Been considering the Smashpot conversion for my DVO Onyx and would like some input on whether it might help with two specific issues I'm dealing with.
Arm pump issue: I had surgery on my left hand years ago and my index finger is basically decorative at this point. This means I get bad arm pump on the left side — and I want to stress this isn't regular arm pump, it's neurological/mechanical from the old surgery. My right hand is completely fine.
I've tried everything to manage it: OneUp bars, foam and gel grips, cockpit setup tweaks, physio. All helped to varying degrees. The biggest single upgrade was moving to the DVO Onyx — that 'coil-like' initial stroke made a noticeable difference. Given that experience, I have a feeling a coil conversion might take things further. Has anyone with sensitivity issues (injury-related or otherwise) found the Smashpot meaningfully smoother in the initial stroke compared to stock Onyx?
Air bleeder issue: The other thing I'm dealing with is needing to hit the air bleeders. I often don't notice the need to bleed until the fork starts firming up — and by that point, my arm pump has already kicked in and my left arm is toast for the rest of the day. My shop says air migrating between chambers after big days is normal, and the fork was serviced (TF tuned) only a couple of months ago.
What I'm wondering is: does the Smashpot eliminate the need to bleed air like this? My assumption is yes, since it's oil-based rather than air-based — but can air still find its way into places it shouldn't be in a Smashpot-converted fork?
Appreciate any experience from people who've made the switch, especially if you were coming from stock Onyx.