The best fork you've never heard of 

I've heard Suntour's high end stuff is great. I mean, if Reynolds can use it at Darkfest, that's a pretty high standard. But I reckon they've poisoned their brand name by selling pogo stick forks for entry-level bikes. That's what 99% of people know them for.

The Suntour 38 is definitely a solid piece of kit, especially for $835 USD. If anything, it's the name that lets it down. "Durolux" sounds like a household vacuum cleaner, or a garden mower. 👍‼️

I have no experience with high end Fox or Rockshox forks, but I do know my Durolux 36 & AION 36 out perform mid level Rockshox Yari & Revelation forks. AND for less money, AND they have a super cool integrated fender! no more zipties

I think too many riders snub their noses to brands that aren’t “mainstream”. The snobbery is real in MTB, unfortunately. Thanks for giving a good, honest review on “budget” parts.

I rode SR for quite a while, the reason why i currently have a lyric in my bikes is only that i could not find a axon or durolux for a good price when i built the bikes. Something you need to know about SR: they are EXTREMELY sensible with pressure. you allmost don't feel 5 psi +/- on a lyric,zeb or 38, but on an axon its the difference between "bottom out all the time" and "OMG - way to hard"

Good review sir. SR Suntour makes solid products for sure. I found a new takeoff 2017 Aion 35 and after adding 4 volume spacers and changing the negative coil spring the fork was mint. Scored a KoM with it on the front of a hardtail on a local black. It also took big hits at Snowshoe, Bryce and other trails without skipping a beat. I'm on a Fox 36 with the new rig and I haven't been able to get it dialed like the Aion. Which made me thoroughly appreciate the simplicity of the Aion.

I picked up the Durolux 36 for my current hardtail build and got it on a discount coupon they had on their site for it. I did a bunch of research and decided it was as good as any other fork out there after seeing the riders out there who use it knowing they are putting it through a lot harder workout than I probably will.

The main reason the high end suntour forks aren’t that popular it because of the bad rep that their lowest end forks get

I think “looks wise” the fork looks freakin rad! Loving the colour for sure!

Nice Review! I'd add that you can buy m4 bleeders usually found on motocross stores to replace the bolts, and to add a little bit of oil in the lowers, 3ml is fine, and you'll get the same performance as the other 38's. Maybe add a silicon seal instead of the rubber seal. The air spring is just like the others that still use two chambers with "bottom out tokens" and I'll take 200grams instead of creaking CSUs every day! Cheers!

I've had a Durolux 36 for three years, and it's holding up great. The big thing for me was the price - with the discount codes on the website, I spent less than $700 on it, shipping and duty included. I know that's not always available, but it's worth checking into.

It's always worth trying suspension outside of the big 2. I'm on an MRP Ribbon Air and love it! I am curious about running the dual crown Bartlett on something wanting 180mm of front travel...

Been running a Durolux 36 on my Cotic Hardtail for years and it’s holding up great. No complaints and it’s the older coil negative vs the newer all air builds.

Biggest advantage to these forks is the ease of service. No oil baths, and you can change the travel by adding/removing a spacer fairly easily.

In my opnion, there may be several factors on why people may pick other brands than Suntour. For example, it feels like the graphics on the Durolux seem outdated and lacking style. Also I think it comes down to people seeing the brand Suntour being on cheaper forks which a lot of time don't perform very well and that scares away the customers from purchasing their higher end forks.

The higher end Suntour forks are actually pretty nice. I have the 35mm Aion and it's a better quality fork than the 35mm Rockshox found on the lower spec Specialized Levos. It feels really nice. If you are looking for value for money rather than the highest possible performance then the higher end Suntour forks are a great option.

That temperature sensitivity could be oil related, i'm sure other oils would improve that. Sounds like a solid suspension over all.

Hans Rey rides those forks.

I've been using a Durolux 36 on since 2020 on my main bike. I got it for less than $450 and it's been fantastic. Easy to service, change the travel, rides nice. Best value fork out there, imo.

Here's what I want to know: Maybe it's not quite up to a grip 2 38 or a zeb charger 3, but what about a zeb charger 2 on a steep discount.

My 38 did the same thing, where I kept changing to find the feel I wanted. I just got it back from my bike shop. There was way too much Grease, and the negative air chamber wasn't getting enough air. I haven't tried it yet, but fingers are crossed.

I have that same fork on my Zerode Taniwha; love it.

Not Durolux related, though I did run them on a Warden a couple of years ago, super underrated. Buuutttt, I did recently change my Zeb to 180 on my Chilcotin. Set the rear shock in Neutral. So far it's amazing.

I've always wondered how good the higher end suntour forks are because I saw Kyle Warner and other pros sponsored by them. It's good to have an unbiased review.

