Bright F929 XCO - new MTB upside-down fork
BIKE
· 25.08.2022
Massive carbon stanchions paired with meticulous milling and black anodising. Even when stationary, the Bright Racing Shocks F929 XCO exudes an attractive dynamism. The manufacturer's name is emblazoned in large letters on the carbon fibre of the new Italian upside-down suspension fork for mountain bikes.
But only very few people will be familiar with the company. Yet Pablo Fiorilli, the obsessive driving force behind Bright, was already designing and selling suspension forks in the early 1990s. Until 1999, when demand collapsed, the suspension forks from Fimoco (the name at the time) were also a household name outside Italy. Fimoco even won a downhill world championship title in the early years.
After working in research and the aerospace industry in the meantime, Fiorilli returned to the bike industry in 2015. He decided to make a new start with Bright Racing Shocks without compromising on product design and material costs.
Upside down forks up to 150 millimetres
The F929 XCO cross-country fork with 110 millimetres of suspension travel is just one result of his passion for mountain biking. The product range also includes two other upside-down suspension forks with up to 150 millimetres of travel.
The speciality: None of the forks are based on conventional solutions. Each one relies on details that go beyond the norm. The focus is on what is technically feasible, not the most cost-effective alternative.
In order to monitor the high product quality, all parts are manufactured in-house. Even the carbon stanchions are produced in-house. However, with a price tag of 1600 euros, the circle of customers who prefer to race the forks from Italy is thinning out.
Bright F929 XCO: How the chic Italian rides
The Bright F929 XCO is not a suspension fork that impresses in the "shop test". If you squeeze the built-in fork when stationary, you'll be surprised at the high level of friction you feel as it dives in.
On the trail, however, the upside-down fork reveals a different face: it is high in its travel and offers decent progression against bottoming out. But once in motion, it irons out nasty root passages and everything that hits it with aplomb. Only a few fast hits are less well absorbed and transmit a lot of feedback to the rider's hands.
However, there is also a suitable damping cartridge in the range for less high-speed compression. A lack of stiffness, which is often a shortcoming of upside-down forks, was not noticeable when riding. The measured torsional stiffness was above that of other upside-down forks, but still below that of classic telescopic forks. The braking stiffness is higher.
The Bright fork in comparison
Interview with Pablo Fiorilli, founder and developer of Bright Racing Shocks
BIKE: When it comes to the design and function of your forks, you go completely your own way. What do your products do better than the market giants?
Pablo Fiorilli: Mainstream products are designed to please everyone and are always subject to cost pressure, which leads to compromises. We, on the other hand, live high performance down to the smallest detail and deliver a racing chassis.
What type of rider are your forks aimed at?
For anyone looking for long-lasting performance from a fork with the option of updating and tuning it. Our products are not subject to a product cycle based on marketing - which is often far too short - but are based on technology and the use of materials. In addition, the relationship with the customer is extremely important to us in order to be able to respond to special needs.
Why do you rely on a carbon chassis for all forks and only recommend a minimal SAG when riding?
The use of carbon serves for much more than just weight reduction. It was only thanks to the specific behaviour of carbon that we were able to get to grips with the low torsional stiffness for an upside-down fork. As soon as our forks are compressed under load, they achieve a very high torsional and braking stiffness, which sets them apart from other USD forks. As the unsprung mass on our forks is very low, the front wheel can be accelerated quickly and reacts faster to the surface conditions - even without a high static SAG. In addition, our hydraulic seals work very sensitively. The geometry is better maintained thanks to the lower SAG.
Back in the 90s, you designed and sold suspension forks under the Fimoco label. What made you decide to build forks again after your long break from the bike industry?
A sentence from Steve Jobs' biography: "Steve didn't want to make products for everyone, but for himself and his friends." These words encouraged me to give up my career in the aerospace industry. My penchant for perfection in terms of product design combined with a strong passion for mountain biking ultimately also contributed to this.
