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Average Rating
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4.72/5
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# of Reviews
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36
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MSRP
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$ 549.95
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Weight
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More Products from Manitou
Submit a Review
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Description:Weight: 4.5 lbs
Travel: 110/130 Rapid Travel II top mounted
Damping: TPC+
Adjustments: Rebound, Comp, Travel
Lubrication: Semi-Bath with Evil Genius Seals
Spring: Ti/Coil
Casting: Magnesium RA
Stanchions: 32 mm aluminum
Steerer: Aluminum
Axle: Standard Quick Release
Optional: Hex Lock Thru-axle
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Submitted by
jake bob
a
from vermont
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | diablo freeride park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$122.50 | | Purchased At: | ebay.com | | Strengths: | stiff.. smooth .. great rebound.. gold stantions | | Weaknesses: | i blew the rebound cartridge and i broke the travel adjustment i had a simailar problem with my old sherman flick plus forks but i got the travel adjustment fixed on thoughs.. i had oil leek out of my fork since i got it | | Similar Products Used: | sherman flick plus, splice comp | | Bike Setup: | sinister ridge with hayes 9 with two inch rotors.. single track rims .. diety bars ( 2 inch rise) shimano siant crank set e-thirteen chain guide.. 42 tooth chainring.. 50/50crank bros. pedals | | Bottom Line: | Good fork if you buy it brand new and make sure u know how much air to put in the spv air vavle ... be carful if you put to much in you will blow your rebound cartridge... manitou is great with replacing it for free although it is a pain to get it fixed .... if your lucky and send your fork to manitou they might send you travis's | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reilly
a Downhiller
from Palmer Lake, CO
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Wild Thing or Paid in Full at Keystone | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came stock on bike | | Strengths: | Super plush, dependable, low maintenance, NO FLEX what so ever, built like a tank, very ajustable, 20mm axel, looks burly | | Weaknesses: | Mine makes this clicking sound when the fork goes about half way through its travel but it doesnt seem to affect its performance in anyway. maybe another inch or 2 of travel and I'd be estatic | | Similar Products Used: | some suntour fork, not nearly as great as the firefly | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC1 pretty much stock except for stomp platforms and hayes 8 inch cookie cutter rotors | | Bottom Line: | Sick fork for freeriding. Performs better than some 6 or 7 inch travel forks. buy it! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
daren
a Cross Country Rider
from st george, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | gooseberry | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | rigid, fluid, tough, easy to service | | Weaknesses: | hmmm none yet | | Similar Products Used: | most high end rock shox, fox, etc... | | Bike Setup: | stock haro werx | | Bottom Line: | These forks rock. No if's and's or but's. I've beat them, hammered them, ridden them in cold and hot and they still eat up little chop like butter and catch me on harsh landings with confidence. I don't know if I just got lucky with this pair, but looking at the other reviews I don't think so. Simply incredible forks! Dare I say it? yes I do "they're better than the fox rlc's I've ridden" you can't say more than that. Buy some if you can find 'em! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Olson
a Weekend Warrior
