Manitou 4 VS rockshox Mag??

[Member 10502]

Okay so I have the option to use either fork but I wondered what are the differences between these forks, what's the pros and cons of each and I suppose the main question would be which fork is better and why?

Thanks!

 

[Txn67]

I've had both, a bunch of them actually. The Manitou uses elastomers and the Mag is air/oil. The Mag has more adjustability and the Manitou is very easy to work on and more reliable. You don't have to worry about it spewing oil. The Mag flexes way more to me. I prefer the Manitou. As far as retro forks I loved the Marzocchi DH3 more than any other. But finding one is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

I prefer the mag. A good hub bolts the end together nicely, though newer large flange like hope mono need a bit of fork machining to get them to clamp up.
Still you don't really notice it and I hammer mine.


As they're air oil they rarely come damaged internally and hardly come worn.
Never had oil spew out either and I've had lots and still have lots of them.
Air and Oil is also readily available cheaply.

Perfect retrofork.

You may not like the look or you may love it, it may not go with the bike either. Which to be honest is more important, else you'd stick some modern fork on it.

 

[24pouces]

Re:

Except, the ATZ Swingpro fork, or some MCU, air-oil forks like mag 21 were and are very better.
Elastomer doesn't work when it's cold and can't be adjusted as steel or air springs.
On other hand, oil system lubricate the fork.


So, Rock Shox mag for me

 

[Txn67]

Yeah, the elastomers do blow when it's freezing.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I tell a lie, I've had MAG20's with seals that have gone, normally something jammed the ports, perished oring iirc.

Not had a MAG21/10 with one gone though.

Air seals yes, but they're not difficult to replace.


But then Manitou 4's are 1996 iirc, so the end of the MAG21 (96/97 models) when they are in their toughest and easiest model to find hardly used.
JUDY had replaced it as the Manitou comparison but they a damn hard to find in nice condition where the bushing stanchions have not buggered up.

 

[..lee..]

Re:

Can't compare to the manitou but my mag 21's are still going strong. You do need the air pump tool though. Mine also have a harsh bottom out if I'm silly with them.

 

[FSXStumpy]

Harsh bottoming shouldn't happen with a Mag. Oil height/viscosity need adjusting, or they're just poorly tuned.

Another vote for the Mags. Enduro has oil seals, you can make your own air seals, and the rest is commodity stuff, for consumables.

J

 

[..lee..]

Re:

FSXstumpy. Cheers for the heads up. They've always been like that. Just thought it was the way they were. Is there anywhere you can get an exploded diagram for them?

 

[FSXStumpy]

Here you go! The tuning chart may be especially helpful for you.

http://www.mtb-kataloge.de/Bikekataloge ... /mag21.pdf

FWIW, my Specialized FSX version of the Mag 20 almost never bottoms, with oil level (5Wt) set at about 42mm, pressure at 47psi (I'm 225# these days, in younger years, I ran 41.5psi), and dampers set to suit taste. Damping set lightly, they'll bottom a half-dozen times a ride. Set at near half-range, they rarely do, making the 55mm of travel feel all but bottomless....

J