Of all of the cubicles on the 2023 Taipei Cycle Present, KS Suspension had the deepest assortment of as-yet-unreleased components that we are able to’t wait to journey. From new gravel and XC/Path suspension forks to THREE new dropper seatposts, plus a really good wanting distant lever and carbon gravel drop bar, right here’s every little thing they’ve launching this 12 months…
KS GTC gravel suspension fork
A lot sleeker than the early prototypes they’d proven beforehand, the brand new KS GTC gravel fork will get a combined materials decrease with alloy on the backside and carbon fiber uppers and brake arch.
They’ll supply a 40mm journey mannequin with a 50mm choice rumored.
It has an air spring with the unfavourable chamber stuffed by way of verify valve as you set constructive air strain. An exterior low-speed compression adjustment w/ lockout lever sits on the highest of the proper aspect.
A low-speed rebound adjustment is on the underside, with holes for inserting a small allen wrench as a lever for simpler turning.
It will get a 12×100 through axle with slide-out lever, giving it a stealth look however tool-free use. Claimed weight is 1385g with uncut steerer and w/o axle. Through axle included weight is 1445g.
Launch date is mid summer season with a $639 goal value.
Rage iS suspension dropper seatpost
Geared toward each gravel and XC riders, this submit is now out there. We noticed this at Sea Otter a pair years in the past as a prototype, however now they’ve added a 27.2 choice in two journey lengths to suit extra bikes.
The Rage iS (built-in Suspension) combines a full air system with an air suspension spring to maintain it mild. A Schrader valve permits you to use any shock pump to regulate the spring strain, which supplies permits you to set the efficient journey. Extra air makes it firmer, much less is softer, delivering as much as 30mm journey relying on how a lot strain you set in there. They suggest 15mm sag as a place to begin.
The Rage iS’ suspension works in any respect factors in it’s drop journey, too. Whether or not you’re topped out, or sitting someplace in the course of it’s journey, the suspension remains to be lively, and top-out and bottom-out bumpers preserve it from bumping too laborious in both course.
It’s out there in 27.2/30.9/31.6 diameters, with the 27.2 getting 65mm and 100mm drop choices. MSRP is a really pleasant $199 (with out distant).
KS gives a wide range of remotes, however the KG Drop 2.0 proven right here ($59) is ergonomically wonderful for drop bars, making it straightforward to make use of in a number of hand positions. Different remotes vary from $50-75.
Ether Gravel cockpit
KS has been making cockpit components for some time, for each mountain bike and gravel. The cast alloy stem ($75) is primary wanting, however very light-weight at simply 86g to 103g relying on measurement. It’s provided in 70/90/110mm lengths, with 6º and 17º rises for 31.8mm handlebars.
The Ether carbon gravel handlebar is extra visually attention-grabbing and backs it up with spectacular options, like inner cable and home routing ports are massive sufficient that you simply don’t want to chop the olive and barb off brake hose strains to suit them through. In case you’ve ever had to do that, you understand how good of a characteristic that is.
The tops have a slight rise and rear sweep for an ergo, aero hand place if you need it, and 18º flare to the drops when it’s time to occasion. The Ether bar is $225 and is available in 42/44cm widths, claimed weight is 230g-235g.
KS M3.6 inverted MTB fork
Engaged on a primary inverted fork for eMTB, constructed on 36mm diameter decrease stanchions for stiffness. It’s chassis comes from a SASO design, which it usually offered as OEM fo finances bikes (usually unbranded), however this one will get KS’ contact to carry efficiency as much as fanatic’s requirements.
Specs are slim because it’s nonetheless in growth, however right here’s the fundamentals…
The damping cartridge could have an exterior lockout swap (blue) with an adjustable blowoff platform (gold). Known as a “dash” lockout, the blowoff adjustment permits you to set how a lot (or little) of an impression is required to begin the fork transferring when locked out.
Low-speed rebound damping is externally adjustable on the underside of the proper leg. It’s a twin air spring, with impartial constructive and unfavourable chambers that every get their very own valves so you possibly can tremendous tune preliminary really feel and sag. They’re nonetheless deciding on journey specs, however leaning in the direction of 80/100/120mm choices.
LEV Circuit Wi-fi Dropper Seatpost & Everglyde coating
The upcoming KS Circuit LEV wi-fi dropper submit builds on the confirmed internals of their propular mountain bike LEV sequence, however offers it a totally wi-fi management.
The submit will get a detachable battery pack, simply pull it out to cost.
The distant itself makes use of a replaceable CR2032 battery behind it’s extremely short-throw button. A flat thumb “lever” has its pivot removed from the button beneath, and takes barely any movement to actuate it. There’s nonetheless a agency “click on”, but it surely’s very fast to hit it with much less overal thumb movement required to drop the submit.
No phrase on value, weights, or availability for this one but.
KS’ new Everglyde anodizing is impregnated with Teflon, which is extra slippery and avoids seal stiction than typical anodized finishes. And it really works with dry lube, so it stays cleaner.
They may have finished a wide range of colours, however went with gold to match Fox’s Kashima forks (but it surely’s not a Kashima coating), serving to their posts mix in on top-spec bikes. It’ll be out there subsequent spring 2024, throughout all the LEV dropper submit sequence.
A30 Carbon Youth Suspension Fork
As KS strikes right into a extra full suspension lineup, they haven’t forgotten concerning the youngsters. Borrowing the carbon-over-alloy lowers design from the GTC, the A30 is a excessive efficiency (but reasonably priced) fork for youth bikes.
It’s a easy air spring with primary changes, however gives the tighter tolerances and smoother motion of premium full measurement forks all of us journey. Obtainable for 20″, 24″ and 26″ wheel sizes, pricing and weights are TBA.
Authentic KS SuperNatural dropper seatposts
KS was considered one of earliest manufacturers to create manufacturing dropper seatpost. Like several model, early fashions began off with on-the-post distant levers adopted by exterior distant cables hitting the highest of the submit.
Above, the primary SuperNatural dropper submit with top-mounted lever. Nice for dropping it earlier than a giant descent, however…
…the SuperNatural Distant 27.2 gave us a distant lever for extra aggressive use with out having to cease. A part of the mechanism was stored outboard to provide them room to place the early tech right into a slim 27.2 submit.
