Manitou hinted some time back about wanting to offer a second less expensive version of their premium downhill fork; the Manitou MRD Dorado. The idea behind the aluminum version would be to provide consumers (and OEM’s) an avenue to get one of the best forks on the market where they should be, spec’d on your bike.
The aluminum version is slated to have the same internals (in a slightly heavier package most likely) but at a more cost effective price. The same 2 year service plan / support will also be included as well which lets the user send the fork back to Manitou for service (as well as race support). With the use of aluminum, we think it is quite possible that Manitou could bring the weight of the aluminum version at, or very close to the weight of the current carbon model and easily reduce the price of the aluminum Dorado to the likes of the Boxxer WC and the FOX 40 RC2. A sub $2000 MSRP aluminum Dorado in our opinion is certainly attainable. Achieving a similar feel with the aluminum version will be a hurdle to overcome.
Expected to come out... MARCH 2009.