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Submitted by
Courtney
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cootha | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | tracks well, doesn't develop any play even after several years. Light | | Weaknesses: | not very strong, can't take many big hits before the oil leaks, or the sliders pop out, or the boot rips. Can't fix anything yourself because it requires some fancy cannondale tool. Replacement spare parts and servicing is very expensive. Not very forgiving suspension. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox Indy/Judy/Psylo, Manitou SX/spyder/Black, Marzocchi MX with ETA | | Bike Setup: | 1999 F700 | | Bottom Line: | It seems like the headshok system is a little too delicate for riders who like to leave the ground. I don't ride really hard but I seemed to be forever taking this shock back to the shop to get something fixed. The boot broke several times for no apparent reason. Oil was forever leaking from the shock (broken seals). The sliders for the needle bearings were always moving around. It's very expensive to maintain. The lockout doesn't feel nearly as good as the Marzocchi ETA feels. It was expensive to put the Marzocchi on the Cannondale - but the bike feels much better to ride. If I had known what I know now, I would never have bought a cannondale. For speedy racing types who stay on the ground. Don't buy it if you like air or rough terrain. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew
a
from San Diego Ca USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The next one | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light, tight, right for a hardtail. With the right wheel and tire combo it tracks like its on rails. | | Weaknesses: | Limited travel, Can only be serviced by a C-dale trained mech. | | Similar Products Used: | The original Mag 21 | | Bike Setup: | Cannonkeg F1000 bla bla bla | | Bottom Line: | My first fork, the venerable Mag 21 (on a Nishiki Colorado) tended to wander around a bit....(You could see the legs "walk" back and forth) When I bought my F1000 in '96 I was amazed by its performance. I 96 it's performance WAS amazing. Things have changed in 6 years and having ridden some newer forks I can see its limitations, but I still love it anyways. I works well on a hard tail. If your a huckster or gravity guru fergettaboutit. If your an XC racer or rider and don't mind limited travel, nothing is lighter and few track as laser-like. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Shepard
a Cross Country Rider
from Amherst, Ma, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Lock out feature, Looks way cool, VERY VERY STIFF, tracks very well | | Weaknesses: | Not enough travel, Can be noisy at times | | Similar Products Used: | All the others out there | | Bike Setup: | 99 C-dale F700, icon seatpost, crowbar riser, I love it | | Bottom Line: | The fork is really really cool but doesnt have enough travel for todays hard core rides. I am sold on Cannondale and will stay with them forever even the Fatty D. It is so durable and easy to maintain that I still cant believe it. Thank you C-dale I am a life long rider of your bikes now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Vars
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Finn Hill/St Edwards | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Sportsman Ski Haus | | Strengths: | Stiff as they come, and fairly light. Disc Brake compatible a bonus. Lock out a cool feature | | Weaknesses: | only 60mm of travel. | | Bike Setup: | 99' F700. CT2 seatpost. avid brakes and levers. | | Bottom Line: | Decent fork but the Bike will push it's limit the firts time out. Mine rebounds like a kicking mule and thuds as it hits the top. I had the cartride replaced but it still does it due to some dampening issues. like i said above, 60 mm is no where near enough travel. alright fork Stiffness really helps. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachussets
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | N/A | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Lockout,looks,stiffness, weight. | | Weaknesses: | Could use a bit more travel. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocksox indy XC, Judy T2, about every low end rockshox haha | | Bike Setup: | f600 full XT | | Bottom Line: | Excellent on medium size rocks and big roots, but sometimes i feel like im going to flip over the handlebars but never do. Overall great ride and i love the lockout feature. 5 flamin' turds for this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alex penton
a Cross Country Rider
from sydney, nsw, australia
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | urban jungle | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | looks, feel, adjustability, craftsmanship | | Weaknesses: | nada | | Similar Products Used: | rockshox | | Bike Setup: | cannandale F500, sram 9.0, shimano dx pedals! | | Bottom Line: | I upgraded from the fatty m and boy was it worth it. How could anyone have a fork that doesn't have lock-out? My bike turns into a road bike with the twist of knob. I admit that i'm a novice but this fork feels like heaven. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julio
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami, Florida, USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Oleta | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Outstanding, 4 foot drops, no problem. Like Butta... | | Weaknesses: | None yet!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shock Jett (They Suck) | | Bike Setup: | 99' Cannondale Killer V-700 LX-XT, Avid 1.9 levers, Coda Crank and Bar, Mavic Rims | | Bottom Line: | Out-F*&^%$#-Standing... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tony king
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | just plain nice to have up front | | Weaknesses: | becomes super stiff in the cold
not an all weather fork | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | cdale f700 | | Bottom Line: | I love this fork... except for a few complaints. First of all, when it drops below 40 deg., you start to notice a difference in the forks characteristics and at temperatures below 20 deg, it is downright stiff (problem could be solved if I bought the air upgrade. Also, this fort is sensitive to water exposure. This summer, I had a problem with rusty bearing sliders. There was no reason for there to be water in the fork because the fork boot wasnt torn. Since then, I have become paranoid about even gently washing my bike... but I havent had any other pronblems since. Even though this fork has given me this one isolated and fairly minor problem, I wouldnt trade it for anything... except maybe the fatty ultra... or even the air upgrade... maybe next year.... or for my birthday... Ill shut up now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keong
a Cross-Country Rider
from Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
The bearing strips helps alot on fast rebound (smoothness) | | Weaknesses: |
Do you think there is any? | | Similar Products Used: |
manitou m1,m3,m4
R.S(most of them)
Girvin(too flexy)
Marzocchi Bombers(well made) | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F700 99
Shimano XTR/XT groupset | | Bottom Line: | Being a bike machanic for several years , I have to test and understand all kind of product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DanDaDilToy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Coquitlam, B.C.
