Taipei Cycle Show 2017: New DVO Suspension and Production Privee

Taipei Cycle Show 2017 is on the way and tons of new product spread from parts and new bikes are there. While some new forks are currently released by several companies, another brand also showing up their new forks on the event. DVO brings two new forks to the event with Onyx and Beryl. While the popular steel bike maker, Production Privee releases their limited steel full suspension frame, the Shan Nº5. Check them out.

DVO Onyx and Beryl

DVO is one of the popular suspension maker, with its famous characteritics, the green color and use the name of precious stones, such as topaz, diamond, etc. And again, they are using another stones for their newest forks, the DVO Onyx and Beryl.

The first one, DVO Onyx is a downhill fork, with 203 mm of travel and the brand says that the Onyx is the bigger version of Diamond, their enduro/all mountain fork. But that's reasonable because the Onyx uses the same compression bladder. The Onyx has high-low speed compression damping, rebound damping, air volume adjust and their Off the Top adjuster. The OTT allows the riders to increase or decrease the suppleness of the fork. Sounds awesome, but the Onyx DC is priced about $1,700 which is pretty good if compared with Rockshox or Fox suspension. 

And what about the second one? The DVO Beryl (the original is Beryllium) is an enduro/all mountain fork, available for both 27,5 and 29 wheels, with 170 mm of travel. The Beryl is basically the Diamond, but with lesser feature; minus external adjuster. It has 35 mm black stanchion, which seems now getting popular, and 15 mm Axle. The Beryl is using the simpler damper which called the D2. On the market, the Beryl will be priced at $750, way cheaper than the Diamond, and will face to face with Fox Float 34 Grip and Rockshox Yari.

Production Privee Shan Nº5

Most people known the company as the steel hardtail maker, with their popular Shan, Shan GT, and another. But, the company just makes a big surprise few times ago when they build a full suspension bike prototype. And the show continues, they really build a full suspension bike and showing it in Taipei Cycle Show 2017, with the Production Privee Shan Nº5.

With the carbon trend on mountain biking industry, the steel bikes still there with their fans. It may heavier than the carbon, but surely the steel bike will be last longer than the carbon. For the Production Privee, this Shan Nº5 is really inspired by their hardtail Shan with more development in various parts. And the result, a 138 mm of travel suspension bike, all around bike, more fun, simple, and reliable. 

The Shan Nº5 is adopting the single pivot with Fox Shock DPS on the rear shock. The main pivot has the same size with the BB shell, pretty big and different than others. As all around bike, the Shan Nº5 accepts the fork from 140 mm to 160 mm of travel. The Shan Nº5 also compatible with 27.5 or 27.5+.  For the fans, the bike is available in frame only option to allow fans to build as they want, but it comes with Fox DPS Shock, about 1,899 Euro. For now, it only fifty frames to be produced for the first production, and it all come in Bahama Yellow paint job.

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New Forks: New 2017 Forks - Rockshox and MRP

The companies are busy, and some of them are building new parts and yes, it finally done. When the Taipei Cycle Show is happening now, some products also need to be seen. Rockshox, as one of the pioneer on mountain bike suspension once again give a life for their old product, the Rockshox Judy. But, not only that, another company responds the new competitor fork with their new product, MRP Ribbon. So, let's check them out.

Rockshox Judy

Yes, Rockshox gives a life once again for the Judy, one of their old product. Surely with many developments and updates, the Judy is now available in both 27.5 and 29 wheels. The brand says that the new Judy is stiffer and lighter, available in Boost which means ready for plus tires up to 2.8.

Rockshox builds the new Judy in two versions, the Gold RL and Silver TK. Both models are available in 27.5 and 29 wheels with Boost. The new Rockshox Judy Gold RL features such as: Motion Control

Oneloc

Solo Air

Boost

Maxle Lite/Stealth

Torque Caps

Judy Gold RL Details

• Intended Use: XC/Trail

• 80-120mm travel

• Fast Black aluminum upper tubes

• Performance-based Motion Control RL damper

• Compatible with OneLoc remote

• Solo Air spring

• 2.8” maximum tire compatibility for both 27.5” and 29” models (27.5”x3.0” tires fit in the 29” model) 

• All new Boost-specific chassis: light yet stiff 

• New low profile integrated remote spool

• New air pressure guide maximizes performance for E-MTB applications

• Availability: OEM only, select aftermarket options to be announced - price $380 - $450

Judy Silver TK Details

• Intended Use: XC/Trail

• 80-120mm travel

• Proven TurnKey damping

• PopLoc remote compatible

• Lightweight Solo Air spring

• 2.8” maximum tire compatibility for both 27.5” and 29” models (27.5”x3.0” tires fit in the 29” model)

• Steel upper tubes with Satin Nickel finish

• All new Boost-specific chassis: light yet stiff

• New air pressure guide maximizes performance for E-MTB applications 

with Poploc, Turnkey, Solo Air, Boost, Maxle Lite/Stealth, and Torque Caps.