from Irwin, Pa. USA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Any rocky, dry ones! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$269.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish | | Strengths: | Tough, stiff, plush, overall great fork!! | | Weaknesses: | travel adjust broke, I don't care, I use 5" all the time anyway. | | Similar Products Used: | RS Psylo XC Custom | | Bike Setup: | Ventana El Chamuco, Race Face Chainrings, XT Der's ODI Grips, Hayes Hydro's, Thomson post, Easton riser, Mallets, XT hubs, 2.4 Motoraptors, CK headset, blah, blah, blah. | | Bottom Line: | I have had this fork now for over a year and I am extremely pleased w/overall quality, durability adn user friendliness. Super easy to change oils and keep maintained. Fork has been through a tremendous amount of abuse under my 225 Lbs of rock riding self! I am now on a Ventana El Chamuco w/6" of travel and I have both ends of the bike set up stiff and the bike is super plush and responsive. I'd buy my next fork from Manitou for sure! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario,Canada
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Hydro cut,waterloo | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | mtbreview classifieds | | Strengths: | Massive fork tubes,length of travel,urban camo paint | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | manitou black elite,super air.Manitou makes the best forks,shocks available period. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 vt2,sun rhynolite wheels,sram grip shifters,thompson post,bontager bars,manitou swinger 4 ways shock with spv,truvative cranks,crank brother mallet pedals | | Bottom Line: | Manitou products rock period.This fork is far superior to anything ive ever seen or riden.Bye it and you wont regret it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JOHN LEE
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, Ca
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | flameout | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | VISION | | Strengths: | STIFFNESS, VERY RIDGID, BURLY LOOKS | | Weaknesses: | NONE. JUST REGULAR MAINTANANCE. A LITTLE HEAVY BUT WORTH IT. | | Similar Products Used: | MANITOU BLACK COMP | | Bike Setup: | SC HECKLER,HAYES CARBON HD PLUS,RACEFACE TURBINE,THOMPSON STEM AND POST,EASTON DH BARS,SINGLETRACK WITH HADLEY HUBS,WTB LAZER V SADDLE, MAXXIS MINION 2.35,XTR DRIVETRAIN AND CHAIN,RP 3 FOX REAR SHOCK,SHERMAN FIREFLY. | | Bottom Line: | I JUST WANT TO SAY, I HAVE PUT 2700 MILES ON THIS FORK AND IT IS STILL SMOOTH AS BUTTER. JUST HAD A OVERHAUL SEALS AND NEW OIL FOR THE 4TH TIME. JUST A LITTLE LOVE AND THIS FORK WILL BE THERE EVERY TIME YOU GET OUT OF SHAPE ON A TRAIL OR JUMP AND IT SAVES YOUR REAR. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Baines
a Racer
from Middlesbrough
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | A-line | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | chainreactioncycles | | Strengths: | The super stif fork reacts to every bump and the ramp up on them is mental wen adjusted to full rebound. You can set the forks to be a slow rebound wich it brilliant for downhill but not that good for jumps. As i do alot of trail i need a fork that can go long distance without bouncin wich it does when locked down but wen its not its like a downhill fork. | | Weaknesses: | Have to fill the spv quite alot (every weekish) | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi Super Monster and Manitou Skarab Platinum | | Bike Setup: | Cove stiffee, Manitou Sherman firelfy, hope bulb and mavic EX729, bal air seat, monkey bar dh ec70, raceface diobolas stem + cranks. | | Bottom Line: | These forks are the only 130 forks on the market! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Olivier Lacroix
a
from Quebec city, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | streets and fr trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | This fork can be beaten as hell.
Sweet ride, great looks
VERY LIGHT! | | Weaknesses: | Get the QR20 version.
Seems a little weak in torsion. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi DJ3 | | Bike Setup: | custom Specialized P.1, pro taper bars, Primo BMX grips, sherman | | Bottom Line: | Great fork for the price I paid, very light and efficient compare to marzocchi.
