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Average Rating
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4.65/5
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# of Reviews
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26
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MSRP
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$ 749.95
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Weight
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Description:The '04 Minute was awarded Bicycling Magazine's 2004 "Editors' Choice" award for "Best all-purpose suspension fork", and we expect no less from the new '05. Minute 3 is the top-end of the Minute line, and for '05 Manitou has added their IT (infinite travel) remote travel adjuster, that lets you dial in from 130mm to 0mm of travel, on the fly. It's perfect for "all-mountain" type rides where you encounter widely varying terrain.
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Submitted by
bgkorekom
a
from Littleton, Colorado
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch, CO | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Strengths: | versatile, light, durable | | Weaknesses: | non so far | | Similar Products Used: | maniou axel | | Bike Setup: | FRS- Minute 3, Mavic 321, Easton Monkey bars, Avid BB7, XT/XTR drive, etc | | Bottom Line: | I bought it for Chicago trails, where I have not utilized all of the feature, but I moved in Colorado year and half ago and I swear in this fork. I would drop it down to 80 for climbing and pump it up to 130 for downhill and I love it. It gives me more stability downhill and more power on the clibing.
Strongly recommended especially if you have rapidly changing terrain.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Cooper Landing, Alaska
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Cresent Lake Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The Minute 3:00 is a solid, solid fork. It's 130mm of SPV travel make it ideal for those looking to climb like a goat, and then descend like a bomb. The infinite travel feature is cool, allowing for 0-130mm of travel, but frankly, I don't use it much. Even at 130mm, the Minute 3 performs quite well uphill. This thing soaks up bumps and drops. It also looks great. | | Weaknesses: | No real weaknesses. However, when I first ran the Minute 3:00, there was a knocking sound on rebound. After researching awhile, I discovered that this knocking noise could be resolved by raising the SPV psi above 50. It worked, and now no noise! My only other complain would be the difficulty of adjusting the rebound setting. The knob is extremely hard to turn. | | Bottom Line: | A great fork, period. Performs well for all mountain use, is easy to maintain, looks great, etc. Easy to setup. Find some rough riding and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matamua
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | dry creek/bobsled | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | greenfishsports.com | | Strengths: | Super stiff, light weight, SPV platform is rad, travel, looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | No manual lockout, but with the SPV, who really needs it anyway? Crappy owners manual. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Talas RLC 32 140mm | | Bike Setup: | 05 Dakar XC Expert, 130mm minute :03, fox rp23, sram x7s, avids | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line = awesome. For the money I would buy this all day long over the talas. My dad has a stumpy expert with the talas, and sure it is a superior fork, but not $500 superior. So far, I love it. If anything changes, I will post a new review. The owner's manual sucks, and setting sag/pressures (both spv and regular) is a little tricky. I am 6'1" and 210lbs, and I am running about 110psi in the main chamber, and 50psi in the SPV. It works well for me, but it I like less SPV, and more plush feel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, ON Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | 3Stage outside Collingwood ON | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | buddy in business | | Strengths: | Excellent stiffness to weight ratio, plush and IT travel adjuster works wonders on the trail | | Weaknesses: | A bit complicated to setup and rebound knob is difficult to adjust. No response from Manitou to tech question sent via e-mail | | Similar Products Used: | RockShok Phylo | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC setup as "lite" All-mountain bike with Manitou swinger rear, Crossmax Enduro wheels and a mix of XTR/XT. | | Bottom Line: | All in all a great performing fork with outstanding stiffness for it's weight. I ride some very rocky technical trails where picking the right line and momentum are critical to staying upright. Well the Minute holds it's line, never seems to bottom out and easily handles the pounding. I can't praise the IT adjuster enough for convenience while riding. Set it up properly on your handle bar and you can change travel instantly and without ever having to stop to turn a knob or flip a switch. A great feature if you are looking to do some epic all-day rides with lots of climbing as well as decending. My only complaint is that after 1+ seasons of weekly technical riding I started to get a knocking sound on rebound. I contacted Manitou via their website/tech support and never received an answer! In today's era of e-mail communication and web support, no response to customer inquiries is unacceptable. As it turns out, days earlier I had tried a different setting on the fork, and when I returned it to the original settings the knocking went away. Let's hope it lasts. If not for the poor customer service it would have received a 5 chili overall rating. If you are looking for a relatively light fork that can handle the decents almost as well as the climbs, then you can't go wrong with the Minute 3. Looking for a fork to handle all your drops and stunts, than I'd suggest something a bit beefier and w/coils springs. Cheers and happy trails! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mikeyboy
a Weekend Warrior
from Palos Verdes, Ca.
