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I took delivery of some Manitou Mezzers just over a week ago, but they've already developed a knocking "clunk", sounds and feels a bit like the headset is loose, but it isn't. Can also be felt when rocking the forks. Sounds like it's the issue with bushings that some early models suffered from.
They were bought from Wiggle, emailed on Saturday but I'm not hopeful it's going to be dealt with anytime soon.
Anyone know who handles warranty claims in the UK? I wondered whether I might have more joy contacting them direct. Or maybe Wiggle customer services will prove me wrong...
Ah yes, manitou Mezzers! Great forks from what I hear and apparently, great customer service if you're in the USA or NZ.
Their early forks had new lowers set out and warehouse stock was checked and the box marked with a green dot. Over here, you get to do the QA/QC for them. You're first port of call is CRC/Wiggle as is mine (I'm in a similar boat). 3 day customer service response time and then a 5 day response time for warranty. Will be interesting to see what is offered under warranty as I've been told by hotlines, that there are no revision-B lowers in the UK.
Now, if you were in the state's, you'd get new lowers just for having the loose bushing issue. Apparently, they've been sending them direct to customers for them to fit themselves and not asking for the old ones back (which saves time over the usual having to send stuff back first routine). Fingers crossed, the UK sees some of these RevB lowers soon and they come straight out to customers for warranty.
So Onzadog pointed me in the direction of this thread. I also purchased some mezzers from wiggle, which are also the RevA lowers. When I opened mine one of the bottom out bumpers was loose, no bushing play yet...
I contacted Wiggle and they have said I can send them back for warrenty inspection, but really I would rather they just sent out the updated lowers as in the USA and NZ. Without a guarantee they will replace the lowers I am loath to send them back. I would get in touch with Wiggle and get them sent back to see if they can get source some RevB lowers.
Keep us updated as to your outcome.
@flippin kipper, I'm not sure we even have the RevA lowers, seems they came out last November and my forks are dated July last year. I think the first ones went out to retail in July, so these forks were made before any riders had started to experience issues with them.
wiggle/CRC are the same company that owns hotlines. I would contact manitou state side and tell them of your issues.
make sure it is the lowers and not your brake pads
I've contacted Hayes/Manitou at the US site. Submitted a warranty claim (supplied serial number, order details etc) and got (automated) confirmation that it had been received and forwarded to the EU team who would follow up. Fingers crossed...
I tried the US as well, got redirected to Hotlines via EU-HQ.
It's not looking promising.
I had a pair of manitou mattocs that I bought 2nd Hand, they had an air spring issue and needed a new air spring. Hotlines were out of stock as were crc, I contacted crc about when they may get stock and was told they didn’t know so I decided to ask hotlines who told me to contact a bike shop, so In the end I contacted the German distributor and explained the situation to them.
They asked for my address and promptly posted out a new air spring assembly FOC even though I didn’t buy them new.
I probably wouldn’t buy a pair now though despite the fact that they went out of their way to help me purely based on the fact hotlines appear to be useless in my experience, others may have had more luck.
Always an option though contact them direct in the us or maybe try Europe
I'm having this exact issue with a brand new pair of Pikes.
So rest assured it isn't just Manitou.
What's the story with the Pike? I thought any SRAM dealer could send warranty off with a copy of your receipt and the work gets done at the tech centre.
I purchased a set of Mezzer's from Starbike in Germany. How do I find out which lowers I have on my fork? RevA or RevB?
@captsinclunkz
There's a manufacturing date on the box if you still have it. RevB was, I think around March this year and can be identified by the M5 bleed screws and decals made of individual letters. RevA came around November last year I think. To spot this, drop the lowers and have a look at the bottom out bumpers. If there are C shaped and sitting firm, or O shaped and sitting firm, then they should be RevA and bushing should be okay.
If the date is before November last year and your bottom out bumpers are loose, you have the original lowers. In the US, loose bottom out bumpers is enough to get you replacement lowers. In the UK (or mainland Europe) it doesn't seem to be clear yet, what the customer service plan actually is.
I’m having this exact issue with a brand new pair of Pikes.
SRAM UK (via vendor) have always been very good for me, have you gone through the shop/site you purchased from?.
In terms of Manitou, after the issues I had with frames that didn't have a clear warranty presence in the UK, I'd avoid the likes of Manitou now.
@Nobeer, yep, that is looking like the way forward. Seems like the Mezzer has a lot if potential but with no support in the UK, it loses a lot if appeal.
As for SRAM, I've had a local shop send back stuff I didn't buy through them, they just charge an admin fee which seems fair enough.
Which ones do you think you have?
@Onzadog the date on the box says they were manufactured on the 13/03/20. Also the graphics are individual pieces. I'm guessing RevB. This exact model (29er,44mm,180mm) wasn't available in the UK when I bought them a month ago, so bought them from Germany.
The clearest indicator will be the M5 bleed screws on the base of the arch then. Looks like you've done well there then.
Speaking of clear indicators - I sent an email to Hayes earlier asking for some assistance as my last email got bounced to EU, then to UK but still no real help has been forthcoming.
Guess what - email two just got bounced to the EU again. To me, that gives a perfectly clear message to how Hayes view their international customers.
And in answer to the question the op posed in the title of this thread, it seems the answer is...
...no one.
RevB was, I think around March this year and can be identified by the M5 bleed screws and decals made of individual letters
mine were manufactured 17/7/19 and have the individual letters but no bleed screws
That's interesting Poah. I was going off what people had been reporting in a rather extensive thread in another forum.
