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Submitted by
andy somerville
a Cross Country Rider
from orange county, ca
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | whiting/santiago/luge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | hopey web site | | Strengths: | Immediate, noticable impact on ride perfomance. Top-notch materials. Easy to install. Amazing difference over same trails. It works, and not jut for DH/AM/FR set! | | Weaknesses: | non | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight, Marzocchi MX Pro ETA fork, Chris King Headset | | Bottom Line: | This just may be the best kept secret in the industry. I've never installed a product that made such a huge difference in bike handling. I ride a cross country bike and trails and the benefit here is big. Turns and narrow singletrack are smoothed out - far fewer corrections required to stay on the line. Off-cambers too - the front and rear wheels stay in the same plane (almost like having two fixed rear wheels) and hold the line much better. And switchbacked, technical uphills - much less front wheel nervousness and correcting. Like others say here, ride with it on for 15 minutes, then turn it off and oh boy what a difference! I have it on "full" all the time, even for the tightest swtichbacks, awesome. Expensive, but beautifully crafted in the US, and so worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis Allen
a Downhiller
from Lewiston
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Light, adjustability, stability, performance | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Bike Setup: | Canfield F1. 888WC, I-9 wheelset, hope mono 6ti, avalanche dhs ti spring etc... | | Bottom Line: | I didn't know what to expect other than figured I'd give it a shot. I am amazed it will control the front end precisely through rockgardens at stupid fast speeds as well as can be used for freeride on nasty landings to keep the front from pitching. It can be dialed all the way off in a matter of 1/2 second or all the way on in the same speedy manor. You can set it for light flow, zero flow or stiff and they make a huge difference. I would recomend one hands down to anyone looking for the extra push. It also helps with climbing alot, I have a DH set up and it allows me to pedal up alot easier with all the squish going on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kalgrm
a Cross Country Rider
from Western Australia
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Hopey's online store | | Strengths: | Adds a feeling of improved stability in all conditions. Tim Hopey was very helpful when I was trying to order my unit. | | Weaknesses: | Locking nut inside steer tube has slipped twice during crashes. Easily fixed when finished the ride, but it means finishing the ride without the damper being operational (and you get used to using it, so any time without it feels just plain bad!) | | Similar Products Used: | There isn't one | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC '06 | | Bottom Line: | The steering damper is the best upgrade I've ever had on a bike - and I've had a few upgrades!
I point the bike at the line I want to take and we go there. Rocks, gravel, mud, sand, up-hill and down-hill: the steering damper inspires rider confidence in all riding conditions.
I will always have one of these on my future mountain bikes.
Cheers,
Graeme | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terry Reis
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | 7Stanes - Kirroughtree - Red/Black | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$237.00 | | Purchased At: | Direct From Hopey | | Strengths: | Improves climbing enourmously. | | Weaknesses: | Don't think you can fit them if your bike has an integrated head set. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel EX9 2006, changed front and rear shocks for Fox. | | Bottom Line: | Interesting learning curve, first time out it takes a little getting used to but after a couple of miles didn't really notice it even turned right up hard. But if I turn it off the difference is extreme, steering feels very wobbly.
Cleaned a difficult climb yesterday which I have never managed in one before. Sandy Soil, steep, very dusty and rutted. You don't really notice the effect the damper is having, you just pedal straighter.
Find I'm not hanging on to the bars for grim death as much on fast downhills.
