All of what you need, nothing that you don’t
While the first request from athletes was for a stiff chassis for precise handling on technically demanding XC courses, reducing the weight of this very stiff platform was the secondary priority in the development of the new Manitou fork. No area of the fork was left untouched to ensure that every single gram that could be removed was, while not affecting rigidity or reliability in the least. The resulting 34mm HYPERLITE chassis, with direct mount fender design, plays a major role in the fork’s featherlike weight. The featherweight crown benefits from deep hollow boring to remove excess material from the inside as external machining does the same outside in a manner that strikes the perfect balance between stiffness and weight. The rear-facing arch and its shorter pathway from leg to leg requires less material and thus represents not only an increase in stiffness but a significant area of weight savings. By using stress analysis software and countless hours in the testing lab, Manitou engineers were able to eliminate excess material from both the rear portion of the arch, the dropouts and other areas thus shaving additional grams from the overall casting weight. The development of 7000 series straight thin wall legs adds yet another area of weight savings. Further reductions in weight come from material optimization in the production of Manitou’s lightest axle ever produced, te Hexlock SL-R, a R8 specific axle weighing a mere 25 grams.
The weight savings even went as far as optimizing functional internal parts. The incorporation of our lightest air spring, the XC tune Dorado Air, a light weight XC version of the IVA volume adjustment and application specific shaft lengths and materials ensure smooth performance at a lower weight. The newly developed, XC-specific VTT Pro-X sealed damper further reduces weight Only through such thorough and complete actions could a rigid, reactive, and reliable fork with its performance characteristics tip the scales at an amazingly low 1480gr.
ACE/DEUCE – COMPLETE CONTROL SMOOTHNESS
Creating the next level in reliable, lightweight and extremely performance oriented front suspension required the development of a fork that performed in all situations and could adapt easily to varied terrain and circumstances. The R8 fork is far from a static unit and the Manitou Engineers worked diligently to produce a premium level remote system to ensure the rider’s complete control of the suspension. While there will be a manual knob option available with the R8 it is most probable that the majority of XC riders will prefer the remote solution. The ACE and DEUCE combo is a Manitou made underbar remote lockout that controls fork, shock and dropper posts. The Ace lever controls the dropper post while the Deuce lever controls both the fork and shock. The two levers are stackable and can be built into the configuration that makes the most sense for each individual rider. In other words, the Ace can be built above or below the Deuce and either can be built as a stand-alone lever as well. In an effort to minimize weight the lever uses 3mm housing and .9mm cable however, is compatible also with standard 4mm housing and 1.2mm cable.
