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Old 07-12-2004, 05:55 PM   #1
BlackfeetVI
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Default OT Mountain Bikers...A Suspension question...

I've got a '95 GT Zaskar (old, but still a great bike) with a 97 Manitou FS Ti fork. The bike has been sitting unused and upside down at my parents house and I just went and picked it up yesterday. The oil cartridge leaked because the bike was hung upside down, so my shop is going to change the oil to fix it. However, because in bike years my fork is a fossil there may not be any spare parts left if they are needed. So, depending on the results I might have to buy a new suspension fork. Since I'm getting back into it, I'm looking at three new forks...Here are the candidates:


Rock Shox Duke Race:
http://www.rockshox.com/mountain/duke/race.asp


Manitou Black Platinum:
http://www.answerproducts.com/items....id=1&itemid=16

Manitou Black Super:
http://www.answerproducts.com/items....id=1&itemid=18

Anyone have any experience with these or similar forks? I've ridden all of them, liked each, wondering if anyone has heard anything good or bad about them. Thanks!
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:02 PM   #2
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Rock Shox customer service sucks. But their forks are decent.

Manitou has their sheet together, good forks as well.

I'm guessing you're looking for a decently light xc fork?

Out of your pics, I'd think the Duke would be the best.
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:04 PM   #3
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I got a Judy 100 on my bike. Last time I rode it, blew the oil ring. And I haven't ridden it since.

And that was just after I replaced the rear shock with a Fox Vanilla (which I need to replace the spring on since it the spring load was too big for my small weight)
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:05 PM   #4
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i used to run the roxshox, but about 4 generations older than what is up there.

unless they have fixed the issue, it ha WAY too much side to side play.

i now have the sweel headshox, and atribut it to still having my original teeth.

i hit a 2 foot wide by 6" deep hole coming blind down a steep wooded hill. i would have gone over the bars and ate gravel, but the thing compressed, i sucked up alot with my arms, and i kinda bounced right out...
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:07 PM   #5
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Sorry, I should've clarified...I'm looking for a fork with 3ish inches of travel, but not more than 4, something pretty light and accepts V brakes instead of disc (haven't upgraded) and is brainless as far as maintenance. Thanks again guys
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:08 PM   #6
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Your frame won't be balanced after you put in a 100mm travel fork.
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:09 PM   #7
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All of the new shocks are pretty incredible. They have really advanced over the last 2 years. I bet you won't go wrong with any of them.

Two of them are air forks, one is coil. Unless you REALLY hammer big-ish drops and such I would go with an air fork. I would choose the 100mm Duke from those two.

I am partial to Marzocchi and I would kill for a Fox. Why no Marzocchi or fox on the list?
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlkTS02
Your frame won't be balanced after you put in a 100mm travel fork.
Actually, I wasn't thinking. BlkTS02 is 100% correct. An older Zaskar is pure XC. 3 inches is the max you should put on there. Choose the 80mm Duke!
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:15 PM   #9
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you knnow, you should call my buddy jay at gravity lab...
let me find his ##
tell him you know UBAN and he will hook you up.

http://www.gravitylab.com/bikes/
952.892.5985
remember talk to Jay j. henderson
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:17 PM   #10
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if he doesnt have something that will work i know the vice of erik's bikes. he wouldn't give jesus a good deal, but he is super knowlegdeable, and has pretty good stock.
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Old 07-12-2004, 06:27 PM   #11
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My bike is at Eriks of Burnsville...that's where I bought it, I let them work on it. And yes, I'd like to stay close to 3 inches if possible. I remember when the long travel forks made their debut, and how everyone was wondering why they were ripping head tubes off their bike. Even though I've got a gusseted front end, I want to stay at the 80mm mark. Besides, I'll want to start racing XC again once I get back in the swing of things, and more travel usually equals more weight. How reliable are the air setups? Any problems with blown seals or things like that?
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Old 07-12-2004, 07:06 PM   #12
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The black platinum is the only one you listed which isn't an air fork. I personally hate the air springs, and much prefer a nice (heavy) coil. But many will disagree. Not the lightest thing in the world, but for me light does not necessarily equal fun, and biking should be about having fun.

I don't exactly remember the '95 Zaskar, but I thought they responded well to a long travel fork. I could be confused, and will defer to the others on this one.

This is a reasonably good site:

www.mtbreview.com

Take everything on their with a grain of salt, however.
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Old 07-12-2004, 07:09 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally posted by Stanley
This is a reasonably good site:

www.mtbreview.com

Take everything on their with a grain of salt, however.
Good advice for that site.
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Old 07-12-2004, 07:20 PM   #14
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Buy a used fork on Ebay, or look for closeouts on last years forks!

Check out .http://www.comparisonpricing.com

Unless you're going whole hog to completely rebuild the thing, there's no point in spending a bunch of money on a new fork for a bike that old.

