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New Dropper Post and Forks from Manitou - Eurobike 2017

Aug 31, 2017
by Vernon Felton  
Eurobike 2017


Manitou Mattoc Pro

Manitou's Mattoc isn't a brand new fork, but their all-mountain model gets several significant tweaks for 2018. The most obvious change? There's now a 29er version of the Mattoc that offers up as much as 140 millimeters of travel. The Mattoc is also now Boost 110 compatible (though the brand will also offer a non-Boost version of the 27.5 fork). While the engineers were working up a new set of Boost-ified lowers they made the casting stiffer and lighter. The Mattoc chassis loses between 70 and 90 grams. Max travel on the 27.5-compatible fork has been nudged up to 170 millimeters of travel.

Manitou also expanded the travel range downwards. To wit, if you're riding a short-travel, full-suspension bike or a hardtail and are looking for a light-but-burly bit of suspension with plenty of tuning options, the Mattoc is now also available in 100 and 120-millimeter travel packages.


Manitou Mattoc Pro
Manitou Mattoc Pro

While few of us get all dewey-eyed over sealss, Manitou upgraded the seals on the Mattoc with a new version that they say reduces friction by 25 percent and leads to a much smoother initial stroke. The new lowers also feature a slick, integrated fender. Price for the very tuneable Pro model ranges from $850 to $950.


Manitou Jack Dropper Post

While it seems like there are dozens of dropper post models floating around the market now, you can never have too many options to choose from. Manitou took their sweet time jumping into the mix here, but they do so with the new Jack dropper post.

Manitou Jack Dropper Post

The $324 Jack is a mechanically-actuated post, available in both 125 and 150 drop packages. Manitou currently offers the Jack in 30.9 and 31.6-millimeter post diameters.

If you're hoping for an under-the-bar, trigger-style remote, well, no dice. Not yet at least. The Jack uses a simple-but-clean lever. Weight for the entire dropper post assembly is 520 grams.


Sun Ringle Duroc 35

The Sun-Ringle Duroc 35 isn't a brand-spankin' new wheelset, but it deserves mention here, thanks to its decidedly blue-collar bent. Wheels, let's be blunt, have gotten stupidly expensive. It's really that simple. While there are certainly lighter wheels than the 1820-gram Duroc 35, few of them sell for $600. What's more, that six hundred nets you a sturdy wheelset that comes out of the box tubeless taped, with valves and a bottle of tire sealant to boot, as well as both Shimano and SRAM XD driver bodies. The Duroc 35 features an internal width of 32 millimeters, so they play nice with today's wider tires.

Sun Ringle Duroc 35
The 6000-series alloy rims are laced with straight-pull Wheelsmith spokes to Sun-Ringle hubs. The three-pawl rear hub rolls on sealed cartridge bearings that meet the stringent ABEC 5 standard. This is the part of the write up where I mention axle standards and you probably wind up bummed. Sun-Ringle, however, bucks the tide here. The Duroc 35 is available in 142x12, Boost 148, regular 100 front spacing and Boost 110. You have a non-Boost fork but a Boost rear end? No problem... Sun-Ringle will mix and match front and rear wheels, so you can get a front wheel with a 100-millimeter front hub and a rear wheel with a Boost 148 hub...or the other way around. 27.5 or 29-inch? The Duroc comes in both sizes. In short, you have options.


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Reviews and Tech Forks Seatposts Manitou


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81 Comments
  • 52 5
 Mattoc - the best fork ever
  • 8 1
 It's a shame the 29 version will only go up to 140mm
  • 2 0
 @DC1988: Agreed, they are 'only' a 34mm fork though if I'm right? Maybe they don't see them being stiff enough at 160mm .
  • 13 0
 @DC1988: They're going to need bigger stanchions if they go beyond 140mm of travel on a 29er fork (due to the axle to crown). I'd imagine (purely speculating here) that they'll eventually come up with a burlier set of lowers and stanchions for 29er forks with more travel than that.
  • 7 5
 @vernonfelton: Remember the Travis single crown forks? 34mm stanchions and up to 200mm travel in a single crown fork. They don't need to go bigger. They just need to make the fork.
  • 24 1
 @sancho-ramerez: Remember the Travis single crown forks? Yeah, I remember taking it off and being happy as hell.
  • 1 1
 @sancho-ramerez: consider the weight
  • 14 0
 I bought a Mattoc Pro because the Push'd Fox DPS shock I'm using made the Pike feel like garbage. Now the Mattoc makes the shock feel like garbage. Being a light (small) rider I anticipated opening up the damper but I've been very happy with the externally tuneable range so far. Rode it quite hard at FJMTB t'other day and it didn't flinch at anything. Unbelievably good fork for the money. I would strongly urge anyone who hasn't looked at them to snap out of the Fox/ Rockshox brainwashing - it took me a while to do so!
  • 2 0
 @sancho-ramerez: Yea the Travis 203 single crowns that were flexy as hell with the intrinsic dampers that blew up on every big landing?
  • 4 7
 I've got mates who swear by the Mattoc...... especially for it's price So I bought a Cane Creek Helm
  • 3 0
 @ThomDawson: The Mattoc maybe isnt quite as good as the fox 36 I use now but is it worth spending the extra on the fox, for me no, im just not riding at a speed anymore where I push the fork hard enough.

I agree, the Mattoc is a bargain and ultra tuneable.
  • 2 0
 @tommyr87: I'm impressed you got so far as doing any big landings, I couldn't even get the right spring weight for mine so they bottomed out rolling off a kerb!
  • 1 1
 @pimpin-gimp: this with a mattoc?

You must have set it up very poorly or it was broken - surely you can't think that was normal and the best thing to do was seek help?
  • 2 0
 @Racer951: No, he and the guy above are refering to the Travis.
My expirience is with the Travis Single 180mm 2008. It'was a wonderful fork and was nuts better than any Fox/RS single crown of the same age i managed to try. No exploding dampers, i was 80-85kg back in the day with a soft spring and by using the LSC i was able to change how the fork felt and never bottomed harsh on any landings when i was enough composed on the bike. I'm now on a Dorado and the wifey is on a Mattoc 2017 with an IRT upgrade - we're one extremely happy with our suspensions family! Wink
  • 1 0
 @hitarpotar: how's your other half getting on with the irt? I'm tempted to buy one but my fork feels great as it is so I'm not sure it's worth the investment.
  • 1 0
 Mattoc needed those smoother less-friction Bushings though.
  • 1 0
 @DC1988: She's not ridden it hard enough to fully justify having the IRT - we just received the new fork with it directly (a bargain Smile ). My God this thing's smooth and it just works, works, works!!!

@CantClimb: Why? The regular ones are good enough!
  • 1 0
 @CantClimb: I think they have worked on that for the most recent fork from what I gather, not that they were too bad before but they were a little less supple off the top than a fox for example.
  • 1 0
 @hitarpotar: I have the 2017. Mattoc gotta be lubed up pretty good to have little stiction. I suspected the issue was the bushings. When Mattoc lubed up is best of the bunch.
  • 1 0
 @CantClimb: I just made a friend of mine who's a proffesional mechanic open the fork up for service before we even mounted it on the bike. And it's working incredibly well. Kinda better than my Dorado, but it's been serviced ome time ago. Smile
  • 1 0
 @sancho-ramerez: I remember a lot of broken crowns on the Travis... That and the Sherman that one liked to get very twisty and break.
  • 1 0
 @Racer951: mind you a rockshox lyrik is only 35. I reckon increasing the inner thickness of the walls of the stanchions actually make far more difference in the stiffness of the fork, that's how rockshox makes the lyrik stiffer than the pike anyhow.
  • 1 0
 I'm really impressed with Manitou. I recently breathed some new life into my old Kona 4 by way of an R7. What an amazingly plush fork right out of the box. Took it out to Bend last week and it just ate up the rock gardens on C.O.D. and Grand Slam. I was quite pleased.
  • 1 0
 @Racer951: no it was the Travis, coil spring with no firm springs available when I had one. I was gutted, my old Sherman's were the best forks I'd ever owned at the time.
  • 1 0
 @DC1988: Running one on my son's Mattoc. Works great for hard riders, allows the fork to be plusher off the top and can control the ramp up. He races Cat 2 DH and rides his trailbik like he stole it. For less agressive riders, the stock airspring setup works great.
  • 1 0
 @DC1988: I was certain I would get the IRT for my fork to provide more midstroke which is something than every air fork or shock just does not have. But the Mattoc Pro I have actually has pretty good midstroke (sans IRT) and I run LSC pretty much open/ completely open. I like my suspension as active as possible and I've been frustrated by lack of midstroke, for years having to lean on the compression damping. But the Mattoc is damn good out the box (mine is not sticky off the top at all). I do plan to go IRT later and possibly retune to make it even more active but as somebody who has found everything from the big boys over damped and under sprung for the last forever I can't recommend it enough.
  • 41 0
 Wheelsmith as the fresh prince of big air.....(I'll show myself out)
  • 3 0
 Boom!!!! (Mic drop).
  • 4 0
 watch out, @juicebanger is gettin jiggy wit it
  • 1 0
 Hahahaha That's awesome. Unfortunately if you take wheelsmith out for too many rides he starts snappin and poppin and then rockin it till the wheels fall off and you have to do a full rebuild with dt spokes.
  • 2 0
 I've never cringed so hard with this much pleasure. You're a sick man! Thank you.
  • 8 1
 I too was nervous about the 34mm stanchions not being stiff enough but I have thrown all I have at this fork daily in my backyard of Pisgah, downhill races at Windrock , and a enduro at Beech Mtn and have never had a issue of it not being stiff enough! the backwards arch takes some getting used to looks wise but provides a much stiffer ride then a Fox 34 or a Rockshox Pike. This fork also uses a positive and negative air chamber so unlike designs around a volume spacer ( Fox, Rockshox ) the stroke feels consistent from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this fork to anyone looking to upgrade or just cant get there current fork to "feel rite"
  • 8 2
 I don't know whether to start with your grammar, spelling, username, or argument first, so I'm just going to go to sleep.
  • 1 0
 Throw the IRT on there too to take it up a notch. Mine eats Pisgah for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • 1 1
 @LaXcarp: I see what you did, playing with the cadence of your sentence to make is appear you used improper grammer and too incorectly. Smile
  • 5 0
 that duroc wheelset sounds great! id like to see how durable they are in a review because lets be honest, a review on a wheelset like that is much better consumer advice than a review on a king/enve wheelset (speaking of, wheres that review on the lightbicycle rims?)

