We took a first look at a prototype of X-Fusion’s new, lightweight H3C coil shock back at Sea Otter. But now we get a closer look & more details on the new coil-sprung enduro bike rear shock as it’s about to become available. And its pricing has dropped by 1/3, making a solid enduro upgrade for riders searching for that magical coil feel…
X-Fusion H3C coil-sprung enduro mountain bike shock
X-Fusion built the H3C to bring the smooth, linear coil spring rate feel of their Vector gravity shocks down to a weight that made it more competitive with the latest crop of high-volume air shocks that you’d find on longer travel trail and enduro bikes. To do that they shaved about 25% off the weight of the Vector (before you put a spring on it), while retaining good adjustability.
H3C Tech details
On top of the piggyback reservoir, the H3C gets low-speed compression adjustability, plus three levels of pedaling platform valving that are meant to be easy-to-reach with a big machined alloy lever to flip to climbing mode as you ride. At the lower eyelet, it adds standard low-speed rebound damping adjustment. (All of these get improved, easier to adjust dials since the earlier prototype, below.)
There doesn’t seem to really be any easy user-adjustable tuning valving inside the piggyback. But there’s room for suspension specialists to do their magic with semi-custom tuning if needed. And X-Fusion’s service centers should be able to optimize it for specific bikes, if needed.
Developed as a fully adjustable, lightweight coil mountain bike shock, the H3C was initially expected to sell for around $600. But through the summer as it reached its final form, X-Fusion says they were able to get the retail price down to just $400.
And at that price, X-Fusion claims a shock weight of 318g for the standard mount shock without the coil (more than 100g lighter than a Vector), and 700g including a 400lb spring.
The H3C coil shock will be available in metric sizes only – 185×55/50mm, 205×65/60mm, 210×55/50mm & 230×65/60mm (overall length x stroke options). And it will come in either standard eyelet mount (below) or trunnion mount (above) bodies. Lightweight coil springs will be available in standard 50lb increments, made from a proprietary alloy design to keep weight low (and hopefully promote some OEM all-mountain & enduro bike spec.)
The coil-sprung X-Fusion H3C is officially a MY2020 shock, but the first shocks are expected to be available before the end of the year, likely as early as the end of this month Oct/Nov 2019.
