Best 26" downhill fork if weight was no issue?

rideit · Apr 29, 2019

Maverick DUC, Duh

Jm_ · Apr 29, 2019

Monster T?

ChrisRobin · Apr 29, 2019

Marzocchi 380?

My old 888 Evo Ti is still going strong.

kidwoo · Apr 30, 2019

Last gen fox 40 coil. I guard mine with a flock of demon chickens with syphilis.

toodles · Apr 30, 2019

kidwoo said:
Last gen fox 40 coil. I guard mine with a flock of demon chickens with syphilis.

This. And they're not even stupid heavy.

norbar · Apr 30, 2019

ChrisRobin said:
Marzocchi 380?

My old 888 Evo Ti is still going strong.

380s made strange noises and had some issues.

Imho find a boxxer coil and fit an avy cart inside. You get the benefits of a light shell + good damper. I know I will transfer my avy cart to my wagon wheels bike once I get new moneys.

mykel · Apr 30, 2019

My 26" 888 Evo2 Ti with Avy cartridge wearing a 27.5" front wheel.

norbar · Apr 30, 2019

mykel said:
My 26" 888 Evo2 Ti with Avy cartridge wearing a 27.5" front wheel.

Wasn't that a tight fit?

Nick · Apr 30, 2019

toodles said:
This. And they're not even stupid heavy.

Nope. They're mostly feathers.

:rimshot:

chris_f · Apr 30, 2019

Not the Emerald.

ChrisRobin · Apr 30, 2019

mykel said:
My 26" 888 Evo2 Ti with Avy cartridge wearing a 27.5" front wheel.

That's also what I have with a 27.5 wheel. The wheel clearance isn't that bad. A Maxxis 2.5 tire is fine. I've had that setup for a few years and never experienced an issue. The offset is good too!

I think it's 7 or 7.5lbs. I found the green SKF seals made a bit of a difference.

chris_f · Apr 30, 2019

Yeah that fork.

It's noisy, and it's nowhere near as good and plush as a lot of people claim. I'm heavy and I have mine running with fairly high pressure and it does not perform amazingly. At least it looks cool, though.

rideit · Apr 30, 2019

(DH) Team Giant kicked DVO to the curb after just one season to go with Fox, FWIW.

mykel · Apr 30, 2019

Dh builder said:
I have this fork on my other bike

Marzocchi 888 Rc3 Evo V.2 Fork 2013, White, 1 1/8" Steerer, 20Mm Axle

I really love this fork and it has never given me any issues and has lots of use. Would you say another purchase of this one makes sense?

Is this the same as the 888 EVO 2 TI that you guys are mentioning? Is this a better fork than an older fox 40 coil 26"?

Yes, that is the same fork I dropped an Avy cartridge into.
And SKF green seals.

I have no wish to change it to anything else, but then again I am a luddite and have been riding a 27.5/26 mullet for several years now.

sethimus · May 1, 2019

mykel said:
My 26" 888 Evo2 Ti with Avy cartridge wearing a 27.5" front wheel.

interesting, i have the same one, what's the max tire size you can fit in?

edit: according to this site, all 888 can fit in a 650b tire with the max dimensions of 717mm tall x 60mm wide:

http://dansbikestuff.blogspot.com/2013/05/marzocchi-888-and-55-forks-and-650b.html

norbar · May 1, 2019

chris_f said:
Not the Emerald.

Care to elaborate?

norbar · May 1, 2019

ChrisRobin said:
That's also what I have with a 27.5 wheel. The wheel clearance isn't that bad. A Maxxis 2.5 tire is fine. I've had that setup for a few years and never experienced an issue. The offset is good too!

I think it's 7 or 7.5lbs. I found the green SKF seals made a bit of a difference.

What about mud clearance for spike tires?

Sandwich · May 1, 2019

Latest model fox 40 with the RC2 cart and coil spring. Best balance of weight and performance. It's pretty wild having adjusters that actually do something, and the fork is so damned stiff and controlled. Low stack height, air poppers, kashima if you're a baller. I think the last models were cross compatible with 650b, so you can do that if you want.

djjohnr · May 1, 2019

X-Fusion RV1 is available new with a 26" crown option. I like the chassis a lot, stiff and very slippery. I have an older one with the HLR damper that I'll probably send to Avalanche this year. It's also internally adjustable between 180mm and 200mm.

Boxxer Team is still available new in 26". Maybe try a Charger 2 damper in it for adjustability.

chris_f · May 1, 2019

norbar said:
Care to elaborate?

I did, but I can try to elaborate further:

It's fairly harsh, and on fast rebounds, i.e chatter it is disconcertingly noisy. The fork has been apart several times to find out if there's any problems with it, if anything is rattling or loose, but it's just fine internally. As soon as finances allow, that fork is gone. In that respect, this thread is actually useful for me as well, since I'm in the market for a different 26" fork when I'm replacing the emerald.

