Mountain Biking - Manitou Axel Elite

Im mainly a xc and a lil freeriding.
anyone no anything about the manitou axel elite fork?
www.mtbr.com gave it a 4/5.
price? pefromance? i got a $50 coupon to my lbs so i want to use it on something i need.

I don't have any personal experience with them but lots of people here complain about them.

Just from what people have been saying here I would say don't get one.

BTW what kind of bike do you have and how much money are you looking to spend?

I don't have any personal experience with them but lots of people here complain about them.

really? thanks, i was just about to buy that one too, wouldve wasted my money. Im an amateur biker and im looking to spend under $200. prefferably well under.

i was also considering the RockShox Pilots, are either of the forks in that series any good?
I have a trek 4300 (2004) -- when i first got it i wanst planning on doing mountain biking

The two forks you've mentioned will work, but with what I've read about you and your riding, I think you'll quickly outgrow them.

Both forks are for light XC, sure they'll take the occasional jump, but I think you'll be spending more "air time" than these can handle.

I know you have a budget and want to stay below that, but I'd consider spending a bit more and getting a beefier fork. The DUKE from RS is a much better fork and shouldn't be too much more. If you can afford a Psylo, that a HUGE improvement, although I'm sure it's way out of your range.

I have an Axel and it's a pretty cheap fork. I ended up with one because it's a pretty cheap fork and I was building up a budget SS. I've blown all the oil out of the left side once already and completely rebuilt it. It flexes like crazy, and I think it's not straight. The wheel sits in the drop outs cocked to one side. (In either direction, so it's not the wheel). With all this, it is what it is, a decent cheap fork with just a few adjustments.

The more you spend the more adjustments you'll be able to make and the performance increases significantly.

If you expect to do a significant amount of jumping, consider a beefier fork like a Marzocchi DJIII or a DJII on closeout.

L8R

The Axel Elite came on my Rockhopper Pro, which I just bought 2 weeks ago, and it's leaked oil since the day I brought it home. The rebound adjustment doesn't really do much, and even on the firmest setting the shock bottoms out very easily. I don't necessarily want to spend $400 on a new shock, but I will be upgrading to something a little better in the future.

i think a2psyklnut knows what im looking for. im only 14, bout to turn 15. in my school/for my age level im considered one of the best in the town, (small town). so now i think you get the idea of how amateur i am and how amateur everyone that rides with me is.

i have a job umping, and write for the local paper, thats like $60 a week if im lucky, so i dont have a huge budget. i thought the duke was more then the pyslo becuase on the rockshox website i thought they had them listed from most expensive to least... guess not.

www.mtbr.com doenst tell me the price neither does www.jensonusa.com how much will the wors RockShox Duke fork cost? $230? Also whats wrong with the pilots, like something like a Rockshox Pilot XC or will that not handle my abuse? I do a 2-3 foot drop off once a day, and once every week or 2 something closer to 5 feet. I can recall ever doing a jump that wold send me in he air more then 4-5 feet.

I like the price of the Pilot XC (RockShox) -- But will it break from abuse?
How much will the bottom of the line Duke (Rockshox) Cost me?

Here's a good deal on a Duke: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12798-315_ROCDX4-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/2004-Rock-Shox-Duke-XC-U-Turn.htm

Here's a Psylo: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11846-315_ROCPS3-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/2003-Rock-Shox-Psylo-SL.htm

Here's what I would most recommend for you:http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12791-315_MARD34_KIT-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/2004-Marzocchi-Dirt-Jumper-III-Fork-w_-FREE-Cane-Creek-S-2-Headset.htm

This is wierd, it's a 2004 for the same price as a 2003 Duke: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12802-315_ROCPU4-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/2004-Rock-Shox-Psylo-XC-U-Turn-Fork---Disc-Only.htm

Oh, it's Disc Only! Still that's kinda wierd.

I also just got an email about a Manitou Black on Sale for $199. It was either JensonUSA or Supergo.

L8R

ok, those are all good, im really thinkin bout the djII not the djIII. can a djII be purchased at a lbs, (i dont like ordering offline no matter how good the deal).

and i guess ur implying the rockshox pilots arent good for me then?

your the best in your town? didnt you break your wrist doing a tiny jump? arent you the guy who cant keep his feet on his pedals?

surely theres SOMEONE thats better... you should find him/her and then learn.... hands on is the best experiance you can get.

You can buy almost anything from a bike shop. If they're not an authorized dealer, they can usually order one from a supply house.

It's cool you support your LBS's. Wish more people did!

As far as the Pilot, it's not a bad XC fork, but you'll quickly outgrow it. It's not intended to take abuse like a DJII.

L8R

You can buy almost anything from a bike shop. If they're not an authorized dealer, they can usually order one from a supply house.

It's cool you support your LBS's. Wish more people did!


L8R

This is true. I am a Answer Manitou dealer. However I can get any Rock Shox, Marzocchi, can get Magura, White Bros, Risse, and Suntour forks. Yes I also wished more people supported their LBS xmarts, and mail order stores are killing us LBS owners.

SUPPORT YOUR LBS. THEY R GOD AND THERE THE ONES WHO YOU BRING YOUR BIkE TO WHEN YOUR RIMS ARE BENT, YOUR CRANKSET IS IN PIECES, AND YOUR FRAMES HAS CRATERS IN IT

SUPPORT YOUR LBS. THEY R GOD AND THERE THE ONES WHO YOU BRING YOUR BIkE TO WHEN YOUR RIMS ARE BENT, YOUR CRANKSET IS IN PIECES, AND YOUR FRAMES HAS CRATERS IN IT

**moment of silence for all LBS's out there**

The Axel Elite came on my Rockhopper Pro, which I just bought 2 weeks ago, and it's leaked oil since the day I brought it home. The rebound adjustment doesn't really do much, and even on the firmest setting the shock bottoms out very easily. I don't necessarily want to spend $400 on a new shock, but I will be upgrading to something a little better in the future.

Sounds like a warranty issue to me. I'd get that baby back to the LBS pronto.

I would steer clear from the Axel series of forks. As for the bike shops. Unfortunately in the UK they have to be a dealer in order to bring in something. If they are not, they will probably charge at around 20$ on top of the msrp for ordering something outside their list.

I got some 03 Blacks from wheelworld.com that were pretty cheap and alot better than the Axels. Dunno if they still have any . . .