Manitou's New All-Mountain Fork
Manitou hasn't had a top level 160mm fork in a number of years, but for 2014 the company is coming out swinging with the introduction of the Mattoc, their high end, air sprung all-mountain fork. In development for almost two years, the fork has 34mm stanchions and will be available with 140, 150 or 160mm of travel for 26” and 27.5” bikes, with an additional 170mm option available for 26ers. External adjustments include low and high speed compression damping, hydraulic bottom out, and low speed rebound.
Manitou Mattoc Details
• Intended use: all-mountain/enduro
• 26''/27.5" travel: 140, 150, or 160mm
• 170mm available for 26" only
• 34mm stanchion tubes
• Dorado air sprung
• HSC, LSC, rebound, and hydraulic bottom out adjustments
• Tapered steerer
• 15mm HexLock thru axle
• Weight: 1877g (Pro), 1990g (Expert)
What makes the Mattoc especially enticing is its use of technology borrowed from Manitou's Dorado downhill fork, a fork heralded for its plush feel and excellent adjustability. Like the Dorado, the Mattoc uses independent oil seals and dust wipers to reduce the chance of leakage or blow outs, and a hydraulic bottom out adjuster that controls the last 32mm of the fork's stoke separately from the other compression settings. The Mattoc also uses the Dorado's large volume, low pressure air spring, which is designed to be moderately progressive throughout its stroke for a controlled, bottomless feel.
A look at the fork's internals reveals a number of well thought out features in the Mattoc's new Multi Control Compression (MC²) damper, particularly the way that the high speed compression (HSC) damping is adjusted. When the external HSC dial is turned it adds more preload to an internal shim, accomplishing the same feat that adding a thicker shim would do, but without the need to pull apart the fork. Low speed compression (LSC) damping is changed via a tapered needle oil system – turning the external knob alters the volume of an orifice, changing the fork's damping characteristics. There is also the option to add on a handlebar mounted remote to change the LSC on the fly.
A closer look at the Mattoc's MC² compression damper. The far left portion is the hydraulic bottom out control, and just to the right of it, above the o-ring and below the silver ports, is the high speed compression shim. Low speed compression is altered via a needle valve inside the damper.The Mattoc's shim-based rebound damping is adjusted by turning the dial located on the bottom of the right leg. Turning the rebound dial controls a taper needle oil system, with different shim stacks available from Manitou for riders that want to fine tune the fork's rebound damping. This high level of tuneability should make the Mattoc especially appealing to garage tinkerers, a fact that Manitou took into consideration when designing the fork. They wanted a fork that the end user could rebuild at home, reducing the downtime that occurs when sending a fork away to be serviced.
The Mattoc's compression and bottom out resistance control dials are at the top of the fork, and the air valve and rebound adjust are at the bottom. The Mattoc uses Manitou's signature reverse arch, and has separate oil seals and dust wipers.The Mattoc Pro weighs in at a claimed 1877 grams, and the Expert is reportedly 1990 grams. The weight difference comes from the Pro's use of a cartridge based rebound damper. The Mattoc Pro will retail for $860, with the Expert's price still to be determined. There will also be an even lower priced Comp model that uses a different air spring. White and black color options will be offered as well.
www.manitoumtb.com
1) Reliability
2) Performance
3) Cost
4) User serviceability/tunability.
It just looks like there are so many good choices these days, but what are the subtle distinguishing features that make them different? Deciding on the "best" fork is very subjective to user preference, so I want to know about differences, things that might make me prefer one over the other.
pb needs more (than zero) shootouts. you don't even have to declare a 'winner' if that seems too scary. just give us side-by-side performance, weight, etc. comparisons.
manitou need to seriously beef up thier crowns
I remember seeing quite a few stanchion/crown failures with regards to the Travis...
The marketing guys have completely lost it... I guess the day when the WC guys will race on 15 mm isn't far off. All in the name of 5 grams.
