First Look: 2013 X-Fusion - Oversized, 34mm Trail Forks, Slippery Coatings and a Wild-Looking XC Shock
Pinkbike got a tip from X-Fusion's John Hauer that he and Brian Lopes may be riding secret 2013 prototypes near Brian's Laguna Beach home this February. We dropped in on Brian to see what was up and got some sweet spy shots. Turns out that X-Fusion has developed a super slick coating that looks a lot like the applied-in-Japan Kashima coating that Fox debuted a year earlier. The big news, however, is a larger diameter, 34-millimeter stanchion-tube format for its aggressive trail/all-mountain forks.
![Brian Lopes and X-Fusion s John Hauer had just returned from a training ride in the coastal hills behind Laguna beach when we spied some new hardware on their bikes. Hmmm let s take a closer look.]()
The new mid-diameter platform extends to X-Fusion's 29er lineup with the introduction of the Trace - a sweet 140-millimeter-stroke fork with huge tire clearance for big-wheel riders who want to break out of the XC realm. Finally, we photographed an impossibly small air-sprung damper on John's 29er test rig. Hauer said the Microlite shock was slated for production. possibly as soon as late 2012 and would compete directly with the DT Swiss XC Carbon shock which has been the first choice of weight-conscious cross-country racers, primarily in Europe. Word is that the Microlite shock weighs a mere 150 grams.
![Velvet 32-millimeter fork in the background compared to the larger 34-millimeter stanchion-tube 2013 fork in the right. HOw many changes can you spot]()
Hauer was forthcoming about many aspects of the 'secrets' at hand, but warned that X-Fusion is still in the development stages on some aspects of the forks we saw there. The 20-millimeter axle used on the 26-inch fork was possibly going to be reduced to a 15-millimeter version, depending upon test results, and there was a hint that a bold new arch configuration may appear in the not too distant future. When asked about 650b-length forks, Hauer dodged the question, but his answer was the well-rehearsed kind that virtually assures that a press release will be coming within a few weeks. A dual-crown fork? Um ahhh, Um, ahhh - can't talk about that.
![The 34-millimeter stanchion tubes required a different crown design. The longer socket on the right belongs to the 2013 fork while the shorter socket of the white crown belongs to the current Velvet fork.]()
X-Fusion's 34-millimeter 26-inch Trail Fork
X-Fusion has yet to name its 26-inch fork, but that shouldn't stop the lightweight, 160-millimeter-travel slider from becoming a must have for hard-charging riders. Hauer claims that the old-school 32-millimeter trail fork has been pushed to the end of its performance and while it will still be a go-to for XC racers or weight-conscious riders, it cannot come close to the performance that a larger-format fork offers. Weight figures for the new 34-millimeter chassis compared to a 32 in a 140-millimeter-stroke version are 3.8 pounds (1724g) for the 32 and four pounds even (1814g) for the 34. Travel is internally adjustable from 140 millimeters to 160 millimeters and can be set internally by moving a pin to a number of holes in the air-spring-side shaft. The 'pin ladder' has been an X-Fusion feature for some time and X-Fusion will preset your fork at the factory for a small charge (15 bucks in the US).
![X-Fusion s yet-to-be-named 26-inch fork features 34-millimeter-diameter aluminum stanchion tubes Travel from 140 to 160 millimeters a completely redesigned crown and lower casting and the new platform will replace the Velvet as the brand s premier Trail AM fork. Not set in stone but promising are its 20mm axle option and dedicated post-mounts for 200mm brake rotors.]()
The crown is new, with thinner, longer sockets holding the stanchion tubes and the lowers are completely redesigned with webbed dropouts and a much beefier arch. The fork's damping internals, however, will be much the same as the Velvet's. Hauer said that most of X-Fusion's recent efforts have been concentrated on damping performance and they are quite pleased with the results, so the dials and tune will be similar to the Velvet and X-Fusion riders will feel at home on the new sliders. When asked if the forks would get the slippery coating, we got the wait-and-see answer. It seems foolish not to put the slick stuff on X-Fusion's premier fork, but we won't have to wait long, as there is talk of a test session coming up in a month or so - should be fun.
![We spotted a new fork crown design left with a wider cross-section that fits closer to the tire and has and a much more robust transition into the slider casting. A rear-swept wing adds stiffness to the top of the new arch. Compare it to the thinner Velvet arch on the right.]()
![Compare the redesigned 2013 dropout casting left with the present Velvet fork right and you might pick out a few nuances. The foot-bolt seems to be closer to the axle on the new fork hinting at a new offset measurement that is better suited for slack head angles.]()
Trace 29er Fork
X-Fusion's Trace 29er fork arrives exactly a year after Fox Racing Shox debuted its 34-millimeter-stanchion Float 29er fork, so the concept is not new. The need for a stiffer fork platform on a big-wheel bike is critical because the lever arm is longer and that puts more bending stress the fork components from the outset. Add more travel and the situation deteriorates quickly. X-Fusion's 34-millimeter chassis puts the performance back into a 29er fork without boosting its weight beyond what is appropriate for cross-country/trail and all-mountain applications. The Trace's geometry is 29er-specific to balance steering forces and its crown arch is wide enough to clear the largest rubber available. The internals are said to be similar to the Velvet's, with a pin-ladder travel adjustment and a similar range of damping features from the RL (rebound and lockout) to the DLA (Down Low Adjust) external-remote travel-adjustment option. Weight is reported to be very competitive.
![Big news for 29er riders is X-Fusion s 140-millimeter-stroke Trace fork. The Trace shares the 34-millimeter stanchion platform and features dedicated 29er architecture in the lower casting.There is plenty of room for AM-sized rubber in the arch and the dropout features the X-15 through-axle system.]()
With significant numbers of riders either converting to 29ers or trading up from XC type big-wheel bikes to more capable, longer-travel models, the Trace fork comes at the right time. Also, X-Fusion's late entry into that market gave them the time to anticipate recent 29er trends like slacker head angles and more aggressive skillsets. Time will tell, but the Trace fork seems to be the right product at the golden moment.
About That Super Slick Coating
The word is: 'not too much to say about X-Fusion's Kashima look-alike coating.' All indicators say that the golden application will grace all of X--Fusion's upper-end shock lineup. The news from Hauer was: 'If X-Fusion finds some new technology that makes our suspension perform better, than we will include it in our lineup. If we use the super slick coating, then there won't be an up-charge for it.' Both the O2 RCX shock we photographed and the Microlite XC damper were treated, so it appears likely.
![We asked about the super slick coating on the 2013 O2 RL shock. John Hauer said that X-Fusion is currently deciding on where to use it on their fork and shock lineup. While he proffered no secrets on what the coating was he did say that there would be no extra charge for it.]()
Microlite Shock
While we can't see the bulk of PB riders rushing to buy a 150-gram XC racing shock, the fact that one exists is interesting enough to bear mention. The damping is very light in compression because Euro XC wieners (the intended customers) prefer to pump up the air spring to otherworldly pressures to maintain pedaling firmness. In that light, X-Fusion reduced the blue lever to 'lockout' and 'open' settings only to make mid-race decisions quick and sure. A handlebar remote is also an option. The Microlite will not be available with an air-volume sleeve because its minimal air-can volume is required to provide a progressive end-stroke spring rate.
![X-Fusion s Microlite damper is targeted directly at DT Swiss XR Carbon shock presently the lightest production XC damper. Reportedly the Microlite comes in at 150-grams - five grams less than the XR Carbon.]()
![X-Fusion s Microlite shock is dwarfed by the pivot hardware of the Tomac Diplomat 29er. The shock body is slim - almost exactly the diameter of the grip-end of a handlebar. The red dial is a basic low-speed rebound control while the blue lever offers only lockout and open options.]()
Pinkbike's Take:
Brian Lopes and X-Fusion's John Hauer had just returned from a training ride in the coastal hills behind Laguna Beach when we spied some new hardware on their bikes. Hmmm, let's take a closer look.
 | The addition of two millimeters in the diameter of the fork tubes, along with some changes in the architecture of the crown and sliders make a massive difference in stiffness over 32-millimeter forks - especially during hard braking. -John Hauer |
The new mid-diameter platform extends to X-Fusion's 29er lineup with the introduction of the Trace - a sweet 140-millimeter-stroke fork with huge tire clearance for big-wheel riders who want to break out of the XC realm. Finally, we photographed an impossibly small air-sprung damper on John's 29er test rig. Hauer said the Microlite shock was slated for production. possibly as soon as late 2012 and would compete directly with the DT Swiss XC Carbon shock which has been the first choice of weight-conscious cross-country racers, primarily in Europe. Word is that the Microlite shock weighs a mere 150 grams.
Velvet 32-millimeter fork in the background compared to the larger, 34-millimeter stanchion-tube 2013 fork on the right. How many changes can you spot?