Very impressed, will be fitting future bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe
a Cross Country Rider
from westland
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | American cycle and fitness | | Strengths: | Easy setup, light weight, does exactly what it states it will. | | Weaknesses: | none found yet | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | trek liquid 30, too many mods. | | Bottom Line: | This thing is awesome the only bad things about it is its taken me this long to find out about it, and sometime I catch myself a little out of control still no boom though, this thing would have saved me from at least 50% of my crashes, going down hill, roots, rocks, stop bumps, so what bomb down it using only a small amount of self restraint, up hill over root not a problem, right through sand and don’t have to worry about washing out the front. I literally knocked 15 minuets off my 6 mile loop time, the only think I feel I need to do is get my cross buddies to get one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Wyoming
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I recently irritated someone on this site by complaining that they ran an inappropriately controlled experiment trying to compare the efficiency of 26ers and 29ers. Perhaps I was a bit overboard with my insistence on good experimental technique and relevance of the results in light of accuracy limitations, but for any of you budding experimentalists out there here's an item (the Hopey damper) that is insanely easy to objectively test, at least for some of its effects. Coasting down a rocky track with and without the damper engaged (e.g. -- more or less back-to-back), I discern about a 3% decreased time to complete the run with the damper engaged on that particular route -- I suggest that's significant. I think the accuracy is there (watches are pretty reliable), and even the precision of my measurements wasn't bad…
There's lots of subjective stuff to include, and in no particular order:
- While riding uphill on a 2-track that had been blown smooth, I switched the damper off and rode for a mile before getting into mud and snow. I turned back and rode down the way I came up. Like all outdoorsman, I like to look at tracks, be they animal or bicycle tracks, and try to determine the direction of travel, when they were made, species, sex, and what not. So of course I was checking out my tracks made coming up as I went down. You know how you can tell who is going uphill on a bike (wavering track) versus downhill (more or less straight running track)? Well, I could instantly pick out the place where I turned the damper off because my uphill track suddenly went from the standard wavering uphill track to a very straight track headed uphill, like the type you normally see running downhill.
- Even though I'm riding a straighter and presumably bumpier line as I find myself spending less time dodging various rocks (and even seeking them out), I feel as if the ride is smoother with the damper engaged -- like there's suspension on the front (I have a fully firm bike). I suspect the perception of a smoother ride is due to less fighting with the bars, which allows me to keep my butt in the seat better and as a consequence I can pedal more efficiently.
- One of my problems is losing "control" of my front wheel when I bump into the raised edge of a track (you know how many worn tracks have the U shape), which then causes my wheel to turn into and ride up the side of the berm. I then quickly end up over-correcting and slam over into the berm on the other side of the track, beginning a viscous cycle. With the damper engaged, I find myself steering down the middle of the track much more often and if I do drift over into the berm my wheel is not deflected and I can keep on moving down the track while effectively riding the side-hill of the berm. This is a huge plus for me, and might well help me in races in a place I usually lose time -- fast downhills.
- I'm riding in Wyoming, so of course it involves dealing with the wind. You just get used to being continually pummeled by wind, with the odd-gust that threatens to knock you down and at the least blows you off-line. Well, the odd gust just doesn't do the damage it once did -- not only does the damper protect your front wheel from deflections on the ground but also from wind and your own inappropriate inputs into the bars.
- The damper is great when you're out of the saddle. Sure the bike goes straight when you're in the saddle, but it's even more noticeable when you're up out of it and cranking hard up a hill (I'm set up as a single speed at the moment).
- At Sparrow's suggestion, I have been playing with riding a section with the damper off and then on. Well, I was grunting up hill with the damper off whining to myself how I wish I could turn the damper back on (I had promised myself I'd get to a certain point and then backtrack and do it again with the damper on), when I realized I had just figured it out -- if I was asking for it, it must be a crutch worth having, so I turned it back on and left it that way for the rest of the ride. | | Weaknesses: | - It's much harder for me to ride no-handed with the damper engaged. At least for me, riding no-handed works best with a responsive front-end, one that can respond to thighs pressed against the seat. If the damper is engaged and I get a bit off-line, it's much harder to "right the ship" with just body-english. But that only matters on smooth surfaces and I've never really ridden no-handed much off-road anyway... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Fully firm 29er | | Bottom Line: | It's worth the cost, and it's not just for the downhill/freeride set. It's just one of those things that gives rise to the "Oh my, where have you been all my life?" comment... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon
a
from doe
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Allows the bike to rail thru rough and loose terrain. | | Weaknesses: | High $$$
Works so well, I want to add one to my other bikes, but can't afford it. | | Bike Setup: | Shuttle pig | | Bottom Line: | Amazing difference! Feels weird at first, but boy does it improve handling when it counts. Has already saved me a few times, just like I remember knowing suspension saving me when I first installed a fork way back.
