Which DH fork? Mix or match fork and damper brands allowed?

I‘m building up a V10.8 frame. It comes with the new Fox damper. Which fork you should I run? Is it possible to mix brands? Or do I‘ve to put a Fox 40 on? 

Poll

Do you mix fork and damper brands?

Choices
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Big Bird
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Oceano, CA US
5/18/2026 7:49am

Manitou Dorado.

1
Buckets Up
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Location
Hancock, MI US
5/18/2026 12:19pm

You can put any fork you’d like on. This whole matching suspension concept is born out of some weird concern about how others will perceive you.

Run whatever you like/ interests you and don’t worry about what others think of it. 

3
5/18/2026 12:39pm
Big Bird wrote:

Manitou Dorado.

Never tried a Manitou nor a Dorado. Would love to try one! 

5/18/2026 12:49pm Edited Date/Time 5/18/2026 12:49pm
Buckets Up wrote:
You can put any fork you’d like on. This whole matching suspension concept is born out of some weird concern about how others will perceive you.Run...

You can put any fork you’d like on. This whole matching suspension concept is born out of some weird concern about how others will perceive you.

Run whatever you like/ interests you and don’t worry about what others think of it. 

I´ld like run what works best Smile  

Buckets Up
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229
Joined
10/18/2010
Location
Hancock, MI US
5/18/2026 1:02pm
Buckets Up wrote:
You can put any fork you’d like on. This whole matching suspension concept is born out of some weird concern about how others will perceive you.Run...

You can put any fork you’d like on. This whole matching suspension concept is born out of some weird concern about how others will perceive you.

Run whatever you like/ interests you and don’t worry about what others think of it. 

ripsomat wrote:

I´ld like run what works best Smile  

Well ‘best’ is going to be different for every person.

So best for you might indeed be a matching 40, but for @Big Bird it might be Dorado and I might prefer a Boxxer.

Hence why asking if matching suspension is important is a silly inquiry.

Perhaps you could give some additional info on your body anthropometrics, riding style, terrain type and desires and I’m sure the Vital community would return some insightful feedback to help you decide!

Big Bird
Posts
2301
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA US
5/18/2026 4:30pm
ripsomat wrote:

Never tried a Manitou nor a Dorado. Would love to try one! 

Manitou is the manufacturer that makes the Dorado DH fork. It's an inverted fork which means that the seals stay well lubricated, there's more bushing overlap meaning that they're very stiff front to back, but have more side to side compliance so it sort of squirms around obstacles instead of going up and over each and every one.

5/18/2026 5:24pm Edited Date/Time 5/18/2026 5:24pm

Santa Cruz has built plenty of bikes with Fox up front and RS out back, and vice versa. 

5/19/2026 5:21am

I also look for a good price point. I not will to pay 2.5 k € for a fork u know. And it has to match the asthetics as well. So blue frame- red fork … f.e. ??

5/19/2026 5:26am
Buckets Up wrote:
Well ‘best’ is going to be different for every person.So best for you might indeed be a matching 40, but for @Big Bird it might be...

Well ‘best’ is going to be different for every person.

So best for you might indeed be a matching 40, but for @Big Bird it might be Dorado and I might prefer a Boxxer.

Hence why asking if matching suspension is important is a silly inquiry.

Perhaps you could give some additional info on your body anthropometrics, riding style, terrain type and desires and I’m sure the Vital community would return some insightful feedback to help you decide!

I’m a 40 year old Dad living in the middle of Maribor and Schladming. I ride a lot of the bikeparks in Austria and Slo and Switzerland. I‘m sports teacher and bike coach, don‘t race that much anymore. I like tecnical trails and jumplines… 

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