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Manitou
Travis Single Intrinsic
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Submitted by
Fernando Villacorte
a Downhiller
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | xrrsyzn@aol.com | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | I have both the Travis 180mm and the Travis 203mm Single crowns. The 180 has the Intrinsic and the 203 has TPC+ only with the quick releases. First the 180 is one very plush fork and all the performance claims from Manitou are spot on. This fork takes a little time to set up, but once I had everyting dialed in it soaked up most everyting, but really big hits. I had a little trouble with the rebound, because it was a little slow.
Now the 203 with TPC+ only was a whole different fork! This came with medium sping and when I first took it out for the a test ride I thought I made a big mistake purchasing this fork. The fork was so soft and it kept bottoming out! I purchased a x-firm spring and installed it. What a huge difference! The performance difference was night and day. I prefer the TPC+ only over the Intrinsic, because set up was fast and this fork rocked over everything I threw at it. Even when I screwed up this forked saved me. Super plush fork and with TPC+ the adjustments were quick and easy. | | Weaknesses: | The 180's blue rebound adjustment know fell off and was nver to be found. It took Manitou 5 weeks to get me a new knob. It takes some time to set up fork until I got it just right.
The 203's medium fork spring is way too soft if you weight 180lbs like me. Also the quick releases loosened up a couple of times causing the hub to have some lateral play. I just added a little more preload to the QR's and that solved the problem . Overall both forks performed exceptional. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou X-Vert carbon Triple clamps, Manitou Durado, Marzocchi Shiver DC and SC, Marzocchi Monster T. | | Bike Setup: | TREK Session 77, mostly stock except for 1.5 Chris King Headset, Saint 203mm disk brakes and Saint rear derailer. | | Bottom Line: | Both forks are excellent values, but I love that 203mm Travis single crown. The 203 is my favorite fork of all time. I would recommend these forks to anyone who wants a long travel single crown fork. E-mail me if you have any questions. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell
a Downhiller
from Boise
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rockstar | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Pinkbike | | Strengths: | Super plush, great bottom out resistance, strong as hell | | Weaknesses: | A little bit heavy, stripped the 20mm axle but its still works fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi 66 rc2x, junior t, marzocchi exr pro, manitou stance blunt, marzocchi dj 2 | | Bike Setup: | Trek Session 77, Transition parts | | Bottom Line: | I have heard a lot of crap about manitou forks but I have 2 bikes with them and have had no problems. The travis feels way better than the 66 rc2x. I am a very abusive rider and these have held up great!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gravity Assist
a Downhiller
from El Centro CA,
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anderson truck, Corral & Nobal Canyons, Fontana | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$319.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Much more rigid then your normal, run of the mill, single crowns. It is very plush, gets plusher with every ride, does bar spins pretty nice.. over all a great freeride fork. can handle light to moderate downhill very effectively as well.. Also has an integrated 8 inch post mount for your brakeson it, as opposed to their normal 6 inch integrated post mount. | | Weaknesses: | Not a whole lot of weaknesses other then Manitou's horrible reputation for putting out defective products.
However,The fork does what it was designed for very effectively... True Gravity Junkey's and Downhillers will probably not like this fork a whole lot, best to stay with a triple...
Manitou needs to stop naming their forks after a dude. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou sherman, Marzocchi 66 ,RV,RC,RC2X rock shocks totem, Fox 36, 40 RC2. | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Diablo, Travis single 180mm TPC+, FSA Gravity, Maxxis minion, mobster, azonic outlaw, XTR,saint, bla bla bla... | | Bottom Line: | This fork is underated... it is not given the credit it deserves at all.
First off, I like the adjustments on it, as well as the re-do of the stantion works as opposed to the Shermans, 34mm stantions, a wider profile, an 8-inch integrated brake guide, and over all better handling and sensitivity.
I'm not exactly sure on rather or not a 1.5 steeror tube is a just another marketing ploy or not, but I can honestly say that it is noticably stiffer then the marzocchi 66's, and a little bit more then the standard Totems; You can't really tell the difference until you desend down some rugged garbage to see what I'm talking about.