Hauer was forthcoming about many aspects of the 'secrets' at hand, but warned that X-Fusion is still in the development stages on some aspects of the forks we saw there. The 20-millimeter axle used on the 26-inch fork was possibly going to be reduced to a 15-millimeter version, depending upon test results, and there was a hint that a bold new arch configuration may appear in the not too distant future. When asked about 650b-length forks, Hauer dodged the question, but his answer was the well-rehearsed kind that virtually assures that a press release will be coming within a few weeks. A dual-crown fork? Um ahhh, Um, ahhh - can't talk about that.
The 34-millimeter stanchion tubes required a different crown design. The longer socket on the right belongs to the 2013 fork, while the shorter socket of the white crown belongs to the current Velvet fork.
X-Fusion's 34-millimeter 26-inch Trail Fork
X-Fusion has yet to name its 26-inch fork, but that shouldn't stop the lightweight, 160-millimeter-travel slider from becoming a must have for hard-charging riders. Hauer claims that the old-school 32-millimeter trail fork has been pushed to the end of its performance and while it will still be a go-to for XC racers or weight-conscious riders, it cannot come close to the performance that a larger-format fork offers. Weight figures for the new 34-millimeter chassis compared to a 32 in a 140-millimeter-stroke version are 3.8 pounds (1724g) for the 32 and four pounds even (1814g) for the 34. Travel is internally adjustable from 140 millimeters to 160 millimeters and can be set internally by moving a pin to a number of holes in the air-spring-side shaft. The 'pin ladder' has been an X-Fusion feature for some time and X-Fusion will preset your fork at the factory for a small charge (15 bucks in the US).
X-Fusion's yet-to-be-named 26-inch fork features 34-millimeter-diameter aluminum stanchion tubes, travel from 140 to 160 millimeters and a completely redesigned crown and lower casting. The new platform will replace the Velvet as the brand's premier Trail/AM fork. Not set in stone, but still promising are its 20-millimeter axle option and dedicated post-mounts for 200-millimeter brake rotors.
The crown is new, with thinner, longer sockets holding the stanchion tubes and the lowers are completely redesigned with webbed dropouts and a much beefier arch. The fork's damping internals, however, will be much the same as the Velvet's. Hauer said that most of X-Fusion's recent efforts have been concentrated on damping performance and they are quite pleased with the results, so the dials and tune will be similar to the Velvet and X-Fusion riders will feel at home on the new sliders. When asked if the forks would get the slippery coating, we got the wait-and-see answer. It seems foolish not to put the slick stuff on X-Fusion's premier fork, but we won't have to wait long, as there is talk of a test session coming up in a month or so - should be fun.
We spotted a new fork crown design (left) with a wider cross-section that fits closer to the tire and has and a much more robust transition into the slider casting. A rear-swept 'wing' potentially adds stiffness to the top of the new arch. Compare it to the thinner Velvet arch on the right.
Compare the redesigned 2013 dropout casting (left) with the present Velvet fork (right) and you might pick out a few nuances. The foot-bolt seems to be closer to the axle on the new fork, hinting at a new offset measurement that could be better suited for slack head angles.
Trace 29er Fork
X-Fusion's Trace 29er fork arrives exactly a year after Fox Racing Shox debuted its 34-millimeter-stanchion Float 29er fork, so the concept is not new. The need for a stiffer fork platform on a big-wheel bike is critical because the lever arm is longer and that puts more bending stress the fork components from the outset. Add more travel and the situation deteriorates quickly. X-Fusion's 34-millimeter chassis puts the performance back into a 29er fork without boosting its weight beyond what is appropriate for cross-country/trail and all-mountain applications. The Trace's geometry is 29er-specific to balance steering forces and its crown arch is wide enough to clear the largest rubber available. The internals are said to be similar to the Velvet's, with a pin-ladder travel adjustment and a similar range of damping features from the RL (rebound and lockout) to the DLA (Down Low Adjust) external-remote travel-adjustment option. Weight is reported to be very competitive.
Big news for 29er riders is X-Fusion's 140-millimeter-stroke Trace fork. The Trace shares the 34-millimeter stanchion platform and features dedicated 29er geometry in the lower casting.There is plenty of room for AM-sized rubber in the arch, and the dropout features the X-15 through-axle system.
With significant numbers of riders either converting to 29ers or trading up from XC type big-wheel bikes to more capable, longer-travel models, the Trace fork comes at the right time. Also, X-Fusion's late entry into that market gave them the time to anticipate recent 29er trends like slacker head angles and more aggressive skillsets. Time will tell, but the Trace fork seems to be the right product at the golden moment.
