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Average Rating
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3.25/5
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# of Reviews
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32
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MSRP
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$ 449.95
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Weight
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More Products from Manitou
Submit a Review
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Description:Weight: 3.7 lbs
Travel: 80/100 or 100/120 Rapid Travel Adjust
Damping: TPC w/Lockout
Adjustments: Air, Rebound, Lockout, Travel
Lubrication: Microlube with Motorex Grease
Spring: Air/Coil
Casting: Magnesium RA
Stanchions: 30 mm aluminum
Steerer: Aluminum
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Submitted by
CaptainDownhill
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All of Them | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came with my Yeti Kokopelli in 2003 | | Strengths: | When you figure out how to use it properly (adjust the air pressure and dampening), it is a great shock. I've done mostly All Mountain with some Freeride and radical Downhill mixed in and this shock never let me down. The combination of spring/air/oil make for an awesome ride. | | Weaknesses: | After three years of use it began to lose some air pressure and I had it professionally rebuilt at my local bike shop. They replaced the seals, cleaned and rebuilt it for about eighty bucks. Then it was like brand new again. The mechanic told me it should have been rebuilt once per year. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shock, Fox | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ASR-sl, Mavic CrossMax, XT/XTR, Fox Float rear. | | Bottom Line: | Great shock if you adjust it properly and maintain it correctly. I broke the frame on the Kokopelli and then put the Manitou Black Super 80/100 on my new ASR; I could't be happier with it. This shock is beat up and scratched, but it has saved my butt on some knarley downhill stuff with drops and bolders and speeds from 30 to 40 mph. Meahwhile, I broke the shock mount on the Fox Float and bent a set of Bontrager rims and yet the Manitou Black still works like it did when it was new. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from montreal, canada
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | bromont, quebec | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | bicyclette benjamin | | Strengths: | reeeally smooth nice look adjustable compression , rebound and lock-out | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi z-1 rockshox judy sl | | Bike Setup: | marin wildcat trail | | Bottom Line: | i used this fork for near 3 year , i made about 3500 km a year and i had no problem with this fork i'd like to say to some people that had previously write review on this fork , BUY THE WRIGHT FORK . this is a good cross-country and trail fork . NOT A FREERIDE FORK . | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brian
a
from charlotte,nc
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bottom Line: | everyone that i know thats had a manitou shock and has done some serious riding has blown their shocks. its about 50-60 to get it resealed at the shop, but for a shock this expensive - it shouldnt be blowing after 10-15 trail rides.
im 175 pounds fyi...my mani blew on my 5th ride :(
saving up to get a fox | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gale VH
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | rides in Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order | | Weaknesses: | I've owned this shock for about two years. Within the last year it completely stopped functioning. I have two mt. bikes and I am not a jumper. I tend to ride carefuly and take care of my equip. I was very unhappy with its durability. I have a SID and I,ve never had this kind of trouble with it. When the bike shop sent in my "super" they repaired it for free, but within 4 weeks (about 5 rides) the lockout stopped working and I've currently sent it back in for repairs. Try another shock that is more durable! | | Bike Setup: | Ti mt bike frame | | Bottom Line: | Try another more durable fork! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Banks Bourgeous
a Cross Country Rider
from Provo, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | amasa back | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Smooth and light. Just stiff enough. | | Weaknesses: | Could be stiffer but as I list in strengths it is stiff enough. | | Bike Setup: | Tomac 98 special pro, xt-756 discs | | Bottom Line: | This fork came with the bike and I was a little worried after reading some of the reviews posted here. After quite a few miles and a trip to Moab I have no complaints with this fork. I find myself bracing for impacts that never happen. Here in Utah my rides usually consist of a couple of hours climbing followed by an all too short downhill. The fairly light weight is nice on the climbs and the fork descends better than I expected. I weigh about 190+camelback and the fork is holding up well. I would recommend this fork to anyone looking for a reasonably light weight good performing all around fork. I see these forks online pretty cheap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Lowery
a Weekend Warrior
