Prototype DVO Diamond Enduro Fork - Eurobike 2013

Aug 28, 2013
by Mike Levy  


DVO shook up the suspension world with the announcement earlier this year of their inverted Emerald DH fork and its Carbon Torsion Arch that is said to drastically improve torsional rigidity, but the fledgling suspension brand certainly isn't planning on stopping at having just one fork in their lineup, with plans for two different mid-travel forks targeted at the all-mountain/enduro world. The first of those to be released is the Diamond, pictured here in prototype form, that will offer either 140 or 160mm of internally adjustable travel. The right side up fork (the second model will be an inverted single crown) utilizes 35mm stanchion tubes and stout looking magnesium lowers that give it a brawny appearance, and all signs point to the Diamond being far from a spindly trail fork. Despite its solid appearance, DVO's Bryson Martin told us that they have a target weight of 4.18LB for the production version, which is a very competitive figure.

DVO Diamond Details

• Intended use: all-mountain/enduro
• Travel: 140 or 160mm (internally adjustable)
• Air sprung
• 'Quick Range' low-speed compression adjuster
• Separate high-speed compression adjuster
• Low-speed rebound adjuster
• 35mm stanchion tubes
• 26'' and 650B models
• 15mm thru-axle
• Target weight: 1900g/4.18LB
• Available: April, 2014
• MSRP: TBA

Internally, the Diamond will employ the same technology used within DVO's Emerald DH fork, and Martin explained that damper is basically a shrunk down version of the 8''
travel fork's twin-tube open bath design. And much like what took place during the Emerald's development, the Diamond's damper was put through some real world testing by retrofitting it into an existing fork chassis, a strategy that allowed DVO to test the damper without attracting any attention. Adjustments include the fork's 'Quick Range' climbing aid, which is basically a low-speed compression dial that goes through its entire range with only a 180° turn, thereby making it easy for the rider to operate on the fly. Underneath the Quick Range knob is a more traditional high-speed compression dial, although all the dials on the prototype fork shown here were rapid prototypes, not the finished aluminum versions, that let DVO test tolerances and tactile feel. Much like the Emerald, the Diamond's compression assembly can be removed from the fork without losing any damping oil or requiring a complete rebuild, a layout that should let tuners tinker until the cows come home. Rebound duties are adjusted via a single adjuster at the bottom of the same leg. Further tuning is possible thanks to the fork's 'Off The Top' adjuster that changes the volume of the negative air spring in order to tweak how active it is at the top of its travel. This should be a useful feature for larger riders who require higher air pressure by allowing them to increase sensitivity despite the high pressure, or even for improving pedalling performance on smooth trails.

DVO Diamond Enduro fork

While the fork is still very clearly in prototype form, it was fitted with a trick looking carbon fiber fender that bolts to the back face of its arch. This is far from being just a novelty item, with it doing double duty by covering off the hollow area in the rear of the arch that might otherwise fill with mud, as well as obviously acting as a fender. Expect the production unit to look far more dialled and attach to the arch in a cleaner fashion.


