There's going to be more than one..

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
It's a trap that's for sure. Shame they're not a quick spacer fit for the travel adjust anymore.
Yep, I thought that was the case when I opted for them. Still a lovely fork but I could do with losing the 170mm shaft for a 150mm now...
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
After another ride on the sort of terrain this bike was made for I'm even more impressed.
For those familiar with Redhill you know what I'm talking about.

This thing is so very smooth and encourages you to take on larger trail features. It's like when I got my Prime, but more....


One thing I a curious about is some marking on the shock. Excuse the photo but hopefully you can see it. Is this normal for a coil?

Is you look through the coil and onto the smooth black inner, there's some scoring on it all around the shaft.

Nothing or something to worry about?
 

Attachments

kten

understands stuff moorey doesn't
After another ride on the sort of terrain this bike was made for I'm even more impressed.
For those familiar with Redhill you know what I'm talking about.

This thing is so very smooth and encourages you to take on larger trail features. It's like when I got my Prime, but more....


One thing I a curious about is some marking on the shock. Excuse the photo but hopefully you can see it. Is this normal for a coil?

Is you look through the coil and onto the smooth black inner, there's some scoring on it all around the shaft.

Nothing or something to worry about?
That's nothing to worry about (although when you mentioned shaft my first reaction was oh no!). Springs can deflect on compression and the rub marks are totally normal on the sacrificial shock body protection.
Hearing good things about the Kitsuma coil, I'm about to swap over to one to try on my Titan. It'll be a good comparison to my current Storia.
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
That's nothing to worry about (although when you mentioned shaft my first reaction was oh no!). Springs can deflect on compression and the rub marks are totally normal on the sacrificial shock body protection.
Hearing good things about the Kitsuma coil, I'm about to swap over to one to try on my Titan. It'll be a good comparison to my current Storia.
I was trying hard to stay PG13 rated, this is a family show after all. ;)
The Kitsuma is really impressive, better than the X2 in my experience by quite some margin.

I'd have thought the EXT Storia would be hard to beat. What is it not doing for you?
 

kten

understands stuff moorey doesn't
I was trying hard to stay PG13 rated, this is a family show after all. ;)
The Kitsuma is really impressive, better than the X2 in my experience by quite some margin.

I'd have thought the EXT Storia would be hard to beat. What is it not doing for you?
Storia is a great shock if you are lucky enough to get into the very narrow tuning range they set the shock at from factory. Mine has been revalved multiple times now and whilst it has gotten better every time it's getting old going back and forth giving someone money to make changes. So short of buying a dyno and data logging equipment and deep diving into the suspension space I've decided to try one more suspension specialist who is wholeheartedly recommending the Kitsuma and backing his tuning methods...fingers crossed.
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Update on this. I'm really not sure the inside of the could should do this. In discussion with Deviate in Scotland. It's performance is fine but I'm unhappy the shock is getting hammered.

Seems to only be NDS.
 

Jpez

Down on the left!
Update on this. I'm really not sure the inside of the could should do this. In discussion with Deviate in Scotland. It's performance is fine but I'm unhappy the shock is getting hammered.

Seems to only be NDS.
What about CC? Asked them what they think is going on?
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I think I've figured it out.
The coil seems not to sit 100% flush in its site, so the inside rubs on the protective cover of the damper body.

Cane Creek have explained that's a protective cover and not the damper itself so I'm checking if it's something to be concerned about. Deviate are trying to work out why this is happening too. I've moved the coil (actually wound off all the preload) and will nip it back up to normal.

One side of the coil is less than 1mm away from it so as it compresses when I ride, it rubs the cover. It'd be hard to see it happen in the garage but if I recorded the area as I rode it'd probably show what I think is happening.

We'll see what the outcome is.
 

kten

understands stuff moorey doesn't
Have you pulled the spring off to see if it is straight? Some coils have manufacturing flaws.

Also, you could spin the spring 180 degrees on the shock to see if it still rubs on the same side.
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Ok, update on the suspension and coil.
When I bought the frame I checked with Deviate and the local rep here on coil weights to suit. We landed on 600lbs.
Could have gone 625 apparently.
Anyway, it seems I need between 650lb and 700lb because I've put a little heft on (training, not cake thankyou!)

I bought and installed a 650lb spring and have only just been able to get it on a trail. Rides MUCH better but could do with a little more. 700lb Cane Creek springs are super rare so Cane Creek suggest dialling in the preload. That's helping but I think I'll have to get a 700lb spring.

