Dude thank you so much for the information. Three years I've had the Topaz always felt like I was blowing through the travel so easy. No small bump sensitivity at all. Just chalked it up to being the wrong choice of shock but after watching your video I put the spacers in just like you did and BAM the shock feels fantastic now!
I really like DVO suspension. I’m a 170-75lb. rider and their base plush setup for my weight is almost spot on. I currently run DVO Onyx SC D1 (upgraded from the OEM Diamond D3) and Topaz Gen 1 on my 21 Intense Carbine. I really like my current setup but, I will be upgrading to the DVO Jade X in the future. I prefer the feel and ride of coil over air. The D3 and Topaz OEM setup worked well for general trail and mild enduro style riding but, the D3 had its short comings when at speed sending it on rough, loose, and rocky SoCal park and local trails. The Topaz tracked well but, just isn’t the feel of coil. At last years Taiwan International Bike Show, DVO debuted a new rear air shock that’s supposed to work much better than the current Topaz Gen 3. As of today after speaking with DVO it has still yet to make its debut here in the US for sale.
Few people know, that the DVO Topaz is nothing more than a RockShox Monarch with a DebonAir can under a different logo. All parts can be interchanged between these shocks without any problem; oil density is the same, shim stack, aircan, tokens, aircan seals, oil shaft even piggy back with the bladder. I've been eagerly awaiting this film because it brings awareness to how subjective and biased the reviews from this author can be. Cheers!
Oh, I know. I was just being a smart ass. Lol the video helped me out quite a bit though. I am a heavier dude as well(220ish) and was having similar problems. So thank you👍
I now have a jade x and two dvo fork purely by accident. Enjoying the info... I was thinking more like RST but these things are really well made. Can't say about the topaz seems like another story...
the reason the topaz still works well with neg tokens added if needed for heavier riders is that the negative chamber is quite large to begin with. Im 215# and run one on my banshee rune v2. First tried it with no spacers and 235 psi for 30%sag. Still pedal bobbed with comp lever closed, and came close to bottoming on big hits. I added a token to each chamber and dropped to 225 psi that made it perfect. air works well on this bikes leverage curve.
Thanks for the video 👍 You have interesting adjustment intervals: 20psi and some high speed compression adjustment 🤣 I never take bigger steps than 3 psi 🙂
I use a Diamond D1 and I don't mind it at all. From a rebuild perspective, its lowers is easy to service and as mentioned DVO provides fantastic customer support. Is it better than the latest in Lyrik ultimate w/ butter cups, or a Fox 36 Factory... prolly not, but the feel is different. It has that coil feel, and is infinitely tunable with adding oil, the OTT and 30 clicks of HSC. as you state, its not easy to dial in, but once it is... its maybe as good of a fork as any, with unique coil like feel
Great video! Thanks for posting it. I would really like you to try out the manitou Mezzer. You seem to really like 36mm fork tubes, the Mezzer has 37mm tubes an adjustable neg air spring. My buddy loves his but I am on the fence. BTW the reason I like your videos so much is I have a Kenevo and I weigh 220lbs.
I’m sure it’s amazing. The EXT 36 with same air chamber system was on an another planet from everything else, it’s just a small market, so it doesn’t justify the cost. With that forks easy to change travel it’s a no brainer for Kenevo How’s the Kenevo life? Email me on home page I’ll send you some otter pants, I’m shutting down that entire flopping section down, sales ended with Covid
Suspension takes a bunch of work to dial in. This is why I only ride Rockshox. Hard to switch to any other brand unless there’s a very compelling value.