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | A nice looooong technical fast singletrack. Anybody got one? | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Looks killer with the black stantions and brushed steel writing. Lightweight yet rock solid. Solid thru axle, yayy!! Metal rebound dial... all metal for that matter. | | Weaknesses: | My wife gets mad when I sneek them into bed with me at night. tee hee. I hug them too much. Hell, I hug my whole bike too much for that matter! | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Judy XC, Mozo Groove Q | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Iron Horse Hollowpoint MKIII Team model with all that comes with it (this fork included)! | | Bottom Line: | I ride a lot of all mountain. I weigh 210 lbs. and have taken some 3-4 foot drops with NO BOTTOMING OUT!! Yeah it came pretty close but didn't go PING! I run about 115 lbs. in the chambers and have them dialed in plush.
Ultra plush, ultra bomb proof!
I highly recommend and I look forward to the long term test. Too bad there's not 6 flaming chilis... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan Ferguson
a Weekend Warrior
from Sugar Grove, IL
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$365.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Lightweight, PLUSH!!!!, everything is a strength they even look killer. | | Weaknesses: | Uhm, they make everyone want to steal them. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Float100, Manitou Black Super Air 120s | | Bike Setup: | 99 Schwinn Moab, XT/LX everything, Raceface Atlas cranks, rhyno lite xl, thomsom stem, thudbuster LT. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is amazing. When I first got it, it was a little hard to dial in the air pressure, but like everyone else says, once it's done it's great. I rode this fork on a tight technical singletrack in Illinois and was a little frustrated with how long it was and had to lower the travel a bit. When I took it to Fruita and Moab though on faster, rougher, bigger stuff it was AMAZING. I can't say enough good things about this fork. I had an internal problem with it once, but Manitou sent ALL new internals within a week and it's better than ever. It soaked up 2ft drops at porcupine rim without a hiccup, landings were so soft. It let me plow through rocky corners with speed that would normaly frighten me. I was keeping up with a FOES FXR and a Santa Cruz Blur on my hardtail NO problem at Moab, this fork is truly amazing, and for the price... it CAN NOT be beat, even Fox forks have nothing on this plush beast. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, CT
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Easy setup, IT switch, Smooth travel | | Weaknesses: | A little flex, but I am fat. | | Similar Products Used: | Marz Marathon, Manitou Firefly | | Bike Setup: | Trek Liquid, XT drive train, King Hubs, No Tubs rims, Thomson stem and post, Conti vertical pro 2.3's | | Bottom Line: | Just switched from the Firefly to the Minute 3, spent the last 4 days in Vermont on single track, climbed both Mount snow and Killington and also rode the lift at Mount snow and rode every trail at the place. Fork handled everything great!! The IT switch made the climbing easy and the fork handled the DH trails just fine. Great all around fork, and for what I paid for it should get 6 flaming chilis!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Orange Oyster
a
from Sao Paulo, Brazil
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | performance bikes NY | | Strengths: | SPV Evolve, travel ajustment, reverse arch, graphics, finishing quality...aluminum knobs, everything???? | | Weaknesses: | should there be any??? no way! | | Similar Products Used: | all kinds of rock shox, fox, rst from all levels! | | Bike Setup: | banshee scirocco frame XC , xgen and x9 derailleurs, xt crank 44/32/22 cassete and chain, thomson x4 stem, xpedo mag/sl pedals, da bomb hubs, rad rims, etc... | | Bottom Line: | it is just stunning. this fork rulez! what th heck for i need a lock-out if is have a "smart" suspension? the SPV Evolve is a bit hard to set correctly, but after its done it work flalessly. I own a manitou minute 2004 with IT. As soon as the distributor gets the 2004 minute 04 i will upgrade it! never want rock sucks or fox again!
