EXT Storia & Arma V4

EXT has found a lot to change, though, despite the similar on-paper specs and modest changes in appearance from the V3 to V4 dampers; many of the tweaks focus on fitment, ease of use, and reliability. The high-speed compression adjuster now uses a 5 mm Allen key instead of a 12 mm box wrench, for easier trailside adjustments with a multi-tool. (The low-speed compression and HBO adjusters use a 4 mm Allen; the rebound adjuster has a knob.) The spring preload collar uses a finer thread pitch than the V3, for finer control over the spring preload. And the spring perches now use plastic thrust bearings, which clip into the ends of the spring to (1) better locate it for less chance of rubbing on the shock body and (2) reduce friction as the spring twists under compression.

The V4 dampers also now use a bladder rather than an internal floating piston (IFP) in their reservoirs, primarily because a bladder takes up less room, and allows for a smaller reservoir for better fitment on more bikes. To that same end, the reservoir has been moved closer to the end of the damper (i.e, closer to the eyelet).

Reducing noise was also a major point of emphasis for EXT. In addition to the aforementioned thrust bearings, the plastic guard on the main tube has been given a scalloped profile to reduce the chance of the spring rubbing. The damper has also been quieted down, with less noise generated as it cycles and oil moves through the valves. The Storia and Arma V3 required a plastic washer between the damper body and bottom-out bumper to keep the sharp-edged face of the damper from chewing up the bumper, but the V4 iterations now get a flat-faced damper body that does away with that potential source of rattling.