[FoShizzle]

Forgive me in advance for perhaps a dumb question but what am I getting with the SID that I dont get with the Skareb? Is it simply the weight savings?

I am now building up a "project" bike which is based on a Ti Hardtail frame and will be used for racing (for fun....not competitive) and generally long non-technical riding where I need to keep up with my friends on the long fireroad climbs on their racer-boy hardtails.

It seems I can, in general, get a better deal on a Skareb. For example, the Skareb Elite I think is $225 at Supergo which I can afford. However, if there is tangible reason to get the SID over the Skareb I will wait and save more for this part. I know very little about XC forks as my main bike is a trailbike and my other is a big-hit bike, which I where I have spent my time doing research so please help a newbie out.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

 

[team-lt]

i would take Skareb - it has SPV! besides i think RS forks are overpriced and i dont like them at all. if you arent weight weenie choose Answer

 

[Hecubus]

Get the skareb. SID is lighter and thats about it. The weight difference is usually about .1 to .3 pounds depnding on what models you compare. SIDs are actually quite reliable but Skarebs are better in that sense anyway and are so easy to service anyone can pretty much do it. Not very simple with a SID and it requires special tools. The quality of travel on the Skareb is dramatically better. SID's ramp up too fast and you rarely get much more than 60-65mm of usuable travel.

 

[FoShizzle]

Good to hear...

Thanks for the input...that was my general sense but I was not sure. I really like manitou stuff so the Skareb it is....

Cheers

 

[World B. Free]

In defense of SIDs

The quality of travel on the Skareb is dramatically better. SID's ramp up too fast and you rarely get much more than 60-65mm of usuable travel.

I also prefer the Skareb (I got one of the SPV Elites) but I got almost three full years of good use out of a 2001 SID SL. (Fairly technical NorCal woods-type riding)

I did get a full 80mm of travel, and was very pleased with the quality and adjustability. The SID, in my opinion, is more plush off the small stuff than my Skareb, which could be because of the SPV.

Holding the forks in either hand, the SID is noticeably lighter. Riding-wise, the Skareb is significantly stiffer, which is why I switched.

However, I think for racing, a manual handlebar-mounted lockout is the way to go.

Interestingly enough, I'm keeping the SID for a project similar to yours, (or maybe a singlespeed.)

 

[Hecubus]

I've owned multiple SIDs as well but in the last year switched to Manitou for XC racing. I had an 01 SL and an 02 Carbon. Both of them got the full 80mm of travel. Nevertheless they were too soft if you ran the pressure low enough to get full travel. In 03 I got a WC and then a Team for another bike. I don't know WTF rock shox did after they revised the forks but the 03 and later models can barely even get 70mm of travel when deflated and when riding its hard to even reach 65mm, Everybody has complained about this. I have now a Skareb Platinum and it gets every mm of travel and its really smooth travel. The air/coil hybrid this fork uses really makes a difference in feel. I never had a single reliability issue with any of the SID's.

 

[Domdil]

I dont believe the skareb elites come with SPV, unless its an OEM or something.
I would go with the skareb either way. The sids are nicely made forks, BUT their VERY xc race specific, and flex is always an issue with them.
I personally wouldnt want an SPV fork, i've been hearing too much about how it delievers little to no small bump sensitivity. I also have a friend who rides a Manitou Minute, and its only very smooth in the middle and end of the stroke.

 

[Hecubus]

I dont believe the skareb elites come with SPV, unless its an OEM or something.
I would go with the skareb either way. The sids are nicely made forks, BUT their VERY xc race specific, and flex is always an issue with them.
I personally wouldnt want an SPV fork, i've been hearing too much about how it delievers little to no small bump sensitivity. I also have a friend who rides a Manitou Minute, and its only very smooth in the middle and end of the stroke.

A few weeks ago Jenson was selling a batch of OEM Skareb Elites that where SPV models. Basically a full fledged platinum at a bargain price of about 200 dollars. There is a thread about this.