www.dvosuspension.com

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Forks DVO Suspension


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198 Comments
  • 86 30
 another 15mm axle? -____-
  • 67 32
 I doubt you can say that you have personally felt the difference between 20mm and 15mm. Going to 15mm saves weight, which is a target for the bikes this fork is aimed at. 20mm on boxxers, a completely different story.
  • 118 11
 And I doubt you can feel the deifference beetween 15 and 20 mm, but your wallet will if you have to change your front wheel!
  • 34 14
 ran a pike and lyrik on my enduro. so yes i have.
  • 107 9
 15mm is a pointless standard, saves a couple of grams over a 20mm Id rather have that extra rigidity and confidence myself
  • 40 44
flag Terrafire (Aug 28, 2013 at 8:09) (Below Threshold)
 If you have a 20mm wheel, dollars to donuts you can get an adapter to make it 15mm, its just a sleeve that sits inside the bearing. $20 tops. This is the price you need to pay if you want to be at the top end of components, if that's not your deal, all the more to you! Going to 15mm saves roughly 40 grams. For suspended weight, that is a big deal.
  • 36 7
 Sethd) I used 20mm fox forks now I use 15mm x fusion and 15mm feels just the same nooooo flex here :-)
  • 21 5
 no problem with the wheel. almost every hub has a conversion kit nowadays. i used hope evo hubs laced to stans rims all im saying is there is no point in the 15mm thru axle. it saves you what 50 grams? meh. ill pass
  • 8 1
 @superbikes yeah i ran a vengence for awhile and was quite pleased with it. x fusion is giving the big three a run for their money
  • 18 4
 Sathd, I'm quite sure there is more to fork stiffness than just the axle, so to compare pike to lyrik isn't going to tell the whole story. In all fairness you'd have to run the same trail with the same bike on the same day with the same wheels and the same tyres and pressure, only changing the fork, to tell the true difference. To balance the argument I'm still running a 9mm QR and as of this moment, it's yet to have flexed so much that I've lost control and smashed my face to bits on a rock.
  • 13 3
 Not everyone will swap his whole wheelset just for another fork and the weight differemce isnt that big, please a 20mm would be great
  • 6 1
 @eyon cheers i see your point i did ride it on the same local trail but it wasnt on the same day etc. however i still am iffy about the whole 15mm axle. it just seems pointless.
  • 11 0
 in dvo's defense the fork does look killer though!
  • 13 1
 Once you use a 15mm adapter in your wheel you are adding more weight anyway as the bearing has to be stepped down more, and material is needed to fill the space the axle doesn't.
  • 21 6
 15mm is a useless standard put out by fox and shimano to take your moeny. they can and have made lightweight 20mm axles that compare with 15mm and 20mm is stiffer whether you can feel it or not. there was never any demand for 15mm, it is strictly a money maker for fox and shimano that everyone has had to adopt to. just like there was no real consumer demand for 650b. pacentii has been touting it for years. but now manufacturers are seeing it as an easy way to take your money on a new frame, fork and wheels you don't really need
  • 17 8
 I've used 15mm and 20mm axles and there isn't really any difference. I have yet to see a picture of a broken 15mm axle LOL!!! How hard on your equipment do you guys really think you are? With 20mm being more than strong enough for WC DH riders, do you really think you need that level of strength/stiffness for a trail bike? The best tracking fork on the market is the Dorado (DVO hasn't been tested yet) and it has some torisional flex, but remains rigid in the other plains. How many people still want 1 1/8 steerers, but won't accept 15mm axles? There is more of a performance hit with 1 1/8 compared to taper in terms of flex.
  • 5 3
 @Terrafire: Switching to 15mm is only $20 tops? Will you cover the $80 difference for me to switch my Chris King hub? The 15mm axle sleeve is $100!
  • 7 0
 part of me wonders if the industry has adopted the three axle standards for liability reasons. if you experienced a failure of a fork with a 15mm axle while hucking 15ft to flat, they can then say you were pushing the fork beyond it's intended use.
  • 9 5
 Weight drop on 15mm axle is virtually none. We talk about max 50g on fork and hub together. Axle diameter is less important than clamping type. Once we got those idiot friendl... Sorry idiot-proof, tool-free axles , we lost more stiffness than when forks got from 20 to 15mm axles. I wish I had Manitou hex lock on all my forks.
  • 14 9
 that's your fault for buying chris king
  • 7 3
 38mm stanchions , 20mm axle,adjustable to 180mm travel and i'm all in ! Smile
  • 97 2
 Tbh, I'm waiting for a fork with a 17.5mm axle. That way I can have the best of both worlds.
  • 22 7
 If 15mm is such a useless standard then why has EVERY fork maker adopted it, for this travel segment of bike ?! When the designers of the biggest companies with the most successful past fork experiences all adopt it, perhaps THEY actually know something you folks don't. Also 15mm ISN'T patented, its an open source standard...so how exactly is it a moneymaker for Fox and Shimano ?!? Its ALSO a money maker for Rockshox, Suntour, Marzocchi, Hope, Chris King, Formula, X-Fusion, Manitou, and dozens of other brands.
  • 1 9
flag LANGDALE99 (Aug 28, 2013 at 9:17) (Below Threshold)
 But a fork that big with a 15 mm axle with just penetrate the hub
  • 7 11
flag Raggi-Boy (Aug 28, 2013 at 9:18) (Below Threshold)
 To make people think they need another useless standard, duh. Oh yeah the weight you save on the axle is usually lost again using a conversion kit, you big dummy.
  • 8 1
 @stryke: hahaha. Yep my fault entirely. But you know what? I still have sweet, sweet Chris King hubs.
  • 6 5
 agree. no 20mm axle, clamped both ends, no purchase from me.
  • 11 6
 Accountants told them to make more money so they created an artificial solution that nobody wanted.

FOX could not survive the success of RockShox's Maxxle and then Maxxle 360 and Maxxle Light. Since FOX is worshiped by many people they called Shimano with proposal to force a new "standard" that no one wanted or needed. And so we have an invasion of 15mm axles.

I think that other manufacturers did horrible thing: they followed FOX with 15mm axle instead uniting and shout in chourus "Srew you! We're sticking to 20mm axle!"

