Yeah, I wasn't sure what to think when I saw the original offer. My first impulse was to rush out and send this person all the cash I had, maybe even offer up my house and two children for the sweet sweet deal. My second reaction was to ignore which I was doing until I saw this response. I HAD to agree. I won't even mention my budget being spelled out in my original post. Siiiiiiiigh... now that I've started, I really want to just run with it. I am not going to do it though. I will remain strong. Thanks for the Greenfish link. I believe I'll be purchasing that. I have no real love of Manitou but I have purchased a Black before and had no small amount of good rides with it connected to the bike. I could go buy a shiny new Fox but why? For a grand or so I could add to the kids college fund, purchase a couple thermal triple paned windows to replace the marginal single panes I have now and so on. I've owned and ridden numerous forks and really all they do is go up and down. Sure some have more length and little knobs that may or may not change the way it feels( I swear I can't tell) but dear god, it is a bike part! I guess I don't place the same importance on these things as some do.