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Submitted by
Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex, UK
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | My local forest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Shop in Benfleet, Essex? | | Strengths: | Very smooth a stiff action, with very little flex. It acts like a rigid straight blade fork, but with 60mm of travel! | | Weaknesses: | Rubber boot split after a year of riding off road, but still works fine. Started leaking oil after five years. Lock out has started getting loose after seven years! | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Cannondale F1000 UK spec. Standard spec apart from a new XT Chainset due to CODA crank arm breaking and resulting in a gashed calf! | | Bottom Line: | It's a brilliant fork, I just wished it had 100~120mm of travel and it was easier to service.
Note: I've never had mine serviced and I want to see how far it goes before I kill it!! I've done over 4,000 miles to date and thers oil coming out and the boot is split in six places! Well beated up, but it's still going strong!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | lumpy | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | When it's working it's great,stiff, plush lovely ride | | Weaknesses: | TOP-OUT,
Lack of mechanics who can do proper services,unavailability of info and tools to enable home servicing,
hates bad weather.
Don't fall off in stream as I did as the internals soon rust.Daaaamned expensive to have serviced.Bloody unreliable.short travel | | Bike Setup: | 01 Jekyll 600. | | Bottom Line: | Wish I'd got a fork that I could strip down myself......If I had to buy a replacement headshock it would cost me £570,gotta be kidding,
When it's knackered next time it's gonna get swapped for conventional fork.
Anybody able to service one of these who can post a video of how on the web???? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Holger
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | various | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Hatfield Cycles | | Strengths: | Cannondale reputation and quality. On the move adjustment. Torsional strength of the forks and frame. Have had no problems, would like to know how to adjust for more or less travel using the air pressure input, never really been able to use that feature. | | Weaknesses: | Exclusive Agent's serviceability | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | On Delta V 1500 ex 1993 | | Bottom Line: | Happy with the product, though I have not used it as much as I would have liked to. I am certain there are similar products/Bikes on the market that would live up to this product, but then I have not had to look at those yet as mine has served me reliably! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham, WA USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All the big, local bumps | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | town | | Strengths: | Very stiff, smooth dampening, no fork play whatsoever (unlike so many others), and maintenance-free--so long as you periodically clean and relube the leg (once every 2 mos. in this rainy muddy climate). Also good to be able to support a US company with a sound vision that treats its workers well. | | Weaknesses: | Requires special tools--I'd prefer to be able to do all of my own work. Maybe could use a few more travelling mms. | | Similar Products Used: | Indy, Judy, Marzocchi | | Bike Setup: | F700, Coda, XT, Raceface | | Bottom Line: | Now going on the third year on this shock, at an average of 12hrs per week on some brutal singletrack with nary a problem or failure. It is NOT a DH shock--this should be obvious from the 60mm of travel offered. However, it will take some solid punishment--including 3 footers--without begging for mercy. Its stiff responsiveness allows the rider to point and shoot; this bike is Fast. The lock out is AOK for the flats, and the bike simply rolls up steep technical sections. This shock is excellent for any skilled XC rider that knows how to use their arms and legs to properly negotiate terrain, rather than relying upon the "store bought" skills that so many new bikes offer at the price of extra weight and sloppy--sorry--"cushy" response. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX USA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any and all!! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | sun,ski,&sports | | Strengths: | lock out feature... saving grace for this piece of SH*t!! Most of my riding has been on this feature!!! | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't last, can't stand the weather!! | | Similar Products Used: | I dont have another bike. | | Bike Setup: | Can-a-whale Delta700, all XT; grip shift,vbrakes,front/rear derailer. 185 lb average rider, did try sport entry level racing, but found more fun with just riding. | | Bottom Line: | Well it did last the first 6 months and this was on Dallas,TX trails (flat yall!!)...oh boy! Afterwards, gotten #2 replacement, it worked for about a 1 year. Then #3 for a month, and #4 for about 2 years. Then I started to go to some difficult places in the next few years - aka New Zealand, Durango, and Moab- #5,#6,#7 came in. After the seventh replacement the dam thing finally held up for now about 1.5 years but my riding has slow down a lot. I'm heading for arkansas and lawton in 2003 and am now changing out for a marzocchi or rockshok judy. I had enough! C-dale is lucky I cant fine their asss (service line just goes to answer machine - I think they have caller ID!?!?!) and dont ram this shock down their poor quality throats!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zxc
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | used, over mtbr classifieds | | Bike Setup: | '99 KVF900 | | Bottom Line: | I am referring to a DD60.