Why has this thing been forgotten already? It was given props in the mags a few years ago, but never really caught on - yet it really seems as significant an improvement as the first suspension forks were back in the day.
I rode my trail bike for the first time since installing the Hopey on my pig, and could barely control the thing. Now I have to buy another steering dampner! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Aliso Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Aliso & Woods Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | www.hopey.org | | Strengths: | It works as advertised (imagine that -- a product that does what it says it will)! The steering damper makes a huge difference in all types of terrain. The adjustability (on the fly) allows you to dial-in just the right feel as you go. It's relatively light weight and looks cool. On top of all that, the customer service is first rate. | | Weaknesses: | The only one I can think of is price, although it's not that bad, especially for what you're getting. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Rocky Mountain DH TO (Downhill Team Only) with PUSH rear shock, Marzocchi Z150 FR SL fork, 2002 XTR cranks, 2004 XTR rear derailleur, 2004 XTR combo shifters / brake levers, Avid Mechanical brakes, XT front derailleur, DeeMax wheels, Maxxis Minion tires, Easton carbon bar, ODI lock-on grips, King headset, Thomson stem and post, custom Rocky Mountain red maple leaf saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I'm one of those people who only tends to review things that I love or I hate. Rarely do I feel compelled to write about a product ... usually there are plenty of other people that have already done so. But the Hopey Steering damper has been so great that I just have to write about it.
I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about the steering damper when I first heard about it. The more I thought about it, though, the better the idea sounded. When I built up this bike a couple months ago, I found that the tall single crown fork was great, but that it made the steering feel a little sloppy. This was obvious in rocky terrain and sand -- I had a hard time holding my lines. So I finally gave in and figured it was worth a try.
I called Hopey directly to place the order. Right off the bat, the customer service was excellent. They helped me order the right kit for my bike and got it in the mail right away. When I tried to install it, I ran into a problem -- the Marzocchi fork has a tapered steer tube, meaning the supplied bolt didn't fit. I got in touch with Hopey and they sent out a new bolt for my application, no charge. As soon as the new bolt arrived I was able to complete the install. I can't stress enough how great the customer service was throughout the process. Tim Hopey and his crew shine where so many others can't be bothered.
Okay, on to the good stuff. The first ride with the new damper was simply amazing. It honestly felt like I was riding a different bike. I still had six inches of travel front and rear with a very tall front end, but the steering felt controlled. The bike didn't wander on me. When I hit big rocks, the damper helped the front wheel come back to the center. On technical and fast-paced descents, I held my lines with ease. The damper also made a big difference in two other areas: climbing and loose terrain. When climbing it helped prevent the front wheel from wandering. Again, this helped me keep my line and made my climbing better. Through sand and loose terrain, the damper kept the front wheel from getting away. Some of the trails I ride have a ton of sand and if you hit it the wrong way, your bike can get sideways in a hurry. The same happens with some of the loose dirt (dust) we have around here. The damper kept the front wheel from going far, even in some deep sand. I felt much more in control of the bike at all times.
Before I end this, I want to mention that the steering damper obviously shines on downhill and freeride bikes. But it can also make a big difference on trail bikes and even cross country bikes. It serves the same purpose on those bikes and can make you a much better rider. I found that it really did improve my riding in multiple ways. I never thought I'd get one for my XC bike, but after my experience to this point I think there's a good chance I'll have one on there soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Racer
from Vail
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | www.hopey.org | | Strengths: | Follow up review from earlier | | Weaknesses: | Price.....and see below | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Trek STP 400 with all the bells and wistles | | Bottom Line: | Just a quick follow up from my review earlier. Still love the thing. It has helped my handling a ton. I recommend it for just about anything. Most notably preforms well on technical fast downhills and I have loved the thing on really steep technical up hills!
