MANITOU Minute 29er – On Test by “c_g”
Here comes the last detail of components to be reviewed individually – last but certainly not the least when testing a long travel hardtail: the SUSPENSION FORK.
It had been hard to get a 120 mm fork for the test of the GAS29 Stambek Classic and so this piece was the very last one missing when putting the bike together. Lucky for me, the friendly folks of HAYES, Europe were quick to react to my inquiry and so the MINUTE 29er fork was the last piece to order but the first one to make it to my doorsteps.
I have no prior experience with the MINUTE 29er, but have read some interesting things about the ´09 model in reviews and posts and so my curiosity was high: How about the clicking sound of old? Would the adjustment range for rebound damping suit me fine? How about the revised ABSOLUTE + damping system? How would the steering precision feel like in the QR version?
Let´s get down the facts first:
I received the fork in a cool black finish (until then I didn’t even know it existed anything but white). With the uncut steerer (270 mm) the unit weighed exactly 1790gm (pretty close to what the web site states at 1775gm). This puts the MINUTE in the same range of the RockShox REBAS and such. The brake mount is post style and the fork’s axle-crown length is 532 mm, which is going to give me a high front end on the test bike. Like most forks nowadays the air chamber is on the left side with only one port serving both positive and negative chamber.
The right side is reserved for damping with the rebound knob protruding quite a bit on the lower end (take care when putting the bike down without wheel) and the Absolute+ dial on the top. It has been observed by Guitar Ted on his sample that the rebound dial is hard to turn and I agree but nowhere impossible – It took some effort but in its range from only ½ turn you get a seriously big range of settings. The nicely machined ABSOLUTE+ dial turns with little effort and the nicely indexed feel is complimented beautifully with a metallic click when turned. The range is really wide from all open to completely locked out in just ½ a turn again.
Cable routing is done by a clamp mount on the back of the leg and the rearward facing crown makes for excellent tire clearance (the manual states a 63 mm maximum tire width for the fork – I know of no tire with that dimensions yet). Even the manual is kept short and informative with all the basic info required for a optimal set up – from sag range to intended use, service intervals or recommended air pressures.
Initial ride impressions: Interestingly I went into this test after a very long time on fully rigid bikes and so I was curious how a long travel hard tail would feel and I can only say the fork made it really easy for me to enjoy every minute of it. Finding the correct air pressure was done almost intuitively (I run it between 100 and 110 psi). In this set up I was able to use up all travel on big hits but got a super sensitive fork in the beginning of the stroke. There is a sag indicator on the left stanchion tube. Though even in the manual it is stated that the fork will need some breaking in, my fork was buttery smooth from beginning on (and NO, there was no play).
I like my rebound fairly active and so I set the rebound near open (just a bit from open). Since I am not the lightest rider I suspect that some riders may want to run it all open or potentially even will need some lighter weight oil to find the correct set up for them. The adjustment range covers a very wide usable range. After tinkering around in the beginning with the ABSOLUTE+ damping I pretty soon settled with primarily using three positions: 12 o´clock position (fully open) for most rough grounds and cruising; 3 o´clock for technical uphills and the fully locked 6 o´clock position for sprinting or fire road climbs. I could sense the differences of the in between settings but somehow felt myself using these three 90 % of the time.
Up to now the MINUTE has shown a very good balance of cushion and feedback – I always feel like the fork would soak up anything from little ripples to severe rocks and roots but at the same time always puts me in the know what is going on below me. Oh yes and no strange sounds or clicks from the fork – a slight hiss when the rebound damping is working hard but nothing else. Let me get more ride time on it to speak about steering precision but up to this point I feel like the bike is exactly going the direction it is pointed.
All this sounds too positive? The test will continue and these were just the first impressions and there is plenty of time to find some faults but YES, I really like the MINUTE 29er – to my riding style it combines all the positive traits of a good suspension fork. (The only thing I would wish the fork had, would be the IT travel adjustment – just to be able to lower the fork instantly on steep climbs. Luckily the bike I ride on is designed for such long forks and so climbing didn’t suffer from the tall front.)
Wait for more on the MINUTE.
Is the black Minute available for sale in the U.S. now or is it just a European distribution and OEM option. I saw one on the Norco Judan at a LBS and the Absolute+ dial really does have a nice, solid indexed feel.
I’m waiting for my Absolute+ damper to be delivered. I like my 2008 120 thru axle Minute a lot, but its Achilles heel is brake dive. You either have to up the platform and get used to bigger hit harshness, or get used to a diving front end when the platform is open. Supposedly the 2010 damper improves this. Interested to see what c_g thinks.
I also was one of the few to buy a Nixon in 2006, it had the IT travel adjust. This is actually really useful on the trail and would work great with Absolute damping. Too bad, Manitou had quality control problems for a few years there (2005 IT Nixons were a disaster). Seems like Hayes is bringing it back slowly.