Thanks for this! I have a Fezzari Signal Peak with DVO front and rear (Sapphire D1 fork and Topaz T2 shock). The fork has been pretty impressive, at least compared to the Lyrik Base on my Heckler. It’s interesting you say it’s quiet though, mine whooshes a lot. Works well though, on the relatively mild green/blue XC trails and wheels-on-the-ground riding I do. My main complaint is lots of stiction when just bouncing on it in the “shop”. I’ve been adding just a touch of fork lube to the stanchions after every ride. It’s not noticeable on the trail, fortunately. The Topaz shock, well, it’s super basic. DVO doesn’t even have any documentation on it. My guess is it’s an OEM model. Anyway, Fezzari supposedly “tuned” it for my weight, but they give zero details on what that means, and I still see some tokens in the accessories, so I might have to dig in. All that said, out of the box with a basic idiot setup, the DVO-equipped Signal Peak actually feels quite a bit better on-trail (running Maxxis Forekaster/Rekon Race) than my longer-travel Heckler R (running Assegai/DHR). It’s also TONS quieter than the Heckler, which is a rattle trap over roots and rocks - thanks Shimano (makes me wonder if my brain confuses all the noise with worse performance?). Anyway I guess I have some work to do on both bikes, and they are each limited by basic suspension, except for the Sapphire fork on the Fezzari.
That’s odd. My fork was smooth and it was old clapped out loaner. Just make that ott tight as it goes with all the air out. Then crank air and rebound up. You definitely need a bunch of negative tokens in shock, probably what fezzari did. Every token lets you drop 20 psi, so the shock becomes useful again. The Shimano motor and all e-bike motors will just get more noisy and they get older. My Specialzied motors is getting louder and louder, granted not downhill like ep8.
@@OtterMTBtech Yeah, significant stiction right out of the box. I assumed it would work out once “broken in”, but it has remained. Once “warmed up”, then it’s supple until it sits for a bit again. Def not noticeable while rolling on-trail. I did do a round of detailed tuning on the fork, including OTT, but I didn’t go all the way on turns. Rather, I took the documentation’s initial recommendation of a couple of clicks/turns away from full. Easy enough to go back to full tight and re-air it. I get the idea that it’s a negative spring, as opposed to a negative air chamber like on many other air shocks. Is that right? I will also play with HSC based on your findings. Again I just followed the docs so far. It’s good to have practical info from someone of a similar weight who is more knowledgeable about suspension 👍. I love my Heckler for what it provides in overall eMTB experience, but I truly hate how it sounds, both pedaling and coasting downhill over rougher surfaces. Happy Thanksgiving :-)
@mike.thomas also email them the exact problem, mind blowing advise for correct setup. They told me the setup guides are out of date and they are working on new ones. The fork advise in documents was wildly wrong, 220 lbs full right ott, and like 130 psi 13 clicks of rebound from slow, 5 lsc felt amazing
@@OtterMTBtech Cool. Thanks for the numbers! I’m pretty sure I’m running 135lbs air right now after some sag testing. Can’t remember my other numbers (they are whatever the recommendations were, I think), but I’ll try yours!
You should be checking your shock psi weekly just like tires they loose air due to temp and seepage. Dvo is weird but once you set it up correctly and get used to how it feels it’s hard to get over how much smoother it feels than the other brands. My hands never go numb from vibration anymore.
@@OtterMTBtech I run a little bit more air in the fork than what is recommended from Ibis's set up recommendation is for my weight for DVO (I fluctuate between 190-200lbs depending on wether we're at the beginning or end of MTB season) I do run a couple volume spacers on the rear shock (topaz).
What shock do you recomend for heavier riders? I have a 2019 Ripmo with a Float X2, and at 220 pounds (plus gear) I'm OFF the charts at 300 psi. But, the same shock is available with a DVO Topaz, and it only recommends rider weight...so 220 psi for me on this bike. I'm surprised you had to max it out. Is your Enduro a very high-leverage bike?
