Trust first debuted its Message linkage fork nearly two years ago, and as soon as eyes were cast over its rather funky aesthetic, opinion was divided.
The Message is a 130mm travel trail-focussed fork that, Trust claims, is best suited to light trail riding. We know people have been getting much rowdier on the Message than Trust hoped and being able to send it beyond what the fork was initially conceived to do is probably testament to how it performs.
Suspension guru Dave Weagle, who’s also famed for Trek and Devinici’s Split Pivot system and the infamous DW-Link first seen on Iron Horse bikes, is behind the linkage fork company. Using his expertise, Trust has now developed a bigger 178mm brother to the Message, dubbed the Shout, hopefully taking off where the Message’s capabilities end.
Trust Shout fork details and specifications
Using a trailing multi-link suspension platform, the Shout has a slightly redesigned system to accommodate more travel and increase the fork’s ability to withstand stresses generated by gnarly riding that's normally associated with longer travel forks.
This unique suspension design offers 178mm of travel that Trust has dubbed ‘contour travel’ because it has a dynamic wheel path. That means the front wheel moves upwards and rearwards at the same time as the suspension compressions, literally getting out of the way of the bumps you’re riding over.
The fork’s axle path means that as it compresses through its travel it lessens the feel of head angle change as the mechanic trail number increases to offset the increasing head angle caused by a fork compressing (find out more about fork trail here).
This, Trust claims, increases traction, control and stability allowing you to ride much faster and more easily.
The fork is both 27.5in and 29in wheel compatible with a 15 x 110mm Boost axle and can take up to a 203mm brake rotor with a 20 adaptor.
The fork is made entirely from carbon fibre and because the whole chassis is one single piece Trust claims it does a great job of reducing fore and aft flex.
The lack of flex and because the fork’s chassis and suspension movement aren’t inter-connected (unlike a telescoping fork with stanchions and lowers that to do both) means that there’s very little stiction, making for an incredibly active feeling fork. Or so it's claimed.
The pivots, damper, air spring and internals are all made from aluminium, however.
The fork uses a twin-tube thru-shaft damper to control both compression and rebound characteristics with adjustment through a small port on the side, but it also has a three-position compression adjuster that's located on the top of the fork with firm, medium and open modes.
In firm mode, there’s a high-speed compression blow-off valve that lets the fork absorb big hits. Also in the firm setting, the first 20 per cent of the fork’s travel is free to move and then it locks up and provides a firm pedalling platform.
The firm mode is for climbing, the medium for flow and jump trails, and the open mode is for the gnarliest terrain you can find.
The air spring’s volume can be adjusted with Huck Pucks. Up to five spacers can be installed in each air spring and installation only requires two Allen keys.
- Travel: 178mm
- Wheel size: 27.5in, 27.5 in, 29in
- Tyre clearance: Up to 2.6in for 29in wheels and up to 2.8in for 27.5in wheels
- Rotor size: Up to 203mm
- Claimed weight: 2,170g
- Adjustments: External rebound, adjustable low-speed compression in mid and open modes
- Axle: 15 x 110mm Boost
- Steerer tube: Tapered
Trust Shout fork pricing and availability
The Trust fork will retail for $1975 and should be available from 16 September 2019.
