Some of our Best of 2018 items we tested include the MRP Ribbon Coil fork which provides a buttery smooth and linear coil feel through any terrain, the gorgeous Industry Nine A35 All-Mountain stem, the comfortable and pricepoint Leatt DBX 2.0 helmet, the comfy and protective Kali Strike knee pads and finally the functional Wolf Tooth Master Link Combo Pliers.
MRP Ribbon Coil
The MRP Ribbon Coil fork features their Ramp Control, pressure release valves, and a bladder free damper. The Ribbon Coil gives you the spring tunability, and stroke control previously found only with air, while giving you the supple linear spring curve, lower friction, longer service life, and consistent feel that you get with a coil spring.
The fork was designed for Trail, Enduro, and All Mountain use and features a Boost 15×110 axle, 35mm stanchions, a bladder free damper, their Ramp Control system, PSST pressure relief valves and the innovative Outcast arch design. For adjustment, it has a 16-position ramp control, externally adjustable preload, and rebound. The damper side uses a twin-tube design with an IFP (internal floating piston) based system rather than the normal expanding bladder for improved durability and reliability. Included with the Ribbon Coil is MRP’s acclaimed Ramp Control system; a speed-sensitive ending-stroke adjustment that allows you quickly and easily isolate and tune your preferred amount of bottom-out support on the fly.
It comes in a 27.5-inch size with 140-170mm of travel and a 27.5+/29-inch with 120-160mm, both of which can be adjusted internally in 5mm increments and they retail for $989. It comes in two offsets, with ten standard decal color options, and with either QR-style or bolt-on 15×110 axles. The 27.5-inch model can fit up to 2.6″ wide tires, while the 29-inch can accommodate up to Plus sized 27.5″x 3″ or 29″x 2.6″.
Thoughts => The Ribbon Coil gives you the spring tunability, and stroke control previously found only with air, while giving you the supple linear spring curve, lower friction, longer service life, and consistent feel that you get with a coil spring. It has excellent small bump compliance and sensitivity and smooths out chattery terrain. Overall it has a linear, and plush feel throughout its stroke and that comfort and control are much appreciated, especially when flying down rock and root infused trails. The Ramp Control does its job effectively and doesn’t alter anything until you get to the bottom-resistance section of the stroke, and it didn’t ramp up too early. The low-speed compression adjuster worked well, and I frequently used it when I needed more support on gnarlier terrain. The Ribbon Coil has a vast array of features, and of course, you get the wonderful buttery and linear feel of a coil fork!
For additional information refer to www.mrpbike.com and MRP Introduces the Ribbon Coil Fork.
Industry Nine A35
The Industry Nine A35 All-Mountain Stem is made from domestically sourced 7075 Machined Aluminum at their Asheville, NC factory. It fits 35mm handlebars and comes in 32, 40, 50, and 60mm lengths and 11 anodized colors, which can be mixed and matched as desired.
- Includes six high strength 316 stainless steel custom M5 bolts
- 180-degree wrap
- Solid 7075 Machined Aluminum (100% Domestically Sourced)
- Eleven Anodized Color Choices and Color Combinations
- One Color MSRP $125
- Combo Color MSRP $140
Thoughts => Like all their other products the stems are highly engineered, well made and jeweled components that will work perfectly on any bike. The A35 was designed for 35mm bars, but you could get a set of shims to make it compatible with 31.8mm bars. The stem fits like a glove on the steerer and clamps the bars with a stout bite, all with exacting tolerances. It hasn’t creaked or slipped during heavy use and has done its job quietly without any issues. Besides it just being an excellent stem, the ability to choose multiple colors and mix and match the front clamp makes for a beautiful, personal and fun component.
For additional information refer to industrynine.com and Introducing the A35 Stem by Industry Nine.
Leatt DBX 2.0
The new Leatt DBX 2.0 helmet brings their downhill proven safety technology to an amazingly affordable price point of $99.99. To help significantly reduce the risk of head or brain trauma it’s equipped with their highly innovative 360º Turbine Technology that helps reduce the risk of head impact at concussion level by up to 30% and rotational acceleration to your head and brain by up to 40%. Ten Armourgel Turbines are set inside the helmet and deform and harden upon impact to absorb both vertical and rotational forces. Combined with the classic EPS in-molded shell, their dual-density construction design dampens all kinds of impact; from low to high speed. The lightweight helmet is well-ventilated with large 20 vents and utilizes their Quattro Force Control retention system for easy custom-fitting with the turn of a dial, a washable Dri-Lex liner that is moisture wicking, and a breakaway visor for safety.
