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Submitted by
Dave Gardner
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Town Run Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay auction | | Strengths: | Hard to tell, since I did not buy new. | | Weaknesses: | Seems to flex just a little, and has a bit of stiction. May need a little Judy butter. | | Similar Products Used: | RST Gila, Manitou OE on a Mongoose NX 8.1 | | Bike Setup: | GT Outpost Trail cobbled together on the cheap with 7 speed cog, Shimano Alivio crankset, SRAM 3.0 ESP rear derailleur and various other parts. | | Bottom Line: | Getting the air pressure right is challenging. I bought used on eBay, seller said it sat unused for a couple of years. It so far is not leaking oil or air. I need to try buttering the stanchions, cause it seems to stick a bit in the sliders, but maybe I'm running too much air. Tried 32 lbs in each leg. It is a much nicer ride than rigid fork, and it makes my GT turn on a dime! I appreciate old technology that still works, and this one seems to do just fine. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patryk
a Weekend Warrior
from Bremerhaven
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Internet | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | No so much travel but it like a lowered sports car than :) | | Bottom Line: | As Mag21SL Ti i find this is the one of the beautiful forks ever built! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick P.
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakland, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | redwood regional park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | smooth rebound dampening, longevity | | Weaknesses: | a little flexy | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 1994 Trek 7000, heavy but bombproof | | Bottom Line: | I got this fork way back in '94 with a new Trek 7000. At the time, the 7000 could be ordered with an OEM front suspension fork, but I opted to get the rigid bike and add the Mag 21. Pretty wise for a 15-year-old kid. I'm now 25, and still riding the same old bike with the same old fork. Did a long travel kit way back when, changed the oil once, and otherwise pretty much left it alone. Leaks a few pounds of air between rides, but I still have the original hypodermic Rock Shox pump. I had my local bike shop convert the Mag to newer Deore V-brakes matched to the old cantilever levers with a pair of old-school pulley adapters. So a V-braked Mag 21 CAN be done. I have only owned one bike and fork in the last decade—this combo has outlasted many things, including the bike-shop chain that sold it to me. No choice but to give it the full five chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gus Pineda
a Weekend Warrior
from Elizabeth, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Cheesequake lake trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | durablity, reliability, longevity!! This thing took a beatin from me over the years | | Weaknesses: | Too bad I couldn't covert it to take V-Brakes! | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox SID worldcup | | Bike Setup: | '93 Giant CFM2 hardtail Shimano LX/XT components, Aerospoke wheels, Bontrager Bars/stem/seatpost | | Bottom Line: | From the first day I took my bike from the bike shop on a ride I was impressed, and I've never had to doubt my shock since then. Over 10 yrs I've had my shock on my Giant and it never failed me. Though every trail, road, jump & turn it hung tough. The combo of oil & air work so great that I didn't want to change my shock, but since I wanted to convert from the oldschool cantilever brakes system originally on my bike to V-brakes, my local bike shop said they couldn't adapt the brakes to the Mag21, so now I got a RockShock SID worldcup, that also is the cats meow!! I've been tempted to sell the Mag21, but I can't find the will to do it. So for those outthere with Mag21's cherish your shock, there's very few shocks outhere that can compare to its quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
p t
a Weekend Warrior
from mpls
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | liquer store | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | pawn shop | | Strengths: | reliability - bomb-proof!! | | Weaknesses: | if i was a wanker i'd say the weight... but i'm not. | | Similar Products Used: | various rockshox and manitous | | Bike Setup: | a couple of wheels, some gears and shifters, and various other components. 24 punds total. | | Bottom Line: | came with khs purchased from pawn shop years ago. have beat the sh#$ out of bike and fork past 6-7 years, with no problems other than rebuild last year due to general aging/leaks (able to find one of the last overhaul kits in town). retiring the khs this summer and will be purchasing surly 1x1... it comes with a manitou but i'm gonna swap that out for the mag. thing is bomb-proof. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Hanson
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Gatos,Calif, USA
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Strengths: | unbreakable, bullit-proof | | Weaknesses: | Haven't been ascertained yet. Could someone send me manual on rebuilding this thing and include specs on oil changes? | | Similar Products Used: | Judy(garbage), Manitou(trash) | | Bike Setup: | "00 Stumpjumper, 96 Stumpjumper, 94 Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | '94 Stumpjumper came with "Future Shock" which I still have. Never been rebuilt and has been on well over 2000 miles single track. I never rode extreme, but have ridden Soquel Demo Forest for years and have many scares to prove it. Bought "96 and it came with Manitou(sh*t)which was worn out after six months of use. Found one of the last Mag 21 available over the counter and replaced Manitou. Bike got stolen and broke my heart, that bike and I were perfect fit. Bought a new bike in "00 and bike shop had old Mag 21 behind the counter. Traded shock on bike for Mag 21 and upgrade on shifters. Dealer thouht he got the best deal. I got Mag 21 and XTR shifter! He got sh*t shock and LX shifters. Just goes to show that you can't reinvent the wheel(or front shock). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Ti upper Legs =D~
Nice finishing.
Fully adjustable
Featherlite | | Weaknesses: | 1.9" travel
Flex.
| | Similar Products Used: | Judy XC
RST | | Bike Setup: | Highly re-spec GT LTS2 | | Bottom Line: | 1st got it back in 98 and been with my hardtail ever since. It loses air slowly but gracefully just like the way it's aging. Rebuild isn't quite possible and economical given its age and it's threaded steerer tube which I've ruined during the last headset regreasing. But it's still ridable if the threads don't die/or i can find a new crown.
The fork that commands respect from the grown ups and arouse intrigue in the youngster. If only rock shox make forks with such quality now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | It's lasted 7 years! | | Weaknesses: | It looks like it's not going to last 8 years. :) | | Similar Products Used: | None, until now I've had no desire to upgrade. Tried a few friends bikes over the years - none compared.
Unfortunately I think I have finally blown it up, and a replacement is needed. | | Bike Setup: | Cromo Hardtail, Shimano LX throughout. Due for a few upgrades as it's showing it's age - or do I just buy a new bike.....hmmmm. | | Bottom Line: | My first suspension fork, and it has lasted me seven years (admittedly i've been travelling for a couple of those, where it's remained in storage). Used it for XC, with some racing, loads of recreational technical blasts, but not downhill (ok a bit). Love it, and I am really reluctant to join the label conscious masses and get a duke/sid/race/sl/lockout/uturn/superwhatsit.
RIP Mag21 my friend, you will be remembered. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Adjustability, dependability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Came on my "94" Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | A truly great fork, valve seals finally blew out this summer after over eight years of fairly aggresive riding. I have never had the oil changed! Will rebuild it even though I now ride a Rocky Mountain Carve. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pedro
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Great all around fork for most types of riding. Cool Rock Shox decal on each fork leg. | | Weaknesses: | Mine came painted white. That sucks. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi, Future shock, Head Shock, Schwinn Orange Krate, Schwinn Black Phantom, Columbia 5-Star | | Bike Setup: | Carbon fiber frame, full XTR, cool titanium stuff so I can ride with the uppity crowd, old school blue anodized goodies from Ringle (remember those?) I'm cool. Buy some - you can be too. | | Bottom Line: | This is one of the best suspension forks of all time. One of the original old school, bulletproof, no frills, get the job done, just ride it and don't whine about stupid crap you fancy pants wuss, mountain bike parts. Literally, it is a legend. It works great for all around riding and it came from the good 'ol days when mountain bikers weren't stuck up pricks. What really makes me mad is that when you ask a bike shop if it's possible to still get rebuild kits for it (which I know is a stupid question), they laugh at you and act like you're stupid for still riding your bike that was high quality then, but apparently is a worthless piece of crap now simply because you haven't spent $4000 on a new one every couple years in their store. Mountain biking is about FUN and PERSONAL FREEDOM and ENJOYING NATURE. It is NOT (and never has been),about putting people down for not having the latest, fanciest, and shiniest bike part that does everything but enhance your riding experience. Mountain biking was the alternative and FRIENDLY sport - remember? Ok, I'm done. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
clive
a
from melbourne
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Lightweight, durable with minimal maintenance, got them with second hand hardtail race bike in 1998. Have re-worked the pressure valves with a couple of re-worked Schraeder valves epoxied into the old crowns after caeful drilling and sizing. Works absolutely great now ! just two pumps from my short blackburn and it set for life. Replaced oils with new 5wt and general cleanup. | | Weaknesses: | A bit flexy, quite stiff travel, but at least I dont bounce like a clown ason my bro's judy's | | Similar Products Used: | Judy, Manitou | | Bike Setup: | wheeler frame hardtail, duro XT | | Bottom Line: | Obviously lower travel than newer offerings, however an elegantly engineered fork with visible value on opening. On a HardTail they do the job fine. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bastian Kießling
a Weekend Warrior
from Freiberg, Sachsen, Germany
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Small Shop | | Strengths: | Versatility, Easyness in Maintaining and Adjusting the Fork | | Weaknesses: | None I know of. | | Similar Products Used: | Psylo SL, Mag 21 SL | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, with XT Complete SRT 800 XRays and Mag 21 | | Bottom Line: | One of the best Forks I have ridden so far. The bike is now about 10 Years old although I wanted an GT LTS with an Judy DH, my dad got me to buy an Zaskar with a Mag 21. It was a good idea afterwards. Until 2 Years ago he used an 21SL in his Mantis Pro Floater... Don't know if you can remember this Type of Bikes. Custom Made by an ex-Klein Frame-Welder. Under 12 Kilos for an XC-Fullsuspension and this was also 11 Years ago. Both bikes run seriously well. My Dad skipped his 2 Years ago for an Rotwild RFR 01 with the Psylo. This is also a realy nice Fork, you get to know the difference of 10 Years of Fork development. Last week, i got really scared, the fork was low on pressure. I have no tools i.e. air-pumps here, so I went to a local Dealer who in fact had an Original Rockshox-Pump. The Crappy Thing was defect, it released almost all the air. At first we thought the Seals were gone for good. Nobody around here has the tools to properly repair it. I got the number of the nearest RockShox Center from another local Dealer. The Staff at the Center was quite unfriendly, did not want to talk about the problem either i send in my fork or get lost. So I went to a third dealer who luckily had a new multifunctional -fork pump from sks now everything is working fine. Although I should give my little one a little time in one of these RS centers so it won't stop working. If it ever does it would replace it with a psylo sl or duke xc - uturn ;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse
a Weekend Warrior
from Vincennes, IN
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere away from SUV's (I recently got hit by one) | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Light, good compression. preload adjustmant | | Weaknesses: | bottoms out sometimes, but it may just need to be pumped up | | Similar Products Used: | Posi Track (cheapie Wal-mart fork with almost no compression-it might as well be rigid) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper with Shimano componant mix (Alivio shifters and hubs, LX canti brakes, XT deraileours) Mavic rims. | | Bottom Line: | I'm new to mountain biking, and this is the first "real" suspension fork i've had experiance with. Despite the bottoming out problem,(which hopefully will be solved when my friend brings his pump and some new seals) it seems like a good fork. It's nice to be able to ride off-road and actually feel some compression, unlike my cheap Posi Track. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis Sergienko
a Cross Country Rider
from Kiev, Ukraine
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | both X-country and off-road/freeride | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | with the bike | | Strengths: | light, long live even with the poor maintanance | | Weaknesses: | not really stiff, is easily bottomed out lest pumped up very hard, leaks oil, no disk mounts. | | Similar Products Used: | judy sl, some RSTs, super fatty DL | | Bike Setup: | cannondale killer V900, lx/xt | | Bottom Line: | good enough for X-country, but no way for any extreme off road riding. don't neglect maintaning it!!!!!! worth of its price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bike Setup: | Bridgestone MB3 Shimano XTR all the way and my MAG 21 with screwed up air seals. | | Bottom Line: | When tuned properly this is one of the nicest old school forks you can find. If you can find one of these with good seals buy it. You won't regret it. I wouldn't recomend doing 6-8 foot drops on it or jumping stairs like I did. It'll royally screw the air seals. Other than that as a XC fork it'll give you a nice ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
96Klein
a Cross Country Rider
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$54.00 | | Purchased At: | www.ebay.com | | Strengths: | Reliable and adjustable classic fork. Perfect match for my restoration bike. | | Weaknesses: | Pretty flexy; Tools and parts are not available; Have to purchase one used. | | Similar Products Used: | '95 Quadra 21R, '96 Judy XC, '98 Manitou SX Ti, '97 Judy DH, '98 Judy SL, '00 Marazocchi Z1 XFly, etc.. | | Bike Setup: | '95 Stumpjumper Steel w/ full Shimano XTR M-900 (except M-910 shifter for the display). And now MAG 21. | | Bottom Line: | I thought I would comment because I just purchased another MAG 21 a week ago and recieved it in the mail last night. Back in '95 I purchased a MAG new and I think it cost $289.00 installed. I had that fork up until '99 when I traded it for a '98 Judy DH (bad choice I know). Since then I didn't think twice about my MAG, unless I stumbled across the shock pump in my tool chest. Well I've began collecting bikes from early to mid '90s, and decided I wish I had my old MAG21. I have been searching Ebay for a replacement for a few months. Most of the forks are near death and not worth the price sold. Last week I found GOLD! $54.50 later I owned a 95% new MAG 21. This fork has little or no ware or dirt and is mechanically better then my old MAG21 was when I sold it. Air seals are perfect and there are no cracks on the lower tubes. It even has the original stickers (no scratches). Well I lucked out, and for that I will have a tweaked MAG 21 on my Stumpy in a few days. God I love those forks... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vic Buenconsejo
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, MD USA
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Matterhorn | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Northcoast Cyclery | | Strengths: | Reliable, adjustable and once fine-tuned with proper oil weight this fork has great "feel." Lighter than most "modern" forks. | | Weaknesses: | Not available for my next bike. As said above, a little flexy, but matches well to my steel frame. | | Similar Products Used: | 'Zokes, Manitous test-ridden on friends' bikes. | | Bike Setup: | '93 Rocky Mountain Altitude, SunTour XC-Pro throughout (WTB Grease gun injection ports!), absolutely no Shimano on the bike. | | Bottom Line: | Decided to post because I just broke my very-well crafted Rocky Mountain frame after 7 years, a few thousand miles and a few horrific crashes (including one garage door stint that simply pulled the Thule off the roof, forks still clamped to the rack). I love the suppleness and damping of the Mag-21's and will put these on the new frame I get from RMB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
El jefe'
a Racer
from Wellington NZ
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lees Grove | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Mail order | | Strengths: | Does not wear any of its parts out! Under 3 pounds. Simple,
tunable, reliable. Undoubtly the best XC fork ever made. Not a free-ride or DH fork. Doesnt bob! Lock-out schmockout. | | Weaknesses: | Might break if you got big air? Who needs big air. I am a XC racer. Probably a lot flexier than the latest generation of fork. Had to be discontinued cos it wouldnt break? | | Similar Products Used: | Havent needed any since 96 when I brought them! | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed 93 Ocoee. | | Bottom Line: | I cannot rave about these forks enough. I have only changed the oil once in 5 years! Never the bushes or seals, altho I put in the 'long travel kit'. Did the vet worlds on them in 96. Won the master 2 nationals on them this year. They Rock. There were Sids blowing up all around me...
Mine are the SL Ti model with the alloy steerer, also have boots fitted. Nothing has even come close to this fork for reliablility in the last 5 years. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Klondike Mac
a Weekend Warrior
from Orem, Utah
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | From full-time racer | | Strengths: | I bought the fork when it had been in 6 California races and had some wear in 1993. I've never had to have the seals tweeked - changed oil twice - heavy. Best fork I've ever had and if the tubes would fit other crowns, I'd have this fork on whatever bike I ride. Good travel on big hits - anything under 6 feet drop but because of age (I think) it doesn't handle the washboard as well as it used to. Last ride I went straight into a 4' rock at 15+ mph and nothing broke but me flying over the bar. Best shock ever. I wish it was still made. | | Weaknesses: | Paint looks old and stickers have been gone for a long time. Doesn't look as good as new ones. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzoochi - Manitou | | Bike Setup: | '95 Klein w/'98 XT, Avid Ti Brakes, Cook Cranks, W-Man Wheelset, all aftermarket | | Bottom Line: | Flies like a butterfly and stings like a bee. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from cincinnati
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | huge range if adjustments possible
super smooth on large bumps
enough travel for xc riding | | Weaknesses: | pretty flexy- dropouts are skinny, and so are the stanchions, not much bushing overlap | | Similar Products Used: | manitou 2, sid, halson inversion, girvin vector 2, manitou 4 | | Bottom Line: | this was the first suspension fork i rode, my brother bought a specialized stumpjumper on ep from the shop he was working at and let me borrow the bike several times. i was like fifteen years old at the time, and i only weighed about 115lbs, but i distinctly remember the fork feeling pretty flexy in the turns. i'm sure part of this was the fact that i was (and am) accustomed to riding a rigid fork.
i also had the opportunity to log some time on my brother's other bike's fork, a girvin vector 2, and the vector was far stiffer in the turns. i wound up buying a halson inversion, still going strong with some repairs.
back to this fork, though... the air spring's pressure is going to vary with the outside temps, if it gets cold pressure will go down, but oil viscosity will go up, so things kinda cancel each other out. if it gets hot, obvioulsy the reverse will happen.
the fork still performs amazingly well over large bumps at high speeds, to the extent that i would probably buy a used mag21 over a sid for xc racing (something i don't do). part of the fact that the reviews here are generally so good is the nostalgia factor, something which is in part justified- they were- and are- great forks for xc racing if you wanna still use rim brakes. so, get a booster if you really find it flimsy, or an aftermarket brace if you can dig one up.
overall, a very reliable fork that can be cheaply repaired. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | Reliable, simple, forgiving, the anti-hype fork, THEY WORK! | | Weaknesses: | Yah they flex a bit.....my whole bike flexes, so what. | | Similar Products Used: | Many.......elastomer sucks. | | Bike Setup: | GT | | Bottom Line: | These forks are the single best investment I have ever made for my bike. I bought them just after they came out WAYYYY back when and they work great. I have the long travel kit in them and have changed the weight of the oil from stock to heavy. I have never rebuilt them, they have never ever needed it. No probs at all. I will be buying a new bike soon and I gaurantee that no matter whats shocks come with it, I will miss the mags!! Buy em where ever you can if you can find them...try the Salvation Army. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Incredible fork: I guess that is why it was discontinued | | Weaknesses: | Legs broke apart when I drove into a parking garage with my bike on my rack | | Similar Products Used: | Mag 20, Quadra, Manitou 1,2,3, Headshok, Judy, SID | | Bike Setup: | 94 Yeti(upgraded XTR, with Ringle: looking for a buyer for my old Manitou 2 + softride quill stem) | | Bottom Line: | Kick-ass fork. Why did they discontinue it in favor of a MCU that just doesn't work well? At least it is making a comeback in the SID. Kept pushing these to customers at the bike shop well into 97, after the Judy was supposedly "the sh*t". Well, the MAG 21 rocks. Too bad Rock Shox made it heavy after the JUDY came along, then cut it off. Air and Oil: what a novel concept! 5 Fiery Hotdogs! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
slingshotz
a Cross Country Rider
from Cowtown, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Canada, everywhere | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Durability is incredible. I've had this fork for almost 10 years and between year 5-9 I never bothered to do any maintenance. During this time my bike and fork travelled with me to the UK, Australia, NZ and then back to Canada before I decided to do a overhaul. Let me tell you the oil was black as pen ink! New oil with the LT kit and works smoothly again....not that it didn't work that poorly during the abusive years. | | Weaknesses: | Paint is chipping off brace and labels peeling off....maybe the glue doesn't last 9+ years..... Fork is a bit flexily compared to the newer ones, but I'm still using an OLD (I mean 10 years!) XT front hub. | | Similar Products Used: | Never needed to. | | Bike Setup: | 1989 Slingshot (yup it's still alive, kicking and still attracting attention), 1999 XT all around (except front hub) | | Bottom Line: | Can't believe the fork has not died on me with riding by the sea (and sometimes through it), Australian bush, wet and damp UK, and snowy winters in Canada. If only it had disc brake mounts....
If I can get ahold of 1" steerer SIDs then I might have to say bye bye to the Mag 21s....anyone out there have any suggestions in finding one?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Southington, CT.
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Durable,easy to maintain,one of the originals, I've had this fork on two different frames and have been very happy. | | Weaknesses: | all the decals fell off --- does that count? | | Bike Setup: | old school XT rapidfire shift, XT head set & cranks | | Bottom Line: | has never failed me and well worth the $350.00 I paid way back when.? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light and strong. | | Weaknesses: | High maintenance. You have to pump the shock up practically everytime you ride. Plus, if you hit too hard, the shock bottoms out, blows the seals, and you have to pay 15 bucks to have the shock rebuilt. | | Bottom Line: | If you could make the shock leak less air, and make it harder to bottom out, then the Mag 21 would be perfect. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CoolGuy
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | My Backyard | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Durability, reliability, adjustability. Easy to maintain, and saves my a$$ on all the hard hits. | | Weaknesses: | Not a lot of travel, and there's a bit of flex, but not enough to piss me off. | | Bike Setup: | '95 Trek 8000 with some upgrades | | Bottom Line: | Although there are superior forks out there now, I've grown to love my little Mag. She's been there for my through all the hills and valleys of my life. She has taken me through the bumps and gorges of my journeys.....she's like a reliable friend. And now I'm going to dump the biitch for a brand new Zoke Z3 Flylight. But the memories will always remain....
I give her 5 blazing Chilies! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Silver 23
a Weekend Warrior
from Amsterdam The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lagi di Garda in Italy | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Good Damping
Reliable
Not too heavy but still stiff enough
Nice looks and Adjustability
63 mm is enough for XC work. | | Weaknesses: | No disc brake mount | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Quadra | | Bike Setup: | Koga Miyata with Shimano LX-Mavic wheelset XT grouppo and Magura Brakes Acor seatpost-stem-Steerer. | | Bottom Line: | This is a Reliable Fork. I have been riding in various hard conditions and it never failed me. The looks are oldschool but still great. I hope Rock Shox will do a special edition of this one, maybe with new internals updated to todays making. This fork has been ridden by so many NORBA and World Champions. This fork has been the example for years how a suspension should be. In fact it has made its comeback, the SID. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony Gonzalez
a Racer
from Milwaukee, WI USA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Connector Trail - Souther Kettle Moraine | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Reliable, strong, light, adjustable - actual factual - the original | | Weaknesses: | leaks after a few years, needs the long travel kit. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | '95 Gary Fisher Montare, XT\SRAM\Race Face setup | | Bottom Line: | I have had this fork since I bought my bike in Jan of 95. It is a work horse, plain and simple. I put the long travel kit in '98, the fork needs it. Have the oil changed 2 times a year and race the WORS series here in Wisconsin, 12 races. No problems, the fork is light and strong, flexes a tad, but no break downs.
I love this fork!
I give it the habenaro! | | Value Rating: |
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$ 299.00
