The Black has striking looks - and a super-smooth stroke

Reviewed by John Medford, IPMBA Police Cyclist
IPMBA Industry Relations Committee
Denver PD (CO)

Do you ever experience pain and tingling in your hands after several hours into your shift? Most of us have, and we've tried everything to make it go away, from new grips to new gloves to riser bars. This was my situation until I upgraded the fork on my work bike. I had been riding the stock Manitou SX fork that came standard on my 2001 Schwinn Moab 3. I had upgraded everything else on the bike and thought I had a great combination of components. Then I discovered that Manitou had been developing a fork specifically for public safety cyclists. With the assistance of members of the LAPD bike unit, they came up with a package that I feel is a homerun.

The public safety model is based on the Black Sport model fork. A few years ago, the Black line changed the appearance and the performance of forks with the reverse arch. This reversal stiffens the fork, making steering crisper and more precise. It also noticeably improves the handling, which is particularly evident when the bike is loaded heavy with gear.

Manitou solved my biggest complaint with the stock fork - bottoming out. The problem with most stock forks is that they are sprung for a 150-175lb rider. Not many officers I know fall into that weight range, especially with all of the gear we carry. Manitou paired heavy springs with a set 100mm of travel. This worked well, and even when I had 200+ pound guys jump on my bike, it did not bottom out.

Some of us have seen aluminum steerer tubes under pressure - or thousands of miles of hard use - fail, resulting in rider injury. To reduce the possibility of failure, a steel steerer was designed to stand up to the added abuse and extend the service life of a police bike. The stanchions are a beefy 30mm and the casting is magnesium.

The Black fork has the Twin Piston Chamber Plus, (TPC+), for a wide range of damping rates; anyone should be able to find a desirable rate. It is position-sensitive, and as you get further into the travel, the rate increases. Rebound control rounds out the control features.

Servicing the fork is quite simple. Microlube points are built into the fork to help keep it moving smoothly between overhauls. This feature also reduces the frequency of overhauls. The springs are dampened via an oil bath system. This tends to last longer than an air-based system and requires less regular maintenance.

The fork was designed with police use/abuse in mind and the safety features and simplicity of overhauls make it an attractive option. The best part is the price point of $200-250 for law enforcement and EMS personnel. At this price, your hands and body will thank you. You will notice the decreased fatigue in just a few days. I would make this my first upgrade on any future work bikes.

The public safety fork is now in production and will be available in mid-January. The cost is approximately $200 plus tax and freight. It is available in several color options - black, black or black. Contact Answer Products at 800-423-0273 or www.answerproducts.com. Be sure to tell them IPMBA sent you!

John Medford has been with the Denver Police Department for six years and has been a police cyclist for two years. He rides both mountain and road off-duty. He also works part-time in a bike shop, handling law enforcement sales and repairs. John can be reached at collinsbicycles@aol.com.

(C) 2003 IPMBA. This review first appeared in the Winter 2003 issue of IPMBA News.