Skip to main content

X-Fusion McQueen RC HLR fork


While the McQueen is an all-new plus tyre chassis, it shares its high-control Roughcut HLR internals with other proven X-Fusion forks, making it a standout buy for the money.

While a disappointing number of ‘plus’ forks only just take a 27.5x2.8in or 29x2.4in tyre, the wide-stance McQueen will handle 27.5x3.25in or 29x2.6in rubber and we’ve had no clogging issues running a fender. That does make it around 10mm taller than average, but the internal ‘pin push’ system lets you set the travel anywhere from 80mm to 140mm in 10mm increments if you need to tweak geometry. The ‘LockX’ axle works OK. It’s a reasonable weight for a Boost fork too. The wide stance means the 34mm legs still track and communicate traction accurately, and it’s fine anchoring hard with a 200mm rotor. Offering both low and high-speed compression damping adjustment, the RC HLR damper is impressive too. It takes the solid mid-stroke carving support of X-Fusion’s RL2 damper ($675 in the McQueen chassis), adds far better sensitivity and removes spike issues on big hits. The result is a fork that’ll near as dammit match the big names in the roughest terrain for several hundred quid less.

Travel 140mm (80-130mm*)
Weight 1,930g
Stanchions 34mm
Wheel size 650b+
Axle Boost

Price $825


Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

YT Tues downhill bike

The new Tues downhill bike is here – and won a World Cup on its first outing While a number of big brands have launched 29er downhill bikes,YT Industries are sticking with proven 650b wheels – for now, at least. The latest Tues comes in five sizes (S-XXL), with the biggest sporting a reach of 495mm. Head tube and chainstay lengths now vary between sizes, to put the rider in a better position on the bike. The S-L bikes have 435mm stays, while the XL and XXL are a shade longer, at 440mm. Reach is longer than last year on some sizes, including the XL ridden to victory by Aaron Gwin at this year’s openingWorld Cup round.A reachadjust headset can be used to tailor the fit further. YT have also made subtle but significant changes to the suspension. The initial stroke is said to be more sensitive, while there’s more mid-stroke support, to sit the bottom bracket a shade higher when on track.YT have decreased end-stroke progression, by five per cent, to make tackling really big hits th...

READ MORE >>

NS Bikes Metropolis bike

There aren’t many companies like NS Bikes, whose entire product range is designed around getting rad, ripping corners and boosting jumps. The Polish brand are passionate about freeride and have gained a reputation for building heavy-hitting,wellspecced and reasonably-priced bikes. This latest incarnation of their Metropolis dirt jump rig follows in this vein, with a doublebutted 4130 chromoly frame and an array of reliable kit. The frame mixes MTB and BMXtechnology, using a threaded bottom bracket and Race Face AEfect two-piece crankset in combination with horizontal dropouts and an integrated headset and seat clamp. A Manitou Circus Elite fork gives 100mm of air-sprung travel, with a 20mm front axle to maintain stifness. The Metropolis rolls on 26in NS Fundamental rims, fitted with Kenda Small Block 8 tyres. We reckon the combo of chrome frame and tan-wall rubber looks pretty rad too! The full build weighs a fairly robust 12.13kg , but it should have no problem shrugging of s...

READ MORE >>