I am playing around with fork Ideas and am stuck. Which fork is the most prefered for a DH rig. Fox 40, 888 WC, or Boxxer WC? I see everyone trading forks, selling forks for one of these three. Most of the trades fall within these three forks being swapped for each other. So Whats the best?
Which Fork?
- Thread starter kowekiller
- Start date
Yes....
ask yourself this: If there was one single fork that people agreed on being the 'best', would there be any other options in the market?
I would also add, based on the lack of apparent experience and complexity of the orignal question, every single one of those forks is way overpriced for shat you need. They are all WAY on the far end of diminishing returns...ie worst bang for the buck.
ask yourself this: If there was one single fork that people agreed on being the 'best', would there be any other options in the market?
I would also add, based on the lack of apparent experience and complexity of the orignal question, every single one of those forks is way overpriced for shat you need. They are all WAY on the far end of diminishing returns...ie worst bang for the buck.
888, 40, Boxxer and don't forget the dorado. Does it really matter? You asked a very vauge question.
Here is my personal and un biased run down if I was going to be getting a new fork:
-Marzocchi has been really bad the past few years and the older zokes I owned a long time ago were nothing special so I would avoid them.
-The 40 seems to be pretty good and I love my Fox Float RLC and Vanilla I have on my trail bikes. I have seen a few shred like a beer can but what do you expect when your mag lowers hit rocks at speed? I'm not to thrilled about how involved it is to overhaul the entire fork.
-The Boxxer has been a great fork since the motion control version came out in 2006(when Zokes started to go downhill, kinda funny). There was room for improvement and RS took care of that with the 2010 Boxxer, all the bugs seem to be fixed at this point. It is really easy to service and CS is pretty good.
-Manitou has been in the $hit for a while now but the Dorado has been out for a year with no bad press. With 2 versions hitting the market this spring it might become a big player in the DH fork market. I have been in a Manitou hater for years but if I was in the market and price was not a factor I would buy the Dorado.
I'm a Pushed Boxxer Team guy for the time being.
Best fork EVER!!!!!!!!!
Here is my personal and un biased run down if I was going to be getting a new fork:
-Marzocchi has been really bad the past few years and the older zokes I owned a long time ago were nothing special so I would avoid them.
-The 40 seems to be pretty good and I love my Fox Float RLC and Vanilla I have on my trail bikes. I have seen a few shred like a beer can but what do you expect when your mag lowers hit rocks at speed? I'm not to thrilled about how involved it is to overhaul the entire fork.
-The Boxxer has been a great fork since the motion control version came out in 2006(when Zokes started to go downhill, kinda funny). There was room for improvement and RS took care of that with the 2010 Boxxer, all the bugs seem to be fixed at this point. It is really easy to service and CS is pretty good.
-Manitou has been in the $hit for a while now but the Dorado has been out for a year with no bad press. With 2 versions hitting the market this spring it might become a big player in the DH fork market. I have been in a Manitou hater for years but if I was in the market and price was not a factor I would buy the Dorado.
I'm a Pushed Boxxer Team guy for the time being.
Best fork EVER!!!!!!!!!
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I am VERY happy with my 09 40-RC2.
I have friends that swear by the Boxxer WC though.
I have friends that swear by the Boxxer WC though.
Im leaning towards the Fox 40's the more people talk. Im running the White Brothers Groove 180 bumped to 8" right now. So far the fork has been great but theres lack of adjustment. It feels like butter but needs a stiffer spring. Plus the spacing on the tubes is a big factor on my bike due to Mountain Cycles frame width in the front(limits steering). Thats why the fox seem more appealing to me.
"-The 40 seems to be pretty good and I love my Fox Float RLC and Vanilla I have on my trail bikes. I have seen a few shred like a beer can but what do you expect when your mag lowers hit rocks at speed? I'm not to thrilled about how involved it is to overhaul the entire fork."
You say there are a bitch to build? Is it something I have to send in or can it be tackled at home. I love messing with my own stuff and not leaving up to other people to touch( For saftey knowing its done right and the knoledge of it all).
Ive ridding the Travis triples and wouldn't go back to them!
"-The 40 seems to be pretty good and I love my Fox Float RLC and Vanilla I have on my trail bikes. I have seen a few shred like a beer can but what do you expect when your mag lowers hit rocks at speed? I'm not to thrilled about how involved it is to overhaul the entire fork."
You say there are a bitch to build? Is it something I have to send in or can it be tackled at home. I love messing with my own stuff and not leaving up to other people to touch( For saftey knowing its done right and the knoledge of it all).