from LaVista, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Still like Platte | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | Adjustability, smooth. | | Weaknesses: | Have to dissassemble to change out spring for heavy/light rider (see previous post). The stickers come off fairly quickly. | | Similar Products Used: | I love to test ride so I've tried most of them. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll 600 w/fox float propedal. XT/SRAM mix. Hope/Mavic. Avid Mech Disc. | | Bottom Line: | Still rides great, I would buy another. As a clydesdale racer I'm no weight weenie. I got the air for the adjustability, light weight is just a plus. I love to bunny-hop and the front end is so light it just leaps over logs and off wheelie-drops. I could take the travel adjust knob off for all the use it's getting (you need to adjust air pressure when you adjust travel and I'm not taking my pump out in the middle of a ride). The lockout works great, but other than cruising on the road or a race start it's not worth taking my hands away from steering to mess with. It's just a miserably cold/wet day on my day off. So I thought I'd update my post and tell everyone that my fork's still SUPER. (Even without the stickers) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Leavenworht
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$270.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | adjustable air spring, rebound and travel, Lockout,weight,price | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Black Comp. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Jekyll 500 , Fox float R, Avid disk breaks | | Bottom Line: | I purchsed this Fork because I was bottoming out the Black Comp fork, needed a fork for my wifes bike so I gave her the Comp, and bought the Super Air for mine. I am 270 lb rider on a fairly easy but fast single path with quick down and uphill shoots, some drops, jumps and logs, nothing over 4 feet of air. I Tune to what works for me , not by the suggested book. So far I have yet to bottom the fork on any of the jumps or drops I take. Plush in the small stuff, grabs nice in the corners. The Lockout is not perfectly stiff, about 3/8ths inch of travel when locked out, not noticable when using it. It handles my size just fine, I haven't noticed any unusual amount of sag or diving when breaking or curb jumping. I have no reason at this time to seek out any other forks or change internal settings or springs on the Super Air. I would recommend it to any sport rider . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bena
a
from ohio
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | weight, plushness once it was tuned right | | Weaknesses: | travel adjust location, plastic parts | | Similar Products Used: | mx comp and z.2, various psylos, old sx-r, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I got a good deal on this used fork with a frame purchase. I cringed when I read some of the negative reviews-after I had sent the check out. But, to my surprise this has been a great fork. I guess I'm your average joe schmoe mtb'er (185 lbs.), a little single track here and there, some grocery runs, etc. I ride around town alot so the lockout is nice, and if I'm on pavement I can switch the travel w/o getting off, but on the trail that would be sucide, and the stickers came off mine but I think it looks better that way. I had to use more air pressure than the manual recomends- upwards of almost 25% more, but I still haven't gotten over the max air pressure. The rebound is decent, I can defenitaly feel a difference throughout the knobs range of motion, but it still isn't smooth as a marzocchi or fox rebound. The other reviewer was right about the sag, it was a little more than I was used to, but on a bike that wasn't designed for a 120mm fork the shortened fork length is actually nicer. I don't know if I would pay full retail for this fork but for a used fork in the $250 range I would not hesitate to buy it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a Cross Country Rider
from irvine, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | smooth ride when it works | | Weaknesses: | lock out | | Bottom Line: | The lock out stopped working the first week i owned the fork. Manitou repaired it free of charge. 3 months later the entire fork froze up like a permanent lock out. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Worley
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsboro, Al. USA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Flat Rock on Montesano Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist (with new bike) | | Strengths: | Light Weight, Good looks, seems to take most of what I have thrown it's way, Stiff & smooth, I like the mini-boots. Adjustable travel & rebound damping (very nice) I never thought I would use it, but I do adjust it a lot. | | Weaknesses: | plastic knobs, but remember the weight issue. Seems to settle about 1/2"-3/4" into its travel with very little pressure; not from rider weight. I'm nit-picking really
Having to get off the bike to adjust travel>>I'm so out of shape, thats not really a bad thing, I need the rest..hehe | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Marzocchi Z5 100mm air<---that was a very good cheap fork!!! | | Bike Setup: | Black 2003 Ellsworth Truth (Sweet!!!)w/Fox Float R shock, XT drivetrain, Hayes HFX-9, XT hubs on Mavic 317's, Thompson bar, stem & seatpost, Cane Creek S-2 headset, IRC Mythos 2.1, Selle Italia Flite Trans AM saddle, RaceFace good-n-evil grips | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 80-100 travel model. I can't say anything really bad about this fork. Although I did crash & break part of the rebound adjuster knob, even if it was made from aluminum like some other manufacturers, it would have been badly damaged. I think this fork would serve the vast majority of XC riders well. If you are a Huck-ster, Black-diamond rider or down-hiller, STAY AWAY!!!!!!! This is not your baby. The way I see it, even if I have any Manufacturer-related problems out of this fork, Manitou will warranty it for 9 more months. I have e-mailed them with questions & they are quick to respond, so I have faith in them. If you are looking for a good air, adjustable fork, go for it. Why not buy it from your local bike shop, too??? We need those guys!!!