Finally someone I can relate with when it comes to the clicks on fox forks I can’t tell the difference either it’s like a waste of time clicking and clicking

Nice. Thanks for this. Love it. Would happily try this fork. Sounds like it wouldn’t feel much different than the Zeb …and it’s also concrete grey! Sick. Öhlins review time?

Nice review Nic. For an unsophisticate like myself, I pretty much followed all that you had to say about the fork. Well done!

Until the higher end Suntour forks come stock on higher end bikes the only place we’ll see them is on Pro & Influencer bikes. It’s going to be tough to break into that market segment. I wish them luck because more choice is more better.

I'm still rocking a 2009 RS totem coil fork, love it!

That bike has very high performance to cost ratio. I wonder how long Santa Curz and other brands can offer terrible value builds when they can't just coast on there marketing/past innovations. So many bikes out there kick ass right now, its a great time to be a rider.

Love the look of the grey fork on your bike!

I would be very intrested in a Bos Suspension test. I don t know if you get those in Bc though because its an Italian brand but who knows maybe you get a chance to try. It would be somthing very unknown in the Bc area atleast for my nowledge. Was a good video as always keep it up:)

I do like the gray on the fork. That could look really good on some bikes.

First thing I noticed wa the matte gray. I like it.

would be interesting to see you try dvo suspension. new 38mm dvo fork coming soon

I love the gray fork on the purple frame 😍

You can oil bath pretty much all of the Suntour forks to really boost their performance, though I will say I only have had experience with their lower end stuff My old $35 Epixon easily outdid my current/new Recon after oilbathing it, and was only bested by my full on Pike with an airspring upgrade

I bought a fox 38 Factory 29" for around what you paid for that suntour fork. Lots of deals still out there, shop around.

More and more people are on a duolux, I've been running my for a while and it's amazing

Great review, I love the honesty, I hope one day you could review the new Fox 38X2 or the new Belva from formula.

They just need to design some cool cheap (but GOOD quality) stickers to place on them and it will sell like chocolate chip cookies!

Very cool set of forks! 🔥

while it's probably not worth it to spend an extra $500 tu have a slightly more "refined" fork than the durolux because the difference is pretty small and they're all great forks, most mountain bikers will definitely spend that money to have the Fox name on their bike and even more so for the shiny kashima coat. at the end of the day, all the products are so great nowadays that it's really a matter of looks and feel, but more looks

Nice kickstand

great video. you should give a DVO set up a go, I love my onyx!

I've had two Auron forks (2015 and 2019), my experiences have definitely mirrored yours. both forks were definitely over damped for me as a lighter rider, small bump sensitivity is not as good as a Rockshox or Fox, but like you said, the feel of the fork on big hits is incredible. Also, the harder you ride these forks, the happier they feel. Another thing worth noting. The 2015 Auron is still on one of my bikes, and it still doesn't creak at all (neither of the forks have any creak). They are super reliable and easy to service.

There is so much great suspension out there at half the price of the big two. Thanks for showcasing this one, I have been wondering what are they about since they pop up here and there but never really got into checking them out. My thought was that they are very cheap and good platform for custom tuning. Probably, because I am already riding the best, the underdog, Manitou Mezzer.

north shore billet do a +17mm mount. I've been using one on a fox40 with a 220mm rotor for a while now.

Definitely not a scientist over here… the warm weather vs cold weather- sounds like it could be an oil issue and not necessarily the fork.

Great Video Brother, I appreciate that........🤝🏾🇺🇸💪🏾👍🏾

no you are right. The grip2 vvc is underdamped and just not a great damper. The spring on the 38 is good though. But the Mezzer Pro beats them all both in damper and spring area, and it has a HBO. No reason to get anything else really.

from a zeb user riding bike that done have butter cups now do feel worse to me now like my dh bike has the 2019 boxxer and that is realy nice but if stuff gets super fast my hand start to die

How do those forks feel after 11 months? How is their serviceability?

I really do not like the gray, and I wonder if it has an oil bath. I had the AION once and it used grease for lube... easy to service but the bushings gave out early and generally felt sluggish

I think the grey legs and crown are the sickest thing about them. Each to their own I guess!

The best fork ever made is the Fox Vanilla coil 32R 140mm open bath. The most durable, plush, nimble, tough etc…..fork ever made!

Everybody dreams of Fox 34's this has not convinced me even though I ride Suntour Sr's!

But.... Does this suntour use twin DU bushings and foam upper seals?

Why this version is not readily available in Asia? 😂

The rebound was way over damped on the suntour air fork I had.

Love these vids!

Always seems like these forks are a little loud when I see videos of people riding them. MRP kinda has the same sound too, seem to hear the “squish” quite a bit more.

As today i believe Rockshox has not competition! Even if you get the lower ZEB model to match the price of this Suntour. I went from FOX 38 factory to ZEB ultimate i could not be happier, im just an old weekend warrior and I could feel the performances difference. 👊👍👍

I've heard of those :) Looks great!

