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RockShox Judy 100 99

MSRP $
# of Reviews 54
Average Rating 3.8/5
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Submitted by Scott Marcano a from Enid, OK. USA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:Black Mountain, NC
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $200.00
Purchased At:Price Point
Strengths:Great Travel, never serviced
Weaknesses:In all these years I wonder!
Similar Products Used:Bike came with the Indy.
Bike Setup:97 Specialized Ground Control, XT everything, rynolight wheels, Avid mech-disks, riser handle bar.
Bottom Line:Ridden it for years, 6, never serviced. Great travel, saved my butt many times since I love hard core technical trails. It handles moderate drops, up to 5 feet or so. Just makes me wonder how good the new forks are, I'll find out soon since I'm in the market for an "all-mountain" bike. I'm sure the new bigger staunchons are much more stiff, we will see.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Mark a Cross Country Rider from Denver CO USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:Fred's Lunch - Vail
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $200.00
Strengths:Looks good, rides well, and has good travel. I say this after replacing the springs.
Weaknesses:It is a little on the heavy side, not too bad though. The springs that it came with suck. Change 'em out.
Similar Products Used:Marzocchi dirt jumper, Manitou Black
Bike Setup:GT i-drive w/ Shimano XT derailleurs, XT brakes, deore levers. Mavic 217 rims.
Bottom Line:Overall a great shock with the after market springs in there. I am not a heavy rider at all (175 lbs) but the springs that it came with were like jello. I do some xc, free ride and downhill and find this is a good all around fork.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Jared Raynes a Downhiller from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:Victora Park Nats course
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $400.00
Purchased At:pennys
Strengths:I like the red, THAT IS IT!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses:Everything, these are the crappest fork ever. rockshoxs say do mantainence every 100 hours... i was doing it every ride.
Similar Products Used:Bomber freeride, ohhh baby way way better fork
Bike Setup:mongoose with all the works
Bottom Line:I have blown the seals about 10 times in 2 years, and now they are f**ked. i had to buy new forks because they just stopped working and there was nothing i could do about it.
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Richard a Weekend Warrior from Cork, Ireland
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2001
Favorite Trail:Macroom Golf course
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Purchased At:Pauls Cycles
Strengths:reasonable looks
Weaknesses:poor paint job, easily broken
Similar Products Used:Marzocchi Z4 100, RST 261
Bike Setup:GT XCR 3000, Bomber Z4 100, mostly LX, Deore cranks, Mavic X221 rims.
Bottom Line:Mine took a minor hit from the front and have never been working right since, there a huge amount of top out since the crash and none of the shops I've tried has been able to sort them out.

The paint had also began to clip of on various areas of the legs.

I ended up just getting Bomber Z4's as a replacment and they've been superb ever since I got 'em.
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

Submitted by MATT a Cross Country Rider from Long Island
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001
Favorite Trail:Rocky Point
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $200.00
Purchased At:price point
Strengths:Pretty smooth, not bad in weight, progressive,.
Weaknesses:LEaks oil, big problem with topping out, poor quality in internal parts, legendary RS customer support (lol).
Similar Products Used:Older Judy's, Do i dare say it.......AN INDY XC LONGTRAVEL! YIKES!
Bike Setup:XT/XTR,King head, Mavik 517's, 2k XCR 1000, raceface cranks, only thing left from old LTS 3000 frame are the paralax STX hubs.
Bottom Line:OK here is the honest truth. I ride this shock hard, take very good maintenance of it and every season so far has called for about 2-3 overhauls usually involving replacement of crappy plastic top out bumpers which get eaten up after a few 100 miles....AHHHH! Every little hit feels like a loose headset and trust me it aint the chris king headset folks! I am at my wits end because the travel past the first 1 is so smooth and i have it set up really well for a 160 lb rider except i cant fix the topout/oil leaks i have been getting for a while now. The model i have is nice, an OEM model with the alluminum adjusters but it is killing my XCR ride. But as far as value i'd have to say for 200 bucks you cant beat it really. Thinking about going for the Y2K X FLY but i aint wild about what i've heard about small hits.....any suggestions?
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Dano a Weekend Warrior from Surrey, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:eBay
Strengths:Smooths out the bumps, and I've never came close to bottoming out on it. I'm a cross-country rider - no dropping off of cliffs etc.
Weaknesses:Lot's of negative travel, but this may be true of many others.
Similar Products Used:Rock Shox Quadra
Bike Setup:1996 Gary Fisher Big Sur - My first MTB
Bottom Line:This shock can handle way more than I can safely ask it to and therefore it does the job. The increased length/travel of the fork may slow down your steering but you can get used to it. For the money, I think I got a great deal compared to what else is available.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Dan a Racer from UCSD
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $55.00
Purchased At:Purchased from Rock Shox
Strengths:4" of travel
Small Adjustability (What do you expect from a mid priced fork?)
Quite Strong for a fork in this Price Range($350)
Weaknesses:The bushings are a little weak.
Small Adjustability (What do you expect from a mid priced fork?)