Based on my experience, I believe that designers actually DON'T know something thay we, the riding folks, don't.
  • 6 3
 I hope dvo listen to us, they seem like a company that would.
  • 9 5
 @Terrafire Buy a 15mm axle fork to save 40gramms and then buy a 20$ and 40gr adaptator for 20mm axle wheel. Yes, that reeaaally make sense.... seriously, 20mm for everything but xc and that's it.
  • 3 8
flag stryke (Aug 28, 2013 at 9:33) (Below Threshold)
 @scandiumrider, thats cool and all.. they must be so sweet that you have to be mad when you gotta spend 100bux to adapt them rather then 25 or 50 like other front hubs what do the same shit, a front hub is pretty damn simple
  • 3 0
 Good debate this . Must be hard for a new company to come up with a new single crown fork that will please us all .But I'm sure DVO will sort this if not they may Evan come up with a new idea .they seem to be pushing new tech and new ideas all of which I've seen so far are winners
  • 6 1
 My biggest gripe with 15mm axles is that I cannot swap out my front wheels across all my bikes. I sometimes like to ride my hardtail in the bike park. Sometimes a 6 inch trail bike is required for some big shuttle or heli drop missions, but a DH tire is necessary. Sometimes I want to take my hardtail for a spin on the trails and a semi-slick won't cut it. Thanks to not having a 'standard' I cannot do this. I would also like all my bikes to be 157mm rear for the same reason but that's not likely to happen anytime soon either.
  • 8 0
 I'm not mad at all, because I'm not converting them. I'm just going to keep my sweet wheels on my 20mm fork.
  • 4 0
 I doubt they built this fork with the intent of you swapping your 20mm axle fork out for it, This makes much much more since for OEM applications. If they can offer a complete bike with 15mm axle over a 20mm axle then the end price for the customer will stay the same but the weight and performance of the bike will go up. For the guys and girls trying to get into enduro this is a big deal. No one expects anyone to trade out their entire set up just for a fork.
  • 9 0
 Vote with your wallet! If everyone buys 20mm, 1 1/8 steerer forks, and these sit on the shelf, the manufacturers will listen.
  • 10 6
 Willie, I will vote with my wallet. Next year Im going to buy a 26" trail bike! Oh... There aren't any to buy... Vote with your wallet, yea, might as well go and create "Occupy Whistler" movement Big Grin
  • 3 1
 Everyone has 15mm wheelsets now, since fox and rs initially came out with 15mm, so it only makes sense from a sales standpoint to make modern forks in 15mm. you think these companies dont look at market data?
  • 9 5
 15mm axles have been around for FIVE years now. They're not going away. If people still haven't worn out their existing 20mm hub built wheels yet... they're not riding hard enough.
  • 5 11
flag Willie1 (Aug 28, 2013 at 10:13) (Below Threshold)
 Waki: 29er outsells 26 bu 7:1 to 20:1. No one will continue developing 26" products with the declining sales, and they drop yearly. The maistream consumer may be more likely to consider a 650b bike instead of a 29er, increasing sales to smaller wheeled bikes. Geometry is much more neutral with the 650b wheels than the frankenbike geometry that people think they need with 26ers, resulting in bikes that have stability and traction, and maintaining the playfulness that smaller wheeled bikes are known for.
  • 10 8
 650b and 29ers are frankenbikes, and theres no such thing as a neutral geometry
  • 4 3
 LOL!
  • 6 1
 I really hope DVO smashes fox, they deserve it after CTD
  • 6 1
 BOS have shown on their Deville that a 20mm axle can be light, stiff, strong and user friendly. I'm sure the 20mm axle on my Deville is lighter than my Fox 15mm axle
  • 3 1
 they deserve it for continually offering CTD in their new forks also. even fox themselves admitted CTD wasnt the bees knees yet theyre sticking with it because they have it in house, their sales likely aren't suffering, and still allows noobs to think they are in control of their fork
  • 3 1
 It isn't green and it isn't inverted, that cut's out quite a bit of the market
  • 6 2
 @deeeight : how do U worn front hub for 20mm axle? U know that bearings can be replaced, don't ya?

@Willie1 "No one will continue developing 26" products with the declining sales, and they drop yearly" As far as I'm concerned the 26" wheels are fully developed - they roll lovely Smile We've got everything we need, moreover I bet U that rims, spokes and tires will be easy availabe for next ten years.

If producers want to make bigger wheels that's ok, but I won't let them to force me into unwanted change.
  • 1 2
 My eyes...hurt...kill me
  • 1 0
 I your coming from a 20mm front hub to this 50mm you don't need a new wheel. 90% of hubs that people will have can be adapted down to 15mm. Stiffness is another story. But I see a few people saying they need new wheels because they're running a 20mm
  • 2 1
 Unless you are unning superstar hubs, whose adaptors cost about 10 bucks if not less then you need to spend a shit load of money to buy and adaptor for your hub, if they sell them
  • 2 0
 Why would you "need to spend a shit load of money to buy and adaptor for your hub". They make cheap ones
  • 2 0
 or decent sets come with all the adaptors included
  • 4 2
 I just don't get it why a small, rising company like DVO wants to follow big gubs with those 15mm axles... You made an inverted fork God Damn it! Make a frkn 20mm axle just for the bloody sake of offering a different option. Just as everyone above writes: most of decent hubs are 20mm, convertible to 15mm. At least your target clients run such hubs... You know, rich fkrs, buying CK, I9 and sht...
  • 1 0
 You can get adapters for your Hope Pro 2 & Evo's for like £10... or $15 etc
  • 1 0
 @ Waki: this fork is not an inverted like the emerald, but an USD SC fork is in progress... I think they made it to aswer the OEM demand of brands which have bought the first emerald (and they wanted a bling bling 15mm). A standard design (maybe already developped by suntour but not produce yet), a cartrige they have tested, and you have quicly a fork istead of wait for trhe "real" one. USD means 20mm or nothing, so don't worry, the next one won't have this half-axle.
  • 9 0
 @WAKI. Your troll level is over 9000
  • 2 0
 THe funny thing is, CG wanted a very light fork. Yet DVO told him they'll make a stiffer, but slightly heavier fork. Instead of altering the chassis and still using the 15 mm axle, you could just use the lightweight chassis and use a 20 mm axle. A 5 minute work in CAD, FEA also checks out without a problem, job's a goodn.

What is it with these 15 mm forks? Is 20 mm gone for us enduro class riders? I swear, the last hope is Rock Shox if they decide to put a Charger damper in the Lyrik and up it to 27" (and up the travel to finaly bump out the Totem). The Pike has gone the way of the dodo axle wise, but i doubt an updated Lyrik would get the same treatment. Well at least i hope.
  • 4 3
 The material weight is better served in the crown and stanchions than it is in 5mm more axle diameter. Look at motorcycle forks... 1" steerer tubes, huge stanchions and crowns to support them, and pretty tiny axles in comparison to how much weight and energy they have to deal with. People on here can argue till they choke to death about how 15mm is evil incarnate and its 20mm or nothing, and the engineers who actually build these forks will happilly laugh away while drinking their beers and talking to magazine editors and reviewers and wonder how they put up with folks using their free forums who clearly just don't want to accept facts.
  • 3 0
 What did they do? Get x-fusion lowers, change the stickers and put a carbon mudguard on?

Not really impressive.

Can't wait to see the USD fork though!

