Why does no one have DT Swiss forks?

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Why does no one have DT Swiss forks?

58 posts & 42 voices | Started 6 months ago by chestrockwell | Latest reply from chestrockwell

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chestrockwell - Member

Hello all. Just wondering if there's a simple reason why every one seems to buy/recommend Rock Shox or Fox forks but ignore DT Swiss?

After having Fox Float + Talas and RS Revelations in the past (and having trouble with both brands) I landed on a pair of DT Swiss XMM 140's. I'm no expert but imo they ride better then others I've had. Very adjustable, two stage lockout, light, stiff and a proper service interval.

I always thought the Revs + Floats rode quite differently. Both had good points, both had bad. The DT's seem to fall somewhere in the middle with the good points from both without the bad. Why do I hardly ever see any out and about?

Posted 6 months ago #
Houns - Member

DT EXM 150mm owner here, fantastic fork, Much better than the Fox unit that came on my HT. As soon as I can afford to I will be putting a DT Swiss on that too

Posted 6 months ago #
retro83 - Member

Like them but they always seem a bit too expensive for me. Seems the XMM 140s come in at about £500 for the thru-axle ones. Broadly comparable revs can be found at under £300. Plus I know lots of places which work on RS/Fox (TF Tuned, Loco, Mojo etc), not so many for DT.

Posted 6 months ago #
D0NK - Member

I've not got them coz they never seem to be on offer. All my ~~forks~~ parts are bought in sales.

Posted 6 months ago #
woody74 - Member

Probably because they are bloody expensive and don't appear on many off the shelf bikes

Posted 6 months ago #
Conespanner - Member

I don't think DT ever shook off the connection with PACE. When pace sold off that side of the business there were struggling with build and reliability issues. DT did nothing about changing the look of the product and even give the forks similar ID's. They might be totally different inside and be a good forkbut they still look like PACE items to me.

Another fork that falls into this catagory is Magura, they always get good write ups but you never see many around, plus they can cost double that the equavilent RS

Posted 6 months ago #
mrmo - Member

mtb is about form over function, ie Rock Shox and Fox. A few a fallen by the wayside because they got a reputation for being crap, Manitou. Some others due to not being oem, not being cheap, availabilty etc just don't appear all that often. DT, Magura, White Bros etc etc.

Posted 6 months ago #
richmtb - Member

Cause they are flippin expensive

Posted 6 months ago #
mcboo - Member

Mine came on a new bike, XRM 100s. Lovely forks, a whole lot more user friendly than RS XX that I'd test ridden, nice and simple. Am impressed with them.

Posted 6 months ago #
chestrockwell - Member

I know what people mean about the price and I like a bargain but found mine for £450 with Thru Axel which was not much more then the Rev RLT's I had (which turned out not to be quite a 'new' as I thought) and much less then I could get a new set of Floats for. Even at full price they're similar to Fox aren't they?

I had a set of Pace RC40's back in 2006 and loved them. Never had a problem with them so guess my view is not tainted? The DT's might look similar at first look but are very different close up.

Like I mentioned before, performance wise I think my new DT's are better then the other two. Have others tried them and not got on with them or just never even had a look?

Posted 6 months ago #
honourablegeorge - Member

I'll freely admit that, as a practising tart, I wouldn't really consider them 'cos they're so bloody ugly.

Posted 6 months ago #
cookeaa - Member

There's no getting away from their Pace History, where to be fair a bit of development was still in progress while products were released...

They are seen as expensive and a bit more boutique/rare this is perhaps un fair as to be honest Marz/Manitou/RS/Fox seem to be charging the Earth for their more "Mainstream" products too now...

promotion, DT don't seem to push these products half as hard as RS/Marz, they're probably more interested in the higher end OEM market and Aftermarket anyway, but both are a bit of a challenge when your up against the other Big 4 listed above...

Out of interest who is the biggest supplier of bicycle forks (OEM and/or After market?)

Posted 6 months ago #
andrewh - Member

I don't think DT ever shook off the connection with PACE. When pace sold off that side of the business there were struggling with build and reliability issues. DT did nothing about changing the look of the product and even give the forks similar ID's. They might be totally different inside and be a good forkbut they still look like PACE items to me.

Another fork that falls into this catagory is Magura, they always get good write ups but you never see many around, plus they can cost double that the equavilent RS

I totally agree with the first bit, I've had terrible experiances with Pace and won't go near their stuff with a steralised barge pole (although I am stuck with a set of forks ATM on spare bike, will go when budget allows)
Have Magura Durins on the race bike and they have been excellent though.

Out of interest who is the biggest supplier of bicycle forks (OEM and/or After market?)

In volume terms I would guess someone like RST, or maybe SRSuntour? Certainly not any of the 'posher' brands. Maybe someone who makes forks for others, Spinner maybe?

Posted 6 months ago #
pypdjl - Member

They are eye-wateringly expensive at full price, and as they are OEM on very few bikes you don't tend to see them cheap online.

Posted 6 months ago #
Sancho - Member

We dont seem to have customers asking for them for a start.
they are overly expensive, my past experience with them was that they were unpredictable, either ultra plush or never worked properly.

From what Ive seen most people buy them when they are massively reduced on-line.
Dont see them much advertised.
So not much incentive to stock them when you will only sell them when discounted for less than you paid, and nobody is asking to buy them
Same with Magura, we dont bother with any of their kit either.

