Quantcast

Enduro forks - digging through fecal matter

captainspauldin

intrigued by a pole
May 14, 2007
1,263
177
Jersey Shore
Ah I see you're in the UAE, totally missed that in my original post. As mentioned above it can be handled at home if you have the Charger bleed kit and the tools/oil/etc. I've done it myself and it's not that bad if you take your time.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,991
9,646
AK
Ah I see you're in the UAE, totally missed that in my original post. As mentioned above it can be handled at home if you have the Charger bleed kit and the tools/oil/etc. I've done it myself and it's not that bad if you take your time.
It's significantly better than Fox IMO.
 

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,103
3,820
sw ontario canada
Welp, now there is this option available: http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/MRP/MRP Ribbon Open Bath Cartridge Kit.htm

:think:

Somehow I like the simplistic MRP damper much better in the (air spring) Stage than in the coil Ribbon. $499 is a lot of $ for an incremental upgrade, what is the monkey collective wisdom saying? Shall I try it nao?

No experience with the MRP damper, so I'm of no real use, but FWIW...

Last spring I built up a new bike and instead of going for a Lyrik/36/Helm, I went for a new PB take-off Yari. Had Craig do a cartridge for it. (and the rear shock)

I like it, have no regrets and would do it again.

Having said that, I have also had a cartridge made up for the DH bike (888). If I'm balls out, on the edge it feels good, but when I slow down to my normal shrunken balls old guy cruise, it is a bit too firm. I thought I was pretty accurate on my riding descriptions, and apparently nailed it for the Trailbike, but was a bit too optimistic for the DH bike. Talking to Craig now about having it re-tuned.

Biggest thing is being accurate about what and how you ride.
 
Last edited:

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,505
In hell. Welcome!
I think I will solve my Ribbon coil woes with a slightly used Fox 36 RC2. I have had too many inexplicable crashes involving the front wheel on the Ribbon. Interestingly, no such issues on the air sprung Stage.
 

Shizzon

Monkey
Jun 25, 2015
112
290
I don't care anymore. I love the Stage, I hate the Ribbon.
Want another one? I'm dumb and just caved in an ordered a 160mm 38 Factory for my Smash; I told my significant other that I could practically pay for the 38 with the sale of my 27.5 Stage and 29 Helm Air. This was a lie, but I am excited to give the 38 a try and would be happy to offload either of the above highly acclaimed Enduro forks if anyone is interested.

The last Fox fork I had was a 160mm VAN RC2 on a 2010 Trek Scratch 9 and that was pretty damn good from memory. I considered going with the 160mm 2021 36 as well but figured that at 215lbs I should opt for the robusto chassis and take the slight hit on BB height and weight. Also, If/when I order a Garvana Stay kit and shock will have options for buy longer travel air spring kit for the 38 whereas the new 36 is maxed out at 160mm (IIRC).

FWIW, I too feel that my Stage has an edge on my Ribbon. I am nowhere near hating the Ribbon but do recall the Stage feeling a bit better overall (it's been some time since I have spent significant time on it though). Granted, the Ribbon was 29" and was never run above 150mm whereas the 27.5 Stage was always at 170mm.
 

spocomptonrider

sportin' the CROCS
Nov 30, 2007
1,412
118
spokanistan
As Vorsprung has already shown the 2021 Fox 36 isn’t all that impressive as far as the damping circuit goes. I’ve played around quite a bit with the high and low speed compression and there is hardly a discernible difference between about 5 “clicks” and fully closed. Older forks were nearly locked out when you cranked the H&L compression towards the end, this new fork is a different story.

I’m currently playing around with volume spacers to try to get the fork to not blow through its travel which imo is a band aid fix. I am running it at 140mm though so that may or may not have an affect.
 

englertracing

you owe me a sandwich
Mar 5, 2012
1,580
1,074
La Verne
So we are on grip 2 gen 2 and still not better than rc2....
Awesome.
But literally everyone who doesn't ride one back to back refused to believe the newer one isn't better because that can't be possible.
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,505
In hell. Welcome!
FWIW, I too feel that my Stage has an edge on my Ribbon. I am nowhere near hating the Ribbon but do recall the Stage feeling a bit better overall (it's been some time since I have spent significant time on it though). Granted, the Ribbon was 29" and was never run above 150mm whereas the 27.5 Stage was always at 170mm.
I just find the Ribbon's damping terribly inconsistent. Next time I am bleeding the Stage, I'll take apart the damper to see how different it is. There are some differences, the bleeding procedure is a bit different between the two. Btw I run the Stage at 150mm and the Ribbon at 160mm.

I got a 2018 36 RC2 Elite, installed a Luftkappe in it and cannot be happier.
 

Shizzon

Monkey
Jun 25, 2015
112
290
As Vorsprung has already shown the 2021 Fox 36 isn’t all that impressive as far as the damping circuit goes. I’ve played around quite a bit with the high and low speed compression and there is hardly a discernible difference between about 5 “clicks” and fully closed. Older forks were nearly locked out when you cranked the H&L compression towards the end, this new fork is a different story.

I’m currently playing around with volume spacers to try to get the fork to not blow through its travel which imo is a band aid fix. I am running it at 140mm though so that may or may not have an affect.
So i'm waiting for Vorsprung or Push the save the day with a damper upgrade? Wish I would have watched that prior to purchase as I am on the heavier and more aggressive side of riders.

I may see if I can cancel order and get something else incoming.
 

englertracing

you owe me a sandwich
Mar 5, 2012
1,580
1,074
La Verne
So i'm waiting for Vorsprung or Push the save the day with a damper upgrade? Wish I would have watched that prior to purchase as I am on the heavier and more aggressive side of riders.

I may see if I can cancel order and get something else incoming.
Don't fret, moar shims are about a dollar each.

I think fox may have realized nobody is south of about 8 clicks from closed on a grip 2 damper, it preloads the f out that shim stack and creates a platform situation.
So having the damper equivalent 1-8 to the old dampers 8-16 isn't awful.

Perhaps adding a shim would solve your issues if you find it doesnt have enough hsc with the adjuster in...
 

MrBaker87

Monkey
Mar 30, 2014
160
113
neverlandranch
I recently purchased a 2020 Fox 36 Factory with grip2 damper. The thing feels pretty damn amazing to me. If there any issues with the compression/rebound circuits, I am definitely too much of a hack to feel them. It’s a good step up from the 2018 Rock Shox Lyrik I had before and major leap from the the X-Fusion Vengence HLR I was rocking before the Lyrik.

That being said, I am still quite impressed every time I run my 2013 Fox 40 hybrid-air/coil fork with RC2 damper.
 

englertracing

you owe me a sandwich
Mar 5, 2012
1,580
1,074
La Verne
How is it possible in 2020, that every high end fork that comes out needs an aftermarket upgrade? Do they really? Or are we nitpicking bitches?
The latter.

No I think the original engineers at fox are retiring off and the new guys gotta redo everything foe the sake of redoing everything........
And they wanted the grip 2 to share most of its parts with the garbage i mean grip 1....
Lame.
 

ChrisRobin

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
3,351
193
Vancouver
I'm actually really liking the 38. Steve at Vorsprung is working on something for the Grip2 damper, but I'm finding it does a decent job for me. The air spring in the 38 is also way better than the previous crap from Fox.

Now... if I could find a way to fit an RC2 damper and get the Push treatment, whew! That would be awesome.
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,692
13,039
Cackalacka du Nord
I'm actually really liking the 38. Steve at Vorsprung is working on something for the Grip2 damper, but I'm finding it does a decent job for me. The air spring in the 38 is also way better than the previous crap from Fox.

Now... if I could find a way to fit an RC2 damper and get the Push treatment, whew! That would be awesome.
i recently tried to jam a 2017 rc2 into a newer model chassis...no bueno :doh:
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,692
13,039
Cackalacka du Nord
It was a damper from a 2015 that I was trying to put it into a 2017. The internal diameter of the 2017 was slightly smaller; the bladder was much harder to push in and I couldn't get it to seat far enough down for the threads to bite.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
It was a damper from a 2015 that I was trying to put it into a 2017. The internal diameter of the 2017 was slightly smaller; the bladder was much harder to push in and I couldn't get it to seat far enough down for the threads to bite.
That sounds like either the damper had ingested some bath oil and the bladder was overfilled. That should work.

Unless it was one of the Rhythm grade forks, those have thicker stanchions.
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,692
13,039
Cackalacka du Nord
That sounds like either the damper had ingested some bath oil and the bladder was overfilled. That should work.

Unless it was one of the Rhythm grade forks, those have thicker stanchions.
not a rhythm grade fork. i dunno...when i put it back into the stanchion it came out of it went in just fine.
1591278843804.jpeg
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
Did you take the lowers off, or were you trying to do it with the spring side still assembled?
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,692
13,039
Cackalacka du Nord
full disassembly of both forks for maintenance, swapping newer lowers without a cracked pinch bolt interface onto the older fork, and attempted swap of the rc2 to replace a basic grip.
 

englertracing

you owe me a sandwich
Mar 5, 2012
1,580
1,074
La Verne
It was a damper from a 2015 that I was trying to put it into a 2017. The internal diameter of the 2017 was slightly smaller; the bladder was much harder to push in and I couldn't get it to seat far enough down for the threads to bite.
I've got an older rc2 in my 2018 fox36 factory 160mm, it formerly housed a CTD, and a grip 2.
No problemo
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,692
13,039
Cackalacka du Nord
I've got an older rc2 in my 2018 fox36 factory 160mm, it formerly housed a CTD, and a grip 2.
No problemo
@HAB may have been right. I didn't pull apart/bleed the bladder; I still find it odd, though, that it fit back into the original stanchions smoothly but no amount of gentle persuasion could get it any further into the newer ones . . .
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
If it was the base Grip (not 2) damper, those do have thicker wall stanchions with a smaller ID.
 

MrBaker87

Monkey
Mar 30, 2014
160
113
neverlandranch
Is it theoretically possible to install a grip2 damper from a 2020 Fox 36 27.5 into a 2012 Fox 36? I’ve been meaning to get a new damper for my old 26” fox 36 and slam it down and put it on my dirt jumper.
 

frorider

Monkey
Jul 21, 2004
971
20
cali
Did my first real ride on tahoe roxxors today on the Mezzer Pro. thumbs up. for anyone looking for overall stiffness similar to a fox 38 but lighter, and w/ good tunability, it’s a good option.
 
Feb 21, 2020
832
1,161
SoCo Western Slope
Very impressed with Lyric (2.1 damper) + Vorsprung coil.
Bottom out control works excellent, coil feels as a coil should (which is awesome).

New take off Lyric Select Plus on PB for around $500 + Smashpot kit = killer coil fork for well under $1000.
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,744
5,633
How is it possible in 2020, that every high end fork that comes out needs an aftermarket upgrade? Do they really? Or are we nitpicking bitches?
I thought that after reading a few reviews on the Z1 with the pov pack grip damper that I probably wouldn't notice it's shortcomings under a fat bloke on a hardtail, nup, wrong, another display piece for the garage.