Intend Bicycle Parts has introduced the discharge of the Intend Samurai; 4 new light-weight mountain bike forks with supposed utilization protecting XC, Downcountry, Path and Gravel. In true Intend vogue, the Samurai is in fact an Upside-Down fork. Due to its brace-less design, carbon steerer and pared-back dropouts, the Samurai CC lays declare because the World’s Lightest 120mm journey fork weighing a claimed 1,405g.
We have been first launched to the Intend Samurai at Eurobike by the designer himself, Cornelius Kapfinger. By the way, an earlier polished prototype lurked close by, serving to Dangerholm hold the burden of his Scott Spark RC Hypersonic beneath 9.2 kg. Right here, we now have updates on the now-available Samurai, together with information of a 130mm TR model with a damper cartridge of Intend’s personal design.
Intend Samurai Mountain Bike Forks
Certainly, each the Samurai CC and Samurai XC forks are mentioned to be lighter than the RockShox SID Final, at a claimed 1,405g and 1,515g, respectively. Each ship 120mm journey by means of 35mm stanchions.
The distinction?
Whereas the lighter Samurai CC will get a carbon steerer tube, carbon cable guides and modified stanchions, the heavier Samurai XC makes use of aluminum for these elements, and forgoes the extra inner machining seen on the CC.
| Intend Samurai Fork | CC | XC | TR | GR |
| Most Journey | 120mm | 120mm | 130mm | 50mm |
| Intention | XC | Downcountry/XC | Path/Downcountry/XC | Gravel |
| Claimed Weight (grams) | 1,405 | 1,515 | 1,555 | 1,450 |
| ATC at Most Journey | 531mm | 531mm | 1,555 | 461mm |
| Damper Cartridge | RockShox Race Day | RockShox Race Day | Intend | RockShox Race Day |
| Brake Mount | PM180/FM180 | PM180/FM180 | PM180/FM180 | PM180/FM180 |
| Value | 1,949 € | 1,649 € | 1,799 € | 1,649 € |
Key to minimizing weight is using (close-to) zero offset dropouts, permitting for a minimalist design that makes use of much less materials. At first look, you’ll have a tough time believing the Samurai has a 44mm offset at sag, however a more in-depth take a look at the angled crown reveals precisely how that offset is launched. The fork legs sit at an angle that’s barely slacker than that of the steerer tube.
On an everyday fork the place offset is launched on the dropouts, offset stays constant irrespective of the place within the journey the fork is working. Nevertheless, within the Samurai design, the fork offset really decreases as it’s pushed into compression, however not by a lot. Whereas the offset is 44mm at sag, it’s 45.5mm at top-out and 41mm at bottom-out. Cornelius says, “prolonged and compressed, there are just a few much less millimeters of deviation from this 44mm, which doesn’t have any influence on driving expertise, as we discovered throughout testing. We didn’t do additional again to again checks with conventional forks. The slight angle of the Samurai ought to and won’t alter your driving expertise in comparison with mounted offset forks, it simply reduces weight”.
On the damper facet, the Intend Samurai CC and XC forks are designed to work with the RockShox Race Day Damper cartridge that should be bought individually. That’s not the case for the Intend TR fork, nonetheless; this one makes use of a damper cartridge of Intend’s personal design, permitting it to run a most of 130mm journey.
It’s basically a trimmed-down model of the cartridge utilized in Intend’s longer-travel USD forks such because the Hero. It’s 30g heavier than the RockShox Race Day Damper, nevertheless it means the fork can be utilized for extra Downcountry or Path functions due to its additional journey.
The ultimate mannequin is the Samurai GR. It’s a 50mm journey USD fork supposed for gravel riders on the lookout for a plusher experience high quality and decreased hand and arm fatigue. It too is designed to work with the RockShox Race Day Damper.
After we have been first proven the Intend Samurai fork, it had a devoted Flat Mount for the brake caliper, meant for a 180mm rotor. Due to potential buyer suggestions, Intend has added a Submit Mount 180 adapter for this distinctive dropout in order that riders can run the brake caliper of their selection.
Pricing & Availability
The Intend Samurai XC, TR and GR fashions can be found direct from Intend Bicycle Parts now, retailing at €1,649 and, €1,799 and €1,649, respectively. The €1,949 CC mannequin will launch in Q1 of 2023.
The RockShox Race Day Damper will not be included within the sale of the CC, XC and GR fashions, and should be bought individually from a vendor of the client’s selecting. For EU clients, the damper can, nonetheless, be delivered to Intend and put in by the workforce previous to cargo of the fork. This service will not be obtainable exterior of the EU, and people clients might want to organize set up of the Race Day Damper elsewhere.