Similar Products Used:I work in a bike shop. (A lot of forks)
Bottom Line:The Bottom Line is, I read what people write about this fork ,and most of it is BS; This fork is not going to flex nearly as much as people clam it will. I also read in one review that this fork does not do good in the rain, WHAT THE HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT? This fork has a seal, 2 sets of bushings and a set of rings; nothing is going to get in this fork if you clean it up every month or two. The bottom line is Rock Shox makes a good fork based on the Boxxer for $350.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by fonseca a Weekend Warrior from Harrisonburg, Va, USA
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:Wild Oaks
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $320.00
Strengths:Very smooth
Tuneable with different springs and oil weights
Can take a beating
Weaknesses:Should have come with boots
Slight leg flex
Similar Products Used:Quadra 21
Judy SL
Manitou SX
Bottom Line:I bought it in early '99, and the first thing I did was install some White Bros wipers. Anyone dumb enough to ride this fork in the rain or mud deserves to have bushing problems! Lizard Skin boots are $5 and velcro on, requiring no disassembly. And if you're too stupid to ride without boots you should not be attempting class V maintainance either. I know a lot of you are on a budget, but your LBS should be working on your fork for you.

I have changed my oil twice, switching from a custom 13 weight to 10 weight. When I drained the oil there were only traces of dirt, and no water. I think fork wipers filled with slick honey (and checked after every few rides) is the reason. Also, I use the salsa brake booster, which really eliminates leg flex and helps with brake fade as well. My final comment is that you should not work on this fork unless you own a torque wrench. The torque specifications are given for a reason. If you are leaking oil, RTFM! Minus 1 star in the value rating for not including boots and for leg flex, which I had to correct with aftermarket items.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by AJ Granato a Racer from Pittsfiled Ma US
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:Danger to health ones
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $170.00
Purchased At:Wheel World
Strengths:everything! color, travel, toughness, and looks good and rides good on anyway bike.
Weaknesses:everything except nothing!
Similar Products Used:Judy XC (when converted to 100mm )
Bike Setup:99' FSR, avid disc in front, stock V in rear, Flat ritchey handle bars, bontrager bar ends, GT saddle, Rock shox Delux in rear (not too proud of that).
Bottom Line:I'm 14, and I started off ith a 97 Giant WARP ds1. It dident last with my riding, I had Indy S in front and a giant shock in rear. Then i was gonna upgrade the fork to a judy XLC but my local store said the frame would crack! so i said f*ck that and got a FSR I dident want a triple crown fork on the bike... so I got a Judy 100. Ever sense I've never had soo much fun goin off cliffs and takin big hits with this thing. If you're lucky enough to find one in good condition, BUY IT! Judy's are the best and with 100mm of travel ya cant beat it for the price!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by mike a Downhiller from vancouver,bc,canada
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:anything with drops
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $300.00
Purchased At:cizaps
Strengths:everything i mean this shock rips sh$t up
Similar Products Used:jetts, xvert dc, marz.....
Bike Setup:98 fsr elite sweet ride
Bottom Line:the bottom line is that these forks tear, you cant break them they handle 6-8 footers and i dont expect anything else from it. it has never leaked oil and i have never maintained them i have never touched them since i bout them new. they do have a bit of flex when riding on a laid back trail with little rocks and stuff, but when it comes to the shore they acually handled it good.so the bottom line pretty much means they are good to go..................
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by yonkers wonkers a Downhiller from danvers MA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2001
Favorite Trail:FREE RIDER
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $236.00
Purchased At:western cycles
Strengths:it is a great fork i have never had a problem with it
Weaknesses:there is none !!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:z3 100
Bike Setup:GT Agressor sun mammoth front and rear dh rims Judy 100 fork tomac dh bars DH stem XT crank Black spire rock ring
Bottom Line:this is a great fork and i have never had a problem with it and i will probbally never have any probs i dont know what these guys are talking about there is no flex at all. and it never leaks oil and ya every one has to change oil once and a while so buy it if you need 4" of travel and u want a good DH fork or a good FREE RIDE fork and if u are hard core. i beat the crap out of it and there is no probs

BUY IT !!!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Garner Of the Hill People a Weekend Warrior from Columbia, MO
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2001
Favorite Trail:Little Blakely
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:used/with frameset off MTBR
Strengths:probably hefty enough to kill Doyle with it
Weaknesses:pukes worse than Calista Flockhart
Similar Products Used:Girvin Crosslink, aired-out Judy XC, Manitou SX-Ti '97, Judy C hydracoil, Quadra 21R, Manitou Spyder R
Bike Setup:8900 Trek/Race Face/Avid/USE XCR/XT-XTR...
Bottom Line:I got this in trade with my current frame set. Thought I'd play with it before selling it. Liked the 4" travel, and sold my well used Girvin for some new singletrack play (got off the rocks when I moved). Well, there've been more than a few days I wished I still had the old link'd wonder since I started riding this thing. I've put new seals on it, White Bros wipers (had Lizard Skin booties awhile), and changed the oil a few times. There's just not enough overlap with the stancions and sliders to make this thing a contender. Excess wear on the stancions and mo' flex. It uses more oil than my '75 Bronco; I literally top it off after every 30 miles or so I'll actually have a little resistance in it. When it held oil it was a fun, albeit not overly technically proficient ride. I gave it a chance because Rock Shox had finally ditched the MCU charade and built a Bomber. Well, Marzocchi built a better one and mine's in the mail. Did I mention the oil drip stains on my carpet?
