Manitou Markhor Fork [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Upgrading the fork on your mountain bike can arguably offer the biggest performance change to the bike. Having traction on the trails allows the rider to have confidence for the obstacles ahead. Our friend, Jim, wrote out their thoughts on their new Manitou fork. Read on for more! 

Overview

I was looking to upgrade the OEM fork on my new Polygon Xtrada 5 but was very limited to what I could buy due to the fact this bike has a QR axle. I wanted a fork that was good quality, not super expensive and had some adjustability. My search led to Worldwide Cyclery and I must say they came through! I watched their youtube channel on which Jeff reviewed the Manitou Markour. He went through the features and seemed to think it was a good fork for the money. I ordered it and it arrived quickly and packaged really well.

I was able to adjust the travel to the 120mm that my bike had on it previously and I must say the fork has exceeded my expectations. The fork looks great. I did swap the decals out for the gray, stealthy-looking ones that came with the fork. I did need to go online and search for information on how to do the travel change, as the fork comes stock at 100mm travel. I was able to find a video on YouTube that showed the procedure step by step. I also called Manitou's customer service and actually spoke to a representative, as I was kind of apprehensive about opening up a brand new fork, but was assured that it was a simple, straightforward process.

The installation was easy as well. I purchased a crown race adapter from WWC as well which was easy to install on the fork. I had no issues measuring and cutting the steerer tube. I do wish this fork came with a tapered tube and not a straight one, but I don't see that as being a major disadvantage. I also added a blue tie wrap for a sag/travel indicator as the fork did not come with the red stanchion o-ring.

As for the reverse crown race, it does take about 5 minutes to get used to. I have had only one person ask me: "Is that fork on backward" only to explain to them that it was not and that is how it is designed for increased stiffness with less weight. As for the weight, you can really feel the reduction in the front end! I think I shaved off at least 3 pounds from the OEM SR Suntour XCM 30 fork that came with the bike!! I also like how the brace helps protect the fork seals from dirt and dust kicked up by the front wheel. Definitely an added bonus!

Final Thoughts

So far, I have ridden the bike in Maine's Acadia National Park's lovely Carriage Roads, which are relatively flat, smooth, crunchy gravel and it did a great job at smoothing out the occasional washboards and bumps. I have yet to take it on any of my local trails, but that is coming soon. Since I purchased this from WWC, I have subscribed to the YouTube channel and have really enjoyed watching the product reviews. Jeff and his cohorts make for entertaining content, and their knowledge comes through to help customers make decisions on what to buy. I would like to thank Worldwide Cyclery for helping me purchase a great product and keep up the great work!!