Strengths: Very supple damping over small ripples, feels great. Can load the fork in readyness for lofting the front. Stiff, even in the QR guise. The IT travel adjuster is very easy and quick to use, although watch for the increased risk of the pedals clouting rocks. Adjustments are sufficient and no overly complicated. Not too heavy considering the travel, stifness and 32mm stanchions.
Weaknesses: During deep hits the compression ramps up and needs lots of rebound to it calm down. When adjusting air pressure the fork needs to be inverted to prevent the open bath oil squirting everywhere and filling your shock pump. The fork came with a bike and immediately needed a rebuild with a dodgy rebound assembly. After a few months use the IT travel system started to gradually bleed the fork down to it's minimum travel, it'd extend back momentarily but soon started to descend again.
Overall: A very nice fork which is strong and confidence inspiring and other than big hit compression ramp up feels great to ride with. Reliability is a major issue although Raw, UK importer, tells me that a new IT assembly is available that will resolve issues with the quad o-ring seals leaking/bleeding thru it's travel. Time will tell.
Strengths: Lightweight, adequate adjustments that aren't fiddly (unlike the DHX), ProPedal settings are easy to use and make a marked difference to the ride, a bob free ride, simple to service (air sleeve), doesn't ramp up on big hits (used on a Turner 5Spot) whilst still plush on the small stuff, doesn't loose air over time, 100% reliable.
Weaknesses: None.
Overall: A fit and forget unit (unless you're switching the ProPedal!) that's easy to setup and will give mile after mile of consistent, buttery, bob-free performance.
Strengths: Carbon, 'cos it looks the biz. Build quality, no plastic adjusters. All adjustments are effective and noticeable on the trail. Climbing Knock Down, easy to reach with auto blow off. Compression, doesn't ramp up (linear air spring) and is very supple. Stiffness, it seems to track effectively. Supple, from the start although I think it's bedded in a little after 20hrs+, helped by the low pressure system? Manual, gets straight to the point and is easily understood. Disc mounts are straight and true.
Weaknesses: Rebound adjuster easily gets knocked but it's easy to reset as the terrain unfolds.
Overall: A very pretty fork with a good range of features that make a proper difference whilst out on the trail. Tracks as well as any fork I've ever used. All the travel is available and feels very plush, unlike some I could mention. The features are well designed, executed and positioned nicely too.
Overall: My old helmet is pretty beat up so a replacement was needed, the main criteria; to keep me cool. The 5th has so many vents that I'll tan in the summer and be chilly in the winter but at least I'll have a cool bonce.
Strengths: Craftmanship, this is beautifully made with no rough mounting surfaces/edges. For the price I can't see any other stem coming close to the quality and weight savings. Even the bolts were pre-greased!
Weaknesses: None that I can see, oh perhaps the limited sizes available?
Overall: A cracker, looks great, feels great, is great.
Strengths: Very easy to fit/remove with an extra velcro security tab. Great size, bigger enough for my work gear and a handy size to carry off the bike. Actually, I only use one of them to/from work...
Weaknesses: Only one pocket (on top) but it's a fair size. A key hanger would be nice. More reflective strips.
Overall: For the price they're a solid piece of kit and have simplified my daily commute. I now don't have a wet back when I get into the office!
Strengths: Very light, made a big difference to the pickup/acceleration after my 2.1 WTB Motoraptors.
I'm running them with slim liners and haven't had any punctures.
They look pimp with the blue sidewalls...well I like 'em.
Weaknesses: I've the 1.8's all round and the front gets a little more 'lively' in gravel/sand than I'm used to.
Price, but get 'em on offer and they'll be a steal. Hunting around I sourced my kevlar hoops at £10 off retail.
Overall: These lightweights allow rapid acceleration, swift direction changes and also appear to hook up better under braking than my oem, steel rimmed Motoraptors.
Not sure how they'll be in the wet but in the dry and on hardpack they're awesome and very fast indeed.
Strengths: Over the past 18 months and 2.5k miles these tyres are still going strong. Admittedly the rear tyre doesn't have the 'angles' on the tread any longer but there's still around half the tread of the front left. The front still looks brand new.
They float across gravel and sand unlike the 1.8 Trailblasters I've just put on. The WTB's haven't give me any nasty surprises over a varied mix of terrain, so fit 'em and forget.
Weaknesses: Tend to clog in the mud and can take a while to clear...but then again, they're not mud specific tyres.
As the tread is durable I suspect that a softer compound would provide addition grip on slippy surfaces...
Overall: Durable, dependable. If you're heading into new terrain in anything but the darkest depths of winters, then these will see you safely through.
Strengths: Adjustable front and rear suspension. The rear setup affects ride dynamics giving you three distinct bikes in one. Supple over any terrain.
Hope disc brake upgrade is awesome, nice and adjustable too (C2's).
The pivots haven't needed any attention after 15 months of riding of around 1,800 miles over all types of terrain.
Haven't needed to replace any components after 1yr+ abuse.
Weaknesses: Colour, white wouldn't have been my first choice but I felt the package was too good to refuse.
The Manitou Black Elite LE 100/120's needed re-bushing after a month (back to the supplier - Raw) but have been totally dependable since.
17" frame weighs in well over 30lb but it does ride light.
The original layback seat post gave me over a year of sketchy cornering and long walks up the hills. Changing it to a zero layback item has totally transformed the bike, the front end is now nailed to the trail. She now feels so very sharp and responsive. It's like having a new bike...
The long stem was replaced at the time of purchase and bars shortly afterwards...all a matter of personal taste.
Overall: Awesome, I can now ride all day, every day without any aches or pains. The misses hasn't had any back pain from her earlier slipped disc since riding her dainty 15" version whereas her old hardtail would give her grief after a couple of hours in the saddle.
Adjustable suspensions means that you can take one bike anywhere and know that you'll get the most from the bike, yourself and the trail.
Is a little heavy, but some sensible upgrades should see that on the right side of 30lb.
