in his October 2007 comments.....no dampening even when adjustment knob was set all the way to tortoise=rebound like a trampoline. Did not hold air very well. I just ride this to my middle schooll each day and do jumps off of curbs and that is it. After 11-months on my G/Fisher HKEK, I hopped a 6" bump on a downhill section of an asphalt bike path and the whole lower part of the fork BLEW OUT of the upper part--the fork was in 2 pieces. I was going fairly fast and "supermanned" the asphalt pretty hard leaving deep gashes & blood on both wrists, both elbows, both knees, shoulder and my stomach. I should not have to even worry that these could EVEN come apart.
Bike Setup:
2006 Gary Fisher HooKooEeeKoo
Bottom Line:
I should not have to even worry that these could EVEN come apart. My bike store took care of everything without question and RockShox replaced it with an upgraded shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fantasy Island
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
eBay (Bob's Bikes)
Strengths:
Affordable, big stanchions, classy looks, strength & durability, lightweight
Weaknesses:
Flat black finish sure to look terrible in a few weeks, solo air
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Judy J1, Manitou Answer
Bike Setup:
2006 Iron Horse Maverick Team
Bottom Line:
The Tora 318 is a solid upgrade for a weekend rider. If you rider recreationally or just some light XC, the Tora 318 is a smart choice.
It is relatively light but still beefy, meaning you won't tire yourself from a bulky fork. It has up to 130mm of travel, so if you are out on a punishing trail it can take it.
The fork looks nice too, but I'm fairly certain the flat-black finish will scuff up quickly.
Overall, the Tora 318 is an affordable fork for light riding. I certainly wouldn't use this for any sort of crazy downhill stuff, but it is a good blend of durability, light weight, and performance. They're on eBay for about $250 brand new.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott costello
a
from esussex england Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
07 GIANT rincon upgraded the J1 to the tora 318 u-turn
Bottom Line:
cheap, I have had no problems using it for: downhilling, XC, allmountain, dirt jumps, and drops
the fork does not bounce around when you ride but is so nice on drops(especially!!) and rooty sections.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neville Cragg
a Downhiller
from Cape Town Date Reviewed: August 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
neville.cragg@telkomsa.net
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came on new Bike
Strengths:
Fairly plush, Poploc, Adjusters work well. Holds air.
Weaknesses:
None for the use it was meant for...
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi 66VF, Rock Shox Judy, Rock Shox Reba.
Bike Setup:
Giant Reign,Stock.
Bottom Line:
This fork was worked well from day one, it didn't really handle drops and jumps the way I needed it to, I kept bottoming it out, and for that I've upgraded to the 66 when I DH,But this fork wasn't meant to be jumped. I mostly ride single track with loads of rocks and roots, and the Tora coped better than expected, Holds air, I can set and forget. I've since put is on my wife's bike and run it really low pressure. It's really helped her riding and tracks well over the singletrack, giving her way more confidence. I haven't had a days trouble with this fork in a year's riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Russell
a Cross Country Rider
from Walton on Thames, UK Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Looks nice and appears to have lots of adjustability.
Weaknesses:
Mine failed after only 9 months and 90% light trail/road riding 10% singletrack/mild downhill.
Bike Setup:
2006 Giant XTC Lx
Bottom Line:
Look good, but I have serious doubts about reliability having the forks blow a seal recently for no apparent reason.
If I was a proper weekend warrior and giving the forks a hammering every weekend for the last 9 months, I'd expect to need to service them. However, I dont' ride that regularly, and when I do it's not usually hardcore stuff - occasionally do the odd biking weekend with some friends, but that's about it.
Not all that cheap at £189 - there are plenty of other options available from other manufacturers such as Marzocchi & Manitou.......which I am seriously considering if the new set I'll hopefully get under warranty go the same way.
Think you are paying for the name to be honest.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Canton, GA US and A Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bear Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
OutSpokin Bikes
Strengths:
Price
Weaknesses:
Everything else
Similar Products Used:
Fox
Bottom Line:
Used the shock two months and the dampening blows out, nothing but a spring. I finish the ride and the lockout, which does not really lock out, breaks inside.
May be good for first timers, but I would never specifically purchase this shock. It came on my Specialized.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Eastern WA, US Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
stiff, reasonably plush, handles a heavy rider fine
Weaknesses:
Heavy, relatively limited adjustability
Bike Setup:
Fisher Cobia
Bottom Line:
This is a much better fork than I expected to find on a $900 bike. It tracks as accurately as a rigid fork and soaks up big (by my standards) and small hits well. Contrary to what others have said, my lockout works fine. Either these forks really do need break-in, or the quality is inconsistent.
Buy this fork if you want a good cheapish 29er fork and don't care too much about weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Diogo Magalhães
a Cross Country Rider
from Lisboa Date Reviewed: April 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Arrábida
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Very good overall, its maintence its really easy and takes a hell of a punch every once in a while whithout ending up with jiggly pieces inside the tubes hehe.
