At this point in their MTB history, EXT should need no introduction. The boutique Italian suspension company offers a burly single crown fork loaded with bullet points, a fleet of coil-sprung dampers, and are currently working on an air shock. The Arma is their coil-sprung downhill damper that forgoes a climb switch in favour of an adjustment you don’t often see on an MTB damper - a hydraulic bottom out (HBC).
Even though most downhill bikes have moved to 250 or sometimes 230mm metric shock sizing, there are still some imperial lengths offered, like the classic 9.5 x 3.0", and a shorter 210. Of course, trunnion mounts are available in 185, 205, and 230mm sizing too.
Arma Details• 4 adjustments: high/low speed compression, rebound, bottom out
• Engineered rebound circuit to separate bump and rebound oil flow
• Ultra low-friction seal and shaft coating
• Low reservoir pressure: 55 PSI
• Full custom hydraulic setup available
• Weight: 432 grams (250 x 75mm) w/hardware
• MSRP: $1,100 USD, €879 (includes two springs)
•
extremeshox.com Once you’ve filled out the order form that requires not only the shock size and rider weight you’ll have to specify which bike the Arma will be bolted onto as well, because each shock is custom built with a 4-week lead time. EXT also understands that a rider’s needs may change depending on the tracks, so the choice of two lightweight steel springs is built into the $1,100 price tag.
DetailsBottom out control might not be all that you’re after when it comes to choosing a rear shock, nor should it be. The Arma V3 also has high and low speed compression with one rebound knob to cover all bases without too much complication. Reaching the dead end of the travel can still be done, but thanks to that HBC circuit, it comes with more of a love tap than a punch. To make sure riders are using the full travel efficiently, the elastomer bottom out bumper has been reduced in size from the previous version of the Arma.
To simplify the process of swapping springs, the rebound adjuster has been reworked to allow the coil to slide off without needing to remove the dial. Changing the spring requires you to remove the C-clip retainer and then slide the heavily machined shock collar over the rebound knob, like one of those interlocking brain teaser puzzles - it just clears at the right angle. A closer inspection will reveal a tiny plastic set screw that rests in reliefs to prevent the shock collar from unwinding as the spring oscillates. EXT’s Superlight springs can be up to 30% less mass than a standard steel coil and the 500 lb/in spring weighed 435 grams.
On the inside of the high-tech looking Arma, a 14mm shock shaft drives a 29mm diameter main piston. A spring-energized main seal is used to reduce friction and the shock shaft is treated with a slippery coating to keep things sliding like butter. To avoid cavitation, which is the phenomenon of bubbles forming under rapid pressure changes, a 24mm valve piston produces high turbulent flow. That also reduces hysteresis, or lag in the damping. Further adding to the consistency of EXT’s damper design, the rebound circuit can separate bump and oil flow.
Test Bike Details
Rear travel: 215 mm
Shock stroke: 75 mm
Average leverage ratio: 2.87
Overall progression: 19%
Fork: Ohlins DH38 - 200mm travel
Rider weight: 75 Kg
Rebound: 4/10 (from closed)
High Speed Compression: 8/16
Low Speed Compression: 7/14
Hydraulic Bottom Out: 5/14
PerformanceTo reiterate the exclusivity of EXT’s shocks, this Arma was custom tuned for a Commencal Supreme 29/27 and my weight. I started on a 475 spring for the slower, steeper North Shore trails, but quickly moved up to a 500. On fast, flat out bike park speeds, jumping up to a 525 certainly wouldn’t be out of the question. I started with one turn of preload and left the clickers exactly how they were set from the factory.
To add some context between the shock and the bike, Dan Roberts dug into the details of the Commencal Supreme 29/27 in
his review last summer and found that his particular bike had more travel than advertised. The overall progression is low and linear towards the end of the travel; something that would test the limits of the Arma's HBC.
Diving straight into familliar upper Cypress DH tracks, I was comfortable with the nature of the Arma right away. Maybe it’s the commitment and focus that comes with downhill laps, or just the bulkier helmet, but I never found the shock to be particularly loud as the oil flowed through the circuits, like some riders have mentioned. The same goes for the plastic sleeve that protects the bottom out bumper, which remained quiet while battling the bomb holes. I did get questioned more than once about the noise levels. Rattling parts I can understand, but really, oil slurping shocks should be the least of your worries when you're bombing downhill tracks. And if that was noticeable, wouldn't that be an admirable trait?
