Long message ahead! Please read it all if you're thinking of a Highlander.
I've been rather silent on here with my Highlander. If you have read my earlier posts you'll know I've struggled with getting the balance of climbing and descending. Climbing was so bad for me that it was like having a downhill bike in both senses; amazing descending and painful climbing. After fiddling around with it for months I just decided to stop riding it.
Being open with you it has been a massive frustration for me to have such a stunning bike, that other owners are thoroughly enjoying and I found a real chore to ride. I thought it was set up and something I just couldn't nail despite having comparable shocks before with All the dials and adjustment.
I've tried 3 spring rates on my Kitsuma coil, and the air version and never found it to work. I was set to sell it and consider it a failed experience and experiment.
Over several months I've been engaged in constant and ongoing conversation with Ben @deviatecycles and he was tireless in working to find a solution.
Different shock settings and set ups and finally he made what seemed to me at least a strange and obscure recommendation.
With lockdown going on for almost 4 months in Melbourne I didn't get the chance to have the solution implemented as the distributor here was too far away for us to meet.
Once that ended, I delivered the frame to him and he turned it around in ~24 hours. Ben sent what was needed via express post to get here in time. Upon receiving it, and inspecting it there was some friction in the idler which had me massively concerned as it was higher than when I first got it.
Nonetheless, I built it back up.
This was in part to satisfy my curiosity as I've ridden the Forbidden Dreadnought in the meantime and that's outstanding both up and downhill. Ben, confident of his bike's abilities stated it would contend well with it.
So, it's built back up and I set to work climbing EVERYTHING I can in my local trail network. I put the air Kitsuma shock on and at first I was uncertain. Then after one particular climb which is VERY punishing I crested it feeling very confused. It made no sense but it felt better. I repeated climbs just because I could.
As I was on my own it's hard to determine exactly much better but my last ride on it beforehand was nothing like this. (I also don't use Strava).
So, next ride I put the coil on and go again at some harder hills with some mates. Not only am I keeping up but overtaking them. It makes little sense to me but what Ben suggested has worked tremendously well.
So, I'm keeping the Highlander. It is now what I'd hoped and anticipated it to be. What I want to reiterate is that Ben and Chris at Deviate CARE so very much about what owners are experiencing. Even when I must have been frustrating the life out of Ben and having meltdowns via email over my experience, he stayed composed and worked to find solutions. Never have I experienced anything like it.
If you're looking for THE bike, with support that quite simply sets the standard of customer care, you've found it.
Thanks Deviate!