Review: Manitou Mezzer Expert Fork
Manitou recently added the Mezzer Expert fork to their lineup, which has a slightly pared down list of features compared to the top of the line Pro model, and a price tag that's $250 less as a result.
The fork has 37mm stanchions, Manitou's signature reverse arch design, and can be set to have anywhere from 140 to 180mm of travel in 10mm increments. That puts it squarely in the enduro / all-mountain category, where it's designed to handle the type of punishments that accompany aggressive riding in challenging terrain.
There are 29” and 27.5” models available, with either 51 or 44mm of offset for the 29” version and 44 or 37mm of offset for the 27.5” option. MSRP is $750 USD, and my 29” fork weighed in at 2040 grams with the axle installed and a 190mm steerer. That's a smidge (10 grams) lighter than a 2021 Fox 36 Grip2 with a Kabolt thru axle.
The fork has 37mm stanchions, Manitou's signature reverse arch design, and can be set to have anywhere from 140 to 180mm of travel in 10mm increments. That puts it squarely in the enduro / all-mountain category, where it's designed to handle the type of punishments that accompany aggressive riding in challenging terrain.
There are 29” and 27.5” models available, with either 51 or 44mm of offset for the 29” version and 44 or 37mm of offset for the 27.5” option. MSRP is $750 USD, and my 29” fork weighed in at 2040 grams with the axle installed and a 190mm steerer. That's a smidge (10 grams) lighter than a 2021 Fox 36 Grip2 with a Kabolt thru axle.
Mezzer Expert Details
• 37mm stanchions
• Air sprung
• 140 - 180mm travel
• 29" and 27.5" versions
• Externally adjustable compression, rebound
• 15 x 110mm spacing
• Offset: 37 or 44mm (27.5"), 44 or 51mm (29")
• Weight: 2,040 grams (actual, 29")
• MSRP: $750 USD
• hayesbicycle.com
• 37mm stanchions
• Air sprung
• 140 - 180mm travel
• 29" and 27.5" versions
• Externally adjustable compression, rebound
• 15 x 110mm spacing
• Offset: 37 or 44mm (27.5"), 44 or 51mm (29")
• Weight: 2,040 grams (actual, 29")
• MSRP: $750 USD
• hayesbicycle.com
The damper has six distinct different positions.
ADJUSTMENTS
An open bath damper is used to control the fork's compression and rebound properties. The damper has what Manitou calls “Variable Terrain Tune,” a six position dial that's used to easily adjust the amount of compression. According to Manitou, in the first two positions there's an open flow path through the compression damper. In positions 3-6, the adjustable shim stack comes into contact with the piston, increasing platform force.
Rebound is adjusted via a blue dial at the bottom of the right leg, with 10 clicks of adjustment.
I mentioned the 140-180mm travel options earlier, but it's worth noting that it's not necessary to purchase any extra parts to make that change – pulling out the air spring and removing or adding plastic spacers is all that's required.
Moving the position of the C-shaped plastic tokens affects the amount of end-stroke ramp up.
AIR SPRING
The Expert uses Manitou's Expert IVA air spring, which is inflated from the bottom of the left leg. Unlike the IRT air spring found on the Pro model, which has a secondary positive air spring that can be used to adjust the amount of mid-stroke support, on the Expert there's only one air valve, and the positive and negative air chambers self equalize. It's possible to upgrade the Expert with the air spring or damper from the Pro model, since they both share the same chassis.
The amount of end-stroke ramp up is adjusted by removing the air spring side top cap with a 24mm wrench, and then choosing from one of five position for the plastic puck. The further down the puck is positioned the more ramp up there will be, and vice versa.
CHASSIS
When the Mezzer first came out those 37mm aluminum stanchions were said to put it ahead of the other single crown forks on the market when it comes to stiffness, but in the months since the Fox 38 and RockShox Zeb have been released, both with 38mm stanchions.
The lowers have Manitou's signature arch, and a bolt on fender is included that attaches to the backside of that arch. Like I mentioned in my Mezzer Pro review, it'd be nice to see that constructed from a slightly less flexible plastic, but it does a decent job of keeping mud at bay.
The bolt-on axle design is slightly different from what you'd find on a Fox or RockShox fork. Instead of having the axle thread into the lowers, a captive bolt on the left side threads into the axle to secure it in place. Each end of the axle has a hexagonal shape, eliminating any chance of it rotating.
PERFORMANCE
It's no secret that I wasn't blown away by the Mezzer Pro fork I reviewed a couple years ago. The fork I had developed premature bushing play, and despite multiple rounds of testing I was never able to get its performance to match that of a Fox 36 or a RockShox Lyrik.
The good news is that it's a different story with the Mezzer Expert, so all the Manitou superfans out there can put those pitchforks away. I've had a 160mm Expert mounted on a Commencal Meta TR for the last few months, and I've been thoroughly impressed by its performance, especially considering its price.