About That Super Slick Coating
The word is: 'not too much to say about X-Fusion's Kashima look-alike coating.' All indicators say that the golden application will grace all of X--Fusion's upper-end shock lineup. The news from Hauer was: 'If X-Fusion finds some new technology that makes our suspension perform better, than we will include it in our lineup. If we use the super slick coating, then there won't be an up-charge for it.' Both the O2 RCX shock we photographed and the Microlite XC damper were treated, so it appears likely.
We asked about the super slick coating on the 2013 O2 RL shock. John Hauer said that X-Fusion is currently deciding on where to use it in their fork and shock lineup. While he proffered no secrets as to what the coating was, he did say that there would be no extra charge for it.
Microlite Shock
While we can't see the bulk of PB riders rushing to buy a 150-gram XC racing shock, the fact that one exists is interesting enough to bear mention. The damping is very light in compression because Euro XC wieners (the intended customers) prefer to pump up the air spring to otherworldly pressures to maintain pedaling firmness. In that light, X-Fusion reduced the blue lever to 'lockout' and 'open' settings only to make mid-race decisions quick and sure. A handlebar remote is also an option. The Microlite will not be available with an air-volume sleeve because its minimal air-can volume is required to provide a progressive end-stroke spring rate.
X-Fusion's Microlite damper is targeted directly at DT Swiss XR Carbon shock, presently the lightest production XC damper. Reportedly, the Microlite comes in at 150-grams - five grams less than the XR Carbon.
X-Fusion's Microlite shock is dwarfed by the pivot hardware of the Tomac Diplomat 29er. The diameter of the shock body is about 22 millimeters - only the width of the grip-end of a handlebar. The red dial is a basic low-speed rebound control, while the blue lever offers only lockout and open options.
Pinkbike's Take:
| It is no secret that X-Fusion is hot on the tails of the sport's established suspension suppliers and its new 34-millimeter chassis is exactly what is needed to bring lightweight forks in line with the improved skillset of today's trail riders - regardless of which wheel diameters they choose. If the new coating fares well, that should only sweeten the package. The proof is in the riding, though, and we are looking forward to getting some saddle time on both the 26 and 29-inch forks soon. When we do, you'll be the first to know. - RC |
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***Smaller axel means lighter weight
This is for my xc bike and I don't plan on shuttling it. Weight is not so much of a factor going downhill.
...and who the hell is negative propping me? You people all all ignorant on the topic and have no creditability!
20mm = extra burl on a 5-6in fork thats meant to be ridden hard, plus compatibility with the existing wheels that those riders have. potentially a strong, light, good performing yet cost effective fork for short travel aggressive disciplines, an option that doesnt really exist in this market where riders feels they're being ignored hence the "15mm must die!" vibe
Seems like the industry is realizing that a lot of riders need everything a bit stronger. I had a fox float with 150mm and it was too flexy when braking.
That said the orange coatIng of kashima and its knockoffs is hard to look at so I guess I'm a hypocrite
I'd think that it'd boost their sales. Basically, they're offering a similar option to compete with Fox' Kashima, which- if all you see is the ads, you'd think Kashima's the only thing that makes the suspension. If X-Fusion's is as good, or even if it's only within the ballpark of being as good, it's going to sell comparatively better because it's a 'free upgrade', as opposed to Fox, where adding the Kashima coat seems to boost the price an additional 25%.
Of course, that's only with a glance at a few retailer's price sheets...
unfortunately...
INB4COOLSTORYBRO
RC.
To create a gap between the 29 and 26er forks, so you will have to buy a special 650b fork... In the old 26er fork a 650b wheel would fit easy.
The only forks that don't need such a bottom out spacer to be installed are ones with both brace AND crown clearance to clear a 26 x 2.7 tire, such as the X-Fusion Vengence models, or the older Rockshox Psylo models, or various other FR/DH type singlecrown and dual crown forks.
a) even better, with new (shinier) technology = more expensive, still losing costumers
b) cheaper... nah, that won't work.
I don't mean all people buying high end stuff are like that, some buy it because they believe these are sustainable products that are going to hold for years, instead of buying whatever disposable thing. I am attacking filthy business as usual.
The worst scenario is: it will push the big 3 to introduce even more expensive stuff that already seems overdone for the needs of the average Joe (I refer to skills, not wallet size). For Fox there seem to be no turning back.
Also, most people will rather have a BMW than a Rolls Royce.
try this link if you don't get keronite: www.powdertech.co.uk/keronite.html
lubrication > coating
www.mb1suspension.com/id18.html