OUT | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wilier
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | Smooth travel, ability to lock out | | Weaknesses: | plastic knobs, air leaks before I can get the pump unscrewed. | | Bike Setup: | Trek STP, Ultegra STI, XT/XTR Drivetrain, Avid Ti V-brakes. | | Bottom Line: | As with everyone else, I was pretty skeptical after reading the reviews. however, at $250, I decided to give it a try. After finishing my first ride (12 miles) I noticed fluid leaking out of the boot on the left leg. I was ready to send it back, but called Answer first and they told me there was only damping fluid in the right leg. The fluid in the left leg is a very thin grease (that goes in the micro-lube ports) and is expected to leak a bit. Told that it does not affect the performance of the shock, but I need to keep the micro-lube greased.
I wonder how many people have returned due to this problem because I was ready to take it back.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with the actual performance of the shock. It was a bit soft, but I'll be tuning that as I get more rides on it. Action was very smooth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from LaVista, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Locally - Platte River the new stuff is great! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | Small bump sensitivity, air/spring combo allows fine adjustments for rider weight. | | Weaknesses: | Came with low oil levels. Have to disassemble to change out spring. Stickers on rebound/lockout still rub off. Spring kit manual and owners manual have different installation instructions. This is very confusing. Use the owners manual instructions, they are the correct ones. Also found a large metal shaving in spring-side fork leg when I dissasembled it. Appeared to be from manufacturing process and although it had settled to the bottom did not inspire immediate confidence. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Headshok, 02 Black Comp, Psylo SL, Manitou SX-R, Halson Inversion, Quadra's, Judy's, Mag-21, Marathon | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll, SRAM/XT mix, 03 100/120mm Super Air Fork, Avid Mech Discs, Hope/Mavic 519's. Hardtail runs the comp and a slightly lighter setup. | | Bottom Line: | I was VERY leary of forking out this much cash with so many negative reviews. I really wanted the air spring adjustability and the price was right. I have found it hard to find a spring kit that is not too hard or too soft. Out of the box, the Super bottomed easily prompting evasive spring replacement and topping off the oil. If you are a heavier rider and not mechanically inclined then stay away. Yanking the legs off of a brand new fork to replace the spring is not for the weak of heart.
Now that it is adjusted it is hard to wipe the smile off my face when I slide down the trail on this fork. It feels like someone used a bull-dozer to smooth the trails. The small bump sensitivity is astounding. With 120mm of well adjusted travel, I can give a little more work to the front end. I slide forward to a a slightly more neutral position which really helps my control on the whoop-de-do's and big dips.
After a number of test climbs, repeating various sections with different fork adustments. I rarely use the lockout and never use the travel adjust. The fork becomes very stiff when compressed to 100mm and it's a pain to reach the adjuster. Plus, on steep-rooty climbs it works best fully extended so that's were I leave it.