Dog the solution is in the video. Negative tokens. I’m actually 230 now and ride a 58 lb Ebike. The enduro is progressive. Its best to run a coil if your heavy. If the bike can take it. I have had success with X2 with positive tokens added. I have countless setup videos for X2. Manitou Marra and DvO topaz add negative tokens ti bring pressure down
Is your frame snapped there on the down tube whare it's got installation tape holding it together? Edit I check another video it's the insta360 camera making the frame look like it's snapped whare you have it mounted haha looks so weird 😂
Sounds like your piggyback has an oil seal issue needing fixing. I have a T3 with 6 months on it no oil leaks and the main air can keeps its pressure fine. Piggyback air pressure needs to be checked once in awhile-- keep in mind connecting a pump to any air chamber this small uses up about 40psi just pressurizing the hose-- so it'll look low. If you normally set it to 170, then it should read about 130 when you check, depending on your pump. If it reads less than 100 after a week then there's a seal issue there too. @makeitrandom3067
As a person who runs a DVO diamond fork and after less than year on it...... Just don't..... Almost right away had scarring on the stanchions... Play between the uppers and lowers.... Clunking sounds coming from the forks constantly.... Feel chattering in small rough terrain.... I'm no noob when it comes to suspension forks.... But two warranty send backs within a year...... GTFO.....
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Great video, I am super impressed how you were able to feel how well the suspension was working while riding a bike with the down tube broken in half.
Hey it’s a stitch line from the camera
Dude thank you so much for the information. Three years I've had the Topaz always felt like I was blowing through the travel so easy. No small bump sensitivity at all. Just chalked it up to being the wrong choice of shock but after watching your video I put the spacers in just like you did and BAM the shock feels fantastic now!
I really like DVO suspension. I’m a 170-75lb. rider and their base plush setup for my weight is almost spot on. I currently run DVO Onyx SC D1 (upgraded from the OEM Diamond D3) and Topaz Gen 1 on my 21 Intense Carbine. I really like my current setup but, I will be upgrading to the DVO Jade X in the future. I prefer the feel and ride of coil over air. The D3 and Topaz OEM setup worked well for general trail and mild enduro style riding but, the D3 had its short comings when at speed sending it on rough, loose, and rocky SoCal park and local trails. The Topaz tracked well but, just isn’t the feel of coil. At last years Taiwan International Bike Show, DVO debuted a new rear air shock that’s supposed to work much better than the current Topaz Gen 3. As of today after speaking with DVO it has still yet to make its debut here in the US for sale.
I saw the shock on pink bike. Would be interesting to see if it is better.
@@OtterMTBtech Agree, I’d love to see the comparison between it and the Jade X. I’m looking to upgrade before the spring.
Bobby is the man, he helped me out alot too.
Great experience
Few people know, that the DVO Topaz is nothing more than a RockShox Monarch with a DebonAir can under a different logo. All parts can be interchanged between these shocks without any problem; oil density is the same, shim stack, aircan, tokens, aircan seals, oil shaft even piggy back with the bladder. I've been eagerly awaiting this film because it brings awareness to how subjective and biased the reviews from this author can be. Cheers!
Well it rode as good or better than a super duluxe
The design/ip for the monarch was almost never a thing. There was a Deal with SR suntour and Rockshox which then fed DVO.
Oh, I know. I was just being a smart ass. Lol the video helped me out quite a bit though. I am a heavier dude as well(220ish) and was having similar problems. So thank you👍
All air out then adjust full ott. Full fast rebound maybe a little slower, 3 lsc no hsc . Or it’s trash.
I now have a jade x and two dvo fork purely by accident. Enjoying the info... I was thinking more like RST but these things are really well made. Can't say about the topaz seems like another story...
Let me know if you like ott. Super fast rebound don’t forget. Takes some getting use to
the reason the topaz still works well with neg tokens added if needed for heavier riders is that the negative chamber is quite large to begin with. Im 215# and run one on my banshee rune v2. First tried it with no spacers and 235 psi for 30%sag. Still pedal bobbed with comp lever closed, and came close to bottoming on big hits. I added a token to each chamber and dropped to 225 psi that made it perfect. air works well on this bikes leverage curve.
I run a Sapphire D1 and a Topaz T2 and have no issues with them. I check my air pressure for every ride anyway, so it doesn't bother me much.
Thanks for the video 👍 You have interesting adjustment intervals: 20psi and some high speed compression adjustment 🤣 I never take bigger steps than 3 psi 🙂
I turned the high speed compression off and added 20 psi. Felt better, compression felt tk choke it up.
I use a Diamond D1 and I don't mind it at all. From a rebuild perspective, its lowers is easy to service and as mentioned DVO provides fantastic customer support. Is it better than the latest in Lyrik ultimate w/ butter cups, or a Fox 36 Factory... prolly not, but the feel is different. It has that coil feel, and is infinitely tunable with adding oil, the OTT and 30 clicks of HSC.
as you state, its not easy to dial in, but once it is... its maybe as good of a fork as any, with unique coil like feel
Great video! Thanks for posting it. I would really like you to try out the manitou Mezzer. You seem to really like 36mm fork tubes, the Mezzer has 37mm tubes an adjustable neg air spring. My buddy loves his but I am on the fence. BTW the reason I like your videos so much is I have a Kenevo and I weigh 220lbs.
I’m sure it’s amazing. The EXT 36 with same air chamber system was on an another planet from everything else, it’s just a small market, so it doesn’t justify the cost. With that forks easy to change travel it’s a no brainer for Kenevo
How’s the Kenevo life?
Email me on home page I’ll send you some otter pants, I’m shutting down that entire flopping section down, sales ended with Covid
Suspension takes a bunch of work to dial in. This is why I only ride Rockshox. Hard to switch to any other brand unless there’s a very compelling value.
Thanks for this!
I have a Fezzari Signal Peak with DVO front and rear (Sapphire D1 fork and Topaz T2 shock). The fork has been pretty impressive, at least compared to the Lyrik Base on my Heckler. It’s interesting you say it’s quiet though, mine whooshes a lot. Works well though, on the relatively mild green/blue XC trails and wheels-on-the-ground riding I do. My main complaint is lots of stiction when just bouncing on it in the “shop”. I’ve been adding just a touch of fork lube to the stanchions after every ride. It’s not noticeable on the trail, fortunately.
The Topaz shock, well, it’s super basic. DVO doesn’t even have any documentation on it. My guess is it’s an OEM model. Anyway, Fezzari supposedly “tuned” it for my weight, but they give zero details on what that means, and I still see some tokens in the accessories, so I might have to dig in.
All that said, out of the box with a basic idiot setup, the DVO-equipped Signal Peak actually feels quite a bit better on-trail (running Maxxis Forekaster/Rekon Race) than my longer-travel Heckler R (running Assegai/DHR). It’s also TONS quieter than the Heckler, which is a rattle trap over roots and rocks - thanks Shimano (makes me wonder if my brain confuses all the noise with worse performance?).
Anyway I guess I have some work to do on both bikes, and they are each limited by basic suspension, except for the Sapphire fork on the Fezzari.
That’s odd. My fork was smooth and it was old clapped out loaner. Just make that ott tight as it goes with all the air out. Then crank air and rebound up. You definitely need a bunch of negative tokens in shock, probably what fezzari did. Every token lets you drop 20 psi, so the shock becomes useful again.
The Shimano motor and all e-bike motors will just get more noisy and they get older. My Specialzied motors is getting louder and louder, granted not downhill like ep8.
@@OtterMTBtech Yeah, significant stiction right out of the box. I assumed it would work out once “broken in”, but it has remained. Once “warmed up”, then it’s supple until it sits for a bit again. Def not noticeable while rolling on-trail.
I did do a round of detailed tuning on the fork, including OTT, but I didn’t go all the way on turns. Rather, I took the documentation’s initial recommendation of a couple of clicks/turns away from full. Easy enough to go back to full tight and re-air it. I get the idea that it’s a negative spring, as opposed to a negative air chamber like on many other air shocks. Is that right? I will also play with HSC based on your findings. Again I just followed the docs so far. It’s good to have practical info from someone of a similar weight who is more knowledgeable about suspension 👍.
I love my Heckler for what it provides in overall eMTB experience, but I truly hate how it sounds, both pedaling and coasting downhill over rougher surfaces.
