Skip to main content

DVO Sapphire fork


This 120 to 140mm-travel 29er fork is aimed at weight-conscious trail riders, and will suit those looking for a supple ride. Our 140mm sample tipped the scales at 1,990g with an uncut steerer, making it significantly heavier than the equivalent Fox 34 Float Performance Elite ($1288), at 1,820g. While there is high and low-speed compression damping adjustment, the Sapphire can’t be fully locked out for XC-style sprints.

Despite the 32mm stanchions, chassis stiffness isn’t bad. Though it can be a little wayward when pushed hard into bumpy berms, the DVO fork feels barely flexier than a 34mm-legged Fox. It’s not as stout as a 35mm RockShox Pike or Revelation, though. Over small trail chatter, you can definitely feel the Sapphire’s Marzocchi-derived roots. It’s incredibly supple and sensitive, minimising feedback and buzz. The way you can preload the coil negative spring to compensate for the pressure in the air spring makes for a supple beginning to the stroke and great traction.

The fork soon feels out of its depth when pushed hard, though. Even with hearty pressures in the spring it dives through its travel easily. We ended up winding the compression dials to an almost fully closed position for riding steep terrain, which compromised suppleness elsewhere. Still, the lighter damping options will benefit those who like a comfy rather than racy ride.

HIGHS
- Chatter-smoothing, traction-rich ride

LOWS
- Flexy and unsupportive when pushed hard
- Heavier than advertised
- No full lockout

Won’t suit aggro riders, but supple and smooth for gentler applications

Price $1350



Labels

Popular posts from this blog

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

READ MORE >>

Chromag HiFi 35 (50mm) stem

This is a seriously solid stem. Chromag use 5mm Allen bolts throughout, which makes it that bit easier to fit because you don’t have to swap tools. Once torqued up to the recommended 6-8Nm, it clamps both steerer and bar solidly, with no appreciable flex. We couldn’t get it to twist on the steerer, either in our static test or when riding. It’s also available in a 35mm length and three other colours. At 204g the HiFi is the heaviest stem on test by some margin, despite being one of the more expensive offerings here. Price $112

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

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 >>

Canyon Strive AL 5.0 Race

Canyon share the same direct sales model as Radon, YT and Commencal, which means the Strive also comes with a stunningly good spec for the money. On top of that, it’s one of the quietest bikes here. Even on the choppiest Italian trail we rode, the Strive pattered down without a peep. It needs some volume bands in the shock to get the back end ramping up for the really big hits, but once sorted it’s a wonderfully efficient machine that carries speed incredibly well. The sizing feels spot on too, and it’s always nice to see manufacturers speccing longer dropper posts where possible. Our large Strive had one of the shortest seat tubes here, at 460mm, and used a 150mm drop Reverb. This meant none of our testers had any issues with arse-tosaddle clearance on the steeper trails we rode (unlike on the Commencal, with its 490mm seat tube). What we did notice when the trail began to drop away rapidly was the head angle. On our test bike it measured in at just under 67 degrees, making it ...

READ MORE >>