The only down side to this product was discovered by a friend of mine that bought one. You can not use this product with the new Rock Shox SID world up (or any other fork that has a carbon steerer). The new SID W/C has a solid carbon plug at the the bottom of the steerer and as such, you can not mount the hopey through the steerer. So if your running the SID w/c, your out of luck!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | 230 | | Strengths: | Does damp steering jitter and the adjustability is awesome. | | Weaknesses: | Can't afford a crash where the steering whips around and stem contacts torque rod. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth truth, fox forx 100mm, typical parts. | | Bottom Line: | As a product, this is superb design and craftsmanship. But as a solution, its not night and day. The jury is still out on whether the damper is really helpful in xc riding. I switch between a hardtail and my FS and for climbing, have not noticed the damper helping dramatically in technical. Perhaps, a new rider who had problems keeping the front wheel straight would benefit more than a conditioned rider who has the muscle response developed for technical riding.
Now for the extreme downhill, this may add a little more stability, and one of the reasons i got it was for the extreme fall lines where you have to be so far back, you can't keep your arms steady. However, For me personally, I had a couple spills where the steering wacked the damper off center and had to re-install it when I got home. This maintenance is bothersome and who doesn't crash? If you don't crash, you don't ride hard enough to need a steering damper anyway!! Of course a double crown fork will eliminate this problem.
So my ratings below reflect my opinion on how much I believe this product helps. Not that is a bad product, but I don't think it's a solution that is so dramatic, its going to change your riding completely--unless you are a beginner. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Racer
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Purchased At: | www.hopey.org | | Strengths: | cornering on fast fire roads, sand and muck!! | | Weaknesses: | Need to check the pre-load every so often just to make sure it hasn't loosened. Not a big deal!! | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing like it out there!!! | | Bike Setup: | Trek STP 400, fully loaded!! | | Bottom Line: | I bought this thing after reading tons of reviews and decided to give it a try. The bad part was I got it in December and it's been snowing like crazy up here in Vail ever since. I hadn't had the opertunity to take it out on the trail till I did my first race of the season down in Phoenix.
When I first got on the bike it was a really wierd feeling. But quickly adjusted to the feel. The course was all fire roads and I didn't really notice it to much till I hit the first down hill. I felt like I was riding on a rail!! My confidence jumped considerably.
The next big test was when I came flying down a hill and hit 3 inch thick sand. My front tire stayed rock solid and never moved off line. I was amazed!! Everyone else was all over the place or getting off thier bikes when I was pointing straight ahead and grinding through the sand and water. People were looking at me like I was possessed!! I couldn't believe how much this little toy helped out in these conditions!!
I am totally sold!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Frazier
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpine, UT
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Purchased At: | Hopey's website | | Strengths: | It works! Good fit and finish | | Weaknesses: | Installation somewhat difficult; instructions could be better | | Similar Products Used: | Rusty headset bearings? | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | This is a first impressions review. I rode with the damper today on the Gooseberry Mesa (UT) trail, advanced technical, tight twisty turns, steep but short ups and downs.
The GOOD - Improves stability in sand, mud, and snow. Also, technical uphills are a bit easier.
The BAD - Don't forget to turn it down in those tight, twisty sections. I had the adjustment up too high for the first hour and suffered a crash, a near-miss, and a couple of dismounts as a result.
The GREAT - Rocky, technical downhills feel like you're riding a rail. Remember how much easier these sections were when you replaced that old elastomer fork with a Marzocchi? You get about that much improvement again with the steering damper.
