Interbike 2012: SR Suntour carbon crowned Axon XC and RUX DH forks
Established entry-level brand goes upscale for 2013
This article originally published on BikeRadar
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Cast aside your notions of SR Suntour being solely an entry-level fork brand. With the new carbon crown on the top-level Axon range and the race-ready RUX, SR Suntour is not only aiming for higher price points but higher levels of performance, too, plus the already convenient serviceability of its cartridge damper design.
SR Suntour's Axon RC cross-country fork already boasts an impressive resume of features, including genuine molded carbon fiber lower legs capped with bonded magnesium dropouts, a hollow forged aluminum crown, stout 32mm aluminum upper legs, a slick 15mm quick-release thru-axle system, and even an optional electronic remote, all with a competitive claimed weight of 1,550g (3.42lb, including axle).
Upping the ante for 2013, however, is a new flagship version with a one-piece carbon crown and tapered carbon fiber steerer that drops the weight even further – supposedly down to around 1,320g (2.91lb) – while also boosting stiffness for more precise handling. SR Suntour will offer the Axon range – which France's Julie Bresset just used to nab Olympic cross-country gold, by the way – in 26", 27.5", and 29" fitments.
Out at the other end of the usage spectrum is SR Suntour's new RUX downhill fork, featuring stout 38mm-diameter upper tubes and 200mm of air-sprung travel with adjustable chamber volume for tunable spring rate. Damper adjustments include high and low speed compression plus rebound and the magnesium lower legs are built with direct-mount tabs for 203mm-diameter rotors. SR Suntour will offer the RUX with both tool-free and tooled 20mm thru-axle options, too, depending on your desired level of convenience.
Claimed weight is "right around six pounds".
SR Suntour's new Rux downhill fork
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