I have to honestly say that I'm impressed with this one over the others, aspecially their 203mm single intrinsic version! I demo'd that thing, and it definately desimates all long travel single crowns, ( and some triple crowns)! The mere fact that Manitou put out a single crown fork with that much travel that can take everything without flexing and chattering all to hell down the runs is better than anything I've tried from anyone else!(in that particular class of forks)
Not impressed with the over all performance with the totems, and other then the 66's inpeckable tolerance to blunt force trama, its a little harsh on the runs, even their most adjustable shock is a pain.
I haven't put this fork through complete hell yet, only 5 and 6 foot drops so far, will update later,
NOTE: I am rating the single 180mm TPC+ primarily, as well as the intrinsic. The 203mm intrinsic was tested demmo only, didn't want to get one because I keep hearing about them blowing up... Manitou's TPC+ technology has always been good. They've came a long way with their SPV/ Intrinsic dampening, a lot better then it used to be, but still a little iffy from my perspective.
I've never had anything from Manitou Fail or blow up on me, but lots of people have, and the majority of their remarks and ratings are consistant with each others. I must have just been one of the lucky ones... My suggestion is that they need to fire the vast majority of their work force for not properly assembling half of their market margine, and get it right. Because if they could produce a fork like this every single time, this fork would be taken more seriously...
If I were you, I'd give it a shot befor the others... the performance to cost ratio cannot be beat!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Savage
a Downhiller
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Leif Ericcson | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay! | | Strengths: | The usual: Stiff, Plush, good looking for having a man's name | | Weaknesses: | None whatsoever | | Similar Products Used: | 66sl and light, 888rc, Boxxer Team | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Scott High Octane, 203mm Travis single w/TPC+, Swinger 6way, Saint Brakes, Diabolous X-type cranks, Mavic 321 rims on WTB hubs | | Bottom Line: | The fork exceeds ALL expectations! I have been strictly Manitou for the last 5 years, but even I didn't expect this fork to be this good. Unless you're racing World Cup DH, who needs a triple crown?! This fork is a Marzocchi KILLER! 66 and 888 have nothing on it!
I weigh 200 in gear, installed a firm spring, 4 clicks in on compression. the fork ramps perfectly in about the last 20% of stroke. I have nothing negative to say about this fork. My only request would be the QR20 system, mine has the old style pinch bolts.
I also have the 180mm version w/TPC+, but I haven't ridden it yet. I'm going to put that on a Scott Nitrous frame when I get one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ridefaster
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts - USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Western Cycle | | Strengths: | Has unbeatable plushness. On my first ride, it was insanly plush...then, after some drops and trailriding it became plusher than the newer RockShox and Foxes that I'd tried. I have the 1.5 version and it's pretty stiff for a single crown. I like it.
Manitou customer service is great.
All adjustments actually work (unlike older Manitous)Intrinsic damping is pretty good.
Came with a near perfect spring for my weight. | | Weaknesses: | Manitou has a reputation for bad forks.It's true, my Stance was broken on my brand new bike when I got it. But, I did get a spankin' new Travis for basically nothing.
Leaves a bit more oil than other forks I've owned/tried.
Stickers - need something more creative. | | Similar Products Used: | '05 Stance 170mm - '05 Reba Team - Fox... | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Gary Fisher KingFisher 2. Now with TRAVIS! | | Bottom Line: | At first, I ran the bottom out resistance at it's plushest setting, but with NE's flat landings, I was bottoming on 3-5' drops. I have since crancked it to ramp up, and so far, no complaints.