This fork is great for freeriding, but maybe a little too much travel for street use. The standard springs are a little bit too soft for a general rider (160lbs)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HOFFMAN
a Downhiller
from coral gables, fl
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | amelia earhart | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria | | Strengths: | Big, stiff, plush, strong, light. If anymore description is necessary, stick with your current fork. | | Weaknesses: | none yet, will find out soon though, I'm not easy on my equipment. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou 1, yes the original, 3, psylo, rigid fork, twice, marzocchi z150, z1fr. | | Bike Setup: | 99' Specialized enduro, upgraded rear, shermans, atomlab, titec, XT, avid barkes and levers, dk ironcross pedals sun bmf wheels, etc. | | Bottom Line: | The best fork that I have ever owned, correction, the best fork I have ever ridden. It never bottoms, I've tried on many flat landings, no flex in the fork legs, and the break-in period was incredibly short. I know many people would never ride in the 4" setting, because they feel like that isn't tough enough??? I have done as much in the 4" setting as I have done in 5"s, and can barely tell a difference, in fact they are easier to ride in the 4" setting unless you are riding something huge, or are a crappy rider with no handling skills. Oh by the way, I don't have a job, I just ride all the time, and am an X-BMX'er and jumper if that gives me any credibility. Don't take my word for it though, find someone that has a pair, ride them, and then save your money, they aren't cheap, remember I don't have a job. Find them on sale like I did. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Venables
a Weekend Warrior
from Britain
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | street | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Wades Cycles | | Strengths: | every thing! very stiff with 20mm axel and 1.5steerer | | Weaknesses: | non yet | | Similar Products Used: | non | | Bike Setup: | 24-bikes pornking,firefly,xtr-r,demolition cromo cranks,identity t4 seatpost,atomlab trailpimp wheel set,hope M4 f-r,profile inferno sproket,sram pc99 | | Bottom Line: | these are a sweet set, cos they can handle almost everything from 4x to freeride. if u ride street u will tend to find there is to much travel, plus the dampening is smooth as a babys bum! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Enns Boy
a
from Manitoba Canada
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere further west of saskatchewan | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Super ridged, good damping. comes in sweet colours. | | Weaknesses: | A bit soft... so i might have to go bigger. | | Bike Setup: | Almost fully stock 2003 Giant AC1. Came stock with bike, so its a good combo with a Manitou Swinger 3 way.
| | Bottom Line: | It's definatly an awsome shock, if you're thinking of upgrading to a Double-Crown fork from something like a XC fork.. there's no need. The Sherman Firelfy is super awsome, and it's got a MTBR top choice rating.. so you GOTTA like it! I wish it was a little more adjustable, but if I ever bottom it out, it holds up real well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny O
a
from Jersey
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountain Creek/ Plattekill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish adventure sports | | Strengths: | Plush, stiff, strong | | Weaknesses: | Lower casting are thin walled. Travel adjuster needs to be re-set from time to time. | | Similar Products Used: | Psylo XC | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Santa Cruz Bullit,xt components,Azonic Shorty 50mm stem & Thompson seatpost, Race Face prodigy DH crank, fox vanilla RC shock, Avid 175mm mechanical disc breaks, Mavic 219 rims, Maxxis Mobster tires. | | Bottom Line: | Its going on three months now. Had to return the fork to Manitou. Developed a hairline crack in the sidewall of the lower casting.Leaked oil with every compression. Manitou Replaced it within a week.(Manitou thinks it was a bad batch of welds.Awsome customer support).
I've been Freeriding at Mountain Creek Diablo park (NJ) and Plattekill (NY) seven times so far. The Fire fly has performed as expected. Smooths out the eastcoast rock gardens. Plush on the jumps and bottomed out only after a bad landing off a 6' drop-to-flat.(I should have been in the hospital). Instead I increased the firmness and rode on.(I weigh 178' with downhill gear on).
I also sheard off the quick release axle one one side of the hub.(See Ryan Waters posting below). I replaced the QR axle on the shimano XT hub with a solid 10mm through bolt. (Like the BMX Bikes) 155mm in length. WOW I thought it was stiff before. now its awsome.
