First Look: Manitou's 180mm Mezzer Pro Fork and Mara Pro Shock - Garda Trentino 2019
Manitou has been rocking the reverse arch fork for years now. It's had its ups and downs and bumps in the road and the team at Manitou/Hayes won't deny that. Now, with a completely revamped design program, their new Mezzer fork and Mara shock are looking to change things for the better.
With new leadership, headed by industry veteran Jon Swanson, the entire development program at Manitou has been scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up. The hopes are that by focusing on two categories each year instead of an incohesive program that didn't really have a ton of direction, Manitou will be able to develop better and more competitive products in what is a very competitive marketplace.
This year, the two categories are the J-Unit products and, as we have here, enduro suspension.
Mezzer Fork
There are two key pieces to the enduro platform, the Mezzer and Mara. Engineers for the enduro product were tasked with developing the fork to be 25% stiffer than the 36 and it has to weigh in at 2 kg. After some problem solving and engineering, Manitou came out with a fork that's right at 2 kg and is, according to Manitou, 30% stiffer than their 36mm competitor.
The 37mm stanchion fork is available in both 29" and 27.5" versions and is adjustable from 140-180mm, internally, via three spacer clips. There are 37, 44 and 51mm crown offset options and it is boost only.
The damper side of the fork has similar internals to the Mattock Pro with an external high and low-speed compression adjustment and a bladder cartridge damper to prevent air and oil from mixing as it can in a semi-bath in some conditions. The hydraulic bottom out from the Mattoc Pro also carries over but on this fork, it is fixed, and not adjustable as Manitou say that riders weren't using it on the Mattock Pro.
On the air side, the Mezzer uses a Dorado air system. When you screw the air pump on, it fills both the negative and positive at the same time. Chamber number three, at the top, is Manitou's IRT (Infinite Rate Tune) chamber. You fill the IRT first, and then the main. This sets the piston down at its lowest point. You can run a low positive air pressure in the main chamber to allow for good small bump sensitivity. Then as you ramp up pressure in the main through travel, the third chamber matches and opens up and gives more support. Manitou says this gives great small bump sensitivity and support through the stroke.
The cable routing on the fork is an upgrade from Manitou's previous offerings as you can run cables on the front or back. On the old forks you were relegated to a slew of zip ties or routing it on the back of the arch. The Mezzer will sell for $999.99 USD.
Mara Shock
One of the big pushes with product development was to make the front and rear suspension together, for the same end user and with the same focus. The Mara has externally adjustable HS and LS Compression, as well as rebound. The pedaling platform consists of "work" and "party" mode.
The key feature of the Mara is how easy it is to service by the user. Anyone with basic tools and a basic suspension knowledge should be able to tune shim stacks in this shock in their garage, according to Manitou, you only need a pin tool. The IFP pressure is only 150psi and although nitrogen is preferred, air works too. The Mara will sell for $579.99 USD.
How simple is it to disassemble? See the video below:
There's a new IFP piston that Manitou developed in conjunction with SKF. Most IFP's are rigid but this one is flexible. The center of the IFP flexes some before moving to help with small bump sensitivity, this will eventually carry over into Manitou's other shocks.
There are three reservoir lengths and three different air can volumes available, depending on the application. The whole idea is that it is all easy to tune and maintain, without a lot of fuss. I was able to get hands on the shock and it is indeed incredibly easy to take apart. Unfortunately, the weather didn't allow for me to get out and ride either product. We'll have ride impressions soon as we're able to throw the new suspension on a bike.
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RS: open, pedal, firm
CC: climb switch
Manitou: work, party.
Only one of those companies got how mountain bikers actually think and feel. Just a detail, but well done.
But not quite as impressive as that last week's storm that hit Lake Garda. Quite the hit of winter
I get why you have to benchmark the competition when developing new product, but we would have preferred a 2.2kg fork with a CSU interface that creaks 75% less
You ever tried that fork?
It was absolutely amazing and wouldn't be far off most top level forks available today. Factor in that seal technology has gotten way better and i'd be curious to try it with modern seals for improved sensitivity. It would probably blow most peoples minds what Manitou had available during the dark ages of suspension.
