Some time ago we started our life testing on some’ of components SRAM. To be precise, we well under pressure to put the whole group X7 2X10, brake Avid Elixir R, l’ammo Rock Shox Monarch RT3 and fork Sector RL. All mounted on a Morewood Showa with 150mm of rear wheel excursion to. A montage of all-mountain all respect that has allowed us to “misuse” of our bikes without any problems. We tried to stress the components as possible in the last week. Fortunately we have at hand a type of land to stress that the material is second to no one and nothing, the land of volcanic’Etna. The beauty of a site like this is that you can run in all weather conditions, rather, more rain than the grip increases. But be careful to clean the bike thoroughly after each ride, however,. The volcanic soil is a land like the other. It never gets muddy because it is actually a sand composed of microscopic quartz grains that fit in the hidden corners of your beloved bike and becoming literally “sandpaper” if not carefully cleaned. Stems striped, chains worn, mettallo and aluminum eroded by the friction of the quartz. In short, if the components hold up to all this, then there is only one conclusion…are fantastic!
Let's start with a little video just to make up an appetite.
Let's start with the Sector RL. This is the model that replaced the Pike, a fork that we have always considered a choice for all-mountain As Well. Maybe it's not the lightest fork on the market (1837g), today's air systems are most popular for all-mountain, however, If you do not mind a few grams more, the Sector RL is a fantastic focella. The advantage of this suspension as, and in particular spring Systems Capabilities, is reliability coupled with low maintenance. The Sektro RL is one of those classic fork mount and consistent “forget”. The Motion Control of Rock Shox allows you to set the fork in an immediate and easy. One single adjustment for compression and rebound control simple and effective. If you are feeling that the paths should not be too fussy and you throw in all the technical, and if you do not like being too far back and prefer to Setting and instead produced much “ready to go” then Sector RL is your address. The behavior of the fast is really important, you can run at breakneck speed without worrying about much of what passes under the wheels. Naturalmnte not forget that we are talking more and all-mountain, so exaggerated, but not too. A good front suspension must also allow you to deal calmly with the steep uneven steps at low speeds, a situation that is encountered most often on mountain trails. In our experience, often the air forks have a very linear phase in the intermediate travel, if you are on the steep steps of the, call up to get the fork to bottom making trope balance forward. No problem with the progressiveness of the spring. The Sector RL in these conditions there “supports” admirably, without transmitting that ugly feeling of being at risk downstream of the first time to enjoy the descent. For those who want to overdo it with no problem because it drives the assembly of the fork supports disks up to 203mm in diameter. We would have done without clamping the handlebar, a little’ too exposed and subject to breakage if dropped. On a focella so simple we would have preferred an honorable adjustment of compression and clamping directly on the crown, easy and immediate. If you want to take this into account so as well give up the control on the handlebar. Being am such a control is not so essential. In summary it is a reliable product, very solid and durable, excellent performance and especially with a quality / affordable price. Even the adhesives and paints were of excellent workmanship, and we assure you that stand the volcanic sand is not easy. The model we tested with 15mm through axle, who does not regret in any way the pin 20mm, has a retail price of 434,00 euro.
Let AMM Monarch RT3. In this case, the impressions were overall very positive. The race car is linear but progressive in the last phase (This of course depends mainly on the bike on which it is mounted). We can if you just tell us that the linearity of the car is at rest served on the technical and fast pulling the wheels off the ground (how do you do without some drop-mountain that makes it more exciting?) we never risked Bottom. Again we are faced with a product that makes simplicity and reliability of its figures distinctive. Pressure regulation is facilitated by the convenient external scale that will allow you to find your flight to sag. The air valve is easily accessible, key thing to avoid unnecessary stress. Other adjustments Monarch RT3 are naturally capture and return. Bushings Monarch were made really well, very smooth and resistant. This is an aspect that sometimes people neglect but which in reality is of fundamental importance. Improves the smoothness of the bushes of no small ego functioning, especially as regards the sensitivity to small bumps. The fact that then the bushings are resistant also allows you to venture more without fear of annoying the onset Games. The Monarch RT3 it seemed very different in behavior from competitor Fox RP23. In essence, the Monarch is more linear travel in the intermediate and more progressive at the end and maybe a hair less sensitive to small bumps. It is not in any way to consider a ammo “better” the “worse” another. Given its characteristics, the Monarch could be considered a little more “nervous”by someone, but much more “performance” other. Perhaps requires a little more physical, but a guide is always very responsive and allows you to “forget” the way down. Again, however, that these are impressions on which greatly affects the system of the bike on which is mounted the ammo. The retail price of Monarch RT3 is 252,00 euro.
We conclude with brakes Elixir R and transmission X7 2X10.
As for the brakes we say that the choice of the disks that we have adopted has proved inadequate for use “hard” we then made the bike. For an all-mountain aggressively diamtero 160mm both front and rear is definitely not. We recommend a minimum of one 180 all’anteriore, but if you like to go really hard not to neglect even the idea of a 180mm at the rear. We know that for many these are numbers but the enduro-mountain bike today, especially with this level of suspension, really let daring at times bordered on making gravity. So if from this point of view you identify more with aggressive driving do not worry about a few grams more than the 180mm rotor from the rear wheel well. For the rest of the Elixir R Brakes are good. The adjustment lever distance free tool is comfortable and well positioned. The ergonomics are good, we found some small problem only in the event that you wield the handlebars with one hand sticking out of the hand, what is far more widespread than you think. In this case, the levers were perhaps a little’ distant, but nothing so awkward to affect the forearms still sull'affaticamento.
As for the transmission X7 2×10 there is not much to say except that we also say that the standard 29″: “Try it once and never leave it ever again!”. The system 2X10 is simply better than the triple. Changed always very accurate, optimum chain line, no problem sucking. Some may argue that it takes more leg, but on balance it is true? Have you ever done the math on how many relationships actually used with your triple? How many times have really used mountain bikes? Of course we do not want to say that light is a relationship of trust, but completely useless, try a gaming 2X10 and you will not look on your feet. L’X7 permutations then make this leap with very low cost, even if the 2012 l’entry level del 2X10 of SRAM has become the’X5 (see that).
That no one can think to say that we have properly stressed the components being tested.
A few months ago, judging by the logo Tri-Ride a lot’ of months ago, we made this little video on constituent assembly. Can you change fork, brakes, ammo and drive your bike in just 40 second? Well, depends only on how fast your video editing software.
Do not worry because you just bought your components will not resemble the pictures taken after the test. Here they are in all their glory before mounting.
For more information on the components SRAM, Rock Shox, Avid and Truvativ visit the official website SRAM or the Italian importer AMG.
