Replacement elastomers for old Manitou 3???

[Alex Zeltser]

Does anyone have any idea where I could possibly find
replacement elastomers for my old reliable Manitou 3 (circa
'93)? I (to my shame) haven't ridden that bike in a year an
a half and now noticed that the fork is really stiff.
Pulling out the elastomer stems showed that the little
elastomer bumpers have really stiffened up. The local bike
shop guy said you can't get them any more... I really like
that fork (plus, am a little hesitant to shell out $300+ for
a new one ;-) ) and am hoping to just be able to replace the
elastomers. Any ideas anyone? Help!

Thanks in advance,

Alex

 

[S O R N I]

Alex Zeltser wrote:
> Does anyone have any idea where I could possibly find
> replacement elastomers for my old reliable Manitou 3
> (circa '93)? I (to my shame) haven't ridden that bike in a
> year an a half and now noticed that the fork is really
> stiff. Pulling out the elastomer stems showed that the
> little elastomer bumpers have really stiffened up. The
> local bike shop guy said you can't get them any more... I
> really like that fork (plus, am a little hesitant to shell
> out $300+ for a new one ;-) ) and am hoping to just be
> able to replace the elastomers. Any ideas anyone? Help!

Check around for "Speed Springs" (or maybe Mountain
Springs?), which can be installed in place of elastomers
for a MUCH better fork action. (There are also air
cartridge inserts, but not sure if they'd work in that old
of a shock.)

Better yet, take a crowbar to that coin purse and buy
yourself a decent fork on closeout. Today's technology is
way advanced compared to the early '90s.

Bill "Manitou Mach 5 almost killed me" S.

 

[Pete Jones]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 05:42:24 GMT, "S o r n i"
<[email protected]> blathered:

>> Does anyone have any idea where I could possibly find
>> replacement elastomers for my old reliable Manitou 3
>> (circa '93)? Any ideas anyone? Help!
>
>Check around for "Speed Springs" (or maybe Mountain
>Springs?)
>
>Better yet, take a crowbar to that coin purse and buy
>yourself a decent fork

Sorni was right the second time. I'm amazed there still any
left; the stanchions must be an interesting hourglass shape
by now, you could practically see daylight through mine
within a year's riding. They got skipped, and put me off
suspension so much I spent the next couple of years back on
rigid forks.

Get a modern set of shorter travel forks - even cheap ones
will be a revelation after Manitou IIIs.

Pete

 

[Bb]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 05:42:24 GMT, S o r n i wrote:

> Better yet, take a crowbar to that coin purse and buy
> yourself a decent fork on closeout. Today's technology is
> way advanced compared to the early '90s.

The bad thing about replacing forks is, it means replacing
brakes, which means replacing levers, which usually means
replacing shifters, etc etc.

> Bill "Manitou Mach 5 almost killed me" S.

Is that one of the old elastometer-only models? I still have
a "Magnum" on my older bike (now just a cruiser). No
dampening whatsoever; it'd be like a pogo stick on jump
landings - and if I didn't land the jump with the bike very
straight, it'd shoot me off in some sideways direction. That
was always a little exciting.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail
address, at least)

 

[S O R N I]

BB wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 05:42:24 GMT, S o r n i wrote:
>
>> Better yet, take a crowbar to that coin purse and buy
>> yourself a decent fork on closeout. Today's technology is
>> way advanced compared to the early '90s.
>
> The bad thing about replacing forks is, it means replacing
> brakes, which means replacing levers, which usually means
> replacing shifters, etc etc.

Yeah, forgot about all that. Whole new bike?!?

>> Bill "Manitou Mach 5 almost killed me" S.
>
> Is that one of the old elastometer-only models? I still
> have a "Magnum" on my older bike (now just a cruiser). No
> dampening whatsoever; it'd be like a on jump landings -
> and if I didn't land the jump with the bike very
> straight, it'd shoot me off in some sideways direction.
> That was always a little exciting.

Yeah, big ol' pencil erasers. Damn thing would just STICK!
when I hit something, stopping me dead in tracks OR
throwing me over bars. Even after they recalled it, the new
version was just as bad. (Recall was due to separating
lowers, IIRC.)

Bill "and what is this 'jumping' to which you refer?" S.

 

[Alex Zeltser]

Cool; thanks for the suggestions. Anyone care to recommend a
good fork for around $250 or so? Something stiff and not too
pogo-stickish?

Thanks!

Alex

"S o r n i" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Alex Zeltser wrote:
> > Does anyone have any idea where I could possibly find
> > replacement elastomers for my old reliable Manitou 3
> > (circa '93)? I (to my shame) haven't ridden that bike in
> > a year an a half and now noticed that the fork is really
> > stiff. Pulling out the elastomer stems showed that the
> > little elastomer bumpers have really stiffened up. The
> > local bike shop guy said you can't get them any more...
> > I really like that fork (plus, am a little hesitant to
> > shell out $300+ for a new one ;-) ) and am hoping to
> > just be able to replace the elastomers. Any ideas
> > anyone? Help!
>
> Check around for "Speed Springs" (or maybe Mountain
> Springs?), which can be installed in place of elastomers
> for a MUCH better fork action. (There are also air
> cartridge inserts, but not sure if they'd work in that old
> of a shock.)
>
> Better yet, take a crowbar to that coin purse and buy
> yourself a decent fork on closeout. Today's technology is
> way advanced compared to the early '90s.
>
> Bill "Manitou Mach 5 almost killed me" S.

 

[S O R N I]

Alex Zeltser top-posted:
> Cool; thanks for the suggestions. Anyone care to recommend
> a good fork for around $250 or so? Something stiff and not
> too pogo-stickish?

Lots of choices -- check any of the mail order joints for
closeout deals; or go to your local bike shop and see what
they have in stock (especially if you need help
w/installation).

Keep in mind what Blaine mentioned, however: if you're
currently using cantilever brakes, you'll either have to
upgrade to V-brakes or find an aftermarket "hanger" to keep
the cantis. (Check Sheldon Brown's site for ideas.)

Bill "it's never easy, is it?" S.

 

[Bomba]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 16:57:39 +0000, S o r n i wrote:

> Keep in mind what Blaine mentioned, however: if you're
> currently using cantilever brakes, you'll either have to
> upgrade to V-brakes or find an aftermarket "hanger" to
> keep the cantis. (Check Sheldon Brown's site for ideas.)

Headset size? If it's circa '93 then the OP will probably be
looking for a 1" steerer.