X-Fusion is prepped for a renewed push in the States, and they’re kicking it off with a new E-Manic wireless dropper seatpost and coil-sprung Trace 36 enduro mountain bike forks.
The dropper is unique in a couple of ways, most notably for its battery selection. It’s running a small rechargeable battery inside the receiver on the top of the post, making it cheap and easy to find replacements (or a spare) online or at a Battery Plus store.
It’s also rechargeable directly on the bike via USB-C, so you can plug it in at home or use a battery pack, with a full recharge in as little as 60 minutes. Or, pop the battery out and stick it in the included charger inside the comfort of your home. The remote uses a standard CR2032 coin cell battery.
A small thumb button looks like a great form factor, and a two-position mount lets you dial in it’s position around your brake lever’s clamp.
X-Fusion says it uses an RFID connect system to pair them, but no specific details on communication between the remote and dropper (we’ll update as we find out more).
Inside is a cartridge damper, and you’ll have 30.9 and 31.6 options with four different travel lengths – 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, and 170mm. They’ll have a 34.9mm diameter option coming later. They’re starting final testing with their athletes now, with plans to release it for sale by the end of 2022. MSRP should be $450 USD.
The Trace 36 is their enduro fork, with big stanchions and both high- and low-speed compression damping controls on the top. It’s been an air-sprung model in the past, but they’re adding a coil spring option.
The coil adds 400g over the air spring, with Soft, Standard, and Firm spring options and a preload adjustment to dial it in further. Available soon.