real world cycling interbike `05

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REAL WORLD CYCLING
as seen at
INTERBIKE ‘05
Perhaps the biggest news for the ‘06 lineup is
what’s gone. Bye-bye, Skareb. Bye-bye, Sherman. Bye-bye, Dorado. The good news is that
their replacements look pretty good...
R-SEVEN Replacing the Skareb as the
flagship XC race fork will be the R-7. Among other
things, this fork professes to be stiffer than the
Skareb without gaining any weight. The jury is still
out on the weight issue, but there is no question
that the fork is stiffer. The stanchions have jumped
up to 30mm O.D. (the Axel series will be the only
remaining Manitou forks with 28.6mm stanchions).
Some crown modifications have also taken place,
but the big change is in the lowers.
Of the complete Manitou line, only the R-7 and
Travis forks get the new “Parabolic Reverse Arch.”
This completely re-shaped arch makes the kind of
difference that can be felt with one’s bare hands.
Holding just the lowers and trying to flex the legs
dramatically illustrates the difference between the
old and new arches.
NEW R-7
“PARABOLIC”
REVERSE ARCH
OLD SKAREB
REVERSE ARCH
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Another change from the Skareb is that the lower legs of the R-7 have been ovalized from front to
back for additional strength. OK, so what about the inside? For starters, the coil/air spring combo is
no more. The new system is referred to as an “all air spring,” but there is a negative coil spring used
in conjuction with the positive air chamber (the “Platinum” comes with a Titanium negative spring).
R-7 Damping options will run the gammut:
The “R-7 Platinum” features the new “Snap
Valve SPV.” This adjustable platform is supposed to be very resistant to rider input, but,
once activated by ground forces, the Snap
Valve system stays open longer, giving a very
plush ride in the rough stuff.
The “R-7 Super” will be available for those
that prefer the more “active” TPC damping
with a lockout. The lockout options include
the handlebar-mounted “Clickit Remote” or a
crown-mounted lever (adjustable compression
damping with lockout position at the end of the
rotation).
The “R-7 Elite” features FFD (Fluid Flow
Damping) for those with limited budgets.
MINUTE
The Minute series is still here! ...or
is it? The former 30mm stanchions have bulged to
32mm now, and the lowers have had some casting
improvements (alas, they did not receive the “Parabolic
RA”). Minute forks with SPV are still at the “Evolve”
level (vs. Snap Valve), but they do have one nice improvement: a “no tools” SPV Volume Adjuster.
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NIXON
Minute not enough fork for you? The ‘06
Nixon is a great next step with the “No Tools Hex Lock
Thru-axle” to really stiffen things up. Maybe the best reason to step up to the Nixon is that it’s the lightest fork in the
Manitou lineup to offer the new, long-travel specific
“Intrinsic” Cartridge Damper. This is yet another variation of SPV, but Manitou has taken the short-travel SPV
system and stood it on its head for the longer travel forks.
Here’s what we mean: Instead of an initial platform which
can compromise small-bump sensitivity, the Intrinsic Cartridge SPV valve is open during initial travel. As the cartridge compresses, internal pressure build-up starts to drive
the SPV valve closed (this can be adjusted to take place
earlier or later during the stroke, according to personal
preference). This adjustable ramp-up can keep brake dive
at bay, as well as providing bottom-out resistance. When
you adjust rebound and compression/SPV ramp up on this
damper, you will notice a difference from “click” to “click.”
Nice looking hardware, too...
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TRAVIS
The Travis series pulls out all the stops for
the folks who like to “go big.” Well, it ought to, since this is
the fork that’s retiring the Dorado! Here are the basics:
• 34mm Stanchions, a Manitou first.
• New “Parabolic” RA casting (only the Travis and R-7 forks
have this new super-stiff arch).
• No Tools Hex Lock Thru-axel.
• Intrinsic Cartridge Damper (read about this above, under
the “NIXON” heading). Note: The “Travis 150” has TPC+
damping.
A quick run-down of the Travis series:
TRIPLE TI INTRINSIC
Triple clamp/dual crown fork available in 180
or 203mm travel. Stated weight is 7.0 LBS.
Comes with Titanium coil spring and integrated handlebar clamp. Intrinsic Cartridge
Damper.
TRIPLE INTRINSIC
Same as the Triple Ti, with a standard coil
spring in place of the Titanium one. Listed
at 7.3 LBS.
SINGLE INTRINSIC
Single crown fork with 1.5 aluminum steerer
tube. 180 or 203mm travel. Coil spring with
Instrinsic Cartridge Damping. Stated weight
is 6.5 LBS.
SINGLE 150
150mm of travel. Coil spring with TPC+
damping. Listed at 5.6 LBS.
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All rights reserved.
“TRAVIS SINGLE INTRINSIC”
203MM (8 INCHES) OF TRAVEL!