Manitou Six Failures

I purchased a Gary Fisher Marlin recently which came with the Manitou Six front shock. Bike had great reviews with the exception of the shock. Apparently, there is tendency for the cast aluminum arch to break on the right side.

Reports of a dozen or so breaks he
http://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/200...t_121936.shtml
This shock has a history of problems:
http://www.answerproducts.com/safetynotice.htm
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02236.html

I'm wondering, should I be concerned? I'm a big guy and plan on riding trails where there are 2'-3' drops. After reading about all these breaks, I now have confidence issues just commuting.

I'm going to back to the LBS where the bike was purchased and relay my concerns. I'm hoping they will sympathize and offer to change out the shock for one of equal or greater worth. I don't mind ponying up for the difference if it turns out to be an upgrade. Which begs the question: What's a good entry level shock I can use with confidence?

The Marzocchi MX Comp ETA has gotten stellar reviews
http://mountainbikereview.com/review...t_122114.shtml
and seems to be a great bang for the bean. But it's hard to find (possibly due to all those giddy testimonials). Their Dirt Jumper III and MX Comp also come highly rated. Do users of these springs concur?

Hugh in Tallahappy

Just Say NO! To Gravity

..

"JSNTG" wrote in rich text, apparently, in message
...

* I purchased a Gary Fisher Marlin recently which came with the Manitou Six
front shock. Bike had great reviews with the exception of the shock.
Apparently, there is tendency for the cast aluminum arch to break on the
right side.

I'm wondering, should I be concerned? I'm a big guy and plan on riding
trails where there are 2'-3' drops. After reading about all these breaks, I
now have confidence issues just commuting.

I'm going to back to the LBS where the bike was purchased and relay my
concerns. I'm hoping they will sympathize and offer to change out the shock
for one of equal or greater worth. I don't mind ponying up for the
difference if it turns out to be an upgrade. *

**************************

You can ask, I guess, but the time to ask for a component swap/upgrade is
BEFORE you buy the bike. The shop can't sell your shock as new any more,
because, well, it's not. (Cut steer-tube for one thing.) They'll gladly
sell you something better, though, and you could keep the Six for when you
break THAT!

If I were you I'd stop reading MTBR and just ride the bike. If you can get
the shock set up for your weight, then just go abuse the hell out of it and
upgrade if/when it starts giving you problems. (Hell, break it while it's
still under warranty and THEN pay the difference to trade up.)

Bill "and please complain in plain text next time" S.

Bill, thanks for the mature response. In fact I HAVE been riding the bike (a
couple hours today - arse is way sore). Had planned on upgrading the shock
later but sooner might be better. Figured I would do some research first.
Silly me. Apparently you're not big on informed consumption.

Shock works great. No complaints there. It's the bad track record that has
be wondering. Thinking confidence might be a GOOD thing during those white
knuckle descents.

My post was as much a troll for positive testimonials on this bugga as it
was a solicitation for suggestions on a replacement. Goes to risk
assessment. Perhaps others have something more constructive to offer.

Hugh



"
**************************

You can ask, I guess, but the time to ask for a component swap/upgrade is
BEFORE you buy the bike. The shop can't sell your shock as new any more,
because, well, it's not. (Cut steer-tube for one thing.) They'll gladly
sell you something better, though, and you could keep the Six for when you
break THAT!

If I were you I'd stop reading MTBR and just ride the bike. If you can
get
the shock set up for your weight, then just go abuse the hell out of it
and
upgrade if/when it starts giving you problems. (Hell, break it while it's
still under warranty and THEN pay the difference to trade up.)

Bill "and please complain in plain text next time" S.

JSNTG wrote:
Bill, thanks for the mature response. In fact I HAVE been riding the
bike (a couple hours today - arse is way sore). Had planned on
upgrading the shock later but sooner might be better. Figured I would
do some research first. Silly me. Apparently you're not big on
informed consumption.

Shock works great. No complaints there. It's the bad track record
that has be wondering. Thinking confidence might be a GOOD thing
during those white knuckle descents.

My post was as much a troll for positive testimonials on this bugga
as it was a solicitation for suggestions on a replacement. Goes to
risk assessment. Perhaps others have something more constructive to
offer.

Hugh



those mtbr reviews do suck. I thought Bill's reply was very nice and
helpful, sorry you didn't get what you wanted...

Penny

--
me and my bike:
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/biking.htm

"JSNTG" wrote in message
...
Bill, thanks for the mature response. In fact I HAVE been riding the bike
(a
couple hours today - arse is way sore). Had planned on upgrading the shock
later but sooner might be better. Figured I would do some research first.
Silly me. Apparently you're not big on informed consumption.

But you didn't say that. You said (it's gone now because you top-posted
your reply to my reply AND cut that to which I was replying) that you wanted
the shop to take your shock back and get something better.

Shock works great. No complaints there. It's the bad track record that has
be wondering. Thinking confidence might be a GOOD thing during those white
knuckle descents.

That's what you get for readiing MTBR. (Seriously, it won't just "fail" on
you without warning.)

My post was as much a troll for positive testimonials on this bugga as it
was a solicitation for suggestions on a replacement. Goes to risk
assessment. Perhaps others have something more constructive to offer.

Try saying what you mean, then, and you might get the answers you seek.

Hugh

Jass.

You can ask, I guess, but the time to ask for a component swap/upgrade
is
BEFORE you buy the bike. The shop can't sell your shock as new any
more,
because, well, it's not. (Cut steer-tube for one thing.) They'll
gladly
sell you something better, though, and you could keep the Six for when
you
break THAT!

If I were you I'd stop reading MTBR and just ride the bike. If you can
get
the shock set up for your weight, then just go abuse the hell out of it
and
upgrade if/when it starts giving you problems. (Hell, break it while
it's
still under warranty and THEN pay the difference to trade up.)

Bill "and please complain in plain text next time" S.

Well, you did THAT, at least.

Bill "stands by my recommendation to just ride the thing" S.

Penny, understand any review is to be taken with a few grains of salt, but
are you suggesting one throw out the baby with the bath water?

Consumer reviews have traditionally worked very well for me. In fact I would
go so far as to say that my experience of items purchased over the years
($10K+ in windsurfing equipment, $3k+ in snowboards, skateboards and other
sporting equipment, $5k+ in electronics, etc.) correlates directly with
consumer reviews of these items. If survey said: 'It doesn't suck', it
didn't.

On the contrary, I have made purchases based on the shop's 'expert'
recommendation and been less than satisfied. The purchase of the Martin is
not one however. Its a great bang for the bean. Frame geometry fits like it
grew on me. Components with the exception of the shock are worthy of a more
expensive bike.

It's not that difficult to discern the puff or vent reviews from the
legitimate ones. Throwing out the ends of the bell curve and paying
attention to the mean, gives one direction among the myriad choices.
Throwing out the review forum altogether, as a basis for decision making
would violate Franklin's maxim that experience is the dearest school.
alt.mountain-bike is evidence that Franklin's maxim is alive and spinnin'.

Is there something about mtbr reviews I don't know? Is there a shadowy
figure lurking on the rocky knoll?

Hugh


"Penny S" wrote

those mtbr reviews do suck. I thought Bill's reply was very nice and
helpful, sorry you didn't get what you wanted...

Penny

--
me and my bike:
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/biking.htm

Bill, sorry if I wasn't more explicit or violated any posting protocol. As
for MTBR and review forums in general, see my response to Penny above.

What's up with your reader btw? Mine, outlook express, displays things just
fine.

Jass? Please elaborate.

Hugh

"Sorni" wrote in message
. ..
"JSNTG" wrote in message
...
Bill, thanks for the mature response. In fact I HAVE been riding the
bike
(a
couple hours today - arse is way sore). Had planned on upgrading the
shock
later but sooner might be better. Figured I would do some research
first.
Silly me. Apparently you're not big on informed consumption.

But you didn't say that. You said (it's gone now because you top-posted
your reply to my reply AND cut that to which I was replying) that you
wanted
the shop to take your shock back and get something better.

Shock works great. No complaints there. It's the bad track record that
has
be wondering. Thinking confidence might be a GOOD thing during those
white
knuckle descents.

That's what you get for readiing MTBR. (Seriously, it won't just "fail"
on
you without warning.)

My post was as much a troll for positive testimonials on this bugga as
it
was a solicitation for suggestions on a replacement. Goes to risk
assessment. Perhaps others have something more constructive to offer.

Try saying what you mean, then, and you might get the answers you seek.

Hugh

Jass.

You can ask, I guess, but the time to ask for a component swap/upgrade
is
BEFORE you buy the bike. The shop can't sell your shock as new any
more,
because, well, it's not. (Cut steer-tube for one thing.) They'll
gladly
sell you something better, though, and you could keep the Six for when
you
break THAT!

If I were you I'd stop reading MTBR and just ride the bike. If you
can
get
the shock set up for your weight, then just go abuse the hell out of
it
and
upgrade if/when it starts giving you problems. (Hell, break it while
it's
still under warranty and THEN pay the difference to trade up.)

Bill "and please complain in plain text next time" S.

Well, you did THAT, at least.

Bill "stands by my recommendation to just ride the thing" S.

"JSNTG" wrote in message
...
Bill, sorry if I wasn't more explicit or violated any posting protocol. As
for MTBR and review forums in general, see my response to Penny above.

What's up with your reader btw? Mine, outlook express, displays things
just
fine.

Jass? Please elaborate.

Hugh

Sigh. Someone wanna step in here? I hate long explanations...

OK, Hugh, first of all I was trying to give you honest advice about your
situation; namely, that it's unlikely the shop will take your front shock
back at this point, and that if I were you I'd just ride it until there's a
problem. (And yes, I still say the time to read MTBR for "trends" like
breakage is BEFORE you buy, not after.)

Then, after not liking my reply, you said you really meant you were just
looking for upgrade advice and/or reassurance that the Six is OK

As for "posting protocol", it's generally expected that newsgroup posts be
made in "plain text"; your initial one was in "rich text", which made
quoting you difficult (but no big deal). What's worse is "top-posting",
where you place your reply at the top of a message (and also delete key
text, by the way), which makes the thread VERY difficult to follow
(especially for others who may not see all the messages).

Maybe someone can explain all this better (and I believe top-posting is
covered in the FAQ, wherever that is

Finally, I'll just have to keep jass to myself (it was merely a little
funny -- very little.)

Bill "Hugh Jass* Memorial Snippage Below" S.

*used it long before you came along, so don't get panties in a(nother) bunch

JSNTG said...

Bill, sorry if I wasn't more explicit or violated any posting protocol. As
for MTBR and review forums in general, see my response to Penny above.

What's up with your reader btw? Mine, outlook express, displays things just
fine.

Jass? Please elaborate.

Hugh

I don't think Sorni's response warranted an angry comeback. I have been
reading all the posts here for months and I don't remember any posts
about this fork, but maybe someone will de-lurk and give you some
advice. IMO, you sort of answered your own question. If someone posted
that theirs was fine, would that nullify all the warnings you read on
MTBR? I don't own one, but it is a low end fork with skinny stanchion
tubes and you are a big guy. Sounds like bad medicine to me. It isn't
worth much as a trade-in, so I would keep it as a spare and buy a coil
Fox or Marzocchi ASAP. Even if you never break the Six, the performance
difference will be very noticeable.