|   X-Vert Air to a Black Elite Air. Is it an upgrade? | Billy Zoom
Aug 11, 2002 10:35 AM | | I'm running an X-vert Air on my Superlight (with slightly reduced travel). I've never been completely happy with it, as it has never been supple/responsive enough for me. I get beat up over stutter bumps. I'm fairly light (155 pounds). I've done everything (lighter weight oil, etc.) except try the lighter spring, which supposedly only affects the first 20mm of travel.
I got a deal on a new Black Elite Air, and I went for it (it's being shipped). I wanted the reduced travel and am hoping for a little more stiffness. If it's a bit lighter, that's fine, but not critical.
In thinking about it, though, I'm wondering how much of a difference I'm going to actually notice, and if the ride will be any better. They both use coil/air, but are the internals that similar? If so, I'll probably be disappointed.
I went into a shop yesterday and tried a bike with a coil bomber. That's the feel I like. I may sell the new fork and just get a bomber. Any thoughts? Anyone go from the X-vert to the black? I just realized that I had an SX-R, which I wasn't totally happy with, an X-Vert Air, then this one. If I'm not happy with it, I think I'm done with Manitou. |
| Ummm...The first 20mm of travel is what usually... | Squash
Aug 11, 2002 1:37 PM | | handles the stutter bumps! Another adjustment that is available on the Balck Elite and on the Xvert Air is compression damping. If it's set too high then the ride will be much harsher than neccessary. Sounds like you need to learn to set up the fork before you go and start ditiching them! The Xvert air came stock with the red coil spring which covers a rider weight range from 145 to 205 lbs. The spring may be a bit on the stiff side for your weight and preference. Before you give up on the Manitous get a lighter coil and drop into it the Xvert Air, that would be a blue coil. For the Black Elite, I'd recommend a soft ride kit. It comes set up with the Medium ride kit stock which is for 150 to 190 lb riders. As you can see you are on the light end for the stock set up for both of forks. If the stock set up is too stiff then the lighter set up is indicated. This should get you better small bump compliance. The only other adjustmets that you'll need to mess with are the air pressure, (probably have to run it a little higher with the softer spring/kit), and the compression damping, probably have to increase it a tad. Don't give up until you've tried a different set up than stock. That's what Manitou, Marzocchi, Rock Shox, Fox and every other suspension fork company make the different spring rates for, adjusting the ride characteristics of the fork to fit the individual riders weight, and his/her preference for performance and feel. I run a lighter spring kit than is recommended for my weight in my Marzocchi Z4 because I prefer my fork a bit softer. I don't do drops and stuff like that so the heavier spring isn't necessary. Give it a try, you might be surprised both with your Xvert and your new Black. Just remember, your still not going to get the kind of small hit feel of a full coil sprung fork. But I know that the Vert and the Black can come very close.
Good Dirt |
| If I remember correctly... | Metroid
Aug 12, 2002 5:39 AM | | You're riding a Superlight. The X-Vert has to be the worst for for that bike. It completely throws off the balance of the bike but I'm not exactly sure why. It's too bad because it's a nice fork otherwise. I also used a White Bros 92mm fork and a Noleen MegaAir 100mm and neither made the bike nearly as endo prone as the X-Vert.
I agree with Squash though. You should try the lighter springs to give it that softer feel like the Marzocchi (which are usually undersprung). Also, giving up 20mm of travel is a BIG difference. Did you check the sag on your X-Vert? I like mine at about 25% sag. This can also affect the ride over the smaller bumps. |
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