For me, the DPX2 swap on the TB3 was a great move. It feels better when climbing because it props the back end up a bit more than the stock Float DPS and it is far smoother on rough singletrack and downhills. The bike just flows better and skips around less.
It is very obvious that the stock DPs is overtaxed compared to the DPX2\. Now the shock is almost completely silent and goes about its business without any sort of complaint whereas the DPS was noisy and choked up when the going got rough.
I definitely need to add a volume spacer to stop it from using so much travel. That should bring it to a 9/10.
There is a pretty big difference between the two bikes. The overall ride feel is similar which speaks to how well the HTLT climbs but with the increased travel, stiffer frame, slacker geo and Fox 36 up front it is hard to find the limits of the HTLT. On rough North Shore trails I can find the limit of the TB3 pretty easily when chasing faster friends.
On smoother, rolling trails I'd pick the TB3 all day but on anything steeper and rougher it is nice to have that extra margin for error (and comfort) of the burlier bike.
Jan. 16, 2018, 8:30 a.m. - Bogey
For me, the DPX2 swap on the TB3 was a great move. It feels better when climbing because it props the back end up a bit more than the stock Float DPS and it is far smoother on rough singletrack and downhills. The bike just flows better and skips around less. It is very obvious that the stock DPs is overtaxed compared to the DPX2\. Now the shock is almost completely silent and goes about its business without any sort of complaint whereas the DPS was noisy and choked up when the going got rough. I definitely need to add a volume spacer to stop it from using so much travel. That should bring it to a 9/10. There is a pretty big difference between the two bikes. The overall ride feel is similar which speaks to how well the HTLT climbs but with the increased travel, stiffer frame, slacker geo and Fox 36 up front it is hard to find the limits of the HTLT. On rough North Shore trails I can find the limit of the TB3 pretty easily when chasing faster friends. On smoother, rolling trails I'd pick the TB3 all day but on anything steeper and rougher it is nice to have that extra margin for error (and comfort) of the burlier bike.