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TPE15: SR Suntour Axon fork goes full carbon, Raidon gets 27.5+, new air shocks & more!

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2016 SR Suntour Axon Werx plus full carbon fiber suspension fork

SR Suntour has tweaked almost all of their performance suspension forks, from the XC race-ready Axon to the trail oriented Raidon to the dual crown Rux DH fork.

None of the updated models is more lustworthy than the new Axon Werx F, which tops the line with a new full carbon crown and steerer. It slots in above the standard Werx editions that only have the carbon lowers, something they’ve offered for a few years. The “F” model gets a full carbon one piece steerer and crown, which saves about 50g.

The “standard” Axon Werx is now available in a 20″ model for very, very lucky kids. Yes, a carbon fiber air suspension fork with thru axle for 20″ bikes…

2016 SR Suntour Axon Werx plus full carbon fiber suspension fork

The Axon Werx F will be available in 29er and 27.5″ versions with 80 to 100 mm travel. The carbon crown is hollow and bonded to 32mm stanchions. Claimed weights are 1482g for the 27.5″ model, and anticipated weight for the 29er is around 1500g (final weight TBD).

2016 SR Suntour Axon Werx plus full carbon fiber suspension fork

The only alloy bit on the lowers are the dropouts, which builds in their titanium 15mm thru axle and saves 40g over the non-ti one!

2016 SR Suntour Axon Werx plus full carbon fiber suspension fork for kids bikes

Do your kids need a little spoiling? It only has the hollow alloy crown, but virtually every other detail other than the height is the same as their full size Axon Werx forks.

2016-SR-Suntour-RUX-dual-crown-DH-suspension-fork

The Rux gets modified crowns to make it easier to adjust the height and with an adjusted offset for their new 27.5″ model. That version will share the same lowers, which they say will fit all but a couple tires out there, and it will get a new tapered steerer tube.

2016-SR-Suntour-RUX-dual-crown-DH-suspension-fork

It also gets the black ano coating, which is the same smoothness as their regular coating, but is approximately 215% more awesome looking.

2016-SR-Suntour-dropper-post-prototype

At Suntour’s request, we’re not showing you the upcoming Durolux. Why? Because they’ve got big things planned for it, with a launch scheduled this July. Suffice to say they’re very excited about it and things will be quite different from the current 35mm stanchion 26″ Durolux enduro fork.

Instead, we’ll direct your attention to the dropper post, something they’re working on for future release. It’ll come in 30.9 and 31.6 with 125mm travel. There’ll be a standard and stealth version with cartridge based internals. Other than that, there’s no ETA or details to be shared, but it’s there and it’s being developed.

2016-SR-Suntour-Raidon-275plus--suspension-fork

The Raidon gets cosmetic updates to look higher end, but the bigger (pun intended) news is it adds a “plus” size model for 27.5+ that’s 10mm wider.

2016-SR-Suntour-Raidon-275plus--suspension-fork

Note not only the wider spacing on the 27.5+ (left), but also the matte finish.

Not shown, the Auron was introduced last year and is now available. It’s a 20mm thru axle, 34mm stanchion big travel single crown fork. The Epixon, which is their mid-travel 32mm stanchion fork for 27.5″ and 29er, gets a few small changes to adjustment knobs.

2016-SR-Suntour-UNAir-rear-shock02

Two completely new air shocks will debut for 2016 as the fruit of their French engineer Stefan that used to work for Marzocchi. The design uses a completely new piston and shim stack apparatus from anything they’ve used before. The shocks are reincarnations of the Epicon and Duralux shocks they’ve had in the line forever, and the outside looks similar, but the internals are completely new. Now called the UNAir and DUAir, they have new bushings and seals with better tolerances and fit for less resistance and better durability and consistency.

Then wanted them to be easier to change the compressions settings internally. The way the shim stack was set up before, you really couldn’t switch it out, mess with it, and put it back together. Now, it’s more accessible and hot swappable without special tools. This feature is more of an OEM concern, where bike brands will be able to more easily get a tune that’s right for their bikes. They said they invested heavily in testing apparatus and gathering bike kinematic data, too, with the goal of getting more OEM placements because they can offer data-driven adjustments. For aftermarket, it’ll have a medium compression and rebound setting, which is comparable to what you’d get from an aftermarket Rockshox Monarch.

The biggest improvement, though, is that they reduced the stiction, making them more supple off the front end of travel.

2016-SR-Suntour-UNAir-rear-shock01

They’ll have the LOR versions and RC versions, which means LockOut/Rebound and Rebound/Compression, the latter getting externally adjustable compression beyond just open and locked.

The UNAir is a single can air shock and comes in three smaller sizes for 100 to 130 mm travel bikes. The DUAir gets a dual sleeve to add air volume in a secondary can that fits on the outside of the main can and can be swapped between different volume sizes from small to XL and is aimed at longer travel bikes.