The RevB definitely has the bleed screws though.
Have you looked at your bottom out bumpers yet?
Have you looked at your bottom out bumpers yet?
nope I took the lowers off when I changed the travel and didn't have any issue putting them back on. I'm not bothered about it TBH.
I got mine last year direct from Hotlines, 44mm offset came from Europe the bottom out bumpers loose at bottom of fork & no bleed screws & stickers one long word although forks have been good performing
It really is a (bad) joke. Not had a reply from Wiggle yet, had the bounced to EU reply from Hayes in the US and heard nothing from them yet. It's only one working day I guess, but the level of runaround isn't looking good.
I got 1 weeks use from NEW forks ffs.
I'll give it a while and see what, if anything, they say, but wonder were I stand with putting a claim in for a refund through PayPal
Just happened to mine purchased from crc 2 weeks ago and ridden 5 days. Seems refund is simpler than warranty which is a shame as they were nice.
That really sucks Steveed. I reckon it would have been really easy to avoid this. They knew there were issues as well as how to identify and correct them. Instead, we've been left to guinea pig old stock. I wonder if there are any UK based suspension specialists who would like to take them on as a brand.
It's a shame the support is seemingly lacking from wiggle an crc. To be honest its ruining the experience of owning the mezzers waiting for issues and means I can't sell my old pikes.
Any word from Wiggle yet?
I've not heard anything back. I've just entered the automatic warranty/refund method as the actually warranty department don't want to talk to me. Having said that, I've not seen the refund yet either. 🤦🏼♀️
I got an email from wiggle saying the warranty department would be in touch, then the next day, an email asking me to send pics so it could be referred to the warranty department, and in the absence of any pics to send the forks back using the returns form.
The most annoying thing is that all the emails are generic responses, there's never an opportunity to speak to someone about the specifics. Any replies to emails that I've sent haven't had any answers.
I'll be boxing them up, sending them back and requesting a refund.
So what's everyone's plan regarding new forks when you get your refunds?
I've got a thread going at the moment wonder if I go with a Lyrik Ultimate or if I could build a better fork by getting a Yari and adding an Splug or similar to the damper and an AWK air cartridge to the spring side.
Rockshox are not without issue but there's a much better support network for them.
Great product but rubbish after sales support- sounds like Manitou are going the way of Bos and Xfusion. Shame
I've got some Lyriks on the way. There seems to be crazy differences in pricing between Rock Shox and Fox. I paid £750 for Lyrik Ultimates, Fox Factory 36's all seem to be upwards of £1100. Seems like a huge difference in price for forks that are in direct competition.
Totally agree. I believe there's less of a discrepancy in the States but it's hard to see why anyone would choose Fox with the European pricing as it is.
Hehehe think I'll just stick with my lyriks. Dougal has brainwashed a few Lol
Perhaps he has, he's a very vocal proponent. Having said that, I don't think anyone who has a working set has a bad word to say about the performance. It's seems like a great fork that's entirely let down by the fatal combination of a lack of QA/QC and then no support when you do get a duff set.
I recently got a pair from starbike and they are the newest version with the new lowers.
Seem really good so far, tricky to set up initially but much nicer, and stiffer than the fox 34s they replaced.
On a different note, does anyone know where to source the oil for the lowers? I lost a bit when doing the travel change.
Supergliss 100k can be had from some of the German mail order bike shops. It's around €20 a litre plus postage. I don't know anyone selling it in the UK. I was planning on using Fox 20 gold that I already have, then switching over.
Supergliss 68k might be even better for our climate but that's even harder to get hold of.
Thanks both, will have a look! 🙂
Which Mezzer do you have aero?
I'll wager they are 29er.
Yep 29er, 44mm offset ones.
Thanks aero....it's a 44mm or 51mm 29er that I would be buying so good to know there's revised versions kicking about in Germany.
Just to update my original post. I now have a refund from Wiggle and a new set of Lyriks from Bike24 fitted, and very nice they are too. Despite initially not being interested, Hotlines got back in touch after a couple of weeks and were keen to sort it all out, but by that time I'd already returned forks and asked for a refund.
It's a shame things couldn't have been handled better sooner, I really liked the Mezzers initially. Felt great, looked great, but just that worry of zero support 🙁
Whats everyones latest thoughts on this?
I'm after a new 160mm fork and leaning toward the Mezzer, based off how good the Mattocs on my hardtail are.
Avoid buying in the UK? Are we OK if we buy German stock?
The German stock is as unchecked and pot luck as UK stock (depending on fork size). Only US customers actually get customer support. However, if you buy from Germany, I have first hand experience that it's quicker and easier to return the fork and get a refund.
Based on my recent experience, get a Lyrik. The Mezzer might very well be the betterfirk, but the best fork is one I can actually keep on my bike and get help with if there's a problem.
just remember that a there are not many people that have issues with the mezzer.
poah
just remember that a there are not many people that have issues with the mezzer.
Just everybody in Europe that bought the first version, by the sounds of it.
I think poah must get free manitou stickers
Based on my recent experience, get a Lyrik. The Mezzer might very well be the betterfirk, but the best fork is one I can actually keep on my bike and get help with if there’s a problem.
That's what I did with my Pike, but I've got so fed up with them I'm willing to try something new now!
I'll keep an eye out for sales, and when I find the fork at a decent price will enquire about the versions. Ta