Hello Vital MTB Visitor,
We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!
Five lucky people will be selected at random to win a Vital MTB t-shirt.
Thanks in advance,
The Vital MTB Crew
I like to think that someone choosing an Intend fork is somehow smarter than the average, I guess I’m wrong
That’s a bummer, I hope they offer that as an option, I’d love to have that
Having had my Intend fork for a little over a year now, I did have issues with the travelizer. If I changed to either end of the travel I was better off opening it up and setting the travel. I could never get it to "catch" properly at either end of the range. So for that aspect the new design is stellar for me personally.
On the other hand I am currently running my fork at 172mm because knowing the front and rear vertical travel is exactly the same makes me irrationally happy.
I really liked the idea of being able to choose your exact travel and I don't know why, but I'm into the idea of a 165mm or possibly 175mm fork.
They should include one 5mm travel spacer.
For those that have been wanting one
The Flash 38 is being released
Reposting Kuzlich from the Tech Thread
I can see it now. Someone’s going to pull it apart and modify it. Maybe we drop it into a different chassis and/or get a good ti nitride coating and maybe proper Kashima. This can be fun!!
Honestly, I am stoked for it though!! Maybe it’s just the optimism from also riding moto. More tech and more folks in the inverted game can be promising. KYB is already the jammmmm in moto. We’ve seen what Showa can do and bring to the bike world with the Honda program. Minnaar has said within the last year that he pulled it off the wall and it’s still as good of suspension as anything he’s ever ridden. So… this can be exciting
I like this approach.
And do you guys think the stanchions can be moved up/down in the clamps? Supereasy adjustment for head angle/stack.
Seems like new intend damper dropping tomorrow 👀
That's the piston from the Hover MC
I read a lot around without a definitive answer, while we understand that a job like the 350 is not the one to achieve the most stiffnesses out of a USD fork,
How are the Hydra 2? If someone can explain/know
There is a wide variance when it comes to bearing size, axle interface, and end cap interface amongst hub manufacturers. With the one-piece lower leg design of a conventional fork, these variances don't really play a big role.
With an inverted fork, the hub ties the two stanchions together to keep the legs from moving independently of each other. The more robust the hub, the more robust the entire system is. Hubs like the I9 Hydra, and Hope Pro, for example, use a large bearing with hub end caps that interface with the ID of the bearing. This provides good support for an inverted fork. Hubs like Chirs King and the new Shimano XTR use a large bearing combined with a thru axle and a single end cap, providing extremely good support for an inverted fork. On the flip side, an OEM DT Swiss hub with small bearings and end caps that float on the outside of the bearing provide the least amount of support and may not be preferred by aggressive riders or terrain.
We're in the process of publishing hub information relative to inverted forks that will be available to the public soon.
Darren
When you mention OEM DT hubs (guessing 350 and 370, a 240 is probably a better option? It haw an axle through the bearings with endcaps pushed onto the axle.
Yes, the design used in the 350 is less desirable. The supporting axle design with torque caps used in the 240 would be better.
Darren
By Hydra you include the Hydra 2?
Not sure if there’s any difference as I’m still waiting on the wheels to arrive
If the Hydra2 are similar in design to the Hydra, where the axle goes through the bearings and end caps slide over it, then yes.
Onyx front hubs are a good example of a very robust axle system as well as it is one solid piece. I believe they also offer a Torquecap variant.
Is there anyone here that tried both any of the Intend forks and the podium?
Curious to know your opinions
I managed to for a big ride today on a bike fitted with the podium and other than noticing that’s a bit smoother and the wheel gets out of the way better, and that holds the lines better on off camber roots, I wasn’t that impressed considering how heavy and expensive it is.
I feel getting the bushing done to a 38 X2 would be 99% of the performance but at 350gr less
Flash 38 are back in stock and there is a new retrofit lowspeed compression unit:
https://www.intend-bc.com/products/smooth-operator/
Intend even sent Pinkbike a Flash 38 to test, that's new! *Edit* Never mind just another product announcement.
