Manitou 8 Incher

[shudder]

So, I saw something cool yesterday morning. I stopped by my LBS in Burbank to pick up my Titus, and an unassuming guy walked in with a white Intense with an amazing looking fork on the front end (he's apparently an engineer for Manitou and was there to show it to John, the own of Bicycle John's, the shop).

I stooped down and just had a wee quick glance at it, but it was some sort of prototype Manitou, all carbon, with 8 inches of travel. Very sleek and simple in design (no logoing on it yet), and really, really loooooong.

That's all I know. I can't imagine the huck you'd have to hit to sink that puppy all the way down. Bigger 'n anything I'd ever go off, for sure.

shud

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by shudder

So, I saw something cool yesterday morning. I stopped by my LBS in Burbank to pick up my Titus, and an unassuming guy walked in with a white Intense with an amazing looking fork on the front end (he's apparently an engineer for Manitou and was there to show it to John, the own of Bicycle John's, the shop).

I stooped down and just had a wee quick glance at it, but it was some sort of prototype Manitou, all carbon, with 8 inches of travel. Very sleek and simple in design (no logoing on it yet), and really, really loooooong.

That's all I know. I can't imagine the huck you'd have to hit to sink that puppy all the way down. Bigger 'n anything I'd ever go off, for sure.

shud

carbon fiber would be light but it almost seems it would snap if landed on wrong?

[shudder]

Originally Posted by BFloFoxRider.

carbon fiber would be light but it almost seems it would snap if landed on wrong?

Yeah. Makes me wonder if the carbon was an integrated 'cover' over some other material... Yo no se.

[BFloFoxRider.]

maybe it was to disguise what was really underneath. did you ask when they were going to bring it to the market?
i would have been talking to the guy about it
haha

[spookydave]

Originally Posted by shudder

That's all I know. I can't imagine the huck you'd have to hit to sink that puppy all the way down. Bigger 'n anything I'd ever go off, for sure.

shud

big travel gets set up much softer then what you are prolly used to. I use all the travel of my 8" shiver pretty much every time I ride that bike.
Heck, that bike has as much sag as my XC bike has total travel. lol

Wish you could have snapped a quick cell phone pic of it.

[shudder]

I don't think it would have been to disguise anything per se, but perhaps the outer cover working in tandem with some other sort of metallic innards. Don't know at all. I guess we'll see...

The shop was real busy, and he was there to see John. They were talking when I had a look so I didn't want to interrupt. Had to hightail it outta there to get my son Willie from football practice, so I couldn't hang out and ask questions later (and of course I was still late getting Willie because I had spent too much time at Bike John's...)

====

spookydave -- I had thought of pulling out the phone, but that woulda had my arse booted outta the shop right quick, I'm sure (but it did cross my mind!).

[mechmann]

carbon is cool...

stronger and lighter than most other stuff. more expensive though.

i don't buy much carbon stuff for my bikes, too much abuse!

[alank]

Originally Posted by mechmann

carbon is cool...

stronger and lighter than most other stuff. more expensive though.

i don't buy much carbon stuff for my bikes, too much abuse!

I like carbon also, but I've seen failures on handlebars...luckily nobody got hurt...

[JustBike]

Originally Posted by alank

I like carbon also, but I've seen failures on handlebars...luckily nobody got hurt...

I don't want to imagine what a failure on forks would be like.

I would think its carbon covered with an inner aluminum/titanium sleeve. But I may be underestimating the strength of carbon

[mechmann]

carbon parts, when manufactured correctly, has a much higher strength to weight ratio than any other material that we might be making bike parts out of.

you could easily make a set of carbon lowers that are stronger than any of the magnesium lowers currently available.

another benefit could be a much better handling fork due to lower unsprung weight.

none of that makes any difference to me at all. i can't afford a full priced Fox 40 at 1400 dollars with magnesium lowers, carbon lowers would be a whole different category!!!!