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SOC17: RST riding strong w/ Elev8 dropper post, full featured budget enduro fork & more!

RST Stitch long travel enduro mountain bike suspension fork
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RST Stitch long travel enduro mountain bike suspension fork

RST made my first suspension fork, full of elastomers and with a bolt-on crown and steerer tube. Since then, they’ve shown some interesting stuff, including an inverted fork and wireless electronic lockout prototype, but the new Elev8 dropper post and Stitch enduro fork have regained our attention. They’re ready for market, fully featured and priced for anyone. Oh, and they’ve got the First 24″ suspension fork with a thru axle and tapered steerer…

Get the full run down in this video, closeup pics below with a few bonus details, and the new First 24″ thru axle fork at the bottom.

RST Stitch long travel enduro mountain bike suspension fork

RST Stitch long travel enduro mountain bike suspension fork

There’s a lot to like about the RST Stitch. It offers 160, 170 or 180 mm of travel, is still available in a 26″ wheel size along with the newer 27.5″ standard, and it comes in $300+ cheaper than other forks in the same category. It’s got 36mm stanchions, and adjustable low speed compression and rebound.

RST Stitch long travel enduro mountain bike suspension fork

The lowers are the same as on their Killah dual crown downhill fork, which means a 20mm thru axle and 180mm post mount brake tabs.

RST Elev8 dropper seatpost with needle bearings to prevent rotation

RST Elev8 dropper seatpost with needle bearings to prevent rotation

The post comes in 30.9 and 31.6 diameters, with under or over mounted remote levers, and external or internal routing. The saddle clamp is an easy-to-adjust double bolt system, and the fully sealed hydraulic cartridge can be replaced without having to remove the post from your bike.

The RST First suspension fork is a common sight on high end kids’ mountain bikes, and now it’s offering the first 15mm thru axle option. Tapered steerers are still rare on bikes for this market, but they’re offering it (or a standard 1-1/8″ straight steerer) to future proof it. Your little shredder may not be pushing the fork to its limits enough to notice any stiffness improvements, but the safety of a thru axle should ease your parenting mind when they’re getting rad.

RSTsuspension.com

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PFS
PFS
7 years ago

I’ve always wondered why cannondale didnt make a needle bearing dropper. This RST unit looks good though

Shafty
Shafty
7 years ago

Another non serviceable dropper. Throw it on the pile. An easily replaced damper is no substitute for one worthy of service.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago
Reply to  Shafty

Serviceable dropper: “fully sealed hydraulic cartridge can be replaced without having to remove the post from your bike.”

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago
Reply to  Shafty

Are you saying this is too easy and you want something more complicated to service? When I last talked to RST, the cost of the replacement cartridge was next to nothing. If you’re concerned, you could keep a spare replacement if time is an issue.

Raymond Epstein
Raymond Epstein
7 years ago

The Wreckoning uses a 34.9mm diameter post and Evil states that using a shim for a smaller diameter post voids their warranty. I am sure a shim will work fine, but at this point only KS and Rock Shox make the larger diameter posts that are kosher.

feldybikes
7 years ago

That 24″ fork looks an awful lot like a 26″ fork with a 24″ wheel in it. Am I taking crazy pills?

D Kidd
D Kidd
7 years ago
Reply to  feldybikes

Guards, silence this traitor!!!! throw him to the jagwires!!!

Spartan0789
Spartan0789
7 years ago
Reply to  feldybikes

Well… The tire does say 27.5 right on the sidewall. LOL!

Spartan0789
Spartan0789
7 years ago
Reply to  feldybikes

Oops, wrong reply! Sorry!

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