Kingdom Switch review
Ti full-sus beauty that requires some suspension fiddling
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Kingdom’s stunning titanium Switch frame builds on the success of the Danish brand’s shorter-travel Hex – and is designed to be ridden even harder.
Tidy Ti frame and handbuilt shock
Although it shares its twin-link suspension design with the Hex, the Switch gets an additional direct-mount shock linkage. Kingdom claims this makes it less progressive in the last part of its 160mm (6.3in) of travel.
There’s a good choice of shocks, including the fancy handbuilt PUSH Elevensix damper we tested. The welds are neat, as is the internal cable/hose routing (though we found the latter a little rattly). Other details include a threaded BB shell, replaceable dropouts and Ti pivot and shock bolts. The Switch has been designed around a single chainring, with no provision for a front derailleur.
One for the fettlers
It took us a little while to get our heads around the Kingdom’s Elevensix shock. The twin independent compression circuits offer tool-free high and low-speed damping adjustment, and you can adjust low-speed rebound too. As we spent our time on the Switch winching up and razzing down, we opted for a firm, fire road-friendly ‘climb setting’ and a more supple, bump-eating ‘downhill setting’.
On fast, undulating trails the Switch felt lively but controlled, breezing over obstacles
The stiff ENVE wheels can be loaded hard into turns for maximum exit speed, and the quick pick-up of the Chris King rear hub means you can put the power down with almost instant results. In tightly spaced, linked turns the 350mm BB height did mean we had to work harder to keep things fluid, but you do adapt to it quickly.
Point the Switch the other way and a quick flick of the shock’s lever means (in our setting, at least) next to no pedal bob and a relatively easy potter back up the hill. At 14.38kg (31.72lb) it may sound a little hefty, but it climbs easily enough. Our early sample was 6mm shorter than the production bike, and that extra length should make things even more comfortable during long, seated climbs.
Specs as tested:
- Frame: Ti-3Al-2.5V titanium alloy, 160mm (6.3in) travel
- Fork: RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air, 160mm (6.3in) travel
- Shock: PUSH Elevensix
- Drivetrain: SRAM X01 (1×11)
- Rims: ENVE M70
- Hubs: Chris King
- Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary TrailStar 27.5×2.35in (F) and Maxxis High Roller II EXO 27.5×2.4in (R)
- Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC
- Bar: ENVE DH, 800mm
- Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK2, 35mm
- Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth
- Saddle: Fabric Scoop
- Weight: 14.38kg (31.7lb), medium size without pedals
Authors
Rob Weaver is BikeRadar's technical editor-in-chief. Rob manages all of the testing here at BikeRadar and across our magazines, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus. Rob first graced the pages of MBUK back in 2001 when working as a freelance writer and went on to start testing bikes for the title in 2007. In 2010 he joined the team full-time and has been keeping a close eye on all things test-related ever since. Rob’s expansive knowledge of bikes comes courtesy of his passion for racing. He cut his teeth racing cross-country mountain bikes in the early 90s before finding his feet in downhill. After many years competing on the UK national circuit (including a year attempting to race UCI DH World Cups), Rob realised his know-how and passion for bike setup, tech and writing clearly outweighed his racing ability. A degree in sports technology and decades of riding experience all help to give Rob a thorough understanding of what’s needed to create a great bike or product. While Rob’s a mountain biker at heart and never happier than when he’s sliding down a Welsh hillside, he’s more than happy to put the miles in on the road or gravel bike, too.