Either way, this shock is built to race. There's a unique quality that was tricky to sum up. The tune is firmer than what I’d been used to and initially I thought I might have to back off the compression. On lap two, I realized I had to adjust my braking points. I was riding faster than before. Ultimately, the shock was offering more support and that allowed me to push the bike through rough sections without getting bent out of shape. You did have to hang on tighter though and brace for larger hits. We were moving. If you want forgiveness, there is enough range to back off the compression and ease up on attacking. When things got real muddy and slippery, I backed off the LCS to unlock additional grip.
Proof of this is where I found my happy place on the clickers; smack in the middle of the compression and very close on the rebound and HBC. Depending on the pace or conditions of the day, a few clicks here or there set the tone. Of course, the custom tune built for my weight and bike didn't hurt either. The only exception was the rebound which stayed between three or four clicks (out of ten) from closed. Moving up to a 550 spring might be a lot of return force for the damper to contender with. Dan had a similar takeaway with another shock that was specified as stock equipment in last year's test of the Supreme.
About those keyed adjusters... They sound like a PITA, but we're talking about downhill bikes here. Making changes each lap with tools at the trucks was a snap. The most crucial of all those knobs is the rebound dial, which can still be turned by hand in a pinch in the lift line.
Even on a bike with little progression towards bottom out, the Arma was the best of both worlds. The Supreme's leverage begins with a mild progression curve and then tapers off to a sloping line. Maybe it was the perfect pairing? It got me thinking, are linear bikes better when the rider is looking for predictability where they can ignore small roots and stay alert and strong for bottom outs? That lets the shock do its thing without erratic shaft speeds.
I’m still blown away by the ultra smooth transition from compression to rebound. There were absolutely no clunks or mechanical top outs from the Arma. DH track have enough bumps to worry about. You don’t need your shock adding more knocks. On one hand, it could feel like melted butter over polished roots and still have that support deep in the stroke to keep the bike from caving or my body from crumpling when you needed it. I pushed it to the best of my abilities through the high speed compressions of Mount Prevost and the filthy muck of the Cypress downhill tracks. Suppleness of coil and the bottom out resistance of air? Impossible you say? The Arma is freakin' close.
How Does It Compare?Prior to installing the Arma, I spent the better part of the season onboard the Ohlins TTX22M, which is also hailed to be a phenomenal coil sprung shock. And it is. The Arma just squeezes out every ounce of damping in so many ways.
First, the TTX has only three high speed compression settings. Less is more if you’re overwhelmed by options and feel the urge to wild twist knobs. Ohlins does keep things simple because those changes are quite noticeable - but too noticeable for my taste. I often toggled between the middle and closed HSC switch position for bike park speeds, mind you, it could be overbearing at times. On the low speed side of the compression, the effect was the opposite. It was barely on the radar.
There were also times at which a small amount of top-out was present on the Ohlins. I never felt this through chattery sections of trail, but on the occasional pre-hop, a small tap at the top of the stroke was there.
Don't get me wrong. The Ohlins also has that juicy, bump eating performance with a fluid change in shaft direction, but the Arma provides a wider tuning window with more influence from each turn of the dial. There's also a plain elastomer bottom out bumper on the Ohlins - nothing wrong with that, either, however EXT's HBC provides extra cushion that avoided any rude, mechanical bottom out punches. Most importantly, this aids in the bike settling slower as you reach the end of the travel.
You'll be reminded by all of these features when you click "add to cart" though. The Arma costs nearly $400 USD more at first glance, however that includes two lightweight springs. The Ohlins sells for $695 as just the damper and custom tunes are available through authorized service centers. Is it all worth it? Given the time versus performance demand of downhill bike shocks, I say go all in. They aren't disposable like rims or tires. With regular service, there's no reason why any quality damper couldn’t be used for more than one season or transferred from bike to bike, granted you may need to re-tune it depending on the leverage ratio.