Posted 6 months ago #
ransos - Member

As above, some of us haven't forgotten the unrealiability of our Pace forks.

Posted 6 months ago #
Sancho - Member

Same reason why were not committed to Commencal and Kona. Id like to but no one asks about them and we only sell them at the end of season when discounted.

Posted 6 months ago #
amphibian - Member

For me they've never appealed because of price, more limited servicing options and yes, aesthetics. I also suspect their profile is perceived as less 'cool' and possibly 'sick' than Fox and RS.

Posted 6 months ago #
Sancho - Member

They apear to be aimed at the XC Race market, which is a bit too niche

Posted 6 months ago #
b r - Member

Magura Thor's here, but bought in a sale. Very happy with them, a lot of miles and serviced/warrentied easily.

I've bought a few forks, but again only in sales - the rrp is scary on most.

Posted 6 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

ransos +1 (though in my case, it was friends direct experiences with them)
and unlike when SRAM took over Rockshox, DT Swiss has done nothing to improve this rep in my eyes.

Posted 6 months ago #
cookeaa - Member

As an aside, does anyone believe there's room in the market for another "Big" fork manufacturer?

That is to say some one other than the big 4 competing for a chunk of the same markets?

Or are other brands (DT, X-fusion, Society, RST, White Bros, Maverick, etc, etc) consigned to either "Niche"- High price, high function, questionable reliability, or simply "cheap"- heavy, basic function again with questionable reliability...
The only exception to both groups perhaps being Magura who seem to have established a very good reputation with a pretty small OEM or aftermarket presence....

Is the market just stacked against DT forks ever becoming big selling, mainstream products no matter how good they are?

This is only really based on my own perception of the forks market, and those in it.

Perception and fact seldom tie up....

Posted 6 months ago #
tonyd - Member

I got some XMC130s from the classifieds on here and absolutely love them. Had (albeit a tad worn) Revs on my HT before them and the XMC is waaaay better.

Never considered them before because of price, I wouldn't buy a brand new Fox/RS either but you see more of them second hand and often as good as new.

Posted 6 months ago #
mcboo - Member

I didnt know the Pace history. I like the black and white livery a lot, do think you see them more on race bikes, cant remember ever seeing a big burly set.

Posted 6 months ago #
joolsburger - Member

It's almost certianly price as for the cost of DT's you can get some top of the line RS or Fox. I only bought my Maguras as I found them new for under £300 in the states but I wouldn't pay the £600 they cost here.

Posted 6 months ago #
Rickos - Member

Startling difference of opinion between actual owners and those with their heads in the sand harking back to Pace who sold the fork dept, what, 5 or 6 years ago?

I'm more inclined to listen to the owners/users than the naysayers.

Posted 6 months ago #
The Swedish Chef - Member

Very popular over here in the XC scene, but otherwise non existent from a promotional point of view

Posted 6 months ago #
whytetrash - Member

XMC 130 user here... half price on CRC, plush as, rare, different to sheep brands, one service a yr...(by Pace out of guilt nowt up with performance)light, stiff.... what's not to like?

Posted 6 months ago #
honourablegeorge - Member

cookeaa - Member
As an aside, does anyone believe there's room in the market for another "Big" fork manufacturer?

That is to say some one other than the big 4 competing for a chunk of the same markets?

Or are other brands (DT, X-fusion, Society, RST, White Bros, Maverick, etc, etc) consigned to either "Niche"- High price, high function, questionable reliability, or simply "cheap"- heavy, basic function again with questionable reliability...

X-Fusion seem to be making some inroads at the lower end of the market, they're cheaper (at least in the US) than RS/Fox and getting good reviews.

Unfortunately for them, even if you produce a product cheaply but at a smaller volume, you'll probably still get undercut by OEM/discounted RockShox, and people will always reach for a "premium" brand at a discount before they'll buy something perceived as cheap.

Posted 6 months ago #
Waderider - Member

XMC130's here, amazing forks. Best component in my large collection of bikes and components.

Posted 6 months ago #
strike - Member

I have a set of DT EXM150 forks - they're brilliant. Really stiff, and now even plusher than new, since I just serviced them. Build quality on them seems very good, and nothing like the old Pace forks.

They were also easy to service/work on, once I'd got the correct tool to remove the top caps.

Posted 6 months ago #
bangin on - Member

totally loving mine!!

Posted 6 months ago #
Houns - Member

We best not big them up too much as everyone will be getting them then

Forgot to mention earlier, I've had 3 sets of Pace forks in the past which have been faultless. My last pair of RC41 fighters my mates couldn't believe how plush they were....The DT Swiss are even plusher

Posted 6 months ago #
ransos - Member

My last pair of RC41 fighters my mates couldn't believe how plush they were.

Interesting...I had RC41 XCAMs, I much prefer the Fox F120 RLCs I replaced them with.

An added bonus with Fox is that the stanchion hasn't come loose in the crown, thus avoiding a £250 repair.

Posted 6 months ago #
acjim - Member

This was a couple of years ago but I wouldn't go DT Swiss after watching a chaps RC41 fighters (the v.light 150mm ones?) damper go poop in the Alps - they just didn't seem to be as tough as the RS & Fox forks out there.

Looked nice though (and were light)

Posted 6 months ago #

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