Avalanche cartridge review: Most intresting man agrees

AVALANCHE Downhill Racing Suspension AVA program


OK So I have posted that there were some things coming down the pipe from Avalanche Downhill Suspension but now theres stuff in the public use as well as now in production and for sale.
Fox DHX race tune, Marzocchi Roco WC and TST race tune and internal modifications, Fork cartridge for most 8" forks and ALOT more...
http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/AVA%20ADV.htm
1st: Fox DHX race tune - removes the propedal and its replaced with a HI/LO speed adjuster and its revalved as well as modified to make it speed sensative. His price with consumables and seasl is $199
Heres the hi/lo it will be out Aug 12th


2nd: Marzocchi Roco WC and TST race tune - remachines internals as well as revalves the shocks for riders weight, style, bike leverage etc... as well as is looking to replace the seals with the ones he uses for the 5th elements which will eliminate leaking on the factory ones. $179
3rd: Hi speed modification and retune to the 2010 Boxxer WC forks and Teams, spaces the hi and lo adjustments so the effect isnt crossing over so bad to each other as well as opens the fork up making it really responsive and eliminates packing... $129

4th: Fork cartridge it fits 888s, boxxer, kowa and they are doing one for the fox 40.. The main one for the majority is interchangeable with adapters and has hydraulic bottom out so bumpers etc are old school no more packing up...


Now I have had time on hte hi speed mod as well as running a preproduction adapter kit with the cartridge in my 2010 Boxxer WC and they make a huge difference. The Cartridge is in a league of its own.
Review for the Fork cartridge:
OK so the first thing It took it apart and looked at the machine work and went over it plus the reassembley to see how easy it really is to install and its SUPER easy.... Oil height is 245ccs 85/??? golden spectro synthetic (light anti foam and approx 3wt).
athe compression is on the bottom of the leg and the rebound is on the top and WORK GREAT....... The whole assembley is so well designed and easy to install its nice, the whole feel of the cartridge is amazing from start to finish....
I took it out today for the first ride and we had speed, loose caorners, bermed corners, rocks, ruts, tight single track with TONS of dollheads, rock outcroppings, TONS of BIG rain ruts etc.... Its fast real fast and exposed basically hammer down and go for it... Theres corners on big rocks and chunky terrain that have corners down to other chutes etc...
1: Cornering- This fork was consistant top to bottom light and loaded through the corners there were little to no chatter feel and it not once washed out due to lack of damping and control wether it was at the top or mid stroke.... It literally cornered amazing.
2: Rocks- It blew through the rocks without ANY harsh hits, it was incredible railing and was even smoother at speed the faster you went the better it got......
3: overall- The thing felt a bit slow (parking lot test) when messing around so I backed out the adjustments a little and it felt buttery at any adjustment. It does not have that light dry feel like the boxxer did and definently not like the Fox 40. It is as light as the original setup and will lighten up a bit when the production caps are done for the adapter. It did not wallow at all and the damping was consistent no matter where I was in travel so it didnt matter if I was high in it or loaded it reacted the same so my style could stay the ssame without adjusting.
I do not miss the high speed adjuster as this is should stay with the valving and be fine tuned by the low speed. I can honestly say that I have had forks with hi and lo comp and this SMOKES them by a long shot... Completely destroyed what the boxxer WC felt like in action...
I came in hot into ruts and did not get the play in the forks action like before allowing me to maintain the line as well as did load the front end into ruts on purpose (bigger ruts) to see if it slammed me and caused spiking at speed and None it literally and evenly took the hit and felt completely bottomless.
Im running 65psi and did not bottom it out, the hydraulic bottom out did its job spot on. Took the hit and slowwed the shaft speed down with no harsh hit or bad ramping...
Now the bad and this is literally the only complaint I have3 which has been addressed when I called Craig tonight he already said it before I asked...
The compression knob is hard to set without a screw driver so he is testing adjusters with a EPS foam crush zone to prevent internal damage incase of a strike so you can replace it and not the internals should a lowley rock decide to befriend it.
Also he is doing mid strok damping which will not effect the compression what it will do is keep the front end from any brake dive or load up on the ace of big jumps in nastier terrain not so much hard pack smooth cali stuff.
So all in all I was completely floored by this cartridge, I expected good but I did not expect it to feel that much better than the WC it was kind of depressing but exciting at the same time... It was way more plush than my 888 ATA ever was and the small bump on this fork will be legendary. It literally felt like a DHF but at boxxer wc weight.
Now with the air fork it performed flawless it made it consistent even when the air ramped up a smidge I did not turn the bottom out on as its not needed with the hydraulic bottom out so you can run a bit less air as well because it will take care of you.
Bottom line is this thing is literally a monster its smoother then my 888s and definently gives my boxxer wc a beat down...
It will make you faster as control and consistency is there. The Boxxer WC hi speed mod was a huge improvement over stock and I was happy but I will not be going back to stock internals.... I will be on this cartridge no matter what fork chasis I ride.

OK sorry for the dark pictures.... It was down to 80 so good for riding but getting a bit dark.
This one I tried to triple the jump and came in a bit short.


This was just a small step down I was overshooting it on purpose to just plain beat the hell outa the fork....
BTW DID not bottom on any of the landings I nailed all of them and these were the ones that I came in hard for demo..........



