New Tunable, High Performance MTB Fork - EXT ERA Long Term Review
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- čas přidán 12. 07. 2021
- We've spent 6 months riding EXT's new ERA fork on two different bikes, and we're here today to tell you all about how we've been getting along. To read up on the finer details, check out the corresponding article on our site: www.vitalmtb.com/product/guid...
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Thanks for the quick comparison with the RS, Fox, and Ohlins!
Always important! And yes, it's getting harder these days, because a lot of companies make a damn fine product! Good problems to have as a consumer and MTB fan.
Öhlins*
@@th_js I don't have that key on my keyboard. I'd have to copy and paste it. In English, Ohlins is acceptable.
You guys rock when it comes to mtb parts reviews wish rodies also had same channel dedicated. BTW just if you can then, can we get more detailed comparison review of all 4 ext vs rockshox vs fox vs ohlins?
THIS was the review I was looking for, THANK YOU!
Was waiting for this for months 🤣. Thanks
Nice to see more competition
Been running my ERA for 6 months now too on my Nicolai hardtail and agree it's outstanding!! Took me a while to get it working the way I wanted but now that I've figured it out, it offers so much tunability! 👌
I’m ONE day into riding my new EXT suspension! (Front and rear)
Next steps are probably lowering the air pressure in those volumes…
Insanely different from the Fox setup I had!
Nice review Iceboy!
You had me at "New Tuna"
i was really curious about it. Never saw anybody talking about. Thanks.
Great video, would you recommend this on an Orbea rise? I’ve been looking at Push, Ohlin, fox dhx2 and this one thanks
ok little bit of ASMR there at the end
I wonder how it compares with a mezzer, since they use very similar spring tech.
Nice
I'd wish for some x-fusion long term reviews. Such an old company without constant changes to their range, supporting low cost maintenance, yet with such low coverage around the world. Such a shame.
Because its not RS or Fox and its not sexy enough to make waves.
honestly i had x fusion rear shock, it is really starting point in performance, i’ll better buy used rock shox or fox for the same price
@@AlexanderNovikov did you have a starting point shock on a starting point bike at a starting point price?
They are making higher tier suspension too......that no one is reviewing. That's why I'm interested.
Same goes with Suntour suspension pretty much, but at least there is something out there review-wise
Sounds similar to the manitou mezzer. Would be interested in your comparison thoughts if you get a hold of one to test.
I own Both, and also a RXF36 M2. The Manitou Mezzer is about 80% of what the Era is, The Era has it beat on the small bump sensitivity, (you need to experience the era to believe it) It is amazing at tech climb trails! The midstroke support and bottom out resistance is great on all 3 of these forks. The RFX M2 is also a great fork with excellent midstroke support and good small bump sensitivity. IMO it would be about 80% of what the Era is as well, it feels a bit different than the Mezzer or Era. it might have a bit more stiction and doesn't feel as smooth through the travel.
@@kmagrum76 which one do you suggest? Era, Ohlins M2 Coil or Zeb Ultimate?
@@alessiolucchini6767 If price isn't a concern, The Era! that said I have not tried the Ohlins M2 coil.
Noice!
I was on the market for a new Fork, with the ERA on my radar. I went with Ohlins RXF 36M2 since there are no known service dealers for the ERA where I live. So, now I’m wondering, where can I find a EXT Vs. Ohlins video?? What are your thoughts?
We haven't produced a straight head-to-head comparison, but here's our full review of the Öhlins RXF 36m2 from 2019: czcams.com/video/WmXlASya5RU/video.html. Regarding our thoughts, as stated in the conclusion of the EXT video, the EXT seems more supportive in the mid stroke and certainly requires more force to bottom out, but it manages to maintain comfort and small-bump compliance even so. The Öhlins is by no means lacking in support, and we really like how it reacts to changes in air pressure when setting it up - it's a bit easier to make it feel really good. Our confidence levels are super high with the Öhlins fork (especially when paired up with the TTX22), there is a certain calmness to it that is hard to describe but nevertheless quite real. We can also say that we're testing something new from Öhlins at the moment which is equally impressive if not more...stay tuned, it's a good time to be a mountain bike suspension fan!
@@vitalmtb Currently planning a dream build with an EXT Era, but now I am curious about the future Öhlins product...
@@SomeGuyOnHisDreamBike it might be their new 38mm fork?
@@kmagrum76 You are right ! Thank you for pointing me to this.
What did you mean when you said the fox 38 can handle it when the going gets rough? I don't quite understand how that is a difference to how the ext era performs
It's not really a differentiation as much as it is highlighting the real strength of the Fox 38 in our opinion. A RockShox feels a certain way on small bumps and in general, while the FOX seems to want a bit more speed and rougher trails to really come alive (and when it does, it's really good). The ERA does its own thing, it doesn't necessarily feel the plushest (depending on set up), but it is in fact really sensitive and capable of dealing with big hits at the same time.
@@vitalmtb thanks!
@@vitalmtb interesting, because its in high speed chunk im most disapointed with fox
My same ext cracking at the pivot …
I went for the Ext Era when I had my dream build, Geometron G1. The Era was on the bike for 6 weeks before I went back to my previous fork RS Zeb. The Zeb is hands down the better fork in every way other than build quality.