I want to be able to open it up myself!!
I just got the bike used. and the fork is in bad shape. rough. i just need to get grease to the needle bearings.
I bought a pin wrench Park SPA-1, after reading this guide:
http://www.fastglass.net/bike/headshok/repair.html (written for a generic, prolly older? headshok)
And after unscrewing the top cap, I find that the insides of my DD60 is different from that pictured in that guide.
There are no flats as there are in the first pic.
And the castle nut looks different in my DD60.
Any ideas?? Need help! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron Ayers
a
from Lake Worth
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Oleta River | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | The Bicyclery | | Strengths: | Ultra low maintenance!! The Review a few down must have been a fluke. Precise steering, very stout fork used it in at chirakoa mauntain range at 47 mph and performed like it should have given its travel restrictions, takes big hits relentless big hits and keeps comin back for more. lockout is definately a nice bonus no complaints there im ashamed to admit it kinda but ive used it on a few urban assault break aways. solid suspension system with a solid company behind it. Fenominal performance for its classification. solid balanced forgiving versitile system that is great for cross country and the ocassional (dare I even suggest it)freeride. I have used it for freeriding and survived just fine, not the big bomber or nothing likt that but it is tough enoug for it if you got the skills to huck a short travel bike down the mountain and not get broken!! | | Weaknesses: | Short travel very very cross country oriented, so is the jekyll though its only a weakness if you like big sh-t. rubber sleeve tends to get pinch tears in it if you abuse the bottom out stopper in it, once again if you like big sh-t, special tools needed for the true do it yourselfer who actually enjoys working on his-her own bike (*I*) 120 bucks or so, shim has moved down on me once not effecting performance one bit but it still should have stayed in its place(once again moved down from excessively hard hits) fixed it myself no prob!! needs a little tlc if your gonna beet on it constantly but for the accasional ruffling of its feathers it will do just great. You can use this all year round at xc trails and do 2-3 trips to the mountains a year without any unscheduled maintenance.had it 3 years and its been a rough life for it and it is still goin strong with only the shim sliding down once and hehe 2 tourn hehe rubbers ahem xcuse mua it dont suck | | Similar Products Used: | rst, judy | | Bike Setup: | stock jekyll700 xt, julie discs and big fat geax hooks and warps. | | Bottom Line: | Great setup for race or serious rider alike, focused on the xc side of it but will definately take a beating without bustin on yah, great reliable predictable precise stiff fork that does all it should and more for the x-country (sometimes freeride) urban ridin 200 pounder in most of us.
perfect in every way if I had the tools to service it:-) for that I take away a chille on the value side
whapisshhhhhh | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christian
a Cross Country Rider
from Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyrolean mountainbike trails | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Neuner | | Strengths: | stiff
lightweight
excellent response
on-the-fly lockout
needle bearings (no stiction like Rock Shox) | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox Jett T2 and Judy XC, tested Marzocchi | | Bike Setup: | '98 F-1000 | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic fork, the stiffest around there. The response to bumps is excellent, the lockout mechanism is quite useful when driving on roads. Very good fork for cross country riding. Enough travel for me, as I'm no downhiller.
Great fork!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graehm
a Cross Country Rider
from UPnorth, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Secret | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Perfect amount of travel. I like being able to lock out on the fly! In 4 years I have only had to get it maintained once! I like the idea of the Headshock. Cannondale should be praised for this great idea! I never have to worry about uneven travel with a fork. The steering is magnificant and flawless. No complaints! | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | None! I tested most of the forks out there and I kept going back to the Headshock. The steering was much greater and I would never have to worry about uneven travel! | | Bike Setup: | 99 Cannondale with full XTR and DD60. | | Bottom Line: | If more people would ride the Headshocks they would probably want to dump whatever they have and buy a Cannondale. Low maintenance and no uneven travel! The headshock centers the bike and the rider into one entity. Almost spiritual in a way.I would recommend the Headshock to anybody who either races or just for fun rides crosscountry. It is great Bike and fork for adventure racers. When you are offroad you leave the fork on. When you hit the pavement or concrete you can lock it out. It is that simple. What an ingenious idea!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | -Retains steering precision
-Good small-bump response
-STIFF!!
-Lock-out(on the more expensive models) | | Weaknesses: | -A bit#^ to maintain(you need special tools--a little ridiculous)
-Needs a special stem
-Can bottom out occasionally(not much travel)
-Cannondale is WAY overrated!! | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Magnum(good for entry-level),SX-LT(very good),Marzocchi Z5 Flylight(also very good),RockShox Judy XC(very plush,but heavy) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper A1 | | Bottom Line: | I tested both a Super V400 and a F600--both of which used the same fork,I think(non-lockout).I was impressed by how they smoothed out small-to-medium hits.They also steer well and are stiff.
However,I'm less impressed with the fact that these require special tools to maintain(ka-ching!!),a special stem(ka-ching!!),and you have to buy a Cannondale to get one(MAJOR ka-ching!!).
Based on all this,I'm not so gung-ho on buying one anytime soon.Although I do like Cannondale's bikes,I'm not sold on the hype.Sorry,Cannondale fans!!
I give the Headshok 4 chiles for performance,but value gets only 2 chilies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kaj .
a Cross Country Rider
from l.a.
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | it worked great...when it wasnt brokin | | Weaknesses: | God what a mess...every thing has gone wrong...see below | | Bike Setup: | superv | | Bottom Line: | The SUPER FATTY SL is a disaster. The first few months i had it, it was absolutely fantastic, all of the things everyone else in here is saying positive. But after a while, this piece of crap just began to fall apart. After a while it had an insane amount of stiction, a few of it's needle bearings slid down past the others, therefor causing a decrease in travel and a constant clicking noise (another 40 bucks to fix this), just yesterday that stupid rebound adjuster headset cap came off (by the way...an on the fly rebound adjustment...how useless), and if this thing loses enough air, the fork wont bother to even come back up. lets see, am i missing something, oh yeah...it's always toping out. sometimes, even if you have it set on a lot of PSI (120), it still doesnt rebound all the way. And lets talk about costs . the darn thing costs 40 bucks every 6 months to replace an oil cartridge...40 bucks! And if you think you can stretch it past 6 months...think again...the fork gets anormous stiction and feels like absolute crap. And cannondale has made it impossible to do this maintenance yourslef cause you have to buy $120 (according to my lbs) worth of special tools! Canonndale has successfully made the priciest product to maintain on the market. God i hate this fork. And to top it all off, if i wanna get a new fork..i gotta get a frame adaptor. What a scam!
I have been riding this fork for 15 months now. Look at these long term effects and think again before buying this product. Stay away from this fork...dont let the advertising hype get to you. 1 chili for overal..value...HAHA, a $500 fork with this many problems is unacceptable...1 chili. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arm
a Weekend Warrior
from IL
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
can't say | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Rigidity and steering precision second to none! Smoothest action. Lockout a plus on big uphills. | | Weaknesses: |
Dedicated to Cannondale! | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou, RockShox, etc. | | Bike Setup: |
DD60 Headshok on 1993 Delta V 1500 | | Bottom Line: | Judging from the grammatical content of the preceding reviews, dissatisfaction with the HeadShok is inversely proportional to rider I.Q. Po is a case in point! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Teeters
a Cross-Country Rider
from Columbus, Ohio
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
anything unpaved | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
presice steering | | Weaknesses: |
blew out | | Similar Products Used: |
rock shocks | | Bike Setup: |
1999 SV900 | | Bottom Line: | I've OWNED the headshok Super FattyD (80mm) on my SuperV900 for a year now. The steering is unmatched and it is very smooth. The cartridge blew out in the first 3 months and my dealer replaced it under warranty. However, It does not seem to have the travel that it did before. This shock has an air inlet that is hard to adjust unless you have a $50 shock pump/bleeder combination. My complaint with the shock is that an authorized dealer has to do the work on it because of special reinstalling tools. This is not accepable to me because i am a skilled mechanic and prefer to do work to my bike myself. I will switch to Marzocchi soon because i will not pay for work to be done on my out-of-warrany headshok when it breaks or needs serviced or tuned. I just wish I could work on it myself.
Three stars for my LBS (bikesource columbus) for fixing it so fast the first time it broke! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Burke
a Cross-Country Rider
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
All with technical difficulty and good climbs and descents | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Lock out feature | | Weaknesses: |
Did not respond well on fires roads with washerboard and rocks or in big drop situations. It also looks stupid! | | Similar Products Used: |
Manitou,Marzocchi and Rock Shock forks | | Bike Setup: |
I cannot rember the exact Cannandale model | | Bottom Line: | Right now I would not buy a Cannondale. I think that you are spending way to much for what you get, especially when you consider all of the other products on the market. I did ride a Cannondale from about 4 years ago and loved it. It did not have the Headshock, maybe that had something to do with it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ
Date Reviewed: August 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
STOKES STATE FOREST< NJ!!!! | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
smooth, ride, better uphill with lockout feature | | Similar Products Used: |
judy, indy | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F3000 in killerV frame
fatty SL | | Bottom Line: | The headshocks are far superior to rockshox in my experiences. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tyrol, Austria
Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Götzner Alm, Kreither Alm | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
stiff, responsive, reliable, durable, on-the-fly lockout | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
some Rock Shox's | | Bike Setup: |
1998 F1000 CAAD3 with Fatty D fork | | Bottom Line: | Probably one of the best forks for XC-riding. In the climbs you can lock it to loose no energy due to compression of the fork. Another plus is the responsiveness to all kinds of bumps. In the downhills it handles great and you have your bike always under control. Sure, the fork is not very easy to maintain, but due to the needle bearings it is very durable. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross-Country Rider
from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date Reviewed: April 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
None-o'-Your Business | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Laterally Stiff, Low Maintenance, Mega-Adjustable | | Weaknesses: |
Not made any-more | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy | | Bike Setup: |
