Submitted by
Speedub Nate
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area, California
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2004
Strengths: * Relatively light weight
* Great range of tuning adjustability
* Doesn't leak
* 74mm post mount disc adapters (my preference)
* Microlube ports make intermediate servicing a cinch
* Suppleness of a coil
* Barely clears a 29x2.1" Nanoraptor
* Pleanty of clearance for 26" tires * Bottom out protection of an air chamber
* Decals peel off easily _
Weaknesses: * Ugly decals (good thing they peel off easily)
* Longish air valve stem gives my pump some trouble engaging
* TPC+ adjustment knob has clearance issue with my downtube _
Bottom Line:
This is everything a fork should be: reasonably light, stiff, well sealed (Enduro seals currently installed), easy to service, and simple to tune. If you want a current version of this fork, check out the MANITOU BLACK SUPER.
A tiny bit apprehensive when I purchased it due to some reports of air leaks, the fork hasn't given me one lick of trouble. I check air pressure maybe once every 4 or 6 weeks, but have never noticed it getting low on me.
Because it uses a small 3" coil spring underneath the air chamber, the X-Vert Air remains extremely responsive to very small bumps. The coil and air chamber work together through the middle of the stroke, and the air chamber gives reasonable bottom-out protection towards the end of the stroke.
Tunability options include the TPC+ compression damping, a completely independant rebound circuit, three different coil weights to choose from, and the option to service the damping system with 7wt oil to further smooth thing out for the heavier, heavily sprung crowd.
The stock medium spring worked out well for me at 235 lbs when the fork was installed on the NRS. But now at 200 lbs, with the fork installed on the Hollowpoint, I wasn't achieving proper sag and switched to the 'Light' coil, which has given this fork new life.
If you're looking for a good quality, active yet tunable fork and see one of these on eBay or some store's clearance shelf, it's definitely worthy of your time to pick it up for the right price.
Similar Products Used: '96 Rock Shox Judy, Eko Sport (Englund) Total Air Cartridges, White Brothers CX-1, '04 Manitou Black Platinum _
Bike Setup: I used this fork first on an '01 NRS, currently on an '03 Iron Horse Hollowpoint
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Submitted by
Tyler
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2003
Strengths: This fork is so ajustable, it's awesome. Being able to control preload, damping, and rebound made it easy to tune the fork to whatever I am riding.
Weaknesses: When I first got the fork, I had trouble with the dust seals coming loose, and also with the fork holding air pressure. All it took to fix those problems was an hour in the shop, and some fork oil.
Also, the fork is only capable of soaking up small bumps when the pressure is real low, and by that point the fork kills me on hills.
Bottom Line:
This fork is a great long-travel race fork, but isn't as sensitive as I prefer since I'm not into racing and i don't need the lighter air option...that's why I am switching to a coil fork. Attention must be paid to oil levels in the fork, because oil is crucial in the fork holding air pressure. It is easy to tune this fork to exactly what you are riding, so I highly recommend it to any racers out there. If you have the money, I recommend just buying a Fox Float, but this fork will get the job one.
Bike Setup: Klein Adept Race with LX/Truvativ drive train, Sun rims, Avid mechanical discs
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Submitted by
Charlie Kirkwood
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia, PA USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003
Strengths: read 'bottome line'
Weaknesses: read 'bottome line'
Bottom Line:
I just purchased two Manitou X-vert shocks from Jensen USA on clearance. (what a deal!) anyway, the shocks came without brake posts. Also one of the shocks rebound control had come unthreaded from the innards. I called Jensen customer service who appologized and immediately issued me a return number. He instructed me to send them back and they'd be sent to manitou for repair/replacement. (EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT JENSEN USA)
Fast Forward, in an attempt to locate brake posts, i called answer/manitou directly.
The customer service person immediately told me that i MUST service the forks PRIOR TO INSTALLATION since they're 2 years old now. He suggested I buy 50 weight motor oil, unscrew the air cap/air nipple assemply and squirt 5ccs onto the air seals (on top of a bronse piston assembly in the left fork leg).
He indicated that this MUST be done PRIOR to installation, and again every 4/6 weeks depending on riding conditions. He said this is STANDARD maintenance on manitou air forks and that if i didn't do this, the air forks would leak.
