Price: 139€ (incl. VAT)
The compression damping has remained unchanged since the very beginning, offering a simple yet effective damping system with a shim stack and a low-speed needle—nothing more than what has long been used in motocross forks and in virtually every shock absorber out there. But the bike world evolves, and why not take a step further than might strictly be necessary?One key aspect that cannot be achieved with a conventional shim stack is increasing low- and mid-speed damping without also raising high-speed damping. You can work with preload on the shim stack, but preload is still preload—and you usually feel that in your hands, in the form of added harshness.
We are therefore introducing the new compression damping unit: The Smooth Operator.
At the heart of the new Smooth Operator is the so-called Oscillator unit. A conventional shim stack sits on it, but it’s stiffer than the previous version. This shim stack is not preloaded; it’s mounted normally, just like any other shim stack. Its diameter is now larger than before (18 mm instead of 14 mm shims), allowing for higher flow in the high-speed range.
The shim unit can oscillate thanks to a blow-off shim, which allows the Oscillator unit to open and close. This only occurs at higher damping speeds, reducing the high-speed compression forces. Until that point, the shim stack operates normally—sensitive, yet with more resistance than the previous compression unit.It achieves a balance between strong low-speed support and plush absorption of big hits, without introducing preload into the system. The Smooth Operator has been installed in all forks since we switched from the Travelizer air spring unit to our TravelRanger.
As of December 2025 all new forks are fitted with the Smooth Operator except Samurai / Essential. It is retrofittable to all previous forks, except the Samurai series.
For guidance watch the youtube video or read the installation guide.
In case of questions or uncertainty please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