My fork does have a burly solid crown and the old style 20mm lever lock hex axle though. bikemarkt-images.mtb-news.net/2/6/1/0/4/5/_/large_ManitouMinuteSuperSPVAir140mm1810gvs_ManitouNixonPlatinumRC-ITAir145mm2250g.JPG.jpg
I have a riding buddy that runs a 160mm/32mm Nixon with 20mm axle and pinch bolt dropouts on a GT Sanction. He has owned lots of brands and types of forks and has no complaints about stiffness.
It will be interesting to see how stiff this fork is with the lighter crown and new Hexlock axle vimeo.com/42561711. Granted the axle is only 15mm, one can hope that Manitou's system is stiffer than other 15mm QR axles and maybe closer to 20mm QR axles. I would prefer the old lever lock though.
Can't wait to see rider reviews. It's great to have another choice of higher end suspension at a reasonable price. To bad about only having a tapered steerer.
www.marzocchi.com/template/detailProdotti.asp?LN=UK&idIU=60661&IDFolder=113&uf=IU&IdOggetto=62487
BTW, for 26", you also have the Lyrik (which could also prolly be spaced down to 150 mm). Or get a Revelation and get an old set of Sektor 20 mm lowers.
If this does not describe you then please admit to yourself a few things: 34-35 mm stanchions + the alloys/forging techniques available today + 15mm thru-axles are the best performing suspension bits for anyone who weighs in at less than 220 lbs. and isn't averaging World Cup downhill race speeds on their trail/enduro rides. A fork with enough compliance will actually add traction
If Curtis Keene, Jared Graves, Steve Smith, Dan Atherton, Steve Peat, etc. are all tickled with Fox 34 or Pike forks for their machines (including Air DH races), then we must accept that this standard is not only stiff enough, but probably too stiff for any mere mortal.
Sidenote: regarding this wheelsize debate - shut up. Just shut up. Arguing that there shouldn't be options in wheelsize is about as arbitrary as arguing that skis/snowboards should come in once length, flex or width. As an avid skier who owns 4 pairs of skis (park, all mountain, powder, big mountain) I can tell you that they all have a time and a place. Are 26" wheels more agile/"fun"? Yes....unless your definition of "fun" is "going faster" in which case an Enduro 29 is probably your best bet.
About Graves & co.? Barel bitched quite loudly, that 15 mm is not enough. He had a 36 on the old 26" bike just because of the 20 mm axle.
Yes, they are pros, yes they push the bike to the extremes. But they also get new gear almost every week. I like to keep the same gear on my bike for quite a while. A 20 mm axle will mean the fork flexes less so the bushings will last longer. The bearings are also much bigger, so they too will last longer.
Don't forget, they have a new shock too!!! www.mtb-news.de/forum/showthread.php?p=10900229
People asking; 'why 15mm thru axle no 20mm?' 'why only taper? This is because industry have decided for you that for trail/AM is taper/15mm axle 140-160mm travel. If you don't like it tough, if you want a 20mm axle 160mm travel fork you need to buy a free-ride over 2kg fork. Also similar thing happening with 27.5 wheels. Mountain biking is becoming industry lead, not consumer lead. Throw away perfectly OK frames, wheels and forks if you want to join the modern bike party. Those days of reusing old parts on new builds are under attack from an industry keen for your ca$h.
34mm stanchions for a 150mm travel fork sounds good to me and the weight is OK.
Anyhow - I hope red is available aftermarket. I am bored of white/black dichtomy.
Wow! Poor users of other than Manitou forks. They have to pull apart the whole fork, to change the HSC...
Enduro =mtb by squared cost.
I forgot fukushima coating and plastic frames.
On the serious side, they could provide us with a new Travis, let's say with 36mm stantions, 180mm, and a choice of a coil or air.
Come to think of it, i already got 2 perfect forks for years to come - a Dorado and a Nixon 160. Win-win situation!!!
Do a 1 1/8 and I will pay today
Just got a mint Travis on the weekend. Hmm upgrade?
this fork look so sexy on the 2013 deity red streetsweeper
when they worked tho they worked great.
but i'll never buy another manitou and their customer service was beyond terrible.