I'd look for a used coil-sprung Black with TPC damping. My old Xvert Super (Which was basically the same fork) was rock solid for two years with minimal maintenance. You gain a little weight with the coil, but it's well worth it over the long haul in reliability.
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Old 07-12-2004, 07:36 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlackfeetVI
My bike is at Eriks of Burnsville...that's where I bought it, I let them work on it. And yes, I'd like to stay close to 3 inches if possible. I remember when the long travel forks made their debut, and how everyone was wondering why they were ripping head tubes off their bike. Even though I've got a gusseted front end, I want to stay at the 80mm mark. Besides, I'll want to start racing XC again once I get back in the swing of things, and more travel usually equals more weight. How reliable are the air setups? Any problems with blown seals or things like that?
I have thrashed a Rockshox SID 100mm and a marzocchi X-fly 100mm, both air forks.

Both rocked, never blew a seal or leaked or had any other problem. The Rockshox would lose a little pressure over weeks, the Marzocchi loses none ever (not over the last 1+ years).

Both those were on a Santa Cruz chameleon, a pretty hard core hardtail that I put good hard riding on.

Springs feel better, though the new air shocks are closing the gap on the springs, and weigh a ton less. Air shocks are easier to adjust. I wouldn't worry about reliability.
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Old 07-12-2004, 07:53 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by poison

I am partial to Marzocchi and I would kill for a Fox. Why no Marzocchi or fox on the list?
I have always been happy with every marzocchi for that I have ever owned. I too, would also kill for a fox (alright, maybe just sell a kidney).

See what you can find on e-bay. It never hurts to look and get a feel for what is out there.
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Old 07-12-2004, 08:25 PM   #17
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Marzocchi has always been good to me. Stay away from air forks if you want a no-brainer maintenance schedule.
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Old 07-12-2004, 08:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally posted by poison
I am partial to Marzocchi and I would kill for a Fox. Why no Marzocchi or fox on the list?
I agree
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Old 07-12-2004, 09:40 PM   #19
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Fox all the way. Your wallet will take it in das pooper, but its well worth it.


Full_Clip has stolen nearly enough parts for a full bike at UF.
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Old 07-12-2004, 09:52 PM   #20
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None of those.

Reliability and maintenance issues with air forks? ***? Still living 10 years ago?

The new Fox terralogic 80X is pretty nice -- very smooth. Quite heavy though (3.50 lb).

For the price of that 80X you could pick up a SID team or probably even a world cup (both have remote lockouts now)
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Old 07-13-2004, 11:55 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlackfeetVI
My bike is at Eriks of Burnsville...that's where I bought it
call and see if dave olsen is arround. he probobly wont be, but you could leave hm a messege, or get his cell. i think maybe bob boyd works at that location too. he is relativly new at bike sales, but he is super good at tracking down information.
tell him you know aaron and georgette.
like i said they wont give you a deal, but one of the two can help you out in finding what you need.

and if you want to talk to the wizard, call jay at gravitylab. if you can get past the stoner persona, he knows his stuff. he holds some world record in sprint downhill or something. crazy guy.

fwiw, air shocks arn't as bad as they used to be.
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Old 07-13-2004, 02:31 PM   #22
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I've been riding Marzocchi since the Z-1 came out. Tried several Rock Shox in between, and they borked.

Marzocchi all the way. There is a slight weight penalty, but the ride quality and dependability are well worth it.
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Old 07-13-2004, 10:55 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally posted by Smahatma
None of those.

Reliability and maintenance issues with air forks? ***? Still living 10 years ago?
Based on your other posts about being a weight weenie, I'd bet you're probably 130 pounds and are either the smoothest rider known to man or you ride MTB like a total candyass. Show me an air fork, and I'll show you a broken air fork after a month on my MTB.

Want lightweight? Air. Want durable? Coil. Plain and simple.
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Old 07-13-2004, 11:06 PM   #24
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I'm currently at the 175lb mark, wanting to go back down to the 150-160lb mark. As far as Fox and Marzocchi, I haven't discounted them, but like someone said earlier my wallet is going to take it IDP if I go Fox. I love their stuff though. As far as Marzocchi, I haven't looked at their stuff but I will give them a shot also, I've heard nothing but good things except for the weight. Since I'm not riding in the XC World Cup and I do like to thrash the bike sometimes, that is why the air suspension worries me. Weight is a factor, but a smaller one than feel and durability. When I got out of biking the SID had just made it's debut, and was an XC only fork. The Judy DH was my other candidate when I bought the Manitou. Just tough making the mental transition to a world where the Judy SL is a bottom line fork. I'm sure the new air springs are great, but I do like the feel of a coil/oil fork. I should be hearing in the next couple of days what the verdict on my current fork is. Even so, I think by fall my Zaskar will be sporting something new. I can't really justify getting rid of it based on age alone. The component group (XT/XTR w/Mavic rims, King NoThreadSet) has held up really well and the bike fits me and my riding style perfect. I figure if two of the techs at Eriks offered to buy it from me it's probably still worth holding on to Thanks for all the suggestions guys...keep them coming. I haven't really talked mtn bikes with anyone in ages
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Old 07-13-2004, 11:07 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by Smahatma
None of those.

Reliability and maintenance issues with air forks? ***? Still living 10 years ago?


Nah, just adjusting from 5 years ago
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