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Burke Mountain | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
-On the fly lock out
-Look Cool
-Plastic tube protects the whole shock, all weather proof
-Response quicker than any other brands | | Weaknesses: |
-Expensive ungrade
-Cant fit on the other bikes, be slave od C.dale. | | Similar Products Used: |
-Rst
-MOnitou
-Bombers | | Bike Setup: |
Y2K v800, xt 9spd, hutcinson 1.85, avid 1.9, set od coda experts, fox float | | Bottom Line: | Super quick response on any surface, esp in the rocky or baby-head size rocks. Lock out makes mtb becomes a road bike, useful on uphill too. If you tried fatty D, you wont feel satisfy anymore with other brands. Fatty Ds new name is DL, but same components. 80mm travel is not too much or less, lower level of lefty n higher level than unsuper fetty D. i give this shock 5 chilies for SURE...... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Johnston
a Downhiller
from Hamilton,Ont.Canada
Date Reviewed: November 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
South Shore 15Km | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Killer Travel | | Weaknesses: |
Odd ride, Thought my
axe was going to break | | Similar Products Used: |
RST-Sucked
RockShock(Judy's)
-sweet ride | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale M1000
XTR/DeoreLX/RaceFace | | Bottom Line: | I loved the ride for the last 2 hours of my
ride. The Fatty D's were pretty hard to get used to at the start of my day. I've been riding
Manitou Moc5's for about a year than demo'd the fatty's. I was too used to the shock being on the barrels and not the steer tube so you can imagine the sudden change to a persons riding style. Overall I feel the head shock isn't for me, but hay that's me!!! Thanks for the ride
Cannondale. L8TER. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ilan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Similar Products Used: |
RST (terrible) | | Bike Setup: |
'98 CAAD3, XTR/XT/LX mix | | Bottom Line: | My first real fork on my first real bike. After a little over a year I am very satisfied. I have the DD60 with 60mm of travel, and id rather have 70 or 80mm but that's ok.
Steers and tracks true, just point and shoot. Absolutely no stiction, flex, or steering lag. Very light and very responsive. Tops out every now and then and 'clunks', which is why i'd like more travel. The lock out comes in handy when i do city commuting or road tours, turns the bike fully rigid and you can ride just as well as the roadies (kind of). I havent made any adjustments as i havent felt the need to, and i probably wouldn't try doing it myself, id probably just make it worse.
Overall, a really nice fork, but i wouldnt buy another. In fact, i probably wouldnt buy another Cannondale, but thats another story. Its a good intermediate fork that should last at least 3 to 4 years until you realize headshok isn't all its cracked up to be. But it still gets 5 peppers for serving me well, and i dont plan on replcing it or the frame for another 2 or 3 years. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sure
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sure
Date Reviewed: October 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vancouver North shore | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
-No Flex
-Best shock for small bumps
-almost maintenance free
-light for the a shock at this price
-Cannondale baks it up all the way!
-On the fly lockout | | Weaknesses: |
-Only fits on Cannondales(not that bad cause cannondale rules)
-could be lighter
-Should have 70mm of travel(2000 Fatty DL have 70mm) | | Similar Products Used: |
-Lefty
-Fatty SL
-Rock shox indy/jett/judy/sid
-Marchochi Z2/Z1 drop offs
-Manitou Spyder | | Bike Setup: |
-My F700 99
CAAD3
Coda stuff
shimano LX/XT
Sweeeeeeeet | | Bottom Line: | The best cross country fork in it's price range.
Headshocks are the best xc forks, period. It doesn't matter if you have a 2.5 pound Marchochi or Sid, Headshocks are stiffer, more reponsive, better tracking and turn off for sprints or climbs. Those guys using them for downhill or just writting bad reviews are nuts! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross-Country Rider
from Sacramento
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Dark Hollow, Brianhead, UT | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Super Tracking.
Light Weight.
No Stiction.
Super Active. | | Weaknesses: |
NOT ENOUGH TRAVEL.
