The most important facts in brief

The old 535 was idiosyncratic to ride. Where other suspension forks used 150 millimetres of 160 millimetres, the DT fork released just 120 millimetres of travel. At the same time, it damped the forces acting on it just as well as the competition. The travel-dependent damping was very soft for the first few centimeters, after that it remained high in the travel and it was almost impossible to use the entire stroke of the fork. The setup of the fork was also very complex and the high rebound required was unusual. Was the F 535 a "bad" product? No, it was simply different.

The ride feel and set-up of the successor is now similar to what we are used to from other manufacturers. New is the Plushport, a travel-dependent damping system that is driven by a so-called bypass in the oil damper and generates varying degrees of compression damping over the entire suspension travel. The steel spring in the air chamber - called Coilpair - has been retained and revised, which ensures a smooth response at the beginning of the suspension travel. The fork is only available for 29-inch wheels and is available in four versions from 120 to 160 millimetres of travel. The 150 mm version was tested, which weighs 2140 grams with a slightly shortened steerer tube.

First impression

Externally, the suspension fork is very similar to its predecessor, the adjustment options are now on the outside and unscrewing the cover is history. The setup is therefore quick and easy: Set the SAG to 20 percent, adjust the rebound as usual and off you go on the trail

In use

It becomes clear within the first few meters that the ride feel has nothing in common with the old fork. In a blind test, you wouldn't be able to tell the DT fork apart from the competition. It offers a lot of support in berms and on jumps. This without sacrificing comfort. The suspension travel is almost fully utilized in rough terrain, but without bottoming out. Trails with lots of braking bumps and repetitive bumps are simply ironed flat by the 535. It is precise to control without being too torsionally stiff. At the beginning of the travel, the fork gives good feedback from the ground. When the Plushport damping reaches the next stage, you feel a little less feedback.

Conclusion

With the new edition of the F 535 One, DT Swiss is moving in the direction of "familiar" riding behavior. In terms of performance, the fork is on a par with the market leaders. It is to be hoped that the qualities are retained in the long term, which was unfortunately not the case with the predecessor

Recommendation

For just under 200 francs less, DT Swiss offers the F 535. The cheaper model comes without a push port and coilpair.

Manufacturer

www.dtswiss.com