Description:
Utilizing advanced features, as well as state-of-the-art computer controlled design and manufacturing, Romic's exclusive Twin Tube Damper leads the way, producing unmatched performance and tuneability for your MTB.
Derived from Motorsports, Romic's Twin Tube Dampers combine massive performance as well as the best features of external reservoir dampers in a lightweight compact design.
Reactor Valve Technology Developed for the rigors of off-road riding and racing, Romic's exclusive Reactor Valve offers unparallel and independent tuning of both bump forces and rider inputs. Why sacrifice pedal efficiency in order to have a plush ride when Romic's Reactor Valve allows you to have both. Will Increase Rear wheel travel up to 7.2 inches
Submitted by
Carvin
a
from Laguna Niguel, CA Date Reviewed: February 28, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Action, adjustability, customer service.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Fox RP23, Maverick
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Salt w/5 in rocker
Bottom Line:
This is a great shock, it works very well for more aggressive trail riding. The design is straight forward, performs very well, and is quite user friendly. Also, contrary to other reviewers, Romic provided me very responsive customer service. I sent it to Romic on a Monday ($45 for rebuild), they had it back to me rebuilt the following week. Great job Romic, thank you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Rainier, OR Date Reviewed: May 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Stella
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$133.00
Purchased At:
E-bay
Strengths:
Great feel and control. Works as well or better as any coil shock I've either owned or demo'd. Reactor Valve limits (but not eliminates) pedal induced movement.
Weaknesses:
Customer service...that would actually require that Romic either answers their phone or returns messages and e-mails...they seem incapable of either
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla RC, Fox Vanilla R w/pro-pedal
Bike Setup:
2005 Jamis XLT
Bottom Line:
First off...I got the shock used for $89 from E-bay and it worked fairly good but made a loud "sucking" sound on big rebounds. I sent it to Romic for a rebuild and one month and $44 later it was returned. Since the rebuild, the shock has performed flawlessly. I really like the feel of this shock, it seems to suck up almost anything in its path. Coils are my favorite over air shocks (I'm a Clyde and rarely get full travel out of a air shock). I was also able to trade for the right weight coil with another MTBR user. So for $133, it has been and hopefully will continue to be a great shock.
Now the downside...I'm a former bicycle mechanic and warranty manager so I'm very experienced in working with companies on warranties and repairs. Some companies have been on the ball while others are less responsive. Romic falls into the "less responsive" category. If you don't plan on returning phone calls...don't have an answering machine. If you don't plan on responding to e-mails...don't have a e-mail address. It's not too much to expect a simple call back from a company letting you know when your shock will be ready...especially after 3 weeks of not hearing anything. Its called customer service, don't ever think your product is so good that you don't need to be good at it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a
from northants,uk Date Reviewed: April 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
harlestone firs
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Strengths:
tough, looks good, options on crc,can handle big drops
Weaknesses:
commpresion adjustment
Similar Products Used:
manitou metal
Bike Setup:
coyote dh3 2004 888`s ect
Bottom Line:
good tough shock but commpresion adjustment needs sorting out though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a
from Gainesville Date Reviewed: February 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
San Fo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Unknown
Weaknesses:
Blew in less than 3 minutes, no customer service
Similar Products Used:
Fox, Rock Shox, Manitou
Bike Setup:
Azonic Propulsion, XT 752, Avid cable disc
Bottom Line:
Purchased a new Azonic Propulsion frame, built it & within 3 minutes of buzzing around the neighborhood (no jumps, hucks, etc) there was oil seeping from the top (blue) nob & the rebound adjustment was gone. Called Romic twice & never even got to speak to someone. After reading these reviews, I'm pretty sure I got a "bad one" & Romic has not been at all helpful. Replaced it with Fox & can now enjoy the bike. If anyone needs a 750lb spring...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Angel Dust
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: October 8, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Super plush, striking red springs, adjustibility, bombproof construction
The shock came stock on my Banshee frame and I really have nothing bad to say about them. Super plush and tons of adjustability. If you love your rear end plush, go for the Romics. You'd probably want to get a stiffer spring though 'cos I felt that the stock 450lb spring was a tad too soft. If you're searching for Romic replacement springs, do try chainreactioncycles.com. They stock 'em and best thing is that those guys are fast and reliable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Greensboro, NC, USA Date Reviewed: September 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Gift
Strengths:
Responsive like a Vanilla, pedals like an SPV
Weaknesses:
Blows out quickly even after factory service (I/m not talking big hucks, 3ft flatties at speed), compression adjuster lacks in ability
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla, DHX, and Manitou Swinger
Bike Setup:
7" bullit, with z150, etc
Bottom Line:
I shoot for lively and reliable, the best shocks I've ridden with these attributes are the DHX and the Swinger. If the Romics controls worked and didn't spew all over my swingarm maybe I would feel differently, maybe that's why it was a gift my homeboy couldn't sell it online.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bonkler
a Cross Country Rider
from Hurley Mountain NY Date Reviewed: July 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
backyard selections
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
mtbr classifieds
Strengths:
linear feel, tons of adjustibility, confidence inspiring, makes the bike feel bomb proof, holds well on climbs (little to no bobbing)
Weaknesses:
weight? The thing weighs a lot, but ummm... that's it.