Shock boot tears causing major internal damage. | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou TPC
Noleen Crosslink
Rock Shox Judy (various)
Marzocchi (Z1 Bam, Z3,4) | | Bike Setup: |
'97 F1000 | | Bottom Line: | Awsome cross country fork, but travel and durability a definate issue... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross-Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: July 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Great Fork
Super Plush
No Sticktion
No bind ups
Enough travel for XC Riding
Nice looks(I mean it)
Stiff Stiff Stiff | | Weaknesses: |
You can only put it on Cannondales and Merlins(not that these bikes are bad or anything, they are on of the best) | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy
Sid
Fatty SL
Fatty Ultra
Bomber Z4,Z3,Z2,Z1 | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F700(sweet bike!) | | Bottom Line: | It's the most plush and reponsive shock in it's category! Go out and try one! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from Antioch, CA
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Ridge Trail | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
No independent leg action or stiction. Lockout. Nice head bearings and sealing. | | Weaknesses: |
Top out clunk. Could use more travel compared to other shock forks. Requires specialty service tools that are hard to get. Bearings are really not user servicable. Stem choices are limited. | | Similar Products Used: |
Softride steel stem. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Killer V-Hard Tail. | | Bottom Line: | I'm happy (if I ignore the top out clunk). I tried experimenting with 10 and 7.5 weight oils to try to reduce the pogoing when out of the saddle. I went back to 5 weight because the ride was too stiff (and I weigh near 180 lbs.). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
M.A.B.M.Z
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown,Penang
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
2 many 2 mention | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
I prefer this to the Fatty SL as the system is simple.No air to mess around with, you just take an allen key, insert & set your preload. Then there's always the oil viscocity to play with if you're not satisfied with the stroke. Not that the Fatty SL is inferior ( actually,it's a superb fork), it's just my personal preference. Most rigid (ie. flex free)front fork out there. Period! The lock out is good on smooth surface sprints & ascents. Did I mention how easy it is to service the Fatty D? | | Weaknesses: |
I changed to a heavier (RED) coil spring as the supplied spring (BLUE) was a litte soft for me. Kudos to Keong of The Bike Shop, the Cannondale LBS in K.L. He did a superb job servicing the Fatty D. | | Similar Products Used: |
Fatty SL. Super Fatty D. Marzocchi Z1/Z2. Manitou Carbon/ SX Ti '99. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Atlanta F700. | | Bottom Line: | One caveat though...you could only enjoy the Headshok series if you own a Cannondale or a '99 Merlin. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Braders
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Love the lock out knob | | Weaknesses: |
Not enough pressure in shock | | Similar Products Used: |
One of a Kind | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F-900 | | Bottom Line: | There great besides the overly soft spring. I give them 4 out of 5 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bryant carter
a Cross-Country Rider
from Wilmington,DE
Date Reviewed: May 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
brandywineCreek/woodlawn | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Lockout, I like to throw it around going up. Predictable tracking. No worries about servicing after wet rides | | Weaknesses: |
None for me, I like the simpleness, though I would love to get an aluminum steerer tube | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou pro C | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale CAAD3, XT/XTR mix, crosslands | | Bottom Line: | Good, predicable fork. I'm glad I bought the bike. The fork never needs servicing, though I had the local shop lube it up after I ripped the booty. make sure if you ever rip the booty that you don't ride it again until you have a new booty on. Great fork, can't wait to get one with an aluminum steer tube. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a Cross-Country Rider
from Adirondack Mnts., N.Y.
Date Reviewed: April 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Bike Setup: |
C'dale Super V 900 (Large frame). | | Bottom Line: | Welp, apparently Mr. Matchett (below) needs a heavier front-end or one with more travel than the 60mm. the Fatty D has. If you're a downhiller, then you should have a Super V Freeride with the Moto FR fork. I don't think a shock with 60-70 mm. travel is really intended for massive downhill bombing. I haven't had any probs with my Fatty D. When I bought the bike, I had the shop install the stronger red spring, (rated for riders 200 lbs.+), because I weigh 200 and figured I was right on the limit of the stock blue spring, (rated for riders 140-200 lbs.) In fact, I need to back off a little on the adjustment screw in the head post, so it will take the washboard bumps better. And I haven't even gotten around to playing with the other oil weights yet, which may make a difference as well. I'm mostly a cross-country rider and I love to take as many air jumps and gravity runs as I can. But you have to know the limitations of your equipment. The Fatty D is doing a fine job for me-- I haven't bottomed out hard and it steers and tracks WAY better than any of dual shock forks out there. It's probably lighter than most of them, too. So, the bottom line is that I can trust my front-end and I've been able to really haul ass, (30-35 m.p.h.), on some pretty knarly stuff here in the Adirondack Mountains. Works fer me ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Matchett
a Downhiller
from San Fransico
Date Reviewed: April 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The Drop | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Still looking. | | Weaknesses: |
Looks, strength, adjustibility | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitous | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale | | Bottom Line: | Horrible | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
perfect shock | | Weaknesses: |
i don't know that there are any | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannondale Super Fatty D and SL | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | I think that it is an excellent shock. You can't flex the tire through the corners. | | Overall Rating: |
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