1993 Cannondale Delta V 1500 | | Bottom Line: | I think this is where this review should be. I still think that the original air/oil, fully adjustable on-the-fly dampening headshock is an excellent suspension unit. Mine has been air-tight for SEVEN years now!!! (Including 3 seasons of racing). While I once thought that it was too stiff, the real problem was that I had the air pressure too high. I also like being able to adjust the dampening as I ride. It is a shame that Cannondale has cheaped out and gone to either elastomer springing, or non-adjustable air/oil. This fork requires some tuning, but has the capacity to get more and more dialed in. Once a year maintenance is simple except for re-installation, which is a chore. The lesson? If you are capable and willing to play with your pre-load and dampening, this is a wonderfull fork. Maybe it could use more travel, but the lack of slop, razor sharp handling, and adjustability make up for it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Smokem
a Cross-Country Rider
from Houghton, MI
Date Reviewed: March 31, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Stiff and Smooth | | Weaknesses: |
Weakness? | | Similar Products Used: |
Judy | | Bike Setup: |
CAAD3 w/FattySL
Super-V w/FattySL | | Bottom Line: | Tracks like a charm. Point the wheel where you want to go and the bike follows. Absolutely no flex at all. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Austin & Co.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Minneapolis
Date Reviewed: March 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
MY trails! See Learywoods in Mn Trls! | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Altra sensitive to small– less than one inch–bumps. At speed it on small bumps its as smooth as butter. Also no fork dive at all! | | Weaknesses: |
When it comes to ruff rolling hills, rocky sections the fork would bottom out to often. it only had about 50mm of travel and that wasent enough! Sharp blows caused it to blow through it travel! | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Super v 1000 | | Bottom Line: | The fork in genral sucked. Limited travel caused it to bottom on meduim to mega hits. It wasent well paired with the 4 of travel of the rear end and I upgraded to MAc- Daddy fork, Z.1 BAM! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Melvin H.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tannersville PA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Monkey path | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Tech single track
rock gardens
climbing | | Weaknesses: |
70mm not much for dh riding | | Similar Products Used: |
judy xc, manituo tpc | | Bike Setup: |
f-3000
fatty sl | | Bottom Line: | The perfect shock for xc riding, slow up the dampening on the climbs,open that baby up for the switchbacks coming up, ride it love it!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Deron Frederickson
a Cross-Country Rider
from Las Vegas
Date Reviewed: March 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Raven Trail in Wisconsin | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Bottom Line: | I have been using the DD60 for two years on my F1000 and I have yet to find any major flaws with this shock. The rebound is out of this world! The thing comes back as fast as you can compress it. I used to race XC in Wisconsin and I had a lot of chances to ride other front suspension forks and I can truly say none of them come close to the feel and performance of the Head-shok design. I now live in Vegas and am working at a shop that is an authorized Cannondale dealer and everytime someone asks me what kind of suspension they should look at buying I point them straight to the Cannondales.
5 ridiculously hot,flaming,up-your-butt chilies for all the Head-Shoks!P.S. Too all of you who have problems with your stuff after YOU YOU YOU do the maintenance on it,................GET THE MESSAGE!!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from ND
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Bottom Line: | Ok I own a Cannondale Raven and let me express my thoughts about the HEADSHOCK. I used to think this shock sucked. Til I actully got on the Raven and rode it. What a change? Can't say anything else is better. Just ride it and see. I used to say that headshock thing isn't for me. Til I got the Raven. This shock handles all. I'm not over 250 lbs either and it still rocks. But I have a few buddies who ride the headshock and love it and they all weigh over 200 lbs. and they say it kicks. The shock works is the bottom line. Just ask TINKER and ALISON. They ride to be paid. But you don't see them leaving Cannondale anytime soon either. Just so you know Cannondale has it together on biking. Thats all I can say. Have fun with the headshock and your Cannondales or whatever??? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kaj Rozga
a Cross-Country Rider
from L.A.
