Overall: I purchased these to go on my Uzzi VPX until my custom built wheels were ready and they were simply superb. I never once had a problem with them going out of true or complaining no matter what they were put through. I had reservations at first about how good the adaptor for swapping betwen QR / 20mm fittings could be but it proved itself to be a great design and they held firm regardless.
After I swapped them onto my hardtail XC bike they performed brilliantly as XC hoops as well, saving a good amount of weight over the OEM wheels and showing a lot less flex then the OEM ones.
If Easton did these in a UST version they'd get top marks.
Overall: I've tried these on a couple of my bikes (and the M4's as well) and have been consistently let down by them. I'm a heavy rider and they never seem to pull me up as quickly as something with 6 pots and a 203mm rotor should, no matter how anal I am about setting them up.
Also, the squeal that comes from them is something else! I've faced my mounts, made sure everything is clean and followed all the instructions and tips but they never EVER seem to shut up.
Great brakes if you must have something Made in England and i can't fault the design but experience tells me they're not the Bentley of brakes they were once.
Overall: I've got these brakes in various versions on 3 of my 5 bikes and they are awesome. I weight 270lbs (I'm not fat, I'm big boned!) and these are the only brakes that can haul my mass to a quick stop even on a 160mm rotor.
They have more power than my Hope 6 pots and are a good deal cheaper as well.
I wouldn't buy any other brakes now, once you get over the 'they're not Hope / Avid' thing and actually try them they really are the best brakes I've ever used (and I started out with a Sachs Quartz disc back in 1993 so have used a few!)
'FANTASTIC 'ALL MOUNTAIN' FORKS BUT REQUIRE SOME FINE TUNING'
Strengths: Performance, torsional stiffness, strength, floodgate, U-Turn system
Weaknesses: Weight, limited options for upgraded springs
Overall: I've run these forks for coming up on 12 months now and I have loved them from day one. The U-Turn system is fantastic, they perform faultlessly at all times (Ive never once had a problem with them even without a service), the directional stiffness is awesome and I've never had doubts that the front wheel will go where I'm pointing it no matter what terrain I'm on.
My only complaint comes with the springs. From stock I upgraded to what RS called the firm kit which was anything but. Going by the RS spring guide I ordered 2 more sets of springs and finally got it right. Since then they've been fantastic. If i'd been sensible and gone for the Air shocks instead of the coils I think I'd have been fine from the start.
Overall: I love these forks. I'm heavy and got them kitted out with a XXfirm ride kit and I've never once had them bottom out hard on me even when I really blow a landing. I've not noticed any flex or braking flutter (even when really hauling on the Hope 6 pots I'm running) and I've no doubt in their ability to withstand whatever I can do to them.
I've 'put them down' hard a number of times and still they show no signs of cosmetic damage and I do love the understated looks (I actually got the pimpy white ones).
I guess like anything designed to take abuse they have to be overbuilt but they felt heavier than my old Marzocchi DJ2's (even though the spec says they aren't) but at least I know I can trust them.
Good forks, great price, ride well and damn tough. I love 'em.
Strengths: Awesome design, very plush, light weight.
Weaknesses: FAR too flexy and too much fore / aft flutter.
Overall: I really wanted to love these forks. I rode the DC's and they were fantastic but I didn't want to put them on my XC bike so gave these a go. The flex and lack of real directional control was an issue as soon as I got them off road. I'm not light but I expect more from a fork that uses such a large bolt through axle.
I had no confidence in these forks and while the lockdown was great for climbing I never really felt confident enough in their strength to make full use of the 5" travel when I opened them up.
With a little extra material at the top I reckon they be just that bit stiffer and suitable for some hard XC use but as it stands now they are only really good for XC race / lighter weight duties - and who needs 5@ of travel for that?
'THESE ARE WITHOUT A QUESTION THE BEST FORKS. PERIOD.'
Strengths: Strength, adjustability, platform damping (everyone else got it from Curnutt / Foes) performance, steering, looks and I hate to say it - Exclusivity!
Weaknesses: Price. The best costs though. if you can find a pair going cheap in a dealer - get them!
Overall: Outstanding. I've ridden forks from every (major) manufacturer - from Rock Shox (even the Team Boxxers weren't THIS good), Manitou (the World Cup Dorados were good but still too flexy to ride hard through big stuff - I'm not light) and Marzocchi (which I never had anything but problems with).
I rode these forks fitted to the front of an '07 DHS 2:1 (also awesome) and I can honestly say I had the confidence off the bat to go and do stuff I've hesitated about before. The travel ('only' 8 inches) feels truly bottomless, the platform damping controls 90% of bob & diving when out of the saddle, they never once deflected or 'fluttered' (even when I landed HARD nose down from a good 6ft drop into the middle of a large rock garden they behaved), for the afternoon runs we were hitting some big drops (15 - 20ft easy) and with a little fine tuning before we set off they were fantastic for that as well. If they bottomed out - I didn't feel it!
The construction quality is first rate (as with everything Foes do) and I'd not hesitate to recommend these forks to anyone looking to build up the very best bike for DH / hucking or just general lunacy.