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Blackwell a Weekend Warrior from Mission Viejo
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2001
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:Inexpensive
Weaknesses:No boots
Bike Setup:'99 GT XCR 3000
Bottom Line:This shock came with my '99 XCR, which I bought in May of '00. This is my first suspension ride, so I don't have much to compare it to, but here's my 2 cents anyway. I weigh about 145, and only ride on weekends, so I've never really hammered on the bike very hard; the shock never bottomed out, but after 4 or 5 months, it started making sounds of "excessive topping out" (per the RS manual.) Took the bike to the shop to have it tuned, and they said the fork was fine. Now, about a month or 2 later, the fork is leaking oil, and is back at the shop. I'll probably end up buying boots for it; maybe that will help.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Anthony Granato a Cross Country Rider from Pittsfield Ma
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2000
Favorite Trail:if dangers involved, I like it
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $170.00
Purchased At:Jenson USA
Strengths:Great fork! Enough travel 4 fun riding, nice racey red with gold, adds nice feature to full suspension.
Weaknesses:High riding (but same with any long travel fork)
Similar Products Used:???
Bike Setup:Specialized Enduro Pro with lots a crap!
Bottom Line:buy this if you need travel/plushness without the price
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Matt Stuart a Cross Country Rider from Roseville, CA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:Mr. Toads Wild Ride
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Purchased At:came with Trek 8500
Strengths:Nice looking fork, looks fast. 4" of travel.
Weaknesses:Seals suck, requires a lot of maintenance, Slightly on the heavy side, not to rigid.
Similar Products Used:Marzocchi Z3 100
Bike Setup:My Trek 8500 remains pretty much stock besides the pedals (Swithed to a Ritchey logic pro from the bontrager Re-1 after braking two sets) and also sitched seat post to a syncros.
Bottom Line:When I first bought the bike the shock quickly deteriorated spuing oil everywhere. I quickly learned that this shock was going to be a lot of work. I weigh about 180 lbs and finding the right amount of oil and oil weight was critical.I use a marzocchi 7.5 weight oil. I also always wipe the boots free of dirt before every ride and lube it up real good with triflow. Since i started working on it myself i haven't had any problems with the seals and I feel comfortable rollin over anything at high speed. It handles Mr. Toads real well to my surprise. Can't say though that i will ever buy a rock shox fork or a bike with one on it with the intention of keeping it on. Im building a FS Ventanna and I plan for a nice Marzocchi Z-1 X-Fly.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Rebel . a Downhiller from Mill Valley
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:Temelpa
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Purchased At:Start to Finish
Strengths:This fork is hella cool. Light, plush, and good looking, too. Lighter than my Z1, but not as stiff or plush (but then it does have 1" less travel).
Weaknesses:None.
Similar Products Used:Z3 Flilight 100
X-Vert Super
Bike Setup:Stock 99 8500 with Pr1mo pedals and rock ring.
Bottom Line:Get this fork for light freeride/DH and heavy XC/endurance rides. It has held up in the rain and the sand, and will continue to do so. Try it on Mount Tam sometime. Wheeler with this fork is like heaven.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by jeremy a Downhiller from new york
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:steep ones
Duration Product Used:Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:relatively plush, cheap, look cool,
Weaknesses:only 100mm's of travel, not great for the kind of riding i do, but not bad for xc. boots get f*cked up
Similar Products Used:jetts, manitou mags, sx
Bike Setup:my xc bike is trek 4500 with rock shox psylo(the best fork i have ever ridden)
Bottom Line:these shox are really good. but, get them only if your gonna ride, i hate when people buy shox and dont even ride off road, they got a nice price tag, and u can ride 'em like a b*tch
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by A.S. . a Downhiller from NY
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000
Favorite Trail:A Dirty One
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $300.00
Purchased At:Web Retailer
Strengths:-Good Looking
-Reliable
-Plush
-Relatively Cheap
Weaknesses:-Flexy
-None Adjustable
-Heavy For Such A Flexy Fork
Similar Products Used:-Manitou X Vert
-Rock Shox Judy
Bike Setup:Intense Uzzi SL
Bottom Line:The fork has been good to me. It's never blown a seal or bottomed out. It has remained smooth for over a year. I do have a few grips though. The first one beeing that it's too flexy. I could understand if it were an air sprung SID that weighed 2.5lbs, but the 100 weighs in at 4lbs. I could have gotten a Marazocchi Z3 and gotten a much stiffer fork at the same weight. Another disappointing fact is the lack of dampning adjusters. You'll have to play with spring and oil weights to get the fork to feel different than stock - then again, stock might feel just right.