As I said I freeride at these Lift assisted Parks. So I occasionally expect to climb to get to a sweet spot. Being able to adjust the travel gets me there much easier than my Marzocci Shiver friends. BUY THIS FORK if you like to cross that line between agressive XC and Freeriding.Go with a smaller travel lightweight fork if you like to XC race. Get a dual crown fork if you only DH. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Waters
a Downhiller
from Bozeman, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$319.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish | | Strengths: | Super smooth, stiff considering that I have the standard axle, light, urban camo looks awesome | | Weaknesses: | Travel adjustment doesn't work anymore, not as stiff as 20mm axle (obviously), not much compression damping | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Indy c, Manitou mars, Marzocchi z4 and Jr T, White Brothers DH 2 | | Bike Setup: | 15" Kona Shred, FSA Pig headset, 50mm stem and super narrow handlebars, Deore hydro front disk and Avid mech rear, Odyssey gyro system for barspins (Front brake hose is run through the fork), Hussefelts, Deore hubs on Ryno lites, Single speed setup | | Bottom Line: | This is by far the best fork I have ever ridden. Of all the forks that I have owned and demoed none have ever been as smooth as the Sherman. My only regret in purchasing this fork is that I didn't get the 20mm axle. I'm not sure how, but I sheared the axle on either side of the hub. So to get the best performance I recomend that you get the through axle. After three months of abuse I have yet to take it apart for a tune, but it still runs just as smooth as the day I bought it. Other than the axle, the only problem I've had is with the travel adjustment. I spent a couple of days dirtjumping in the 4" position because it's stiffer. but I think that I broke something because the knob is now useless.
Anyway, this is hands down one of the best forks on the market for freeriding, and they're light enough for crosscountry if that's what you're into. Get any of the Sherman forks with a 20mm axle and you will never regret it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from R.B. Ca.
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | No flex from this fork and the TPC+ Damping is very smooth. | | Weaknesses: | Possible that the Semi-bath lubrication may require more maintance than other forks. | | Similar Products Used: | 03 Pshylo Sl,03 Z1 FRSL | | Bike Setup: | FSR | | Bottom Line: | This fork is the best out of the others that I have tried. Better Damping than the Sl and less Flex. The Z1 is just as smooth at speeds over 15mph and very stiff and adjustable,it just doesn't have the smoothness at lower speeds. I also find the 20mm travel reduction useful for eliminating the fork from bobbing too much while climbing.
Bottom line this is a good fork for me I like to ride fast downhill trails with it but no real freeride just 2 or 3 foot drops and small jumps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim G
a Weekend Warrior
from Olympia
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Capitol Forest, WA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish | | Strengths: | Plush and solid | | Weaknesses: | As far as rowdy trail riding goes none. After the first 12 hours it started rding real choppy and ramped up to fast. Took it apart and their was no fluid in the semi bath chambers. I sent it back to Manitou and they were VERY helpful and they rebuilt it for free within a week. | | Similar Products Used: | Marathon SL, Psylo SL | | Bike Setup: | Trek Liquid, full custom...easton, hayes mag plus, thomson, azonic etc. | | Bottom Line: | Very solid fork for trail riding. Feels like it has twice the travel of my Psylo. The best trait I think is how it remains plush over small stuff, but ramps up enough to resist bottoming out when hauling **s. I weigh 190 lb and it is perfect. I wish it had high speed rebound dampening adjustment though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake City UT USA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | out the garage and into the foothills/city | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Guthrie cycle | | Strengths: | Very plush,smooth travel great for light riding | | Weaknesses: | needs to be stiffer, crap for hard riding | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox psylo xc | | Bike Setup: | for sale Brodie zig zag, mavic 219 rims, avid disk brakes, FSA power pro crank, tooth fairy bash ring | | Bottom Line: | Rode this shock for 3 months bent and blew them out bent front rim cause they are too soft great shock for light riding not for heavy abuse | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Olson