also thank goodness they let you mix and match, my bike came with a normal 100mm front end and a 148 back end its really annoying!
  • 1 0
 Rims have decent specs, but I wouldn't trust those hubs.
  • 9 1
 Sun-Ringle Duroc 35, I'd buy that.
  • 1 0
 Looks great ;p I bought few months ago new and old mtx31 26" - cheap rims - works great for DOWNHILL racing. Abbah hubs works also great for me since 2009 - still no new bearings needed. Is duroc 35 for enduro or Dh?
  • 8 0
 $550 for hope hubs and stans flow mk3 better deal imo
  • 1 0
 @dudee47: Pretty close, but more expensive than a freaking workhorse wheelset that will take major abuse and the hubs that will last longer than the frame with proper maintenance? I don't think so. Knock $100 off and maybe we can talk.
www.coloradocyclist.com/hope-pro-4-custom-handbuilt-wheelset-with-stan-s-mk3-flow-rims-29
  • 1 0
 I bought a Rhino Lite years ago for my hardtail. It has yet to go out of true and my son still rocks it on our rides. $60. I'd buy this set based on that experience. Not the lightest wheel, but durable as hell.
  • 1 0
 @MrMentallo: uhhh what...? hope hubs are british quality and last for-f***ing-ever, as for the rims, they're stans flows which also have a reputation to be durable af. and if you buy it custom on chain reaction it's $25 cheaper and another $15 cheaper if you use the new10 code compared to colorado cyclist. i bought mine for $525.
  • 1 0
 @dudee47: I was talking about the stan's flow/hope wheelset over the Duroc wheelset. It's probably the best bang for the buck out there. Maybe sub in spank oozy rims for around the same price and you can't go wrong either way. Actually thanks for the heads up on the cheaper price, I'm building up a bike in about a month and need a solid wheelset.
  • 2 0
 @MrMentallo: oh sorry lol i thought you were saying to lower the price of the hope x stans wheelset.
  • 2 0
 by the way my fox transfer is ace and super reliable but well done to manitou for keeping theres well priced.