Weaknesses:
The only 2 defects i could find were both located at the spring, first of all on the middle of the spring there is this cheap ugly piece of plastic used to prevent the spring from bouncing against the tube but that plastic thing keeps sliding down whenever you make a more intensive bumpie ride, second,the pressure you have to put on the spring through the preload "buton" (dont know what to call it)must be applyed very offen, may be even in the middle of the ride, wich may come as an ugly surprise while coming down a roots full downhill path.
Bottom Line:
I love the Shocks great price for this, the problems i refered can be solved easly but its a bit anoying. If you want some exelent shocks for some heavy rides for a low cost, take it.If you are just starting out you may find it expensive but believe me it will be a solid investment cause you wont find as better for as low price. If you only take a few bumpie roads and get a bit of mud this is a bit 2 much since you will pass just fine with a J2.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark pent
a Cross Country Rider
from bonita, CA usa Date Reviewed: February 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Laguna
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
On 2006 K2 Lithium
Strengths:
nada
Weaknesses:
air seals blow out with any pressure over 90 lbs. SRAM is impossible to contact for warranty. Sure they give you a 2 year warranty...try to use it!!!
Similar Products Used:
Marzzocchi
Bike Setup:
Replaced hydrologies with BB7s. Replaced whatever shifters that came with XTR
Bottom Line:
OK, I ride easy, often and long. RocK shock rear shock losing air prevented me from using bike for two months. Got that fixed at REI. Good thing I held onto my Bianchi. So I've used the bike maybe five times. No falls. No jumps. No bumps over 3 inches. Now the worthless Tora front shocks won't keep the air in. Why does everything that SRAM touches turn to crapola?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Reading, UK Date Reviewed: February 22, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
(price in gbp)
Strengths:
Near enough everything
Weaknesses:
nothing major
Similar Products Used:
Really old marzocchi bombers
Bike Setup:
Solo Air, Remote Lockout
Bottom Line:
Excellent forks, i tried a few others in the shop that were around my price range where i was instantly drawn to this particular fork, and walked home with a rockshox box about half an hour later. i would definately recommend them to anyone looking to upgrade their bike around this price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Irwan -
a Cross Country Rider
from Jakarta, Indonesia Date Reviewed: January 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
West Java, Indonesia
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Indonesia
Strengths:
It looks good and very comfort for your elbow
Weaknesses:
Heavier?
Similar Products Used:
RST Gila
Bike Setup:
Amoeba Hussar
Bottom Line:
It is a great shock for XC Rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ton
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands Date Reviewed: December 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
it looks good and is great value for an all air fork. You'll probably need the guarantee.
Weaknesses:
it's seems fragile. During an average xc-ride the left air chamber exploded! No one got hurt but the fork needed to be fixed.
Bike Setup:
Cube LTD team (check out www.bike2build.com)
Bottom Line:
if you don't mind being careful (meaning using your breaks more than necessary) or going to the repair shop this is an excellent fork!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrew
a
from auburn Me/plymouth NH Date Reviewed: October 22, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
rainbow bicycle
Strengths:
warrantee
Weaknesses:
no dampening even when adjustment knob was set all the way to tortoise=rebound like a trampoline. on 3rd ride i blew out most of the air on a ~1 foot drop. after i put more air in no new issues came up, but it still felt crappy and didn't perform consistantly. on maybe my 8th ride on the hoo koo e koo, i got up on the back wheel to hop a water bar while descending an easy section of trail, and the whole lower part of the fork BLEW OUT of the upper part--the fork was in 2 pieces. i was going fairly fast and ate it pretty hard ( stretched ligaments in left thumb & sprained wrist, did something bad to shoulder) a frind helped me bash the lower part of the fork back into the upper so that i could roll the bike back to the trailhead.
Bike Setup:
came stock on an 06 hoo koo e koo
Bottom Line:
this fork tried to kill me
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dustin Dever
a Racer
from Melbourne Australia Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Plush, relatively light, can be changed from 100 to 130mm travel, motion control, price
Weaknesses:
None really
Bike Setup:
banshee scirocco
Bottom Line:
We you really have to compare this product to other products in the same price range. If you do that you will realise that it is the best, no questions asked. I have used this fork in xc races at 100mm and have done a few downhill runs with it at 130mm. It is fantastic! The feel is great giving you a great range of travel without bottoming out. Very plush for an air fork. The motion control is also great but i dont really use it. But on the road it is a great help and is basically locked out. I dont know how much abuse it could take, but it has taken 3 months from me! I am now upgrading to a lighter and stronger fork, fox vanilla, however they are nearly double the price, probably not twice as goo though!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Man Rom
a Weekend Warrior
from UKR Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006
Its great for extreme XS and light freeride ( äóæå êëàñíî ï³äõîäèòü äëÿ åêñòðåìàëüíîãî êàòàííÿ ïî ë³ñó, ãîðàì ³ò.ï.)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dorian ruiz
a Cross Country Rider
from las vegas Date Reviewed: September 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
timberline, brianhead
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
the bike shop, nv
Strengths:
very dependable, took a great beatin, never bottomed out and the remote lockout works great, now I'm spoiled
Weaknesses:
none so far, the only prob I've had was it takes about 3 miles of riding before the remote lockout works
Similar Products Used:
manitou, judy,
Bike Setup:
trek fuel 70 , with toura 318, and pearl 3.1 rear shock
Bottom Line:
The front fork handles everything I've thrown at it so far, from big boulders to nasty roots, the lockout is awesome when I need to climb and pedal , for the price it is so worth it , I would recommend this front fork to anyone who does hard riding or just goes out for a cruise, it's also stiff enough so It handles real well around those technical rides, definitely a good buy..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Terry
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Whaka forest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
on line auction
Strengths:
sturdy, well made, lockout, adjstable. Easy to work on.