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, Pa. USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Roaring Run in Apollo, Pa. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$270.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish Adventure Sports | | Strengths: | Super stiff, super plush, superb workmanship and quality. Love the machined damper adjusters! | | Weaknesses: | ??? Have not had long enough yet to say. Haven't seen any so far? | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Psylo XC w/custom tuned damper and custom paint job! Thanks Denny!! | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Ferrari red S-Works Enduro w/a Fox Vanilla RC coil over for almost 6" of love in the back! RaceFace Turbine cranks, Ho made Lexan bash guard, Mallets, XT drivetrain, Hayes, Thomson post, Bonty 60 MM stem, Monkeylite riser, ODI lock ons, Weirwolf 2.5 front, MotoRaptor 2.4 rear. | | Bottom Line: | This was my 1st Manitou product and had to check out all the reviews when I saw it on sale for $299.95 at Greenfish (great, friendly service!) and with my PORC (Pittsburgh Off Road Cyclists) club discount I got it down to $269.00! Stock spring was a bit too plush for my tank butt so I got an extra firm spring and now it is really bottomless and super smooth. The manual says to allow for 20 Hrs of break in to achieve full smoothness. It's really plush now, can't wait to feel 20 Hrs later!! Because of the rigidity of this fork I was running it downhill last night faster than my light would allow my eyes/brain to process! Much faster than I would have gone on my Psylo. Overall I am looking forward to along relationship w/this fork! I am very pleased so far and can't wait for Laurel Mountain to dry out to try it out in the rock gardens! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny O
a
from Jersey
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hartshorne | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfish adventure sports | | Strengths: | Plush, Stiff, Strong | | Similar Products Used: | Psylo xc | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Santa Cruz Bullit,xt components,thompson stem & seatpost, Race Face prodigy DH crank, Old fox vanilla RC shock, Avid 185mm mechanical disc breaks, Mavic 219 rims, Maxxis Mobster tires. | | Bottom Line: | I've only had this fork for a month, but what an improvement over the Psylo.The adjustable travel (110-130) helps when climbibg to my favorite gravity trail. This fork glides over the root sections and soaks 3-4' drops-to-flat without bottoming out. The compression and rebound are easy to adjust thanks to the large dials. My Bike setup is for freeride, the 2001 Bullit is only 5" travel. But the Sherman Firefly is a big confidence booster. I am waiting for Plattekill and Mountain Creek to open for the season. I will post another review if my opinion changes under these conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Fantasy Island | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Greenfishsports.com | | Strengths: | Solid, light-weight, easy controls, great company support. | | Weaknesses: | needs heavier springs if you are a 200+lbs rider like me. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi EXR Pro | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT-1 Frame. Avid Discs, Manitou Swinger 4 way Spring rear shock, Truvativ Crank ISIS BB, Shimano XT all around. Panaracer Fire 2.1, | | Bottom Line: | Sweet fork. After taking it on my first ride my stock rear shock (manitou swinger 4-way air) had a manufacturer defect. I took the rear shock to my LBS and they sent it to manitou. Manitou said that they did not have any Swinger Air shocks to replace mine until April 2004(2 months)so I asked if they could send me a swinger spring. They did and at no additional charge. Manitou is awesome.
That said, the Sherman Firefly is the best fork I Have used in its class. Light, takes all the big hits and bumps with ease. I now fly around corners and go through rock-gravel and loose sand with ease. I honestly feel like I have greater stearing control with this fork. I love taking big drops also, doesn't bottom out and is rock solid.
I will only buy Manitou from now on because of they stand behind the products they make. I love this fork, and love my VT-1. Anyone looking at upgrading their VT-1 stock fork, should look into the Sherman Firefly, it is perfect for the VT-1. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Wherever I'm riding. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR.COM Classifieds | | Strengths: | Stiff, plush. | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Psylo | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Giant AC-1 | | Bottom Line: | I've been on an upward spiraling upgrade path for going on 5 years now. Went from a Chromo Hard Tail (Voodoo Hoodoo), to a Giant NRS-1 to a Giant AC Air Lite and now the 2003 Giant AC-1 (Due to breaking the Air Lite frame).
I rode the Psylo that came on the Air Lite for over a year. Had it in to Rockshox twice for leaking seals, I also never felt that it was a very solid fork. It would feel "noodly", especially on technical descents - and under hard breaking.
The Sherman Firefly is rock SOLID! Fairly light, easy to maintain...did I mention that it's solid as a Sherman Tank? I went with the QR20 model and upgraded to 8" rotors at the same time. Laterally it feels like a concrete bridge pier - I can slam on the brakes, descend the rough techno and all I feel is the butter smooth suspension action instead of the wobbly gobbly noodly feel I used to experience with the Psylo.
