EXT Vecta
MSRP: $775 / €749 (including VAT, w/o spring)
Adjustments: Rebound, high- and low-speed compression, climb switch
Sizes Offered:
- Metric:
- 210 x 50 / 52.5 / 55 mm
- 230 x 57.5 / 60 / 62.5 / 65 mm
- 250 x 67.5 / 70 / 72.5 / 75 mm
- Metric Trunnion:
- 185 x 50 / 52.5 / 55 mm
- 205 x 57.5 / 60 / 62.5 / 65 mm
- 225 x 67.5 / 70 / 72.5 / 75 mm
Intro
EXT got its start in the high-end motorsports world and has carried that ethos into its mountain bike offerings, making a range of high-end, high-performance shocks and (more recently) forks.
Their new Vecta coil shock isn’t inexpensive, but it’s a lot more affordable than the flagship Storia and Arma V4 dampers, and it still offers most of the same features and promises similar performance. So, how has EXT done it?
We’ve got a Vecta on the way for review and will start spending time on it very soon, but in the meantime, let’s check out the details of this new Trail / Enduro shock.
Design
The high-level design details of the Vecta are largely similar to those of the Storia V4, which is EXT’s flagship Trail / Enduro shock.
The Vecta is coil-sprung and uses a monotube damper design, with externally adjustable rebound, high- and low-speed compression, and a climb switch. The Vecta gets a hydraulic bottom-out (aka, “HBO”) circuit as well. However, unlike the Storia V4 and DH-oriented Arma V4, the HBO on the Vecta isn’t externally adjustable.
The silhouette of the Vecta is also extremely similar to that of the Storia V4, with the Vecta’s lack of an HBO adjuster on the bridge being the main difference. EXT says that the Vecta uses the same valving as the Storia / Arma V4, and the Vecta also uses a beefed-up negative spring to avoid issues with top-out clunking.
So, how has EXT managed to make the Vecta (MSRP: $775) so much cheaper than the Storia V4 ($1,100)?
Dropping the external HBO adjuster is a start (the HBO circuit can still be re-valved as part of a service if needed). The Vecta also gets a bit less machining on certain parts (e.g., the spring rub protector on the damper body and the reservoir bridge) to reduce machine time, presumably at the expense of a few grams. The Vecta’s main shaft is also chrome plated, in contrast to the diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on the V4 dampers.
The biggest difference, though, is that the Vecta is offered with a base aftermarket tune, instead of being custom valved for a given bike / rider combination (which is the case with the Storia and Arma).
EXT says that they’ve opened the external adjustment ranges wider on the Vecta to be able to accommodate more folks on more bikes via the base tune. Custom valving is still available as well, but would need to be done as part of a service rather than being included by default.
To help simplify tuning, EXT is also launching a new “RideMaster” web app to provide baseline tuning recommendations and other setup tips. As they put it:
“We’re not here to play suspension wizards or tell you there’s only one way to ride or set things up. Every rider’s got their own style and feel – our goal is just to help you find your ideal setup easily. The app gives you a solid starting point, some handy references, and leaves the experimenting to you.”
The app also tracks EXT products by serial number to allow you to keep track of tuning and other info.
EXT is also offering an extended five-year warranty on the Vecta. A yearly full service is required to maintain warranty coverage.
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) How does the Vecta perform relative to other coil shocks intended for Trail / Enduro usage, and how close does it get to the performance of the Storia V4?
(2) What about tuning? EXT has traditionally kept the external adjustment ranges on their dampers relatively narrow, which is a deliberate choice for performance reasons, as laid out by EXT founder, Franco Fratton, in our Deep Dive on Suspension series on Bikes & Big Ideas (listen to Pt. 1, Pt. 2, and Pt. 3). Given that it doesn’t come with a custom tune from the factory, does the Vecta have enough external adjustability to cover a wide range of riders and bikes?
Bottom Line (For Now)
EXT isn’t known for making budget products, and while the Vecta still isn’t cheap in the grand scheme, it’s a lot more affordable than their flagship Storia and Arma V4 shocks. And yet, it still maintains many of the same features and promises largely similar performance. That’s a compelling proposition, and we’re very eager to see if the Vecta delivers.
We’ve got a Vecta on the way for review, so stay tuned for a Flash Review very soon, and a Full Review to follow.