@Primoz the Totem is gone anyway. The Lyrik now is their daddy single crown fork... I can't see them canning it or 20mm because it uses the same lowers as the Boxxer... unless that's going to 15mm as well (which wouldn't be a total surprise!)
  • 2 0
 @ willie1 thats just what i did, i bought a 2013 marzocchi 55 cr, 1 1/8 steer tube and 20mm axle 170 mm fork.

best purchase i made since a long time in the mountain bike industry !
  • 1 0
 Maybe 180mm from German A will be ok ?
cdn1.coresites.mpora.com/dirt_new/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/EDH_2920.jpg
  • 1 0
 What's that German A fork? enduro fork? looks weird. Hydraulic cartridge on the disc side isn't the best idea. I have to test it.
  • 3 0
 I was hoping for them to do there usual emerald green theme
  • 1 0
 jaame appart from the X-Fusion USD fork, a Lyrik with Boxxer 27,5" lowers is more or less the only way to get a 20 mm axle on 650B as far as i'm concerned. If it works anyways...

Didn't know about Totem going the way of the dodo. It was inevitable, ofcourse, the market segment is dead.
  • 2 0
 X-Fusion Vengence... 20mm and 650B compatible. Also White Brothers Loop fork as I recall.
  • 1 0
 But they are not upside-down
  • 1 0
 @deeeight There was a comparison of axles in german bike magazine 9mm vs 15mm vs 20mm and guess what: 9 and 15 were very close in terms of stifness and weight. Unfortunately I can't find this goddamn picture but eventually I will, and I promise I'll post it here.
  • 1 0
 I am sure there was but the problem with magazine tests is that the results are often massaged to confirm something already held to be true, or to encourage the buying of ads by the brands being tested.
  • 1 0
 @deeeight In this case it was 100% lab test without any area to manipulate results.
  • 1 0
 I have seen other tests in other magazines at times for other things and an often repeated problem is unless you regularly revisit andnretest products on the same equipment and to the same conditions you can quickly end up with useless data. In the case of say hubs, many 9mm qr hubs have axles bigger than 9mm already, so the only advantage to the 15qr is the security of it being a thru axle that screws into the fork dropout and closes to the exact same point every time. There are many 20mm hubs on the market and they won't all test out to the same stiffness even though they share an axle diameter.
  • 1 0
 To be honest I don't think that they are significant differences between 20mm hub bodies excluding some stupid ultra hiper light versions. If anything it would be in the mounting system, for example, Hex Lock vs. the rest of the world.
  • 1 0
 EnduroriderPL I know this "comparison", it's very strange.I rode too many 9, 15 and 20mm axles to agree with this.
  • 1 0
 I would like to see a comparative test of idiot-friendly Maxle VS "old school" 4 pinch bolts, hex lock particularly. What RS and Fox does with their latest tool-free axles without collars, is pretty much is saying that pinch bolts were never needed. Why forks like Fox36, DeVille and DH forks still have either pinch bolts, clamps or collars?
  • 1 0
 Why? Well for one practically every qr design end up patented, hell originally the 20mm axle itself was patented by rockshox. Pinch bolts are a patent free solution. The clamp fox uses is a copy of the paul turner patented tullio system used on the rockshox psylo forks and later maverick forks. Most likely fox pays turner a licensing royalty.
  • 2 0
 I think it's because such technical solution makes the fork stiffer, but that's just quasi-trolling assumption that comes to me after going through several university courses on fundamentals of mechanics and structure... But who knows, maybe fork manufacturers made their research and came up with a conclusion that clients buying those smaller sub170 forks, will appreciate solution increasing wheel changing performance more than actual bike handling. You know, the very notion of engineering a part of the bike to perform better when it is not ridden, over the times when it should perform on the trail Those Maxles make that feeling of changing a flat or putting the wheel into the car, a bit less traumatic, yes...
  • 2 0
 I think every bike and every manufacturer should use Maxles front and rear. Getting it in and out of the car is a pain in the arse job no one wants, and Maxles make it easy. I know Waki you think the new maxles are shit compared to the old ones, but hey I've tried old, new and the Marzocchi screw through with two 6mm allen keys and 4mm pinch bolts on the fork bottoms. I don't care if bolts are stiffer or stronger (I can't tell) but they are definitely quantifiably a bigger pain in the arse. I would estimate that it takes an extra five minutes at either end of a ride, which is ten minutes a time more. Add that up 40 times a year, that's 400 minutes a year extra time getting a wheel in or out. How many hours would that be wasted? 6 hrs 40? That's worth consideration, for me at least. Plus there was that one time I went to the skate park in the car only to find I left my tools at home and couldn't get the wheel in at all... wouldn't have happened with Maxle.
  • 1 0
 It makes sense what you say jaame but I am not sure if many people remove their wheels as often as you do. I for instance in my bike the front wheel might stay untouched in the fork for a half of a year or more.
  • 1 0
 You're right. Back in the UK most of my riding was done from the doorstep, plus I had a hatchback car that I could just put the seats down and only needed to take the front wheel out to fit it in. Now I've got no doorstep riding, I often tie the bike on the back of the scooter and the wheels on the front, or use the Mazda 3, which has the most irritatingly shaped boot of any car I've owned. Horses for courses. I am a dead set Maxle afficionado but I recognise the fact that bolts are stronger. I wouldn't ride a motorbike with a maxle, that's for sure. Not a street bike anyway.
  • 1 0
 I mean, I understand that Maxles are more practical. I honestly think that the best solution ever made is on Fox 36 forks - Fast to operate and provides decent clamping. Probably heavier than bolts, but I take that. I guess where I am always going with this arguing, is that 15mm axles provide next to no increase in stiffness over 9mm QR, because they are not clamped properly.
  • 1 0
 I agree with you 100% that 15mm axles are pointless. When you weigh the entire setup I bet there is negligible weight saving, they are probably a bit flexier, but for me they cause compatibility problems. What I like is that all my front wheels fit all my bikes, so when I have a race I can take three different tyres on three different wheels and not worry about wasting time changing tyres if it rains or whatever. That's why I disagree with 150mm rears too. There should be one standard front and rear in my opinion. Be that 135, 142 or 150 don't care, but it should be standard.
  • 1 0
 Are we the only essay writers on this site often agreeing with each other? Mnah... Willie1 and deeeight are in the same team...
  • 1 0
 There IS a common pattern to responders/commenters in news articles yes, if someone had the time to look thru any that involved a bike review in the past year, I'm sure you'd see me, you (waki), wakaba, protour, willie1, saidrick, and a dozen others in every single one of them. Everyone on the site can see where very user is posting to comments/forums in their profile link, and while I'm not going to bother to check I would lay money on the fact the ones posting in this story, a significant majority have posted on other stories, and often negatively.
  • 1 0
 B-b-b-b-but I wanted to be original... I didn't realize... I think I want to quit now... I don't want to join the club that would like me to be it's member. I don't want to go the same path as hipsters or goth or... atheists - I sold my 6" bike because of that Enduro madness for gods sake!
  • 4 0
 Ok, I decided to reveal my ultimate goal here: I want to earn the honour of being considered the Noam Chomsky of Mountain Biking...
  • 42 6
 DVO, please consider switching to a 20mm axle. This might even win you some potential on-the-fence customers that are considering a Pike.
  • 24 31
flag Willie1 (Aug 28, 2013 at 8:33) (Below Threshold)
 So they should spend tens of thousands of dollars to sell to a few hundred retrogrouches? Maybe they should include v-brake mounts as well?
  • 6 3
 umm 20mm is the stiffer system that weighs marginally more... that's not retro that's thinking and weighing your wallet carefully
  • 6 1
 It will also let people swap out a DH wheel/tire from their DH bike for those really rocky rides that require pedaling.
  • 11 10
 15mm has been around for what, 5 years or so now? How many people other than those that post here repeatedly are wanting to put old worn out wheels on a brand new fork? How do you know 20mm is stiffer? I would bet the difference would be hard to measure, let alone feel. Both are stronger than what we actually need. I don't have any wheels that are not compatible with 15mm, excepting the budget wheels I had from 2007 or prior. In biking, that is retro.
  • 4 3
 They don't want people running DH wheels on trail forks. This doesn't seem odd to me. DT Swiss did the same thing three years ago when they had warranty issues from people running trail forks beyond their intended use, because it has a 20mm axle.
  • 11 3
 but it's an enduro fork, it's meant to be ridden on dh tracks
  • 6 11
flag Willie1 (Aug 28, 2013 at 10:18) (Below Threshold)
 You are confused. DH is dramatically different from enduro.
  • 2 0
 Willie: Worn out front hubs? Throw in a set of bearings and they're good for a few more years. There's no reason front hubs can't last decades. Lace new rims on whenever necessary but the hub should pretty much be good forever.

