Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1088954
16 Trail Rider Now don't get me wrong, the XPLOR is a pre y damn good fork. It's plush and doesn't deflect off hidden trail surprises. Its fine in the slow going, technical terrain but it's easily taxed when speeds pick up. As with most everything today, it's a compromise, geared for the slower rider with adjustments limited to this type of riding. The le leg has compression damping du es and the right leg rebound. When speeds pick up, the right leg is limited in its ability to handle rebound demands. The le leg, handing compression for both forks, easily blows through the stroke. The range of clicker adjustments for compression and rebound is very narrow. K-Tech's ORVS fork piston kit replaces all internal valving in the stock XPLOR fork. The ORVS adds compression and rebound damping to each leg. There are two complete compression stacks in the bo om of each fork, along with their own hydraulic an -bo oming cups, sealing the car- tridge tube while greatly improving damping and response me. Rebound adjusters are now fi ed to both upper fork caps. K-Tech's compression and rebound assemblies offer a much wider and more precision range of adjustment. Technical mumbo jumbo aside, you probably want to know how does the K-Tech ORVS system work? Well, I'm not one to be easily impressed. You've got to earn it and we're happy to say we're thoroughly pleased. What's appreciated is plush- ness is not lost one bit. It's s ll incredibly supple. Where K-Tech's system really shines is when speeds pick up. The bike rides higher in the stroke with compression being incredibly lineal in travel. K-Tech's hydraulic an -bo oming cups work well as with the spring rates WER installed, it's nearly impossible to bo om. Our test rider, AA/Pro-Vet, Beau Viens, was a acking obstacles inten onally at speed, to see how the new suspension would react. We're happy to report the results were in- credibly posi ve. With rebound now in both forks, along with a wider clicker adjustment range made a tremendous difference. There's zero deflec on and no wild reac ons as one would experience in an under dampened fork. For those looking for the best out of their stock XPLOR fork, we highly recommend the K-Tech ORVS system. Priced at $449.95, some might consider it expensive, but it's actually quite a bargain when compared to other op ons on the market.