Press Release

Trust Performance Announces Updated Pricing on Message Suspension 13

From $2,700 to $1,975 USD for the new trailing multi-link front suspension that's turning heads.

Trust Performance
5/2/2019 11:39am
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Trust Performance, industry innovators in suspension technology, today announced updated pricing for the Message, their multi-link front suspension design launched in 2018. Advances in product development, recently scaled production as well as new partnerships formed after the Sea Otter Classic all enable Trust Performance to reduce pricing on the Message, passing these savings directly to riders. Starting today, the Message will be available for USD $1,975 through authorized Trust Performance retailers and online at www.trustperformance.com. 

“Like most teams or new businesses, we launched with a number of goals. One: get our first three shipments of the Message under riders before Sea Otter. While this seemed lofty and aggressive, we knew it was a challenge we could meet,” remarked Trust Performance Co-Founder and CEO, Hap Seliga. “We reached that first goal ahead of schedule, and with increased production efficiencies and new purchase commitments, we’ve been given the opportunity to achieve yet another goal: to offer the Message at a sub-$2,000 price point. We’re stoked to say we’re able to do that, today.”

In addition to offering the Message to customers at this updated price, Trust Performance will provide its early adopters with significant cost savings on future purchases of Trust Performance suspension. Riders who purchased a Message at the original MSRP, and have it registered with Trust Performance before May 31, 2019, will receive a $1,000 credit toward their next Trust Performance suspension purchase. Dealers and distributors who brought in Messages under the previous pricing structure will receive a dealer credit, details of which have been provided to these partners by the Trust Performance sales team.

“At Trust, we do things a bit differently. Sure, many companies say that. But, the reality is: many fall short of living it,” said Seliga. “Since we started the company, we’ve said we’re focused solely on making things better for the ride and rider. Building the best possible suspension will always be a part of how we do that; passing along cost savings to the people who matter most - our riders - is yet another.”

In 2018, Trust Performance launched its first multi-link front suspension design, the Message. By employing 130mm of contour travel, the Message allows the front of the mountain bike to realize the benefits that full suspension bikes have enjoyed for years. When encountering an obstacle, the Message allows the front wheel to move back and up simultaneously instead of only in line with the steering axis. This effect leads to noticeably improved traction, added stability, and more predictable handling in a wide variety of trail conditions.

Since launch, Trust Performance has established direct partnerships with dozens of shops around the world and formed distribution partnerships with entities like QBP (USA), Upgrade Bikes (UK), Mohawk’s Cycles (France) and many others. They continue to expand their presence at consumer-facing events, most recently offering riders the opportunity to connect with the team and demo the Message at the Fruita Fat Tire Festival, Trail Head Cyclery Spring Demo Days, Soldier Hollow Bike Fest, Sea Otter Classic, and Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival. Additional demos are planned throughout the U.S. this summer and with distribution partners worldwide.

“We’re serious about turning things in the industry upside down. We’re out to start a movement,” said Trust Performance Founder and Technical Director, Dave Weagle. “It’s a movement that starts with high fives and ends with the best ride our friends have ever had.” 

About Trust Performance

Trust Performance is a suspension design company founded by industry innovators Dave Weagle, Jason Schiers and Hap Seliga. Its operations, design and engineering staff are headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah while manufacturing and assembly take place at its own production facility in Taichung, Taiwan. Trust Performance launched its first multi-link front suspension design, the Message, in 2018. More information can be found at www.trustperformance.com

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13 comments

View replies to: Trust Performance Announces Updated Pricing on Message Suspension

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One Ghost
5 years ago
I've been reading a lot of articles and reviews of the Message from riders on MTBR and whatever else I can find and I am gathering that the largest hurdles are set up and expectations. People who just base the fork on looks alone have no idea what they are talking about outside of personal aesthetics and armchair engineering (and neither hold any water).

