Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/294885
22 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com T he odyssey of my suspension began last summer, when editor Kevin Novello took an experimental test ride aboard my KTM 250 XC while I was busy testing out a Sherco X- Ride for him. After several laps of my friend Bruce's bumpy, technical track, I had many kind words about the X-Ride and Kevin had many un- kind words about my suspension. I don't recall the exact nature of his beef with it – but I do re- call that when he went to bleed the forks, a bunch of oil exploded out the top (Editor note: it was like a geyser erupting) . Is that normal? Anyway, up until then, I hadn't really given the KTM's suspension much thought. It was a hell of a lot better than the stiff forks and blown-out shock on my old KDX 220, and that was the only reference frame I had. However, after some cushy, stress-free laps on the Sherco, I began to rethink my uncritical acclaim. The X-Ride, in ad- dition to having a mellow but torquey motor and ergonomics well-suited to my 5'4'' frame, had plush suspension intended for trials riders and, you know, slow people. It made a differ- ence. Bruce's track is by no means a rock gar- den, but it does have some lumpy hills and tight, rooty sections that demand a running start on the XC. If I hit a rock at suboptimal speed, even dead-on, the forks would deflect, and if by some miracle the front wheel made it over, the shock would threaten to launch me off the bike on the rebound. The sum total of all this was a lot of stress, arm pump, and crashing. A lap on the X-Ride was a completely different experience. I didn't have to attack obstacles at speeds beyond my comfort zone, and could in- stead "trials" over them at any pace I wanted. Its soft suspension made it extremely maneu- verable and fun – I took it down creek beds and NEWB's GUIDE GET YOUR SUSPENSION DONE! Story by Anna Svagdyz photo by Art pepin THE