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#1
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
My fork's looking a bit worse for wear (****e RST stuff that Giant stuck on
the bike). I've found last year's Manitou Axel Super, and a 2004 Marzocchi EXR Comp (usually an OEM rather than aftermarket fork). They're both priced at £90 (yes, I'm a tight *******, but at least I'm not fitting more elastomer guff), and both have coil springs and air gubbins, and 80 or 100mm of travel depending how you set them up. Which is the better fork of the two (I'm thinking the Manitou)? The RST that Giant fitted to my bike has about 50mm of travel or so. Is fitting an 80/100mm travel fork going to cock up the way my bike rides? |
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#2
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
There are quite a few comments on the '03 Manitou Axel Super he http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121940.shtml Nothing there on the particular Marzocchi you mention though. On Mon, 31 May 2004 11:31:54 +0100, Doki wrote: My fork's looking a bit worse for wear (****e RST stuff that Giant stuck on the bike). I've found last year's Manitou Axel Super, and a 2004 Marzocchi EXR Comp (usually an OEM rather than aftermarket fork). They're both priced at £90 (yes, I'm a tight *******, but at least I'm not fitting more elastomer guff), and both have coil springs and air gubbins, and 80 or 100mm of travel depending how you set them up. Which is the better fork of the two (I'm thinking the Manitou)? The RST that Giant fitted to my bike has about 50mm of travel or so. Is fitting an 80/100mm travel fork going to cock up the way my bike rides? |
#3
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
Paul wrote: There are quite a few comments on the '03 Manitou Axel Super he http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121940.shtml Nothing there on the particular Marzocchi you mention though. Mmm. Sounds good. OTOH, all the decent forks cost more than my bike cost me. Would fitting a good fork to a mediocre bike be A Bad Thing? |
#4
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
A difficult question to answer, which to some extent depends on how 'mediocre' your current bike is. If you think you'd really appreciate the benefits of a more expensive model, and you're pretty happy with the rest of your bike, and you don't mind spending the money then you could consider spending more. On the otherhand, would the money be better spent replacing / upgrading other componentry on your bike? Also, remember to take all the marketing hype out there with a pinch of salt - don't get sucked in to spending your money on a plush lightweight fork if you only cruise around the local fireroads at weekends. On Mon, 31 May 2004 17:29:11 +0100, Doki wrote: Paul wrote: There are quite a few comments on the '03 Manitou Axel Super he http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121940.shtml Nothing there on the particular Marzocchi you mention though. Mmm. Sounds good. OTOH, all the decent forks cost more than my bike cost me. Would fitting a good fork to a mediocre bike be A Bad Thing? |
#5
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
Paul wrote: A difficult question to answer, which to some extent depends on how 'mediocre' your current bike is. If you think you'd really appreciate the benefits of a more expensive model, and you're pretty happy with the rest of your bike, and you don't mind spending the money then you could consider spending more. On the otherhand, would the money be better spent replacing / upgrading other componentry on your bike? Also, remember to take all the marketing hype out there with a pinch of salt - don't get sucked in to spending your money on a plush lightweight fork if you only cruise around the local fireroads at weekends. My bike's a Giant Boulder (insert numbers and letters here). Comes with an RST front fork, Alivio shifters / levers, no name V-brakes, boggo Shimano front mech and an Alivio rear mech, and a replaceable mech hanger, which you tend not to get on the really basic bikes. Probably £300 - £400 or so new. It's now got XT shifters / levers after I smashed the Alivios up and found some cheap. Aluminium frame by the way. I'm happy with the components on the bike, TBH I'll look to save weight when I'm light enough to suggest that the bike's weight might be making any difference to my riding . I've got some LX V brakes to stick on it knocking around too. Anyway, what I'm unsure of is if the frame is worth upgrading. For all I know, Giant might use the same frame on 6 different bikes and just change the components. OTOH, the frame might a POS. Anyone got any ideas? |
#6
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
Doki wrote:
Paul wrote: There are quite a few comments on the '03 Manitou Axel Super he http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121940.shtml Nothing there on the particular Marzocchi you mention though. Mmm. Sounds good. OTOH, all the decent forks cost more than my bike cost me. Would fitting a good fork to a mediocre bike be A Bad Thing? Yes - a new bike is always cheaper to buy than to upgrade parts one-by-one, unless it is over a period of several years... -- Phil, Squid-in-Training |
#7
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
I'm happy with the components on the bike, TBH I'll look to save
weight when I'm light enough to suggest that the bike's weight might be making any difference to my riding . I've got some LX V brakes to stick on it knocking around too. Anyway, what I'm unsure of is if the frame is worth upgrading. For all I know, Giant might use the same frame on 6 different bikes and just change the components. OTOH, the frame might a POS. Anyone got any ideas? The bike to upgrade up is the Iguana. The new bike will be more dialed-in and will be stiffer than your current frame. Bottom line is, upgrading is usually a bad idea unless you're short on cash or other similar circumstances. -- Phil, Squid-in-Training |
#8
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
ZeeExSixAre wrote: Doki wrote: Paul wrote: There are quite a few comments on the '03 Manitou Axel Super he http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121940.shtml Nothing there on the particular Marzocchi you mention though. Mmm. Sounds good. OTOH, all the decent forks cost more than my bike cost me. Would fitting a good fork to a mediocre bike be A Bad Thing? Yes - a new bike is always cheaper to buy than to upgrade parts one-by-one, unless it is over a period of several years... What would you replace it with then? Something cheap and ****ty or something vaguely solid? I'd prefer something that'll last a while rather than be ultra flash. |
#9
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
Doki wrote:
ZeeExSixAre wrote: Doki wrote: Paul wrote: There are quite a few comments on the '03 Manitou Axel Super he http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121940.shtml Nothing there on the particular Marzocchi you mention though. Mmm. Sounds good. OTOH, all the decent forks cost more than my bike cost me. Would fitting a good fork to a mediocre bike be A Bad Thing? Yes - a new bike is always cheaper to buy than to upgrade parts one-by-one, unless it is over a period of several years... What would you replace it with then? Something cheap and ****ty or something vaguely solid? I'd prefer something that'll last a while rather than be ultra flash. Replace it with the level of bike that you think you need and consider its price. I bought an XTC2 last year, have been riding it for a while, and now I'm going to sell it and buy an STP2 because it's suited for the type of riding I'll be doing. Always upgrade - don't downgrade. -- Phil, Squid-in-Training |
#10
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Cheapo forks (Manitou and Marzocchi)
ZeeExSixAre wrote: Doki wrote: ZeeExSixAre wrote: Yes - a new bike is always cheaper to buy than to upgrade parts one-by-one, unless it is over a period of several years... What would you replace it with then? Something cheap and ****ty or something vaguely solid? I'd prefer something that'll last a while rather than be ultra flash. Replace it with the level of bike that you think you need and consider its price. I bought an XTC2 last year, have been riding it for a while, and now I'm going to sell it and buy an STP2 because it's suited for the type of riding I'll be doing. Always upgrade - don't downgrade. I meant the fork, not the bike. I'm not going to replace the bike for a good while yet. I seriously doubt it's holding me back in any way, as I'm not what you'd called skilled . The bike isn't getting swapped until I've the cash for a good one, and I feel like I *need* it. |
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