Sandwich · May 1, 2019

My bike came with a 40 R and I swapped the damper for an RC2 cartridge. I don't have kashima, but I can't be dicked for the difference.

I wonder if your rattle is coming from the coil negative spring. Isn't that what they use in the emerald?

Udi · May 1, 2019

If you like your 888 Evo 2 by all means get another one, they're decent forks especially if long service intervals are your thing. Most 27.5" forks will work with 26" wheels no worries though, small difference in a2c height but probably won't impact you much. I think the Fox 40 is good too (any year with the RC2 cart and 2 blue compression knobs on top of damper leg, probably the coil models 2011-2013 would be the ticket for you). Even the black-stanchion equipped Boxxer race or team with a coil (and charger damper) are a pretty good option.

chris_f said:
Yeah that fork.
It's noisy, and it's nowhere near as good and plush as a lot of people claim. I'm heavy and I have mine running with fairly high pressure and it does not perform amazingly. At least it looks cool, though.

This is 100% my experience with the Emerald, I've ridden a few different ones on different bikes now.
Heavy, clunky/noisy, some flex, and a bit sticky to boot.

englertracing · May 1, 2019

Sandwich said:
Latest model fox 40 with the RC2 cart and coil spring. Best balance of weight and performance. It's pretty wild having adjusters that actually do something, and the fork is so damned stiff and controlled. Low stack height, air poppers, kashima if you're a baller. I think the last models were cross compatible with 650b, so you can do that if you want.

Not only compatible,

They work better with 27.5 the 46mm offset than the 27.5 with its 51mm offset.

dovbush66 · May 1, 2019

Dh builder said:
I saw some of you recommend the fox 40 float with the upgraded RC2 cartridge.

I see they have 2018 fox float factory shocks for $895.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-2018-FOX-Factory-40-FLOAT-Fork-26-203-HSC-LSC-20x110-1-1-8-1699-Retail/143042259530?epid=20028341539&hash=item214dfbaa4a:g:mCEAAOSwGIZcCYZ~

Would it be worth buying the 2018 fox float for $895, using it for a year or two, and then upgrading the cartridge down the road?

I assume this would still be an air fork, even with the upgraded RC2 cartridge?

Is this fork worth it or does air forks suck and since weight is not an issue I should stay away from the fox 40 float altogether, even with the RC2 cartridge?

Please let me know what you guys think about this fox 40 float for $895.

Thanks

fucken hell that's a very good price for a brand new fork. I'd go for it.
It already has the damper you want, no need to upgrade.

If you want a coil spring you can probably find a worn out 40 for sale second hand and pop in the coil internals during your first service or something.
The 40 air spring isn't terrible at all from what i've ridden, but the coil is nicer.

dovbush66 · May 1, 2019

Dh builder said:
I'm very confused here so please help me out.

There are numerous posts in threads on this forum about how air sprung forks are pure garbage. Many people hate them and wish they had a coil fork. They suck for small bump compliance etc. Everyone is paying to convert over to a coil fork.

From reading various posts mostly everyone hates air sprung forks and the only reason to get an air sprung fork is because of weight savings.

Can you please let me know why you would recommend a 2018 fox 40 float fork if it is air sprung and is basically total garbage. Weight savings is a non-issue here so why would I want to go air sprung.

Please don't get me wrong, I would love to have a fox fork, but not if its air sprung and I will hate riding it.

Thanks in advancve.

Oh sorry I was just saying if you wanted a brand new fork, buying that ebay one and salvaging another cheap 40 for it's coil internals would be one way to get what you want with the bonus of having a fresh new chassis and spares. Fox stuff is expensive where I live so the price is really good to me despite the air spring.

Another way is buying a 40 performance elite (came with coils until last year or this year iirc?) and sticking in an RC2 damper into that.

and another way is just buying a used 40 with the damper and spring you want and getting it serviced so it's almost new.

..and another way is getting lucky af and finding a new old stock 40 with what you want. you get the idea.

Just depends on the budget and how much hassle you're willing to put up with.

kidwoo · May 2, 2019

I like coils on my dh stuff especially.

However.......current gen air 40s are pretty damn good. You asked about coils so that's what most people answered. And 26" stuff is free these days so a 2013 coil 40 is still my rec.

BUT, quite honestly I wouldn't kick an newer air 40 out of bed if you want to spend the money. Don't want to spend it....old coil all the way.

Ain't worth the money if you're riding 26" IMO though. Hit the antique store.

Mo(n)arch · May 2, 2019

I'd try to get a Fox 40 coil chassis with the bottom out damper and buy the best damping unit money can buy and put it in the fork. That way you would get the best fork possible. Having ridden and bottomed out the 888 evo and the BOS Idylle, using all the travel was a lot less violent on the BOS, due to the drop stop.
The Rockshox chassis is decent and imo the nicest looking fork, but doesn't come with a dedicated dropstop. There are a few decent aftermarket damping units with integrated bottom out damper, though.

Other things to be considered:

Air forks will always be more work to keep them nice and supple.
If you are going the coil route, a 888 evo or a BOS Idylle coil have very long service intervals. An important point, if you don't want to service your bike regularly.
Some brands have a better service network then others. BOS for example are a nightmare unless you live in France or Switzerland.
Air forks give you somewhat more tuning options, especially if you are inbetween two spring weights.
If you go the Franken-fork route, you need to be a decent mechanic, especially if you want to fit a damper from a different brand.

TrumbullHucker · May 2, 2019

RRRRUUUUUXXXXXXXX

I'd say your safe with latest gen 40 or Boxxer( with Charger )
Both have coil options

SkaredShtles · May 2, 2019

Just get the red one.

troy · May 3, 2019

Dh builder said:
The 2018 fox fork doesn't have high and low speed rebound adjustments. The 2019 has this.

Will the cartridge upgrades for the 2018 and older fox forks have high and low speed rebound adjustments?

And You need this because...?

mykel · May 3, 2019

troy said:
And You need this because...?

Marketing.

Sandwich · May 3, 2019

didn't the collective decide that the RC2 damper was superior to the Fit4 in actual going out and riding performance?

I've had lo and hi rebound on multiple products...I never got the hang of adjusting high speed/separate rebound. Just give me LSR and HSC and LSC and I'm a happy boy.

englertracing · May 3, 2019

Reguarding the RC2 vs the Grip 2.
The rc2 is a bladder style damper with high and low compression, and a rebound adjuster. The midvalve is a check valve style and creates zero compression dampening, which in this application is fine, the compression is created by the rod volume displacing oil and forcing it through the base valve, the low speed is a needle, the high speed is a preloadable shim stack. When you turn the high speed adjuster on the rc2 your actually forcing the high speed stack to open later, really in a way your adjusting the threshold of when that stack comes into play. It ends up effecting the transition from low to mid more than it does the actual high speed. If you need more dampening moar shimz is always better than a cranked rc2 hsc adjuster as that shit behaves more like some kinda pro pedal pos.
The rc2 rebound is controlled by the LSC needle and the shim stack, the shim stack works well for medium and firm springs, but you can adjust your high speed by changing shims.....

Where am i going with this?
Well
The grip is suppose to have less friction
How? It has a floating piston which adds more friction.
But the floating piston adds a self purging system, that allows a lower friction rod seal, but tbh its gotta be a wash...
The base valve is functionally similar.
The mid valve is shimmed which can be beneficial, it gives a "quicker" feel on mid and low speed compression. But it can be less plush, its more moto less enduro....
The rebound is created in a similar fashion but there is some trickery with some ramps and a lesf spring. It ends up preloading the perimiter of the rebound shims.

here is the issue with using coil or torsion springs as an adjustable way of adding dampening. preload does increase initial Force but does not actually increase the spring rate. Shims aren't pre-loaded unless they are on a dished piston, that's roadracing shitt nobody uses that off road as it makes for a hard transition from low speed to high speed. So cracking down on the high-speed adjuster does not have the same effect as adding more shims. More shims is like using a stiffer spring with more preload.

Like in the case of an X2 shock you're compromising a whole bunch of shit to get an external high-speed rebound adjuster. I mean I guess on the grip2 to at least nothing is being compromised to gain that high speed adjuster. But I wouldn't spend a ton of cash just to get that that adjuster its really not all its cracked up to be. I have a grip 2 and rc2 for my 36 and really I could get along with either one well, when you add a face shim to the rc2 anyway.

Udi · May 11, 2019

Dh builder said:
I'm very confused here so please help me out.
Please don't get me wrong, I would love to have a fox fork, but not if its air sprung and I will hate riding it.
Thanks in advance.

Sorry for the late reply, but I wrote the posts you quoted, and I still think the fork you linked is an absolutely fine choice. Keep in mind some of the threads on this forum are very technical, and often grossly exaggerate differences for the sake of getting a point across - I'm most guilty of this myself - but the fact is, the fork you linked has won multiple worlds level events, and works pretty damn good. Air springs have come a long way and while not quite as good as a coil still, are much closer than in the past. Along with that, chassis friction has been reduced by both of the big brands (RS and Fox), and the sliding consistency between units sold is far better than in the past.

Unless you somehow get a dud, I can almost guarantee you won't hate riding it, and you'll most likely love it.

The damper in that one (called "HSC/LSC") is the same as the FIT RC2, they just changed the name of it, so there's no need to change anything on it. It is an excellent damper. Don't worry about the H/L rebound adjustments, you never have before!

Most of the other forks recommended by people here are very good also.

Hope that helps, enjoy whatever you get.

Best 26" downhill fork if weight was no issue?

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