Buy it, and be happy, just be sure it has infinite travel and spv evolve platform!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nevin Rallis
a Cross Country Rider
from Windham, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Bradbury Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Purchased At: | Performancebike.com | | Strengths: | the IT is crazy, keeps the bike tracking where you point it. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | rock shock pilot | | Bike Setup: | Leader 626S five inch travel. | | Bottom Line: | Well this jump from the pilot to this fork was amazing. The first time I rode it on a trail it felt like I was gliding over everything. The combination between the awesome leader suspension design and the fork worked awesomely. When the going goes up all you have to do is push the lever and push on the front of the bike. After that you are low enough to climb anything. When it is fully loaded it handles any bump that I am courageous enough to try. So far no complaints. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis Petersen
a Downhiller
from Plano, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Rowlett Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Performancebike.com | | Strengths: | This fork is absolutely amazing, i mean i jump off walls and ledges and i have not once bottomed this fork out, even off a 7 foot ledge it still had half an inch left! This is great for riding trails as well, it takes those turns amazingly well. Its even great for dirt jumping. If you stiffin it up a lil bit with some more pressure in the chambers its perfect! | | Weaknesses: | none that ive seen | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Spice Comp, Manitou Black Comp | | Bike Setup: | Iron Horse Yakuza Aniki with Manitou Minute III, 8 inch Hydrolic disk brakes, 6 inch rear suspention, Loco rims, Shimano Deore front derailer, Shimano LX rear derailer, TH Hammer w/ Cr-Mo Lower Cup headset, and 2.4 inch wolverine race tires.
| | Bottom Line: | This fork is pretty much amazing for anything that you might want to do on it. This thing is built to take a beating! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Moore Fun (Fruita) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$625.00 | | Purchased At: | revolutionutah.com | | Strengths: | Super Durable, Travel Adjustment is awesome and impresses everyone. | | Weaknesses: | No Lock Out, Expensive. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Black 120 | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Trek Liquid 30, Crossmax XL, Fox TALAS read shock | | Bottom Line: | After a full year of intense beating, this shock has proven itself completely. It has a ton of scrapes and been through a few crashes, but everything still works great.
The Minute 3:00 is perfect for anyone who likes to go up steep stuff and still be able to go *down* the steep stuff too. The travel adjustment is not a gimmick, I use it almost every ride. With the help of this fork I have cleaned Moore Fun, the wicked descent into Horsethief Bench, and Porcupine (except that last 4 foot drop into hell).
Porcupine is a great example of where this fork is useful. For the first three miles(uphill), the travel is set around 100mm so you can clean all the technical ups. After that the travel goes all the way out to 130. For the remaining steep ups (There are two or three), just hit the lever and the bike goes back into "climb anything" mode.
I've also cleaned every obstacle on Slickrock, even going the "harder way" on the main loop. The travel adjustment is nice for the steepest uphill stuff on that trail, almost feels like I'm cheating. :)
After slamming the travel down and finishing an uphill obstacle, I do usually stop to extend the travel, to be sure it is where I want it. It is tough to know where the travel is unless you stop and look.
The only problem I've had with the IT is that recently the shock doesn't extend completely unless I reach down and extend the lowers down while holding the IT lever. I haven't done any maintenance on the fork yet, and I'm sure it just needs to be cleaned and regreased (I'm not great about cleaning the stanchion tubes after each ride).
The best thing about the on-the-fly travel adjustment is that if you run up to a huge hill, you just hit the lever and slam down the fork. The front wheel will not wander and you can just focus on climbing.
I've ended up keeping just a minimum pressure in the SPV chamber, about 50 lbs. It's just enough to keep it from bobbing on the roads and smooth climbs, I like a real active fork.
I've also run the rebound barely above minimum. So freakin' plush.
Bottom Line: This fork is for those who want to clean the steep ups *and* steep downs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dylan
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa CruZ, California
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | DEAD CAMPERS BABY!!! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Spokesman (came w/ bike) | | Strengths: | well ive only ridden down dead campers and mailboxes and around wilder on it so far, but yeah like most of the other reviews say, really cool how the spv works. no pedal bob whatsoever. | | Weaknesses: | I seem to be having a problem with the stiffness of the fork: At first, its quite stiff (no pedal bob when standing up and pedaling), but the further down/harder i push the fork, the softer it gets, and therefore doesnt match the rear shock on my bike well. does anyone else seem to be having this problem??? im pretty sure i set up the spv right, i weigh 140 and currently running fork at ~85 psi. | | Similar Products Used: | fox float 100RL, fox talasRLC | | Bike Setup: | 2005 raleigh pase 2 with manitou swinger 3way rear shock (AWESOME BIKE) full sram x.9, manitou minute 3:00, carbon bars+seatpost, custom wheelset, irc mibro tires, and crank bros candy sl pedals.
