[cdloental78]

I just bought a 2005 Rockhopper... I looove this bike but the black paint on the Manitou Axel fork is chipping everywhere just after afew rides. The fork is great otherwise.

Anyone else having this problem?

 

[dirtpaws]

I had one on basic 03 Dakar.

The paint developed hairline cranks and begainto chip off in huge chunks (1 inch piece or larger).

It was a new bike so I took it back the dealer and they replaced it.

 

[RiDE]

I had an Axel Super, same problems. Just slight contact here and there made mine chip as well. I really didn't care anymore after a few rides. I hope the higher end Manitous aren't like this.

 

[RyanCanfield]

how do u paint a fork??

 

[Philo Beddoe]

Stunning

cool, you find the Axel Super fine. I swapped it out after one ride for a Black Elite. I would check out Greenfish for a 2003, the fork is so much better it is silly.

I am 185-190 and ride XC. I took apart the Axel and dropped the travel to 80mm and stuck it on my old hardtail thinking that it would be less springy on the lower travel. It is still way to soft. (by the way the manual on the web on how to adjust travel is wrong)

I may get a couple of firm spring kits but for now but in the meantime I said "screw it" and bought a surly rigid fork on Ebay for my hardtail. I figure I may as well go all out for a totally different ride experience. Plus I got a headlock instead of a star nut so I can swap out fork pretty easily.