Lets talk X Fusion dampers...

[chrisaz82]

Looks like a slick fork!

If they came out with a 20mm Velvet.. I'd probably be all over it.

[sneakyt]

Heard the Slant is due in December. I'm curious too. Currently running a 2012 Velvet RL 140 on my 5.Spot and really like the feel, although I know the Spot would feel better with a 150 or 160 fork. The Slant RL2 is on my very short list. According to XF most of the 2012 Velvet RLs got the new RL2 damper with the secondary compression circuit (what XF has marketed for 2013 as "Mid Valve"). Pinkbike's February 2012 review talks about it. IMO while the RL2 is solid, effecient, and easy to set-up, the Slant RL2 might leave riders (of that caliber fork) looking for more "tunability". I could be wrong....but probably smart of XF to launch a new fork (new class) with a proven damper then upgrade the damper later with more adjustability if that's what the market wants...but I'm def stoked on X-Fusion.

I just spoke to them a couple of days ago about this. The 2013 Slant and Vengeance won't be coming out until the beginning of 2013 with no specific dates. They wanted to get the Slant to market asap so it's just RL2. There may be another model later with HLR.

I also ask about the ac measurements, where fork owners said their own personal measurements are higher than what is on XF website. The rep said the new models have lower ac numbers.

This sucks for me because I was hoping to get either the 2013 Slant or Vengeance for my Heckler build. But now I either wait for probably at least 3 months or go with a Lyrik RC2DH

[honns]

Looks like a slick fork!

If they came out with a 20mm Velvet.. I'd probably be all over it.

20mm velvet?

[tacubaya]

20mm axle

[honns]

Ah, seems a bit overkill for 32mm stanchions imo but it certainly wouldn't hurt anything.

[mrgto]

but why no 20mm for the Slant???

[sneakyt]

For anyone waiting for a Slant, I talked to John at the sales department about a week back. He said that he runs a custom Slant HLR, and it's about $1,000. I think that maybe the reason why they're just releasing it in RL2 and DLA.

[Warp]

For anyone waiting for a Slant, I talked to John at the sales department about a week back. He said that he runs a custom Slant HLR, and it's about $1,000.

Can one order a HLR Slant? I'll play!

20mm is not overkill on a 32mm fork (130mm and up, that is). It suddenly became "overkill" when some companies started pushing the 15mm axle.

My Pike, Revelation, Nixon. etc have been all nice and stiff with a 20mm axles.

It would have been nice to have the 20mm axle on the Slant, but not a deal breaker. My hubs can be converted to 15mm.

The HLR cartridge would be super-nice too. It would be a unique fork with a high-performance damper in the Trail-AM category.

[sneakyt]

Can one order a HLR Slant? I'll play!

20mm is not overkill on a 32mm fork (130mm and up, that is). It suddenly became "overkill" when some companies started pushing the 15mm axle.

My Pike, Revelation, Nixon. etc have been all nice and stiff with a 20mm axles.

It would have been nice to have the 20mm axle on the Slant, but not a deal breaker. My hubs can be converted to 15mm.

The HLR cartridge would be super-nice too. It would be a unique fork with a high-performance damper in the Trail-AM category.

From the sound of it, I don't think they'll be releasing a Slant HLR anytime soon because of cost. But I agree with you that it would make for a great fork.

[daves4mtb]

I used to run a Velvet 130mm on my Bastardo. A good and reliable and inexpensive fork for the right bike.

Am presently considering a Vengeance 650b fork for a new bike project. is the 650b model a separate fork or is it just the 26" fork with an internal adjustment made which deducts 10mm of travel (like it was on my old Velvet)?

And also, if so, that would mean that the Vengeance HLR 170mm (26") is really also a Vengeance HLR 160mm 650b fork. Does such a fork exist from the 2012 model year or must one wait until 2013?

Also, what is the advantage of the extra adjustability? I am a heavier rider, should I be interested in that?

My apologies if these are silly questions - I don't work in the industry but want to get my bike build right for me!

[honns]

You have got it exactly right. There is no separate 650b fork for the Vengeance. You simply shorten the travel with the 10mm spacer (for coil) or one step in the ladder (for air) to 160 for the 650b tires.

What extra adjustability are you referring to?

[daves4mtb]

You have got it exactly right. There is no separate 650b fork for the Vengeance. You simply shorten the travel with the 10mm spacer (for coil) or one step in the ladder (for air) to 160 for the 650b tires.

What extra adjustability are you referring to?