total weight=27.23 pounds with pedals | | Bottom Line: | pretty damn good, but doesnt match my rear shock (manitou swinger 3way), which is kinda weird, considering they're from the same company. its good, but too weird for me, being stiff the softer as you push down further.......DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITHT EH STUPID SPV???
i might just get a talas............. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake Shoup
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlottesville, VA
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | walnut creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$390.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | Super plush and light. IT switch is bad ass. Nice long travle goes over huge bumps and handles big drops with ease. There does not seem to be annything wrong with it. Handling is completey great | | Weaknesses: | not lock out. could be lighter; but really, im not complaining | | Similar Products Used: | Splice super, duke xc, black platinum | | Bike Setup: | sette Reken frame
easton ec90 carbon handle bars, carbon race face seat post Kore light 3 stem
bontrager headset, shimano LX front and rear deralure
Custom wheel set
Sugimo XD crank
Avid Mechinical discs | | Bottom Line: | Really nice, plush, long travle, light fork. This is the most plush fork i have felt ecept the manitou dorado( wich retails at $1500).I would suggest this fork for an intence, cross country rider who has bumpy, tough climbs and brutal downhill sections. This fork handles like a king. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dong Hyoung Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Daegu, south Korea
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | very light considering the travel, IT function(40~130mm)... | | Weaknesses: | fragile rebound damping knob | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox psylo, Manitou black comp(80~100) | | Bike Setup: | Nicolai helius FR, XT drive train, Chris king hub disc, hope M4, sram rocket trigger.... | | Bottom Line: | I was XC rider with hardtail bike. I completed 2nd bike with this minute 3:00 to Nicoli helius FR frame. I was very satisfied with it's reliability, adjustability & lightness. After completing the bike, I can climb up mountain as well as downhill. If you are looking all mountain fork, choose this. You'll never be disappointed.
You can eat the downhill like drinking water. Happy & safe riding !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dhani
a Cross Country Rider
from Jakarta -Indonesia
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bagus Bike | | Strengths: | Very flexsible travel from 0 - 130 mm, and the IT remote very usefull during climbing | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Talas, SID | | Bike Setup: | Turner Flux | | Bottom Line: | Before I use Marzocchi MX Com ETA, but the ETA is very dificullt to use with track condition up and down, so I buy Minute 3 and this is more smooth during downhill and easy during climbing, I recommended this Fork to everyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JRod
a
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Davis- Plantation | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Lite weight, adjustable, great travel, IT is awesome | | Weaknesses: | Not too sure | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Psylo | | Bike Setup: | Trek Liquid 20, Manitou Minute 3 w/ IT, RaceFace ISIS, XT drivetrain, Sram cassette, etc... | | Bottom Line: | Great fork. Very adjustable and very light. It "choppered" my bike a bit but thats the side effect of good travel. Like the IT adjustment a lot. You can run big travel for everything then for climbs, push the lever and drop it down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Greece
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Manitou dealer in Greece | | Strengths: | very adjustable,lightweight,looks,SPV | | Weaknesses: | The fork was fine until it broke for some reason. I only had it for three months and was really gentle on it. | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox sids, dukes, manitou black elite | | Bike Setup: | giant hardtail, full xt, hayes, maxis highrollers, azonic risers, azonic shorty stem, | | Bottom Line: | Returned the fork two times in this month.First time the fork loosed most of its travel and came close to being rigid, oil leaked from the schrader valve located to the bottom of the left leg,IT stopped working, fork was knocking on rebound making a clunking noise. Send it to the main manitou dealer in greece. Told me they fixed it and sent it back, i then installed the fork and noticed that clunking sound on rebound again. I was really sceptical about this sound and decided to take the fork for a ride to see how it performes. Guess what, not only the problems mentioned above appeared again but also the seals blew out!! I sent it to manitou today, and i hope that i will manage to exchange the fork to another model.I am very dissapointed. Such an expensive fork shouldn't perform this way. I will never recommend manitou products to anyone in my life | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Yerka
a Cross Country Rider
from Logan, Ut, USA