Ive ridding the Travis triples and wouldn't go back to them!
foxes aren't horrifying to rebuild. getting the lowers off is a little bit more of a pain than a boxxer, but not too bad. the damper is definitely more work than a boxxer, being that it's a closed cartridge that needs to be sealed up with the bladder, but the regular maintenance to change the lube oil isn't too bad.
I usually don't bother with the "quick seal clean" procedure, just drop the lowers every couple months depending on how much you're riding, or if I see anything more than a small ring of oily dirt built up on the stanchions at the end of the ride.
I usually don't bother with the "quick seal clean" procedure, just drop the lowers every couple months depending on how much you're riding, or if I see anything more than a small ring of oily dirt built up on the stanchions at the end of the ride.
I bring my fork to a shop to have the servicing done to it. I am not good with internals of those things.
I have hit my lowers on all kinds of rocks. No issues here. Everything is just cosmetic.
I have hit my lowers on all kinds of rocks. No issues here. Everything is just cosmetic.
Fox 40 over here, ever consider bos? Thats what im saving up for.
That is what I am talking about. Any monkey can change some seals and lube oil.
I would recommend an Avalanche for quality (but not light).
Wow those look bad ass. They don't look very lite though.
so...??
I own the Avalanche DHF7.5 and DHF8.5 they are around 8.5 and 9lbs.
I think the DHF7.5 is by far the best value fork on the market at $999 2/3rds the cost of your other options.
I rode a 2006 boxxer WC for 2 seasons and I have taken runs on 888s and 40s.
I liked the overal performance of the boxxer the most.
The boxxer feels like uses its travel efficently at all speeds.
Its very easy to setup and fine tune with the solo air system.
The boxxer is a flexy noodle compared to the other forks (I'm 203lbs with gear).
For me the boxxer couldnt hold up, I blew 3 moco dampers in 2 seasons.
I dont feel that the boxxer is a durable fork, its really light and performs well but its also pretty disposable IMO.
If I were choosing between these forks I would take the 40, maintaince is a PIA but overall its light, performs well and seems reasonably durable.
The 888s seems to suck up hits but doesnt feel like its providing the same stability and absorbtion as the boxxer or 40. I rank the boxxer above the 40 but the 40 might edge out the boxxer if I spent some time playing with the adjustments .. etc
7" Avalanche is around the same height as a boxxer/40/888 and IMO outperforms them significantly. It is also virtualy maintaince free (keep it clean), service it once every 2 years. The main considerations are the extra weight and the longer offset. The offset changes handling and steering control. IMO highspeed handing is improved and low speed handling is compromised.
I think the DHF7.5 is by far the best value fork on the market at $999 2/3rds the cost of your other options.
I rode a 2006 boxxer WC for 2 seasons and I have taken runs on 888s and 40s.
I liked the overal performance of the boxxer the most.
The boxxer feels like uses its travel efficently at all speeds.
Its very easy to setup and fine tune with the solo air system.
The boxxer is a flexy noodle compared to the other forks (I'm 203lbs with gear).
For me the boxxer couldnt hold up, I blew 3 moco dampers in 2 seasons.
I dont feel that the boxxer is a durable fork, its really light and performs well but its also pretty disposable IMO.
If I were choosing between these forks I would take the 40, maintaince is a PIA but overall its light, performs well and seems reasonably durable.
The 888s seems to suck up hits but doesnt feel like its providing the same stability and absorbtion as the boxxer or 40. I rank the boxxer above the 40 but the 40 might edge out the boxxer if I spent some time playing with the adjustments .. etc
7" Avalanche is around the same height as a boxxer/40/888 and IMO outperforms them significantly. It is also virtualy maintaince free (keep it clean), service it once every 2 years. The main considerations are the extra weight and the longer offset. The offset changes handling and steering control. IMO highspeed handing is improved and low speed handling is compromised.
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Perhaps it has to do with weight balance. An overly heavy fork makes a bike ride very differently - not necessarily worse, just different. It can cause problems. I noticed this when I rode a borrowed bike that had an 05 Zoke 66 on it. My bike has a Lyrik Air. The 66 had a huge offset and weighed a ton more than what I was used to. I ended up riding it more like a plow bike because of it, and I don't normally like to ride that way. I think that if you like to plow, then Avy is probably an excellent choice. If you like to pick lines, then something lighter is probably better.
Keep your eyes on the Dorado for next year, I have seen and heard good things about them at 09 races and look forward to running one in '10. The Hayes group seems to be moving in a positive direction, and there new products reflect that.