Proponents of the linkage fork as a cure for a all our front suspension issues will be thrilled that Trust has revealed new product.
Last year Trust wowed the mountain bike industry by bringing to market an advanced carbon-fibre linkage fork, named the Message. The only issue, besides price, was that this fork only had 130mm of travel.
For riders seeking a longer travel linkage fork solution, the solution has finally arrived in the form of Trust’s new Shout. With 178mm of travel and exceptionally low weight, it promises to offer Enduro riders who aren’t on a budget, a very comprehensive front fork.
The advantage of a linkage fork, as opposed to a traditional telescopic fork, is that the damper and suspension action only concerns itself with absorbing terrain impact. It does not have to provide any steering rigidity – that is a task for the linkage fork’s carbon chassis.
Traditional telescopic forks have a weakness in their fore-and-aft flexibility and can twist under torsional loads, especially when navigating technical terrain at speed. A linkage fork separates the issues of structural rigidity, required for steering accuracy, and suspension damping, which tames terrain.
With the Shout offering 178mm of travel and a claimed weight of only 2170g, it is very compelling, but for reasons of suspension performance, instead of weight. A Fox 36 Factory, with 170mm of travel and capable of homing 29-inch wheels, weighs only 2006g.
Axle spacing is boost 15x110mm and the Shout’s carbon chassis will take tyres up to 2.6’’ wide, on a 29-inch rim, and 2.8’’ wide if you wish to ride 27.5 wheels.
Although a start-up mountain bike suspension company attempting to disrupt the industry’s established player with a revolutionary design, Trust’s human resources are significant. Celebrated rear-suspension designer Dave Weagle is on the company’s staff, as is former Enve director, Jason Schiers.
The Trust Shout is set to retail for $1975, which positions it at a significant premium to rival telescopic forks from Fox and Rockshox. For early adopters and true linkage suspension believers, that could appear fair value.
