Product reviews

DT Swiss are better known for their comprehensive offering of spokes and all things wheels, and we have only seen DT Swiss offer a longer travel fork once before, the EXC 150 shared 32mm stanchions like its XC counterparts and was a lightweight trail fork rather than a burly big hitter.

The F535 ONE is a nice surprise then, sporting an extremely clever damping system called Plushport that is hailed to change how suspension can work. The concept is 0%-30% of the travel has zero compression damping, 30%80% and the mid stroke support increases, 80% - 100% and the compression damping firms up.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

With the compression fully open for the first 30%, small bump sensitivity is the goal and is helped by a small negative spring making the breakaway force required very close to 2/10ths of bugger all. So supple in fact that even with nearly 100psi the fork sags under the bikes weight. Blow through this travel into a corner and the fork seamlessly firms up into the second stage resisting the urge to dive. On big impacts or misjudging a line the last 20% of travel is kept in control right up to the point it bottoms out thanks to a well-behaved bottom out control.

THE CONCEPT

Like all truly simple things, there are hidden complexities. This sums up the DT Swiss F535 ONE fork, a simple exterior and ride feel beliess a damping circuit that is very unique and a claimed world first.

Before trying to explain how it works, it should be noted that I really like adjustments, partly because I like to fiddle with stuff, partly due to adverts telling me I need more adjustments and partly because I can make my bike feel like my bike and make it behave on different trails. Having a good understanding of which dials can change a bike’s handling characteristics, in which terrain and why is incredibly handy. Continual fiddling can be to the detriment of how designers of your bike and suspension intended them to work.

A “normal” compression circuit does involve a compromise for the modern day trail rider. All suspension damping is moving oil one way or another through valves/ports/shims or by any means of oil flow restriction. Some forks have compression lockouts stopping the flow while some have high and low speed compression adjustments. Regardless of whether this restriction of flow is high, low, regressive, digressive, progressive or locked out it is always restricting the flow from start to finish of the stroke.

Generally racers are pushing hard and need mid and end stroke support, which in turn will almost always sacrifice the break away feel or “small bump” sensitivity. Riders wanting a plush

feel will generally find their suspension feels “mushy” in the middle and tend to blow through travel even when using volume spacers/tokens.

The F535 ONE’s first 30% of travel has little to no compression damping, the oil bypasses the compression circuit and allows the fork to move freely, extremely freely. Another reason this fork breaks away so smoothly is the air/ coil hybrid negative spring, which is part of the reason why when fitted to my 13.5kg Specialized Stumpjumper the fork actually sags under its own weight and if dropped from 5cm off the ground settles gently.

THE SETUP

Out of the box I was excited to see an integrated mudguard which mounts to the back of the lowers. It wraps down far enough that it also shields the seals from mud and debris on rides and in the dusty conditions we were mostly faced with kept the F535 cleaner than a fork without, making this an all season addition for me. The other reason why leaving it on is a great idea is due to the 4 fiddly bolts that hold it to the lowers. The cable guide is another neat and tricky solution to reach and requires a long T10 torx bit to get to, not a task for a dark garage and sausages for fingers.

Once the F535 is fitted it is by far the easiest fork to setup. I checked the sag, put another 5psi in and did the old carpark bounce test. I did do the right thing and reference the online suspension calculator which is very precise and recommends a digital shock pump for its 70.80psi read out... My setup was on the firm side and surprisingly the rebound was bang on (for the pressure I was running). I tend to run my forks quite firm however I know that I run on the faster side of normal rebound settings and their recommendation was just that, quite fast and quite interesting.

There is an option on the calculator for the F535 to be setup for eMTBs which is super handy being that it is also a big hitting E-Bike approved fork taking it from 120kg to 150kg rider weight limit.

With everything tucked away, including the air valve, and again a T10 Torx only adjustable rebound dial, DT Swiss want the rider to set the air pressure and go ride. If you are in a bind on the trail and do need a T10, there is one stashed in the through-axle, which you will need to remove the top cap to adjust air pressure too. These alloy caps have a quality foam gasket surrounding them to keep muck at bay, every single detail about this form looks well thought out. With the “Plush Vader” mounted up front, I was keen to hit the super dry and slippery local trails of Stromlo Forest Park.

FIRST RIDE

So much grip! Riding Plush Vader on the same bike with the same wheels, same tyres, same tyre pressure, same trail on the same day I felt like I had more grip. I say felt as this test is all about ride feel and is not being backed up with quantifiable data acquired during the test, just old fashioned change one thing at a time on the same track and switch between the two options. With a fork feeling this smooth “off the top” the bike felt planted and composed without a mushy feel. As soon as the bike was pushed harder into turns and trail features the F535 passes into the 2nd position sensitive stage and firms up quickly without being sudden or clunky. Push harder, land too hard or even just plain make a mistake and it firms again to bottom out. So far there has been only 2 occasions that I can recall bottoming out and they were pretty savage on my part yet thankfully quiet and pretty uneventful rolling away from the poor choice of line.

On the topic of line choice, even looking for lines on the edges of my local trails I felt more comfortable and less like I was being rattled around. The overall chassis of the F535 is not as stiff as some and I believe this could be a reason why the trail feel is so good.

All this plushness does have a downside and that is that this fork dives, about 48mm on the 160mm fork to be precise. With 30% of super smooth undamped travel it does have a tendency to dive initially more than most forks, however it finds traction and control in areas I often struggle to pull the wagon wheels up. I found that turning into choppy or slippery corners the bike was less likely to understeer and lose the front end, only hours after riding the same trail on the control fork.

Having position sensitive compression damping does throw a few challenges into the mix, like the additional weight of the system (2.06kg for the 29” model) or the inability to change travel without a whole new damper cartridge. When you purchase a F535, you will need to think carefully about which travel length you need as each length fork has unique damping positions and will require both the air assembly and damping assemblies, not impossible but potentially expensive.

DT Swiss’s importer Apollo Bikes are one of few Swiss trained service centers and will be training an Australia wide network of suspension service centers on the new tech should you have an issues or require servicing.

With both 27.5” and 29” options destined for Australia in 130mm, 140mm, 150mm and 160mm travel variants in 44mm (27.5inch) and 51mm (29inch) offsets at with the extremely competitive $1549 rrp price tag this should be put very high up on the lists of must haves this year. It is not often a product lives up to the hype and claims. If putting the apprehension of having minimal adjustments aside can be done, the F535 ONE will transform the front of your bike plain and simple.