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The Manitou Mezzer Professional is a 37mm stanchion enduro mountain bike fork that stands out from the group with a reverse arch design. At $1,099 USD, it is a bit more inexpensive than its opponents from Fox (Manufacturing facility 38) and Rockshox (Zeb Final). At its present sale worth of $659.99 USD, it’s vastly extra inexpensive. Contemplating that alongside its comparatively mild chassis, and the raft of damping changes on provide, we deem it very a lot worthy of consideration.
Stepping in to check the Mezzer Professional is a visitor reviewer, Rob Hinds. He was very happy to place it by its paces whereas I (Jessie-Might) was out of motion as a consequence of harm.
Earlier than we get into the nitty gritty of it, it’s pertinent to introduce our tester…
- Identify: Rob Hinds
- Weight: 85 kg
- Driving Type: Aggressive, Inventive
- Variety of years driving: 25
- Bike: 2019 Marin Alpine Path
Manitou Mezzer PRO Fork | An Overview
The Manitou Mezzer Professional fork is a 37mm stanchion affair, with a reasonably unusual reverse arch design that makes it one thing of a head-turner. Our 160mm journey 29″ take a look at fork weighed in at 2.2 kg with an uncut steerer. Whereas that’s not as mild as Manitou declare (2,032 grams), it’s lighter than an equal Fox 38 Manufacturing facility fork, or certainly the Rockshox Zeb Final – its principal opponents.
It goes one higher than the abovementioned with its highly-adjustable air spring, too. The Dorado Air – initially developed for the USD DH fork – presents Infinite Price Adjustment (IRT), whereby you haven’t one however two constructive air springs which are independently adjustable. That permits the rider to dial-in mid-stroke assist and end-stroke ramp with lowered compromise.
The primary chamber is pressurized through a valve on the underside of the fork leg, whereas the secondary IRT chamber is pressurized through a valve on prime. The latter should be pressurized earlier than the previous.
Throughout compression, the primary chamber stress will increase. When its exceeds that of the secondary chamber, the piston is displaced to compress the secondary chamber. On this approach, the fork’s mid-stroke assist and end-stroke ramp might be tuned considerably independently of each other.
On the damper aspect, there’s impartial adjustment of high- and low-speed compression, in addition to rebound. A secondary enchantment of the Mezzer Professional is that you could alter its journey size aftermarket with out the necessity to buy a brand new air spring. Journey lengths of 140-180mm can be found over 10mm increments, requiring journey lowering spacers supplied by Manitou, and a set of instruments which are generally present in any bicycle workshop.
Tough Begin
The primary Manitou Mezzer Professional assigned to me for assessment developed bushing play after simply 9 hours journey time. This problem was raised with Manitou, who swiftly despatched out a substitute fork. Certainly, high quality management seems to be according to a lot of the bicycle business, however our problem was resolved with minimal faff.
“Bushing fitment is one thing we’re all the time striving to enhance our manufacturing course of to search out one of the best mixture of low friction and sturdiness. If a rider has a difficulty that is one thing that’s coated below our guarantee, which is 2 years from the date of buy for the unique proprietor. Such as you skilled anybody having a possible problem can submit a guaranty declare on our web site to have their product evaluated for a guaranty substitute”.
Phil Ott, Manitou Product Supervisor
Take Two
In distinction to that irritating preliminary expertise, my impressions of the substitute fork are wholly constructive. Its efficiency is nothing wanting terrific, even outwith the context of its unbeatable worth.
“Wow. This fork is plush”. Such have been my ideas on my very first journey of the Mezzer Professional (each the primary fork, and the substitute).
With Manitou’s signature reverse arch and 37mm stanchions this stealthy fork isn’t afraid of bombing. It’s sufficiently stiff, delivering exact steering with no discernible flex or bushing binding even below heavy loading. Credit score there to be partially apportioned to Manitou’s Hex Lock thru-axle designed to boost torsional stiffness.
Manitou’s spring stress suggestions have been within the appropriate ball-park, and I didn’t really feel the necessity to depart from these settings in any main approach. I stored the ratio between the first and secondary chamber constant, however elevated the stress of each barely to search out one of the best general assist. The underside-out resistance was excellent, with so little harshness to talk of that I not often observed bottoming-out. On this level, the Mezzer Professional is smoother and extra managed than its opponents.
Trip Suggestions
I went out of my method to set this fork up for failure, however each time it simply took the hit with no drama, additional cementing in my thoughts that the Mezzer Professional is a very succesful enduro mountain bike fork. It’s as delicate as another fork i’ve ridden, with no discernible breakaway resistance.
On the damper aspect, I ran the exterior adjustment dials comparatively open. Its base setting is sort of closely damped, one thing I is likely to be involved about if I have been a lighter rider requiring lowered stress.
On steeper, slower velocity trails that includes sluggish velocity drops into massive compressions. I did really feel the fork was sitting slightly low in its journey. In these eventualities, I probably would have benefited from operating slightly extra compression damping, or perhaps a little extra stress within the spring’s principal chamber. Nonetheless, with those self same settings, the fork was merely excellent on sooner move trails, extra akin to what you may discover in a motorcycle park.
Elsewhere, my expertise with the damper changes proved their effectiveness. They’re simply operable on the path, and don’t have any quirks or drawbacks to talk of.
Parting Ideas
Although it’s arduous to justify as an improve as such, the Manitou Mezzer Professional is definitely worthy for consideration to exchange a Fox 36 or Fox 38 (Manufacturing facility) or certainly a Rockshox Zeb or Lyrik (Final).
Outwith the context of any QC points which, in our expertise have been handled swiftly by Manitou’s guarantee course of, the Manitou Mezzer Professional is finest described as a fork for all times. It confidently stands its floor on efficiency, it’s user-serviceable and rebuildable, and journey might be adjusted do you have to want to switch from bike to bike. From 140-180mm, its versatility makes it applicable for something from a Norco Optic proper by to one thing like a Kavenz VHP16.
A properly maintained Manitou Mezzer Professional may feasibly outlast many frames and wheels.
Execs
- Manitou’s IRT means air spring might be tuned for mid-stroke and bottom-out assist
- Very clean
- Extremely delicate
- Exact steering
- Broad vary of efficient damping changes supplied
Cons
- First fork obtained developed bushing play early on
- Ineffective and extremely versatile fender
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