650lb just seems more balanced and supportive.

The marks are on the damper cover and that's there to protect the damper body. I'll not worry about it as apparently that's its job.

Definitely making progress. The rear end of this bike really is something special. You've got to ride one to believe it.
 
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Petero

Likes Dirt
We landed on 600lbs.
Could have gone 625 apparently.
Anyway, it seems I need between 650lb and 700lb because I've put a little heft on (training, not cake thankyou!)
I know it changes with frame/susp design but if you don't mind, out of curiosity what would your result on the canecreek directed sizing be: https://www.tftuned.com/spring-calculator

I'm considering coil and am around the 105kegs mark kitted up.. so floating around that 600lbs mark..
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Ok, I'll tell you now that if you get a 600lb spring on that bike it'll sag too much. Super active and plush but you will feel it on climbs / general pedalling.
I'm 107kg kitted, and 650lb is better but I'm going to get a 708lb Ohlins one (already ordered)
I'm happier with it being too firm than too soft. I can dial out the preload and compression settings.

Cane Creek recommended 682lb at my weight for this bike at sag. They don't have anything over 650lb.

The TF Tuned recommendation was 643 so I thought 650 would do the job. It's all personal preference of course. That was for the Freeride setting at 28%not DH at 33%.

Additionally I think some of this depends on where one's weight is. I've a friend with similar height and weight but his weight is in the hips / legs vs mine being in the shoulder and chest. With leverage it makes me sag more than him...
 

dazz

Downhill Dazz
A trick I've used in the past for the coil rub is to find a cheap (or old) roadie tube, cut a little length to suit and stretch it over the shock. I know it already has the protector on there but the rubber tube wont score up like the hard plastic protector has. If it gets damaged just replace it with another bit of tube.
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Long message ahead! Please read it all if you're thinking of a Highlander.

I've been rather silent on here with my Highlander. If you have read my earlier posts you'll know I've struggled with getting the balance of climbing and descending. Climbing was so bad for me that it was like having a downhill bike in both senses; amazing descending and painful climbing. After fiddling around with it for months I just decided to stop riding it.

Being open with you it has been a massive frustration for me to have such a stunning bike, that other owners are thoroughly enjoying and I found a real chore to ride. I thought it was set up and something I just couldn't nail despite having comparable shocks before with All the dials and adjustment.

I've tried 3 spring rates on my Kitsuma coil, and the air version and never found it to work. I was set to sell it and consider it a failed experience and experiment.

Over several months I've been engaged in constant and ongoing conversation with Ben @deviatecycles and he was tireless in working to find a solution.
Different shock settings and set ups and finally he made what seemed to me at least a strange and obscure recommendation.

With lockdown going on for almost 4 months in Melbourne I didn't get the chance to have the solution implemented as the distributor here was too far away for us to meet.

Once that ended, I delivered the frame to him and he turned it around in ~24 hours. Ben sent what was needed via express post to get here in time. Upon receiving it, and inspecting it there was some friction in the idler which had me massively concerned as it was higher than when I first got it.

Nonetheless, I built it back up.

This was in part to satisfy my curiosity as I've ridden the Forbidden Dreadnought in the meantime and that's outstanding both up and downhill. Ben, confident of his bike's abilities stated it would contend well with it.

So, it's built back up and I set to work climbing EVERYTHING I can in my local trail network. I put the air Kitsuma shock on and at first I was uncertain. Then after one particular climb which is VERY punishing I crested it feeling very confused. It made no sense but it felt better. I repeated climbs just because I could.
As I was on my own it's hard to determine exactly much better but my last ride on it beforehand was nothing like this. (I also don't use Strava).

So, next ride I put the coil on and go again at some harder hills with some mates. Not only am I keeping up but overtaking them. It makes little sense to me but what Ben suggested has worked tremendously well.

So, I'm keeping the Highlander. It is now what I'd hoped and anticipated it to be. What I want to reiterate is that Ben and Chris at Deviate CARE so very much about what owners are experiencing. Even when I must have been frustrating the life out of Ben and having meltdowns via email over my experience, he stayed composed and worked to find solutions. Never have I experienced anything like it.

If you're looking for THE bike, with support that quite simply sets the standard of customer care, you've found it.

Thanks Deviate!
 
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