MRP Ribbon Fork

Released at Eurobike last year, the MRP Ribbon is now available for the fans. Some things must be highlighted about this fork: high performance all mountain forks, most adjutability and features in class, and deliver jaw-dropping weight. The company tested this fork in Colorado.

MRP Ribbon Fork Details

• 27.5" Travel: 140, 150, 160, or 170mm

• 27.5+ / 29" Travel: 120, 130, 140, 150, or 160mm 

• Weight: 4.15 lbs. for 27.5", 4.2 lbs. for 27.5+ / 29"

• External Adjustments: Positive air-spring pressure, negative air-spring pressure, 8-position low-speed compression, 16-position Ramp Control, and rebound.

• Internal adjustments: Travel (in 5mm increments)

• Colors: All black chassis with 9 decal color options.

• Wheel size options: 27.5" or 27.5+ / 29”

• Boost spacing - 15x110mm

• MSRP: $989 USD

MRP puts some best features for this enduro-all mountain forks, such as the air spring, which offers negative and positive air chambers. This gives the riders more control. One of the technology for this air spring is Ramp Control, a part to adjust the forks based on the trail. While the damper, the Ribbon is using the EssenTTial damper, a twin tube damper that gives more advantages in performance, ride control, efficiency and durability.

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Look Closer: Meet the New Bird Aeris 145

Talk about unpopullar bike is always interesting. While many people talk about the same bikes everywhere, a good bike but not many people looking at is really interesting. The UK factory, Bird Cycleworks is one of them. They are about to release their new bike; the New Bird Aeris 145. This is a 150/160 mm travel bike on the front, and 145 mm of rear travel.

With that travel, the new Bird Aeris 145 is supposed to be all mountain/enduro bike. Despite the new Aeris is underrated bike, it equipped with best parts in class; the highest spec comes with SRAM Eagle. The bike will come in five different builds. To give different experience, the company also send the bike as frame only option. The frame only will be priced about € 1041 (£ 900), and the highest spec comes in € 4283 (£ 3700).

Bird Aeris 145 Update

145 mm rear travel, 150/160 mm front

All new 6066 tube set, designed to give best stiffness to weight ratio

New self-locking mini-collet axle system

One-piece hollow section yoke

148 mm boost rear end for maximum tyre clearance and stiffness

One piece brake/axle assembly for maximum precision and minimum squeal

Metric shock sizing

Double bearing shock mount, to give smoothest shock movement

One by specific rear end for maximum stiffness

ISCG05 mount

Bottle cage mounts

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New Product: Cane Creek Helm Fork

Rockshox and Fox Suspension have been dominating the mountain biking sport especially in suspension, mostly fork. It doesn't mean that another suspensions are not good, but it's something hard to explain. But as the time goes, there are so many good competitors for those two, and they deserve to be worried. After the comeback of SR Suntour a while ago, and another forks like BOS, DVO, Manitou, and the recent, the moto-suspension Ohlins, now another new competitor is coming: Cane Creek Helm fork.

Yes, Cane Creek gets massive success with their shock, the DB range and now they are producing the fork. Not only usual fork, but really high end fork to give serious competition not only in the track but also in the market. The Cane Creek Helm fork will face againts, such as the Rockshox Pike, Fox 34 and 36, and also the Ohlins RXF.

Cane Creek Helm Details

• Intended use: trail / all-mountain / enduro

• Travel: 100 - 170mm (internally adj. in 10mm increments)

• Wheel size: 27.5'' 

• Spring: air

• Manual negative spring

• Air volume adjustment for ramp-up

• Mono-tube damper

• Damper adjustments: low-speed compression, high-speed compression, low-speed rebound

• Stanchions: 35mm

• Steerer: tapered only

• 7'' post mount 

• Axle: 'D-Loc' 15mm QR Boost thru-axle

• Colors: black, blue (limited release option)

• Weight: 2,010 grams / 4.43lbs (w/ axle, 205mm steerer)

• MSRP: $1,100 USD

As listed above, for now the fork is available only in 27.5 inch wheels but the bigger one is also under development. To take the people's attention, Cane Creek builds the fork in two color; all-black and the combination blue-black stanchion. The second color is limited edition, but maybe one day the company produces this color for the fans.

But can this fork give serious challenge? The fork comes at competitive price and there are several forks at the same or similar price. But one thing, if your bike has Cane Creek Double Barrel, so this Cane Creek Helm will be good match for your bike. And the fork is now available on their website. More information about the fork, please visit Cane Creek Helm Fork.

(photo: pinkbike.com)

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