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Jardine Juniper | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Sportsman, Logan, UT | | Strengths: | Super adjustable thanks to the IT (Infinite Travel), light for a full 5", integrated graphics, plush for air but with a stiffness that is appreciated when rippin' out of a narrow canyon. | | Weaknesses: | The gold nob for the IT could be a sweet black. Can seem a bit soft for larger drops/jumps. The air valve on the right arm is a bit recessed and some cheaper shock pumps just can't get in there to connect and seal. Be sure your pump has a smaller end on it. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla R, R.S. Psylo U-Turn, 'Zocchi Marathon S, ect. | | Bike Setup: | '05 Raleigh Phase 1--All stock except I ripped off all Sram and replaced it with LX shifters, XT rapid rise derailleur, and of course the Fox Vanilla for the Minute 3. Other goodies include the swinger 3 spv rear shock, WTB dual duty wheels, Kenda Navegal 2.35s, Hayes HFX-9 hydro discs, Truvativ Stylo GPX crank, ect. Big, Bad, Blue, Beautiful. | | Bottom Line: | If you are looking for a true "all-mountain" ride, this is as good as it gets. The IT lets you drop out your geometry and climb like an F-16 and then with the push of a button (and maybe a bit of a pull on the bars if you are really running soft) you are back to the full travel for the next downhill. Great lateral strength keeps you tracking down the trail and not over your bars or in the sage brush. This would also be exceptional for marathon racing wieghing in just under 4lbs, it is responsive and easy on the hands. I have hit some 4' drops and it takes them, but even for me wieghing in at just over a buck-n-a-half, it's gotta really be pumped up to hold from bottoming out. Not a free-ride/downhiller, but a very solid all mountain/xc battle ship. Four chilis for rediculous retail price, but if your up to footin' it or find a deal, 5 for overall beauty. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Sherman Oaks, Ca. USA
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Caballero to the PCH and back | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great downhill fork, but amazing up hill fork. With a press of a button, compress the fork, and scream up steep hills. Front tire never left the ground when powering up these steep hllls. Was able to hammer up in two higher gears. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Marzochi's, Manitou Black | | Bike Setup: | Titus Talus SB, Chris King HS, Thomson stem and post, El camino's, dt24s w/ mavic 819 ust, Sram X.0 rear derailer and grip shifts, XT front derailer, BB Crank, Eggbeater twin ti pedals, WTB stealth laser saddle, Crappy Kenda Charisma's UST front and rear(soon to be replaced), Easton Monkey lite xc. | | Bottom Line: | Best, most versatile fork I have ever ridden. Allows me to ride descents with confidence, and hammer uphill, making me a stronger rider. Buy these forks, you won't be sorry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Wilson
a Racer
from El Paso, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Adjustable travel, good platform dampening. | | Weaknesses: | Poor tire clearance for 2.5 ish sized tires. Kind of noodley at speed. | | Bike Setup: | Titus Moto-Lite custom ti. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is great for lighter people that want 5 inches of travel and adjustability. I love how you can compress the fork and leave it there with just the press of a button. I raced super-d's this past season as well as some enduro events on this fork/bike. I did suprisingly well in both disciplines, but it was a bit weak for super-d. Fatter legs would make this a better fork as well as some more clearance for the tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Clerkson
a
from Charlottesville
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything hardcore enough for me | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | PerformanceBike | | Strengths: | 130 mm of travel, It, Spv, Looks, Gangsterness | | Weaknesses: | priiice, the gold nobs on the (It) remote | | Similar Products Used: | RockShox Sid | | Bike Setup: | Seven Sola, full Xt/Xtr Bontrager Race wheels, bars, Michelin Tires | | Bottom Line: | I finally found a shock hardcore enough for me that weighs under 4 pounds. This shock is extremely plush and for a lightweight rider like myself the spv works flawlessly. It is solid on 5-6 foot drops and so am I, because im crazy/hardcore. No leaks, no problems runs fine...no regrets about buying it. Tuning stats in book seem to work fine for me, but who want to read that when u can be out hammering on your new manitou minute 3. This shock is definatly ment for the avid cross country rider who isnt upset when he comes up to a drop or nice little rock garden. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin
a Cross Country Rider
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything fast | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$490.00 | | Strengths: | Adjustability, versatiltiy, IT on the go, stiffness, relatively light weight - a lot of features for a good price | | Weaknesses: | no lockout feature | | Similar Products Used: | Fox, Rockshox | | Bike Setup: | TREK Liquid 20, Fox TALAS shock, MAVIC 819/DT hubs, XT/LX, Heyes hydraulic, other misc. nice bits | | Bottom Line: | I upgraded a few components on this bike. The standard fork lacked stiffness and travel for harder riding. I also did not like having to stop to adjust the wind down adjuster which was very fiddly and fragile looking.