2016-SR-Suntour-XCR-XCM-cranksets02

The XCR and XCM crankets are updated as “value performance” pieces that’s a 2×10 system with a bearing preload system that helps it spin freely. It’s generally an OEM item that’s typically working on bikes in the $1,000 to $1,300, and now they look a little better doing it.

Wanna see more? Check out our factory tour to see how it’s all made.

SRsuntour-cycling.com

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24 Comments
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sascetti
sascetti
9 years ago

I honestly had no idea Suntour made anything nicer than your standard “bargain level” bikes.

JoeP
JoeP
9 years ago

I own a 2013 Durolux RC2 fork and its been fantastic, the damper is incredible and so easy to service.

J N H
J N H
9 years ago

A new Durolux is great news, provided they’ve kept the price and performance as sensible/great as the old model.

Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
9 years ago

1500g for a full crabon fork? Several models of the SID beat that, Reba comes close.

Sascha
Sascha
9 years ago

Bring back Suntour Superbe Pro! 😉

Kark
Kark
9 years ago

@Eric Hansen, maybe the extra grams went into making it not a complete limp noodle like a SID.

The Reba is a worthwhile comparison tho, but until the performance can be assessed it’s all a bit moot.

I really wish the Auron was out a bit sooner for testing.

Luiggi
Luiggi
9 years ago

Too bad Vital showed the Durolux on their coverage of TPE15 day 1…

kevinfromva
kevinfromva
9 years ago

@sascetti they dont…

Dude That Once Rode
Dude That Once Rode
9 years ago

Looks like America already has some of this stuff for sale.

http://emarket.srsuntourna.com/

el Sancho
el Sancho
9 years ago

Auron is 15mm not 20mm. Its a bichin fork. I dig mine.

Big Hit Roger
Big Hit Roger
9 years ago

I thought this was cool. Lots of good info and apparently parts.

http://www.srsuntourna.com

me
me
9 years ago

Couldn’t wait to open this article hoping to find at least a sub 1300g fork..then well….

Brian
Brian
9 years ago

The SiD WC and Reba are more than 100g heavier. I do not know any 29er with 100mm which is only 1500 g. A (complete) lefty is also heavier. These forks look nice. I am looking forward to some tests.

Caspar
Caspar
9 years ago

Isnt most of rockshoxs fork made / assembled by suntour ?

Johan
9 years ago

Eric, only a 29er SID WC with QR is lighter at 1484gr, all the rest including SID WC with through axle is heavier ( Reba by a few hundred grams), as far as RS and Fox are concerned.
Would love to know how stiff it is and obviously price.

tom
tom
9 years ago

was building a first ‘get back into mtb’ hardtail2 years back and had no cash … splashed on entry level shimano wheels and a pair of new (but not via a retailer … ebay) pair of the axon 100mm’s for about £120 … fitted them and they were a revelation … proper good air forks … sure they’re not as good as the top levels of some of the other brands … but bang for buck the axon is a terrific fork. that bike has now been replaced with a full suss’ (I’m old … I need the comfort) and my missus happily rags the old bike and the axxons are still in perfect order. in fact in the 2 years since they were fitted and they’ve been ridden in very fine dust all that time … there’s still not a hint of sticktion and compared to the 36 talas forks I have on my machine they have been entirely maintenance free (talas sticking a tiny bit now after the same sort of time). so … trust suntour’s higher end product … I can vouch 100% for the axon forks. f*ck the brand … ride it and see 🙂

badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
9 years ago

It’s really neat to see Suntour getting back into the high end market. The Ti through axle is especially a nice touch.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

Ill take a 24″ version of that Werx. Quality kids forks are hard to come by.

A bright ray of Light!
A bright ray of Light!
9 years ago

I bet its an inverted fork!

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

Its not. As mentioned before it can me seen on Vital MTB’s site under their Taipei day 1 coverage.

Cassmaster
Cassmaster
9 years ago

@badbikemechanic.

its not just a TI through axle. That Q-LOC is one of the easiest and quickest thru-axles i’ve ever got to mess with.

Mike
Mike
9 years ago

@Caspar Rockshox make all their own forks….. SR builds Marzocchi though.

Aaron
Aaron
9 years ago

I’ve been riding an Axon since ’09, and I still consider it better than either SID fork I had before it. It’s a little heavier (I mean, everything is heavier than a SID…), but is super plush, doesn’t leak, and hasn’t caused any issues. Going from 80 to 100 to 120 to 140mm is a bit of work, but once you find a setting you like, just forget about it.

Jeff
Jeff
9 years ago

I believe Suntour use to make forks for Roxkshox several years ago. Rockshox makes their own now.

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