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

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 >>

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 >>

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

READ MORE >>

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

READ MORE >>

iXS Asper BC shorts

THEY AREN’T CHEAP, but these well made and feature packed shorts are the epitome of classic mountainbike-specific functionality, and on the bike they don’t disappoint.

READ MORE >>