When my Heckler frame finally arrives, I will be building it up as a reasonably lightweight trailbike. The bike shop has recommended either the Manitou Minute or the Maverick fork. According to the shop, Minute is better because of lower price (although it is not enough of a difference for me to settle on an inferior product), matching the travel of the back and the SPV (which would complement the 5th on the rear). Also according to the shop, the Maverick is better because it is much stiffer and has an extra inch (maybe a little less) of travel (although this seems contradictory to the matching travel thing).

When the shop guys see that I am having a hard time deciding :confused: , they get annoyed, so I say let me think about it. So...I am looking for advice from you experts and pseudo-experts. What are your experiences with these forks? What are your esteemed opinions?

BTW, I am 5'-6" and 165 lbs. I mostly ride trails that have a ton of climbing (more often than not on fireroads) followed by twisty, rooty, rutty, often muddy singletrack. I am also building up a custom wheelset, so the Maverick hub thing is not an issue.

Thanks

I can't say anything about the minute fork but the Maverick rocks! I have a friend who has one on a foes fxr. It has lock out for climbs but still DH very well.

Get it you won't be dissapointed.

When my Heckler frame finally arrives, I will be building it up as a reasonably lightweight trailbike. The bike shop has recommended either the Manitou Minute or the Maverick fork. According to the shop, Minute is better because of lower price (although it is not enough of a difference for me to settle on an inferior product), matching the travel of the back and the SPV (which would complement the 5th on the rear). Also according to the shop, the Maverick is better because it is much stiffer and has an extra inch (maybe a little less) of travel (although this seems contradictory to the matching travel thing).

When the shop guys see that I am having a hard time deciding :confused: , they get annoyed, so I say let me think about it. So...I am looking for advice from you experts and pseudo-experts. What are your experiences with these forks? What are your esteemed opinions?

BTW, I am 5'-6" and 165 lbs. I mostly ride trails that have a ton of climbing (more often than not on fireroads) followed by twisty, rooty, rutty, often muddy singletrack. I am also building up a custom wheelset, so the Maverick hub thing is not an issue.

Thanks

You may want to consider the HT angle. The Heckler has a HT angle of 69* based on a 495mm a-c length fork. The Minute is 505mm , If memory serves the Maverick is taller - find out the a-c height as a trail bike w/ less than a 69* HT angle may steer a little too slow.

You may want to consider the HT angle. The Heckler has a HT angle of 69* based on a 495mm a-c length fork. The Minute is 505mm , If memory serves the Maverick is taller - find out the a-c height as a trail bike w/ less than a 69* HT angle may steer a little too slow.

Ya but for a trail bike I think it would be great with a Maverick and the slacker HT angle. I have seen them around with Maverick forks and everyone I have talked to LOVES the Maverick with the Heckler.

Thanks for the responses so far.

According to the chart on the Maverick American website, the actual ride height (factoring in recommended sag) for the Mav fork is 3-5 mm less than that of the Minute (130mm). The actual build height of the Mav fork is 517mm compared to 505mm for the Minute.

BTW, I believe the 495 mm build height is based on a Fox TALAS.

I own a Heckler with a Maverick and I think it's a perfect set up. The first thing is the Heckler doesn't feel too slack. I used to run my Heckler with a TALAS and the bike actually felt slack, even though the stack height was lower. IMHO I think the Maverick is as close to a peferct trail bike fork you can get. It's so light and has 6 inch of travel, so it descends extremely well, but then you can lock it down to 4 inch's of travel for going up hill.
It also seems like the Maverick was designed to suit the Heckler, I think they actually make the Heckler a better bike. My bike is just under 30lbs with a Super-X DB kit and Maverick forks, I'm really happy with the set-up.

righto.

Thanks for the responses so far.

According to the chart on the Maverick American website, the actual ride height (factoring in recommended sag) for the Mav fork is 3-5 mm less than that of the Minute (130mm). The actual build height of the Mav fork is 517mm compared to 505mm for the Minute.

BTW, I believe the 495 mm build height is based on a Fox TALAS.

I can confirm that the Minute is in fact a bit taller than the Maverick. My bro Pat had one on his 5-Spot... side by side, the Minute was indeed a few millimeters taller than my Maverick.

I think that front/rear balanced travel business is just a line of horsecrap. I like having more travel up front. IMHO, it lets one develop a more moto descending style.

The only time it presents a problem is when making super-steep ascents, when your bike sags in the rear, and extends fully up front. At those times, it really helps to lock down the Maverick into short-travel mode.

I think that front/rear balanced travel business is just a line of horsecrap. I like having more travel up front. IMHO, it lets one develop a more moto descending style.

You got that right. Talk to anyone on a Maverick frame/fork setup and that is 4" rear 6" front. But with recommended sag of 25-30mm it is a 5" fork. The bike shop guys selling the Maverick fork should've told you that.

I'm more into really technical XC with the occasional race so I like the 4" travel in back. But if I wanted more travel, I'd look to the Heckler + Maverick setup first.

I've had my small Heck w/ Mav for 3 weeks now, and I love it.
Nice I can go down to 4inch.
It's built light, 27 lbs, can thank the Mav for being under 30lbs.

You can't go wrong on either fork choices, but I'm a very satisfied w/ the Mav.
I'm 5'6 195lbs, and the Mav / 5th air combo works pretty well.

Thanks for all of the input. I ordered the Mav fork as part of my custom build kit. Bike shop says it will be in tommorrow or the next day.

Now, I just need my frame to get here.

I'll let you know how it works.