Don't know about durability yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Lopez
a Downhiller
from Phoenix AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | any one I can find. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay. | | Strengths: | Rediculously strong for a single crown fork, eats up dropoffs and transitions like a triple crown. | | Weaknesses: | It may take drops like a triple crown, but it sure isn't as stiff as one. A good downhill course will bare this forks weakness. Freeride at best. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Sherman breakout, slyder, dorado, Marzocchi dropoff. Fox 40 | | Bike Setup: | I have so many bikes its rediculous... | | Bottom Line: | Bad azz fork for freeride, the best single crown fork I've ever ridden aside from the sherman. The intristic dampening takes a little getting use to... more adjustments than the shermin... not to bad at all. Its stiffness is margined to handle light DH runs; nothing extreme... you losers should have known better then to do a 150 foot gap on any fork less than a double crown. this fork is intermediate to advanced Freeride at best... a fork for the rest of us...( Is it a great fork, YES/ is it the strongest fork NO)DUH! Tip for all you smart guys: if your going to go completely nuts, you better prepare for it the right way... do the reseach, and pick and choose the RIGHT fork for your sanity level. and don't bash products out of stupidity and ignorance. Thank you, have a nice day... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Downhiller
from Hamburg, New York
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | anywhere where there be riding | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on the bike | | Strengths: | most everything, plush, good tpc rebound adjustment... looks cool, smooth over downhill stuff | | Weaknesses: | cartridge was messed up when i got it and theres a sag about 1.5 inches when i push down, it sticks | | Similar Products Used: | marzocchi 66 | | Bike Setup: | 05 king fisher, travis, other stuff | | Bottom Line: | its a good fork, just make sure it aint broken when you get it and expect to have little stupid things wrong with it that you try and try again to fix and they just keep commin back | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brad
a Downhiller
from milwaukee,wi,usa
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | whitnall | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | everything this fork sucks, this fork blew up on my first trip to the local freeride park, i sent it in got it back and it blew the first ride out with it "warrentied", manitou sucks dont buy these forks | | Similar Products Used: | boxxer. | | Bike Setup: | session 77, truvativ box guide,kendas,new rear gear | | Bottom Line: | this fork sucks, if it any was any worse it would say made in china not california, this is the worst fork ever | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Winchester, England
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | smooth action, looks good, 180mm travel on single crown | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | fox 40, boxxer, sherman breakout, jnr. t, super t pro | | Bike Setup: | patriot 7+, 5th element, juicy 5 front brake, hope mini rear, travis 180 sc | | Bottom Line: | i got these to replace the knackered old sherman breakouts that were on my bike, the first thing i noticed when i got them weas how good they look, once fitted i took them for a test run, straight out of the box they are very plush, there is some stiction but after a good thrashing this is now gone.
on my local DH trails these were great! they just took in everything, keeping the front wheel glued to the trail.
i have heard a lot of people say they don't like these forks because the service requirements are too much, the manual simply states that the oil levels should be checked every 4 to 6 weeks, (which is hardly a massive task) and the oil should be changed evrey 3 to 6 months (depending on how you ride)
for the cost of oil and my time i don't mind changing the oil every 3 months, if it means the fork will remain as good as it is now then i don't mind!
it also reccomends a yearly damper oil change.
in terms of price these forks are not cheap, but they are also not as expensive as some of the forks out there, and until the rockshox totem arrives sre pretty much one of the only choices of forks with a 1.5 steerer.
overall they are an excellent fork but are let down slightly by the price, however with rockshox releasing 1.5 steerer options on some of their forks soon prices should hopefullyt start to drop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
justin
a Downhiller
from milwaukee
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | milwaukee sucks there arent any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on my bike, | | Strengths: | notta | | Weaknesses: | completely blew apart and the biggest thing its jumped was about a 50' gap it blew out on less than 20' and i only weigh 150lbs | | Similar Products Used: | fox 40(best fork out) | | Bike Setup: | 06 king fisher,double tracks ,e thirteen srs,xo drive,kenda 2.7" | | Bottom Line: | this fork sucks big time its only three months old,and its already been rebuilt once,now its totaly junk | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from oakville
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | dj | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Toronto bike show | | Strengths: | good adjustments, light, lots of travel, strong, buttery smooth and soaks up the big stuff | | Weaknesses: | rebound adjustment pin bent and had to order a new one | | Similar Products Used: | nixon, sherman | | Bike Setup: | 2005 norco bigfoot | | Bottom Line: | these forks really had no problems, they are a strong and relyable and handle almost everything. Another plus was the ampunt of adjuments on these forks with the rebound and bottom out resistance. The new instinct damping works well too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eyal
a Downhiller
from Israel
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | 180 mm' works all the way | | Weaknesses: | too soft for FR | | Similar Products Used: | I tried them all | | Bike Setup: | Intense UZZI VPX | | Bottom Line: | The best single crown fork for DH.