The UNBELIEVABLE - I was headed downhill at moderate speed when a three inch high root appeared a yard in front of me. My front tire would hit it at the worst possible angle, about 20 degrees, and it was too late to unweight the front. I was going down! (I had learned this law of bike-physics the hard way - once or twice on a road bike going over RR tracks, and a half dozen times on a mountain bike in situations like this.) But I didn't go down. The front tire stayed perfectly straight. My fork compressed, the tire went up onto the root, rode along the top for a bit, then down the other side. Einstein rewrote a couple of Newton's laws and Hopey has rewritten one of the laws of bike-physics. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob t
a Cross Country Rider
from san jose ca
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | same as below | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | hopey | | Strengths: | awesome product,takes away alot of the fear when youre riding a little or a lot over your head.Gives you a very secure feeling. | | Weaknesses: | the top edge of the bracket is sharp.If you bang your knee on it,it smarts.Doesnt happen very often though.Maybe more if you have a short top tube.Im going to file a nice big round edge on mine. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing like this,I guess you could over tighten your headset and get somewhat the same effect. | | Bike Setup: | Same as below | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up to below.I went for a night ride last nite and my batteries got so low that I could barely see in a dark forest going no more than 10 mph.Due to a recent storm,there were lots of debris and small mudholes on the trail.I couldnt see most of the obstacles,without a damper I would overcompensate and possibly ride off the trail or crash in these situations.I rode over all sorts of surprises last nite and the damper really helped me cope with my lack of vision.It also helped keep me steady when getting sideways in the mud.Thats a spooky sensation when its really dark and all you can see is vague shapes.Ive also been ridind in a lot of sandy areas the past few months and feel alot more confident at speed.Quite impressive.The whole feel to this damper is pretty subtle at first but the more you challenge the rough trails the more you appreciate the damper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob t
a Cross Country Rider
from san jose
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any thing less than 3 feet wide and or rough and rocky | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | hopey | | Strengths: | relieves some of the fear factor out of sketchy situations | | Weaknesses: | if your top tube is too short you may bang your knees on the bracket | | Similar Products Used: | nothing like this | | Bike Setup: | turner 02,atom race,xt,xtr chris king,avid discs | | Bottom Line: | It does what it claims to do.Steering the bike is a series of corrections upon corrections.Most steering is actually done through leaning the bike,except on the trail you are always getting bounced off line.I can ride rocky rooty washed out gullies of a trail and am not so nervous of crashing anymore.If you like it technical youll love one of these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Huntley
a Weekend Warrior
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | Works as advertised | | Weaknesses: | I had problems with the damper coming loose inside the steerer tube. Not compatible with the Easton MG60 stem. | | Similar Products Used: | None exist | | Bike Setup: | 01 Enduro Pro. Easton Stem and Monkey Lite risers | | Bottom Line: | Great product. It increases your control while climbing, descending, and everything in between. Even in tight, slow single track I have noticed that it helps keep you from over steering.
Initially I had some problems with the darn thing refusing to stay tight. It kept loosening up and would eventually creep up the steerer tube. I called the company and Tim Hopey answered the phone. Really cool guy. He said that they had run into this occasionally and had replacement "wedges" (The three pieces that expand in the tube to lock the damper in place), made out of steel instead of aluminum, which would fix this problem. Once I got these installed the problem vanished.
The only other issue I had was that it is incompatible with the Easton MG60 magnesium stem. These stems have a little rubber vibration damper (one of the selling points) that fits into a recessed area on the back of the stem. There is not enough clearance between the damper's mounting bracket and the stem for this rubber piece to fit through. I removed this rubber piece and it now fits fine, though some of the vibration damping from the stem (not really noticeable) is now gone. If I had paid full price for the stem I might have been peeved but I got it for cheap so it was no big deal.
These things aren't cheap but I am very glad that I took the chance and made the purchase. Even my skeptical friends were impressed after one ride.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant
a Downhiller
from Highlands of Australia
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It simply does what it supposed to do. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have found | | Bike Setup: | RM9, Shivers DC, etc. | | Bottom Line: | The dampener rocks it does what it suppossed to do pure and simple. Turn it up and feel the difference to your riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andy
a Weekend Warrior
from kingston, pa
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | american standard | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | B & B Bike | | Strengths: | work as promised, appearance & craftmanship, can be adjusted easily on the fly. | | Weaknesses: | price! price! price! | | Similar Products Used: | I had a steering dampner on a motorcycle once. | | Bike Setup: | k2 evo fram, xt drive train & disc brakes, hope hubs w/ Ti spokes. | | Bottom Line: | I had a steering damper on my GSXR 750 sportbike, and was impressed at how it "settled" the bike down over rough pavement. so when I saw that there was one available for a mt. bike I though it would be a great idea.
I was a little disappointed at first (I was jadded by all the hype), but then after a few rides I turned it off and was amazed at how much slower I was. I don't mean that it is only noticable when you turn it off, but that is where you REALLY feel the difference.
