Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit

Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit

MSRP:

  • Single-crown versions: $500 CAD ($366 USD at the time of publication)
  • Dual-crown versions: $545 CAD ($399 USD at the time of publication)
David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot V2 for Blister
Vorsprung Smashpot V2

Fork Compatibility:

Review Navigation:  Specs //  Intro //  Design & Features //  Bottom Line (For Now)

Intro

The Vorsprung Smashpot has been around for several years now, and its general purpose hasn’t changed much since the original iteration that we reviewed a few years back. In short, the Smashpot lets you convert a fork to a coil-spring setup, and you can do so on a whole bunch of modern(ish) air-sprung forks. In addition to the spring itself, the Smashpot offers an adjustable hydraulic bottom-out circuit (HBO) to add some compression damping deep in the fork’s stroke.

If you’re unfamiliar, you can check out our review of the original Smashpot for a much deeper dive into the upsides and downsides of coil vs. air springs. But in short, they each have their pros and cons, but coil springs are pretty rare in forks these days, and Vorsprung aimed to fill that void in the market with their conversion kit.

While its core purpose is the same, the new Smashpot V2 features a bunch of tweaks and refinements to the system. These include an increased range of HBO adjustability, the addition of a dual-rate progressive spring arrangement for longer-travel applications, and an extended travel range to 140–200 mm — including support for some dual-crown DH forks. Let’s get into what’s new for the Smashpot V2.

Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Coil Spring Fork Conversion Kit
Vorsprung Smashpot V2

Design

The general design of the Smashpot V2 isn’t super different from the original version. It’s still a modular system that uses the same core assembly across the range of fork fitments, just with different foot studs and/or top caps, depending on the fork in question. The compatible forks now include several dual-crown options, in contrast to the original version, which maxed out at 180 mm travel and was only offered for a range of single-crown forks.

That said, the Smashpot V2 has lost 10 mm of travel from the short end, which now starts at 140 mm rather than 130. The desired travel is still set via spacers installed under the topout spring, but you can’t extend the travel past the maximum configuration allowed by the fork chassis / damper / stock air spring. So, if you’re dreaming of a 200mm-travel Fox 36 or something along those lines, forget it.

For setups in the 140 to 170 mm travel range, the Smashpot still uses a single main coil spring, alongside a small topout spring. That topout spring has been lengthened on the V2 to prevent a topout clunk if you’re running especially fast rebound.

David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot V2 for Blister
Vorsprung Smashpot V2 Topout Spring

If you’re running the Smashpot V2 at 180 to 200 mm travel, it now uses a second positive spring that’s stacked in series with the main one to give a progressive spring curve. The smaller secondary spring has a lighter rate than the larger main spring. The goal with that setup is to improve small-bump sensitivity off the top before the stiffer main spring takes over deeper in the travel.

Vorsprung also makes the spring-rate differential between the two springs greater as you move up in stiffness for the combined package. So, heavier and/or more aggressive riders get a more significant ramp-up in spring rate, while lighter/mellower folks still have an easy time using full travel.

David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot V2 for Blister
Vorsprung Smashpot V2 — Dual-Rate Springs
Vorsprung has also tweaked the Smashpot V2’s hydraulic bottom-out (HBO) assembly. It’s still externally adjustable at the bottom of the spring-side leg, but it now uses an Allen key instead of a knob for a lower-profile assembly that’s less susceptible to impact damage, and the overall range of adjustment has been widened as well. The HBO circuit can still be re-valved if you want a softer or firmer overall range.
David Golay reviews the Vorsprung Smashpot V2 for Blister
Vorsprung Smashpot V2 HBO Adjuster
The Smashpot V2 also now uses 5wt oil in the spring-side bath / HBO assembly, rather than 15-20wt that was used in the V1. Vorsprung says that this change makes for better lubrication and more consistent performance in cooler temperatures.

Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About

(1) How noticeable is the dual-rate spring arrangement on longer-travel Smashpot configurations? Coil-sprung forks have real upsides when it comes to initial sensitivity and traction, but it can be tricky to make them feel balanced on bikes with notably progressive rear suspension. The original Smashpot’s HBO helped a bit there, but does the dual-rate spring fare even better?

(2) How much have the other refinements changed the Smashpot’s performance? The original was already a compelling option for the right folks, but have the updates broadened its appeal?

Bottom Line (For Now)

The original Vorsprung Smashpot did a very good job of improving both the initial sensitivity and midstroke support in many air-sprung forks, but it came at a hefty weight penalty and wasn’t available for dual-crown DH forks, where that weight penalty is arguably the least important.

The new Smashpot V2 presumably still adds a bunch of weight, but it’s available for more forks, in longer-travel configurations, and with a compelling-sounding dual-rate spring for more gravity-oriented setups. We’ve got a Smashpot V2 on the way for testing as soon as the dual-crown versions become available, so stay tuned for much more on it very soon.

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