| |
Submitted by
Don Duende
a Cross Country Rider
from Don.Duende@yahoo.com
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Galena Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Private Party | | Strengths: | Worked great for the past 8 years or so. Never had to pump it up or service it until the last two months. Truly was a set and forget product. Durable, I rode at least three times a week and trails around here are rocky. | | Weaknesses: | After I hung the buike upside down by the rims in the garage 2 months ago, the shock will hold pressure for only a few days. Older product, so it must be serviced at Cane Creek, if they still have parts for a rebuild. I don't know if they still support the product. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox RP3, Cane Creek AD-8 | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn s[9six]40 | | Bottom Line: | Cane Creek makes a solid, reliable product. I think the internals or seals have just worn out. As much as I have rode it and abused it, there has been virtually no maintenance over all these years. I will call Cane Creek to see if they will rebuild or replace seals at a reasonable cost. This shock is on my beater bike, so there is little reason to spend big bucks to upgrade. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shawn
a
from gville sc
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | very reliable, easy to adjust, light weight, simple design | | Similar Products Used: | fox | | Bottom Line: | this is a follow up review. i have owned this shock for 6 years now and have never once had a problem. i rebuilt it once about 3 years ago because i felt sorry for it, not because it needed it. i have always used a lizard skin shock boot, so the shock looks brand new still. bottom line- this shock works great, doesn't leak, is easy to work on if you want to work on it and the company is extremely easy to work with and very helpful if you have any questions about anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette,CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | flume | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Purchased At: | cailfornia pedaller | | Strengths: | Never seems to need air even after substantial abuse | | Weaknesses: | LBS gets no rev for servicing these shocks. | | Similar Products Used: | SID race | | Bike Setup: | GF Sugar 1, XT, BB7s, Mavic X717...26.5 Lbs of dirty love | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up from years ago...if you have one..you'll find that it will outlast your frame and components. Mine has outlived the bike and is awaiting another. Some old shocks never die they just fade away because new frame set-ups don't accept them. Ride ON. It will work on my Sugar 1 with custom bushings.....my SID Race feels good with Neg pressure, buthe AD 10 is just better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Earl Teigrob
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Grapevine Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Very reliable, does not leak air at all. I have this shock installed on 2 bikes and I only adjust the air once a season. Takes big drops great. All I could ask for in a rear shock. Found them online for a deal. I do mostly cross country with small drops, jumps and trees in my path. Go out twice a week for 6 months of the year. | | Weaknesses: | none but had different width then my stock fox float r so I needed to shave the spacers when I installed it. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS3 customized this rear shock and with Marzocchi MX Comp Air. Great combo and I can concentrate on skills, not equipment. | | Bottom Line: | Highly Recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garry Connolly
a Weekend Warrior
from M'cr Emgland
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Buxton Cycles | | Strengths: | Fits the Trek Y5 - much better than the Stock shox ... | | Weaknesses: | Leaks , Won't Hold Air - Pretty concerned as not sure what shock I can replace it with. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y5 - Judy Long Travel XLC , and AD10 | | Bottom Line: | Can anyone advise me on good replacement shox for my Trek Y5
As the AD10 had to be fitted unside down | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lamar Hall
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, Co
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | three sisters | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Budget Bicycles | | Strengths: | Maintance Free. Did not touch this shock other than to set my rebound and compression. After that I've been punishing it for five years. | | Weaknesses: | After 5 years it finally gave out. Replace seals on shock but to no avail it just wont hold psi anymore. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 2 | | Bottom Line: | Would have no problem recommending this shock. However, there are newer shocks out there with a bit more advancements if one is willing to spend the cash. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Fletcher
a Cross Country Rider
from Whistler, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Riverside & Crater Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Fanatyco | | Strengths: | Light Weight, good dampening, nice action | | Weaknesses: | I first got this shock with my Pyclewerks Wildhare and the shock failed within a couple of months with a hairline fracture in the main air shell. Local bike company sent back to Cane Creek who sent a new replacement within about a month. The new shock failed in gentle terrain on the second ride. I bought a new Fox Air and never looked back | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Air, Fox Vanilla, other Cane Creek products | | Bike Setup: | Pyclewerks Wildhare, 16.5, all Ti pivots, Ti BB, Chris King humbs w/ti axles, Mavic 217 rims, all other XT running components. | | Bottom Line: | Neither the original, not the replacement lasted long enough to ever get dailed in. The both times the failures occured at the top of long, long climbs while wheeling some nice level single track before decending. Totally failed I had to walk the bike down twice for fear of damaging frame with a totally limp shock. That was enough for me. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Giessel
a Cross Country Rider
from Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Llama Trail/Rabbit Lake Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | The Motorcycle Shop | | Strengths: | Never leaks air
Cake to lube/rebuild (no tools required)
Widely tunable
Upgradable to AD-12
Very light | | Weaknesses: | Intrinsic properties of air damping (beneficial in many cases) make tuning difficult if you treat it like an air/oil shock. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla
Fox Alps 4, 5, 5R
Fox Float, Float R, Float RC
Noleen NR2, Smart Shock
| | Bike Setup: | Klein Mantra frameset (97 comp frame), Full XTR (M950), King/517 wheels, RS Psylo SL | | Bottom Line: | Purchased July 2000. First maintenance came in April 2004. Shock never lost air between those dates (I changed the air pressure anually as I grew a good deal during those years). For some perspective on that... From 1997 to 2000 I went through 3 Vanilla coil shocks and 2 Alps air shocks. Also important to note is that I was much lighter from 1997 to 2000 than from 2000 to 2004.