Similar Products Used:
fox vanilla RC, float rlc
Bike Setup:
'02 Ellsworth Isis, RF cranks, stem, bars, salsa shaft seatpost, nonsense Sun DS2 XC rims that don't stay true laced to nonsense DT Onyx hubs
Bottom Line:
I've been very happy with this shock, bought it from the classifieds here on mtbr for 150 bucks, sent it to Romic soon to have it rebuilt. Not that it needed it, I just wanted to make certain everything was in working order. For their standard rebuild fee they gave me in addition(yes, as in for free) the right weight spring to replace the 900# behemoth it came with which I got to keep, fresh spacers and reducers, and a replacement of the oil and all seals in the shock. Its been one of the best purchases I've made for my bike in the last 4 years! This shock now makes all the weaknesses in my rear rim just that more pronounced since it ties the rear end of my bike together so well. As it stands now, I feel hardly anything from the rear of my bike when I'm rolling over roots, small rocks or holes in the ground. If you're considering one of these shocks, I've never had any trouble with it and would recommend it to someone looking for a bombproof shock made in the US.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
toe
a Weekend Warrior
from burly, nc, usa Date Reviewed: June 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
go-ride
Strengths:
adjustibility. when set up right there's very little pedal bob, climbs well and plush on downs. this thing has gone without any maintenance for 2 years.
Weaknesses:
none.
Similar Products Used:
manitou swinger, fox float on XC setups
Bike Setup:
ventana el chamuco with a bunch of fun stuff on it.
Bottom Line:
i've read a lot of negative comments about romic's customer support and just don't believe it. my bike came with a 400x2.5 spring and i needed a 500. i tried to get the spring from a myriad of retailers over the span of a month and nada. so i called romic direct and had my spring in two days. i was so impressed with their customer support i'm in the process of having them build a shock just for my bike and riding style. after i have some ride time on the new shock, i'll send in the old one for some TLC.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from St.paul,MN Date Reviewed: April 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Easy to setup,super smooth,Keeps the rear wheel on the ground.Has never failed!!
I bought this shock used off ebay 2 years ago to replace my OEM Manitou QR air shock. I had no idea how old or what condition this shock was in when I bought it. It has been on my bike 2 years now and has never failed me. Never leaked oil, soaks up every bump on the trail and has been such an improvement over the shock that came with my bike.
Bottom line is, I love this shock!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kev
a
from Michigan Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
cambriabike.com
Strengths:
Leaps and bounds ahead of a DNM shock. Good, noticeable adjustments. The anti-bob system puts my Marz. 120 MX Comp ETA fork to shame (although, an awsome fork especially for the price)
Weaknesses:
The one I got came with the KHS FR 2000 03 frame I bought, so I'm a bit worried about the tolerance issues Romic was having around that time. Half a year and no problems yet, so maybe mine isn't defective (I hope)
Similar Products Used:
DNM shock- absolute crap. I had to crank the preload all the way up unless I wanted my bike to be a giant pogo stick.