Both of these actual “issues” are just two sides of the same coin as I see it. Everyone is coming at the Message from a telescopic fork and therefore bringing telescopic knowledge to their set up and expectations. whether or not it is an "expert" or not using the Message, everyone is coming at it with the expectation it will ride like their telescopic fork. I saw somewhere DW saying you need to take every bit of knowledge you have about suspension forks and remove it completely from memory when working with a Message. That will be hard for some as the muscle memory of most is deep-rooted in telescopic products. 

Along with that, every review I read mentioned that they all followed the Trust setup guides exactly and all felt the spring was to firm and thus made the damper feel as it was underperforming while riding. Now again, this could be simply perception and muscle memory getting in the way and the rider going back to what they know about a telescopic fork: lower air pressure and open the damper up as they are listening to their body, not their bike. 

I am sure the collected intelligence at Trust Performance (and that knowledge base is DEEP) can all come together to think of some copy to write and maybe some videos that help simplify the Trust Effect and dumb it down just a little. Not that the MTB community is dumb, I totally get it (what the Trust Effect is); you learn to trust the bike and your input to the bike as it becomes a true extension of your own body as you ride. Traction issues go away, speed comes more naturally as does control. But this all comes at a price as you need to fully open your mind to the different and learn to relax your body into the bike and trust that it has all of your best interest and will reward you. 

I hope that all makes sense. I have been a bit obsessed with Trust since I first heard Hap, Jason and DW were working on a "suspension thing" together back in 2016 (or 2015, I can't remember when it was now) at Ft. William. Once I saw the fork I immediately saw the Lauf and AMP and Girvin and Lawwill and it just made sense to me what Trust was doing: making bikes better by adding traction to it, which is what suspension is supposed to do.

The suspension is less about comfort and more about traction and this is also a very large public misconception. Most shop employees and long-time riders know but this is another one of those concepts that don't always translate well off paper as it is considered a subjective feeling, even though it can be quantifiably measured.
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jeff.brines
5 years ago
As a guy who often writes too much for little-to-no reward on the internet, I appreciate the essay you've put together here

That said, arguing that people "aren't doing it right" when it comes to assessing performance is a tough sell. Though I haven't had much time on the product in question, I wasn't impressed. Most of the guys I really trust (no pun intended) also weren't impressed (one was). Yes setup was correct, and yes we were all expecting a different kind of ride.

It eats certain bumps really well. Unfortunately, its a bit of a one trick pony. Before you say "I'm doing it wrong" hear me out.

Suspension should be about traction, but control, ultimately, is the goal. I often felt like I was in less control with this product due to the way it behaves on certain types of trail & rider input. If you send something to flat, it is going to feel harsh. If you try and load the suspension, it is going to respond poorly.

Loading the suspension is a technique that is helpful in many types of trail conditions. Taking this trick out of the bag is a big negative to me. I need some kind of feedback through the bar when I am pushing down into my bike. Its a control thing.

Overall, I'm not a fan. I feel its a miss. Maybe they'll take the technology and tune it to be different (dual axle path forks anyone?! lol)

As of now I'd take any modern telescoping fork over this thing. I want something predicable, I want something I can load through the handlebars, I want something that has a consistent feel.

I know there is a ton of brain power behind this, but even the smartest guys can get trapped into some kind of echo chamber where they are deaf to product weakness.

As it stands, this type of fork design might kick ass for full on XC racing (if it was 1/2 the weight), or gravel/road type riding. (it already exists) Places where you are more passive on the bike and looking to keep traction through the same type of bump.

Active riding in dynamic terrain? Nope.
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Daniel_Layton
5 years ago
Pfff, now this is just another fork for peasants. Should have anodized something and raised the price
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JCL
5 years ago
I'd still live to try it on something like a Following or Trance 29.
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danielshiels
5 years ago
I don't want to be a dick about it but it still costs twice as much as a grip 2 fox 36. I remember when hope decided to knock thousands of pounds off their hb160 they refunded the difference to customers who'd paid the initial rrp, surely anyone who bought the message is going to feel burned given it's only been in the market for a matter of months. If you use that $1000 voucher for their next fork will you get another when they knock a third of the price off within months? Customer service own goal. Trust, ironic name
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shreda
5 years ago
What a punch in the face for all innovators that bought the fork when it launched...
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