Hopefully, I won't have to post back about this forks reliability. It's performance beats anything I have tried. I stayed away from Fox for cost reasons, but expect it would be comparable. If RockShox had dropped the price a little earlier on the Psylo, I'd be riding an SL. As it is I took a chance, having never ridden this model before. I won big. This fork beats the Psylo on ride quality and the Black Comp on my hardtail feels like no suspension at all in comparison. I don't want to cast aside any of the reliablity issues noticed by other riders. I'm giving it stellar reviews based on my experience only. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Everything in Colorado | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Wheat Ridge Cyclery | | Strengths: | Absolutely Nothing! At least my stickers didn't come off though. | | Weaknesses: | This is the softest fork I have ever ridden, and I mean a real sponge. Granted, I'm a 190lb agressive rider, but I don't take big drop offs, hits or jumps, and yet I can bottom it out just getting off the saddle and leaning on it with the maximum air pressure of 190 psi and the extra stiff spring, and set at 80 (which other than less travel seems to be noticeably stiffer than the 100 setting). In fact, it bottoms out riding off a curb. It also squeaks and creaks. This 2003 80/100 Black Super Air is a warranty replacement for a 2002 Black 100 Super Air that I rode for 6 months and eventually developed many internal hairline cracks. (I had the same bottoming out issues with last year's model as well and on several 4+ hour rides, 90% of the air would leak out.) At least Manitou (through the good folks at Wheat Ridge Cyclerly) replaced it in less than a week. My biggest issue though, is that this fork has caused me to alter my riding style becasue I have to always back off a bit for fear of it bottoming out and me going over the handlebars on a rocky technical section, and I'm not talking about when I'm hammering (becasue I really can't with this fork), its when I'm negotiating a rocky, slightly inclined, technical section at a slow speed that I fear the endo the most. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Manitou and RockShox forks | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Yeti ASR, full XTR, Mavic 517's | | Bottom Line: | This fork sucks. I would recommend this fork to those who only ride paved bike paths and no one else! My only consolation is that most other riders have experienced the same issues. I came to this preduct review looking for advice and I guess I need to get a Fox and spend the big bucks!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | I've had all the problems you read about below, and what I dislike most is the poor support from Manitou, or at least that is what my LBS reports to me.
I'd just stay clear, why pay for probable unsupported problems? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pat
a Cross Country Rider
from TN
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Clemmer, Tsali, Jackson hole | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | colorado cyclist | | Strengths: | Stiff, very adjustable, good price, great seals | | Weaknesses: | Stickers come off too easily, could use better knobs | | Similar Products Used: | Duke, bomber | | Bike Setup: | adept pro, xt/xtr, ust,avid disk, next cranks, eggbeaters | | Bottom Line: | not sure about the reason for all the negative reveiws below,(maybe the rockshox sales guys are bored and venting a little) I've been very pleased with the performance of the this fork. First ride was a six hour epic and the black saved me in some hairy spots that would have had me over the bars on my old fork. No problems so far, would buy it again in a heartbeat | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
b m
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | -costs less than forks with equal features
-more stiff than rockshox
-light weight
-I got 100% of my $$$ back | | Weaknesses: | Where to begin. This fork is a disaster Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. Out of box there was a piece inside rattling around. The lockout was broken, the top caps were stripped, the travel adjust rarely worked, I could bottom it out with max air pressure by gently pushing it down. I weigh 160lbs. It leaked, the plastic adjustments eventually fell off from vibrations. It felt like hell. It was not plush and did a terrible job at absorbing bumps. I was also unable to take the fork apart to pect it because the caps on top are they immediately stripped, so I couldnt fix anything. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox Judy 100, Marz Z3, Z1 dropoff, Z1 MCR, Z1 Wedge, other Marz. And my current fork the Fox TALAS RLC. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Pro frame with plenty of upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | Do not consider this fork. You will be throwing your money away. Get a Marzocchi, Fox or dare I say a Rockshox instead. Answer needs to work on their quality control, because there is no excuse for such faulty and dangerous products. I was lucky that I was able to return the fork for all my money back after the fork basically fell apart.. Look at the rest of the reviews for this fork. People are not happy with it. I for one will never buy a Manitou fork again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Whales
a Weekend Warrior
from Omaha
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | I think the reverse arch does add some stiffness... | | Weaknesses: | Where to begin! Have to agree with Rick below...this thing is junk! Was looking for 100mm-decent weight. Had a SID and liked it-it was sold with my old bike. Cheesy plastic controls-stickers fell off in minutes-max air pressure and this thing is still soft-and I only weigh 150lbs-stripped post mount-makes weird sounds-proprietary grease gun required- | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox SID XC-older model | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur | | Bottom Line: | There's a reason these things are on sale! I haven't had experience with Fox or 'Zokes, but I WISH I would have bucked up and chosen one of those. I would even take my old SID over this thing! Yep, that pretty much covers all of Manitou's main competitors. If you seen one of these online or at your LBS-turn and run!