It's a good fork but with newer options like the Psylo and SID 100 that are lighter, stiffer and adjustable, you have better choices.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Kevin Lima a Cross Country Rider from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2000
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $200.00
Strengths:Long Travel
Not very heavy
Great deal (on sale)
Weaknesses:Not a stiff fork
Bike Setup:GT Palomar hardtail
Bottom Line:I like that the product has fairly long travel and drop offs are no problem. But it is not very stiff fork. The bottom line is that I got a good deal on it because it was last years model.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Simon a Downhiller from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2000
Favorite Trail:Oropi
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $560.00
Purchased At:Pins Cycles
Strengths:Good all round fork, nice and progressive
Weaknesses:Started creaking after 6 months or so, seals blow quite often aswell
Similar Products Used:Marzocchi Z1
Bike Setup:Slalom Hardtail / Downhill Hardtail
Bottom Line:Good all round long travel single crown fork.
If you are a very heavy aggressive rider, these are not the forks for you
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Ralph a Weekend Warrior from Mamaroneck, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:saxon woods
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $399.00
Purchased At:OEM on GT i-drive
Strengths:cushy, light weight, easy maintenance
Weaknesses:flexy with 180 lb rider on firm springs (see below)
Similar Products Used:Mag21, judys, etc
Bike Setup:GT i-drive xcr 3000
Bottom Line:I have had thes forks for almost 26 months now. Only torn down once. They were delivered on my i-drive with soft springs which made them way to soft, but did not flex. I was wondering what people were talking about. Then I put firm springs on and they were way too flexy. Med spring are the max, no clydesdales either. I am 180 plus full body armor and ride "soft and light" through most of the bad sh*t and these just do not track well enough for me. I would rather more weight and strength. But I would say a 160 lb rider with less finesse could still ride straight and hard without much problem on these. A good product, but not for heavier riders who would rather have more weight and less flex
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

Submitted by EM NOB a Weekend Warrior from VICTORIA B.C CANADA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:ANYTHING WITH DROPS
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:HAS A NICE FELL , UNTIL IT STOPS WORKING
Weaknesses:FLEX , FLEX AND MORE FLEX . NO GOOD IN THE RAIN
Bike Setup:GT XCR 3000
Bottom Line:WHO EVER HEARD OF A FREERIDE FORK THAT CAN'T TAKE THE RAIN?
I ENVY ALL OF YOU WHO SAID YOUR FORKS STOPED WORKING AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS . MINE STOPED THE MINUTE THE TRAILS GOT WET[ ONLY 2 WEEKS AFTER I GOT THEM ].THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE WHERE YOU GET RAIN AVOID THESE FORKS LIKE THE PLEGUE . BUY A MARAZOCCI INSTEAD .
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Duncan a Weekend Warrior from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:the North Shore
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:4 inches of travel
Weaknesses:crappy seals, poor bushings, flexy
Bike Setup:trek 8500, hayes disks
Bottom Line:After a year of riding on the shore the forks are dead. After a weekend of riding they need a total overhaul and they still leak like crazy even after replacing the seals. The bushings seem to be really poor quality.
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Joe Schield a Weekend Warrior from Lee's Summit, MO., USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2000
Favorite Trail:South Mountain Park
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Purchased At:Bike America
Strengths:4 inches of travel at 4 pounds. "resonably" priced
Weaknesses:I have replaced seals, bushings, oil several times. It has developed a cronic squeaking noise. Needed to come with Boots or Wipers. I added SID wipers.
Similar Products Used:98' Judy XL, 97' Judy C
Bike Setup:99' GT XCR 3K. White Industries Cranks, Cross Link Wheels, Easton CT2 High-Rise and Post, Terry Ti saddle, Fox 700lbs. spring, Huchison Python Lite tires, Everything else OEM. 27.89 lbs Dry Weight
Bottom Line:The Judy 100 was a very functional fork. I have ridden this fork very hard and have not had any catastrophic problems with it. This fork is reasonable priced. Ideal buyer is someone looking for at least 4' of travel on a budget. It came with the Bike in April 99' and I will be retiring it arround the November 00' time frame.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Dave a Weekend Warrior from West Chester, PA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2000
Favorite Trail:Brandywine St. Park
Duration Product Used:3 months
Purchased At:Beans Bikes
Strengths:4 inches of travel
Weaknesses:The seals blow oil everywhere. My fork legs are constantly wet with oil leakage. The seals suck. I went off a small jump, and both topcaps and cap seals blew off in my face. The fork still works ok, but it can't take much. I'm getting rid of it ASAP and buying a Z1
Similar Products Used:97 Indy SL, 97 Judy XC
Bike Setup:99 Heckler X- DH setup: Stock wheels with kujo 2.35
XC: SPOX m2 with fire XC
Bottom Line:Don't buy it. Its a waste of money. It doesn't live up to its intended use. If you are a light XC guy who wants a little extra travel, it might work for you.
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Martin Daris a from Quebec
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2000
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:Plush, very active on small hits
Light
Weaknesses:Flex, (just put the brakes and push your bike forward to see! Crap Seals...
Similar Products Used:Z3 Light, JrT, Judy SL...
Bike Setup:XCR-3000 , mavic rims and XT Everywhere...
Bottom Line:I had several problems with rock shox forks in the past. I even said I`d never go back on them. 2 months ago I bought a used XCR-3000 for trail riding. Then came a Judy 100 in my life. I like the ride, but sometimes It doesn't feel like having 4 inches, it's more like 3... Last week-end I went for a full-day ride in the rain with muddy conditions. Guess what? It seized... It comfirms what I think about Rock Shox...