Weaknesses:
Rebound adjustor nob fell off.Lucky to find it.Now ride with it in a bag. Need care setting up poploc.
Similar Products Used:
Just older shocks. Judy TT, manitou magnum. No fair comparison
Bike Setup:
Old 99 FSR comp. Pretty stock. just hydro disks added and decent rims.
Bottom Line:
Nice shock. Very adjustable. As a basic XC rider and some jumps (small) and lots of technical up/downhill its a perfect compromise. Probably a bit heavy for purist but with lockout it climbs well. Only issue is the incorporated rebound adjustor tool (which is a nob with attached allen key fitting into the actual adjustor) falls out. Suggest taking if off and store separately. ALso, the poploc at first wasnt great. Reason was the remote does not have enough pull to fully lockout so you need to advance the blue nob a bit while tightening the cable into it. A bit tricky but once set up the remote will fully advance the compression adjuster and the lockout works really well. Value rating is for $140 US 2 rides old so not really relevant for buying new
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mervs
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Banos, Laguna, RP Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
los banos and bataan trails
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$202.00
Purchased At:
king's bike shop
Strengths:
This is for the Tora 318 U-Turn. Product strength lies mainly on the fork's chockful of features including adjustable travel,compression, rebound plus remote lockout (poplock)which comes in handy for extended climbs and flat land riding. Versatile, robust, plush and sturdy. The Motion Control thingy seems to actually work. Truly an excellent trail worthy fork that comes at a bargain price.
Weaknesses:
The definition of all mountain nowadays (more on moderate drops and other aggressive antics) will limit the capabilities of this fork.It is mainly an all around trail fork but may not be suited for big hit stuff (leave it to the Pike?)or racing (you got the Reba for that)
One glaring weakness is the rebound adjustment design which consist of a removable knob which falls off easily (twas a good thing i was able to haggle for a replacement)
No travel gradients unlike the higher end Recons/Revelations etc. but not too big a deal since i rarely find reasons to use the U-turn.
Too soft for small/moderate drops ( i feel i might bottom out the thing; but then it's not designed for this)
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Drop-Off, MZ-Comp,
Bike Setup:
Giant Warp all mountain/aggressive trail bike set-up
Bottom Line:
As tired and cliched as it sounds i'd have to say that this fork fully illustrates and actualizes the "best bang for the buck" pitch. The Tora 318 is perhaps the best fork in its class and price range. Its closest competitors from Fox, Zokes and Manitou are much more expensive, not to mention less features/adjustability to offer.
It is a true trail fork though it may not measure up to the rigors of the "all-mountain" forks brandished nowadays which are bordering on the extreme end of the spectrum.
Riding technical trails have never been this sweet and on climbs i have truly experienced the benefits of the remote lock out. i found little need to use the adjustable travel.
In spite of its minor weaknesses (poor rebound adjustment design, a bit heavy, no frills looks) i would dare say that the Tora is one of the best mountain bike forks on the market today (regardless of its price and lower class pedigree)
I love this fork!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: August 16, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
This fork is good. This fork is great. This fork is a good deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BLOPA
a Weekend Warrior
from BUENOS AIRES Date Reviewed: August 16, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
local store
Strengths:
robust. poploc remote works.works well at any condition
Weaknesses:
heavier?
Similar Products Used:
suntour, spiner talon
Bottom Line:
very very good fork. quality, design and very easy to set.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nick clayton
a Weekend Warrior
from london, united kingdom Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
merlin cycles
Strengths:
travel adjustability (internal though) remote poploc general adjustability/tuning capabilities
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
psylo xc u-turn, magura vidar, zocchi zi drop off
Bike Setup:
custom specc'd rock lobster hardtail
Bottom Line:
very good so far, general tune-ability great, smooth once worn in, travel easily adjusted, poploc superb for climbing and road/street use. these are a definate improvement on my first experience of rockshox (psylo u-turns), and excellent for price range
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from United Kingdom Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating: