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Submitted by
Joe Ashwell
a Downhiller
from Nether Stowey, Somerset, England
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere that it dh and fast with big jumps and drops | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | bought 2nd hand off ebay | | Strengths: | Amazing fork, i absolutely love them! plush, smooth, big travel, absorb any impact on any size drop or jump. GREAT DOWNHILL FORKS THAT CAN TAKE ANYTHING. | | Weaknesses: | they broke when they had been used for 7years by various people and i cant get parts for them so i am selling. :(
the bolt-on is a bit annoying. very heavy but you get used to them | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi mr-t/jr-t/dj3 | | Bike Setup: | coyote kinesis dh frame/marzocchi mr-t forks/stratos helix rear shock/d521 rims with panaracer dhfirepro 2.4 tyres/gusset pigmy crankset/wellgo pedals/protaper bars/ hope C2 brakes | | Bottom Line: | these are the best forks i have ever ridden and i have tested dorado's, shiver dc's etc. they are so nice and smooth to ride, the take any $hit you throw at them.good for dh and freeride but not for xc
only bad thing is the getting hold of parts for them. i love these forks and wish they had never broken! AMAZING FORKS!! BUY THESE!!
5 FLAMIN' CHILIS ALL ROUND!!!!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Siu
a Weekend Warrior
from East Coast
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | freeride trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | Hey nothing beats this hell of a fork. Very strong fork, easy to maintain compared to other forks out there! Unlike other forks you can replace the oil by simply using automatic transmision oil ATF Dextron III oil ( any where at your local automotive shop). Melted buttery smoooooth. | | Weaknesses: | Make sure to NOT over tighten crown bolts. Needs fork gards very easy to get your hands on. have to change springs from 150 lb to medium or high spring rates.
seals are fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Monster T, 01 boxxer, x -vert carbon... | | Bike Setup: | cheeta prowler, xtr components, shimano 8", 24" rear wheel, 26" front wheel, 3" tires, and gizmo chain guide | | Bottom Line: | Go out to by one if ou can, if go for the s8 or hopfully there newest model if they came out with one for 2002. practical for it's price! Anyone who goes mountain biking to see how far their limits can go should purchase this fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MTN PSYCHO .
a Downhiller
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Skull Trail, Lynn Woods, Mass. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | MTB Review | | Strengths: | Solid, Quiet, Strong, all metal parts, inside and out, Customer Service is good, cheap, uses A.T.F. fluid , very confidence inspiring. | | Weaknesses: | Quality controll at Stratos before sale seems poor, needs to be checked often to make sure all bolts are tight, doesnt come with fork guards(BAD, very Bad), no compression adjuster standard(and even then its high speed compresion), can twist in fork crowns, bit flexy and leaky.
| | Similar Products Used: | Z1(3), Boxxer, XVERT DC, Moto DH, Monster(Not Mine, unfortunately), alot of other crap | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Cycle Shockwave(2001), Azonic cranks and bb, Hope hubs, Hayes8" / hope enduro brakes, double wides, Rf post, Gazz 3.0 tires(24 rear), xtr, ringle pedals, Azonic hammer stem and bars, Black spire chain guide. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is winning me over in the long haul. I got it last year, loved it for 1 month, had issues(Leg bearing came loose, leaked oil all over the place and had to be sent back, was good again for 1 month, compression assembly came totally unscrewed inside the leg on a one foot jump, got new parts, fixed, sounded like crap but worked great for three race weekends and three freeeride weekends in a row, then during a crash last weekend at a race it twisted inside the crown, leaked a bunch, and made me think its days were over. I loosened all the bolts, twisted it back in shape(No bent metal), tightened up the bearings on the bottom of the upper legs, and now it doesnt make a sound and it is running smoother than ever, absolutly no leakage, and great dampening. Go figure. Very tall fork, and also heavy but this is not a freeride fork, it is pure downhill racing. It doesnt seem like its at home on drops(Big ones), but it doesnt bottom out and takes whatever you throw at it without complaint. Take it to the Mountain and it shines like no other fork I have tried, and Ive tried alot. With double wides, 3.0 gazz and this fork you can hit whatever you want and not worry. needs Fork guards, should not be sold without them. Might not be sold at all soon, sadly. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Bobby
a Downhiller
from Penticton
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Every trail up Carmi | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Freedom Cycle(bought with the bike, so it was cheaper) | | Strengths: | Super plush, and stiff phew. just point and shoot. | | Weaknesses: | I got my bike in the winter, then when I started to ride, it broke after two rides. Well the lower bushing in the left leg migrated, so that sucked a spicy pepper huh. | | Similar Products Used: | boxxer, x-vert carbon, marzocchi, | | Bike Setup: | Devinchi Banzii, eight inch front, six rear(rotors) xtr. bling bling | | Bottom Line: | The fork is the bomb. Beside the fact that it has been in quebec for about a month... it rocks get one. The warrenty service is great, and they feel better then the manitou or boxxer. Feel a lot like a motorcross fork, hey it looks like one too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reindeer Blower
a Downhiller
from Maine
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Plattekill,Mountain Creek,Mt. Snow | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop | | Strengths: | -Actually gets the claimed 7" of travel(unlike the Boxxer)
-Built to last--slap it on,adjust it,and forget about it
-Super-plush for 7"
-Awesome steering precision | | Weaknesses: | -A little heavy for a 7" fork
-No fork guards(ie White Bros) | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Boxxer
Foes F1(demo'd only)
Manitou X-Vert Carbon
White Brothers DH-2
Marzocchi Monster-T | | Bike Setup: | Brooklyn TMX | | Bottom Line: | This fork's strengths speak for itself.Take it apart--notice any cheap plastic parts?Nope,ALL METAL!And everything is hard-anodized and tough as hell.6 months of hammerin' and no maintenance and there's not a scratch.
It's way plusher and stiffer than a X-Vert Carbon or a Boxxer--almost as plush as the overweight Monster-T,but it's still plenty light enough for an expert race.This fork just flattens the terrain,just so sweet and plush.It costs less than 800 clams!This is a fork that the other companies wish they made first.They don't call it Superstar for nothin'!5 sh%ts! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zark
a Downhiller
from SB,Ca
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Knapps | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | I work at Bike Bob's! | | Strengths: | Drop a 4' wall to a flat landing and then try that on anyone elses fork. The feel is pretty remarkably smooth and bottomless. If you don't take the best line and accidently plow into, lets say a boulder, it might just track over it! Don't get bogged down in slow, techy stuff, carry momentum! | | Weaknesses: | It weighs as much as two freeride forks. It needs to come with fork guards. Its a really tall fork too. | | Similar Products Used: | Boxxers, Xvert carbons, Mr Dirt, ZZYZX (yech!) and Hannebrink | | Bike Setup: | Giant DH team | | Bottom Line: | For the money it can't be beat, and its performance is off the chart, the service is great. A S8 is a fork you can slap on your ride and forget about it for a year. Lightweight riders, shorter riders and folks riding easier DH courses probably won't dig it. Guys with a moto background, folks who like big hucks, and f*&ked up courses will appreciate this fork! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Huggies Suprême
a Downhiller
from Québec, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Coupe du Monde - Bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | from a Sponsored friend | | Strengths: | Lot of travel!
Look nice!
Rebound adjuster!
Fits 3" tires ... ... etc.. | | Weaknesses: | EUh .. WTF ? .. this fork doesn't have any weakness .. | | Similar Products Used: | Boxxsh!t, Manitou X-vert Carbon, Monster T, Hanabrink, Mr DirtFAT, and a lot of other sh!t | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Kona Stab Primo, Gazzi's 3.0 Superstar 6.0, Hayes Purple 8" disc, Dee-Max, Mr Dirt ChainGuide, XTR, XT, ... | | Bottom Line: | This fork rocks.! Quality of the travel! Buttery smoot travel! Rebound and Compression adjuster who works! ..
Bottom line! Buy one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john k
a Weekend Warrior
from bc
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | walk in the clouds | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | bikers usa | | Strengths: | this shock is really sweet and lots of travel the max it can get is 8 some people say 9 but there negative travel overall i think its pretty good | | Weaknesses: | there lots of flex and its kind of heavy, I have swiched to a dh2 with 7 inches for mow cause it a better shock and better for the shore. | | Similar Products Used: | monster,dh3,carbon | | Bike Setup: | in the shop | | Bottom Line: | pretty good shock | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randolph
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: November 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Tunnel | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Absolute Highest Quality Materials and Workmanship - More adjustable than any other fork I've tried in 9 years of MTB'ng | | Weaknesses: |
Money. It ain't free. Everything should be free. Or a buck. Just look around this site - everybody agrees with me... | | Similar Products Used: |
Rebound Monolith, Manitou 1, 2, 3, 4, EFC, Mach V etc, Judy xc, Judy sl, Judy DHO, Fatty 70 Headshock, Lawill Leader, Z1 | | Bike Setup: |
Diamondback X10 with Long Travel Kit (like a cheaper UZZI DH) | | Bottom Line: | Compression Damping, Rebound Damping, Preload, no Plastic Sh*t, Hard Anodized internals, really, a life time fork if you don't go berzerk and get a 17 travel Karpiel Armageddon blah blah blah. Harley Davidson should get these! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Cypress, Ca
Date Reviewed: July 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Brianhead | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Very stiff, Very plush, soaks up all types of bumps with ease, bolt on courage! | | Weaknesses: |
Damping adjusters could use more range. Scrapers seals require a long break in period. Work fine after about 5-6 rides. Slightly heavy | | Similar Products Used: |
Bullet Bros, Mr. T, Boxxer, Manitou X-Vert R. | | Bike Setup: |
Ellsworth Dare, Stratos Pro Shock | | Bottom Line: | Killer plush fork, almost impossible to crash on. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Burkhardt
a Downhiller
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Stiffness, suspension quality and quality of build. | | Weaknesses: |
Bottom out is a little loud. | | Similar Products Used: |
White Bros UD150, Marzochi Z1. | | Bike Setup: |
Turner Afterburner, King Headset, Hope Big 'Un Hubs, Sun Mammoth Rim, Nokian Gazz Jr, Hope Brake. | | Bottom Line: | The fork is very plush and stiff with great seals. The spring curve is fantastic I have it set at about 25% sag and it takes a 6' drop from concrete to concrete with a 4-5' foot gap to bottom it out (I know that sounds big but it's the biggest I've done). There is tons of clearance around the tire even with a 2.6 and there's room for a 3. The stanchions are only a half a centimeter less than a Monster T, but the leg spacing is narrower. The crowns are a work of art. The bottom brace has a recessed area for the headset and the top crown and all for clamps to the stanchion use double 4mm bolts. It can also be used with discs or cantis. Defenitly a great fork. Also if you have a long headtube this fork has long enough tubes to handle it but call Stratos first anyway. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CHRIS
a Weekend Warrior
from BLIGHTY
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
SCOUT WOOD | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
QUALITY, FINISH AND AMAZING PERFORMANCE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX
QUALITY | | Weaknesses: |
SOME HEADSETS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE LOWER CROWN | | Similar Products Used: |
WHITE BROS UD150, PACE MONSTER, X-VERT R, XL.... | | Bike Setup: |
MARIN-DH-FRS, FOX AND THE BEST TRICK BITS IN THE WORLD. | | Bottom Line: | IF YOU WANT A RIDE ON A HOVERCRAFT EMAIL ME TO BOOK A GO ON THE BEST BIKE IN THE WORLD! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan G
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara, CA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Knapps Castle | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Super plush, low stistion, 3 tire compatible, highly tuneable. | | Weaknesses: |
Weight | | Similar Products Used: |
Hannebrink, White UD-150, Monster-T, Mr-T, | | Bike Setup: |
on a Foes DHSmono with Stratos Helix Expert | | Bottom Line: | Get one if you can afford it. Better performance than many forks with more travel. The adjustment is very good. Independant rebound and compression damping adjust and a full 1 of spring preload adjustment. Real oil bath design (hence the weight) not a wimpy oil cartridge. Quality is the best Ivew ever seen on a fork. Seals are amazing. I stratched my stanchion and it doesnt leak at all! | | Overall Rating: |
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