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Dane a Downhiller from College Place WA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2000
Favorite Trail:Stair-jumping and also cliff trails
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $350.00
Purchased At:Tri-Cities Schwinn
Strengths:Has excellent softness as well as great rebound. The Judy's have a good feeling
Weaknesses:A bit of trouble with a clicking sound that couldn't be fixed.
Bike Setup:99 GT XCR 3000. LOVE IT!
Bottom Line:Works well, even though I am doing up to 10 stairs and big jumps out there.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by stefan teh chairlifter of the resort a Downhiller from ny, vermont
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2000
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $249.00
Purchased At:wheelworld
Strengths:dosn't bottom out, forks without boots look cool, ultra plush and truns and handles suprisenly well, hmmmmm interesting huh
Weaknesses:i haven't experienced weeknesses such as teh water=seizing theory, possibly the seals could be a little tighter, try lizard skins on these
Bottom Line:dam good deal i oyu can get it for 250
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Ben Estdale a Weekend Warrior from Dover, Kent, England.
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000
Favorite Trail:Penshurst
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $300.00
Purchased At:Activ, Folkestone, Kent
Strengths:Out of the box plushness, Reliability, Quality finish, performance.
Weaknesses:Very sligtly flexy, Seals could be better,
Similar Products Used:Marzocchi Z3, Pace RC35, RST Mozo, Rock shox Indy.
Bike Setup:GT STS1000ds XTR/XT groupset
Bottom Line:I have heard horror stories about this fork (after I purchased it) and I was worried about long term performance, I need not have worried. this is a great little fork with plush travel and great reliability, (Brian Lopes Used one on his dual bike before his move to Cannondale so its ok for me).
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Martin Nairn a Downhiller from peebles scotland
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:innerleithen downhill course
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:plush when there working, 4 inch's of travel
Weaknesses:crap seals, really flexy, let in water, seaze up after it has been raining, paint flaking of lower legs, stancions corroding, they squeek and click at near the bottom of their travel
Similar Products Used:indy s
Z2 bam
Bike Setup:kona sex one stratos tr1 shock
lx gruop
risers
tioga dh tyres
mavic D521 rims
Bottom Line:good forks when there working. At the end of a wet ride they normally seize up. if it rains a hell of a lot where u live which it does in scotland get boots. i've only had the forks just under a year and allready the stancions have corroded which kind of screws them as the seals cannot be replaced as they would only last a days riding. also had to get my bushings replaced after only 6 months of riding and the paint has beeen flaking off the lower legs since about six months of owning them. Im off to be some z3 flylight 100's.
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

Submitted by DR. DRE a Weekend Warrior from BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:TECHNICal & STEEEEP
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:SUPER PLUSH. HYDRACOIL SYSTEM. FEELS ALMOST AS PLUSH AS THE BOMBERS. LOOKS COOL TOO!!! EASY TO MAINTAIN.
Weaknesses:I EXPERIENCED SOME FLEX. DEFINETELY COULD BE A STIFFER FORK.
NO FORK BOOTS, OR MAKE BETTER SEALS. NO REBOUND OR DAMPING ADJUSTMENT.
Similar Products Used:WHITE BROTHER, MARZOCCHI, ROCKSHOX.
Bike Setup:FREEEERIDE BABY!!!!!!
Bottom Line:THIS IS A GOOD FORK. 4 INCHES THAT SEEM TO NEVER BOTTOM OUT.
I WENT BOMBING DOWN EVERYTHING WITH THIS FORK. I WOULD DEFINETELY RECOMMEND UNSCREWING THE TOP CAPS AND PUTTING IN MARZOCCHI 10 WEIGHT OIL, WITH THE SPRINGS THAT MATCH YOUR WEIGHT. THIS MAKES THE FORK SORT OF QUICK AND LIKE A MARZOCCHI AND WITH A LITTLE OF THE DAMPING TOO. BUT THEN AGAIN IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LIKE YOUR FORK. EXPERIMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT OIL WEIGHTS AND SPRINGS TO TUNE YOUR SPECIFIC RIDE.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Jeremy B a Cross Country Rider from Woodside, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000
Favorite Trail:If its dirt...it works for me
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Strengths:This fork truly ROCKS! It soaks up the biggest and the smallest bumps. This fork came on my Schwinn 4 Banger and I love it. This is a truly awsome fork and I have Hayes Hydro Disc Brakes and I dont notice a whole lot of flex but a little is apperant.
Weaknesses:Nothing maybe the spring could be a little bit firmer but its not needed. It seems soft but I cant seem to bottom this fork.
Similar Products Used:Many...
Bike Setup:Stock Schwinn 4 Banger
Bottom Line:This is a truly awsome fork and for all you people who say Rock Shox service sucks well its because4 they are in the process of moving their company, so give them a break. I am sure you could not please every costomer if you where relocating your company. But this fork is a awsome fork I highly suggust it. I did not buy it seperate but I head it costs $150 well if thats true its still a hellva deal at $220. So $150 would be a steal.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by John Stolzenburg a Cross Country Rider from LaCrosseWI USA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:New Mexico Trails
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:The motion of travel
The color of the shock
The ease of maintaining
The incredible amount of range to this fork and it's soakability
Weaknesses:At times can be active more than you would like
Turns a hardtails geometry into to freeride without the rear end shock
Similar Products Used:headshock, Indy C Long Travel
Manitou FX Ti
Judy C Long Travel
Bottom Line:This shock is a great ride. It does what it should in all situations. Buy the way a six foot drop is not a situation that you should be in anyway.
Anyway, the ease of being able to tune this fork and change out springs and oil at home shows exactly how great RS is as a company. They give a great product and simplitic design.The shock however will alter a regular hardtails geometry slightly by bringing the front end up.
A great shock for the 95% of riders who have to work and don't work at a bike shop.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Drewpee a Cross Country Rider from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:Anywhere with dirt
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:plush, almost never hits the top, did I mention plush?
Weaknesses:still looking, would kinda like dust boots
Similar Products Used:Rock Shox Jett, Some crappy older Rock Shox
Bike Setup:older GT LTS3, STX, Mavic mix n' match
Bottom Line:First time I rode with it, I wondered "where'd the bumps go?" so then I went looking for bigger bumps, haven't found any bumps that are too big yet. I like the value for the dollar, adjustability could be easier, but it was pretty close for me out of the box, so I don't really care! Great fork for someone that just wants to ride all day and avoid sore arms/neck. Good start for DH career too.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by matt a Weekend Warrior from north shore
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2000
Favorite Trail:roach
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:smooth, easy adjustability, price!!
Weaknesses:flex
Bottom Line:these forks have majorly improved my riding and the low cost is a bonus has all the travel I need right now. perfect fork for me!!and most advanced riders
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Racer X a Racer from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2000
Favorite Trail:SideO
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:Super plush and active, fairly light (compared to Z1 Bam), slick looking, does very well on big stuff, no bottom out, but adjustability isn't way good
Weaknesses:FLEX!!!! This is the flexiest fork I have ridden, almost worse then a SID. Just yesterday I came off a 2.5 foot drop, something I would fly on a triple clamp, but wheel landed, fork flexed almost 5 inches (i was watching from above) and sent me right over the bars. ADJUSTABILITY SUCKS! no rebound or compression unless you screw with oil. Otherwise, its great
Similar Products Used:Z1, Supefly, Sid, Judy, Boxxer, etc etc
Bike Setup:Homegrown factory, full XTR and raceface, King, judy
Bottom Line:This is a very good fork, especially for the $150 i got it for. Its super plush, more plush then any Marzocchi I have tried, and is incredibly active. Unfortunetly, it lacks adjustabilty and stiffness. I still love it
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Ben a Weekend Warrior from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:4 inches travel. Plush - until it rains.
Weaknesses:Flexy - Terrible when mated with disc brake. No fork boots. Absorb water like a sponge.
Similar Products Used:Judy XC
Bike Setup:99 DBR X6 with Formula cable disk on the front
Bottom Line:Poo for Freeride or DH, bit heavy for XC. Teflon wore off the forks at the bushings due to excessive flex with disc brake after 8 months. I am 170 lb, not a good fork for the bigger/harder riders. Stock spring are way too soft for freeride, even with the adjusters cranked up, still regularly bottom out the fork. Too much water gets into the fork after a wet ride. Will go with anything else next time.
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Steve a Weekend Warrior from Oregon
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:Bachelor to Bend
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:This fork does it all. XC, DH, DS, you name it and this fork will do it. Small and big bumps seem like nothing. The price is awesome. Looks cool too. No boots.
Weaknesses:None yet!
Bike Setup:Old Trek frame. Customized with XT, Thomson, Mavic, Answer, and more.
Bottom Line:If you are someone who likes to go bombing around on any trail and have a great time, then this fork is for you. If you are a serious XC racer, you might want a SID instead of a Judy. But this fork does it all. It kicks a$$ on the DH courses too. The price ($250) was incredible. This is the most I have ever gotten out of a fork before and I like it a lot! For all you Freeriders out there, this is the fork for you! Ride Hard.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Matt Shirley a Downhiller from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2000
Favorite Trail:White Ranch
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Strengths:Plush 4" of travel.
Weaknesses:Haven't found one yet.
Similar Products Used:RST, Manitou SX, Rock Shox Indy XC, 99 Rock Shox Judy 100.
Bike Setup:Gary Fisher Joshua X1
Bottom Line:I bought a used 99 Judy 100 fork and scratched it up and I sent it in and Rock Shox gave me a new 2000 Judy 100 fork in place of it. I would like to them very much for replacing the fork.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Pauly a Downhiller from Manchester,NH
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000
Favorite Trail:Hedgehog Ledge, Bear Brook St park
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Strengths:Smooth 4" of travel.Takes small bumps and big drops very well.
Weaknesses:Comes with soft springs for my 185lbs.(Yellow)
Fork flexes more than I like.
Similar Products Used:Varios Rock Shocks.
Bike Setup:GT xcr3k. Firmer springs in fork.(Black)on one side and yellow on the other.
Bottom Line:I am very happy with the fork. But my next upgrade will be to a triple clamp.I am only doing this for less flex not more travel.If you are truly a freerider riding up ripping down and sometimes riding the chair lift to the top this is the fork for you. PS Check out Mt Sunapee state park for some completly empty downhill riding. Only $14 for the day.
Ride on
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by ian a Racer from Spokane Wa USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000
Favorite Trail:Mt Helena Ridge
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:*cost
*super plush
*no boot look
*open bath design
Weaknesses:*no boots- they are ugly but there for a purpose
*ugly decal set
*Plastic topcaps
*SEALS!!!! -what a headache
Similar Products Used:RS Judy xc Long Travel
SID
Manitou SX-Ti
Almost all Bombers
Bike Setup:Kona Caldera Custom steel frame with xtr ders, and wheels. RF cranks, and the Judy 100
Bottom Line:This fork rocks. I have had it for a little over a month now, and have loved riding it. I race XC and I should have a SID according to everyone, but I will lag the 2 extra pounds up hill to have the 4" of heaven soak everything up on the downhill, thus allowing me to go faster.

The seals suck, but so do all other RS seals except the new XXX. And the decals that come on it are extremely ugly, but I bought a SID decals set and it looks sweet! Also, Advice to all owners, buy the Aluminum topcaps, the look better, and I feel are more durable.

Bottom line is that this fork kicks ass. I rcomend it to anyone looking to buy a longtravel fork, and I know I will keep it for a while.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jerry a Weekend Warrior from Yeah Area, Cali
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:anything in Woodside
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:cost plush
Weaknesses:seals, springs
Bike Setup:gt xcr
Bottom Line:Great fork for DH. extremely plush. not made for us big boys though. too much brake dive and stiffer springs aren't available. no boots on mean i get crud accumulating on the oil that leaks out. i find myself lifting the front end on steep climbs. Downhill, this fork is amazing. The 4" of travel absorbs just about everything.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Dave a Weekend Warrior from Dallas
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2000
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:It's very plush (if you keep it clean)
It's cheaper than others
Weaknesses:flexy
I've blown it up 3 times in a year
Similar Products Used:Manitou x-vert
Bike Setup:Cove Stiffie
XT Drivetrain
RF cranks
maguras
Bottom Line:Good for the money but if I were you I would save my jack for the Marzzochi
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by B M a Downhiller from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2000
Favorite Trail:any
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:4" travel
PPPPPLush ride

Weaknesses:Seals went after a few months of riding. No warranty???
Flexes to much for my own good
No boots
Similar Products Used:Z5
Bike Setup:GT XCR 3000(sweet bike)
Bottom Line:Nice fork if you are looking for 4" travel and a sweet ride. You XC riders shouldn't complain about the weight 4lb's ain't bad. A bit loose tracking on some terrain. Flexes to much under braking and fast,hard corners. Overall a decent fork and recommended to anyone wanting 4" travel but depending on how hard you ride. It doesn't work on 10 foot drops and hard pavement landings too well. Other note worthy choices would be Manitou x-vert super.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Laird Macdougall a Weekend Warrior from summerland
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2000
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:this shock rules. it is the best 4 inches you can buy.
Bottom Line:this fork is great for anybody that wants to rip.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Laura a Downhiller from Ontario
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2000
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:* sturdy
* Less expensive than bombers
* good travel
* plush
* minimal matinence
Weaknesses:* no fork boots - k, boots are ugly but they serve a purpose
* seals suck
Similar Products Used:* too many tested and demo'd to list - or remember for that matter.
Bike Setup:GT XCR-3000 ( sweet sweet sweet )
Bottom Line:This is a really good fork for the money. It's great for freeriding/DH, but i'd say 4" would be too much for the hardcore XC guys. It's exteremly plush. You'll find yourse jumping...just for the sweet ass landing :>)
happy riding kids
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by George a Downhiller from Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:The Wrandees
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:- 4 Inches of PLUSH travel!!!!!
- Mega Strong!!!
- Steve Peat and Eric Carter use it.... BOOYAH!!
Weaknesses:Only one, The thieves like it a lot, sob sob....
Similar Products Used:Marazocchi Z3 QR20
Judy C, XC (long travel)
Judy T2
Jet XC (long travel)
Bike Setup:XCR-3000 (mmmmmmm), bunch a lizard skinz and was gettin' a T.H.E Downhill fender for it.
Bottom Line:This is the best Single crown fork money can buy, the feel of this fork is....spiritual, No maintanince required, just get on and tear it up... seriously if you are in the market for a fork perfect for those sick 5 foot drops (and ya got the money), hook yourself up with the 100!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by iDrive a Cross Country Rider from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:# 40
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:Super plush 4" travel
Weaknesses:4 pounds !
Similar Products Used:1999 Bomber Z2-BAM
Bike Setup:1999 GT XCR-1000, Full XT, 3 years Magura brakes (they just wont give up !!!) ...
Bottom Line:What a fork !!! It's so butterly plush that you can hammer anything w/o having to suffer too much !
the only thing wrong with the fork (as with almost all RockShox): after a year or so, you will get play in the fork ... that wont happen with a Bomber ...