It's especially funny as years later Rock Shox released their Motion Control plastic crap as an innovative product and Marzocchis were still weighing more than your car!
Your quote needed to be repeated. This, so much this! Fork mfrs, please add in a few grams and make crowns that last at least a year. Please? Pretty please?
Some brands grease the stanchions into the crown. Once they have been ridden enough to squeeze the grease out of place the fretting and creaking starts.
And yes, this new fork would certainly fit the burlier bill, but I've had my 36 for almost 3 years now. Also, I've never liked the backwards arch.
That said, I do all my own work on my Mattoc and it is by far the fork I appreciate the most.
Indeed Manitou has never been away but they've had some reliability issues a decade ago or so (just like most brands at some point) and somehow that image appeared to have stuck. But they've been huge in the OEM market 15 years ago. It was like half the complete bikes had Hayes Nine brakes (because their PM brake mounts and flippable masters were really convenient for bike manufacturers), Sun rims and also loads of Manitou suspension. Once SRAM grew huge (which I attribute mostly to the fact that Shimano pushed these rapid rise rear mechs and also because the Avid/SRAM brakes also adopted the "quick out the door" approach to mounting brakes), Hayes never got that OEM market back. For a company the size of Hayes, this OEM market is essential and after a good couple of years of big S domination in both the OEM market as well as in racing, it seems we're seeing more variation again. So I expect they'll make it back in there, though there won't be domination anymore. It won't be next year though. They do need a more complete line up of affordable quality stuff for everything between XC/trail up to gravity. Once they release a XC/trail or otherwise affordable variation on their Dominion brake (with that kind of caliper adjustment) they'll become interesting. Unlike SRAM though, they just can't offer a drivetrain. Unless they get off that PeteSpeed gearbox patent they bought from BeOne and actually start doing something with it. It seems there is still a following for this kind of stuff and (just like Suntour) they'll probably be able to offer it at a lower price than the French and Germans.
I’d rather have to order replacement parts I can install myself for $20 and wait a few days than have to send off my entire fork, pay $200 for basic service, and have to do it again when it feels like crap in 5 months.
I loved my Dorado. And Im a big dude lol. I also had no issues getting parts here in the states. Local bike had just about everything for them in stock.
Then they lost OEM, ran out of money, Hayes bought them and it's been upwards ever since. Everything made since 2008 has been rock solid, just unheard of. Even the TPC stuff made back in the dark days are great performers by todays standards.
Marra has independant circuts for party and play modes. Not just preloading the shims like other shocks. Shame I like a coil
F*ck me
Nothing on the German sites either unfortunately.
I have had excellent customer service from the Manitou support base in Germany in the past so have emailed them about this. Hopefully they will be able to help this time too. It is however a little frustrating that you need to go out of country to get support, it would be awesome if the distributor actually supported the stuff they sell but i suspect Hayes bikes would need to step in actively pursue a new UK distributor for that to happen.
Hopefully they can get some OEM contracts to get things rolling again. A couple sponsored riders to push their stuff on the enduro & DH circuit wouldn’t hurt, either.
That was a looong time ago now though and the latest crop are top notch by all accounts. 2kg with 37mm stanchions and adjustabletravel? Yes please.
Purple Hayes were one of the most powerful and consistent brake I tried, and could easily hold it's own with todays Codes and Saints.
But this one comes in exactly 40% more expansive than the last mattoc (msrp in eur vs. msrp in eur) so it is in line now with all high end forks and it will be hard to outperform those (stiffness is no arguement for me). So my first excitement is well dampened, haha.
You realise the damper in the pike and lyrik is identical?
Yes it is, still a charger damper.
Furthermore, the MC2 damper in the Mattoc is also vastly superior to the RCT3 Pike, especially when the stock tuning is not compatible with your riding or body weight. Combined with the performance improvements possible with the introduction of IRT, I'm comfortable saying the MC2 damper still outperforms the current Charger damper. I therefore have no trouble believing the Mezzer will easily be worth its money as much as the comparatively priced forks from the bit two.
Just look at the PB and MTBR forums and compare customer satisfaction between Fox, RS and Manitou forks and shocks... Fox is mediocre at best, RS does pretty well, but most haven't tried other brands than the big two, and Manitou generally does very well. Since most Manitou riders started on Fox and/or RS, I'd say they have already been doing well in real life. The only thing that held them back was marketing and exposure. Probs to PB for covering them. Hopefully we'll see a review of both the Mezzer and Mara. New releases of Fox 34 or Float iteration 158 (we finally have the damping sorted out now!) are covered everywhere. I want to see X-Fusion, DVO, BOS, Suntour, etc. !
O and please, they only made 1 enduro fork up until now and it's been out for 5 years already. Please use the right spelling (Mattoc and not Mattock).
Torsionally, the Mezzer is 30% stiffer than a Fox 36, 16% stiffer than a Ohlins RFX36, 1% stiffer than a Lyrik
Fore-aft, the Mezzer is 7% stiffer than a 36, 20% stiffer than a RFX, and 4% stiffer than a Lyrik
The ability to fit a larger selection of tire size widths and diameters is for versatility. Maybe I want to use that fork on my Plus Bike, or my bikepacking bike, or maybe DH bike. Not all of us have a fork for every use and a garage full of bikes that rarely get ridden. I like one, very versatile bike.
I remember after selling my full susser during knee surgery recovery ordering a new bike instead of building one. It came with the new Manitou Mattoc's. At first I was like oh god no Manitous. After setting them up and riding them I was blown away, they are super stiff and really plush at the same time. Manitou have really upped their game and are now to be taken seriously.
I rate my Manitou Mattocs in the same feel category as my Fox Float 36's and My Bos Deville TCR. Pros over the Fox are not having stupid service intervals and Pros over the BOS is actually having some customer supports and parts availability
Dorado Air spring ain’t too shabby. Lighter than a Lyric or 36..
Unless I’m mistaken, Mattoc internal means that travel can be adjusted on the trail using a shock pump.
I’d consider it, but I just got a 2019!Factory 36 for $600, hard to justify an additional $400 when the average for today does not suck.
When can we expect a review of the new Manitou stuff?
Fortunately there are other websites as well:
nsmb.com/articles/manitou-mezzer-pro-suspension-fork-ridden
@danielsapp @mikelevy
Only pictures of the black one on manitous site...
Blackburn barrier mudguard is what a few guys run when the direct mounts are not an option, should work good on a Markhor
Mucky Nutz makes them.
muckynutz.com/fenders/face_fender_r/face_fender_reverse
like. And it feels exactly how it should. I need to first see those hordes of folks smashing and schralping high speed berms like Phil Atwill or Adam Brayton to realize how much stiffness they need. Stiffness obsession coming from a company making Dorado, come on... is this even real?
@marcusbrody I may use the term trail bike too loosely, when enduro bike is more appropriate
How about Dorado made by the same company is both stiff and compliant?
I am sure this is a great fork,I love everything silvery/ raw metal but it is time to stop carelessly using the word “stiffness” in marketing. And manitou needs to invest in supplying service parts worldwide. I am not buying something that will cost me 150-200$ to ship and service every year. Cane Creek is irritating enough. Love your stuff, but Fk you for your service policy CaneCreeek.
Numerous bikeshops or suspension tuning shops will service a Mattoc for roughly €100 (little less for small service and little bit more for big service).
If you're handy yourself, ordering parts from big German shops saves a lot of money. A shop with 'components' in its name even ordered a service kit for a 2011 Minute Pro and shipped it to me for €25. I can't call that expensive.
I know it’s, in theory, a superior design as it can be as strong for less weight but it just looks plain wrong especially from above looking down. In the past Manitou have made some of the most iconic forks like the Dorado and XVERT. The XVERT was one of the best looking forks ever and really shows these up to be ugly.
Just wish they could see it.
That and obviously the “Manipoo” nickname, that probably doesn’t help.