I think the retail price is a bit high (as are most parts). I picked mine up virtually brand spanking NEW on the MTBR.com classifieds for $310 shipped including THREE springs, original box, warranty paperwork and an 8" rotor adapter. So the value for me is fantastic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
michael clyne
a Racer
from rosyth, fife, scotland
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | falkland hill (DH) pitmedden (xc) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | direct from uk importers | | Strengths: | looks burly, very stiff, simple internals, smmooooth travel
enough travel for 15ft tranny drops | | Weaknesses: | paint work scratches easily, simple internals, crap travel adjuster
problems with leaky cartridge | | Similar Products Used: | manitou blacks, shiver sc, MZ'wedges | | Bike Setup: | cove stiffee, saint cranks & flat pedals, 321 rims mated to 2.65 kujo dhs/dh tubes....ugly heavy!!!! | | Bottom Line: | after my blacks i never wanted to see another manitou again coz they were godawful...in warranty every month for a year, until i refused to use them again... was told i could get the shermans for cost price...350 squid... not too bad considering they were only 1 week new.
I was impressed with how plush they were... and thought i would need a stiffer spring... (me - 13 stone)... but the TPC+ works wonders thank goodness as the springs cost a bomb. had problems with oil leaking out the right leg (top and bottom)... dissapointed to find internals fairly simple and exactly like the blacks... but at least its metal and not plastic. travel adjuster also fukked leaving me with 10 mm of travel????? costing me one timed run at Fort william scottish champs, and nearly costing me the world firfeighters xc champs in italy (not the win but the ride)... nobodies able to tell me what caused it.. I think its a compression lock when the oil is leaking into the fork??
i race xc on it and do fine... 5th in scottish champs first in nat' firefighter champs... and i race dh on it too... biggest drop i done is 15 ft tranny... fork copes fine...come up short on one or 2 doubles too...but still ok
faith in manitou restored :-) definately buy it. dunno about the spv opne though as it'll be less plush. log onto pinkbike. com and go to photos and type into the 'submitted by'...."mike clyne"... to see the stuff it can cope with have come up short on that one...fork were fine (shemae about he headtube though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hora Horacek
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Gnarly singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | Plush and very strong. | | Weaknesses: | Please be careful that you are actually getting a Ti spring inside your Fireflys and not steel. The Flick model has the steel spring but like some fellow riders I have since learned that Fireflys that come on bike builds 'may' not be Ti to keep costs down and some shops selling the firefly at 'great prices' might not be Ti inside. | | Similar Products Used: | Everything | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Id and Specialist | | Bottom Line: | Im giving 5 flaming chillis for value and performance for 2 reasons- one so this thread wont be auto-flashed up and pulled but also becuase the fork is darn good. It beats my old Fox Vanilla hands down. Ok, this fork is more agricultural than the Fox but it doesnt flex and is super-strong | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | Plush! Stiff! very adjustable, very light for a 5 inch fork, virtually stiction free | | Weaknesses: | hmmm... can't find any right now | | Similar Products Used: | dirt jumper 3 | | Bottom Line: | This might be the best 5 inch travel fork ever built! Manitou has put so much thought into building this fork. It's extremely plush, you'll feel more confident while freeriding. yet, it is light enough to do a little XC. The Hex Lock 20mm axle is very well thought out and makes the fork incredibly stiff. The travel adjust is a nice touch. Highly recommend to any freeriders who like to go big! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Preston
a Weekend Warrior