PS-I'm not a huge fan of Colrado Cyclist either-it took me 20 minutes of haggling over the phone with a CSR to convince him that there's a difference between a Disc-only Black (which I ordered) and the one they actually sent me!
Sheesh!
Rock on Cambria-sorry I "cheated" on you!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zeus
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver CO USA
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Strengths: | Low price, adjustments | | Weaknesses: | Shotty quality, not smooth | | Similar Products Used: | Fox, SID | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ASR | | Bottom Line: | I agree with below. Terrible Quality. Sorry I own it. Problems with lockout, travel adjustment. Even fixed, it isn't very smooth. Rather spend double for 5x the performance. Go with a Talas, or (bite my tongue) a SID.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikeybike
a Racer
from northeast
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | increable adjustments. light. | | Weaknesses: | none. | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi | | Bottom Line: | I have use this fork for over 8 months with no problems. adjustments are increable. i use a 100-120mm and it has no prob handling 5-7 foot drops.
To the guy below:
Maybe you have a bad one? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikeybike
a Racer
from northeast
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | increable adjustments. light. | | Weaknesses: | none. | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi | | Bottom Line: | I have use this fork for over 8 months with no problems. adjustments are increable. i use a 100-120mm and it has no prob handling 5-7 foot drops.
To the guy below:
Maybe you have a bad one? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ribbon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | cheap, easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | Cheap, unpredictable travel. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox, Zokes | | Bike Setup: | Yeti | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy this fork, it’s dangerous. When new, it worked fine with a nice smooth stroke. Although it did have a tendency to blow through it’s entire stroke on medium size bumps. After riding the fork for 3 months the problems with sticking began. Either it easily blew through all of it’s travel or it would stick and momentarily lock up half way through it’s travel. No amount of lube in the microlube ports would stop this from happening (I tried). I also tried disassembling the fork and cleaning it (as recommended in to owners manual). That also did not stop the fork from sometimes sticking. Think of the implications of this, when in technical situations you have no idea how the fork is going to react to trail obstacles. Will I be unexpectedly jolted at the handlebars because the fork has decided to momentarily lock up or will the fork behave I a compliant manner???? I was able to recreate this problem by standing over the bike and rapidly pushing down on the handlebars. Sure enough, every few strokes it would momentarily freeze up half way through the stroke. It’s baffling because internally there is nothing wrong with the fork, I have properly maintained the fork, I lubed the heck out of it, I don’t do major drops, I’m just an average mountain biker. I think the problem is simply cheap manufacturing and cheap parts. Note that this tendency to randomly freeze up is potentially dangerous. Rather than risk a trip to the hospital, I replaced this fork for with a Fox. To say the least, I am extremely upset and livid with the fact that I wasted $300 on this poorly built, joke of a fork. Shame on Manitou for selling this garbage. I would have though by now the at the bike industry would have gotten over trying to sell cheap, crappie components in a effort to see how much money they could make, but apparently that is still the goal of Manitou. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ApexRider
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver CO USA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$339.00 | | Purchased At: | Screaming Beagle | | Strengths: | Light weight for 120mm Travel
Inexpensive
Convenient Adjustment | | Weaknesses: | Poor Quality
Not smooth action
Travel Adjustment slips from 120 to 100 often | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ASR, XT Drivetrain, Avid Mech Discs, Black Super Air, Crossmax XL's, Terry Zero, Thomson post/stem, Conti Vert Pro's | | Bottom Line: | Not very impressed. Probably should have gone with a Marathon or Fox. Both were hard to come by at the time of purchase.