Pros
+ Custom built for each bike
+ Wide range of adjustments, including hydraulic bottom out resistance
+ Seamless transition from compression to rebound direction
Cons
- Exclusivity comes at a cost; price, service centers, build lead-time
- Bottom out bumper protector could be attached
Pinkbike's Take ![bigquotes](https://es.pinkbike.org/246/sprt/i/bigquotes-left.svg) | EXT is preached as the aftermarket suspension leader and the Arma is a prime example of the premium performance. There's no doubt that the price reflects this, but receiving a shock tailor-built for your bike will maximize it's potential. From the first lap on the Arma I realized I was cracking on harder than before. The control from this shock puts it on another level.— Matt Beer |
Given the rampant growth in the sport and the way that used bikes are holding serious value, it's pretty easy to upgrade your bike and spend *only* ~$1k doing so. Case in point: I bought a Yeti SB150 shortly after it was available, and sold it 1 year later for about $500 less than I paid for it.
They were gonna revalve, new spring, and change mine from a traditional to trunnion mount for $600.
Considering a rebuild, revalve, and custom dyno tune on any shock is about $250 i think $600 was a good deal. without changing to trunnion it would have even been cheaper.
I used to take every shock and fork to a local suspension shop after I’ve owned it a month or so, just in case the tune is right for me or there’s an issue that needs a return. Nowadays I have a colleague who used to be a suspension engineer for motorsports teams. He tunes all my mtb, motorcycle, and car/sxs suspension. The magic he can work with a few shims is really unbelievable.
He makes all the shims himself, for each shock absorber he works on. He has completely custom made internals in his own forks (both mtb and mx) and an air shock he’s designed himself that he eventually wants to put into production.
They were a PIA to deal with when it came to anything. They didn’t even want to change anything on the tune when I asked for minor tweak. Reconfiguration they didn’t even want to touch mine because it was a V1 and they don’t support those anymore. All the parts they said would cost so much that I might as well get a new shock. That sucked to hear. Have since dealt with EXT USA and Ohlins and both have done above and beyond custom work for me and even trying to tinker beyond the norm for me just for the fun of it! Great experiences with the both of them and will take them 10/10 times over push in the future
DH race bikes do get bashed to shit pretty good too.
Then there are people that just like new kit and can afford it.
they exist. honestly, I don't consider myself minted, but I could without feeling it, buy a 10k bike every year and sell my old 10k bike for 5k. you might be shocked(pun intended) at the outsized percentage of very high earners that mountain bike.
Did the EXT shock work better than the Push shock? I'm happy with my 11/6 but I wonder if their custom tuning comes down to them turning the adjusters to match what you tell them you want.
High tech for your old roach?
In fact, I've never swapped to a new bike and regretted the decision or felt like it took long to get comfortable on the new ride.
I’m sorry you don’t have the funds, maybe get a better job or cut back on beer
Same stroke length / stroke changes can be done to most of the dampers on the market down to a "cheap" bomber CR, same goes for revalving.
Why do you think the ifp pressure matters that much?
I don't know why so many virtue signaling people are down voting you. There's worse things you could be spending your own money on.
We are apt to make sweeping judgments based on our own experiences, that have little to no correlation to anyone else.
when I was a younger man, worked in the industry, swapped bikes at least once a year, usually more. Then I kept the same bike for 10 years, knew it inside and out, was very proficient on it. Then bought a new bike, and was immediately more comfortable, faster, more stable than I ever thought possible.
If you’re changing bikes every year, the changes are likely incremental, so you’re ability to get the most out of that bikes is only incrementally away.
If you wait 10 years, well the whole world has changed, so a lot of your riding ability has to change as well.
So “your” experience “proves” your initial judgement….
Riding the same mountain bike for 10 years is the opposite extreme given the pace of mountain bike development. I wouldn’t compare such extremes. I promised that I was using disc brakes rather than cantilever brakes in 2006.
Though you are a mobile bike mechanic so I suppose it’s possible you have a nice bike and someone must be nice enough to give you a trade discount….
I swapped from a 2005 Norco 6, to a Transition Sentinel in 2019. So actually a 14 yr gap, but had a 2011 Kona, and a 2008 Rocky in there as well. The Norco still worked great, but the geo was way off from where we are now.
There’s an argument for swapping bikes annually, you’ll get a better return on your depreciating asset, save money on maintenance, and worn parts, and the adjustment to style, should in theory be less.
