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Manitou Dorado: First impressions

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
Took the Dorado I bought from Shyrmp and Orven out today for a few runs up on campus. Here's a fun picture of it mounted to my SGS.

Sexy upside down carbon love:


Is my cable routing weird?


Anyway, it's a completely different ride than my Boxxer Race. Adjustability (you know, rebound) is awesome. It feels heavier. I'm pretty sure it's not, but all the internals are up near the top, perhaps that has something to do with it? It also feels a wee bit harsher than the Boxxer. Would screwing with the compression adjuster help, or should I swap some springs in the stack? Overall, I really like the feel, especially over fast hits, it keeps the wheel going straight and narrow, unlike the Boxxer. Everyone told me not to get it because it would steepen my headangle, but I really don't notice it. I think I made the right purchase over a 888...thanks Shrymp/Orven!
 

Bobby Peru

Monkey
Jul 16, 2004
151
0
Big Tuna, TX
I've heard nothing bad about those forks... I know they are going for super cheap now too! What didja pick 'em up for? I have a pair of '05 Shivers, I love 'em. The Dorado's were going for over $1500.00 just a little under a year ago. My shivers cost a grand.

BTW, I have a FANTASTIC wheelset for a Iron Horse SGS for sale. They are ATOMLAB DHR rims with DT-Swiss Hugi FR 440 hubs, front and rear. This wheelset cost me over $775.00 about two months ago. The reason that I am selling is because I bought a Santa Cruz Bullit and they don't fit! So if you or anyone else is interested, let me know! I'm asking $500.00 for the set.



 

Cave Dweller

Monkey
May 6, 2003
993
0
Bobby Peru said:
I've heard nothing bad about those forks...
I love the tpc dorado damping, still my favorite feeling fork, but i found the upside chassis with 30mm legs was not so good.

I had a pair from brand new and within 7 months i had cracked the lower crown and cracked the carbon leg between the upper and lower crown. Keep an eye on these areas.
 

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
400$, and it was from Orven, so it's been loved. I have heard things about the lower crown cracking. I'll have to keep an eye on it.
 

frznnomad

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
2,226
0
a-town biatches
spam is reserved for the buy and sell part of this forum, or when someone is asking for what you got. the dimener is reserved for a dick head who doesnt belong here. get the picture.

ohh and looks awsome man. glad that your enjoying the dorado on the front of the sgs. nice to see one more person keeping the inverted forks in the running and still rocking the sgs in this sunday crazed world lol.
 
J

JRB

Guest
You know. The guy mentioned his wheels to someone that might have an interest. I have bought stuff like this, and I have mentioned stuff before. If it's something beneficial to someone, what's the big deal???

Look at all the cool kids that started the name calling and flaming. You all know there are rules about that too, eh??? I am sure that spamming from an established members probably ranks lower on the scale of bad things, in comparison to flaming, but whatever.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,092
1,132
NC
loco said:
The guy mentioned his wheels to someone that might have an interest. I have bought stuff like this, and I have mentioned stuff before. If it's something beneficial to someone, what's the big deal???
'cause there's a buy and sell section to prevent what would otherwise be a massive number of posts and threads of spam. Tell me, where's the line for you? This guy is okay, so can I post a set of wheels here, too? And my buddy? And his buddy?

The line has been drawn, and it's simple: there is to be no spamming in the forums. Period. It's an easy rule to follow.

Look at all the cool kids that started the name calling and flaming. You all know there are rules about that too, eh??? I am sure that spamming from an established members probably ranks lower on the scale of bad things, in comparison to flaming, but whatever.
Point taken. But show me the rule about that. The rules say "No flaming" which I guess that could fall under, but I don't think I was simply flaming - he flagrantly broke a rule that is well known in most forums and I thought it was dumb. So I said so.

If someone genuinely thinks they have a product that could be of use to a fellow member, a simple PM or a quick message like, "Hey, I have a wheelset you might like, PM me if you're interested" is an easy way to not violate the rules and not clutter the forum.
 
J

JRB

Guest
binary visions said:
<snip>If someone genuinely thinks they have a product that could be of use to a fellow member, a simple PM or a quick message like, "Hey, I have a wheelset you might like, PM me if you're interested" is an easy way to not violate the rules and not clutter the forum.
I agree, but it's not your style to call him a dumb ass, and no need to call him an idiot. The masses then just flocked for name calling. It was stupid. He was trying to help. I see the point, but like I said, it happens. It's how I got a great fork from Westy one time and how stosh got some great cranks from me.

I see your point, but you also see mine.
 

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,092
1,132
NC
loco said:
He was trying to help.
Trying to help by posting a completely unasked-for, page long ad complete with pictures in a random bike thread that wasn't even about wheels?

I don't buy it. blue said nothing about needing wheels or even indicating that he was slightly dissatisfied with his current set.

Anyway, I'm done. Back to blue and his new sexy carbon bling.
 
J

JRB

Guest
Just assuming that they are specific to an SGS, so he thought he had a good deal. I know it's not right, but it's not like he came here just to sell them.

binary visions said:
Trying to help by posting a completely unasked-for, page long ad complete with pictures in a random bike thread that wasn't even about wheels?

I don't buy it. blue said nothing about needing wheels or even indicating that he was slightly dissatisfied with his current set.

Anyway, I'm done. Back to blue and his new sexy carbon bling.
 

frznnomad

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
2,226
0
a-town biatches
lol and your making things so much better loco by sitting here discussing this topic that has nothing to do with the topic. lol isnt it funy how things work out. again blue nice fork i want some ridding pics man.
 

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
frznnomad said:
ohh and looks awsome man. glad that your enjoying the dorado on the front of the sgs. nice to see one more person keeping the inverted forks in the running and still rocking the sgs in this sunday crazed world lol.
Why don't more people ride them? They're dirt cheap (I picked mine up for $750), they work well, reliable, not too heavy, horst link...I think it's a solid platform to upgrade and invest in, especially when you're broke.

I've come to love the Dorado more and more. If you like to ride fast, it is THE fork. I don't huck much, but I'm also not smooth, and this just feels like it eats everything it runs over. I rode a 888RC, and whilst it felt cushier over small stuff, it just didn't strike me as anything special, especially considering the weight and increased cost over a Dorito. Not to mention the dead sexiness of the Dorito. :love:

So what's the deal with inverted forks? Why were they popular for that short bit? I've read "stiffness", but how? I know they're not torsionally stiff (I don't mind it), so how are they stiffer than a regular fork?
 

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
frznnomad said:
lol and your making things so much better loco by sitting here discussing this topic that has nothing to do with the topic. lol isnt it funy how things work out. again blue nice fork i want some ridding pics man.
It's okay, Loco works in Sales...he's excused :p

And my new camera comes Wednesday. Believe me, I will picture it up.
 

Cave Dweller

Monkey
May 6, 2003
993
0
SirChomps-a-Lot said:
Should have it running in 2 weeks or so. Just getting some foot nut bolts made up to hold the dorado cartridge to the monster T leg. Full write up to follow soon.............
 

frznnomad

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
2,226
0
a-town biatches
sounds good to me blue, and i totally agree with the sgs im in love with mine and its getting ready to take me threw another race season. i dont want to part with it but its about out lived its life and when i do finally replace it its getting framed lol. ohh and cant wait for the ridding pics man so take it easy fellas.
 

Bobby Peru

Monkey
Jul 16, 2004
151
0
Big Tuna, TX
Back to the Dorado....I don't get why people bag on the inverted forks, I really think they are fantastic! Flex? It's the same debate as brake jack! (whoops, did I corrupt this thread again?) J/K
 

Bobby Peru

Monkey
Jul 16, 2004
151
0
Big Tuna, TX
loco said:
Just assuming that they are specific to an SGS, so he thought he had a good deal. I know it's not right, but it's not like he came here just to sell them.
Nail on the head.... sorry, I'll post it in the buy sell forum. My bad.
 

vitox

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2001
2,936
1
Santiago du Chili
blue said:
I've come to love the Dorado more and more. If you like to ride fast, it is THE fork. I don't huck much, but I'm also not smooth, and this just feels like it eats everything it runs over. I rode a 888RC, and whilst it felt cushier over small stuff, it just didn't strike me as anything special, especially considering the weight and increased cost over a Dorito. Not to mention the dead sexiness of the Dorito. :love:

So what's the deal with inverted forks? Why were they popular for that short bit? I've read "stiffness", but how? I know they're not torsionally stiff (I don't mind it), so how are they stiffer than a regular fork?

have you ridden it in rain or mud yet?

anyway, since you brought up the weight thing for the second time, your dorado isnt really lighter than a 888rc2x, matter of fact theyre pretty much exactly the same weight but with the benefit of 25mm more travel.

as for the stiffness of inverted forks, it doesnt apply to the dorado since its chassis is really skinny, but it has to do with fore/aft stiffness since the inverted design puts the slimmest (and therefore flexiest) part of the fork, closest to the axle, this makes for less flex at the uppers because they are relatively larger in diameter than in a regular fork. the problem is of course that a byproduct of going inverted is that you cant use a bridge, and we all know what happens because of that.
 

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
vitox said:
have you ridden it in rain or mud yet?

anyway, since you brought up the weight thing for the second time, your dorado isnt really lighter than a 888rc2x, matter of fact theyre pretty much exactly the same weight but with the benefit of 25mm more travel.

Nope, no mud or rain yet, but lighter than an RC (Not enough coin to drop on an RC2X)?

Most of the 888s I'd found were 203mm, and the SGS is designed around a 180mm fork (What fork did the IH team run? Dorados or Boxxer WCs?). I didn't want to lift my SGS any higher than it was with the Boxxer, hence the 170mm fork.

I see how the invertedness works now...the 30mm stanchions haven't bothered me-yet. Probably the skinniest I've ridden on, XC bike or otherwise.
 

sbabuser

Turbo Monkey
Dec 22, 2004
1,114
55
Golden, CO
They definitely look cooler than Travis'. How much do they weigh?

As far as price goes, if you'd have looked around, there are a number of 888rc2x's in the same relative price range...