The helmet comes in Black/Granite, Granite/Lime (tested), Granite/Red and Granite/Teal color schemes and Small (51-55cm), Medium (55-59cm) and Large (59-63cm) sizes.
Thoughts => The Leatt DBX 2.0 is an extremely comfortable helmet with excellent coverage over the ears and down the neck. The 20 oversized ventilation ports and their accompanying channeling system provide ton’s of air movement, even during slow speeds, and offers up one of the most well ventilated All Mountain helmets I’ve worn. The interior was nicely padded adding to the comfort level, and the rear adjustment fitting wheel was easy to use on the fly. Their 360º Turbine Technology is an incredible trick and innovative system, and it significantly adds to the comfort level of the helmet, and I am glad it’s there for my safety and protection whenever I happen to crash. Although it’s a simple helmet with just a few features, the excellent $99.99 price point and trickle down technology from its brethren is much appreciated.
For additional information refer to leatt.com and a Leatt DBX 2.0 All Mountain Helmet Review.
Kali Strike
The Kali Strike utilizes the 3D molded Xelion for its central front pad which is highly perforated for excellent ventilation, and it has additional EVA padding along the sides in critical areas for added protection. It has elastic cuffs on the top and bottom with non-slip bands to prevent slippage and keep them in place during usage. The knee version has a Velcro adjustment on upper cuff for a more tailored fit. It has a CE EN 1621-1 certification, a breathable mesh backing and they’re machine washable for convenience.
It comes in S, M, L and XL sizes, one color schemes (Black/Grey) and retails for $85.
Thoughts => I found the Kali Strike knee guards to be extremely comfortable and flexible and breathable, and the innovative Xelion material provided crash-worthiness and impact absorption during my rare tumbles and fall over’s and crashes, and I didn’t suffer any unnecessary injuries, which highlights their adequate protection. The pre-bent shape of the knee cup and the sticky silicone grippers on the hems kept them in place without any excessive movement, and the single upper Velcro adjuster worked fine and didn’t cause any irritation issues. I didn’t find them overly hot, even when it was sweltering out, and they felt more like I was wearing a pair of knee warmers. I could pedal all day without any problems, and they almost felt invisible while wearing them, yet they still provided adequate protection and supreme comfort. They only nitpick was that the Xelion material got stiff when the temperature dropped.
For further information refer to kaliprotectives.com and Kali Protectives Strike Knee Guard Review.
Wolf Tooth Master Link Combo Pliers
The new Master Link Combo Pliers is a 6 in 1 multi-tool that was developed to provide functions not found in common multi-tool designs. The MLCP is light and compact so you can carry it in your pocket or a pack. It functions as a tire lever, a valve core remover, a valve stem lock nut wrench and of course a set of master link pliers. As a bonus, it provides storage slots for two master links, so you’ll always be prepared on the trail. A simple magnet holds the master links securely in place and helps self-close the tool.
It’s made and designed in Minneapolis and is CNC machined out of 7075-T6 aluminum and weighed a light 38 grams. It retails for $29.95 and comes in black or red, and the black version has options for a black, red, blue, green, or gold pivot bolt.
Thoughts => What a great little tool, that’s light, compact and incredibly functional. Usually, when disconnecting the master link on a chain it’s a pretty simple affair and only requires a couple of wiggles to get it loose, but sometimes the master gets crud in it and becomes troublesome to open, and these pliers take care of that issue efficiently. On top of the removal and installation of the master link, it can remove/install a valve core, tighten/loosen a valve lock nut, act as a tire lever and can hold two sets of master links on its inner cavity. The well-made aluminum 6 in 1 multi-tool is amazingly functional for dealing with minor issues out in the field.
For further information refer to wolftoothcomponents.com and First Look – Wolf Tooth Components Master Link Combo Pliers.
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