Mountain Biking - Pick my fork!

Please help me make up my mind! I can't choose between a Rock Shox Duke U-Turn X-C and the Manitou Black series(Comp, Elite). I'm 6'1 210. I'll be doing xc plus some light free ride with a little pavement as well. It's going on a HardRock Pro. Your decision is final. And, thanks for your opinions in advance!:)

How about the Marzocchi EXR or Marzocchi MX Comp it is around the same price range.

Don't know how it relates to you... but I'm saving my pennies for an MX Comp with ETA.

I say save and get a Marzocchi. Much better perfomance and durability. Are you a weight weenie? If not then the extra onces of the Zoch will be worth the quality.

But if those are the only forks your are going to choose from i say RockShox. I have seen to many Manitous have serieous problems.

:beer:

I'd go with the duke if i were you even though i do kinda dig manitous right now since i know someone there and they are good people, but the duke tends to be very reliable. I'm not sure if this years Duke XC with the U-turn is air sprung or coil. If it's a coil i'd get the Black since they tend to be very smooth and Travel adjustment is over rated.

As for a MX Comp or EXR, the EXR is THE bottom of the line fork at marzocchi. Very basic. And the MX Comp is nice, but has no rebound adjustment

I'd still get the MX Comp even without the rebound. I would however strongly suggest that you swap out the stock "medium" springs for some Xtra Heavy regardless of which fork you choose. It'll be like night and day! You're a clydesdale (Welcome to the 200# + club) and you'll blow through the full travel with the stock springs.

L8R

Sooo...How does making your decision harder suit you Happy? It's a good thing you are happy, because if I was you I'd be ticked that these nuts can't figure out that you want them to pick the MANITOU or the ROCKSHOX rather than giving a bunch of other crap about other forks....Get the Rockshox. I think Raiyn is about your size and he got one and loves it.

I've got a Duke Air and a Black Elite Air and much prefer the Black. The plushness is strong with the Manitou.
As far as issues with the Manitous, our shop sees far more Dukes and SIDs than Manitous in with blown seals and the like.

That's what I get for dropping my guns...The Black has the Reverse Arch which is supposed to increase stiffness, a good thing for a big rider.

Go lefty.:D

I would say go for a Zocchi.

Personally I like White Bros....


I have zero experience with White Bros, do not take this post seriously

Fubar, you don't even hardly ride your mountain bike anymore! Whatcha talkin about man?

L8R

If I remember correctly the MX Comp and the MX comp with ETA is only $20 price difference.. and default setup has 105mm travel, vs the MX comp with 80mm travel.

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Fubar, you don't even hardly ride your mountain bike anymore! Whatcha talkin about man?

L8R

Whateeeeeeeeveer!!!:crash: :D :p :) I ride my MTB plenty..But I like riding my road bike competitively, so I ride it more. :beer:

Go with the DUke XC, it will have beefier lowers like the psylo, but plush internals like a sid

I love my Duke XC U-turn

I say get the black.I have one and just ordered one for my wife.I think nashbar has it on sale for$225 plus use a 20%off coupon to get a great deal.

Redfox,
That it one of the reasons I wanted to know what everyone thought about these two forks. One guy at the L.B.S swears that Rock Shox is the best. The other bike shop says get the Black. I was leaning towards the Duke but as you point out there are some great deals out there! I.E Black Comp at Performance Bike for $199 Of course it's silver but with 20% off coupon it looks like a deal. So I really started looking and realized that I really needed help making up my mind. Also, I would rather support my local bike shops so price wise the Black and the Duke will end up costing about the same give or take a few bucks.

I'm currently riding a RS Psylo, and will continue to do so until it gets destroyed. I was on an anti RS kick before Igot this fork, because of past experiences with their forks. My Psylo is awesome, (not quite as smooth as my previous Marzocchi), but I love it.

If I had to choose between the Duke and the Black, I'd get the Duke.

BTW, ever wonder why Black's come in different colors? I mean, if you take their name literally, they should all be black.

L8R

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
BTW, ever wonder why Black's come in different colors? I mean, if you take their name literally, they should all be black.

L8R

Too much like Marz's so they need to be different colours. :)

Ok Everybody!,
I have chosen the Duke!:) Black should be black darn it! Seriously, Thanks for all the input. Either fork is great and I would have been happy. Money was not really an issue(just don't tell my wife). I like the U-turn. It just gets so confusing with all the info thats out there. Plus with my riding on some pavement 63mm of travel is great. Remember in TN. we have the worst schools and the nicest roads leading to them!
Thanks once again,
Happy
:beer:

Originally posted by B1105
Go with the DUke XC, it will have beefier lowers like the psylo, but plush internals like a sid

I have to comment here, I have a Specialized with a Duke XC, it has a sqraxel, the 12mm quick release, helps stiffen it up, Im only 180lbs and I find it a little noodlie.
I had a Marzocchi Z5 air, which was considerably stiffer, Id go with a Zoke given the choice, no-one messes with the rebounding, or preload, in real life (ok I dont touch it, I set it where it needed to be and left it and ride, could be broken for all I care, but thats me... :D )
I dont have enough experience with much else... but thats my two cents worth.

Scoob

Originally posted by Scooby Snax
I have to comment here, I have a Specialized with a Duke XC, it has a sqraxel, the 12mm quick release, helps stiffen it up, Im only 180lbs and I find it a little noodlie.
....snip..... A Duke "noodlie"? I beg to differ I'm sitting at about 250 and the Duke XC U-turn I have is solid as a rock. If you want to talk about noodly forks check out a Manipoo Axel

Originally posted by Raiyn
A Duke "noodlie"? I beg to differ I'm sitting at about 250 and the Duke XC U-turn I have is solid as a rock. If you want to talk about noodly forks check out a Manipoo Axel

Manipoo.. I like that!!

Well compared to the Marz, it does feel much more noodilly, I get the brakes swish swish thing going in a sprint.

Raiyn, you also have the '03 with the "U" turn, which may be stiffer? Then if thats the case Im envious, and the man is really gonna be "Happy" Do you also have the sqraxel? or did you change your wheels? (too lazy to search... :D)

Scoob

sqraxel? Not quite following you there Cheif. Anyhoo I'm too lazy to post the whole works so I'll just give you the link. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18024)