EXT Storia Lok V4 Rear Shock

The Storia V3 had some interesting features and it rode well, but there were some complaints. It was a heavy breather, making it a little noisy and there was a metal disc that acted as a dust wiper on the main shaft, that could also make a racket. Both of those noises are gone, to the relief of some fussy riders (this fussy rider wasn't too bothered). Another step forward is improved top out control for a more controlled and predictable ride. (This is an issue that hasn't yet been dealt with for the Era 2.1 fork.)

There are some killer features on the Storia V4 that carry over from the V3, namely the Lok function and the adjustable hydraulic bottom out control damper (which EXT calls HBC) . I really like the Lok function, mainly because it's not a phantom switch that produces no noticeable platform like the same feature on some other coil shocks. On the Storia it's tunable internally (like everything else on the V4) and it has a blow off valve for riders who forget to turn it off. If yours is set like mine however, you won't have to worry about that because it's very firm indeed. My bike doesn't feel a little different when I dip into a rough trail with the Lok engaged, it feels like the bike is trying to toss me over the bars constantly, despite a blow off valve designed to protect the internals. In my books that's a good thing because I want to know when I've goofed and left it engaged and because, for paved and fire road climbs or riding home from the trails, I want a firm lock out. I like to stand for long stretches when I'm climbing, (just like Marco Pantani - RIP, only much slower but with more hair ) so a firm lockout is great.

The externally adjustable HBC is a nice feature because it allows you to adjust your settings and choose your spring for the meat of the travel where you spend most of your time, rather than compensating with spring weight and damping because you are hitting bottom on a few big hits. There are ten clicks of HBC damping and I use four of them, which makes the bike love big hits and flat landings. It comes to earth very calmly.

There is also a component of the HBC that works independently of clicks because the main chamber that the shaft runs through narrows for the last 10mm/15% of stroke, down to the same diameter as the secondary plunger on the piston, which further compresses the oil and begins to ramp damping. The adjuster then opens or closes the valve leading from that chamber so you can fine tune your HBC.

One of the biggest usability improvements of the Storia V4 is a simple one. Previously, the high speed compression adjustment required a 12mm wrench. I don't generally carry a spanner on the trail so this was a nice discovery when the shock arrived. LSC was already controlled by a 4mm hex head and now the HSC gets it clicks from a 5 mill within the same housing. And the range is ample. Lately I have been using a lot of compression on both ends of the bikes I've been riding and it's improved my feel for the trail and control in rough stuff. Once I reached what I hope to be my sweet spot, I still had clicks left over, meaning heavier and more aggressive riders should have enough clicks as well.

About Those Coils

The coil spring makes up a significant portion of the extra weight you are carrying when you mount a coil shock to your bike. To that end, EXT put their motorsport expertise to work and developed springs that contain more vanadium, which aligns the grains of metal more efficiently, improving the strength to weight ratio. This allows for smaller coils, lowering weight but also improves durability. EXT tells us they have tested these new coils to automotive standards which stipulate durability over 500,000 cycles. That should you get down Fort William a few times.

Spring Rate

A coil-sprung rear suspension can be a beautiful thing when you've been using air shocks for years. You never have to check your pressure and if your settings were good on the last ride, you are golden for the next one. That is assuming you've chosen the correct spring rate. I'd been using a 375 on the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate that had been my main shock. before this and I was happy with the balance of support and traction it provided. I mentioned this while I was talking to EXT but they sent me a 400 and a 425. It makes sense that different shocks, with distinct valving, might work with a different spring rate, so I gave it a go.

Unfortunately, for the life of me, I couldn't make it feel right. I assumed it was my fault and kept working on my settings without much luck. Eventually I realized it was time to measure the sag because I wasn't getting anywhere.

Wait a second, how do you measure sag on a coil spring with no fun meter (aka sag indicator)? Particularly by your self? You ask good questions my friend. The truth is it's a pain in the ass, unless you have a Yoyo, a slick tool from the geniuses behind Sprindex adjustable spring rate coils.* Richie Schley will demonstrate how this works in the video below.

*Carl Winefordner and Frank Hermansen who are also the founders of Crankbrothers.

We Are One suggests 30% sag for the 170mm version of their Arrival, and I wasn't getting that. I was actually still a little shy after going down to the 375 spring but things felt much better. And I was feeling like a bit of a dope for not checking my sag earlier but I sometimes follow instructions excessively (other times not enough). I don't blame EXT however. There are obviously more factors than simply rider weight and the bike you are mounting your shock on to determine spring rate, so some variability is inevitable. Maybe I overestimated my "aggressiveness" on the bike?

