Heinous profile

I've been on the new XTR for a while, with a Praxis crank / ring, which sadly means an Eagle chain. 

It's been flawless, I'd warrantied 2 Eagle rear derailleurs in the same period last year. My experience with the brakes mirrors yours - they're standout. Better than the 8050 4 pot, saints, and Saint to XTR XC lever combos I've run.

That bike is a super smart spec at a sharp price. Would ride. Most amazingly the SLX bike is cheaper than the GX bike. If other companies can replicate that, the end of Eagle has arrived.

What's nice is that the spec on site tells you the casing, TPI etc, so you know what you're getting.

So, I'm putting one in my 36 next week and might start at the HBO stack used here. After a winter on my SS with a DVO, I jumped on my big bike w 36 the other day and honestly thought it needed a warranty, it felt rubbish coming off the DVO's OTT coil spring for early stroke. Even after warming it up and a day of shuttling a 10min DH run it just didn't feel like I wanted. 

I think the only long travel air forks I've used that have really blown me away with feel were the BOS Deville, and the previous 36 with an MRP Ramp+Fulfill negative conversion, so I've got really high hopes for the Smashpot.

Hey, it looks like MRP heard you!

https://mrpbike.com/products/loop-sl

1 1/8th straight steerer right there.

+ Pivot and Spartan 29.

They've been doing great stuff. The new Troy and Spartan kick arse. Especially with a coil.

I ran the Helm, it was good and fill travel never an issue (82kg).

I recently put a DVO on my singlespeed and when I hopped back on my big bike I was really surprised how shit the 36/grip2 feels, especially in the early stroke. The DVO is just super plush with the OTT and spring for early part of travel. As soon as there’s a DVO option for 29” / 170mm I’ll be doing it.

Will be interesting to see how the shock goes. I’m yet to see a Super Deluxe that didn’t improved out of sight with a strip and lube from new. Maybe that’s the new school equivalent of all the lithium grease repacking from your youth.

It looks like a solution for loud bikes - so long as you don't encounter much mud...

I’d take a Zerode Katipo if I was going gearbox...

I have a Spartan - it’s awesome. Pedals really well, descends awesome. It’s overall really balanced. I’ve put a coil in it, and wouldn’t go back.

The DVO's feel great - the negative coil spring (OTT) gives a lot of the suppleness of a full coil fork. I hopped back on my big bike (Fox 36, Grip2) after riding my SS a lot with a Sapphire 34 and I honestly thought the 36 needed a warranty. It feels rubbish off the top compared, although the Grip2 damper is pretty refined. 

The new 170/80mm DVO Onyx SC 29" fork is available in a couple weeks, but with a big trip planned I decided not to wait and have a Smashpot for my 36.

My BTR. It’s custom and splits the difference between a Chaser and a Ranger geo wise. The seat angle is ever so slightly slacker than is in vogue because I like 180mm cranks for SS. 

Super happy with how my geo design turned out, and really liking the fact the tubeset is slightly lighter and more comfortable than most of the newer style hardtails I see. I’ve since swapped out the DVO post for a Bikeyoke, the DVO post is pretty disappointing.

@Xorrox - I hear you on trying new stuff. I’ve only used the Ramp cartridges (and older Ramp with independent negative spring conversation for 36 - still the best feeling fork I’ve ever ridden) and the mrp forks seem really well like by friends riding them hard.

Isn't this what the MRP Bartlett was designed for?

My Helm was good, but maxes out at 160mm and I did manage to blow one up in short order (and I'm only 83kg in kit).

I've found DT and Praxis the most durable, and it the event of dents, they tend to pull out ok without cracking.

Some more recent research showed they weren't working quite as expected - transferring force and causing vertebral fractures lower (which isn't a bad outcome, assuming same force would have caused one higher). I think this was exacerbated where set up was poor, and especially in kids (because set up is harder). The rise of more things like MIPS might play in to less neck braces being around too.

I used spacers that allow you to use 3mm each side (so you preserve the geo and don't need to re-dish, but do need to adjust limits), and a spacer under rotor.

It worked, but it was a massive PITA. Getting spacers in every time, then getting axle through, and not forgetting or losing them when wheel was out was a nightmare. I'd only use one again on a bike that I never expected to have the wheel out of, like a commuter.

(edit: this is why the Boostinator option is great, IF you have a compatible hub)

Ironically, just today; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsk3zAZyLaQ