If you have to do that much work to maintain proper function of the fork i would replace it. I am lazy about stuff like that, i dont want to remember that i need to do a maintaince item almost every time i ride. Things like tire psi, chain lube are normal but cleaning my forks because of stiction-no. I am a big fan of Manitou but all brands have there + & -.
Help! Should I buy a new fork??
G
I currently have a Manitou Mars Elite fork, which performs very well when properly cleaned and lubed, and is a perfect match for the bike it’s on. The problem is that the micro lube system doesn’t maintain performance without frequent disassembly and cleaning. I’ve upgraded to Enduro seals, which helped a little, but the fork still requires far more attention than the open bath fork (Fox Vanilla, great fork) I have on my other ride.
I’ve noticed that folks are starting to blow out the Skareb Super on line, which has Manitou’s Semi-bath system. I figure the Skareb will perform at least as well as the Mars does when clean, and will stay that way for far longer due to the superior seal lube system. Now for the questions, first am I correct in my assessment of the Skareb? And second, if I am, should I buy one, or just quit being a baby and continue to clean my otherwise good Mars Elite? Money’s not really an issue, but I hate to spend unnecessarily.
I’ve noticed that folks are starting to blow out the Skareb Super on line, which has Manitou’s Semi-bath system. I figure the Skareb will perform at least as well as the Mars does when clean, and will stay that way for far longer due to the superior seal lube system. Now for the questions, first am I correct in my assessment of the Skareb? And second, if I am, should I buy one, or just quit being a baby and continue to clean my otherwise good Mars Elite? Money’s not really an issue, but I hate to spend unnecessarily.
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
G
Thanks
I was really just looking for one person to say buy it to push me off the fence of indecision. It also helps that my wife told me to quit thinking and just buy it.dogonfr said:If you have to do that much work to maintain proper function of the fork i would replace it.
So what did you come home with?UKMac said:I was really just looking for one person to say buy it to push me off the fence of indecision. It also helps that my wife told me to quit thinking and just buy it.
G
Nothing actually
I think she's banking this one for later.dogonfr said:So what did you come home with?
Cool, go Fox!! Unless the bank says no, never argue with the wife good way to loose bonus points 
Hey man,
Grab the super. The semi bath is tons better than the microlube. Its smooth as butter, and you can get away with one overhaul every 12-18 months. I just rebuilt a couple microlube forks and even when lubed up nicely, they couldnt compare with the semi-bath fork im running now.
Cheers,
Aaron
Grab the super. The semi bath is tons better than the microlube. Its smooth as butter, and you can get away with one overhaul every 12-18 months. I just rebuilt a couple microlube forks and even when lubed up nicely, they couldnt compare with the semi-bath fork im running now.
Cheers,
Aaron
G
That's what I thought
Right now I'm having to dissassemble and clean every five or ten rides which is a pain. I will get the Super today. Thanks for your input.trekracer8000 said:Hey man,
The semi bath is tons better than the microlube. Its smooth as butter, and you can get away with one overhaul every 12-18 months.
or you can go with Marzocchi and don't worry about all of Manipoos' problemsUKMac said:I currently have a Manitou Mars Elite fork, which performs very well when properly cleaned and lubed, and is a perfect match for the bike it's on. The problem is that the micro lube system doesn't maintain performance without frequent disassembly and cleaning. I've upgraded to Enduro seals, which helped a little, but the fork still requires far more attention than the open bath fork (Fox Vanilla, great fork) I have on my other ride.
I've noticed that folks are starting to blow out the Skareb Super on line, which has Manitou's Semi-bath system. I figure the Skareb will perform at least as well as the Mars does when clean, and will stay that way for far longer due to the superior seal lube system. Now for the questions, first am I correct in my assessment of the Skareb? And second, if I am, should I buy one, or just quit being a baby and continue to clean my otherwise good Mars Elite? Money's not really an issue, but I hate to spend unnecessarily.
I'd go with a Manitou Black over the Skareb. I've found the Skareb's to be a bit too noodly, and not a signicant weight savings. You can find closeout Blacks all over, some with SPV, some with TPC w/ lockout. If you go with a Black, stay in the Super or Platinum line. The Elites for 04 and 05, that you see out there, are usually Fluid Flow dampening which is very inferior, and also have a chromo steer tube.
G
Can the Black be set up for 80mm travel?
One reason I'm leaning Skareb is becuase the ride I'm putting it on can only handle an 80mm fork. Also, I find the Mars plenty stiff for my riding style and from what I've read the Skareb is at least as stiff as the Mars. I'm not really concered about weight however so the Black would be good if it can be set up for 80mm.mattsavage said:I'd go with a Manitou Black over the Skareb. I've found the Skareb's to be a bit too noodly, and not a signicant weight savings. You can find closeout Blacks all over, some with SPV, some with TPC w/ lockout. If you go with a Black, stay in the Super or Platinum line. The Elites for 04 and 05, that you see out there, are usually Fluid Flow dampening which is very inferior, and also have a chromo steer tube.
There is an 80mm 05 air sprung version of the Black that has SPV and is something like 3.5 lbs. The 30mm stantions will make it stiffer than the Skareb.UKMac said:One reason I'm leaning Skareb is becuase the ride I'm putting it on can only handle an 80mm fork. Also, I find the Mars plenty stiff for my riding style and from what I've read the Skareb is at least as stiff as the Mars. I'm not really concered about weight however so the Black would be good if it can be set up for 80mm.