Bike Setup:
KHS FR2000 frame, 4 piston XT discs, marz. fork
Bottom Line:
I always wanted a shock that wouldn't be seen on a Walmart bike. The difference between the Romic and the DNM is unbelievable.
The price was right, since I only paid 350 for the frame AND the shock :)
I'm a little suprised that the 750lb spring is way too soft on the 6 inch setting of my frame. I know the shock isn't blown, so maybe the frame has a high leverage ratio (it's a 4 bar)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Racer
from Big Bear ca Date Reviewed: January 18, 2006
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$359.00
Purchased At:
a bike shop
Strengths:
Great shock, had it blow on me once. I had to leave a message to get a hold of me. But they called back with in the hour. Great customer service by Ryan in the Tech. Dept.
Weaknesses:
Having to leave a message. Is the only weakness that I have found.
Similar Products Used:
Fox DHXucks
Bike Setup:
Transition Dirtbag, marazzochi for, sram, avid, and truvativ everthing else. Azonic wheels
Bottom Line:
Great product. Custumer care is great. I belive that Ryan is meeting a friend of mine tonight to help with his shock on his own time. It has blown once but it still rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pascal C.
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: July 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
jumps, freeride
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Looks great. Low profile design. Works great when it is properly set up.
Weaknesses:
Customer service sucks. Romic takes a 2 hour lunch brake from 11 AM to 1PM. Nobody is there to take your call.
Bike Setup:
04 Ellsworth Joker 1.5 set up for freeride. It has 7 inches of travel.
Bottom Line:
When I got the shock, it was bottoming out off a bunnyhop so I sent it to Romic. They charged me over $180 CAD to rebuild it and put in a new spring. When I got the shock back 3 weeks later, the old spring had not been replaced but they had billed me for it. I had to spend 2 hours phoning them before I could speak to a person.
They recognised that they had made a mistake and are now sending me a new spring.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Ohio Date Reviewed: May 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
WV, NC
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Outdoor Adventures
Strengths:
Can't tell yet, customer service is preventing me from riding!
Weaknesses:
CUSTOMER SERVICE!!
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanillas, Manitou Swingers. These companies know how to do it.
Romic needs to step back and ask themselves why are they doing what they are doing. How can you expect to earn loyal customers when you treat them this way? I ordered a new shock spring weeks ago...and still waiting. Inquired about getting new spacers for a loose lower eyelet (came loose on a new bike build...not good Romic) they said they would send me a set...WEEKS AGO! Go with Fox or Manitou and stay away from Romic. Who cares if the shock performs? The company needs to back it up!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Matthes
a Weekend Warrior
from Colchester, UK Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Betwys Y Coed
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Thomas's Cycle Revolution
Strengths:
Plush damping ability, tuneability, smooths the bumpiest of surfaces, pedal damping properties tame wayward bob
Weaknesses:
weight
Similar Products Used:
Fox float R
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro, Pace RC40, Hope M4, Romic twin tube
Bottom Line:
No Specialized Enduro owner should be without one. The pedal response is much snappier than the standard Fox Float and the ride is very plush thanks to the linear stroke. The Romic takes the bigger hits in it's stride without rewarding you with wallowing when pedalling uphill - unlike the non-propedal Fox.
Despite it's considerable extra weight (over three times the weight of the Float), the Romic unleashes extra potential in your Enduro, boosting confidence and giving you plenty of tuning potential.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Hampshire UK Date Reviewed: April 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
lordswood
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
wades cycles
Strengths:
Looks awesome, nice and beefy, plush, tunable TOP DOG!
i have a new '05 twin tube on my stinky and i must say i am soo impressed with it, my riding has improved already, it gives me so much confidence to just hit things harder than ever and sucks it all up with no trouble, i spent a day dialling it in and its absoluty spot on! the best thing is you can do anything with this shock, drops and dh no problem, stiffen it up a bit and dirt jumps can be taken with ease, and pedalling hard uphill there is minimal bob. and no oil leaking so far! top quality! top value! top looks! BUY THIS SHOCK!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Leicester, England Date Reviewed: February 12, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Excellent shock (while it lasted) for the price I paid, it soaked up the bumps both large and small it also climbed really well without much pedal bob.It is also easy to adjust and set up, you dial it in and away you go.
