Manitou’s Minute fork has had a long and variable history, and this new version promises to strip it back to its original strengths.
Minutes have always been at the lighter end of the long-travel spectrum, but the new unit is one of the lightest forks in its class - if not the lightest.
Yet despite the low weight and a narrow stance, the simple four-bolt Hex lock 20mm axle gives noticeably stiffer steering than most quick-release forks. The adjuster knobs are all finely crafted alloy, with a nice clicky feel, and the whole fork looks top-dollar.
The suspension is plush, but felt really basic to start with and we almost gave up on it early on.
After a fair bit of fine air pressure and rebound juggling, though, there’s a really smooth, well controlled sweet spot to be found, so be patient with your shock pump.
However, it’s not all roses, because even a single click of compression damping in the TPC is enough to cause spikes on big hits and landings. What’s more, the stroke bottoms out firmly at 115mm, not the stated 130mm, leaving it limited on more serious trails.
On the plus side, Evil Genius seals have always worked well, and with none of the newer, more temperamental Manitou technologies in there it should hopefully last okay.