ON THE TRAIL
After a few rides I settled on running 58 psi, with the IVA (Incremental Volume Adjuster) in the fourth position, one more than stock. Based on Manitou's setup chart, that air pressure is on the higher side for my 160 pound weight, but I found that at the recommended 49 psi the fork was much too soft and rode much deeper in its travel than I wanted.
For reference, when it comes to fork setup I'd consider my tastes to be fairly neutral – I'm not looking for a rock hard setup, and I also don't want an overly plush setup that dives deep during small impacts.
The 6 position VTT dial makes it easy to get things up and running on the Mezzer Expert. There may be fewer options to choose from compared to the Mezzer Pro's cartridge damper that has high- and low-speed compression adjustments, but each of the positions makes an immediately noticeable difference in how the fork feels.
In the most open two positions, which is when there's no preload on the secondary shim stack, the fork didn't have enough support for my liking, although I do appreciate the range of options. I'd rather have the ability to have too little or too much compression damping rather than being forced to run things all the way open. I settled on the third or fourth position depending on the conditions, running it more open for slower speed, slippery conditions, and closed off an additional click for more support on drier, faster trails. No matter which setting I used, the fork had an smooth initial stroke, with plenty of support during bigger and faster impacts. It does decently well at dealing with smaller, chattery sections of trail, although it's not mind-blowing in that regard - I'd call it very good, just shy of great.
Where the Mezzer Expert is great is during repeated hard hits – picture a bunch of curb-high roots in a row, or a steep section of trail with multiple stair-step like drop offs. In those scenarios it recovered quickly and predictably, and always felt like it was using the right amount of travel. Bigger single hits, like landing off a drop or jump, were handle well too, and I didn't have any harsh bottom outs once I had everything dialed in.
The Hexlock SL axle uses a slightly different design, but it doesn't take long to install or remove a wheel.
SERVICE
Manitou get a round of applause for having easy to follow service documents available on their web site. The Expert is even easier to fully service than the Pro model due to the open bath damper, and doesn't require any proprietary tools for disassembly.
The Mezzer Expert has air relief valves at the back of the fork legs, which are used to let out any air that may have gotten trapped in the lowers. Manitou calls it their 'Trail Side Relief' system, but I'd recommend waiting until you're at home or somewhere that dropping a bolt won't result in it being lost forever. There's also a bonus side to that feature - it's possible to inject 5-7cc of bath oil in after 25 hours of riding, a little mid-term top up that doesn't require removing the lowers before the recommended 50 hour service interval arrives.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
At this pricepoint, the Marzocchi Z1 is the competitor that immediately comes to mind. At $729 USD it's $21 less than the Mezzer, but it also weighs approximately 200 grams more. Another point in the Mezzer Expert's favor is the ability to change the travel by adding or removing spacers; on the Z1 that requires the purchase of a different air spring.
On the trail, both offer plenty of stiffness, and the range of adjustments should suit most riders. The Z1 does tend to ride a little lower in its travel, though, with a bit less mid-stroke support than the Mezzer. The Z1 has a plusher, fairly linear feel until its deeper in the travel, while the Mezzer has a more pronounced platform in the middle of the stroke that helps keep it from diving during big hits.
ISSUES
Part way through the test period I noticed a clicking noise that occurred when the fork was switching from compressing to rebounding. The performance didn't seem to be affected, but the noise was distracting. It turns out it was a washer at the bottom of the damper that was sticking and causing the issue. Manitou sent out a replacement damper, and after making the swap (which took all of five minutes) the noise was gone, and it hasn't returned since.
Pros
+ Wide range of usable adjustments
+ Good mid-stroke support
+ Adjusting travel doesn't require a different air spring
Cons
- Floppy fender
- Reverse arch looks can be polarizing
Pinkbike's Take
 | The Mezzer Expert is positioned as a more budget-friendly option in Manitou's lineup, but it's not lacking when it comes to performance. The adjustments are simple and effective, and the overall trail feel leaves little to be desired. Sure, you could always upgrade to the higher end damper or air spring found in the Pro model, but I have a feeling most riders will be totally happy with how the Expert feels right out of the box. |
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(or all of our forks will be obsolete in a few years)
The reverse arch is the superior design now- it keeps mud from building up between your arch and your stanchions. The only superior chassis design is the Lefty (superior design, not superior execution)
Also, Adroit inverted single sided linkage fork does a better job than lefty. Change my mind.
Reverse arch is a stiffer design at the same weight, since the arch is closer to the axle. (Or lower weight at the same stiffness).
Forward-facing cutouts for mud avoidance is a bonus.
Looks are subjective, but with a fender it's harder to spot the difference if you prefer the look of a forward arch.
If the fender wrapped forward around the stanchion and closed that gap, it would look cleaner and prevent that last bit of dirt/mud between the brake line and fender.