Finally, after swapping to the 25lb lighter spring, I was starting to pick up what all the fuss was about. This is another advantage of EXT; being able to fine tune your spring in 25lb increments rather than 50 from some other manufacturers. Traction was very good indeed once I got my dials where I wanted them but there was more goodness in store as well.

EXT Storia V4 Lok "Core" Features*

*According to EXT

• 4 way adjustable (LSC-HSC-LSR-Lok 2.0 proprietary system)
• Patent pending PSR hydraulic top out technology to prevent harsh top-out while improving bike platform stability and predictability
• Adjustable Hydraulic Bottom-out Circuit (HBC) Technology: refined even further ensures predictable end-stroke characteristics to allow full utilization of travel and minimizing harsh rebound effects. 
• 5mm hex adjuster for HSC replaces 12mm wrench adjuster
• LOK 2.0: optimized for pedaling but perfectly at home on every trail section due to an integrated threshold by-pass circuit.
• High turbulence flow valves provide a balanced and controlled damping profile while simultaneously minimizing rcavitation
• 14 mm chromoly shaft utilizing diamond like carbon (DLC) coating via physical vapor deposition (PVD) reduces friction and increases durability from impacts and wear
• Tapered Spring Thrust Bushings to improve straight alignment in case of spring side-load conditions
• Large volume reservoir using a bladder design and very low reservoir pressure (55PSI) improves sensitivity
• High viscosity index oil provides consistency
• 30% lighter steel spring, designed from motorsport and tested to perform over 500,000 cycles
• Designed for Enduro / Trail riding
• Price is for damper only. Springs are available on the product page* and a 2nd spring can be purchased at a discounted rate. (1550 CAD/1070 USD plus coil for 195 CAD/130 USD)
• Weight as tested with 375lb spring, 710g

*I found springs on the Alba website here in Canada and on EXT's US website.

About That Price

A rear shock that sets you back the better part of 2k Canadian, when a single coil spring is factored in, clearly isn't for everyone but you get the royal treatment for your shekels. When you order a rear shock from EXT, it is built up to your specifications; the bike you ride, your weight, recommended sag, along with your aggressiveness. You could also add some personal preferences I'd bet, like how firm you'd like the Lok to be, although this could incur additional charges. Everything on the Storia can be further adjusted internally at a service centre that has been qualified to work on EXT suspension. Which leads me to the 5-year warranty.

If you buy an EXT mountain bike product after January 1st 2025, you'll be eligible for a five year warranty period, assuming you have a full service performed yearly. Locally this would be performed by Alba Distribution in Squamish but there are service centres around the world.

Overall Impressions

Something I have really noticed about the Storia V4 is how predictable it is. There have been times when I've been bounced around near the bottom of a descent on other shocks and assumed I was the problem. The Storia has made me wonder if some of those occurrences were related to suspension products that were overheating or cavitating after many cycles in rough conditions. The Storia keeps me going faster and in more control for longer, reducing fatigue in the process.

Since I've been on a more suitable spring, I have continued to be surprised by the shock's big hit capability. Dropping to flat or sending a gap to flat is less stressful on the Storia, which is likely related to HBC preventing thunderous bottom outs and the fallout they bring to rider and bike. It's possible that without this circuit in the shock I would have been stuck riding a spring that was too heavy to prevent those harsh moments so its benefits extend beyond that last 10mm of travel. Traction and sensitivity are other key advantages to the Storia V4, and both braking bumps and rough loose corners are dealt with tidily.

My settings with the 375lb spring from fully closed are, HSC 8 out, LSC 10 out, Rebound 4 out and HSC (bottom out) 4 out.

Is it Worth It?

That is a personal decision. If you are the sort of person who appreciates exotic Italian machinery, made with incredible attention to detail, and demands the most performance possible from your suspension, and you've got an extra stack of hundos burning a hole in your pocket, the answer is a hell yes! If you are wondering if you can go as fast and in as much control on a coil-sprung damper from RockShox or Fox, my guess is you could get pretty close, for about half the price. The EXT should also save you at least 200g in weight, if that's important to you. All in all this is a pretty special, and very impressive, rear damper.

EXT Storia V4 Lok