Episode Summary

In today's episode, Jared and Liam are joined by our good friends Gaspare Licata, owner of Extreme Racing Shox and Cody Priano, owner of EXT USA - EXT's distribution arm for the states. We chat about the origin story of the brand, how Gaspare got the opportunity to acquire the company, as well as how EXT's unique features on its suspension products allow them to give the rider a distinct advantage over the competition. Tune in!

The MTB Podcast is presented by Worldwide Cyclery, the online retailer for serious mountain bikers.

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📝 Episode 176 Summary: The EXT Deep Dive

Intro & Wisdom Jared and Liam are joined by Gaspare and Cody from EXT (Extreme Racing Shocks). They kick off with "Zach’s Words of Wisdom" (Zwow): "Challenge yourself when life is easy, so you’ll be ready when life is hard." Daniel’s Fun Fact mentions that cows have regional accents, which Gaspare jokes might be to make him feel more comfortable with his own Italian accent.

Bikes & Rides

  • Gaspare & Cody: They’ve been riding in Laguna Beach. Despite the rain, the sandy trails were "ripping and gripping." Gaspare has been spending time on a Pivot Shuttle e-bike to keep up with Richie Schley and Hans Ray, who have fully converted to electric power for the "utilitarian" benefit of smashing more laps.

  • Cody’s Fleet: Cody is riding a Bonnel AM e-bike and a Reeb enduro bike.

  • Liam’s Recovery: Liam is still easing back into the mountain bike after a wrist break six months ago. He recently put a trail-mode setup on his Revel Rascal using the new RockShox "Butter Wagon" gear.

The EXT Origin Story Gaspare shares the high-octane history of Extreme Shocks:

  • F1 Heritage: Founder Franco Fratton was one of the first employees at Fox in the 70s before moving to Ferrari and Williams in Formula 1 during the 80s and 90s.

  • Rally Dominance: Franco later started EXT, winning seven World Rally Championships with legendary driver Sébastien Loeb.

  • Transition to MTB: The project began in 2014 as a custom shock for pro rider Danny Hart. It eventually became a commercial success through a partnership with Chris Porter of Geometron.

  • Franco's Legacy: After Franco passed away in 2025, Gaspare (who grew up just 25km from the factory in Italy) took over to ensure the brand's boutique culture and obsession with detail survived.

🔑 Key Technical Points

  • DLC Coating: EXT uses Diamond-Like Carbon on shock shafts. It’s a motorsport treatment that makes the shaft 10% stronger and significantly more slippery, reducing "stiction" to create a "Wow Effect" in performance.

  • The "Parking Lot" Test: Cody notes that while you can't feel high-speed compression in a parking lot, a proper setup session there gets you "damn close" to a perfect trail feel if you know the product well.

  • HBC (Hydraulic Bottom-out Control): This system manages the last 15-20% of the stroke. It allows riders to run more sag for better small-bump traction without the fear of a harsh bottom-out.

  • Dual Positive Chambers: EXT air forks use two chambers instead of plastic tokens. This allows riders to tune the mid-stroke support and bottom-out ramp-up independently using just a shock pump.

🛠️ Performance Insights: Kinematics vs. Dampers

The team discusses whether they have to "fix" bad frame designs with suspension tuning:

  • High Pivots: Cody explains that high-pivot bikes (like the Forbidden Druid) often need lighter rebound and compression tunes because the frame design naturally feels very "dead" and "planted."

  • The Progression Trap: Modern frames are becoming so progressive they can be "unridable" for average users. EXT solves this by custom-tuning the internal shim stacks to make that travel usable again.

  • E-Bike Setup: Gaspare notes that e-bike suspension is often tuned softer to keep the heavier chassis glued to the ground, as they aren't meant to be "flicked" like acoustic bikes.

🏁 TL;DR

In Episode 176, Gaspare and Cody reveal the motorsport DNA inside EXT suspension. Born from Formula 1 and Rally racing, EXT focuses on boutique, custom-tuned solutions rather than mass production. They explain why technologies like DLC coatings and Hydraulic Bottom-out Control are worth the investment for riders seeking ultimate traction and stability. The takeaway: as bike frames reach an "innovation plateau," custom-tuned dampers are the most effective way to drastically change a bike’s personality.