Happy Thanksgiving :-)
@mike.thomas also email them the exact problem, mind blowing advise for correct setup. They told me the setup guides are out of date and they are working on new ones. The fork advise in documents was wildly wrong, 220 lbs full right ott, and like 130 psi 13 clicks of rebound from slow, 5 lsc felt amazing
@@OtterMTBtech Cool. Thanks for the numbers! I’m pretty sure I’m running 135lbs air right now after some sag testing. Can’t remember my other numbers (they are whatever the recommendations were, I think), but I’ll try yours!
My Onyx SC D1 has that same whoosh, it seems to go away with time.
So, you couldn't dial it properly...
Watch the end to find out
You should be checking your shock psi weekly just like tires they loose air due to temp and seepage.
Dvo is weird but once you set it up correctly and get used to how it feels it’s hard to get over how much smoother it feels than the other brands. My hands never go numb from vibration anymore.
Which fork you ride? This 1 gave me arm pump. No where near as much Rockshox. I haven’t checked my Fox air pressure in 6 months no leaks
@@OtterMTBtech Onyx single crown
How do deal with bottom out control? Compression or just more air?
@@OtterMTBtech I run a little bit more air in the fork than what is recommended from Ibis's set up recommendation is for my weight for DVO (I fluctuate between 190-200lbs depending on wether we're at the beginning or end of MTB season)
I do run a couple volume spacers on the rear shock (topaz).
Have you experienced the OTT dial winding itself back with the fork?
Didn’t get into the triple digit miles, but most of my bikes rattle apart, so it sounds like it’s possible
What shock do you recomend for heavier riders? I have a 2019 Ripmo with a Float X2, and at 220 pounds (plus gear) I'm OFF the charts at 300 psi. But, the same shock is available with a DVO Topaz, and it only recommends rider weight...so 220 psi for me on this bike. I'm surprised you had to max it out. Is your Enduro a very high-leverage bike?
Dog the solution is in the video. Negative tokens. I’m actually 230 now and ride a 58 lb Ebike. The enduro is progressive. Its best to run a coil if your heavy. If the bike can take it. I have had success with X2 with positive tokens added. I have countless setup videos for X2.
Manitou Marra and DvO topaz add negative tokens ti bring pressure down
I'm using rock Shox and are good, however I've owned before dvo diamond and prefer those
Totally agree
IS the frame Broken what is that? Dropper post?
It’s a stitch line from the camera
What do it not hold air, and its something of with you bike
Can you rephrase
So you have been riding the Lyric and DVO at 160mm for this Enduro? Why? Did you also use shorter rear shocks?
10mm in either direction. I’d hardly noticeable
Is your frame snapped there on the down tube whare it's got installation tape holding it together?
Edit I check another video it's the insta360 camera making the frame look like it's snapped whare you have it mounted haha looks so weird 😂
The down-tube protectors bolts rattled out, all my bikes Rattle apart.
Cool great info.
Lotta faffing around vs a Rockshox zebra /super delux set up
own a topaz t3 and it's a pain the piggyback leaks oil easly..
Air?
@@OtterMTBtech Yes! Topaz T3 Air.. good performance but it's not that reliable on my expericence.
That’s the 3rd gen suppose to be abit better. Hear say.
@@OtterMTBtech hope soo! Man love the Topaz.. will definitely try it out on my future bike.
Sounds like your piggyback has an oil seal issue needing fixing. I have a T3 with 6 months on it no oil leaks and the main air can keeps its pressure fine.
Piggyback air pressure needs to be checked once in awhile-- keep in mind connecting a pump to any air chamber this small uses up about 40psi just pressurizing the hose-- so it'll look low. If you normally set it to 170, then it should read about 130 when you check, depending on your pump. If it reads less than 100 after a week then there's a seal issue there too. @makeitrandom3067
You’re supposed to check your air pressure before every ride anyways…
You check shocks every ride?
As a person who runs a DVO diamond fork and after less than year on it...... Just don't..... Almost right away had scarring on the stanchions... Play between the uppers and lowers.... Clunking sounds coming from the forks constantly.... Feel chattering in small rough terrain.... I'm no noob when it comes to suspension forks.... But two warranty send backs within a year...... GTFO.....
2 year warranty is pretty appealing
Realy weird video and a good bit of false info …
Explain