Call it what you want, I plan to run my King hubs for a looooooooong time. They work as if new and show no signs of wear whatsoever. I haven't thrown away my house either, even though it is over 5 years old. I suppose that makes my house retro.

With that said, I don't mind 15mm now that I've mostly switched over. More important to me is axle design. For example, Manitou's hex-lock system does way more for rigidity than 20mm does over 15mm.
  • 5 1
 can i get a 650A?? 17.5mm axles are deffinitly the best, ridgitiy of the 20mm but the weight of a 15mm,. ride what you want, dont bitch to others that ones better then the other.
  • 3 1
 Call me a retro-grouch but 15mm can suck it. Hubs CAN be rebuilt, wheels can be swapped for whatever reason I want or need. No adaptors or such BS. BTW: Aren't adaptors usually a weak link?
I am not a weight weenie or I would just loose some weight. I am sure the same could be said for a portly 20mm axle. Do we not have at our disposal numerous handlebars of the same standard diameter that are vastly different weights/strengths? Cannot the same be done with a simple axle?
Bigger men and burly riding just may require a larger axle.
  • 2 0
 @ Willie1 There was a comparison of axles in german bike magazine 9mm vs 15mm vs 20mm and guess what: 9 and 15 were very close in terms of stifness and weight. Unfortunately I can't find this goddamn picture but eventually I will, and I promise I'll post it here.
  • 17 0
 Why is everyone complaining about axle size? Im still rockin my 9mm quick release.
  • 3 3
 Yes, and if you want a stiffer axle you choose a 20mm axle. They makes bigger diameters bars for the weight but smaller axles... nonsense
  • 5 1
 20mm is great over 9mm but i hear you i'm sick of of the bitching over 15mm axels
  • 5 0
 I thought I was the only one on pb running quick release
  • 1 0
 @Specialized153 it's about time to switch to proper 20mm axle. Try it and tell me again that 9mm is still cool.
  • 13 1
 That mud stopper is a bloody great thing . Just the reason I like DVO . When will they be ready to buy ? Sorry lazy reader here lol
  • 3 0
 TLDR - i get that all the time on pb
  • 11 2
 Must admit I was hoping for a baby version of the Emerald. Not these
  • 19 1
 The other model will be inverted and use DVO's Carbon Torsion Arch. Word is that that fork is still a ways out, though.
  • 5 0
 ^ now that sounds dope. i'd buy that for my FR bike. but to give DVO some credit, despite it looking like any other and running 15mm axle, i'm sure it functions awesome. we are too caught up with pictures and numbers on paper.
  • 2 0
 I love my Dorado and would love to have a inverted option for a 650b mid travel bike
  • 4 0
 am i the only one sick of people throwing little bitch-fits over 15mm axels i'm a broke college kid who can't afford any of this stuff... And if i could drop the $800-$1k that i'm betting this fork will run i'd suck it up and buy a new hub/wheel adapter... I just recently bought a used fork with a 20mm axel had to buy a new wheelset cuz my old one was QR's. 15mm is becoming the standard for anything below 180mm it seems now can we all get on with ourselves and be glad that DVO actually thought about the low speed compression settings, fully adjustable but easy to ramp it up for the climbs? That would get my $ over the new RS pike which has a better version of the the CTD system, and would definitely get my $ over CTD.

SO PLEASE STOP BITCHING OVER EVERY 15mm AXEL if you get a new bike with it, it'll come with a 15mm hub if you can drop a grand on a fork you can drop a few more on the conversion.
  • 3 0
 This is what Im waiting for (depending on price)

And having done this years UK gravity enduro series that integrated fender looks like a freaking brilliant idea, ive been thinking of trying to bodge a similar one into the webbing in the back of my bombers!
  • 4 0
 BenderFender??
  • 3 0
 Looks good, might not be as expensive as I thought. Love the DH damper! 15mm... I think its stiffer than a fox 36 axle simply because it can be cranked tighter than hand tight. A 40 type axle is a different story. Really though its all about front wheel compatability, at this point there are many more 15mm front wheels at oem. If dvo wamts to sell forks they need to be 15 so people can upgrade from thier fox to a DVO. Not saying its right, just explaining their decision.
  • 7 1
 DVO suspension , now with more hype!
  • 3 0
 Finally someone said it. I can't believe they sold two production runs of the Emerald essentially because it was green. We were 'told' it was good, but has anyone ridden one? Long term tests?

There have been many new forks on the market that have been absolutely terrible. An experienced rider would never buy anything for at least a year after release. ZZyzzx, Hanebrink, first generation Fox, RS Psylo, Trixxys, major changes to Manitou and Marzocchi, CTD... the list goes on.
  • 1 0
 What happened to the bike industry's argument about using larger diameter tubes to increase stiffness and reduce weight? Alloy tubes, carbon tubes, Ti tubes, etc. Were all increased in diameter, but reduced in wall thickness, to enhance the traits of the bikes. Handlebars, stem, pivots, front & rear axles, frame tubing, seat posts, stanchions, seat rails, BB shells, Crank Spindles, and so on are all examples that we have come to accept on New bikes. Now the fork industry wants the 15 mm step down axle adopted for single crown forks? Either admit you're a bunch of hypocrites or give the masses what they want. 15 QR axles should stay on forks with 34 mm stanchions and smaller. 20 QR on 35 mm stanchions and larger forks.
  • 1 0
 I'm not really interested to play with conversion, better to go with Manitou.
DVO, PLEASE, make at least two options of lowers/axles- 20 and optional 15 for weight winners...
Inverted, 160-180mm(internal adjustment), 20mm axle, 1-1/8 steerer - I'm ready to pay.
  • 1 0
 looks great!! might give the Pike and 34 a run for their money in the aftermarket, but DVO hasn't reached the right value-to-performance ratio that will enable them to take over the OEM market. but either way, this fork looks fantastic, and it's always really rad seeing a brand new company emerge and start to make some quality products. nice job DVO!!
  • 3 1
 I was hoping it would have been inverted like the Emerald. I had a Maverick Duc32 a few years back and I regretted selling it. Inverted forks are so plush.......Still, this thing looks pimp.
  • 14 0
 The other model will be inverted and use DVO's Carbon Torsion Arch.
  • 5 0
 Thank you Mike!!! That just made my day!
  • 1 0
 - ... that changes the volume of the negative air spring in order to tweak how active it is at the top of its travel ... - ... Low-speed rebound adjuster ... finally some real new and suitable features ... especially the first one
  • 3 2
 I'd say you're looking at a year at least before this is ready to go to first production run (these lads don't rush ttheir stuff out the door) . But looks and sounds superb. Stealth Black stanchions would be the business with Black Lowers.
Skeptical on the 15mm I felt so much flex with same the one time I rode em, 20mm please DVO.
  • 3 0
 The DVO guys were replying to posts on a Vital article about their new DH fork. They mentioned the Diamond there and said they are working for a April/May production release.
  • 1 0
 i want the ano green. where did that go?
  • 4 0
 Carbonfiber fender looks great, a little more green like the DH fork wouldn't go a miss though!
  • 5 4
 Ducking 15mm axles everywhere!
I'm so disappointed with DVO fork Frown I think that there is big market for new producer which listens to customers. We want 20mm axle so give us 20mm axle not 15mm crap. Is this really that hard to understand?!
  • 7 1
 Buy a used clapped out fox 36, and get an Avalanche cartridge, and avoid all this hype, and get the best suspension on the market.....
  • 1 0
 Crconception cartrige in europe do pretty the same!
  • 1 0
 Wonder if these guys will solve the creaky crown issue that has plagued 4 of the last 5 forks, from 3 different manufactures, that I've used. 2 Fox 32's, one Rock Shox, one Marzocchi. I do have a Marz 55 Micro Ti (reduced to 140mm) that is still quiet after 1 year. I have no doubt the DVO will work good. Don't really like the 15mm, but have Hope EVO's, so I can run 3 sizes. I run 2 sizes now, 20mm and QR. Wonder if it will be priced to the moon though. They want to stay small, so a small run of forks, doubt many people would get a chance to even buy one.
  • 1 0
 X fusion is switching to unicrowns. Give that a try, guaranteed not to creak.
  • 2 1
 I had a 20 mm Pike and a 15 mm fox float. I prefer the 20mm, yes you can actually feel the 20 mm steers more precise. Leave it to fox to make a complicated axle adjustment system. I can live with it because the fox great fork.
  • 4 3
 15mm again. No thank. I could care less about weight vs stiffness whatever. I use only 20mm hubs whether it is DH wheel or AM/Enduro call it what you want. I can change the wheels back and forth. The fender is a great idea though. Hope the Manitou fork will be 20mm, and I am buying.
  • 2 1
 seriously, when is the fork crown gonna get some style? I want to see a single crown fork with the arch designed out of it, a crown that flows with the contemporary lines of todays frame. I know design is a lot easier with rigid forks, but damn, if you gonna call something new, put some effort to make it look new.
  • 1 0
 Just wondering if the larger wheels (i.e 29 and 650) contribute to increased flex (leverage?) on forks, be it 20mm or 15mm axles being used?
I could be wrong but I also remember some stuff from shimano saying their rear 29er hub ratchet (slx) had to be made stronger due to increased torque?
  • 2 0
 WTF not inverted, Just my reaction now need to read article, guys said in another site they will have axle options, changing back to 20mm now not changing back to 15mm again next yea done with that bullshit std.
  • 1 0
 So 2 mid travel forks this being the first and like others said after reading article only ruddy 15mm guys listen to your customers I've read on site after site give us 20mm options me included, woulda already brought a Pike to replace my crappy 34Fox Float if not for 15mm only option. Love the other bits great you listened re 26" as well as 27.5" awesome tick right box, inverted not fail that box arghh, rest looks sounds killer love you kept it like the Emerald just woulda gone whole hog same color options just a name change to Diamond in a mini DH/Enduro version that was my Santy list wish for this fork oh and 20mm lowers surely you can make some of those to swap out 2 or atleast make your other fork lowers compatible so we can swap those if we want a lighter fork yeah!
  • 1 0
 The 15mm- 20mm debate goes on and everybody seems caught up on that one aspect, but for me I'm kinda wondering why this fork is not inverted? I was looking forward to seeing a scaled down single crown version of the emerald, which would currently offer something completely different and new to the mid travel market. Is it just me or is anyone else surprised this fork is not inverted.
  • 1 0
 I was sure they would do the right thing and beat X Fusion to market with a inverted fork, but no more of the same stuff different day, and with a worthless 15mm
  • 1 0
 dissapointed, on pinkbike DVO was saying that they were making an extra beef Enduro Fork, that wouldn't be a lightweighter, since the top racers were secretly wanting more robust forks. Then they come out with this weenie fork. Doesn't look overbuilt or anything special sturdy at all. I'll stick with my fox 36, even if the damper/spring isn't as dialed as some of the new forks, it gets the job done, with a 20mm axle, double axle clamps, and 36mm stanchions.
  • 1 0
 I am running the new Pike and although limiting the options consumers have by producing a fork with 15mm and tapered sterrer, it enables the company to make a specific lower that saves as much weight as possible. The fork feels really stiff, I have never felt any flex at all, the vast majority of 20mm hubs are convertible with end caps. No bother to me!
  • 1 0
 I thought 15mm axles came into play as a stiffer alternative to 9mm qr axles without the weight of 20mm axles!? however 9mm qr (3/8") axles are on all the sub $1000 bikes and a lot of top end xc forks still use them so its never going away, its still lighter and can be fitted with a 10mm through axle [ala DT Swiss] to increase stiffness anyhow.

All these 'tweener' sizes have come about as an attempt to create a middle ground to satisfy the new enduro craze but are now taking over the market and replacing more sensible ideas in some instances [such as the 20mm axle], the downhill craze in the 90's created 20mm axles, 83mm bb shells and 150x12mm rear axles and now we are facing a new in between size. All in all it creates more options for riders to get the exact setup they want for how they prefer to ride. 26" wheels are never going to die and the majority of people ride with way more travel and far stronger parts than they actually need - all these new standards mean is that people will be less likely to buy new parts or bikes in future due to the higher costs and lack of available replacement parts and so sales will go down and people will stick with what they've got.

Companies are only shooting themselves in the foot really.
  • 3 0
 Looks good, but I'm waiting for this first look on the new TR 450. I know y'all wanna see the new tr 4 fiddy
  • 6 2
 Not going to buy it unless it has anodized green stanchions
  • 3 0
 it's a "diamond", so the colour might not fit in with the nomenclature
  • 2 1
 Lowers are magnesium (alloy). Not sure i have ever seen anodized magnesium. Not sure it's actually doable!
  • 1 0
 You can anodize Mg, but the color choice isn't big, and it's hard to keep the same color on every fork in time... like for Titanium.
  • 4 0
 the carbon fender is great idea!!
  • 1 0
 "... with plans for _two different_ mid-travel forks targeted at the all-mountain/enduro world."

