You rear shock shaft is thinner than your thumb, does that scare you?

Meh, save your money and jsut buy some more modern forks (heh, comig from a guy with Mr. Dirt FAT forks . . . )

I've had three sets of x-vert ti (one of them was Gonch's old set!) and they've all been utter bobbins.

Gonch is right, they are the highest maintenance fork in the world, ever!  Back in the day they were mainly billed as an ultra light 'race' fork - but that meant stupidly regular services.  I had a pair for a while, had them serviced, then they needed it doing again after a few weeks.

Stick them on eBay as someone will buy them (well they did with mine), and save for some 888s! 

Dude, if you don't know what you're talking about, keep on the quiet side

dude...is it tha obvious i know balls all bout rear shocks? hehe, if you know anything about the subject in hand (Mantiu x vert internals), please intervien at any point,

am speaking from experiance... i have taken these forks apart and put em together more than i can remember. i can honestly say i know the internals well, and there is little room for improvement.

yes they have brilliant performance "when they work"
but because they are strictly designed for race, there no good for long term use.
the poo materials used,
if the internals arnt breaking, ie.. the piss thin seals going,,

sounds like any fork manitou have ever made to me gonch ...

hahaha.

not sure you right on that one. pace monsters anyone?

think tf is your only chance, last time i was in there they had a big draw full of manitou damper parts.