Manitou Introduces Limited Sterling Silver Edition of the Mezzer Pro Fork

Nov 23, 2020
by Hayes Bicycle  
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Press Release: Manitou

Introducing the Sterling Edition of the Manitou Mezzer Pro. Utilizing the same 37mm chassis and internal tech as our existing Mezzer Pro, each Sterling Edition fork receives an extra level of detail and care before leaving the factory floor. To create an ultra-smooth and crisp paint finish, each lower leg and crown assembly are polished by hand in preparation of the paint booth. Combining this brilliant finish with the already brilliantly tunable Mezzer platform creates the crown jewel of suspension forks for anyone looking to upgrade their front end.

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As with all Mezzer Pro’s, riders will enjoy the ultimate tunability of their air spring thanks to the pairing of our Dorado Air system and IRT (Infinite Rate Tune). Dorado Air is derived from, you guessed it, our legendary Dorado inverted DH fork. Using a unique balancing valve at the piston, the positive and negative air springs are equalized during the air fill process. This design provides a smooth and consistent spring rate without any flat or dead spots that can be caused by a balance groove. It also allows users to change the travel easily with the included travel spacers rather than purchasing expensive air springs.

Acting as a secondary positive air chamber the IRT provides complete control over the mid-late stroke of the fork. This allows riders to tune their initial stroke separate from their mid-late allowing a butter-smooth initial feel without sacrificing mid-stroke support. Being a compressible air chamber, rather than solid volume spacers, as you approach bottom out you are met with a feeling that is smooth and consistent rather than hash and abrupt.

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The damping is taken care of through our fully sealed MC² cartridge damper. Adjustments include external high and low-speed compression damping as well as low-speed rebound. We have also included a factory set HBO (hydraulic bottom out) to give riders an added level of control when things get gnarly.

Bleeder screws are also located on the back of the lower legs allowing riders to bleed air while on the trail using a 2.5mm hex key. These bleeder screws double as an oil injection port to give your seals a small blast of semi-bath oil in-between regular service intervals to keep things as smooth as possible at all times.

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The Sterling Edition of the Mezzer Pro will be limited to 250 units globally and is only available through our trusted dealers and local bike shops. Make sure you contact your local dealer and reserve one today!

Click here for more info and to find your dealer

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Forks Manitou Manitou Mezzer


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180 Comments
  • 102 0
 Wait, what type of beer is this color supposed to be?
  • 83 0
 Coors light?
  • 17 0
 Developed in partnership with steel barrel brewing.
  • 58 0
 @lbsteinm: This fork turns blue when its as cold as the Rocky Mountains.
  • 139 3
 @smoothjazzcyclist: Or when orcs are near.
  • 8 0
 Manitou Silver Bullet
  • 11 1
 @loganbeck: god, this comment is everything
  • 11 1
 @loganbeck: most underrated comment of the day.
  • 6 1
 I was particularly interested in the mention of hash at the end of the third paragraph...
  • 1 0
 @lbsteinm: They asked beer, not water
  • 2 0
 Looks like a mainitou travis from 2005
  • 1 0
 2005 Manitou travis. Looks exactly the same.
  • 2 0
 @makripper: but doesn't fall apart in 5 rides lol
  • 3 0
 Zima
  • 1 0
 @irollones:
  • 1 0
 Looks like Sapporo Beer container???
  • 43 3
 250 units in the Manitou supply chain really means 16 units.
  • 14 18
flag xeren (Nov 23, 2020 at 11:19) (Below Threshold)
 95% of them with bushing slop
  • 5 0
 @xeren: Did yours develop bushing play? Curious to hear what circumstances it was noticed in, I am considering one of these.
  • 16 0
 @jwizzler: a few of the early ones did, when they first came out. That problem also occurred on a batch of Fox 38’s, and is not unique to other manufacturers and other problems in early batches of new stuff anywhere. What is unfortunate, but probably a good learning for Manitou, is that Mike Kazimer was sent some faulty ones and they got some high profile negative exposure at the time of release.