PART 2:
OK Rode SJT last week then

thur: PQ freeride line

Sat: SJT

The conditions are FAST rutty as hell rocky, G-outs, corners some blow some bermed, drops, twisty single track, wide open SUPER STEEP rutted chutes with corners and so on... Literally Cableguy, mandown, overtheedge can chime in for verification as to sat/sun rides.... We shuttled a TON and did some wild rippin.
The fork performed AMAZING I did back out the comp 5 turns more and ended up having issues then I realized the tires were at 15 PSI so aired them up and was able to focus on tuning to see the range of adjustment and get a feel for it...
I ended up settling on 14 out (counter clockwise) from closed on comp and dont remember rebound lol.... Its 2 off (Counter clockwise) from where Craigs default was...
Cornering it did not dive it held the line incredible, jumps and drops were great I overshot a few and came in flat or cased hard the hydraulic bottom out is the $h!t, no harsh clank or stoppage it ramps up nice. No dive at speed in the bumps and even when it does the fact its speed sensative allows it to stay working throught the travel which was beneficial in SEVERAL situations this weekend. I wouldnt change a thing as far as the tuning and the cartridge are concerned the shock and fork are a perfect match. The bike is so well balanced and maintains lines in and out of ruts as well as Troy and I were using ruts to berm out of and swapping lines in and out of them at full speed with no issues...
The fork was amazing even on which is named for its steeps and wide open pin it and ride layout the trail is not without NASTY ruts and serious obstacles as well as serious penalties for crashing...
These trails are frequented by Sam Hill, Athertons, Kovarik and the rest of them as well as used for training and keeping it dialed, they are by no means beginner trails or intermediate.
on a line that Ive dialed many times before it was just my time again... Finished the ride and jumps/berms broken and will be back at it wrapped up in 2 weeks....
So heres the jist I will get someone else to ride it and rack up time on it, adam from mtbr was stuck catching up on reviews this weekend so he bagged, but will be available when I go back... I know other peoples input is beneficial and the hardest part is letting anyone ride my bike then Im stuck with theres and might miss a moment of goodness so the downside it makes you bike greedy! :thumb:

Heres Troy from Foes Racing ready for the drop in .. Really long run and super fun.

 

Sweet case!



shitty

 

so i had bought an old 5th element a while back expecting to do the avy upgrade. i am currently rockin a roco wc. should i upgrade the roco or the 5th? the 5th has independent hsc/lsc adjustments whereas the roco doesnt. i just ordered a 2010 boxxer race to eventually do the avy upgrade.

 

Roco custom tuned..... craig likes the design of the marzocchi but its limited so he remachines a few things. He actually compliments them on it being speed sensative and design. Seals suck and the packing that blows the seals sucks but both get taken care of.

If finding a dhx is an option id go that route as it all newer technology and has his hi/lo that replaces propedal.... and its only $20 more....


As far as the casing the jump that was kind of the plan as well craig asked me to smash a few and see how much travel the preproduction adapter and hydraulic bottom out has and because of that case you see there the new bottom out for the 35mm boxxers now have a more mild and longer taper. I lacked 3/4"of travel but would have never known as it was plush on the bottom out. But craig said regardless we paid for all the travel and he can taper the transition more and get it all while being even more plush..... so I'm awaiting the new hydraulic Bottom out cone not that I care this thing smokes all forks I've ridden to date but its on its way so ill use it.....


Forgive typos I'm on the droid...

 

ADAPTER KITS ARE IN AND FOR SALE MARZOCCHI 32MM, 35MM BOXXER 32MM, 35MM
Installation instructions are on the site and eady as well as pics mauals etc it is now a fully lined product for Marzocchi stuff and Rockshox...
Direct from Craigs mouth "The 38mm MArzocchi feels absolutley AMAZING, WOW!" Apparently better seals and bushings. I can tell you the boxxer 35mm feels DAY and NIGHT different with the kit so I can only imagine the 888s... But mines lighter and a bit more nimble with a big attitude now so it may not be as buttery as the 888 but its alot more buttery than the other forks out and I wont be changing it any time soon... Im happier than $#!t with it.....
Pic is in this order
marzocchi 38mm 35mm BOXXER 35mm 32mm

 

Marzocchi
For the ROCO World Cup and TST-R:
Progressive main piston compression valving, faster small bump response, mid and high speed rebound valving set to spring rate, better high speed blowoff of compression adjuster, anti-bottoming shape factor shaft bumper, improved shaft seal for longer life and lower stiction.

Includes typical wear parts - low stiction shaft seal, dust scraper, shaft bushing, reducer DU bushings, o-rings and new shape factor anti-bottoming bumper


Assumes shock is in good mechanical condition i.e. no dents in shaft, cracked bridges or broken eyes, and able to maintain air pressure
Nitrogen charged, no more messing with air pressure, speed sensitive damping is not affected by the reservoir pressure
Custom Valving set-up for rider ability, type of terrain,and frame linkage rates
Progressive high speed rebound set for spring rate to optimize the free bleed system.
Not available as self install kit
send your shock to Avalanche and get the Avalanche Advantage


Fox DHX 5.0 High/Low Independent Adjuster Kit 3/4/5 dhx's

Replaces ProPedal Adjuster with an Independent high/low speed compression adjuster system in the existing Fox piggyback housing. This conversion complements
the revalved main piston to completely convert the DHX to a true speed sensitive damper.


Includes revalve and setup for rider, frame and conditions.
Also includes complete rebuild service, new improved seals, oil, nitrogen charge and typical wear parts* included in price
*(Typical wear parts: shaft seal, dust scraper, shaft bushing, reducer DU bushings, and o-rings)
Optional shape factor bottom-out bumper available
Not available as a self install kit.
Low speed adjustment - 22 clicks gold knob
High speed adjustment - 2.75 turns blue knob
Optional blow off springs to tune out high speed harshness and dial in bottoming control
soft-medium-hard
Same damping design as the high/low speed Avalanche adjuster
Installs directly into the DHX housing, No machining or adaptors required





Improved Seal for longer life and lower stiction, old seal in blue, new seal in black


Progressive main piston compression valving, faster rebound valving set to spring rate, better high speed blowoff of compression adjuster, and anti-bottoming shapefactor shaft bumper.