New Suspension Goodies from DVO, ND Tuned and MRC Trading - Eurobike 2017
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ND Tuned is a brand that takes the initials of Portuguese suspension tuner, Nuno Duarte. As well as aftermarket tuning for other brands, Nuno has started to build his own line of products.
The OVR cartridge damping system is designed as a drop in replacement for 32mm forks from Fox or RockShox. The patented, 100% pneumatic system, is said to offer similar performance as a Specialized Brain system, without the need for a lockout or remote. OVR stands for Opening Valve Resistance and prevents bobbing under load from pedaling. The 74g unit should offer around a 200g weight saving compared to a conventional oil-filled cartridge. It is also meant to be more eco-friendly as there is no oil involved and should lower maintenance intervals by nearly half.
The OVR cartridge is only available for XC use but offers a big weight saving for the lightweight addicts.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 2XRC3 DH shock is 100% machined and built to order to suit each rider and their bike. A coil spring is used with a plastic shim on the shock body to avoid rubbing. Low and high-speed compression can be adjusted externally as well as rebound.
Scratch a stanchion and don't want to fork out for an entire new CSU? The ND Tuned 32mm tubes can fit either RockShox or Fox, they are hard anodized and can be pressed in at ND in Portugal or their German distributors MRC Trading. They also offer replacement steerer tubes in case you change frames and don't have enough length, or if you are a measure once, cut once kinda guy.
DVO has a new shock to add to their expanding suspension line. The Opal T2 takes the air can tech from its bigger brother, the piggy-backed Topaz T3, and uses the same air volume reducers to tune the ride. The compression lever flicks the shock between open and pedal mode and rebound is also externally adjustable.
The Opal is aimed at shorter travel trail and even XC bikes, coming in standard and metric sizing. Prices should be around $400 USD when it lands this fall.
MRC Trading is a German distributor of various parts, but with a soft spot for suspension parts, tuning, and servicing. They have also started to create some of their own products. Firstly, this cooling fin, designed by Mathis Reichmann, fits Fox X2 shocks. During testing at a 27º ambient, the fins were found to reduce the shock's temperature by 13%. Whether or not this will be noticeable to the rider or not is unclear, but they look rad. They are made in Germany and are priced at €49,90.
MRC's second product is this 12mm thick direct-mount stem spacer that keeps the handlebar in the same position on a horizontal plane. With an average downhill bike's head angle of 63º, raising the handlebar can have a significant impact on the bike's reach, by making it feel shorter. The 12mm spacer is used with a standard 8mm spacer to give a total 20mm rise and is bolted to the existing fork crown holes, then the stem is bolted on to the extra set of threaded holes on the spacer. The spacer weighs 43 grams and costs €52,90.
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Are they available? Easy to install?
Probably the easiest way to do this is to dodge your damper!”
If you can operate cable ties then installation should be E Z P Z. It's interesting to see that they mention putting a thermal compound between the heatsink and shock. Of course that's just another grease to get contaminated and/or washed out, but it's pretty neat-o! Something like Arctic MX-4 should work fine.
It was sarcastic humor.
As was mine
It's becoming like the "audiophile" nonsense with bs snake oil products being peddled on insecure people, promising endless improvements that no one in real life can quantitively measure.
Come on, we Do not need anther trail shock....where is the DH Air shock? Cannot wait much longer : -)