Weaknesses:
The shock is less than six months old and has been used mainly for XC use with a little bit of freeride, it was set up and then left until a few days ago I bought a new spring (up'd the weight to reduce the sag). I removed the shoch from my bike and when I did so the oil shot out of it and went everywhere!!!!! if that was not enought the whole thing then fell to bits (piston and spring came away from the body). Contacted my LBS and they stated that the retaining bolt for the piston along with a seal had gone.
Similar Products Used:
fox shocks
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro Comp with numerous upgardes
Bottom Line:
The Shock work well and was a pleasure to ride however im not too impressed to say the least with the problems that I have just had, god knows what would have gone wrong with it if I used it for serious freeride and downhill. The bottom line is I bought this shock to replace my Fox shock as I thought that it was not up to the job and now im left wondering if I have done the right thing. If this happens after mainly XC use then Romic have some serious problems with there products. I will give it another go when it returns from my local tuning shop and post an update then.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sam
a Downhiller
from redruth,cornwall,uk Date Reviewed: February 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
bike chain
Strengths:
it is very good when its working.I only use my trail bike in the winter to ride the woods no big drops 5ft max, and a bit of xc.
Weaknesses:
there is oil leaking from the compression damper adjuster.
worked really well until i noticed the back end was not damped for about 10mm of the shock travel.now feels awful on repetative small hits.Buy one because they have very good characteristics but remember it might not last for long.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared
a Downhiller
from Seattle Date Reviewed: January 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Boogie Man
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
With My Bike
Strengths:
Great small bump sensitivity Takes big hits amazing Excellent pedalability
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
5th Element, Swinger 4 way
Bottom Line:
I have been riding hard and frequently on this shock for over a year and have not had a single issue. I have never serviced it and it still feels like it did the first day I got it. It pedals amazing with no bob, has great sensitivity and feel and I can bunny hop my bike like a hardtail unlike the Progressive 5th element that glues your wheel to the ground. Big hits or small hits, it doesn't matter, the Romic is amazing, a great upgrade for any frame in my opinion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Freerideviking
a Downhiller
from SW USA Date Reviewed: December 14, 2004
Favorite Trail:
wasabi
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Pretty strong product, no problems as of yet
Weaknesses:
Customer Service.
Similar Products Used:
Fox, Manitou
Bike Setup:
Gemini
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty good shock. It can be set up to filter out peddle induced bob, or it can be set up to recreate the lively feel of the fox vanilla for downhill purposes. I have not had any problems with this shock leaking. One thing that kinda urks me is the adjustments....when trying to fine tune, one click up is too much and one click down is not enough. This is true with both rebound and compression. I am very disappointed with Romic's customer service...I have been trying to get a 400# spring from them for quite some time. I don't have a local bike shop, as I live in a very rural area in NM. I emailed them several times about the spring, also asking for recommendations on what # spring I should use. I got one email back asking what kind of bike I ride and style. I responded with the info and recieved an email back asking me what the original question was!...I emailed ALL of my info pertaining to my bike setup, intended duty, my weight and riding ability, but never recieved an answer...I sent it once a week for about a month, but nothing...Good shock but poor customer service = bad rating from me....Should have been 5 chilis, but.....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from fontana Date Reviewed: December 10, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$359.00
Purchased At:
romic mfg
Strengths:
great customer service Brian rocks!!! What is there not to like about this shock, it has only been serviced one time, and the guys at Romic hooked it up
Weaknesses:
Romic has no weakness, best shock I have ever riden
Similar Products Used:
FOX, PROGRESSIVE, MANITOU
Bike Setup:
Cannodale Gemini Dh, Saqint everything Marizzochi super t pro, Maxxis tires
Bottom Line:
Best shock that money can buy, If for some reason you do have a problem with the shock,the costumer service alone is worth the money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Orion
a Weekend Warrior
from Grass Valley Date Reviewed: December 10, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
I have not run into any problems with my shock. It seemed that the compression damping wasn't working when I first got it so I sent it to them to get it revalved. Since then it's great no leaky oil and widely adjustable rebound. To all the reviewer's who suggest that people "leave the knobs alone" don't be stupid, suspension is tuneable for a reason, and to suggest that turning knobs makes shocks break is silly. Perhaps you all should just go back to elastomer stacks if you don't understand tuneability.