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Martin blah a Weekend Warrior from Chappaqua New York
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:Powerlines and Gram Hills
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:flawless amazing travel 4 inches purfect for XC or DH
HydraCoil super smooth perfect rebound super adjustable
Weaknesses:none and don't read anyone elses complaints cuz this shock is the best single crown shock around
Similar Products Used:Rock shox jett sid and some Rst
Bike Setup:GT agresorr 2000 xt all round spin compsiterimstitec hell bent xc T.h.e Mudfenders
Bottom Line:the best and pretty cheap too for what your getting 5 flaming turds for value and 5 more turds for overall
the best
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by jb a Weekend Warrior from The North Shore
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:seventh secret
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:the shocks worked great after a heavy spring upgrade untill the seals went
Weaknesses:Seals are as crappy as rock shox customer service
Similar Products Used:bomber z5
Bike Setup:Trek 8500
Bottom Line:I was really happy with these shocks untill it rained and the trails got a little muddy. the forks were shot in one month of wet riding. the real bithch though is that Rock Shox will not warranty the forks even though they are only 2 months old. time to buy some bombers
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Steve a Cross Country Rider from Gilroy, CA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:Soquel Demonstration Forest
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:4" on true travel, I got up to 3 3/4 inches so far
Plushness, it's just so smooth. Love that oil bath.
small and large hits are easily absorbed
Weaknesses:Flexiness due to the long travel, but I solved that with a brake brace.
A bit heavy at 4 lbs, but the 4" of travel make up for that.
No dampening adjustment, but my weight of 145 lbs is perfect for this fork.
Similar Products Used:Girvin Elite
Manitou 4
Rockshox 21
Bike Setup:Schwinn Carbon Sweetspot
XTR all around
White rear, XTR front hubs
Bottom Line:The only negative I have is the weight of the fork at 4 lbs, but I can hit anything with 4" of travel which makes up for any weight differential. You suffer a bit on long climbs, but ole what fun it is on the descents. It's a great compliment for any bike at a reasonable price. I've seen it as low as $240, mail order. At that price, there is no better fork out on the market that will give you that much travel and can improve your riding so much. I came from a Girvin Elite which has 3" of true travel. The Girvin was a stiffer fork torsionally, but 4" vs 3" is a whole world of difference. It was worth the 1/2 lb weight gain.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Nick a cross-country rider from Daly City, CA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 1998
Bottom Line:
Started out by buying a 98 Santa Cruz Heckler, the person I bought it from was sort of a weight weenie, Full XTR, Syncros Ti post and a SID, it weighed 23.7 on my bike shop scale. Loved everything on the bike except the SID, not enough travel for what I was going to do with the bike. I work at a bike shop so I started pushing down on some shocks, Manitou, Marzoochi, White, then I got to the Judy 100... WOW!!! 4in travel, no sitction(my main concern coming from riding a Cannondale Head Shock) and ultra plush. Sold the SID and got the Judy . Yeah it's 4lbs and bumped my bike to 25 pounds but I don't feel it on climbs and the bike soaks up everything. Although rebound is non adjustable the shock rebound is excellent also the spring rate is perfect with excellent ramp up. I was looking for long travel, coil spring, oil bath and fairly light weight from a shock and got if from a Judy 100. I would have to get a long travel SID to get that light weight part but didn't want to drop the coins for it. Rock Shox finally woke up and got the Oil Bath.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jeff Forseth a cross-country rider from WLMS.LK. B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1998
Bottom Line:
After owning a pair of 1995 Judy XC's with 48 maybe 50mm of travel, the switch to a 100mm fork with an open oil bath design is needless to say, AWSOME!!!!!
The only complaints that a can have are the leg flex, no rebound adjustment, and weight problems, which actually aren't all that bad. I was considering a pair of
Marzocchi Bombers, however the price and the WEIGHT really brought me down; I was able to obtain a pair of 1999 Judy 100's for $570 Cnd. The stictionless abundant travel kicks ass. I am able to through my bike (1995 Norco T.N.T.) through ANYTHING and the fork just eats it up. I have only ridden 4 rides so far
and so can't really say how easy it is to do through and through maintenace but suspect that it will probably be pretty easy, anyways have to do a ride now so LATER.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Dion Kanillopoolos a weekend warrior from lansing mi
Date Reviewed: October 24, 1998
Bottom Line:
Rock shox has learned to make a good product agin.I
have owned or riden meny of the best forks on the
market and the new Judy 100 rates right among the
best. It just works the way it is suspost to if you
like long travel plush forks. It had a small amount
of independent leg movement but a brake brace cures
that and it is not that great a cross country fork
because of the weight but man dose it do the job on
down hills and killer drop offs. Also noway to have
that good old leaking cartrige problems that Rock
shox is known for. This fork could almost pass for a
bomber Z1 execpt it is lighter plus there is almost
no adjustment [just preload] My only complant about
this fork realy is not with Rock shox but GT why when
you buy an xl bike [mine is xcr 3000] do they spec
springs for 170 lb. rider? I weigh 235 so it has way
to light a spring for me [can you say brake dive] and
no shops can get springs for it yet. Even with such a
light spings in it I can not bottem it out should be
perfect with the right spings in it. So any one
looking at buying a Z1 check out the Judy 100
preforms just as good and about $250 cheaper.
Overall Rating:5






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