I like the Duroc wheels.....i would never spend over a £1000 on wheels as i have had 3 sets of mavics that have been great at £750-850 a set i honestly could not want for more so its nice to see some more wheelsets that dont cost the earth. I have no intention to buy mega expensive enve wheels that are only good for a seasons hard riding. i need to buy stuff that can last a long time.
  • 5 0
 great seeing hoops for 600
  • 3 1
 I don't know why you would buy a complete wheelset. that price got me a wheelset with wtb KOM's, cx-rays and hope hubs. at my local shop. and 200 g less.
  • 6 0
 @jzPV: not the point. Its nice to see reviews about WHEELSETS that are not $3,000.00
  • 5 1
 @madmon: yeah you're right, but I still think they are not good value.
  • 1 0
 @jzPV: www.coloradocyclist.com/hope-pro-4-custom-handbuilt-wheelset-with-stan-s-mk3-flow-rims-29
  • 1 0
 @jzPV: KOMs are not goof for harder riding, too easy to dent, they are made from paper...
  • 1 0
 @kyytaM: I'm lightweight. I can get away with these. they're holding up since 2 years, only one minor dent from the livigno DH track which doesn't affect tubeless setup.
  • 1 0
 @jzPV: good for you, few friends ruined them in quite short time, but they are not lightweight and they are riding quite burly terrains with low pressure in tyres Smile
  • 1 0
 forgive me im not trying to offend people here but are you not riding a frame thats too small for you if you need a greater than 150mm drop. Im a tad over 6ft and ride a 17.5" frame and i have a 150 but i have it slammed to the collar as i could have ideally brought a 125mm one. What size frame are you guys riding if you need say a 175mm dropper or 200mm dropper? surly must be on 15.5" frames or similar. Sure there are people taller than me but unless your massively taller i dont get the complaints as im long in the legs for my height.
  • 3 0
 I am 5'9 on a tall day, and ride a 17.5 my 150mm dropper has a fair amount of post showing. It really depends on the frame and the person.
  • 3 0
 Frames have been getting shorter and shorter seat tubes to allow longer dropper posts. In the old days a large seatube was 20 or so inches, now generally 17.
  • 2 0
 As a tall guy the next time I celebrate a dropper announcement is when someone makes a 200mm drop post that's not too long for my frame.
  • 2 0
 2016 wants their new burly 29er fork and their 150mm dropper back.. sigh. poor midwest folks, always 1 or 2 years behind. nice stuff though...
  • 2 0
 Light weight wheels i can afford.
You get a Shimano freehub and a Sram unit.
Hubs look nice.
Are these Sun wheels going to be available with a 20 mill axel up front?
  • 3 0
 The fork looks like an MRP Ribbon the other way around
  • 4 3
 trigger under the bar remotes are overrated. I'll take this style lever not bashing my knee and not needing to be pushed to damn far in anyday.
  • 2 0
 Hi Manitou guys! Can you make a NEW design for the milo levers?? Thank you!
  • 2 0
 Fender makes it look like a Gungan (aka Ja Ja Binks).
  • 10 9
 Manitou, you guys have a great product. You will sell more if you reverse your reverse arch.
  • 10 0
 Mattoc owner here. Don't give two fucks about the arch design. Manitou, you do you, booboo.
  • 2 0
 Noice' dials - fork you man
  • 1 0
 Isn't the Jack dropper post an "old" thing. I know they were specced on 2017 Bergamont models.
  • 4 0
 They were spec'd as OE product on Bergamont in 2017 and sponsored racers have been on them for a year and a half, but they are new to the aftermarket for 2018. If, for instance, you live in North America, you'd never have seen one on a bike.
  • 2 0
 @vernonfelton: Thanks, didn't know.
  • 1 0
 How's the engagement on the rear hub? They used to decent, up there with Hope Hadley and Chris King.
  • 3 0
 No 26"?
  • 1 0
 if you want a 26" fork from Maintou, go with the R7. Readily available on ebay for $250 or so. Fantastic fork for the money. High speed/low speed compression damping, rebound, air. And light. Mine weighs just over 3lbs.
  • 1 0
 Past Mattocs have included parts to convert to 26". The insides are the same so if not included in the new ones, contact Manitou who will likely just send them to you.
  • 1 0
 love the inclusion of the fender but the execution is poor- its never going to be pretty but the moulding doesnt look great.
  • 1 0
 With that bolt on fender, the reverse arch makes sense!
  • 1 0
 Hm. Good.
  • 1 1
 Just stop.
  • 1 2
 Seems like Manitou is playing a catch up with the rest of the market.
  • 1 0
 explain
  • 2 0
 @felimocl: Manitou is introducing a 140mm 29er fork with 34mm stanchions when 29ers are moving into 150-160mm territory, but it is boost compatible now. I was not referring to damper quality versus the rest of the field (haven't tried one so I tend not to judge).
As for their 125 and 150mm dropper I believe special explanation is not necessary, just see what the rest of the market is offering (it's going past the 150mm mark).







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