Shock came on 04 joker. Shipped with a 3" spring which is ridiculous, hard to remove. Now I run a 450lb 2.5 and it's stiff enough for 8' drops and still takes most of the smaller stuff. Not as sweet as my friends 5th element though.
Weaknesses:
Not enough compression adjustability. Others have had problems with failure
Similar Products Used:
5th element
Bike Setup:
04 Joker, '03 z1, holzfelzer stem and bars
Bottom Line:
I think this shock performs well, if you want to buy a bike and this is the only option, don't rule it out, however, if you can get the 5th element, go for it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
willy dykes
a Downhiller
from columbus Date Reviewed: September 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
a-line or schleyer
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$365.00
Purchased At:
beyond bikes
Strengths:
very plush
Weaknesses:
none i have found
Similar Products Used:
fox vinilla(oil started to leak)
Bike Setup:
joker with a super t
Bottom Line:
it is a great shock and i dont know what these people are complaining abour. people can just get the warrenty cuz i ride it every day freeride goin of ok big stuff 5-11 foot ledges and it rides uphill great. just stop messin around with the compressers and rebound and you should be fine. the warranty is great because if it does start leakin then they will renew it for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a
from So.Cal Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came with frame
Strengths:
Worked good!
Weaknesses:
The oil that ended up on my bike.
Similar Products Used:
5th Element
Bike Setup:
04 Joker
Bottom Line:
I did not think that I would have the problems that the rest of the reviewers had, but S#!t happens! However, this was my fifth ride on this shock and it blew while climbing up a hill. Now that's quality!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christopher Gaunya
a Cross Country Rider
from Wallingford, CT Date Reviewed: June 23, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Pudgies Loop, Lenox, MA
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Jenson, came on bike
Strengths:
Smooth as hell. Sucks up every thing
Weaknesses:
Keeps blowing out oil at the compression adjustment knob.
Bike Setup:
Foes FXR, All XT, Thomson stem and post. Mavic 317's with XT disc hubs, Kenda Kinetics 2.35's. Fox Vanilla RL 125 and avid mech disc brakes
Bottom Line:
Great shock when it is working. But the quality sucks!!! I got about 20 rides out of it since I got it back from Romic and today it blew out again. Screw it, I bought a Curnutt XTD with a Ti spring. The Romic is going back for repair and will be a backup from now on. Giving the shock 5 chili's when it is working but it gets 1 flaming turd for constant failure. I will avoid Romic products on any future bike purchases!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from Irvine CA Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Westridge SS
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Romic Direct
Strengths:
I like others threw this shock on myself and once set up I just let it rip. No problems no issues. This shock is as trouble free as they come. Sorry to those with shocks that suck, Ive riden hard every day for two years and my shock is a champ.
Weaknesses:
All these weak postings give Romic a bad name. Stop fiddling with your compression valves and ride.
Similar Products Used:
RS sid, Fox air,
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Joker, Manitou Junior T
Bottom Line:
Slap the shock in and ride, this shock thrives on trails with big hits and logs the size of barrels.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eggroll
a Downhiller
from Hawaii Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Romic direct
Strengths:
Quality
Weaknesses:
Customer support
Similar Products Used:
Fox, Progressive
Bike Setup:
Turner DHR
Bottom Line:
I ordered spacers to mount my Romic shock to my frame. Romic charged me $20 for the spacers and $30 for shipping. What the hell? $30 to send an envelope? I feel violated. Bad Romic. Bad Romic. Not a good way to keep customers. Bye bye Romic. Hello Progressive!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Howery
a Cross Country Rider
from Prescott, AZ Date Reviewed: April 28, 2004
$ 349.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating: