Bike Build Story: The second part of our build story for our Enduro. As already explained in part one, we are trying to build a bike "Made in Europe". The Selva fork from Formula fits the theme perfectly. In times of Brexit and consumers unsettled by scandals, I thought about it: We build a bike from "regional products", which means we have always tried to find what we are looking for in the European environment. That didn't always work out, or we used non-European parts even if they were only available as custom parts or were simply not available. The story should explicitly motivate self-construction.
Why did we choose Formula Selva?
Two essential points had to be covered by the fork for our Enduro. Firstly, it should fit the area of application technically and in terms of design. Secondly, it should be made in the EU. Formula is probably best known to most bikers for the brakes that the Italians build. The suspension forks often fall behind in perception... wrongly! The forks of the Italians convince us again and again. I was so enthusiastic about the 35 that I quickly became enthusiastic about the idea of the Selva. In Prato, a city in Tuscany with almost 200.000 inhabitants, the essential steps are taking place to let the forks see the light of day. Some parts such as the casting or the standpipes are sourced from suppliers. However, both development and assembly take place in Prato. So the Selva is the right choice for our bike built in the EU.
The technical solutions of Formula Selva
Good and fast service is possible with the Selva, as with other forks from the Italians, thanks to the logical and simple structure of the forks. Incidentally, Formula has its own service in Germany, customers are helped quickly and reliably. Let's take a closer look at some of the special features of the fork.
Let's start with the things you see from the outside. On the one hand, there are the massive 35 millimeter stanchions and the voluminous fork crown. Together with the tapered steerer, they connect the front wheel to the frame's head tube. This is where the decision about the rigidity of the fork is made. And in this regard, the fork does not have to hide. The casting also contributes to this. Formula speaks of the "hexagon design". You want to have found the optimal stiffness: So stiff that the fork does not twist and can work optimally. Soft and flexible enough not to let every vibration penetrate to the driver. Please note: more rigidity is not always better.
We weighed the fork with an uncut steerer tube at 1987 grams. There is nothing wrong with the rigidity. Not in terms of stability or durability either, but more on that later in the test of the complete bike. Now Formula says the maximum stiffness is not expedient if you want the best handling. For years, however, I have been taught by various manufacturers that only a stiff fork can work properly. It also sounds logical: if something jams or bends somewhere, then it doesn't run smoothly. This also applies to the inner workings of their forks, confirms Formula. In order to solve this, the so-called “Interal Floating System” was devised in Prato. The "pistons" that move inside the stanchions, both on the spring side and on the damping side, are mounted on the piston rods with joints. So you can always slide optimally in the tube, even if the fork twists. In addition, the "Dual Coil Technology" can optimize the response. When the fork is compressed, the stanchions slip softly in the super smooth polymer bushings. The reason: the air spring does not have to run from the start, it is preceded by a small steel spring. This is "actuated" first when the force increases, the air piston changes from static friction to sliding friction. With many other forks, this moment is clearly perceptible as a jerking. The right air pressure is easy to find thanks to the table on the casting.
The cushioning of the Selva with well thought-out features
When the rider sits on the bike, he sees three adjustment knobs on the right side. It looks complicated and technical, but once you get the hang of it, it's simple and absolutely brilliant. The golden lever activates the lockout function. The black adjuster, which is operated with an Allen key, changes the hardness of the lockout or the force required to allow compression when the lockout is activated. The high-speed compression stage is also checked in this unit. A great feature for long climbs, tar passages or similar situations. The remaining blue wheel allows you to adjust the compression in the low-speed range. The reaction to slower movements such as weight shifts or slowly driven steps. On the underside, a red wheel is responsible for the rebound. The adjusters grip well and have a high-quality effect, the adjustment range is practical. Under the name "Remote Control Cartridge" there is a handlebar lever for actuating the lockout that can be retrofitted to all Formula forks. Both on this remote control and on the standard lever, the lockout can only be partially activated, it then acts like a strong compression adjustment. If you want to change the characteristics of the fork, you can also work on the inside in addition to the external adjustment options. The suspension travel can be changed using spacers.
CTS: Formula Selva's trump card
No matter what a manufacturer does, someone doesn't like it. If the fork is very soft, tourers and beginners are happy, but racers complain about the lack of feedback. If the design is tight and effective, the racers will be happy and the standard driver will lose comfort. Formula has an ace up its sleeve with the "CTS System". CTS stands for Compression Tuning System.
The component responsible for the performance, in terms of compression, can be replaced. There are 7 versions in total, all of which are easily interchangeable. The three "Regular" variants correspond to 3 hardenings of a rather "bulky characteristic curve". It's soft at the beginning and becomes progressively more pronounced towards the end. The three "Special" valves are all a bit harder at the beginning and then run more linearly. Very aggressive and active riders will enjoy these setups. The seventh variant was specially developed for e-mountain bikes, here the speeds are sometimes higher and the weight of the bike is higher, which is why it makes sense to set it up yourself. Florian Wieser, the contact person for Formula Germany, shows how easy the exchange is.
What else is there to say about Formula Selva?
The Formula Selva is available in three variants. One covers B+ and 29, with 120-160mm travel and 51mm offset. The 27,5 inch fork comes in two versions, 120-160mm and 170-180mm. Both with 46mm offset. All forks are available in black, white and Formula's signature Ultra Violet colour. You can choose between a 15mm and a 20mm axle. The axles always come as quick-release axles, but the lever can be removed if desired. Then the axle can be operated with an Allen key.
The fork comes with a suitable pump, oil and spacers for the suspension travel are also included in the package. A great feature is the ability to change the travel internally. This is the same principle for all Formula forks. The following video shows how it works.
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