WTB: Mezzer 29"

[powking12]

Just like the title says. I want to see what all the fuss is about and thought I'd check here first before resorting to PB.

Looking for 44 offset, 29" wheel compatible and must like long walks on the beach. I'd prefer it to be less creaky than I am although can make exception for the right price!

TIA

[grskier]

Just like the title says. I want to see what all the fuss is about and thought I'd check here first before resorting to PB.

Looking for 44 offset, 29" wheel compatible and must like long walks on the beach. I'd prefer it to be less creaky than I am although can make exception for the right price!

TIA

Not that I was looking for one myself this morn' but dirt merchant out of Boulder has them listed for $850 on PB.

[jdadour]

I was literally thinking today about trying a Mezzer as well. Very curious.

[carlh]

Dirt merchant was the best deal I saw on pink bike and includes a warranty and free shipping. I was going to pick one up but bought a new bike instead.

[powking12]

Thanks on the DM lead, unfortunately my budget doesn't allow new bike/fork dabbling. And especially with crappy exchange rates!

[Boissal]

I have one sitting at home, brand new in box, but I paid $850 for it so getting it from me (without warranty) wouldn't be beneficial. I bought my first one from Dirt Merchant, they offer to adjust it to your desired travel (they usually ship at 180) for $50 I think? Don't do it, it's a 2 beer job and the fork usually needs a bit of love coming out of the factory (more/less slickoleum and oil).

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Fucking cheap and travel adjust is only $25.


Edit: Oops I linked the Expert version. Looks like Dirtmerchant is out of Pros?

[McShortyShorts]

If you can wait a bit, Manitou may be coming out with "some cool things" this year so you may be able to scoop up a Mezzer pro for cheap if they do update their lineup. What are they updating? I have no idea. Inverted enduro fork? dual-crown enduro fork?

[grskier]

If you can wait a bit, Manitou may be coming out with "some cool things" this year so you may be able to scoop up a Mezzer pro for cheap if they do update their lineup. What are they updating? I have no idea. Inverted enduro fork? dual-crown enduro fork?

I heard it was quad clamp xc fork with a real animal brain.

[Roxtar]

BTW, just as a PSA, there are three mods I do to my Mezzers that take them to the next level.

1) Reshim the compression damper.
This made a huge difference. The one complaint with this fork is trail chatter. Mezzers, IMO, are over damped and benefit greatly from a lighter tune. I removed one shim and everything got better. I have a recommendation from Manitou on what shims to change for a lighter tune. PM me and I can send it to you. I'm not a small rider (180lb) and this allowed me some actual HSC and LSC adjustment rather than leaving it wide open. It made an even bigger difference with my 110lb wife's bike. Doing this is actually a far easier process than it sounds but if you're not comfy doing it, any shock service company can do it for you.

2) Lube oil on the top side of the air springs; both main and IRT.
I noticed that on longer rides the fork seemed to slowly get harsher. This got me thinking of possible causes. (My background is hydraulic engineering) While there is open bath lube splashing in the lowers there really is nothing to lube the air spring seal as it cycles up and down. This problem is exacerbated on longer rides as heat builds up.
I remembered on older Fox forks they recommended adding about 5cc of their Float Fluid to the top side of the air spring to create a small open bath lube on the seal. This seemed a perfect solution. This way, the air spring seal (and side wall) is constantly being lubed as it cycles. This both helps the seal last longer and (more important to us) dramatically cuts down on stiction. Another benefit to the Mezzer's easy travel adjust is that there is plenty of empty space above the piston at bottom out for the oil to reside. Just pull the IRT out (Make sure to deflate both IRT and main chamber first) and add the lube. I use about 10cc to fully cover the piston. Then reinstall the IRT piston and add some to the top of it.
I use the Fox Float Fluid because it's great stuff but any open bath lube will work fine.

3) Burnish the bushings.
This is the process of sliding a perfectly sized hardened tool through the bushings to both perfectly size and align them.
There is a guy on the interweb who sells these burnishing kits for $180. Yes this is pretty pricy but I'm lucky enough to have a bud who has one with the 37mm attachment (He's actually the guy who turned me on to the Mezzer). Check around. I'd guess there are people who buy these and will do yours for a nominal cost. I'm pretty sure my guy will if you send him your lowers. Let me know if you're interested and I'll ask.
Anyway, it's a quick easy procedure and you can immediately see the results. After removing the air spring and damper, I let the upper slide into the lower with gravity. After burnishing, I did the same. Big difference. After the burnishing, it slid far smoother and faster.

Anyway these are the tricks I've found to tweek a really good fork into an amazing one.

[toast2266]

I heard it was quad clamp xc fork with a real animal brain.

