moraucf profile

I bought 2 pairs of mt5s back in 2016 and they are still going super strong on both bikes! Have bled them a few times but are still super consistent and strong. Currently happily using MTX pads. Got each pair for $115 which is nuts haha, I just looked cause I remembered getting a good deal on them.

Can echo this sentiment. Have tried most shocks out there (except Ohlins) and I basically can't ride anything else except EXT now. Exaggerating, but the ride feel is really spot on for my preferences. I also think it's a huge value add that you can call up, get some opinions, and have have the shock retuned for free once.

Did have to do that with my latest E-Storia, where I ended up going up in spring rate and compressions tune. Spot on after retune.

Might not be opposite experience. Will say that air spring support is pretty darn good on the 38 and significantly better than what I felt on a 36 I used to have.

Top 1/3 of travel I've been particularly impressed with but I will say I'm running rebound faster (especially HSR) than recommended. Felt like it was packing in chatter, like you mentioned you may be feeling. Something to try.

Beyond that it might be personal preference. I'm a relatively aggressive rider who has a preference for a well damped feel. For reference, I run +3 clicks out from open on HSC on Mezzer and have e-storia on the way for my KSL due to my awesome experience with it on my other bike (ext are known for heavy dampening).

I find myself riding more timidly when hitting rough stuff at speed with the 38 because I'm scared of using too much travel plus just a general feel of loss of composure. This is after tuning and running more PSI than recommended as well. Don't feel this at all with my Mezzer. I'm nitpicking though and 38 is more than rideable. 

I bought a burnishing tool from Oliver at Blue Liquid Labs. Highly recommended. Massive bang for the buck. Should be first step in improving fork performance before other aftermarket upgrades IMO.

Where you also on a Fox 38? TBH I think fox missed the mark on the compression tune for it. Just got one on my Kenevo SL and there really is just not enough compression dampening. Feels great at slower speeds and the small bump is seriously impressive, but as soon as you hit ragged stuff, it goes through it's travel soooo fast even with HSC completely closed. It's frustrating considering VVC was supposed to give us a good tuning range.

Will be swapping it out for a trusty Mezzer. Have a bushing burnishing tool for it which makes it's small bump close to on par while having what feels like twice the support of the 38.

Definitely agree that oversprung with more rubber, and ideally a bit more end stroke ramp up than I run, is likely a good setup for Enduro racers and it matches my experience.

When I'm attacking rough terrain (like you would when racing), the oversprung / stiff setup is definitely faster, and feels safer/more stable to me compared to my other G16 setup which is ~180mm of travel front and rear at a more traditional spring rate.

Issue then becomes fitness. It's nice to have that longer/softer travel on longer days in rough terrain. 

The mary is an addix soft, rolls fast for what it is IMO, also am using the e-bike version of aggaro on rear because apparently they used faster rubber to "extend battery life" which is a questionable take but can confirm that it indeed rolls fast on the analog bike haha.

Another note on the Mary in 2.25 size, the standard 2-2-2-3 center block arrangement was changed to all 2-2-2-2 which was a surprise, added a photo to link above of it if curious. Am digging the tire though and have come to learn that I like more spiky/open tread patterns which I think is due to my light weight (155lb), I think I dont have enough weight to get more dense tread patterns to bite/dig in. Am wondering if anyone else has noticed a rider weight to tread density preference correlation.

This resonates with me a lot and it's how I planned out my current "Trail" bike build/experiment.

Have a Geometron G16 w/ 29in wheels and ~160mm of travel so DH geometry/Enduro level of Travel paired with the following in order of importance to making the bike feel "Fast and poppy":

1. Fast tires (2.25 Snakeskin Magic Mary front, 2.35 e-aggaro rear) w/ Tannus Tubeless inserts

2. Linear (So you can still use full travel) Over sprung spring setup with heavy dampening. For example, I'm running the Mezzer at recommended Main pressure for someone +30lbs heavier than I am, IRT at recommended pressure. On the rear am running Mara pro setup very linear (which is possible thanks to the huge air can) at high pressure. Will be trying a oversprung EXT storia next week to see how I like that as well.

3. Light weight wheels (Newmen SL XA 25 - 400g, 25mm internal with Sapim Laser 1.5mm Spokes)

4. Reasonable weight components

Bike is awesome. Extremely responsive to working terrain, pumping, etc like a short travel bike would. Responds well to pedaling and climbing position is comfy. Still scarily capable at high speeds thanks to geometry and high performing suspension. Doesn't mind being hucked either thanks to still having a good amount of travel. 

Picture of bike and Video of said hucking.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bb7XcEuzvU4rwfkh7

all fair points! Will agree that the one thing that bugs me is ETT feels slightly to long for me as well on it. 

I'm still dumbfounded that no one makes a 200+mm forward offset dropper post. It's all I need to fix that issue. Beyond that I think I'm safe from G1 lust....for now.

sooo uhhh as a current G16 owner... Do you know what about the G1 is working better for you? You better not give a great compelling answer cause I really don't need to be buying new frames right now =P

Fun writeup btw!

Awesome review! Brings up two thoughts.

1. This is a REAL bike review. I'd argue it's so hard to gain anything from one ride "reviews" when we all know that 10cm adjustment here, a little suspension adjustment there, and small component changes to top it off have absolutely massive impacts to how a bike rides.  

2. I kind of get wanting same geo in shorter travel but on the other hand, shorter travel frames and suspension are not much lighter, if at all, and you can get a shorter travel ride feel with suspension adjustment (increase spring rate). Works especially well with suspension that has decent midstroke support and can be made linear enough to still bottom with increased initial spring rate, like a mezzer.

Case in point, I have 2 geometron g16s. One of them is 27.5, 180mm Mezzer, 175mm Storia while the second one is setup 29er, 160mm Mezzer, 155mm Mara Pro and light wheels and fast tires. Also the suspension on 29er is setup a lot more linear with a fairly stiff initial spring rate (I use ~125 out of 160 on a normal ride but still bottom when needed). It feels like a snappy trail bike in comparison with the change in pump/jump timing and everything but I still have the wonderful geometry I love and is still fun on even tamer trails in my opinion. 

Also,  Add me to the 2020 DHX2 hater club. My Mara Pro and Storia both vastly outperformed that shock.

As a fellow short inseam rider, I can highly recommend you give shorter cranks a shot. I do think it gives you some of the benefits of steeper STA. Am currently on 165mm and could probably go shorter.

Good input guys, Lonsdale will definitely have my eye when the time comes, especially after hearing the E-bike commute is a good one.

Here's Justin's, definitely amusing, bracket style results. https://twitter.com/j_mcelroy/status/1299358067558027265 

So I'm hearing that bike commute from North Van to downtown is chill?

And yeah it was insane to see how much development going on around Brentwood, good for them, you guys can definitely use the housing lol. Hopefully some more shopping/restaurants with character start popping up as well.

Cool to hear north burnaby/brentwood mentioned since that's her preference. I spent quite a bit of time there before border was locked down and definitely a nice, more quite, place to be. 

Whats the Otter? Lonsdale ferry?

What are peoples thoughts on good neighborhoods to live in that balance access to trails with a still reasonable commute to downtown?

Just daydreaming a bit haha. Girlfriend (who is Canadian/from burnaby) and I are contemplating making the move sometime in the next year or so.