The maintenance done in April 2004 consisted of an AD-12 conversion kit Cane Creek offers for 40 dollars (complete with seals, piston, and air chamber disc).
Pictures of the conversion here:
http://homepage.mac.com/dgiessel/.Pictures/misc/AD10/
The performance of the shock over this 3.5 year period was nothing short of superb. I had tried Alps 4, 5, 5R, and Vanilla coil shocks on my Mantra and they were either too sticky (Alps) or totally unreliable (Vanilla). The 5R felt OK, but the Cane Creek was much better. I ran the stock chamber volume over this period (I have since gone to the most progressive setting allowing me to run lower pressures while still avoiding bottoming).
Some things to note about tuning the shock:
The compression damping is more of a blow off valve than anything else...once the pressure in the main chamber reaches a certain value...air blows by the compression valve into the secondary chamber...the compression adjuster basically sets this threshold (it really doesn't behave as a oil compression adjuster does as with an oil shock, the damping medium is uncompressable and always flows by the piston). I leave mine all the way open and tune the compression response with air volume and pressure.
Rebound speed is directly proportional to the amount of air blown into the secondary chamber during compression stroke. If you set the compression "damping" really stiff...air won't pass into the secondary chamber during the compression stroke, so rebound (no matter how soft you set it) will be very bouncy (the valve won't have any air to "stop" from going back into the main chamber). Leaving the compression damping open allows air pressures in both chambers to equalize on compression allowing the rebouind valving to trap more air in the secondary chamber (letting it bleed back into the primary chamber however quickly you desire). Bigger hits blow more air into the secondary chamber...so rebound is very slow. Smaller hits don't blow very much (in some cases zero) air into the secondary chamber...so rebound is quick. This is what Cane Creek means by "speed sensitive valving" and it is a very nice property of air damping (one must understand that the valving is applying damping to the spring medium to tune the shock properly however).
This shock is a dream if you put Slick Honey on it once a week (as I have done since the AD-12 conversion)...and if you decide to go 3.5 years without touching it...it will feel pretty damn good anyway.
Here are some additional pictures of how dead simple the maintenance is:
http://homepage.mac.com/dgiessel/.Pictures/misc/AD12/ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryon
a Cross Country Rider
from Indiana
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | stock setup on sugar 2 | | Strengths: | Absolutely bombproof so far. Very low maintenance. Does not leak air AT ALL! I did not keep up with the shock servicing schedule (much less frequent than recommended). Despite this the shock has performed well and held up better than my Rock Shox fork. I kept it lubed and checked the air pressure frequnetly but rarely had to add air. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Sugar 2 with Rock Shox fork | | Bottom Line: | Maybe not as trick looking as other shocks but performs well and as I said before is bombproof! Unless you want to pay too much for a shock that performs the same you can't go wrong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan D
a Cross Country Rider
from Bethany, Oklahoma USA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Roman Nose | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Soaks up almost everything everything. Easy to adjust to your weight. Cane Creek provides online owners manuals at their website. Good looks. | | Weaknesses: | First 3-5mm of travel is very loose...almost a dead spot on mine. If I'm riding over small stuff like gravel, rocks etc it moves a couple of mm's and rebounds and hits. It's not annoying or loud or anything...I'm just wondering if it's supposed to do that. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Isis, Marzocchi MX PRO ETA, Bontrager Race Disc, Avid mechanicals, LX/XT/XTR, IRC Trailbears | | Bottom Line: | I love this shock. Like I said, mine has a little bit of dead space if you're riding around in a gravel parking lot or something. Other than that this shock is amazing. Soaks up all the big stuff. Don't notice roots or rocks anymore. After riding this I will never go back to a Fox. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Race Track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Mission Cyclery | | Strengths: | Does what it's supposed to do. Never have to maintain/pump it up--keeps its air. | | Weaknesses: | None. Well, not as responsive to small bumps as I'd like, but that's also due to Sugar's XC racer-boy design. | | Similar Products Used: | None. First f/s bike. | | Bike Setup: | 01 Sugar 3 w/ XT and SRAM. | | Bottom Line: | The only reason I take a pump to this shock is to see if it leaked. 99.9% of the time it's just as I left it. As for maintenance, just wipe with a silicone rag and ride some more! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mauro
a Cross Country Rider
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$280.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop (imported) | | Strengths: | Do I have to say it again? Plush, adjustable, easy maintenance and easy to tune! | | Weaknesses: | a little pression loss (maybe my fault when pumping) | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox, Fox | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS-1, Bomber Z1, lot of Race Face, CrossMax .... | | Bottom Line: | Hard deal to find a shock replacement for this frame! A friend machined (CNC) the adapter for me for 65$. CaneCreek has a 135mm lenght with 26mm travel wich match perfectly the suspention geometry. The result is great after setup, and it is 250g less than the RS coil shock. From the factory setup the air volume must be reduced to make it more progressive and avoid the bottom up. In one word: GREAT ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin W
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, Co
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Monarch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Plush, adjustable, serviceable, so simple. | | Weaknesses: | none that I have found | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Tomac 78 Special, Manitou X-vert,XT drivetrain, Hayes hydraulics, Dave's speed dream wheels(King hubs) | | Bottom Line: | This shock has performed flawlessly for me. Had it a year, put 4000 miles on it. Zero maintenance. Didn't leak a bit of air!!!It finally got sticky after a year(duh!!) so I finally took it apart and greased it. It was sooo simple. What a difference a little grease makes!(Big duhhh)Took it apart again and changed the volume adjuster plate. Again, real simple. The thing is so smooth I have to periodicaly look down to make sure it's still there! I wanted a Fox for the lock-out. I commute by bike. I'm so glad I got a Cane. My friends Fox's have leaked right off the floor. In the biginning I pumped up my shock to make it stiff on the pavement. Now I don't even bother. That is because of my suspension though. No bob on climbs. Don't make a purchasing decission based on lock-out.(unless you are looking at a mono-pivot that climbs like a pogo stick. Then you need to look at a different bike.)While I have't rode a Fox, I truly feel I got the better shock. A rebuild kit costs $10 bucks (10 O-rings and grease) and takes 30 to 45 minutes. Very plush, real good dampening, simple as crap to work on. Get one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
simon lemieux
a Cross Country Rider
from montreal, quebec, canada
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | St-francois | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bicyclette montreal-nord | | Strengths: | Light, Heavy Duty, perfect performance... | | Weaknesses: | None yet!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Many similar but nothing that tops it ;-) | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher, Sugar 2... (ad-10 came with the bike) | | Bottom Line: | WoW! I'ts incredible. Put less pressure if you like more smoth suspension. Put more pressure if you like stif suspension. This is just the best all around rear shock ever ;-)
I like my front and rear suspension very "stif"/"hard" and this one get me what i whant! The sugar 2 bike is a perfect climber. But the cane creek ad-10 realy have to do with that... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craven Moorhead
a Downhiller
from W.Seattle Wa
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Any brain out bomb run | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Adjustability, adjustability, adjustability and ease of maintenance | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | stock shock | | Bike Setup: | setup to eat boulders and sh*t sand | | Bottom Line: | Buy one! It's like riding on air. Both literally and figuratively. Look around before you buy though because you probably won't have to pay full price. Hey, even if some guy is selling it out of the back of his van along with some home speakers, just get the shock! Cane Creek can supply you with the end fittings to make it fit just about any rear suspension bike so, don't worry if it'll work on your bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpharetta , ga
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Peachtree bikes | | Strengths: | Good out of the box performance . Set the rebound and adjust your ride with air pressure . | | Weaknesses: | Took 2 weeks to get a seal kit , even though their web site said it was in stock . when I finally called them they did admit they dropped the ball . Adjustment screws need to have the rust cleaned off of them now and then . | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock part on my sugar 2 sugar 2 | | Bottom Line: | 90% of the time it's set it and forget it . I wish the sdjustment screws were easier to adjust . I have no reason to change to anything else . The rave reviews on their customer service left me surprised when I had such poor service . I had one email go unanswered and only got my order shipped when I called them . May have been a fluke but it was my fluke . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Farmington, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Road apple | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Soaks up every thing, the small and big hits and vibrations
Doesn't bottom out.
Easily adjustible.
Light weight.
Smooth.
Pump included.
Do a complete overhaul in 20 min. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Gary fisher Sugar 2, 2.25 in. of travel | | Bottom Line: | If you want high performance, a smooth ride, light weight, and service simple shock. This is the one for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from atlantic beach, FL
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | briar patch | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | This is a good product. I've got approx 3000 miles of very trying usage on this shock in a sand, grit, salt air environment. No problems. It just works. Ride quality has not diminished. Just an occassional application of M-prep to the outer slide surface for stiction reduction & go riding for hours.
| | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | The only stock part remainng on my Sugar.
| | Bottom Line: | Fine prouct with no weaknesses. This thing is a winner. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Norris
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island, NY USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | twisty ones w/ bumps | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | used, at auction | | Strengths: | Two things: The whole shock. The Service/support
The shock is an elegantly engineered product with widely tunable, independent adjustments for Overall stiffness, compression damping, rebound damping, and progressiveness, WITHOUT CHANGING PARTS.
Has the plush ride of a high-end progressive spring coil, WITHOUT ANY DISCERNABLE "TOP-OUT" FEELING. That’s due to the "zero-sticktion" design- at rest, you're actually hovering between two opposed air-springs, defeating sticktion and top-out in one brilliant structure. Tiny bumps get spring 'n return with no damping or detectable friction (Your frame pivots will make a very detectable difference when you lube 'em!). Medium and large bumps just get "eaten up" by the shock, the rebound damping completely eliminates bounce, you can put just a tiny bid of compression damping to stop pedal bob, for a super plush ride. Technical maniacs can pump it up, dial in the damping and have a stiff, boulder-eater that performs like a hard tail. All wearing surfaces are included in the $10 rebuild kit, so it can live forever.
The service: These guys still think of themselves as "small" - I know cause when I told the CS rep I was starting to actually feel guilty for all the help, parts (100% my fault - reading the simple, one-page direx is a good idea before slapping on a wrench and twisting away!), customizing tips, upgrade offers etc.- he said so. So they're motivated as hell to make anybody's troubles vanish. And with the product as good as it is, that's not hard to do. Now support is helping me to modify the length and throw of a used one to fit my frame. They'll make shocks any length - they'll upgrade your existing shock, throw out the old one, and build one to your spec, for a fair price.
| | Weaknesses: | Ha! Haven't even met anyone who's owned one w/out loving it. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox vaanilla | | Bike Setup: | $1500 mongoose $599 noleen crosslink elt, xt/xtr everything | | Bottom Line: | I bought a used one, and rebuilt it, even though it worked impressively after a 2 year furlough - - it's slicker'n snail snot now. Like your rear tire's on glass while you're front's on a trail. So I bought another. Same story. I hear the ad 12 is "even smoother" I don't know why they bothered.
