Picking up a conversation from the Enduro / Trail Bike Thread:
The Manitou ISX-6 is likely the most underated shock on the market.
It features:
High speed compression adjustment
Low speed compression adjustment
Bottom out adjustement
Bottom out ramp-up adjustment
Rebound adjustment
Main air spring (sag) adjustmentWith these adjustments you can make the shock perform like a DH shock and pedal really well with the low speed compression dialed up.
You ask how it has improved my bike. It has controlled compression and ramps up nicely. It doesn't feel over worked when things get really rough and fast.
Everyone I know that figured out how to adjust theirs LOVES it.
As I am not in a position to buy a new bike anytime in the near future, I am scoping out low cost / high quality improvements.
First up - for my Prime - is a Marz 44 Micro Ti fork. I built the Prime up with a Fox 32 120 with Krapima coating, and par for the course, I find this fork to be the sux. I did some research on the 44, and it appears it may be a "sleeper" fork like it sounds like the ISX 6 is a "sleeper" shock.
Next up will be the Scythe. I already have a line on a Manitou Dorado Pro - which would take at least a pound of weight off compared to the 888 I have on there now - however it will be a while as it ain't cheap.
With fork's already sorted for both bikes, rear shocks would be next.
The Prime has a DHX-air, and the Scythe a DHX-coil. Both work, but neither is overwhelmingly good.
After reading Dean's comments about the ISX 6 - I looked around and find they sell for $100!!
However, there aren't a lot around, so would the Manitou Swinger Expert be the same thing?
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1404059/
Seems like a good, cheap upgrade.
Finally - is it just me, or are most Fox suspension parts 90% hype - 10% performance?