Ok, so you're not putting lipstick on a pig. I did a quick check of reviews for various Manitou forks, and was quite surprised. Everything from glowing praise to utter crap. Here's what I found on the '04 Skareb. I don't generally give too much weight to any one reviewer, but look at the overall score. Guys that claim they broke a fork are probably exceeding the limits of their intended use. Post your question in the MTB thread, but be specific about your application, or those huck weenies will all tell you to get a Marzocchi DJ II.