Thank you...re adjustability I was referring to the comments earlier in the thread to the effect that the HLR damper has compression adjustment for both high and low as opposed to just rebound adjustment on the other damper models put out by XFusion

[SSteel]

You have got it exactly right. There is no separate 650b fork for the Vengeance. You simply shorten the travel with the 10mm spacer (for coil) or one step in the ladder (for air) to 160 for the 650b tires.

What extra adjustability are you referring to?

Actually the Vengeance is completely 650B compatible, no spacer required. Just slap the wheel in and go!

[honns]

Ah, good call. The spacer is for the Velvet, Vengeance has no spacer.

Adjustability is good, but you need to know how to tune it. It is up to you whether you want to dive into high and low speed compression. You can get a Vengeance RC which only has low speed adjustment (though it has high speed compression, it is a fixed value). I got the HLR and am still tuning it after 3 months, but I am a relative newcomer to these kinds of adjustments. Don't let that scare you off though, once you get it set up correctly, it'll surely ride better than one without the adjustments.

[johnoats]

I've been thinking of getting a vengance hlr dal, a lot of fork for the price.
The thing that's putting me of is reports of creaking from the crown
Is there a fix or has it been sorted ?
Cheers.

[cmarshack]

What is the performance difference between the Vengeance HLR DLA and the Vengeance HLR? Is there just a half pound weight penalty or are there actual performance differences?

Thanks!

[Fix the Spade]

HLR DLA has a travel adjuster.

The normal HLR is fixed, if you want to make it longer/shorter you have to take the fork to pieces.

The damper in both forks is the same, the DLA bit is the spring.

[arkon11]

Anything is better than a ****ing fox. You won't be disappointed with an Xfusion, even with the stock cart.

[Flayer]

I have Vengeance 2011 OEM which is basically Vengeance R.

As this is a X-fusion damper thread, if anyone is curious how their damper looks like from the inside, here it is:

Vengeance R damper - very simple design - 2 static seals and 1 dynamic seal

[loolilon]

HLR is a superior damper plus the Vengeance has 20mm axle and 36mm stanchions.

i will use only the 160 mm

[Warp]

I have Vengeance 2011 OEM which is basically Vengeance R.

As this is a X-fusion damper thread, if anyone is curious how their damper looks like from the inside, here it is:

Vengeance R damper - very simple design - 2 static seals and 1 dynamic seal

Nice, I see that cartridge is pressurized. Does it have an IFP or it works on emulsified oil?

Pretty good at any rate, much better than the orifice dampers on many forks. Moar shimz!!!!

[tacubaya]

Nice, I see that cartridge is pressurized. Does it have an IFP or it works on emulsified oil?

Pretty good at any rate, much better than the orifice dampers on many forks. Moar shimz!!!!

Yup.

The R cartridge has an entirely different architecture than the HLR/RC cartridges. The HLR/RC is a closed-open bath high performance damper while the R is an inline rebound-only damper with an IFP.

[Herzalot]

Thread resurrection. Got my X-F Slant RL2 DLA 160/130 (26) today. Well, I should say it is purchased and is in safe hands AND I've seen a picture of it. Now I just have to find time to go get it over in the next County. Test run on 5/25/13. This should be interesting!

[Joe-it-all]

Nothing brilliant to add here, but here's my story. Early this spring I purchased a 2011 Veng HLR to go on my new 650b AM hardtail. It's very good but I think it needs a overhaul, it feels lacking compared to......

I also recently purchased a 2012 Veng DLA HLR to replace my 2011 Fox 36 RLC (new when I got it last spring). HOLY CHIT! Best fork I have ever had the pleasure of riding. Buyer stated the fork wasn't used much and had a fresh service from xfusion (looked brand new too). The front end just disappears. Small chatter, floats right through, big hits at the mtb park, pooof, high speed braking, controlled. I can't imagine a fork performing any better unless the electronics coming in the near future work like magic.
I wish the folks at X-Fusion continued success and a HUGE thank you for making a stellar product.
-Joe

[coocoomike]

I just got my XF Slant too, and have been on a couple rides with it. I came from a Marz 44 RC3 that I loved and had a lot of trepidation going from a buttery coil fork to an airsprung fork.

After my first ride, the fork completely washed away any doubt or fears I had. It soaks up small bumps and smooths the trail just as well as the marz. Rocks just disappear leaving you to concentrate on your line. I could never get tune the air preload on the marz quite right for the trails I was riding. Where I was blowing through the travel on hard hits with the Marz, the Slant is nicely controlled and definitely is more progressive as you go through the travel. I was worried there wouldn't be enough low-speed damping for my weight (~190 geared) but it seems just right. I'm running 85PSI right now and we'll see how it performs as it breaks in.

No complaints so far! Loving it, XFusion! Worth the wait!