I am much faster with it then I was with the 36 VAN or other SC forks
can do light FR and jumps but feel too soft at the slow technical parts
The best fork I ever ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Downhiller
from Calgary alberta canada
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | shop | | Strengths: | if i could tell you, i would | | Weaknesses: | it broke first day | | Similar Products Used: | sherman slider (still using now), | | Bike Setup: | trek session 77 | | Bottom Line: | i was so dissapointed to see my new fork out of the box snapped at the crown. manitou should realise that sticking to dual crown was a better idea anyways, and the intristic damping was a joke, i love my spv. right now its in a box on its way to manitou and i am mad, when/if it comes back from warrenty, im selling it straight off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | looks pretty | | Weaknesses: | eveything | | Similar Products Used: | sherman, psylo, 888, 66, drop off ect | | Bottom Line: | Cracked the crown and when i got it back from warrenty they STOLE MY AFTERMARKET SPRING KIT!!!!! Manitou has the worst customer service. They still deny that they took my spring kit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Taber West
a Weekend Warrior
from Jemez Mountains, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dragons Tail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | This review is for the Travis Single 150. Plush, rigid, very solid on climbs. Eats up big drops. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, 6.5lbs. Woo hoo! | | Similar Products Used: | various Rockshock and Marzocchi forks starting with the first RS1. | | Bike Setup: | SantaCruz Nomad, XTR, Hope Brakes, Fox DHX 5.0 air, Manitou Travis Single 150, Thomson Post, Easton Bar, FSA headset, Panaracer Fire FR 2.4 converted to notubes. | | Bottom Line: | Though this fork is heavy, it is an incredible ride. It is a perfect match for the Nomad, even with 6.5 inches of travel, it climbs like a XC bike when setup correctly. If you stand up and hammer, the fork will bob a bit, but seated it is steady. Oh, I also weigh 240lbs, so I demolish gear and bikes. It does click a little when climbing as the SPV/Intrinsic valve weight opens and closes. I don't mind because that means it is working. So far this is an excellent fork for the big hit and all mountain crowd. I ride in a variety of terrain, most of it quite rough, and all of it requires climbing. This fork handles both admirably. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | CBC/Ned's | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light for a 7" fork
supple and plush through its whole stroke
Ramps up nicely
Stiff | | Weaknesses: | need firmer spring if your over 175lbs
loose rebound knob
have to run rebound almost wide open | | Similar Products Used: | Super T, Boxxer | | Bike Setup: | '04 Devinci Wilson
Juicy 5;s/Sram X7 r Der. with 9.0 gripshift.
Holzfeller cranks
Bontrager Big Earl Wheels/Tires
Big Earl Bar/Holfeller Stem | | Bottom Line: | I'm very impressed with the action of this fork. It's very supple on the small bumps which was a problem with the Sherman series. I don't go huge usually 10ft. max so this fork was ideal for tight skinnies and switchbacks. I'm not a big speed freak either but I have no dought it could handle anything thrown at it. I've had it about six weeks and so far no physical problems other than the rebound knob falling off on my way home (for the first time). Seals are holding and no funny noises. Great fork. I'd recommend it. If your not 1.5" compatable then do the Dual Crown version. I didn't give it 5 chili's for overall cause I lost my rebound knob before even riding it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Austin perkins
a Downhiller
from Timberlake
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | snowshoe mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | universal cycles | | Strengths: | 180mm of travle
holds up good | | Weaknesses: | bottoms out easy | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi zl sport
150mm | | Bike Setup: | specialized 06 demo 8 | | Bottom Line: | This is a great fork for the money, it has good travle 180/203mm, great fork for the drops at your local bike park,can and will hold up on those big drops, please dont buy this product if you are a all mountain rider, or a crosscountry rider, to much travle for you. This fork is for people who wont the freedom of a single crown fork for doing barspins at the park, and who dosent wont the weight of a triple crown fork. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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