from Mid Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | These forks are very plush, look amazing, beefy, good adjustments, quite light, TITANIUM springs! excellent for all types of riding. | | Weaknesses: | Uuuuum, none! (Although some people may find it annoying ahving to buy a disk adaptor for the Hayes/Manitou mount), but that's life. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Psylo C, Rock Shox Psylo XC, Rock Shox Psylo SL, Marzocchi Z1 Wedge, Marzocchi Z1 Drop Off, MArzocchi Jnr T. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Patriot, Firefly fork, Rock Shox Deluxe R shock, deore hyd disks, lx mech, deore fr derailleur, deore disk hubs, Alex DM24 rims, V8 pedals, Deore Cranks, Deore Chainset, High Roller tyres, WTB Speed V saddle, Answer Pro Taper Bars, Tioga Cube stem, club roost lock on grips, gold hope hed doctor, gold hope spacer, Orange seatpost, Orange seat clamp, Shimano QR skewers, and not sure bout the BB!! That's about it! | | Bottom Line: | These forks were a straight improvement to the performance of my bike. They made it feel much more plush and stif, and gave me more confidence to do things I would have thought about with my Psylo's. I have got the QR forks and they feel very stif anyway, so the QR20 axle must be amazingly stiff. I recommend these forks to everyone, the TPC+ damping is incredible and evil genius seals work a treat. GET THESE FORKS!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan J
a Downhiller
from West Yorkshire, England
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | online "Merlincycles.co.uk" | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | nothing | | Bike Setup: | Kona Stuff 03, Sherman Firefly-20mm axle, Tioga 2.3 DH tyres, RaceFace seat post and Good n Evil grips | | Bottom Line: | These forks are amazing, so smooth you think you are floating down drops and when landing jumps, easily adjusted on the fly so if you need to go up hill just flick the lever and reduce the travel to 110mm. Got these forks for £299.00 reduced from £599.00, I would have bought them anyway but to get them for half price just makes them even better. They look cool on my Stuff as well!! :)
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Submitted by
Nicky Boy
a
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | tractor | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Plush. Great on every size hit. | | Weaknesses: | My rapid travel went out like Cool Breeze below, but I contacted Manitou and they sent me the directions how to reset, and it was a piece of cake. LBS wanted $50, sorry. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox, Marzocchi | | Bike Setup: | Heckler, derailers, wheels, brakes, handlebars, seat. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is a perfect match for the heckler and the 5th element. Real plush, it balanced out my whole suspension perfectly. Light for such a bomber fork also. The rapid travel II is a great feature for those long uphills. Even when my RTII went out, climbing fully extended was no problem. The fork looks cool also, tough and clean. I personally like the feel of a coil shock to an air shock and I believe I made the right choice with the Sherman. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cool Breeze
a Weekend Warrior
from RSM
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | The Path | | Strengths: | Stiff front to back. Very plush. Light for a coil 5" travel fork. Travel Adjust comes in handy on long extended climbs.
| | Weaknesses: | Travel Adjust stopped working at one point and required a trip to the LBS. Tire clearence. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox, RS, Marz., etc. | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth ID and Yeti ARC Ti.
| | Bottom Line: | Its been a great fork with no problems other than the Travel Adjust. IMHO forks and like tires, they are very subjective. This fork really suits my riding style so not much complaint here except for the tire clearance issue. But living in SoCal. I've only riden in mud once and the forked packed up at the arch. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from San Fransisco
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Flameout | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Vision Cyclery | | Strengths: | 5" travel, really stiff, soft and supple on slow hits and stiff and plush on hard hits at high speeds, skewers are nice also. | | Weaknesses: | I have 350 miles on this fork and I can't find any weaknesses yet. Believe me I did not baby this fork. I beat the snot out of this thing and still performs like a champ. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Black Comp. Fox 125 RLC | | Bike Setup: | SC Heckler,Sherman Firefly,Sun Singletrack,Hadley race hubs,Mobsters with slow reezay on the front,Race face turbine cranks,Hayes 8" with carbon levers,Easton carbon bars,XTR shifters,XTR front and rear derailleurs,Thompson stem and post,WTB lazer V saddle, | | Bottom Line: | Get this fork if you want high performance action. This is a great product.Perfect for freeride ball busting drops and still light enough for XC singletrack trial rousting. This fork rocks for a single crown and still stiff enough to take a thrashing. So it's a little heavy but it makes you a better rider on the way down by far.
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Submitted by
mike
a
from lahabra ca usa
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | sart | |
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