The Manitou Mezzer Professional is a 37mm stanchion enduro mountain bike fork that stands out from the gang with a reverse arch design. At $1,099 USD, it is a bit more reasonably priced than its opponents from Fox (Manufacturing unit 38) and Rockshox (Zeb Final). At its present sale value of $659.99 USD, it’s vastly extra reasonably priced. Contemplating that alongside its comparatively mild chassis, and the raft of damping changes on provide, we deem it very a lot worthy of consideration.
Stepping in to check the Mezzer Professional is a visitor reviewer, Rob Hinds. He was more than pleased to place it by way of its paces whereas I (Jessie-Could) was out of motion attributable to harm.
Earlier than we get into the nitty gritty of it, it’s pertinent to introduce our tester…
- Title: Rob Hinds
- Weight: 85 kg
- Using Fashion: Aggressive, Inventive
- Variety of years using: 25
- Bike: 2019 Marin Alpine Path
Manitou Mezzer PRO Fork | An Overview
The Manitou Mezzer Professional fork is a 37mm stanchion affair, with a moderately unusual reverse arch design that makes it one thing of a head-turner. Our 160mm journey 29″ take a look at fork weighed in at 2.2 kg with an uncut steerer. Whereas that’s not as mild as Manitou declare (2,032 grams), it’s lighter than an equal Fox 38 Manufacturing unit fork, or certainly the Rockshox Zeb Final – its predominant opponents.
It goes one higher than the abovementioned with its highly-adjustable air spring, too. The Dorado Air – initially developed for the USD DH fork – affords Infinite Charge Adjustment (IRT), whereby you haven’t one however two constructive air springs which might be independently adjustable. That permits the rider to dial-in mid-stroke help and end-stroke ramp with decreased compromise.
The primary chamber is pressurized through a valve on the underside of the fork leg, whereas the secondary IRT chamber is pressurized through a valve on prime. The latter have to be pressurized earlier than the previous.
Throughout compression, the principle chamber strain will increase. When its exceeds that of the secondary chamber, the piston is displaced to compress the secondary chamber. On this approach, the fork’s mid-stroke help and end-stroke ramp might be tuned considerably independently of each other.
On the damper facet, there’s unbiased adjustment of high- and low-speed compression, in addition to rebound. A secondary enchantment of the Mezzer Professional is which you can modify its journey size aftermarket with out the necessity to buy a brand new air spring. Journey lengths of 140-180mm can be found over 10mm increments, requiring journey lowering spacers offered by Manitou, and a group of instruments which might be generally present in any bicycle workshop.
Tough Begin
The primary Manitou Mezzer Professional assigned to me for evaluation developed bushing play after simply 9 hours experience time. This concern was raised with Manitou, who swiftly despatched out a alternative fork. Certainly, high quality management seems to be consistent with a lot of the bicycle business, however our concern was resolved with minimal faff.
“Bushing fitment is one thing we’re at all times striving to enhance our manufacturing course of to search out the most effective mixture of low friction and sturdiness. If a rider has a difficulty that is one thing that’s coated below our guarantee, which is 2 years from the date of buy for the unique proprietor. Such as you skilled anybody having a possible concern can submit a guaranty declare on our web site to have their product evaluated for a guaranty alternative”.
Phil Ott, Manitou Product Supervisor
Take Two
In distinction to that irritating preliminary expertise, my impressions of the alternative fork are wholly constructive. Its efficiency is nothing wanting terrific, even outwith the context of its unbeatable worth.
“Wow. This fork is plush”. Such had been my ideas on my very first experience of the Mezzer Professional (each the primary fork, and the alternative).
With Manitou’s signature reverse arch and 37mm stanchions this stealthy fork isn’t afraid of bombing. It’s sufficiently stiff, delivering exact steering with no discernible flex or bushing binding even below heavy loading. Credit score there to be partially apportioned to Manitou’s Hex Lock thru-axle designed to reinforce torsional stiffness.
Manitou’s spring strain suggestions had been within the right ball-park, and I didn’t really feel the necessity to depart from these settings in any main approach. I saved the ratio between the first and secondary chamber constant, however elevated the strain of each barely to search out the most effective general help. The underside-out resistance was excellent, with so little harshness to talk of that I hardly ever seen bottoming-out. On this level, the Mezzer Professional is smoother and extra managed than its opponents.
Journey Suggestions
I went out of my strategy to set this fork up for failure, however each time it simply took the hit with no drama, additional cementing in my thoughts that the Mezzer Professional is a very succesful enduro mountain bike fork. It’s as delicate as every other fork i’ve ridden, with no discernible breakaway resistance.
On the damper facet, I ran the exterior adjustment dials comparatively open. Its base setting is kind of closely damped, one thing I is likely to be involved about if I had been a lighter rider requiring decreased strain.
On steeper, slower velocity trails that includes gradual velocity drops into massive compressions. I did really feel the fork was sitting just a little low in its journey. In these situations, I possible would have benefited from working just a little extra compression damping, or perhaps a little extra strain within the spring’s predominant chamber. Nevertheless, with those self same settings, the fork was merely excellent on quicker circulate trails, extra akin to what you may discover in a motorbike park.
Elsewhere, my expertise with the damper changes proved their effectiveness. They’re simply operable on the path, and don’t have any quirks or drawbacks to talk of.
Parting Ideas
Although it’s onerous to justify as an improve as such, the Manitou Mezzer Professional is definitely worthy for consideration to exchange a Fox 36 or Fox 38 (Manufacturing unit) or certainly a Rockshox Zeb or Lyrik (Final).
Outwith the context of any QC points which, in our expertise had been handled swiftly by way of Manitou’s guarantee course of, the Manitou Mezzer Professional is greatest described as a fork for all times. It confidently stands its floor on efficiency, it’s user-serviceable and rebuildable, and journey might be adjusted must you want to switch from bike to bike. From 140-180mm, its versatility makes it acceptable for something from a Norco Optic proper by way of to one thing like a Kavenz VHP16.
A nicely maintained Manitou Mezzer Professional may feasibly outlast many frames and wheels.
Professionals
- Manitou’s IRT means air spring might be tuned for mid-stroke and bottom-out help
- Very clean
- Extremely delicate
- Exact steering
- Broad vary of efficient damping changes provided
Cons
- First fork obtained developed bushing play early on
- Ineffective and extremely versatile fender