The new compression damping unit is a pretty significant change as well. Quite different from the conventional shim stack and needle system they have used since the company began.
There's some more info about the new Flash 38 for you in the press release: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/intend-introduces-flash-38-usd-fork.
I'm going to zip tie some chop sticks/ straws/ or the like to my single crown fork sticking up and see if the addition hits my frame on my tight climbs, or instead I can get away with running the double crown Intend.
is this update more in line to what you did to your forks?
Well beyond what I have done as it is a completely different setup, but somewhat similar goal.
Increased low speed support (which was accomplished in part with the updated needle from Intend that closes the bypass flow off more), and more high speed damping (via the shim stack).
I'd be curious to try out this new compression damping setup. It's like a mix of a poppet valve setup and a traditional shim stack. Supposedly the float of the spring backed portion can be easily adjusted as well. Lots of options!
I just picked up a fox podium as a loaner for a month to try out. I just got my first ride on it this morning. Initial impressions are quite positive and I was pretty surprised by how sensitive it was, bordering on how my 38 with v2 smashpot feels in terms of willingness to move under small chatter. I'll post more of my impressions as I spend more time with it.
Initially I would say that there are grip benefits for off camber corners situations and extremely chunky sections. If I had to boil that down to a number I'd say 20%. Sensitivity is increased and in line with some coil forks I have used. I did not notice any detrimental effects or odd sensations with regards to steering or holding a line, but I need to put the fork in more strenuous situations to validate that.
If you had to pin me down today, I would say that it is indeed better then a 38. If you're comparing retail to retail, it may be better enough to be worth it for the money. It is for sure, not better enough to justify going from an on sale 38, to a full priced podium. Additionally, the extremely ugly mud guard and the air spring puking oil on your brake rotor and pads, also would make it not worth it.
More impressions to come, but after 1 ride on the podium (at least on my own bike, I have ridden a demo bike with it previously) and several rides on the push 9.1... I fail to see why we aren't just going straight to dual crown forks.
Related/Un-related: Took this photo on my dawn patrol ride this morning. This was taken from the Santa Ana mountains looking towards LA. Every good forum post needs a photo... so box checked.
This has been a great thread. Thanks for everyone's contributions. I feel like this has convinced me to get a flash 38 but they only offer 44mm offset. I've done back to back testing and I prefer a higher offset. For Enduro/DH hta 48mm is my favorite but I much prefer 51 to 44. 44 for me feels like a floppy seesaw at lower speeds and provides a more feedback through the bars when cornering through big bumps. 51 might have a hair less stability at speed with the fork compressed but never bothered me and honestly I think the front wheel being further out there adds more confidence on the steeps. I also feel 51 is more intuitive and holds lines more predictably. Any chance we can convince intend to release higher offset fork lugs? Am I the only one who feels this strongly on the topic?
Current favorite setup: fox 38 E-bike (swapped from 44 to 51 uppers) and fox 40 (48) for DH both with avalanche cartridge and smashpot. Used to ride a lot of mx/supermoto and itching to try an inverted fork on MTB. Out back, the Telum is my favorite so far. I'm 245 lbs.
Thanks for listening!
I think it’s unlikely Intend would release a longer offset version of their forks, but if you’re looking to alter the offset, this seems like the easiest solution - https://emrg.bike/virtual-pivot-headset/?lang=en
I did not know this existed. Thanks a bunch for sharing. Looks like it won't fit my Enduro bike (candidate for the flash 38) as it utilizes an IS headset but could fit my trail bike with cups. I went ahead and sent Intend an email just to see if they would consider. Longshot but they won't know customer preferences unless we reach out.
Did you ever feel the lack of bleeders was an issue?
bought new forks the other day
Why the hell are we disliking a picture of 3 usd forks? What’s wrong with you people, genuinely curious 🧐
they didn’t like the joke
Post a reply to: Modern Inverted Single Crown Forks