I heard it was a single crown Dorado. It's orange, it has a triangular crown, and the damper is filled with 20 weight queso. It's called the Dorito.

[frorider]

Roxtar, agreed on tip #2. I’ve been running it that way for a while & it makes a difference.

I’m typically 2 clicks in on LSC, not really interested in removing a shim (I’m 190 lbs) but whatever works for you.

[Boissal]

2) Lube oil on the top side of the air springs; both main and IRT.
I noticed that on longer rides the fork seemed to slowly get harsher. This got me thinking of possible causes. (My background is hydraulic engineering) While there is open bath lube splashing in the lowers there really is nothing to lube the air spring seal as it cycles up and down. This problem is exacerbated on longer rides as heat builds up.
I remembered on older Fox forks they recommended adding about 5cc of their Float Fluid to the top side of the air spring to create a small open bath lube on the seal. This seemed a perfect solution. This way, the air spring seal (and side wall) is constantly being lubed as it cycles. This both helps the seal last longer and (more important to us) dramatically cuts down on stiction. Another benefit to the Mezzer's easy travel adjust is that there is plenty of empty space above the piston at bottom out for the oil to reside. Just pull the IRT out (Make sure to deflate both IRT and main chamber first) and add the lube. I use about 10cc to fully cover the piston. Then reinstall the IRT piston and add some to the top of it.
I use the Fox Float Fluid because it's great stuff but any open bath lube will work fine.

So you end up with an extra 20ish CC of oil in the IRT leg? On top of the 25 in the lower? And whatever slickoleum goes in there as well? That is one well lubed forked!

Re: shim stack, interesting, I also run my fork with no HSC damping since I can get the exact feel I want by playing with main/IRT pressure. I don't really notice any chatter but I might not know what I'm missing...

[Roxtar]

So you end up with an extra 20ish CC of oil in the IRT leg? On top of the 25 in the lower? And whatever slickoleum goes in there as well? That is one well lubed forked!

Re: shim stack, interesting, I also run my fork with no HSC damping since I can get the exact feel I want by playing with main/IRT pressure. I don't really notice any chatter but I might not know what I'm missing...

No such thing as too much lube
That 10cc per is a guessimate. Just add enough so that the piston is covered but the middle, raised section, isn't. That will keep the lube from interfering with the travel. With the IRT, the hollowed out top cap allows plenty of room.

Some good tuning info here:

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/manitou...-tech.1177011/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBQ...mwdRtFSNc/view

May not be worth a tear down now but the next time your fork is due for some love, consider pulling that 17.5mm shim.

[Boissal]

Ah shit, I was hoping not to have a reason to learn how to bleed a damper, not it looks like I should just sack up and do it. Do you use the Hayes syringes which are meant for brake bleeds? Seems like the fitting are the same.

Thanks for the link btw, I hadn't seen the updated fork thread and the old one was impossible to navigate. The link to the o-rings is super useful.

[Roxtar]

I have the Park universal brake bleed kit which has the same fittings. The bleeding really is super easy, but messy as hell. Unless you have pretty big syringes, you'll have to unscrew the fittings and refill the syringe, which is somewhat a PITA. You'll need to buy the shaft vise to get it apart. It's (of course) not a normal size tube but people are selling plastic 3D printed ones for pretty cheap. The correct size is 16.3mm.

[Roxtar]

Shaft vise jaws:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1007578...most-forks-and

[Boissal]

Shaft vise jaws:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1007578...most-forks-and

Quit making it easy on me damn it, running out of excuses.

Somewhere in the Mezzer thread there's a link to the M5 fittings (I think) + tubes which go on syringes and fit all threaded bleed ports. Might buy those and score a couple of huge luer-lock syringes from work to avoid the mess you described. We have 50s and probably 100s by the case.

[powking12]

This is almost as good as finding a cheap fork. I think I sourced one from pinkbike that’s in Cali right now. Now I have to tear it down as soon as I get it. Thanks Roxtar!

[Roxtar]

Just helping spread the gospel

[Eluder]

Shaft vise jaws:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1007578...most-forks-and

this dude has all sorts of handy shit!

[McShortyShorts]

https://hayesbicycle.com/products/mezzer-1

Hayes has the mezzer pro 40% off right now

[bagtagley]

https://hayesbicycle.com/products/mezzer-1

Hayes has the mezzer pro 40% off right now

Mara Pro is 25% off. Thanks! Been waiting for a sale.

[Roxtar]

https://hayesbicycle.com/products/mezzer-1

Hayes has the mezzer pro 40% off right now

That's amazing.

[powking12]

Anyone have two sets of travel spacers they would be willing to mail to Canada?