Mr. P
Yes they do come in an 80mm length. The Black super can be purchased in fixed lengths of 80, 100, or 120. The Platinum come in 80mm with SPV.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK605A13-Manitou-Black-Super-Air-05.aspx&sc=bbbsearch&x=y
http://www.greenfishsports.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=873
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20852&srccode=2228&PID=484346
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14...-Manitou-Black-Super-w/Boss-offerIN050BB1.htm
With Rapid Travel Wind Down you could take the travel down to 90mm with no change in spring rate and the Infinite Travel air spring of the Platinum will let you go as low as you want. It's pretty sweet. And IT doesn't suck like people say. Only the first run of Nixons last year had a problem.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK605A13-Manitou-Black-Super-Air-05.aspx&sc=bbbsearch&x=y
http://www.greenfishsports.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=873
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20852&srccode=2228&PID=484346
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14...-Manitou-Black-Super-w/Boss-offerIN050BB1.htm
With Rapid Travel Wind Down you could take the travel down to 90mm with no change in spring rate and the Infinite Travel air spring of the Platinum will let you go as low as you want. It's pretty sweet. And IT doesn't suck like people say. Only the first run of Nixons last year had a problem.
Do not go with a wind down fork to get your 80mm. All the information says does not effect the performance, it does. I have a 4-6 in fork & when i drop it down it is less responsive. I have talked to friends with this feature & they say the same thing, it effects the function of the fork.UKMac said:One reason I'm leaning Skareb is becuase the ride I'm putting it on can only handle an 80mm fork. Also, I find the Mars plenty stiff for my riding style and from what I've read the Skareb is at least as stiff as the Mars. I'm not really concered about weight however so the Black would be good if it can be set up for 80mm.
Yeah, that's true. A fork that is 80mm, but was once 100 or 120mm, isn't going to give you nearly the same performance. Every inch counts. I just upgraded my Fatty with the new Magura cartridge and although it's leaps and bounds over the origional air/oil setup, it'll never compare to my Black 120, or even the same Black in 100 using the Rapid Travel II, preloaded spring and all.
In the mountain bike world, an inch makes a huge difference. 80mm is barely three inches of usable travel. With that short of stroke there's not alot of room for performance anyway. Whether it's a fixed 80mm of travel or a longer stroke fork wound down yet set up properly, I don't think he'd really notice a difference. I've only noticed a lack of performance in a RTWD fork because of the travel it lacks.
I didn't notice any diminishing in quality of compression or rebound dampening, but I did notice a lack of performance because there was now less travel.
In the mountain bike world, an inch makes a huge difference. 80mm is barely three inches of usable travel. With that short of stroke there's not alot of room for performance anyway. Whether it's a fixed 80mm of travel or a longer stroke fork wound down yet set up properly, I don't think he'd really notice a difference. I've only noticed a lack of performance in a RTWD fork because of the travel it lacks.
I didn't notice any diminishing in quality of compression or rebound dampening, but I did notice a lack of performance because there was now less travel.
It seems Jenson has a 1 day only sale on an 80mm Skareb Super with lock-out. $200 seems pretty good.
http://www.jensonusa.com/product/content/12days.aspx
Mr. P
http://www.jensonusa.com/product/content/12days.aspx
Mr. P
Another option are the REBAs, they can be set internally via spacers to either 85mm, 100mm or 115mm. Have a friend has a TREK 8500 running a REBA Team at the 85mm setting and it works great. Easy to change the spacers out, definitely not a complicated process.
OH and yeh, they're damn sweet forks -especially for the price- and they weigh in around 3.5lbs - non U-Turn versions.
Oh and yeah u should get a new fork if u need to pull down ur fork every 10 rides - it's get pitched out a window real quick if it was mine In the 2400+ miles/9 months I've had my REBA SL I have serviced (change oil and seals to Enduros) once, about 1.5 months ago and I ride in some nasty type conditions quite frequently - muddy, wet, sandy trails.
OH and yeh, they're damn sweet forks -especially for the price- and they weigh in around 3.5lbs - non U-Turn versions.
Oh and yeah u should get a new fork if u need to pull down ur fork every 10 rides - it's get pitched out a window real quick if it was mine
In the 2400+ miles/9 months I've had my REBA SL I have serviced (change oil and seals to Enduros) once, about 1.5 months ago and I ride in some nasty type conditions quite frequently - muddy, wet, sandy trails.
If he's having no problems with the mars, the skareb will be more than enough. The mars series were more flexy than the 2004 skarebs. Based on my past experience with manitou they will perform beautifully if you care for them properly.
95% of the problems happen to 5% of the population.
95% of the problems happen to 5% of the population.
Confused yet or just enjoying?UKMac said:I was really just looking for one person to say buy it to push me off the fence of indecision. It also helps that my wife told me to quit thinking and just buy it.
G
Thanks for all the good advice
I've just returned from eight days in Florida to find my new Skareb Super from Jenson waiting. I decided to go with the Skareb becuase of my good experience with the Mars and the fact that it's a natural 80mm fork. I did have a chance to ride my friends black, and it's a very nice fork, but I felt the Skareb was a better match for the bike it's going on and the price was right!
Thanks again for the help.
I've just returned from eight days in Florida to find my new Skareb Super from Jenson waiting. I decided to go with the Skareb becuase of my good experience with the Mars and the fact that it's a natural 80mm fork. I did have a chance to ride my friends black, and it's a very nice fork, but I felt the Skareb was a better match for the bike it's going on and the price was right!
Thanks again for the help.
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
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