More expensive doesn’t mean better performance.
thought this as well. then I sat down with a expert who helped me set it up. miles better then zeb. and no creaky csu
@@RCKING1 so you need an expert suspension tuner to make it work after spending more money then on cheaper fox or rs that works well from factory
@@maucina12 Yeah some of us want more than a fork that just works "well" though. It takes a little time and patience but once the ERA is dialed in it is on a whole different level than anything from the big 2. Would take forks from Ohlins, Formula, or Manitou over them any day.
@@mikeh6283 i am one of those guys that want more than just well and spend time tuning it but no fork that i have tried can match fox or rs. People who usualy prefer other brands come from budget versions of fox or rs. To make a real comparison you need to compare best to the best
@@maucina12 no you dont.
You do however need to spend a bit more time playing (bracketing etc) settings. Especially because the the dual chambers impact each other.
My Lyrik is converted to the smashpot and the mid stroke support is that much better. I wonder if the Era would feel better though..
It wouldnt. COIl is way better, and the kit you have is the best (even better then the push maybe) P.S. If you want more rigidity out of the lirik check intend new upper crown service they perform on forks
I have the smashpot on my 38, I absolutely love it. Nice thing is that if I wanted to, I could convert back to air, because the 38 has an independent air spring. The air piston has a can around it, which is the sealing surface, not the inside of the stanchion.
@@madeiradriftin4429 Lyrik with smashpot can't even touch the ERA in midbody support. Have you ridden the ERA?
@@mikeh6283 the ERA sounds nice but the real question is, how does it compare to the new Formula?
@@mikeh6283 No! the mid suport should be great given the design of the spring but still prefer coil to any airspring and the smashpot has very nice tunability for coil so I think he is better off.. Great fork non the less
What is the stanchion diameter?
36 mm. But it's the crown that makes the difference on the EXT ERA.
Now, I wonder how the crowns differ between the EXT ERA v2 and the RockShox ZEB Ultimate 2023. Hm...
@@niklasdr Now do you answers for zeb 2023 or era v2 I interested in both.
sheeeeeeeee
Waiting for a full coil version.
Mezzer?
Complex design
Difficult to find spare parts
Price
Availability
I love how the mtb suspension is following mx stuff. Wp tried this multi chamber stuff and it was absolute garbage. Nothing like spending $10k on a new bike to have to spend another $1500 to convert it to an open chamber spring fork. Nothing beats coils plain and simple. Yamaha and kyb win year after year with a simple spring setup. Watch well come right back to simple design.
No way.. Coil does not give the tune-ability that air does. I love my coil rear shock for enduro days but when I trail ride the air shock does a much better job. Just preference but I think most would agree.
@@maxleslie4690 yeah and there is also some significant differences between mtb and MX and how each suspension needs to perform.
exactly because you can’t compare mx forks because of the big difference in the weight of the moto and bike, they are build in mind to compensate that weight, while bike forks need more precise work with low weight.
You have a point of simple design being easier to maintain if you service yourself.
But if you service well, air systems for MTB will be both lighter and easier to tune in.
Frankly RS and Fox are disappointing compared to these dual chamber forks.
Its makes zero sense to buy them over other offerings especially when you have to upgrade them to be comparable.
As stated in the video. Ext does not perform better than rs and fox. Add that to very high price(probably you can pick up rs or fox for cheaper if you wait for discount), not proven to be reliable and have spare parts like rs and fox. All this complicated adjusting and still does not perform better than rs or fox. It makes zero sense to buy this fork
@@maucina12 exactly what I was thinking. it's just a more exotic, more complicated product. Also , what's next - three chambers combined w one negative and one positive spring with hydraulic bottom out and and.. it's getting so complex for marginal benefits, yet it does not comply as well as a coil spring and does not have such midstroke support either. it surely has service penalty and parts overload tho.
I have a smashpot converted 38, and the forks value is at around $1,400 usd right now, 600 less than the ext. I have 8 clicks of high speed compression, 16 clicks of low speed compression, 8 clicks of high speed rebound, and 16 clicks of low speed rebound. And now I have 32 clicks of bottom out adjustment. It is also worth mentioning that the 38 is capable of doing 180mm of travel on the 29 inch version, even with the smashpot, where you can't with the ext.
@@maucina12 are you paid by rs/fox lol? I've got no dog in this fight but you seem to be all over the comments trying to convince yourself that no one can do it better than rs/fox. Why so defensive?
@@dylan-5287 yeah man i am actually aaron gwin but dont tell anybody. Its because this exotic forks are more expensive than tried and trusted fox or rs and they dont justify their insane price. Even if they have same performance they should cost 2/3 of trusted brands if they are going to sell well. Like this you will probably never even see this fork in person
its a shame there isnt any real competition for fox or rs. only even more expensive, exotic and overly complex forks that still dont match rs or fox forks performance
what are you talking about
Look…..it’s a really expensive DVO onyx
No. It is competition against the dvo. I've ridden both the dvo and the ext, and I would say the ridiculous price is worth it, as long as you are willing to spend that much on a fork. Not a big fan of the dvo stuff at the moment.
fail....