I'm guessing that those complaining about air loss havnen't followed the 4/6 week maintenance schedule.
ANYWAY the customer support person at Answer is sending me the brake posts. In this day of waning customer support, i was happy to see that Answer/Manitou adhere to a higher standard.
Strengths: Had nice travel at the time I bought it
Weaknesses: Not stiff enough, leaks air
Bottom Line:
Well the fork sucks up the bumps pretty well when it's working. Maybe I'm just to big for this fork at 230 lbs, but it just will not hold air. I've even had it in for warranty service, worked for about three rides then pop! Out come the dust seals and all my pre-load again. It's also just not as stiff as it could be. My front end feels like a wet noodle compared to my friends rides with low-end Marzoochi's and Fox's. I honestly hate this fork and think the only thing it's good for is holding my bike on the roof rack. This will be the last exploding Manitou I own.
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from Lafayette, California
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2003
Strengths: This fork is extremely plush, adjustable, stiff, and it looks awesome. The TPC+ works great, and if you get it with good seals, it is one of the best shocks out there.
Weaknesses: The springs are a little too soft.
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome fork. Though I don't ride it all the time anymore, I still have hell of a lot of fun on it when I do use it. This is the perfect fork for anyone into hardcore XC, or light freeriding.
Similar Products Used: Manitou SX-R, RSTs, Judys, Marzocchi Z.2 and Atom Race.
Bike Setup: 2002 Specialized FSRxc, Mavic Crossmax, XT/XTR, Avid CPS disk brakes, Fox Float RL front and rear, Thomson, Easton Monekeylite, Selle Italia, etc...
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Submitted by
Hyrum Kirton
a Cross Country Rider
from Sandy UT USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003
Strengths: when its working its the best shock I have used because of its adjustable stifness and good feel
Weaknesses: It leaked out of the box so I sent it in to manitou they fixed it and 5 rides after the fix it the air seal blew again as well as when I got it back it never worked right
Bottom Line:
It would be a great shock if it didn't break all the time
Submitted by
dan white
a Cross Country Rider
from wheat ridge CO
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002
Strengths: Plush, very good bound/rebound feel, color, cool crown
Weaknesses: can bob a little when hammering, but DUH.....this fork does not have a lockout and Forks Without Lockouts Generally Bob If You Hammer With Any Power Whatsoever.
Bottom Line:
Overall a very good fork. Excellent travel and feel. I do have a couple of points, though. Beyond a certain PSI, there is a small ping during compression. No big deal. Also there can be some difficulty attaching my fork pump to the valve. No big deal again. I weigh 150 and set it at 140. Works well for me. Good fork for pretty cheap.
Similar Products Used: Other Manitou (good as well).
Rock Shox = Garbage except for the Boxxer.
Bike Setup: Titus Racer-X with lots of cheeky bits.
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Submitted by
Tom Ponte
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002
Strengths: Stiff, holds air well, very smooth
Weaknesses: damper adjuster knob falls off
Bottom Line:
This shock definitely provides a very smooth ride. Amazingly for how plush it is it manages to maintain good connected trail feel. The downside, that I'm surprised no one seems to be mentioning, is that it is so plush that out of the saddle peddling effort gets eaten by the shock in a major way. So if you spend allot of time out of the saddle when peddling you might want to find something similar that locks out. I don't so it's well worth the trade off and price to me.
Similar Products Used: RS Mag21, Amp? numerous rented or borrowed bikes
Bike Setup: Amp b4 risse racing rear shock
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Submitted by
Andy Murray
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami, FL
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2002
Strengths: PRICE, air coil, damping control, microlube ports
Weaknesses: none so far...
Bottom Line:
I'm not an expert, but, this fork has performed rather nicely. I don't have any complaints as of yet and the air coil seems to be holding air without a problem. I usually let out air after a few rides, cuz I only get out about once or twice a week (I guess this psychologically makes me believe the air coil will last longer cuz its not under constant pressure). I weigh 180 lbs and I have it setup with 150 psi - takes mostly what I can throw at it (freeride), but then again, I don't take 5-foot drops. Its relative guys! If your gear takes a beating and you ride hard and compete, then you need more expensive/high-end gear! If you ride for fun/fitness and like to ride somewhat aggressive and ride decent skill-level trails (majority of people), then this fork is perfect! Definitely a heads up for this one! Plus, the color matched my frame perfectly.