When it's wrapped around the headtube, it follows a really clean arc from the lever and can be routed pretty gith around the headtube without a lot of excess hose bunched up in front of the bike
I also like the bit of protection the arch gives the beloved stanchions.
Brake hose routing also seems easier.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlrkHZyWf8Y
Is this GG? JT here.
patents.google.com/patent/US6607185B2/en
It will be interesting to see if other fork manufacturers will adopt the reverse arch in a few years. Fox/SRAM might avoid the reverse arch since a lot of MTB parts adoption is aesthetically driven, and folks are split on the looks of the reverse arch design.
@vw4ever got it right: "If Fox came out with a reverse arch it’d be all the rage in fifteen minutes."
Thanks for looking out for us with mere average budgets
Are you going to be doing a value suspension lineup like you did last year as well? I'm curious how the Expert compares to like other slightly cheaper forks like the Lyrik Select, or Yari (but love that you compared it to the Z1, so thanks for that).
I'll grab some popcorn and stick around for the "I told you so" comments.
For the record - I'm still not converting from my Lyrik
hayesbicycle.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/360006997794-Fork-Set-up-Guides
Hope these forks prove to be a reliable alternative!!
Are you finding it is floppy and making contact with the tire as you are riding? Or was it flapping on the roof rack causing premature failure?
Would you feel an irt upgrade useful on this fork, or is the basic set-and-forget a happier place?
I bought an aftermarket Pike last year and it came with a fender
How does the stiffness compare to the Lyric/36 and the Zeb/38? I know it's not quite the same price bracket, but the gap isn't really that big. What does that extra $250 get me?
A plastic fender costs almost nothing to make, it more expensive to answer the call. They will spend more on packing tape than the fender.
The expert is also easier to service for those starting out.
Can you explain more about the 6 position damper settings? Details are really vague on manitou website and I’d like to know more about each setting. I’ve been looking at this fork and a Z1 coil.
Why is normal arch a banefit?
Ohlins has already won me over at least for DH, push industries has hands down the best coil, i think DVO is pretty good too and manitou is getting back in the game. i still have apprehension when it comes to formula or suntour though. as for cane creek, i really don't know what to think
Fully took apart & cleaned, lubed, oiled - seemed fine for one ride then bam...click factory after that. I took it off, serviced again in early Oct 2022 - didn't need to use again until April 2023 and I forgot about the clicking... took to my local shop & they could not figure it out but did say I had notable bushing play (which I could not detect). When I got it back I noticed oil dripping from the air-valve of the airspring side (those are on the bottom of the lowers...that's new.
Manitou sent me a diagram of the damper noting I should disassemble, split in 1/2 and sand a part or interface between damper parts with 600-800 grit sandpaper (whaaaa?) uh...no, that' sounds like some warranty stuff, thanks. That can't be routine.
All I heard was good things about the Mezzer expert - and I take care of my stuff, have had a 160mm Lyrik since 2019 that has been flawless (esp w/ the RC2 damper addition), even after 6 mos storage. Surely not every fork can be perfect and to Manitou's credit I sent it in and they will be checking it out but I am saying buyer beware... the fork is really easy to service on the airspring side (haven't done the damper yet) and I don't have Manitou's verdict yet, but I'll wager I'll be told I've done something wrong and that there's a fee perhaps even under warranty...we'll see.
Over the last two years did Manitou address or
update the Pro to fix your issues?
For my mezzer on that rack, I had to secure my front wheel to the tray w/ a velcro strap, to keep the bike from rocking back and pushing the J arm into the stanchion.
I changed racks.
How would you compare the Expert to the Pro (minus the bushing play)? Is the Pro worth the extra $250 for the fancy damper and IRT?
The expert still uses separate bath oil and damper oil (so not open bath). Just instead of a bladder, uses those foam volume compensators/emulsion style which should work pretty well still.
The damper basically is the structure of the mattoc pro, just without external hsc and with more lsc clicks than the mattoc. Besides the rebound piston has an updated design which for the mattoc pro was available as an aftermarket tuning from nz suspension. Thus function shoukd be above mattoc pro. ButI can not say how the function from the mezzer pro to the expert piston differ.
But I am pretty sure the expert with an IRT makes a pretty good fork.
And this thing is definitely not compareable to a grip 1,let alone a yari or lyrik select, with the same damper design as the yari... Only in a cartridge.
Thus when one can get a mezzer expert on sale or in the bike market from someone who removed it from his bike new for a good bargain, get it
Yari has something yoi csn not really call a compression piston and no proper lsc adjustment aa tgere is only a plate thst is turned and closes the drilled holes, bit no shims.
I said Lyrik SELECT. It basically has the yari damper that isput in a cartridge with ifp instead of a bladder.
Grip I can compare because I had a regular mattoc pro vs the grip. That is the explanatio for my opinion