Date Reviewed: March 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Travel, turning, rigid, strong, and very reliable. | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy people will be shocked to see they loss a lot of travel by just sitting on the bike. | | Bike Setup: |
I have the Super Fatty SL on my beautiful '99
SuperV 700 | | Bottom Line: | First Off I'd like to thank Ken, below me, for his great insite on why he didn't like headshok...anyway...this is a great fork with unmatchable steering precision. Heavy people, beware, though, | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Steele
a cross-country rider
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: March 10, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I have been using a Fatty SL for six months and have been somewhat underwhelmed. It does have the best steering I have ever experienced on suspension fork, but the damping is way thick. On slow speed, technical riding the fork is great but any time I hit more than a bump per second it seems like my old quadra would be an upgrade. Additionally one of the bearing races for the needle bearings has worked itself loose and slid down to the top of the fork crown. This does not appear to have altered the performance, it just bothers me that its not where it should be. Does anyone know how to service this fork at home. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a weekend warrior
from MA
Date Reviewed: March 10, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Had it. Had it. Got rid of it. Got rid of it. Me so happy now. Me so happy now. Try out a Z-1 BAM. Try out a Z-1 BAM. Better! So much better. Me so, so, happy now! Me so, so, happy now! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aram Cipolini
a racer
from CA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've owned 2 headshok forks for well over 2 years (they are 97 models). I have an MC60 (no lockout), and a DD60. I usually ride the DD60, and up until now i've had no problems. More than twice a week, i ride VERY technical singletrack with no problems whatsoever. The fork handles beautifully I took apart the DD60 yesterday to service it (for the first time in it's 1000+ mile life), and nothing looked wrong, just a little dry, and the boot was cracked at the top. Not a big problem, it's all lubed up and ready to be ridden again this weekend. I'm saving to buy a Fatty Ultra...that's TRULY the greatest fork ever made. Anyone know how much it costs? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff in Dallas
a weekend warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought a SV 500 18 months and 750 miles (according to the computer)ago. It came with a plain no frills Rock Shok. I busted that up pretty good over the holidays and decided that it was in my best interest to get a new fork. My dealer was more than thrilled to get a Super Fatty SL on the bike and after a few rides on my local trails I must say this thing kicks ayss. Whatever I want, it does it. Parts of the trails I used to humbly walk over are now getting hammered when I come through. Its flawless handling and shock absorbtion give me so much more confidence over rough turns and slippery rocks I believe it has taken me to the next level...whatever that is. It looks like I have increased my average speed by a whopping 1-1.5mph per lap. The only thing I hate is the noise it makes when turning-sounds like heavy metal bending. My LBS assures me its normal.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hunn
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I did not like the FAT look of this shock at first. Then I got a good deal together with the frame and heck tried a FATTY D together with my F1000. After trying it for more than half a year, I LOVE IT. The travel of 60mm is good enough for serious cross country ride. The reactivity is plush and not over dampened.Being able to lock the shock seemed useless at first, but as i got round more often, switching the shock off when climbing or on road will prevent energy loss and better control.Tried other Triple clamp rockshocks on my friend's bike and a manitou sx, neither performed to my liking.
Talk so much about reducing weight of front forks should really consider headshocks.
As for durabilty, I weigh 200lbs and I pounce on it as often as i ride, well it hasn't failed. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hunn
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I did not like the FAT look of this shock at first. Then I got a good deal together with the frame and heck tried a FATTY D together with my F1000. After trying it for more than half a year, I LOVE IT. The travel of 60mm is good enough for serious cross country ride. The reactivity is plush and not over dampened.Being able to lock the shock seemed useless at first, but as i got round more often, switching the shock off when climbing or on road will prevent energy loss and better control.Tried other Triple clamp rockshocks on my friend's bike and a manitou sx, neither performed to my liking.
Talk so much about reducing weight of front forks should really consider headshocks.
As for durabilty, I weigh 200lbs and I pounce on it as often as i ride, well it hasn't failed. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack
a cross-country rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: February 24, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Since my college days 10 years ago riding my rockhopper with a Rock Shox to classes and on any dirt trail I could find, I moves up through several different bikes with different forks: Stumpjumper with MAG-21; Univega with Judy XC and a GT with an SL.
My current bike, a Cannondale F700 with a DD60 on the front, is simply the best front suspension fork I have ever used. It's also relatively simple to maintain: just cut the zip ties holding the boot over the sliding shaft, apply grease and reinstall the boot. Add heavy oil to the top of the headset every few rides and that's it.
It's deserves high ratings for the following: It's predictability in the rough, it's ease of use, it's beautiful design, and it's relative easy serviceability.
My only negative on the fork is that the paint job is poor. Looked great in the showroom but quickly falls off and/or chips away. How 'bout an extra layer of gloss coat or better priming for the paint Cannondale? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a
from LA
Date Reviewed: February 20, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Head Shoks are also being licensed to Merlin for their full suspension bicycles (other bicycle manufacturers are still in denial about the merits of a shock system with fewer degrees of freedom--please pardon the engineering jargon). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
North Carolina Rider
a cross-country rider
from Pisgah Area
Date Reviewed: January 31, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The Headshock system by Cannondale is really a plus for XC riders. The control to dampen or lock-out the system is easiest I've seen. The control it has during technical riding is phenominal. The only downside to the system is it's unique compatability with Cannondale bikes only. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Byrns
a weekend warrior
from
Date Reviewed: January 30, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I had the Fatty M on my V-400. I say had because the damn thing is not user friendly. It takes a rocket scientist to service the damn thing and you need a special tool!
My bike is at the shop now having a Manitou Xvert put on. (User friendly) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Weasle MAn (julien)
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: January 23, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
this shock kicks ass.... 10-15 more inches of travel would make it better but for know its great... even though a beauty make over wouldn't hurt...
5-workability
4-travel
5-cause its just cool
i need 30 words to post this review <--thats what this is for | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rider
a cross-country rider
from Westlake Village
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I initially gave a rating on the super fatty d's. Scroll down a few lines and read that review. But I had a bit of problems with my Cannondale bike (manufacturing error) so we exchanged the bike for a bran spaking new one. Well, the new one we recieved was even better. The best improvement (next to avid v-brakes) was that they installed Super Fatty SL on it. Man, these are even sweeter than the d's (as expected). It adjusts to five different rebounds. It's really sweet. Then add the great control, stiffness, plushness, etc. that you recieve on every headshok and you come out with the best shock in the xc category. And I have taken the 80 mm travel out for a test on a pretty descent downhill ride. They performed perfectly and with the fox's in the back, I had an enjoybale ride. Point being you need these shocks because they suit just so many different styles of riding. If you don't need 80 mm travel than go for one of the shocks below (fatty d's). Take my word for it, GO GET THESE SHOCKS! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from Va Tech
Date Reviewed: December 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've got a DD60 mounted to an old-skool 3 in. travel Super-V 900, and this fork is the bomb! What's that? You think it doesn't have enough travel? This is an XC bike sportin' an XC fork, and I still take it downhilling. Screw 8 in. travel forks. This fork easily outperforms every other fork I've ridden, and even the Fox Vanilla on the tail and of my bike! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a biker
a cross-country rider
from westlake village
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I gotta admit it, even though many ppl are ashamed to, I WILL. The first time I looked at headshok, I laughed and went on to checkin out rock shox. But very recently I set out to get a cross country, top notch (for my style of riding) bike. Well, I looked at evertyhing and price was not a major worry when it came to the front shocks on the bike. Then I came to the Cannondale. It was always a mystery when I gazed at a cannondale. I mean the shocks...they're so..different... and different is bad! But I felt cannondale must have had something up there sleaves about this thing. So I read into it. Soon I found out the travel of the super fatty d was 80 mm! Same as rock shox xc. Then I found out about the amazing lock out system! Then I read about the stable, strong, beautifully designed fork! Then I found out it is much much better than any rock shox xc out there and I was shocked! So after some more research I finally bought the cannondale V700. Best choice of my life. I won't talk about the bike since this is a review on the shocks. BOTTOM LINE: THEY ARE AMAZING. The feel, the performance of small and huge bumps. Nothing beats this work of art. The lockout is spectacular! The option of just rolling down the street and seeing a hill and being able to lock your head shok without burning a calorie is something every rider needs.Not to mention how great it feels with the rest of the bike. THE POINT IS I could keep talking about these shocks but i don't have all day. Go out and get these shocks. Don't even take it from me, go out a ride a cannondale, you won't go back to your old shocks. Thats my bit, I hope you take it into consideration when you go out to buy some good front shocks. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Po
a weekend warrior
from Tubbyland
Date Reviewed: November 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Its awful it bounces awful and its in the wrong place there is no variation, unless you hit it straight on it is a real bumby ride,just look at it it looks like a pile of pig shit | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a weekend warrior
from HK
Date Reviewed: November 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Recently bought a Cannondale F500 with a P-Bone M front shock. When I bought the bike, I asked for the headshok to have the cartridge upgraded (at a small price, I may add) to include the on/off dial. I was drawn to the system as it seemed to be a simple, no-nonsense and logical design. I was right. The fork is great, and the upgrade was well-worth the extra dollars. The travel is smooth and plush, at the same time feeling reliable and firm. After a few big rides I adjusted the workings to suit my weight (very easy to do) and now it's just right - takes big bumps with ease, and is handy to lock-out when riding up damn steep and lengthy roads. Very nice stuff. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Birdman
a cross-country rider
from Princeton, NJ
Date Reviewed: October 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is for the DD60 as well as the Fatty air/oil.DD60 - Decent performance for the money. I had a blown cartridge, but it was replaced by the dealer. The lack of damping control was a factor in switching to the Fatty. (4 peppers)Fatty - Air/oil is SWEET. Ever since I had a Futurshock (Mag 21) equipped M2FS, I've been a fan of air/oil shocks. The Fatty is awesome, with adjustable damping and a smooth ride. (5 peppers) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike hermann
a downhiller
from state college, PA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
MOTO-120
this fork rocks. upsides: very tuneable, on the fly 5 position dial, very strong and reliable. downsides: sachs disc compatibility only. i live in PA, the land of cannondale, and for our severely rocky terrain, big hits and chute drops, this fork is amazing. it opened trails that were previously unrideable. but 120mm of travel will do that. plus c-dale support at races thru the headshox team is very good. i chose it on reccomendations of other riders. if you want a used one, there are some in the local area for sale. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NICK
a weekend warrior
from DALY CITY, CA
Date Reviewed: October 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have a 97 F700 with a DD60, bought the castle nut tool and cut the elastomer 3/4 inch and replaced the oil in the dampner with 2.5 weight oil. I weigh 175 and this was a great improvement, it feels more plush and you use more of your travel. I just found out by dropping the boot and measuring from the bottom headset bearing to the bottom of the fork crown where the black rubber o-ring is that my shock was actually a 50mm travel fork. You might want to check this on your 97 MC60 or DD60 fork since the 96 forks had 50mm travel and Cannondale might have wanted to use up the existing stock of 50mm forks.
I called Cannondale Tech (Ray) he was very helpful and found that from all the measurements that I gave him that it was actually a 50mm fork. So off to the authorized Cannondale dealer I go, I actually went to two, Lombardi Sports San Francisco and Saulsalito Cyclery, both had EXCELLENT I mean EXCELLENT warranty service, the Cannondale rep was able to authorize a replacement fork or a complete Fatty SL upgrade for about the cost of the fatty cartridge within 2 days from both shops.I took the Fatty SL. Since riding on the DD60 and Fatty I could say that the DD60 cartridge is plush and fool proof once setup to your weight, the Fatty gives you good feedback on small bumps and takes big hits better than the DD60 but you have to find your perfect air pressure setting, 2.5 weight oil on both. If you already have a DD60 shock or Fatty D don't spend the money just to have the Fatty SL, buy the Castle Nut Tool and 2.5 weight oil and experiment, and don't forget to lube your needle bearings. 5+ stars on both for serviceability, warranty, ride and performance. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared
a cross-country rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i have a super v 900 with a fatty D. I have rode all kind of Judy's, Manitou,and bombers. the headshock is best out of all of them.It is stiction proof. The only bad thing is the lack of travel. P.s. how much does the moto FR and moto 120 cost? | | Overall Rating: |
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