Similar Products Used: Manitou Magnum R, RockShox Judy
Bike Setup: Specialized Rockhopper w/ XT drivetrain and Avid SD5 vbrakes...
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Submitted by
paul
a Cross Country Rider
from hackensack,nj
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2002
Strengths: very plush-price
Weaknesses: slow air leak- stickers are lame
Bottom Line:
this fork rocks! this fork has taken everything i've thrown at it with no problems. i weigh about 190 and i keep it around 160psi. every other week or so i pump about 10 to 20psi which i am not sure is normal or not. this fork has improved my confidanceand on tecnical decents and is a much better ride than the rst crap that came stock. for 200 dollars i would say get it but the msrp at 500 dollars is absurd. for 500 dollars my bet would be marzocchi.
Submitted by
Mike Vitti
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002
Strengths: The Fork Boots and when you take off the stickers it doesn't look half bad
Weaknesses: Never holds air, Waaaaaaaay too plush, Manitou customer service personel think they know what the problem is before you finish telling them what the deal is
Bottom Line:
This thing sucks!!! I've sent it back for a rebuild after two months of use and after they finally got it to hold air, the springs are shot! ALWAYS bottoms, Never strong rebound, I'M going with a bomber next time
Strengths: PLUSH!! PLUSH!! PLUSH!! Built strong. Very adjustable, almost too much. Price is great!
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
This shock is amazing. Man its plush, it feels like I am riding on a cloud. Download the Service and Tuning guide off the Manitou website and your set to go. No problems with air leaks, I have ridden my bike from 10 degree to 90 degree weather and it loses no air. Crappy luck if you get one that leaks air. Plus, its a $550 shock, and if jensonusa still has them you can get the blue color for $169, and that is like stealing the thing. BUY IT NOW, before they run out of the year end close out sale. Rock Shox cant even compare, I will never go back to their crap. I give this thing 5 flaming heaps of smelly rotten turds.
Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Phatlanta GA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2002
Strengths: Super plush, very rigid, very smooth Not too heavy for a 4 inch fork Easy to adjust to conditions
Weaknesses: Well, mine had a leak in it when I bought it. So I sent it off to manitou. They fixed it but mailed it to pricpoint instead of me (guys read the darn instructions!). No problem pricepoint sent it as soon as they got it (awesome customer service) Other than that it doesn't have a lock out.
Bottom Line:
For that kind of flow you get an very strong 4 inch air fork that wil gobble up almost everything and doesn't need a whole lot of maintenance (I add around 5 psi of air every month) and some microlube in the ports and don't worry about it. It feels unbeakable and takes big as well as little hits without the slightest problem. Easily the best fork for $200 I know of.
Bike Setup: 01 Kona Cinder Cone frame XT/XTR 8spd tranny, Thomson seatpost, Fizik nisene, Sun Rpm-lite hoops, Avid Arch-rivals Kore lite 3 stem Ritchie pro lite bar, shimano 858 pedals
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Submitted by
James Lascelels
a Weekend Warrior
from Marietta, Ga, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2002
Strengths: Travel and price
Weaknesses: Lube points, on my first 5 foot drop with them the seals blew out w/all of the green grease. Not pretty
Bottom Line:
Great for a cheap teenager who wants to do medium sized jumps and trails. Just make sure you put more air in them.
Strengths: Lighter than my 2000 X-Vert, high lateral stiffness, plush when set up correctly.
Weaknesses: Will update after using the product further
Bottom Line:
I can directly compare this fork and my initial impressions to several years' worth of experience with Manitou forks. I am seriously impressed by the level of performance of the X-Vert Air and I expect it to only get getter with break-in time. A good starting point for setup is in the Bicycling Mag review. I weigh 175lb and am using 135-140 psi, 4 turns out on compression and rebound.
Less stiction than the Marzocchi Super Fly, more laterally stiff than the SID, and much better travel quality than the X-Vert it replaced.
