All

I don't touch on the 30mm vs 27mm topic but I did just follow my initial Vital review with my own. The rim has lasted since launch till now (almost 3 seasons). IMPRESSIVE. Whatever you pick you are getting something you can have for a long time, so (like the scene in Indiana Jones with the Holy Grail)...chose wisely

I'd put that top out bumper back in. It's a mechanical top out stop- I worry your fork could over-extend and pull the stanchions above the lower bushing (that would be very bad).

Yeah reluctantly agree. About once every 3 years or so I get tempted into trying something else, and I sometimes find something that is maybe even 80% as good, and you think "yeah these are thoroughly not bad". But then I go back to Maxxis/Schwalbe and I'm like "mmmm yeah still the best". Shout out to Continental who have consistently made utterly terrible, plastic coumpond tyres that should come with a health/career warning.

A fresh pair of DHF/DHRs (or more recently Assegai) is always awesome, but at EXO+ weights I do find that they pinch flat too easily, and the rate at which the side knobs start to tear off is pretty unacceptable IMO. I have plenty of them laying around with lots of tread life left in the middle and half the side knobs just peeling off. That's two reasons to at least keep trying other stuff.

Double taping was beneficial with some rim/tire combos a few years ago, just to remedy a loose bead and get the tire to air up the first time. It really isn't necessary anymore as brands have got tubeless stuff more dialed in.

I don’t disagree with you, and I just mentioned the DHF as it’s the most popular or one of the most popular in this category from Maxxis. This space has gotten more competitive though Edit: I’ll also add I respect your experience, you’ve been around longer than I have, and I know you’ve been on more options that I have. Cheers!

My understanding is that the new damper will fix that initial 10mm of travel and provide a more predictable ride. Get a new Debonair spring. That will cure the 10mm of soft travel at the beginning. FYI new springs are way cheaper than a new damper...

Re: names, I just kinda throw them out there. With Chocoluxe, the material we use is brown, and in internal testing, employees were talking about getting the "chocolate" upgrade -- "hey man, you got any of that chocolate new-new?" Had to put a little spin on just calling it "chocolate," so, voila ChocoLUXE™. A big reduction in overall friction like we were able to achieve, in part, with Chocoluxe can manifest in a few ways. Most obviously, the fork just "feels" better in the parking lot. There's no stick-slip in the stroke, it feels smooth and predictable. You notice that...

Hello Chaz, Good question. There are a couple benefits to the Ramp Control systems that I think beat tuning with volume alone, but it should be noted that with our Ramp Control Pro cartridges, you can can have both. For one, tuning with tokens is a "in the workshop" thing, whereas Ramp Control can be adjusted via dial. So, if it's a competition, Ramp Control wins on convenience. Second, there is some volume reduction that happens just by installing the cartridge, so it's providing some of the benefit of tokens plus added external adjustability. Third, sometimes heavier riders are forced...

It makes me feel warm and fuzzy that in 10 years of being registered on Vital this is your first post.