I shopped around and used the extensive inputs on this site - found a great deal on these forks. I wanted a fork that I could adjust on the fly to compliment the excellent Fox TALAS Float shock which comes standard on this bike. Together they allow a great range of adjustability, particularly the geometry, for the conditions. Push the fork down for climbing or technical and let it out for downhill or harder hits.
Great all round performance once you set up the pressures. The SPV works well, though a lockout function would be nice (my only complaint). Follow the recommended procedures for setting up and I recommend using a dedicated fork pump, one of mine does not work properly.
Its early days yet but with about 25 hours on this fork it seems to be getting plusher and more responsive.
Thoroughly recommended if you want a good all round fork to suit various riding styles and conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don B
a Weekend Warrior
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$625.00 | | Purchased At: | www.revolutionutah.com | | Strengths: | IT (on-the-fly travel adjustment) is great, looks great, plush for an air fork, stiff, SPV, lots of travel. | | Weaknesses: | Miss having a manual forced lock out on a fork for road hammering when off the seat. Expensive! | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Black Super 100/120 (This new minute is much plusher) | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Trek Liquid 30, Crossmax XL, Fox TALAS Rear Shock. | | Bottom Line: | Just put the '05 Minute 3:00 on my Liquid a few weeks ago and took it to Moab last weekend. My goal with this fork was to have a bike that could downhill confidently but still climb very well. So far, I haven't been disappointed. The fork did great on porcupine, flattened out all the fast chattery stuff nicely, and it handled as big a drop as I had the courage to try. Not as plush as a coil fork, but very acceptable. On Slickrock the IT really came in handy - On the steepest climbs I just hit the thumblever mid-climb and dropped the travel down to nothing, making the rest of the climb more comfortable and stable. The IT also was handy on the road, as I could use it to balance weight bearing between my butt and hands to lessen numbness in my nether-regions. To extend the travel on the fork you have to wheelie and press the lever, so be sure to mount the lever where you can reach it with your hands in their normal positions. I like to have my handlebars real high for descents, and this fork allows you to mount your handlebars high and then drop down your front end for climbing when needed. So, I would recommend if you get this fork, leave your steerer tube uncut or at least on the long side and take full advantage of the travel adjustment. I left my tube uncut and just put spacers above the stem until I could get a feel for things, I ended up moving the stem to the top of the steerer tube, so I'm really glad I had that option. Thanks to Ryan and Matt at Revolution (www.revolutionutah.com) for that steerer tube suggestion and an overall great buying experience. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott B
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Buffalo Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$579.00 | | Purchased At: | Airbomb | | Strengths: | IT Adjustment, Plush, Light, Appears to be well made(no more plastic knobs to break), Looks cool, . | | Weaknesses: | Don't care much for the gold colored IT lever (but that's just being picky). | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Black Elite 03, Fox Talas RL 04 | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5 with swinger 4-way, XTR, Mavic Tubless. | | Bottom Line: | I got a great deal on this fork from the guys at Airbomb so I couldn't pass it up. The fork rides great and is highly adjustable (still experimenting with it). I can't wait until it is completely broken in. The IT adjustment is awesome. I can now adjust the travel with out having to reach down and turn a knob several times like I had to do with my Talas. Makes climbing a piece of cake! I would highly recommend this to all those all mountain riders out there that climb as much as they decend. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat
a Cross Country Rider
from Salk Lake City Utah
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that has dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$699.00 | | Purchased At: | Golsan Cycles | | Strengths: | Being able to change the ride height without taking your hands off the handlebar. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Minute 3.00 "04" | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5 with all the goodies | | Bottom Line: | The problem I had with the Intense and the 04 Minite 3.00 was when I would climb steep trails I would have to stop and adjust the shock from 130 travel to 100 and then at the top of the hill stop and change it back. With the 05 Minute I can change the ride height at any time with out stopping. The shock works just the way it is designed to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
len tidey
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs, co
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | was on my new bike | | Strengths: | Very plush, stabile and firm. Able to climb technical parts much easier now. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Bike Setup: | 05 Jamis Dakar XLT 2.0 . (stock for now) | | Bottom Line: | love the fork. alot nicer than anything I have had in the past. I'll let you know more after the season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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