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2006 Manitou Travis vs. RS Boxxer WC

hellonasty

Monkey
Mar 8, 2005
208
0
MSA
I am a bit confused on what I should buy for next year. I have to make a decision for next week. What would you do, what do you think.

Manitou Travis Triple Ti Intrisinc (Retail price CAD 1,830.00)

or

Rock Shox Boxxer World Cup (Retail price CAD 2,450.00)

Any help would be very welcome.
 

mobius

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
2,158
0
Around DC
Boxxer World Cup will be air so keep that in mind. Manitou well its a manitou and they haven't had the best luck with first gen forks.

I would go with the boxxer i have personally touched one and it felt so nice and smooth through the travel. I hope to be on one next year.
 

hellonasty

Monkey
Mar 8, 2005
208
0
MSA
Yeah I know that the RS will be an air fork, but I still remember the 2003 Boxxer that had a lot of problem as a ''newer'' generation. I've talked to a tech that work for Manitou and he explained that every bits and details that were failing in the SPV damping of last year, had been improve with aluminium everywhere and better damping. It seemed very well build. The other thing is the weight, claimed weight for the RS is 5.8 pounds abd 7.1 for the Manitou. And finally the price, over 600$ difference (in CAD).
 

ska todd

Turbo Monkey
Oct 10, 2001
1,776
0
Keep in mind that the Travis is a pretty long fork by comparison to the Boxxer.

-ska todd
 

Threepointtwo

Monkey
Jun 21, 2002
632
0
SLC, UT
I have no real experience other than the parking lot test with the Travis but I really liked what I felt. Very smooth, stiff and light. As far as the weight difference goes, remember that the 7.1 lb figure includes the stem.
 

hellonasty

Monkey
Mar 8, 2005
208
0
MSA
Thanks for all the input, keep it going...

@Ska Todd
Do you have real figures, so I can compare... I hadn't think about that though...Big Thanks!!
 

go-ride.com

Monkey
Oct 23, 2001
548
6
Salt Lake City, UT
If you are looking at spending that kind of $ why aren't you also considering the Fox DH40 and the Marzocchi 888 RC2X?

It's been years since I felt RS has lived up to their all new (every year) Boxxer claims. However, the new Air fork did feel really good at the Dirtdemo, but Boxxers usually feel pretty good right out of the box. The problem has been a month or two later when they just don't work as well as they did new. I'm hoping that SRAM has put the $ into making the Boxxer a competitor again.

I haven't had a chance to try the new Travis forks other than the one on Todd Bosch's bike, which felt pretty good. Of course this is a first year product and Manitou's also seem to need at least monthly work. I can't really make any other comments until I get a chance to really ride one of these, probably some time this spring.

We had Chris Van Dine (Go-ride team, 2nd Pro US DH Championships) on a Fox DH40 for '05 and again for '06. I will tell you that other than an Avalanche there is no other fork built with as high quality parts as the 40. That's one of the reasons the 40 works as good at the end of a pro race season as at the beginning. For me the 40 is a pro level race fork in that it has a large range of on-hill tuning and works much better on high speed courses than freeride drops.

Finally, my personal fork the last couple of seasons has been the Marzocchi 888. For some it's too plush and for others it's too tall. Of course there are fixes for both of those issues and yet the fork still gobbles highspeed hack better than any for I've ever tried. For me that's what helps me go fast. The cool thing is for '06 the 888 comes with a 1" lower ride height, high and low speed compression dampers and a 50mm stem for under $1200 US. There are a lot of these forks out there and very few have problems other than getting the spring rate and oil height correct.

Good luck with your choice,
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
This Go-Ride guy, always trying to make sense:rolleyes:
Don't you know it all about the new product hype and those forks are soooo last season:D

Seriously, good advice dude:D
 

hellonasty

Monkey
Mar 8, 2005
208
0
MSA
Thanks for the info go-ride.com. I would have consider the Fox, but I will be able to get a pretty decent deal on either the RS or Manitou, so the 40 will be just more expensive for me. As for the 888, I've never been a big Marzo fan, I guess I might miss something there, but you know...
 

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,861
4,158
Copenhagen, Denmark
Well Go-Ride has there favorites but in my world the Boxxer is a great fork. Its light and I could feel the difference in weight last weekend when I rode the 06 888 RC2X all day (same bike setup as my own bike).

I have ridden my 05 WC all year every weekend, raced it and taken it to Whistler with great success. One oil change and just a clean of the legs and some oil on the seals after every ride - no leaks. If we are talking racing Sam Hill has been on a 06 WC all year 2nd in the world and 2nd WC on what I have been informed is the same as the stock 06 WC.

All the new 06 DH forks I am sure a good but choosing which one comes down to who you are, what you ride, how you maintain etc.
 

FCLinder

Turbo Monkey
Mar 6, 2002
4,402
0
Greenville, South Carolina
hellonasty said:
I am a bit confused on what I should buy for next year. I have to make a decision for next week. What would you do, what do you think.

Manitou Travis Triple Ti Intrisinc (Retail price CAD 1,830.00)

or

Rock Shox Boxxer World Cup (Retail price CAD 2,450.00)

Any help would be very welcome.
I have played around on both and I must say I like the Boxxer WC much better. That is what I am putting on my 2006 race bike.
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
CBJ said:
If we are talking racing Sam Hill has been on a 06 WC all year 2nd in the world and 2nd WC on what I have been informed is the same as the stock 06 WC.
i highly doubt he was riding a production fork
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
General Lee said:
i just think it's funny when people gripe about a high end race fork needing monthly maintenance . . . .
Why? Do you enjoy pulling your fork apart every month so it won't feel like poo? I don't.
 

heikkihall

Monkey
Dec 14, 2001
882
0
Durango, CO
ska todd said:
Keep in mind that the Travis is a pretty long fork by comparison to the Boxxer.