Disclaimer: I am not now nor have I ever been an employee, dealer, friend or relative of same, etc etc of Cane Creek. I simply, from the point of view of a rider and an engineer, and a consumer, stand in awe of this product and company. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike miller
a Cross Country Rider
from grand junction CO
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | horse thief bench | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | no reaction from adjustments at all | | Similar Products Used: | rst 22, dnm | | Bike Setup: | univega 700 fs manitou sx lt forks xt components | | Bottom Line: | not a good shock. no responce from cane creek customer service.no won will help.i would be happy if they just gave my money back. this shock slams back with no compresion or rebound adjustments. it did not fit very well.if anyone would like to me my home phone is 970-523-0986 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Texas
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hancock Pass, CO | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Cane Creek | | Bike Setup: | Y-22, full XTR, Mars1... | | Bottom Line: | This is the best shock out there(excluding the AD-12). Period. It's the lightest, most reponsive, durable, rear shock I've come across. It's much more durable than Fox's shocks. I had a Fox and it was heavier, less adjustable, and eventually it blew a seal on small stuff. Never buy Fox, unless Cane Creek goes under and maybe RockShox also! Go Cane Creek, you've made me a believer in all of your products and it started w/ this shock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darius Teter
a Weekend Warrior
from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Terelj to Gachuurt | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Light, easy to service, highly adjustable, plush, CUSTOMER SERVICE | | Weaknesses: | Seals, but that is normal over time | | Similar Products Used: | Stratos AR-1, Romic T2 | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 2 almost stock setup | | Bottom Line: | Yes the shock is light and adjustable and easy to service. But what really impresses me is the customer service. Last year in the Philippines the endless rainy season resulted in heavy rusting og the compression and rebound adjuster screws. I sent an e-mail to Cane Creek asking if this was a problem and without hesitating they sent two new ones. Now I live in Mongolia and last week the seals finally gave up the fight. I sent an e-mail to Cane Creek asking if they could direct me to an online retailer that sold the seal replacement kit and 3mm spanner tool. Once again I got a message back saying the parts were being sent to me in Mongolia by UPS priority mail, no charge, no questions asked. Now folks, please understand, CUSTOMER SERVICE JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. I'll be sticking with their products forever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the one I ride tomorrow | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$215.00 | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat | | Strengths: | Adjustbility, Durability, Plushness, Customer Service, 200g!, Looks, Self-Serviced | | Weaknesses: | mmmm, nope. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla coil-over | | Bike Setup: | '97 Trek Y-11, '99 Atom Bomb | | Bottom Line: | I've been using this shock for a year, and it's been a dream compared to the boingy stock vanilla coil-over that came on the bike. I like tinkering with the thing, and it's always been reliable and provided a great ride. The trek y is obviously not a bob-free design, but with this shock adjusted just right and a nice even pedal stroke, I'm sitting pretty on any trail in Durango. Great stuff.
A few months ago it developed a weird sound at the end of the rebound, like it was topping out or something. I emailed cane creek and a new seal kit was in my mailbox a few days later. Customer Service Kudos. I took the thing apart myself, replaced the seals, and slapped it back together. It took me about two hours since it was the first time and I was being careful, but it'll probably take less than an hour next time. I put it back on my bike, and it rode as well as the first day I rode it. Now that's one classy shock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manimal
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle WA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tiger Mtn or SnoQ | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay auction | | Strengths: | The shock has infinite adjustability. A coilover would've required spring changes but,you jst chg air pressure.The comp/reb adjustmnts are more than most other shocks also.One shock feature also is the negative air chamber volume which changes the shock from progressive to linear springing.Most bikes(including motorcycles)hv to achieve this with a progressive shock link.Mechanical shock links are heavy and pressurized air is light.Light as air. | | Weaknesses: | Comp/Rebound adjustments could be easier to turn.The fitment on my Giant Warp DS1 just doesn't leave any clearance for your fingers or a regular allen wrench(I'll cut it shorter).I'd figure that all of the adjustments(scraeder valve air fill and comp/rebound adj screws)should be on the sides instead bcz all bikes have easy side access where their shocks mount.Laterally,the frame or swingarm will always be in the way on any bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Giant shock adjustable for preload and rebound only | | Bike Setup: | Judy XC Hydracoil fork at mid travel adjustment (80mm) filled with Golden Spectro 'very light' cartridge fork oil -Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes with a right/front MX setup-Coda Cranks-shorty DH billet aluminum stem with flat bars-Specialized BodyGeometry seat-Std Shimano DEORE driveline-Std WTB Tyrannoraptor 2.25X26 tires running abt 40psi front and 55psi rear | | Bottom Line: | It's responsiveness to the smallest bumps is absolutely incredible.I nvr thought any shock could be so complaint to small stuff while retaining the ability to take hard hits?Even at higher air pressures in the shock.They recommend 10psi over your bodyweight but I went with 40psi over and it still floated over bumps like buttah-I don't think I've got the negative air volume chamber where I want it bcz I think the shock reacts TOO progressively (springing firms up too much near full travel) to bumps when it gets past mid stroke but that can be adjusted out to preference very easily, even though it's an internal adjustment.Maybe a touch less progressive springing should sort it out.I was shocked how easily it was to break this shock down for self service.The internal adjustments to the negative air chamber as well as seal changes can be done by a retarded monkey without expensive special tools.That simplicity is a BIG plus for me.Getting the mounting bushings to make the shock fit my Giant(I got one 5mm longer at 170mm).They got it to me in a week but they charged me over 2X the $8 that they initially quoted on the phone order.I can't comment on their customer service regarding setup bcz I feel qualified to do it myself(I'm close with my settings w/in the first 3 rides bcz it's so simple to adjust)but they could do better when quoting parts prices.Shock pumps can be had anywhere for $30 so you can adjust the air-spring or for disassembly.My minor criticisms are only personal and not A-typical for every buyer.The absolute best shock for ANY D-Y-I kinda rider,like me.Ease of service or adjustments will be lost on the cream puff that always brings their bikes in for any service.All I have to say is WHERE CAN I GET AN AD-12 FOR $100??Have to give er straight five flamin chilis bcz the purchase price more than made up for everything else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stan
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | rocks | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | Shock is the best, I will never go back to a coil again. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Fastrax | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Pro G3 | | Bottom Line: | Cane Creek was extremely helpful to retrofitting the shock to my bike. Wow what a difference, it really sucks up the bumps. The only thing I had to do is fine tune the travel and rebound for my bike. No need for a lockout on pavement, no po-go here. Hats off to Cane Creek. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Deerfield, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light weight. Very good manufacturing and design. The best customer service I have ever encountered for anything. | | Weaknesses: | All of the magazines seem to pump up RockShox and Fox products. I suspect this is directly related to advertising revenue. Lack of lockout may upset some riders.
To them, I say, go back to your hardtail. You're not losing as much pedal effort as you think if you have correctly tuned the air volume of the compression chamber to be progressive in nature. | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox SID. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Sugar-2. | | Bottom Line: | Everything you've read in these reviews is true. If you can resist the temptation of getting sucked up into the RockShox and Fox hype, buy the CaneCreek. Take the time to correctly tune the compression chamber air volume, air pressure, compression and rebound adjustment screws. You'll get out of the product what you put into it form a tuning aspect. Call the CaneCreek Technical Department for some good starting points. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark lang
a Downhiller
from vancouver, bc, canada
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Drop o' Death | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light and smooth | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox super delux | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Speed T.O. Race Face everything. Even the seat is a Race Face Ti Gel. (not retail) | | Bottom Line: | I blew my AD-8 shock in half when riding at high altitude. I couldn't believe it. I got off the bike when it suddenly exploded sending shrapnel all over the place. I had NAM flashbacks and I wasn't even there.
Best part, Cane Creek sent me a replacement AD-10 no charge in less than two weeks with no questions asked. This type of service can't be beat and I'll swear by any company with these types of practices unlike Rock Shox who are notorious for bad service.
Cane Creek rocks!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sal
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, California
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Miwok | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | -light
-easily adjustable
-smooth (for an air shock)
-great in all conditions
-still needs no service even after a year of riding | | Weaknesses: | Ummmmmm...no lockout | | Similar Products Used: | fox float and float R | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 2, full xtr, crossmax, sid xc, comp s, ct2 bar and stem | | Bottom Line: | Great all-round shock. The ad-10 keeps the rear glued to the earth on ascents and its there when you need it coming down. I highly recommend it to anyone , no way you can go wrong! Cane Creek for life! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff
a Cross Country Rider
from Saskatchewan
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | -> Light
->plush for air
->just enough stiction that there's minimal bobbing, yet very smooth
->Customer service is tops in the industry
->easily tunable | | Weaknesses: | -> almost too tunable
->needs service every once in a while | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla R | | Bike Setup: | 98 Mantra, XT, 00 X-Vert Super, CC AD-10, Fire Xc's, blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | This shock is well worth the money. I, like most people here thought suspension was made to bob, but after I bought the AD-10 the bike felt more in control and took the bumps better, this was after a good month, it takes a fair amount of time to dial this shock in. I found the best way is to dial in a set amount of air pressure and play with your compression and rebound from there.
I did have a problem with my AD-10, dunno if I got rooked on it or what when I bought it froma LBS, but I think it was a demo shock or something, but I blew something in the piston outa few weeks back, but this excellent company took care of everything for me, kudos to them, no questions asked just send it in they say..excellent
I didn't buy it for the weight, I weigh 225 and it works very well for my weight
As a side benefit, I increased the rear travel on my Mantra over 1.5" and you can definately feel it, even though tht eshock is the same length
I'd highly recommend this shock to anyone who's eithe rlooking to get he mos tout of their suspension or wants to upgrade, don't let the size of the company fool you
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Clough
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$215.00 | |
|
$ 250.00
