Each fork comes with a Compression Tuning System (CTS) valve made specifically for Bryceland, who asked Formula’s engineers for something with good grip at the beginning of the stroke and then enough lift for bigger hits.
• Travel: 170mm
• Wheel size: 29″
• 43mm deviation
• A2C: 585mm
• 35mm stanchions
• Custom compression tuning system valve
• Includes pump, tools, spacers, 2 additional CTS valves
• Weight: 2020 grams
• Price: 1514 EUR, 1279 GBP, 1750 CAN
• rit formula.com
The CTS system is new because it only takes a few minutes to change a valve. If a rider ends up purchasing this limited edition fork (only 100 will be made) and then realizes they don’t ride like Josh, a quick procedure is to install one of the two stock CTS valves that are also included .
The Bryceland Edition Selva is available with 170mm of travel for 29” wheels and costs €1514. My test fork with a thru-axle installed weighed in at 2020 grams. The Selva is backed by a two-year transferable warranty, as well as Formula’s 10-Year Support Promise, which states that parts, spares, and support will be available for 10 years for every product they make.
Fork details
Along with the modified CTS valving, the air-sprung Selva features a new larger-volume positive air chamber intended to give the fork a more linear spring curve. This version of the Selva uses a three-stage negative coil spring beneath the positive air chamber, where the springs stiffen towards full extension to prevent noticeable topout. Formula’s CTS valves and Neopos volume spacers are the two ingredients that keep the fork from bottoming out hard.
For those unfamiliar, Neopos are volume spacers made of foam instead of the hard plastic typically used. That foam compresses as the air pressure in the positive chamber increases, creating a more gradual end-stroke slope. However, it still acts as a volume spacer, so removing it may still be necessary to achieve full suspension travel depending on the fork setup.
The rebound button is in the usual location, on the bottom of the right leg, and there are 18 clicks possible. The tool-less quick-release lever on the thru axle is removable; Once removed from the shaft it can be tightened or loosened using a 5mm Allen key.
Ride impressions
I started with the Bryceland CTS valve installed and the fork inflated to 65 psi per Formula’s recommendation. I headed out for one of my usual test runs, a ride with a good mix of jumps, drops, berms and some steeper, more natural trails. In other words, a mountain bike tour.
Not that I had any doubts before, but that ride reinforced the fact that no, I’m not Josh Bryceland. Formula certainly achieved the goal of having a soft, smooth initial stroke and loads of support afterwards, but the extreme liftoff meant I was only using about 140 millimeters of travel, and that was on a ride with lots of hard drops and G- outs that would have used almost the entire travel in my typical setup. The gentler first part of the journey kept me from being tossed around, but the increase deeper into the journey was very noticeable – it was like hitting a padded wall, and no matter how hard I pushed I could doing. don’t get through.
Time to swap the CTS valve for something better suited to a mere mortal. I tried both the orange and gold valves, ultimately settling on the gold valve without spacers as my favorite all-around setup. It turns out that Formula says 75% of their customers prefer valve. If I was on an e-bike, or doing quick laps in the bike park, I could see the orange valve moving, because of the extra mid- and end-of-stroke support it provides. With the gold valving, the fork had excellent grip from the top and built up support nicely throughout the travel.
Formula’s CTS system makes it easy to experiment with different setups, and it’s a smart way to give riders a wide range of noticeably different fork configurations. With the Bryceland Selva, I wonder if this is the final push for this model before something new is released. Don’t get me wrong, it works very well; aside from the fairly loud rebound noise I have no complaints about the performance, it’s only partially overshadowed by the latest offerings from Fox and RockShox.
The Selva’s stanchions still measure 35mm, and while the chassis was certainly stiff enough for my 160-pound frame size, I could see larger riders gravitating toward the heavier 38mm options available. The upside is that the Selva weighs about 300 grams less than a Zeb or 38, which is a significant weight savings – something to keep in mind for riders tired of their enduro bike weighing the same as a downhill bike.
Bleed valves would be a nice touch, and I also don’t think the lockout lever is necessary on a long-travel fork. I wouldn’t consider any of these deal breakers, though, and for riders interested in trying something different, the Selva is worth considering.