I have noticed that I am a lot more confident ridding rocky downhills (confident = higher speed) also I feel a lot more confident launching the bike off jumps. it helps a little with climbing, but I would say the biggest advantage it gives is rocky downhills.
I would definitly recommend it to ALL types of riders, it ranks up there with suspension & disc brakes as far as mt. biking technology. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BadBrad
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston,TX. USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Memorial | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | Direct | | Strengths: | Well machined parts, fit well, looks killer on the bike!
Works as advertised,already can't imagine not having one.Will be standard equipment on all the bikes I'll ever own | | Weaknesses: | Instructions could use a little polish. Had to borrow headset cup remover and headset press. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 02 Enduro Expert/monkey lites/SDG/Times/XTR/etc | | Bottom Line: | After first days ride, hopped on another bike and could hardly ride it, it felt so squirrly! This will be as standard as an XTR parts to any serious rider after the word is out. But I am enjoying having the only one in our group for now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bomberdale!11
a
from Cowtown
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat | | Strengths: | good construction
easy installation
works as billed | | Weaknesses: | can only be on one bike at a time
other bikes seem too unstable now
forget lower starnut for front fender
$$$$!!!!!!!
uh, let try that again $$$$$!!!!!! | | Bike Setup: | cannondale SuperV900, Jr. T | | Bottom Line: | Adds a huge level of stability to the bike's steering. It helps in the rough & helps at high speed. I back it way off for technical climbs though.
No regrets other than I'll have to get another one for my new bike becasue once you get used to this thing you'll always want it.
Happy trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lance
a
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat | | Strengths: | Light, works | | Weaknesses: | Makes fork installation a little more difficult na drequires 35mm wrence instead of allen to tighten headset (all very minor) | | Similar Products Used: | non available that I know of | | Bike Setup: | Superlight, manitou X-vert air, race-face, avid mech. disc., etc. | | Bottom Line: | After only 3 rides already see what everone was talking about. The increase in control and fatigue is unbelievable. I'm going to put on on my other bikes ASAP. Damping adjustable from off to tight. After a few minutes of adjustment you will be turning it up. After only 3 rides bike feels like a skittish piece of junk w/ damper turned off. One note: will not work on manitous w/ red insert (recall fix) in bottom since 12mm socket must be used from bottom of fork to tighten unit, also will not work on bikes w/ integrated headset ie Giant...Otherwise great product worth twice the money and weight (which was as advertised, rare), excellent for x-country or downhill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Schaefer
a Weekend Warrior
from Martinez
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | now closed..... | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | direct | | Strengths: | excellent workmanship, cust.svc., etc... | | Weaknesses: | nada! | | Bottom Line: | follow up to initial impression: this thing flat works! i've been riding mine hard for about four months now on a serious trailbike setup, lots of hard, mid- to high-speed singletrack and fire roads, you name it... the damper simply aids control in such a way that it takes riding to the next level of comfort/control. it's like going from rigid to suspension, or canti's to hydraulic discs. a recent trip to laguna seca to ride the sea otter course was enlightening, to say the least. after being knocked silly every year by the first few miles-worth of off camber valley trails, this time i just cranked up the damper a bit, and could almost ride w/ my hands off! it makes line choice a matter of point-and-shoot. on fast choppy fire roads, cross ruts are no longer an issue, and braking bumps going into tight turns are a breeze - just relax your grip and focus on braking and line, and let the damper do the rest. if you read the reviews on these deals, they start to sound corny - no way it's all that, right? the real bottom line is this: if you're riding super-tight, slalom-type s-turn singletrack, you'll have to get up and muscle the bike a bit more than normal, and that's if you've got the damping cranked up full blast. and that, as far as i have found, is the only thing that i could remotely call a drawback. the real bummer is, if you've got more than one bike, you'll have to buy a few, because everything else feels skittish once you get used to it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Storktani
a Racer
from Butler, Pa
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Dirty Harrys | | Strengths: | This product does what it says....Improves your tracking
Dial adjustment...more on the downhills...less for joy riding | | Weaknesses: | Nothing..... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight anodized, full XTR, Hayes Disc, SID SL, Chris King Headset, Bontrager wheels, Real Hubs, Time pedals, Easton CT2 bar, Thompson seatpost, & Flite gel saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I wasn't much of a downhiller before I had this installed on my SC. In fact I lost postions in most races because I could'nt ride the downhills with as much speed as the other racers. Not so anymore. This product has given me the ability to "Rail" down rocky trails with less chances of landing in the dirt! It also helps relieve fatigue in your arms on longer races, because less grip is needed on the bars.Basically with this on your bike you can think less of picking a good line,because it allows you to ride anything! Well worth the cash!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a
from Martinez, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lime Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Ordered direct | | Strengths: | Very trick, beautiful construction, outstanding cust. support, etc... | | Weaknesses: | ??? | | Bike Setup: | STS I-Drive, Psylo SL, XT Discs, XTR, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I used to be the king of the tank slappers back in the MX days, and soon learned the value of a good steering damper. A few years ago, I spotted a prototype Answer damper on display in their booth, and it was excactly what I used to run on my moto's - steering damped only off center, with free return to center. It was trick! From that day on I wanted to build a bike up around one, but Answer never quite made it to production with them. Now, years later, I'm finally getting around to building up a new dream bike, and I restarted the search. Lo and behold, w/ some help from some online bro's, I come across Hopey. Turns out he was the one responsible for the early Answer model. After exchanging some e-mails (and an e-payment), I scored me one of these beauties. The transaction was as enjoyable as you could ever ask, and the support just in the purchase/set-up process is absolutely superb (there are alot of companies that could take a lesson from these guys). Installation is a breeze, and the thing just looks and feels bi***in! The drag of it is I'm still waiting to get my C/King wheels built up, and I haven't been able to even ride it yet, other than around the bike shop. I'll have to post a follow-up after I get some thrashing done on it, but I was prompted to write now by the previous review. I couldn't agree more that the service and quality are top shelf all the way, and I'm sure that if it works the way I think it will in the dirt, I'm going to be saving up some sheckels to get an SL version for my XC bike!
It's expensive, but you get what you pay for (it really is a nice piece of work!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Downhiller
from Nor-Cal
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | Hopey | | Strengths: | Light weight, easy installation, adjustable dampening, and great customer service. | | Weaknesses: | Limited on stem, spacer stack height | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | SC Bullit, 6" boxxer w/tall crown | | Bottom Line: | I ordered my dampener directly through Hopey. Talked to and ordered my dampener from Tim Hopey himself. I was very impressed. He's real informative about his products and seems to be a real avid mountain biker. I received my order 3 days later and installed it the next day. The installation was very easy, took me about a half hour, start to finish. The only problem I had was a clearance issue. Because I use the tall steering crown for the boxxer, I could not get my full turning radius, do to the crown hitting the bracket for the steering dampener. I solved the problem by using a 5mm spacer between the crown and the head set. It lowered my front end 5mm but, i'll adjust to the quicker steering. Right away you notice the difference. It takes some time getting used to the feel of the dampener but, you will quickly appreciate what it will do for you. I wanted to see just how well it works, so I gave it a test that would determine whether or not it was a good purchase. I rode up to a 4" curb at an angle with no hands with dampening all the way on. Went right up the curb with very little steering interferance. I then tried it all they way off with no hands and crashed. I quickly realized how good of a purchase this was. One thing you do have to realize is that the dampener does have to be maintianed. Tim told me to have it rebuilt once a year with new seals and oil if you notice its performance start to degrade. It will run about $19 for a complete rebuild. Thats a great deal for what you are getting. Overall, I'm very impressed with the product and the customer service I received. Buy one now, you will not regret it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
louie
a Weekend Warrior
from morgantown, wva, usa
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | coopers rock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Strengths: | really helps keep the bike pointed where i want it to go. couldn't beleive the difference in how it helped me climb especially after i got used to it and then rode with it off, great product, just like the one on my dirt bike i now don't want to ride wiithout it. | | Weaknesses: | a little pricey but, i know it saved me from a big crash, i guess it's worth not having the bruises. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing like it, really cool. | | Bike Setup: | kona explosif, manitou forks | | Bottom Line: | buy one, it works | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 219.95