How has the hs2 rotors been with your Shimano brakes? Looking to upgrade to thicker rotors

no wonder it's not as popular as it should outside of asia. at most we can get 38s for just around $550. while 36 is at $400-450 almost half of the cost vs leading brands fox/rockshox.

Hi Van, sorry, i'm a bit off-topic but can you suggest me a few nice trail to do after Lord of the Squirrels? I have only one day of riding and i would like to make most out of it. Your help would be much appreciated, thank you

Been running Suntour forks and shocks on almost all the bikes I’ve built up myself… have nothing bad to say about them, the value for money ratio is better than anywhere else…

In the future, I'd recommend Cane Creek. I'm running the Helm MK2 and it's butter, I also like how CC run their company, makes their products, and treats their customers. Good to know SR Suntour is reliable. Great vid mate.

Could one solve the overdamping issue on the cheap by just switching to a lighter weight oil? Talking about liking different kind of stuff; this video is different than your usual content.

Suntour makes some of the best COMPETITION hardware for bikes regardless of price.

At the end Nick said any questions in the comments Can you some That sunshine do you have and send it to the UK please it’s been raining here for 5 days😂😂 When I got my glory 4y ago it had a air shock run that for 6 months didn’t like it switched to a coil it’s been like that for 2 years now she is mint

I've been wondering about these forks. I noticed Sam Reynolds riding that one as well. BTW, your left forearm looks just like my forearm looks right now ... Did you happen to go OTB in 'double black' rock garden like I did? 😜LOL

good fork but a lot heavier than fox 38 or zeb

SR Suntour has been making great forks for ~15 years. Back in 2010 my first real air fork was SR Suntour Epicon 130mm. It was one of the lightest, cheapest and best performing budget fork on the market. Cheaper versions of durolux or even AION outperform RS Recon/RS 35 etc.

Man you really got cut up from that fiver crash

What do youean they sent you a lighter tune?

tried every tune etc on my 38 factory but a basic out of the box z1 coil feels so much better so the z1 will stay and I'll sell the 38 factory if anyone is interessted

Interesting. Useful review, thanks! 🤩

Here in Spain the Durolux is very popular between all mountain riders, I think also in the rest of Europe specially in Germany. Many people ride it in high end bikes

THe problem is it that suntour get a bad name for the low end forks that are abysmal and the fact that the colour is ugly. No doubt on the performance though.

Sr Suntour gets a bad wrap because they are on so many low end budget and box bikes. That fork looks out of place on that bike though. Don't know if it's the colour or the 38s

A dude commented on Facebook he did not service his Durolux for 2 years, and it still did not have issues and no creaking. Which sounds promising. He knew he abused it but he prefers it over Fox. I think it was 36mm version. I saw a review that said it did not creak too.

suntour's "high end" stuff is called DVO and DVO coil Jade X is an amazing piece.

Awesome epik beautiful bike lovet

My first ebike came with a Raidon 32 fork on it because of supply chain issues and the damper died after a month 😂 I reached out to their support and they never replied. Their product lineup is also insanely, annoyingly complex and confusing. They really need to simplify things and step their customer service before I'd be willing to try another product of theirs.

A bad thing with Sr Suntour for me now seems to be it's nearly impossible to get them in Norway. Only bikester had them and it's been out of stock for months. But if I buy it from them shipping is in 2 days. And no added value tax bill afterwards as it registered in Norway I just pay the price on there. But prices tend to be high on some products not even adjusted down to the rest of the market so when they do a sale on some products the on sale price is the regular price elsewhere. 🤦 But don't remember the fork's prices. Bu 5out of stock on almost tall models. 🤦

you can purchase lyrik or zeb ultimate for the same amount of money in some discount, and its miles difference.... if you are heavy and ride hard, suntour shock is blown in a day, forks few days....

I am stickin with the fox factory

This fork should be compared to the Domain. I think they’re probably similar weight and price point.

but isnt the zeb basiacally same priced and better? i mean you can easily get the zeb for 900 or 800 bucks

I don't hate how it looks, I just don't think white belongs on forks. unless you have a white bike, but why would you have a white MTB?

Considering you can get the mainstream brands for that price on sale, this doesn't seem worth it at all.

I know them. Thr cheap coil forks from SR are definetely problematic though.

It's pretty well known. Well in our part of the world I guess. 😆

The Duro is no where near the level of Fox 36. Quite far off in terms of neg spring and plushness. You get what you pay for. I liked it on my budget bikes but won’t go back to one ever. Good entry fork

Trouble with suntour is they do unfortunately make so much of the budget entry level forks that so many brands use and to be completely honest they are absolute rubbish. So it's really going to be hard for suntour to compete with rockshox and fox for that reason. I personally wouldn't buy one

850 is a lot

If i cant service it myself i am not buying it

Otter TV has just reviewed it and wasn't good for much!