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I got a set of Fox 38's on my new bike but they are feeling very harsh with almost no small bump sensitivity. They work well on the big hits but are terrible for normal riding.
I have set the sag to 20% rebound feels right.
Any one else had the same issue and found a solution?
Have you used Fox before (say a 36)?
Generally think the normal responses are:
Is there too much grease from factory assembly?
What are your HSC/LSC settings? Have you started from Fox recommended settings?
How many tokens do you have installed?
I've got a 36 Grip from 2017 I didn't realise they were still using that damper. Is it not all Grip 2 now?
Exactly the same problem here. With the compression wound all the way off they still transmit a lot of trail chatter. They've never felt sensitive on small bumps. Fine on big hits.
Does anyone know of a cure other than spaffing £400 on a Grip 2 damper?
I have had a fox 36 in the past with grip 2 damper.(upgraded from a fit 4 that I didn't like).
I only have LSC its at 2 (as per fox's recommendations)
My understanding is the Grip is the basic damper while the Grip 2 is the more advanced damper with all the adjustments
As said, if it's anything like a 36 (with Grip1)... run fully open and lower the pressure in your tyre. Or go faster. If it's even "worse" on small slow stuff than a 36... run with more sag while bedding it in. And try Fork Juice with the new seals.
Yep, harsh and possibly even packing down?
Mine were like that. Take all the tokens out if you've fitted any. They come with at least two from the factory. Set rebound (yes), to minimum. Pump them up & cycle them gently to put air into the negative side, then re-pressurise. Use a shockwiz or a table of settings and the o-ring and go play on a short section of trail.
I'm still not that happy, but they're definitely better. I now get full travel and no trail buzz. They feel more like a 40 than a broken 36 now. Braking bumps areas are still a little harsh though. I have a suspicion they and the shock are going to need a trip to south wales in a jiffy bag before I'm really satisfied.
Thanks I will look at the air shaft and give them a lower service at the weekend.
I’ve not had that fork before but is 20% sag a bit on the low side? Perhaps move more towards 25% as well as the suggestions above - lsc wide open and rebound as light as you can go before it’s like a pogo stick. Also all tokens out to start with.
May have found the problem. Removed the air and the forks sucked all the way down. I can’t pull them back to full travel there’s that much pressure. I am guessing the air shaft is full of grease.
forget about sag and set air pressure on how you like small to medium hits. Then sort out the LSC/HSC.
Let 10psi out and ride again and see what you thing. make sure LSC/HSC are fully open. Adjust air pressure as needed to make the ride better. Then set LSC. If you run out of LSC add HSC and then adjust as required. It will take a bit of time but that is what you have to do.
A couple of thoughts;
Could be grease blocking the transfer port in the air spring (common problem on single air forks). Sounds crazy but doing a quick lower leg and air spring service on brand new forks is sometimes necessary, at least in my experience. Doesn't the new 38 have a bleed button to eliminate air from the lowers though?
Seals might need a good running in. Fox seals are really tight from new, I now use the green SKF seals on my 34 which are noticeably plusher.
Having too many air tokens / bottomless tokens causing lack of small bump sensitivity is a bit of a myth. The tokens are designed to modify how the fork will ramp up from mid-stroke to bottom-out (more tokens = more progressive / less tokens = more linear) and shouldn't really affect the beginning of the stroke.
forget about sag and set air pressure on how you like small to medium hits.
+1. Someone posted a good article on here a few years back, the gist of which was that sag % is just a starting point and going on feel is necessary to get things set up for the rider's preference.
Also,
They work well on the big hits but are terrible for normal riding
. Isn't the 38 designed for big hits and hard riding? I've never ridden one but perhaps they are tuned to give up some small bump sensitivity in order to focus on bigger hits?