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EB16: German:A reworks the Kilo as an updated longer linkage fork

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German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_shock-detail

We’ve always been somehow enamored by the crazy look and promise of a better performing axle path of linkage suspension forks, so it was a pleasant surprise to see German Answer back working on their Kilo X-link fork design, 15 years after its first introduction. The last time we had seen the Kilo a couple of years back it was a bit closer to that original 1000g target weight, but this newest version gets a much longer linkage setup for improved stiffness, longer travel, and an upgrade to a lot of new trail standards that make it a viable option for proper cross country and marathon mountain bike riding, all at a still impressive light weight. Have a closer look…

German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_complete

The four-bar linkage remains, but German:A extends the lower pivot about halfway down the fork leg to greatly improve overall stiffness, that pairs with the option to upgrade to both a thru-axle and tapered steerer to really make this handle as precisely as any other lightweight cross country fork on the market.

German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_axle-path

Gone are the days of settling for flex just to satisfy your inner weight weenie. And to make it more trail worthy they have bumped the travel up a bit to 100mm and added support for all wheel diameters.

German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_front German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_linkage-detail

With the added stiffness does come a bit more weight, and German:A might be better suited to rename the fork the Kilo-and-a-Half. The reshaped Kilo X-link fork weighs in starting at 1480g in its lightest setup with their SLR:light air shock. To add a bit more adjustability to the shock the Air-Force Kilo damper adds another 40g or even a light steel coil spring shock for an extra 160g over the standard light shock. The air shocks also offer a remote lockout that can tack on another 60g. In the end you are getting a fork about the same weight a top end SID with improved axle path. If you are looking to still keep under 1000g, their Xcite Xero telescoping fork has got you covered for the same travel even now in a 29er under a kilogram.

German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_kinematics

A big highlight of the linkage redesign, beside stiffness and longer travel, is the total elimination of brake dive. Telescoping forks tend to dive under hard braking making them much less supple and burning through travel when you need to slow down through the rough stuff. But this latest fork movement on the Kilo X-link is designed not only to stay active when braking, but to also move in such a way to keep fork trail consistent through the travel so handling remains more consistent even as the fork is compressing. That means that while a typical fork gets more twitchy handling when it dives into its travel, the Kilo remains easy to control no matter how it compresses.

German-A_Kilo-X-link_100mm-linkage-cross-country-suspension-fork_thru-axle

The fork adds 10mm to grow to 100mm of travel across all other options, and is now offered in 26″, 27.5″ & 29″ specific axle-to-crown measurements. It also gives the option for either straight 1.125″ steerers for those of you looking to upgrade an older bike, or with a 1.5″ tapered carbon steerer tube for a more modern build. The new carbon lowers are also available in two axle options: again with standard QR drops for a retro build or German:A’s own 48g QR15 thru-axle to get the most out of the new fork.

German-A.de

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18 Comments
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xc-fr
xc-fr
7 years ago

no word about the most important bug in the past: distance axle to crown?

Kristina Koscova
Kristina Koscova
7 years ago
Reply to  xc-fr

The article says 10mm higher A2C than standard telescopic fork

notChuck Norris
notChuck Norris
7 years ago

it does not

Dinger
Dinger
7 years ago

“The fork adds 10mm to grow to 100mm of travel across all other options, and is now offered in 26″, 27.5″ & 29″ specific axle-to-crown measurements.”

I think that means 10mm more than the 2014 last-gen fork shown in the link contained in the 1st paragraph, not 10mm more than a telescoping model.

notChuck Norris
notChuck Norris
7 years ago
Reply to  Dinger

it only talks about the travel, nothing about axle to crown length

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

I thought the old version looked just technological enough to look cool. This one ends up looking downright goofy, though maybe as not as bad as a Lauf fork. They previous version of the fork has 90mm of travel, so they added around half a kilogram to get 10mm more travel. It still is a light fork, and probably much stiffer than the one the previous version, but man, that’s a lot of tubbage for an additional centimeter of travel.

Dirk Bergstrom
7 years ago

Replace those chunky aluminum linkages with carbon and I’ll succumb to technolust. As is the thing looks like something you’d find in a tiny booth at the back of a regional bike show.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Dirk Bergstrom

Forsooth.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

It also looks like it doesn’t come in Boost. Would be nice for it to include the most modern standard.
Makes me wish for the return of the one-sided anti-dive USE linkage fork.

Drew Diller
7 years ago

Pretty neat. I like the notion of a fork that has an exposed eye-to-tye shock unit. Buy a second shock… then swap back and forth between your A and B shocks while one of them is on the mechanic’s bench at any given time. Your bike spends less time in the shop, your suspension mechanic still has what he needs to do his job, you spend more time riding.

I do agree with Dirk’s first statement. Based on what I’ve seen from German:A before, a full carbon linkage arrangement sounds like an improvement.

iperov
iperov
7 years ago

there is no tools to disassemble links for maintenance and clean sand from them,
so I trashed my kilo 1.3 fork after 3 month of usage.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  iperov

That’s useful information to know. Did they cover it on warranty? What kind of conditions were you riding in?

iperov
iperov
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim

riding conditions is sandy urban
I didnt used warranty, bcuz send to other country waste my time.

honkie
honkie
7 years ago
Reply to  iperov

I ride a Kilo fork for 4 years now and ride in any(XC) conditions,snow rain sand, you name it ,and it is still going strong
worn after 3month is almost not possible,
to bad you did not use youre warranty..
(because they are not cheap 🙂

Fantomphish
Fantomphish
7 years ago

Reminds me of the old amp research fork… I’m not totally sold but it’s a bloody good effort

SNIPE-HUNTER
7 years ago

Yup, Horst Leitner is slapping his forehead… why are we still so far behind?!

Axa
Axa
6 years ago

Very interesting to see what the future will bring it both Geman:A and http://www.motion-france.com/en get to keep pushing the evolution of new ideas and solutions forward.
The idea of not having to rely on dampening at all to solve the brake dive issue. And no stanchion to scratch or stiction to worry about. Veeery tempting…. Worn bushings are relatively cheap and easy to replace..

Urkel
3 years ago

A friend an I bought Dahon folding bikes with shocks/suspension from German-A. The bikes were very rarely used and in any case two of four shocks have developed leaks in the seals causing them to freeze up. Service is expensive and I would not buy again a bike with this suspension even though it’s a technically nifty solution.

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