Within 1 month, the lockout broke, then the travel adjustment broke, now the travel adjustment just slips from one setting to the other randomly on it own.
The fork is not smooth at all, and the rebound adjustment is just a gimmick with no noticable difference at any setting. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
s r
a Weekend Warrior
from canada
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | -light for a fork with 120mm travel
-easy to adjust
-looks different
-TPC+
-price
-I was able to return it for a full refund and get a Talas | | Weaknesses: | -looks cheap
-all that plastic garbage
-after 1 ride something inside had broken and was rattling around
-most riders will need a stiffer spring, I weigh 165 and with the psi almost twice the recommended pressure the fork would bottom from me standing and pushing down
-air doesnt feel very good(excluding Talas and Z1 FR SL)
-not as stiff as Fox or Marz
-stanchions are always covered in oil from mini boots | | Similar Products Used: | Marz Z1 and Z3 light
Rockshox Psylo
Rockshox Judy 100
Fox Talas(the best) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Pro | | Bottom Line: | If you are a lightweight rider who is not going to do anything big, then consider this. There are just so many superior forks currently on the market that I wouldnt recmmond the Super air. I admit that I didnt keep it long so it probably would have gotten better, but after purchasing the Fox TALAS RLC, there is no comparison in build, looks, quality, feel, performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tosh Clements
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | from a friend | | Strengths: | great for jumping,and great for going down trails | | Bike Setup: | tricked out 2002 specialized hard rock | | Bottom Line: | this fork is awsome | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared Adams
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington, VA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Schaefer Farms, MD | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Ride quality is great. Compression damping is the best. Soaks up small stuff and seems limitless on big hits.
Looks--bossless option, improved sticker set over 2002 model. | | Weaknesses: | Non-international standard disc brake tabs. Not really a big problem--the adapter works really well. Some people will complain about cable routing, but the way I have mine set up is super clean (Shimano line cut short, taking direct path to the caliper). Manitou even throws in a disc brake line tab. | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Sid 100, Fox Vanilla R 125 | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Tracer, 317 w/XT discs, RaceFace Lps, Thomson post and stem, Azonic PDWs, XT/XTR deraileurs | | Bottom Line: | I bought this $499 fork for $299 from Colorado Cyclist and couldn't be more happy. I weigh 210 lbs and have set the fork up with a heavier spring and air at roughly 70% of my body weight. I could really care less about travel adjust--I just leave it in the full travel (120 mm) setting), but do appreciate the lock-out and rebound damping. I switched from a Fox Vanilla R to this fork, after switching frames also, and while I don't think this fork is as stiff, it rides much better. The Vanilla is wonderful if you're moving more than fifteen miles an hour, but on smaller bumps it was noticeably harsh. I monkeyed with different spring weights, but firm was to hard and medium was too soft, so I thought air adjust would be worth a try. The bottom line is just that--you can infinitely fine tune this fork. Compression damping on the Super Air is really smooth and it doesn't ramp up the way my old SID 100 did. Plus, the travel feels limitless. I may be sacrificing a very small amount of stiffness, but considering the weight and dollar savings over Marazocchi, RockShox, and even the new Fox Talas, it is well worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris chris
a Cross Country Rider
from poland
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | stiff, when it's clean it works smooth | | Weaknesses: | lockout, too litle rebound, after fiew miles it seems like it needs Microlubing | | Bike Setup: | Deore LX | | Bottom Line: | good compresion, but this lockout does'n seem to be a good idea mine has blocked for good twice and i think it's got too litle rebound but it's great for all bumps | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juice
a
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | I blasted this fork for durability issues, even though I liked the ride, in a previous post. Given my riding style I probably shouldn't have been on an air fork anyway. Manitou has given me the BEST warranty service I've ever had. I've broken a lot of gear in the last 15 years, and I've never had as quick and solid response as I just got from Manitou. Stuff breaks, things get built out of tolerance - that's life. Manitou made it right, plus some.
I'll definitely be buying Manitou stuff again in the future. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
top jimmy
a
from northeast
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Awesome adjustments! Can't take a curb? Ha! Takes big jumps...no problem. | | Weaknesses: | a little expensive..bit worth it. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi DJ oil shock.. | | Bike Setup: | DH specialized | | Bottom Line: | Have had no problems mentioned by others below. Takes big jumps. AWESOME adujustments. Air shock rules! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from fresno, ca
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclopath | | Strengths: | stiff, smooth | | Weaknesses: | unreliable | | Similar Products Used: | my all time favorite the Z4(cheap, reliable, plush, stiff) | | Bike Setup: | Foes FXR, King, Thompson, XT | | Bottom Line: | The travel feels great and it is stiff for its weight, especially in the short travel mode. The adjustments work well. I am a 210lb rider and like the way the fork handels but I have had problems with it not staying in the 100mm travel position and the lockout has an initial travel of about 1 inch before it locks out. I have had no problems with air leaking, even with 160 psi. Squirting lube into the thing every 6 rides is annoying, especially when you first have to clean the dried mud out of the grease port. I used to have a Z4 and loved it. Maintenance free oil bath, reliable ... definately one of the best forks ever made and you can still get them new for $180. I wanted the Talas but they were not available so I got the Super Air. It works but makes me nervous about getting stuck with a blown fork. If you weigh over 190 lbs I would recommend a marzocchi or fox or save yourself a ton of money and get a Z4 and just go ride and never worry about it. manitou just needs to work on the reliability issue with the internals of the fork. It is also hard to route disc brake calbes on a reverse arch. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chip
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mary's and Lion's Loop - Fruita | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Wheat Ridge Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light, smooth till it bottoms out | | Weaknesses: | It is had stiction, was noisy, and lost it's air half way through a ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Black Elite Air, Black 80/100 comp, SID SL | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer X, XTR | | Bottom Line: | This shock would be great if you only rode off an occasional curb, but most of us who actually ride on rough trails should stay away from this. This is the second air style Manitou shock I have owned and they can't handle a mild ride. I don't believe Manitou even looks at this site, a shame, because it's true their seals blow out - often. After having the Elite Air blow out regulary the LBS, Wheatridge Cyclery, was kind enough to go to bat and get the new Super for me... super blow out. After about an hour of thinking I had found the right shock, it disappointed me by making lots of noise and losing all of the air, with half of my ride to go. To Manitou's credit, one of the riders has a regular Black and has had no problems, but I wouldn't give them a second chance (make that sixth chance). Had to break the bank and get a Fox - we'll wait and see. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alistair
a
from Canberra
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | 100mm of smooth, well modulated and accessible travel | | Weaknesses: | decals look a bit cheesy - but at least they peel off easy. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing like this | | Bike Setup: | these forks came with my 2003 Yeti Koko. So I've got almsot 4 inches of Fox air-sprung travel at the back. | | Bottom Line: | These are the best forks I've ridden period. They were dead easy to dial up from the start (although I think Manitou should throw in a hp pump for the money). The travel is smooth and accessible - the 100mm mode's after you build in rider sag (and for a heavier rider that's an important factor. I've wasted my time with Rock Shox before and I'm here to tell you - these Manitou's leave them for dead. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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