Long story short, that problem has been fixed some time ago with a new lower casting. These forks work great!
  • 8 0
 @jwizzler: I got a used one that had the bearing slop. I contacted them and they sent me the whole bottoms for no charge. I thought I woudl have to pay since I was the second. They also sent me a whole damper no charge since I ham fisted the bottom nut and broke the bolt. Make sure you use a torque wrench. Customer service is great in addition to an awesome fork.
  • 1 0
 @jwizzler: I've owned a Mattoc and loved both the fork as well as Manitou's service.
  • 35 0
 this fork is everything most riders could want/need, yet you rarely see them on the trails compared to all the fox and rock shox products
  • 37 0
 If they didn't only make 183 units every year, we'd be seeing a lot more of them.
  • 4 0
 Oem market guy
  • 19 32
flag lukesky (Nov 23, 2020 at 6:55) (Below Threshold)
 Perhaps because the ones that have been sold are constantly in the mail for warranty replacement because of bushing play like the two mattocs I owned...
  • 1 0
 Which brand of fork do you ride?
  • 6 0
 Best fork I've ever ridden.
  • 11 0
 @lukesky: this was true for the first release with the mezzer, but manitou changed the bushing design and I haven’t seen any reports of this continuing. I know that my new Mezzer is from the updated batch and has no issues after three months of pretty brutal riding
  • 15 0
 I have one on my Banshee Titan, it's the tits.
  • 5 20
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Nov 23, 2020 at 10:45) (Below Threshold)
 last review said:

Cons
- Bushing play

So, no.
  • 9 0
 @fracasnoxteam: only the one on Pinkbike. There are a few others with no such complaint.
  • 3 8
flag BenTheSwabian (Nov 23, 2020 at 12:02) (Below Threshold)
 Same exact thing can be said about the SR Suntour Auron. Which additionally doesn't come with bushing play as standard.
  • 14 1
 @fracasnoxteam: Here's a proper review - nsmb.com/articles/riding-tall-manitou-mezzer-pro-irt-fork
  • 8 0
 @fracasnoxteam: Last review was also WELL over a year ago. The bushing issue has been fixed, you're just being a hater.
  • 1 9
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Nov 24, 2020 at 14:19) (Below Threshold)
 @Ajorda: how do you know this supposed bushing issue as been fixed?
  • 1 8
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Nov 24, 2020 at 14:21) (Below Threshold)
 @islandforlife: so pinkbike reviews aren't "proper"?
  • 6 0
 @fracasnoxteam: manitou has acknowledged it and there’s a specific difference between the pre and post problematic forks. Email manitou if you really care to.

PB reviews are fine, but their technical breakdowns really don’t compare to other more hardcore technical editors—which Pinkbike acknowledges isn’t their specialty
  • 3 0
 @fracasnoxteam: I rode the damn thing for 2 months lol
  • 1 6
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Nov 24, 2020 at 23:27) (Below Threshold)
 @Ajorda: And it's supposed to prove anything, except you make conclusions about reliability after 2 months?
  • 1 6
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Nov 24, 2020 at 23:31) (Below Threshold)
 @onlyDH: I'm not sure manitou would respond, yeah hou know it's not thaaat ok but we're improving, buy it thx. So email manitou for this may be the worst information possible, like this article written by Hayes and should be clearly marked as an ad.
  • 7 0
 @fracasnoxteam: I've been riding the fork for more than a year now, mine didn't come with any bushing play even though it was not from the latest batches, so the issue must have been fixed pretty fast.

Funny that the Mezzer is disparaged for that reason while Fox got a pass on their creaking 38 and RS on their debonair2.
  • 4 0
 @fracasnoxteam: If you look close just underneath the title there it says that the author of this Article is Hayes Bicycle. What else do you need to mark it as an ad?
  • 1 3
 @gui21st: Thanks for the info, a year riding seems enough to have a pretty clear idea.
For creaking fox and RS issue: that's why I chose to ride a 2021 Suntour, had the first european batch and no issue so far (R2C2).
  • 1 6
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Nov 25, 2020 at 3:57) (Below Threshold)
 @squarewheel: "Hayes bicyle" is not "Manitou".
As you're a specialist: you know, like me and most of us know it's one of hayes brand.
But the one who doesn't should be told it's, ok not exactly an ad, but at least an "infomercial"
  • 5 0
 @fracasnoxteam: seems silly to think that you can’t ask a company about correcting a problem. It’s very public knowledge that your product number will indicate if you have a model that is pre correction of the problem, a refurbished model that has corrected the problem, or an model that is of the new iteration of improved models. Manitou will be happy to share this information with you.

Seems like you’re making assumptions and are completely ignorant on the matter.
  • 1 1
 @onlyDH: Wait I clearly missing an information there: they assumed the problem and call the forks back? If so I didn't know it, my bad.
  • 26 1
 Mezzermerising
  • 4 4
 Hahahaha stoner shit
  • 23 1
 The Mezzer is such an underrated fork! The performance is on another level compared to your other offerings at this price point.
  • 21 1
 Possibly the most underrated mtb product, such a good fork.
  • 4 0
 Is it really?
  • 9 1
 @youknowitsus: it’s fantastic. The air spring and bottom out alone are enough to put it at the pointy end of things
  • 9 0
 @youknowitsus: This and the Mattoc are hands down the best forks I've owned in 25 years... Especially considering you don't need $1000 in aftermarket air springs and damping components to make it run top notch...
  • 7 0
 @mattsavage: Totally agree, I own a Mezzer and an EXT Era, and I would say the Mezzer is 85-90% of what the Era is!
It's that good!
  • 8 0
 @youknowitsus: I've been riding the Mezzer for the better part of a year. Have ridden both Lyric ultimate and 36 plenty. Mezzer is head and shoulders better than the Fox and RS offerings.

I also just got an EXT Era. It is the best fork I've ever ridden. But like @kmag76 said, I don't think it is so much better than the mezzer that justifies its cost.

For me, top 3 forks I've ever ridden are EXT era far out front, then the Mezzer, then a custom tuned 36 with a DSD RUNT far behind the top two.
  • 1 0
 @bigbrett @kmag76 You guys have thrown around a lot of money on forks. Why not mess around with a coil setup?
  • 2 1
 @me2menow: The Mezzer and Era feel great, I don't feel I need to go coil, That said I also have Öhlins RXF36 M2, id like to try a coil in this fork
  • 1 0
 @kmag76: Im just curious if you guys will find it comparable, or whether coil will still exceed in performance (latter is my guess). I'm personally on a coil converted fork and loving it. Damping is the only place where I could see potential improvement, but that said I dont really have any concerns that I feel need to be addressed.
  • 2 0
 @me2menow: Mezzer is actually quite cheap! Its just the ERA that I splurged on Smile And I haven't gone full coil because I like to tune the end stroke ramp up and fart around with various settings. When I ride bike park or jump lines I run a pretty different setup from when I ride technical DH or ride in the desert.

That said, if I ran a coil in the front I'm sure I'd get used to it, adapt my technique, and just run more compression damping for the bike park....and it would indeed be most optimal in the chunder.

Also resale value is a thing....I buy lots of forks because I sell them when I'm done with them. Scared a smashpot or the like wouldn't sell well
  • 1 0
 @bigbrett: Definitely fair points, cheers
  • 1 0
 @kleinblake: how are you tuning rebound damping? I'm starting to miss split function on Grip2, where I could run high speed open for loose rough flat corners, and low speed closed for pushing into bumpjumps without front end kicking up. Seems like Mezzer is making me choose only one. Is this why you asked for G2 damper in it recently?
  • 18 2
 Raw metal is the new black.
  • 17 1
 I guess we made a full loop. Now we have carbon frames trying to look like a raw metal
  • 5 6
 Oh, you HAD to bring color into this......
  • 7 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: *colour
  • 16 1
 When is Fox going to release their "Pumpkin Spice" edition of forks? Oh wait...
  • 3 2
 Haha! Zing!
  • 1 1
 Hahahaha
  • 15 0
 The standard edition is limited enough
  • 3 0
 loooooooool good one
  • 6 0
 Had a pair of these (2020 Pro), amazing forks, WAY better than Lyrik CHARGER 2s and Ultimates, hats off to Manitou for such an epic fork... however you guys really need to work on your after sales, getting parts and repair is extremely limited and this is massively holding you back from the RS/FOX competition.
I wanted to do some internal tuning and it took the UK outlet nearly 3 days just to tell me they couldn’t get the parts.
Come on Manitou!!!
  • 9 1
 I would Mezzer the shit out of that thing.
  • 8 0
 glad to see Manitou back in the game.
  • 7 0
 They have been back in the game for a while. But people (consumers) are blinded by the advertising powerhouses of fox and sram
  • 3 0
 @onemind123: But mostly by OEM dominance...
  • 10 3
 that is pure unfiltered filth
  • 9 1
 STFU and take my money.
  • 11 2
 This + polished Meta AM Big Grin
  • 3 0
 @lkubica: someone must do a silver only bike project. will look dazzling
  • 5 0
 @kilazilla: 1996 called, they have what you need: ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb11509971/p4pb11509971.jpg
  • 2 0
 dirtmountainbike.com/features/1991-manitou-fs.html
  • 1 0
 @mattsavage: Almost linked to that, but fork lowers were charcoal color. I had a find that rode one in Central Park back in the day.
  • 5 0
 @lkubica: this plus madonna v2
  • 6 2
 i am a lawyer and believe me, everytime someone tells me " believe me" i think "liar". I own a mattoc pro and its the best fork i have ever owned ( the selva comes close though)
  • 2 1
 what other forks have you owned?
  • 10 0
 Therefore you’re a lawyer and not a judge
  • 9 0
 By that logic I'd have to assume that you're a liar, dear colleague.
  • 5 0
 Is this a logic experiment?
  • 2 0
 @BenTheSwabian: pun intended, but actually it was meant to be a reply to a comment of MatP76 who said I should believe him that there are better forks out there, i was just a little tired and missed the reply button.
  • 1 0
 @Edendino: Judges believe even less then lawyers. Simplyfied, on court one of the parties always lies ( at least one). As a judge you have to deal with it allday everyday, this does something to you.
  • 3 0
 @nickgarrison: In historical order:RS Quadra, RS MAG 21, WhiteBros DC 110; Z1; Boxxer, Shiver, 66, 888, 55, Nixon, 36, Boxxer, BOS Idyle, Lyrik (2010), Pike, Mattoc, Selva
  • 1 0
 Classic Epimenides Paradox.
  • 3 0
 I ran Manitou forks for about 10 years under the Hayes grassroots program and I waited so long for the Mezzer (about every 6 months I'd bug our rep asking when a long travel 29er fork was coming). Unfortunately, it came out a little too late for me to get one. I still have a Dorado 27.5 and have no immediate plans to sell it although my current trails bikes have the Cane Creek Helm and a Fox 34 SC. It actually feels kinda weird that none of my bikes have a Manitou right now (still waiting for a new DH frame)...

In reality, all current forks are really good as long as you're willing to put in some tuning time. I will say the Manitou forks I've had (Tower, Mattoc, Magnum, Machete and Dorado) all worked very well with minimal fiddling.
  • 4 0
 And why can't Manitou, Marzocchi et al be OEM suppliers? Based on current prices, the entire MTB component market desperately needs competition.
  • 7 0
 I have read an article about that just recently. (don't remember where) The problem is with consumers. If a manufacturer does not put Fox or RockShox on a complete bike, it's not going to sell.
There seem to be other people buying bikes as well, not just Pinkbikers ;-)
  • 3 0
 Isn't a big part of it that Sram bundle the fork, brakes and drivetrain together. Makes it easier and cheaper for the bike manufacturer but also less choice for the consumer
  • 1 0
 @DC1988: It *should* be cheaper as a group, but still expensive IMO. I didn't realize SRAM owned Rockshox–that's a good point and advantage the others don't have.
  • 2 0
 I purchased a 2020 Vitus Sommet VR specifically for the Mezzer Pro they offered on it. i think vitus and ghost were the only ones in recent years with manitou as oem on certain models...
  • 6 0
 Sterling Archer?
  • 2 0
 Scott Sterling.
  • 1 1
 Sterling Lawrence
  • 4 0
 I wish they would just have left them polished and unpainted
  • 1 0
 I know right. Hand polished, only to paint them silver! Could have been 'Hand polished and supplied with a tin of Mothers metal polish"
  • 3 0
 Hope they bring those machined letters on Minute 1:00 back instead of using decals.
  • 2 0
 Or you can get 20% off the black one for $799.99 right now directly from Manitou! hayesbicycle.com/collections/mountain/products/mezzer-1?variant=32139567693869
  • 3 0
 Oh why did you post that? Now my wallet is going to be drained a bit. I was planning on getting one and that price is perfect for me. Thanks for letting me know!
  • 4 0
 @NWBasser: Your Welcome! $300 less for a fork that will look 98% as good, and work 100% the same. I could not keep that information to myself. I have been surprised how much better this fork feels than the Lyrik and Pike that I had before.
  • 4 0
 Fresh af.
  • 4 0
 I want this so bad
  • 4 0
 Such an amazing fork.
  • 3 0
 this would look pretty great on my raw aluminum shred dogg
  • 2 0
 It would look awesome on my raw Megatrail. However, I can save much $$ with the black one, so...
  • 1 0
 Yeah i have a raw banshee rune and would love to swap out the pike with this bad boy, but just blew my near-term toy budget on a splitboard...i still have my old Jekyll with a Sherman, back in the day when freeride was raw and the trails weren't all buffed for the "flow"...
  • 1 0
 @ccrida-pnw: But this isn't raw... it's silver paint. Honestly, black looks better with raw than this would. Silver paint will clash with raw, in my opinion.
  • 2 0
 @thegoodflow: Maybe. It doesn't matter to me because I ordered a black one. I'm a function over form guy anyway.
  • 2 0
 I've wanted one of these forks so bad. Love how adjustable they're claim to be. That silver color looks sick!!
  • 3 0
 damn they really went and wrote MANITOU on it twice in comic sans
  • 2 3
 The parts of my tasteway receptors that induce an strong involuntary reaction at the smell of the leavings of a sick dog's poopway are rebelling against your prose. Kindly excise the effete bro-ism "colourway" from your speechway and style guide, and replace it with the more sensible color/colour, color scheme, color option, finish option, etc. Think about the person you admire most who is not into "bike (sub)culture", and what phraseway you would use so they would understand what you mean, but not be embarrassed for you.
  • 3 0
 That fork looks absolutely awesome.
  • 3 0
 Sterling Moss?
  • 5 0
 Sterling Malory Archer?
  • 2 0
 @sterlingmagnum
  • 1 0
 @husstler: ooo0%oo0Ooo
  • 1 0
 Sterling Cooper...
  • 1 0
 So does anyone know the axle to crown on this compared to the 38 and Zeb for the same travel? Is it still more?
  • 3 0
 x7>342.2#(33.3)~{2}
  • 4 0
 Mezzer 29" @ 180mm = 594mm
Zeb 29" @ 180mm = 596mm
Fox 38 - can't find
  • 5 2
 @nmontee: Wow, so its better than the Zeb! In the past people complained about the reverse arch because it increases the axle to crown.

I think this will be my next fork.
  • 14 0
 @Dropthedebt: Is that Elon Musks next kids name?
  • 8 0
 @hamncheez: Beer yes but it's pronounced Alison
  • 6 0
 @Dropthedebt: not sure where did you get your degree at but I majored in √π¶∆✓ and let me tell you, it's pronounced Elonson. Pimp
  • 4 0
 @noisette: that's what I said Eek
  • 7 1
 @hamncheez: Maniitou reverse arch forks have always had shorter lowers, and lower axle-crown lengths than the competition. It's been one of their marketing points for many years now.
Sure they 'look' longer because of the extra exposed stanchion.
Manitou have pretty much always gone by the rule - Form follows function / Function over Fashion,
but most of the bike community are too petty / fashion driven
  • 4 0
 @mountainjew: is true, the reverse arch just makes more sense
  • 2 0
 Just want a pair cos of my nickname
  • 1 0
 Look like a pike ultimate. That’s my favorite colored fork tho
  • 1 0
 Did they remove HBO adjustment?
  • 1 3
 Ha. They did. I just look at the pictures...
  • 8 0
 Mezzer never had an adjuster for HBO, it's preset and not adjustable without internal modifications. The damper is an entirely different design from the Mattoc Pro forks that do have an adjuster for HBO.
  • 4 0
 HBO is still there its just not externally adjustable anymore
  • 1 2
 @velodonata: is it? Mattoc Pro has MC2 damper.
  • 7 0
 @rpl3000: Mezzer uses a new design, a sealed cartridge damper with a bladder, kind of like a Charger or a FIT4. Mattoc uses the stanchion as the damper housing as most Manitou forks do. It also has what they call a cartridge rebound circuit inside. They still refer to them both as MC2, which I believe is a reference to the compression circuit more than the overall damper design.
  • 1 0
 Ohhh this one on my black habit
  • 1 0
 this on a pole or airdrop would look so good
  • 1 0
 It should be available for more than just that!! this fork looks awesome!!
  • 1 0
 Where's the additional 38g of weight coming from? Paint?
  • 2 0
 ehm, more material on 29er fork?
  • 1 0
 Probably what I would buy, if I could buy any fork.
  • 1 3
 I misread the title and actually thought it said “Manitou release a limited STEERING fork”. Which, for a Manitou, sounds about right.
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