After I had high hopes for Manitou to truly take XC seriously and join Rockshox and Fox at the top, I must now just admit it didn’t happen. Manitou sponsored a true World Cup team for a few years, which was awesome. They probably sold some forks and shocks just from this association. I know I considered it. But without a full effort, and lighter weights, we are back to RS and Fox in the elite teams.
But while looking at a Spanish XCM bike from BH, I noticed the fork looked different. Sure enough, it’s using the new XFusion Rezza. 110mm travel, 34mm stanchions. Nice. The rear shock is also included, along with the dropper post! The only thing missing from this being a full on option all from XFusion is the use of a DT Swiss 3 lever lockout. Which honestly looks messy and huge under the bars.
So I go to look at them, and I must send a note to the web team at XFusion: Please list under each model why they differ? Look at the photo. The forks look identical, but they have 4 options. Is one lighter, better, more advanced? Who knows. I tried clicking on each and can NOT tell the difference. Does one have a cable lockout, and the others don’t?
HELP XFUSION!
Simple is always better. I think one or two models would help. One with lockout, one without…but I digress.
At a weight of 1520 grams claimed, that’s not super light, as the SID Ultimate is claimed 1480, and it all changes with travel and other factors, it’s in the ballpark.
Now if XFusion can sponsor XCO teams, and one in the U.S.A. would be cool, then maybe we can have a true 3rd option?
I love Manitou only because it was the first suspension fork I bought in 1992, and had only Manitou all the way through 2010. Then switched to Fox, and ultimately to Rockshox SIDs.
I’m rooting for the XFusion team. We need another US based suspension company that’s not afraid to go racing.
