Just FYI, but Manitou Black Comps are $249 or so in many places right now. Use the 20% Performance Mail Order coupon (listed on this website in the deals forum) and you can take it even lower.

I just upgraded to a heavy old Black Comp from an actually OLD Mach-Ti Manitou that finally wore out. (No more bushings available). Let me just say that the Black steers, absorbs and adjusts great, and that I like knowing there's a spring in there (air forks don't like heavy riders, usually).