On the trail, the Storia provides a sensitive and controlled ride. Small-bump compliance is excellent and the shock provides a general feeling of comfort and security when you charge a rough trail. Paying attention to the smaller details it’s easy to feel the effect of the different adjustments, and we arrived pretty quickly at settings we were happy with. Our test bike features a progressive rear suspension linkage which develops a very low overall leverage ratio, this works well together with a coil shock to retain both sensitivity and support. The hydraulic bottom out bumper of the Storia works really well in real life, and we particularly appreciate just how smooth the transition is as it activates. Coupled with the high degree of control provided by the rebound circuit, the Storia is very well behaved in jumping scenarios where it again promotes a sense of calm and security.
The hydraulic bottom out feature of the Storia really sets it apart from the others, with unrivalled smoothness as you hit the last portion of travel. You can feel the rubber bumper on both the Öhlins and the FOX as you hit it, whereas the HBC on the Storia is completely unnoticeable. This feature is particularly fun if you run a spring rate on the lower end of the spectrum for your weight, to increase sag and small bump compliance without compromising too much on bigger hits.
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