Try to look at it as a cost to play, I don’t golf, and rarely go to lift areas to ride. I stay on top of maintenance, and keep my bike running well. So when I annually swap, I’m looking at a $1000 roughly to do so, if that.
So $3.00/day gets me in a new bike.
Stay away from the highest end stuff, and the lowest end stuff, and you’re prolly better off
but on sale price, yeah I think everyone is a bit selfishly optimistic when it comes time to do some horse trading. Retail on my Foxy build is somewhere around 11k. been on it for about 16 months. its got it's battle scars but is solid af, and running perfect. doubt I will get any interest in the complete bike above 6000. lol. so honestly, I will break it into components and sell them all individually(a massive PITA) and get like 7500. that's the reality of the situation.
(this holds true for many shocks and their hs adjuster but especially for the EXT where the valve is powerful with plenty of range).
Thank you
Are there riders out there buying a new damper every year? WTF?
Even with poor maintenance I can't imagine a good coil shock failing after 9mo...
Also, that shock is dope. Thinking of getting a Storia for my Druid, especially with that new spring, it's not even that much heavier than the DPX2 that came on it.
But I'm not planning to replace my Avy Bomber anytime soon
blisterreview.com/podcasts/ext-founder-franco-fratton-on-a-lifetime-in-suspension-ep-110
I think they could set It progressive enough for any kind of trail bike. Simply it's neber gonna be that adjustable
How many world cups?
So put aside racing. What exactly do the lead in aftermarket? Price? Quality? Service? Color choices?
I'd say the statement is silly, not the argument. Show me one metric they lead in aftermarket mountain bike suspension. A single one.
And they have budget to compete in Formula 1 but not mountain biking????LOL
I will agree with you though, the statement made in the article is pretty subjective which is why I think they use the term "preach" to hint at that. I think they are intending to say that many reviewers and industry people who are talking about the suspension are regarding it as the performance leader based on experience using it. Which is not very quantifiable by the counting metrics you are asking for.
I haven't tried the Arma but the Storia is amazing.
But it’s so good! If Craig’s adds HBO ever, it would be even better than great.
Big fan!
Need to try an Arma someday
Yeah it’s been a tough time for him. I truly hope he’s continuing to recover and do better! Business has been crazy for them. Even before he got sick, they were almost 4+ months out. It’s definitely wild and good for them that business is that great but the sickness definitely didn’t help with times at all. I’m glad he’s been recovering and I sure hope he continues to do suspension work because I love his stuff!
Hopefully the wait times mellow out and go back to normal sooner rather than later. I know EXTs will continue to grow too with the increase in popularity but they are still pretty darn quick which is sweet!
Pretty cool hearing some of the stories about some of that stuff. I got a hint of it from hanging with Minnaar years ago.
More specifically, more better tailored for more better performance
For when you really want the most more
I mean they said they did a bunch of fancy engineering stuff with all these mumbo jumbo geometry charts and leverage curve things and this this anti squat stuff or whatever
It all sounded true so i think my bikes gotta b skraight brizzo
Anyhow at that price its gonna b a
Hizzard pizzass 4me dawg
Those tunes are good, but balanced against one cost. A shock like this is better than a stock shock tune because it’s a more sophisticated shock that ALSO has a custom tune.
Your coiling me over here
All bs aside the builders at Alafia and Balm Boyette have been killing it with some pretty nice features and they were awesome b4 just no DH which doesn’t really bother me as I don’t really know what I’m missing anyway on top of that im 51 and the trails here are plenty fast enough for my old azz used to hit the bp 2-3 days a week but ive been doing more urban stuff lately and it’s just as fun as you can leave right from your house and the fact that theres no other mtbr’s around seems to make me feel better about my ability on a bike lol
Keep it =✊=| sir @stormracing:
Thanks
Keepit l=✊=| re@rallyimprezive:
I’d highly recommend
Craig at Avalanche Suspension
Anthony at Diaz Suspension
Or the folks at Suspension Syndicate
You’d be in great hands with any and all of those guys and they all deal with Fox stuff every day. Have dealt with them all and all really smart and great people that know their stuff. They can help you get a proper tune for your bike AND YOU and your riding preferences
It’s a win win and a very, very noticeable change for the better in performance
Your advice is certainly appreciated sir
Good luck out there if your still at it
Be safe and keep it =✊=|
stormracing: