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2007 888 RC2x -vs- 2008 888 RC3

jmvar

Monkey
Aug 16, 2002
414
0
"It was a funny angle!"
Can anyone give a comparison between these? Looking to buy a fork and the 2008 have come down in price enough for me to consider one.

I usually buy used stuff but the 2008 would be new, 2007 would be used.

Looking for real world comparison. Is the 2008 considerably stiffer with the bigger stanctions? Are the adjustments worth the extra cost?
 

Biffff

Monkey
Jan 10, 2006
913
0
I'd be searching Ebay for a new 2007 888 RC2X. I have a 2007 888 sl (which is RC2) and a 2007 66 RC2X, and love them both. The 35 mm stantion are very stiff, and the thicker walls (compared to 38mm) should hold up better in crashes.
I haven't heard any meaningfull feedback on the new 888's yet.
 

jmvar

Monkey
Aug 16, 2002
414
0
"It was a funny angle!"
LOL, never seen that google fight thing....I live under a rock with no internets.

Someone has to have some ride time on both...come on don't be shy.

I am more interested in the non WC variety but any insight will be helpful.
 

sriracha

Monkey
Jun 9, 2006
496
0
805
Someone has to have some ride time on both...come on don't be shy.


i kinda have....i just replace my '05 888rc with the 08 888rc3. i can't really comment on the 07 888rc2x, cuz i never owned one.

but comparing the 05 888rc to the 08 888rc3, there is a huge difference.

the 08 888 is indeed heavier. the 08 is stiffer, torsionally and for/aft...i especially noticed this under heavy breaking, the 08 just feels more solid and confidence inspiring. the 08 rides a little higher in the travel than my 05, i like this for steeps, some might not. the 08 doesn't dive like my 05, under braking. damping wise, the 08 feels pretty buttery right out of the box...smooth.

here are my official 08 888 rc3 weights from the SB velopro digital scale:

8.6 lbs with steertube, axle and integrated marzocchi stem.
7.95 lbs with steertube, no axle/stem.
7.5 lbs without steertube, axle or stem (assuming 0.5lb steertube.)

the 08 888rc3 is great for shocking, gnarling and monsta truckin'. if you're more concerned about racing, keeping it low and light, the 07 might be the way to go...subtle differences, but there is a difference.
 

untitledsince89

Turbo Monkey
Nov 11, 2005
1,316
0
Winston-Salem NC
lets here some feeback please!, I have a 2005 88rc as well and was wonder how it would compare to the 07 66rc2 and 07/08 888 line
just wondering why would the weight actually go up, instead of down? (besides the size of the stations)
 

sriracha

Monkey
Jun 9, 2006
496
0
805
just wondering why would the weight actually go up, instead of down? (besides the size of the stations)

because the 08 888rc3 is beefcake!

i don't know realworld dimensions, but i would be a bit concerned if the fork got bigger AND weighed less. if the 08 was lighter, it would mean that there is less material...as in thinner.

since the 08 is heavier, with one spring, it leads me to believe that they did not skimp on the chassis.
 

sriracha

Monkey
Jun 9, 2006
496
0
805
lets here some feeback please!, I have a 2005 88rc as well and was wonder how it would compare to the 07 66rc2 and 07/08 888 line
i've got the 07 66ata on my 6point, and the 08 888rc3 on my v10. i've tried my friend's 07 66rc2.

the 07 66rc2 is more progressive, due to the smaller air volume in the stanchions...it ramps up quicker than a 888.

the 888 however, is stiffer, torsionally and for/aft...it mobs thru rocks better.

888 > 66 for all out DH bombing.

66 is a little lighter and good for tricks 'n stuntin', if that's your thing.
 

Biffff

Monkey
Jan 10, 2006
913
0
I also had an 05 888RC and the 07 RC2X , and 888 sl blow it out of the water. No comparioson. The adjustability hardly worked on the 05 888 RC, and the 07 forks are uber adjustable.
 

sixsixtysix

Monkey
Mar 6, 2005
152
0
Hell
Ok, I have ride time on both a 2006 888 RC2X and now a 2008 888 RC3 so I can offer up some comparisons.

The 2006 888 RC2X was probably the best fork Zoke has made in the last 10 years. In the 2 years I rode mine I never had a single problem and it was ridiculously plush after the "Works" treatment. That being said, the individual high/low speed compression settings were somewhat finicky to get balanced and working in tandem sometimes.

The RC3, the single compression adjustment for the high/low in tandem gives the fork an really nice balanced feel through its travel, where as if you were set up wrong on the rc2x it would be plush plush plush and then just ramp way up at the end of the stroke. The RC3 feels like it ramps up pretty progressively throughout the entire stroke.

The RC3 feels a little stiffer when tracking through really rocky sections, but not by much and I am a big guy at 6'3" 240# so for all the "average" size riders, i doubt you would notice.

Right out of the box, the RC3 feels as plush as my Works RC2X. I am very impressed and can't wait for it to break in completely so it to can have the works treatment done. If the initial feel is any indication, I may just end up spreading it on toast it'll be so buttery.

Now for the couple of downsides. Right out of the box, the RC3 has a firm spring in it. At 240# I don't need to swap the stock spring, it sags correctly with ZERO preload and I havn't bottomed it yet. Good for me, bad for you 160# riders.

Weight... As always, Zoke claims it weighs 7.5lbs. Its kind of like "Pinkbike Feet" when measuring gaps, total BS. My RC3 came in at a hefty 8.01lbs. One reason it probably got fatter is the amount of oil in this thing. The RC2X used 220cc per leg, which was the good part of a 16oz bottle when doing oil changes. The RC3 is 310cc per leg! Pretty soon I am just going to start buying oil buy the barrel for these things.

Paint. The new white paint on the lowers sucks. My first ride out I could see every single place little pebbles got kicked up off my tire. There were probably 15 chips in the paint after the first ride. By the end of the season, this thing is going to look like a 79 Gremlin.