I hope the other fork comes with 20mm axle and is adjustable between 160mm and 180mm. And both 26" and 27.5" models.
  • 1 0
 I am so pissed at Fox for the damping fuck up in 2013 that I am shopping around for something else. This DVO looks good, as does the new Manitou Mattoc. I hope Fox loses considerable market share.
  • 1 0
 Good to see DVO jumping in head first. But I'm thinking its gonna be a $1700 enduro fork, if the price of the emerald is any indication.
  • 2 0
 Sooo, being an open bath Twin tube damper? Is that the brain child of Marzocchi plush & Cane Creek Tune?!
  • 1 0
 I think they won't have the "plush", because they have "less oil"... maybe more than a RS or a fox, but not as a zocchi
  • 1 0
 sounds realistic. but what about the twin tube technology? seems to be the way everything is going.
ohlins works with cane creek, gives them twin tube.
next thing, DB is god of shocks.
then we see a prototype specialized shock, with what looks to be a twin tube tune system. (and an ohlins yellow spring to boot).
then the fox DH proto that was on PB just now.

looks like X fusion are set to ride the wave.
  • 1 0
 Good thing it's only a prototype.
The graphics need some work like Emerald did in the beginning.
Little green diamonds on the lowers?
Really?
  • 2 0
 Love that "target weight" I have a personal "target weight" but I haven't been within 15 lbs. of it in 25 years.
  • 3 0
 Question: is it true, next year, we will have 17,5mm axle ??? lol Razz
  • 1 0
 CG LO VA A PETAR CON ESTA HORQUILLA VEREMOS COMO VA PERO CREO QUE SE HAN APOYADO EN SR SUNTOUR NO?
  • 1 0
 Bla bla 20mm / 15mm check out the neat carbo splash guard..... Want them just for that
  • 2 0
 Watch out Pike,DVO means business !
  • 2 0
 Awesome! Now release the DVO Emerald! I've been waiting!
  • 1 0
 Biketart.com have the DVO Emearld listed on there website for a rather handsome sum of £1795.00.
  • 4 0
 same as fox 40 floats. whats your point? the emaralds were always marketed as a top end high performance fork so the price makes sense right?
  • 2 0
 I don't know how anyone can justify buying either of those forks, given Boxxer R2C2 or 888 RC3 are half that?
  • 1 0
 I wasnt making a point. I just thought people would like to know there in the shops and what price they are.
  • 1 0
 i wasnt having a go or owt, just seen quite a few comments on the price and i dont understand why. its a high performance product with high manufacturing costs, if the performance and reliability are as good as DVO state then they sound like a much better deal than the floats
  • 2 1
 is this basicly a suntour chassis with the dvo damper? like a budget version of the inverted model? if so, good move DVO
  • 3 0
 no... its a dvo chassis. suntour just makes the parts for them. they actually make a lot of parts for companies other than themselves.
  • 2 2
 what im trying to say is it looks as though this chassis is more reliant on suntours existing manufacturing equipment than the emeralds, and i doubt the technology used (material, stanchion coating, seals, bushes) are much different to a suntour model. not a bad thing, but paired with DVO internals could mean a lower cost high performance alternative to a mid level price point fork
  • 2 0
 dh internals on a 6" fork ftw
  • 3 2
 This is a sweet fork. Please listen to your customers and make it 20 mil. Axel.
  • 2 0
 I second that!
All the spec looks awesome.

The high and low speed compression is needed but then,
The ability to adjust the negative springs curve sounds like this baby is a big contender.

However, I too agree a 20mm is necessary.
Allowing the fork to go up to 180mm is also very wise I must say!
Unless DVO has a bigger badder fork in a single crown in the works?
  • 1 0
 Great to finally see a new aggressive trail fork with 140 mm of travel that works with my 26" wheels!
  • 1 0
 Well..all show no go...the fork has nothing more that my 05 Marzocchi had before...but hype!
Rather go MRP :/
  • 1 0
 Yeahhh, 15mm is perfect so I don't have to change!!! I bet the inverted single will have 20mm no doubt.
  • 2 2
 the pike is a nicer looking fork and the dvo should have run 20mm axle i think to be used to full potential
  • 2 2
 I really don't care if the 15mm axle saves weight i would rather feel safe! with a 20mm!
  • 2 0
 lovely
  • 1 0
 Inverted single crown.. drips...
  • 4 2
 MAKE IT GREEEEEEN!
  • 3 1
 DVO HULK
  • 2 0
 It's got to be green. SUPERGEEEEN! OK? OK?
  • 1 0
 I waiting for amazing freeride signle crown fork with 180mm travel!!
  • 1 0
 1... 8... 0... mm... please...
  • 1 0
 Not all 160mm forks are the same... so what's the axle to crown?
  • 1 0
 thats a killer weight... hope the price wont be too
  • 1 0
 Na, the weigth of the Pike is 1835, the Mattov 1877 and the Formula 35 is 1770. But the Formula is the weekest of all, the Pike momentarily the best, the Mattoc is supposed to be good but has yet to proove the theory. I think the Diamond and the Mattoc will have the best weight to performance ratio. So the few grams don´t matter. But price will be interesting.

About the axle thing to all 20mm junkies ;-)
It looks like the Diamond has similar to Manitou´s Hexlock System, not a round shape but some teeth, at least at some photographs. Thus it should offer more torsional stiffness, than round axle ends. I know from an Enduro racer, that the Mattoc is at the same level of stiffness at the pike is, although it´s 1 mm thinner stanchions. Thus the Diamond SHOULD be realtively stiff, too. Moreover it´s a matter of material and construction not only the size ;-) Let´s just see how it will develope. I don´t think bothof these forks will be noodly.
  • 2 1
 15mm big mistake. BOS specify 20mm on all there forks.
  • 1 0
 They can go pound sand without 20mm option.
  • 1 0
 I want to see a fork that can rival the Totem.
  • 1 0
 Looks good.
  • 1 0
 Beauties....
  • 1 1
 Paint it a funky color or black it out and I am sold!
  • 1 1
 per Bryson Jr, that's called Murdered-out.
  • 2 2
 How about some of that 20mm axle technology?
  • 2 4
 What a manitou copy
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