-ska todd
Todd, It looks like there is a 180mm and a 203mm Travis available. Do you know which one Bosch ran this year? His bike felt pretty dialed at that height. It did feel ever so slightly higher in the cockpit than my Sunday but he was running higher rise bars. On the M3s that I felt with it the height did not seem like an issue either. And I love low front ends.
On the other hand the Haros that I felt with it did feel tall.
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
General Lee said:
i just think it's funny when people gripe about a high end race fork needing monthly maintenance . . . .

i agree, even the 888 should be taken apart at least monthly..
 

heikkihall

Monkey
Dec 14, 2001
882
0
Durango, CO
Zark said:
Why? Do you enjoy pulling your fork apart every month so it won't feel like poo? I don't.
Its not that big of a deal. General maintenance like changing the oil and lubing the seals goes a long way. I do not think that there is a performance DH fork out there that would not benefit from this.

Would you ride your bike all season without lubing the chain or replacing your cables or housing when it is worn?
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
wydopen said:
i agree, even the 888 should be taken apart at least monthly..
To do what? Its open bath lubrication.

I change the oil once a season and I keep the stanchions and dust wipers clean.
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
Zark said:
To do what? Its open bath lubrication.

I change the oil once a season and I keep the stanchions and dust wipers clean.

change the oil....dosnt it get cooked sooner than once a season??
 

DIRTWRKS

Monkey
Aug 13, 2003
615
0
Canada EH !
General Lee said:
i just think it's funny when people gripe about a high end race fork needing monthly maintenance . . . .


Well there is an alternative to monthly maintenance, just get a FOX 40 and service it once a year. I have not even opened up or touched mine all season and it's still running just like new !
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
i know carlins fork..even when it hasnt been hucked too unreasonably seems to feel like crap every few weeks
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
wydopen said:
i know carlins fork..even when it hasnt been hucked too unreasonably seems to feel like crap every few weeks
Andrew, I don't think I could tax an 888 as hard in a year as Carlin does in a ride:p

How's Humboldt treating you? Gonna be in SB any time soon?
 

heikkihall

Monkey
Dec 14, 2001
882
0
Durango, CO
DIRTWRKS said:
Well there is an alternative to monthly maintenance, just get a FOX 40 and service it once a year. I have not even opened up or touched mine all season and it's still running just like new !
Yes even a Fox 40 will benefit from monthly oil changes. Some people just arent as picky about suspension performance as others. Some happen to be very picky. Oil does get used up, and even though there is oil left in the fork it does not mean that it is performing like it should. Keeping fresh oil in the forks will keep them working like they should. Period.
 

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Zark said:
To do what? Its open bath lubrication.

I change the oil once a season and I keep the stanchions and dust wipers clean.
And when you're not looking, I replace your oil with peanut cooking oil...
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
Just James said:
And when you're not looking, I replace your oil with peanut cooking oil...
Bastard! I knew my fork smelled a little funny:p
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
its ok..im heading over the shasta to ride this weekend...been doing a little moto but not much mtb..its muddy already..ill be home around thanksgiving we should go for a ride..hopefully someone will buy my damn bike so i can get my triton..it just sitting at the cortinas:(...if you know anyone looking for a bike spread the word..im letting it go cheap
 

Acadian

Born Again Newbie
Sep 5, 2001
714
2
Blah Blah and Blah
Kidwoo changes the oil regularly in his 888..and every time it comes out smelling and looking like poo...

I already picked my weapon for next year...

 

bballe336

Turbo Monkey
Mar 3, 2005
1,757
0
MA
it seems that this thread has been derailed. But, if you are looking at the travis I would ride one before buying. Spv style damping is generally love it or hate it. And it's a new system so it will most likely feel different from old Spv feel. i would also suggest riding a boxxer. If you ride both you can choose the fork that suits you best. Although I am betting it will be rather tough to get to ride either of these forks considering very few people actually own them yet.
 

sleepinggiant

Monkey
Jul 9, 2004
498
0
San Jose, CA
Acadian said:
Kidwoo changes the oil regularly in his 888..and every time it comes out smelling and looking like poo...

I already picked my weapon for next year...

A slight derailment, but I'm thinking about those DT Swiss wheels. How have they been holding up?
 

glivingston5

Chimp
May 9, 2005
57
0
this is probably a stupid question but is it safe to huck an air fork? if it blows out ur prety screwed
 

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
when i was up in bc this summer i was talking to steve romaniuk and he had just blown his blackboxx one up...they told him to take it easy on it but he couldnt resist cause it felt so good and sent it off a big hit (really big)...he blew it to hell and he was sol because they only give him one blackboxx fork a year..
 

xc skier

Chimp
Apr 6, 2004
83
0
Acadian said:
Steve,

it's a 2006 factory Frame...with new links and DHX-c :thumb:
Which shock do you prefer on Sunday? DHX or 5th? I'm ordering a 2006 factory frame but can't decide which shock I should choose
 

Spokompton

Monkey
May 15, 2005
321
0
Spokane WA
xc skier said:
Which shock do you prefer on Sunday? DHX or 5th? I'm ordering a 2006 factory frame but can't decide which shock I should choose
DHX. Rides better. Should be more reliable. Customer service is better. Best thing is that it isn't SPV:thumb: