Strengths: These forks came on a specialized fsr dh which i bought second hand of a friend. I was immediately attracted to their fantastic looks, and could tell from a glance that these were classy forks. This was before i rode with them. they are so plush and comfy to ride with and very easy to adjust, as long as you keep the oil level topped up. these forks seem to cope with anthing i throw at them. i have been riding on them for 2 years now and have had virtually no troubles with them at all. i have only bottomed them out 3 times, and they were all on drops of over 5 foot.the fact that ou can turn these forks 180 degrees is a real bonus also if you want to add a little more style into any air you get on your bike, or if you want to just muck around at your local trails. It also improves handling on these beauties. these forks really are something special, and are real headturners.
Weaknesses: these forks are considered too plush/soft for heavier riders(but are perfect for anoone under 13 stone or so).
Overall: these forks are absolute gems and if you see any for sale them snatch em up quick, because they are wonderful freeride/downhill and equal many 7" forks(ie boxxers) on performance. I am selling mine currently, to buy some boxxer world cup or teams, purely for the extra travel. these forks are well worth the money. (mine are for sale in the bike magic classifides at the moment).
Strengths: it might get nicked, and you can buy a decent bike. Strong frame.
Weaknesses: wheels are crap, ridden by pikeys who think that they are gods gift because they have front AND rear suspension that's made out of cardboard. the welds might as well be sellotaped.They weigh an absolute tonne, which means you cant go uphill on them, and their so craply built that they fall apart when you ride em downhill.
Overall: pile of crap. if you want to look like a pikey, ridin this hunk of junk, them go ahead. but please, please dont buy this bike and buy a decent hardtail like a gt....PLEASE. stop this cruelty to bicycles.
Strengths: these gloves look fantastic wherther your down your local trails, 4x track or at your local quarry, these gloves provide grip and great looks from a well known manufacturer. My hands never get too hot or sweaty, due to the fantastic ventilation and they fit a treat.
Weaknesses: I've used these gloves for extreme freeriding and after many falls, these gloves are seeming much less durable, perhaps worth investing in the more durable sidewinder if you are more into freeride or downhill
Overall: a great glove for hitting your local trails, but they are not quite durable enough to be punished viciously on a frequent basis!
Strengths: These shin/knee pads provide comfort, strength and great looks at a decent enough price. dainese are a very respected brand of protection and produce top quality goods, these are no exception. i have had absolutely no problems with these shin pads in 1 year of owning a pair. They also look fantastic.
Weaknesses: i think it is worth forking out a few extra quid to buy these with ankle protectors.
Overall: this was one of my best cycling buys i've bought. They suit freeride, dowbhill 4x and dirt jumping and perform marvelously in each of these aspects of riding. these really are top quality pads, and i can highly reccomend them to anyone who wants decent protection.
Strengths: A doddle to fit strong Made by a reliable manufacturer these skewers look fantastic cheap as chips
Weaknesses: none at the moment
Overall: these are a fantastic buy, and i can reccomend them to any off road cyclist. if i had the money then i would upgrade to the titanium version though.
Strengths: strong braking power simple to fit great looks pretty lightweight
Weaknesses: instructions could be more detailed, but these brakes are pretty simple to fit, i got mine on without instructions in about 10 mins.
Overall: Good brakes. perfect upgrade from those tacky promax brakes that my bike came with. these brakes certainly look the part and the levers are top notch
Strengths: Look great Very strong Adaptable to different dosc brakes(i've had hope mono mini's and hfx9's on mine) Wide profile rims Hubs provide good looks, strength and a surprisingly smooth ride
Weaknesses: My disc brake adaptors became loose after a while, but i fixed this by taking it to my local bike shop, who fixed this for a small cost.
Overall: great rims, hubs and spokes. i can highly recommend these wheels for downhill riding. worth the price
