Rode the Kenevo with the Fox 38 that has been I guess optimised to its full potential (Smashpot, damper tune, bushings burnished etc) and initial impressions were that it was incredibly active over small stuff but I was initially concerned about the spring being too soft (45lb spring @170 travel with one HBO shim moved and Motorex 10W oil). It feels almost frictionless initiating the stroke...go coil.
Felt good on the first few trails but really not much different to the DVO Onyx in terms of compliance and support. Didn't notice the extra half a kilo of weight. Warmed up I hit some faster, chunkier black trails and my level of wow increased markedly. One section that always gets my attention, whether its on the Mezzer or Onyx, is a fast downhill off camber bumpy AF long chute into a catch berm. The run in generally feels to me like on my limit. Between trying to manage the front wheel locking at speed, keeping the bike relatively straight and maintaining the line I need to be on whilst I'm getting hammered it's a full commit line.
This fork has so much more composure than anything I've ridden on steeps...so calm and damn that mid stroke support is good. Spring is probably just a bee's pube light if I was being picky but it's not far out (approx 23% sag if you like sag figures). Grip and front end feel have stepped up noticeably. I found myself not needing to be on the brakes so much because of how well the wheel was tracking the terrain. I could brake harder for a shorter amount of time instead of controlling lock ups and feeling sketchy. Calmness is the biggest takeaway which means I'm more relaxed which is like free speed. Strava agrees as I PR'd all the steep stuff. I was left with about 20mm of travel so the HBO is doing its job unobtrusively and I have a little left for when things get really spicy. No spring rattle or top out from the Smashpot. Zero harshness from the damper even with compression cranked. Bloody good fork.....after a sprinkling of $$.
With the Onyx fork and the Jade X coil on the bike it felt like a very harmonious relationship complimenting each other well. Now it feels like the rear is under-gunned. I hopefully have a solution for that arriving next week if my tracking is to be believed.