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Ok, i have a 2018 fox 36 fit 4 with a smashpot. Had it at 150mm, now gone to 170mm on a different frame. Anyhow, I have never had a problem with stiffness (titter) but i did make the mistake of trying a friends z1 grip. Thought it felt great.
My fork is battered with little resale value (scratched stanchions, helicoiled brakemount bolt). It can be run at 170mm max, whereas my new to me frame can take 180mm , which i am keen to try. I have never been totally happy with the fit4 setup.
Lots of options really:
Grip 2 or grip in my current fork, keep at 170mm
Get a z1 with a grip damper and have the smashpot , max 170mm
Get one of the new breed of enduro gnarforks (zeb or 38 , can go up to 180mm if i want)
I am 80kg, 95% of my riding is bike park with uplift. You could indeed say I only ride park.
WWSTWD?
I haven't tried the 38 but the Zeb is brilliant, costs half as much and works so much better at that kind of length ( than a lyrik/36).
Cheers, so you think a zeb or something is the way to go? Silly to chase improvements on what I have when the new forks are a significant upgrade?
If I wanted that much travel I’d get a Boxxer! A friend put one on his Kenevo and swears by it. Dual crown but slimmer stanchions makes so much more sense when you consider how forks behave.
+1 for a zeb, I don't own one but a riding buddy rates his, if it's a big lyrik then it's a massive win for me. Tf have got a bit of discount on the ultimate currently too. Fox 38 sounds great too but much more expensive and gaining a reputation for being really creaky too.
I have a Fox 38 and it’s far and away the best single crown fork I’ve ever had.
It feels more like a 40 when riding and it totally eliminated any hand pain that I normally suffer with in Morzine, when I was there in the summer.
It was great on the park tracks and the techy trails too.
I am c. 95kg and really appreciate the stiffness of the 38mm construction.
mezzer
If you're keen to try 180mm then yes, I'd highly recommend the Zeb.
It surprised me how much stiffer and more plush it feels than the same version Lyrik.
Pretty much like having a dual crown fork, from my memory of owning those.
mezzer
What about it? 😬
Thanks for the input all. No thoughts on a simple grip or grip2 change?
I've looked into upgrading my Fox 36 Grip to the Grip2 damper and all together it would be over £500 from Silverfish UK. Seem a little steep - few hundred more and you could get a brand new 36 Performance Elite (albeit last years model), Bike Park Wales has them for £799 - https://www.bikeparkwales.com/2020-fox-36-performance-elite-170-27-5-boost.
I haven't tried the 38 or Zeb but I have heard good things about both however!
I'd 100% be putting a Boxxer on. A small weight penalty for something better in every way.
I've gone from a 36 factory to a 38 Factory & I couldn't be happier.
On different bikes, so not a direct comparison, but stiffness & tracking is head & shoulders above, thats before you compare the damping.
I'd heartily recommend one.
They’re 27.5” & out of stock 😬
They’re 27.5” & out of stock 😬
Was just an example, I just mean for a bit more cash than upgrading your old worn forks you can get a brand new set! 😊
Start fitness have them for £999 and you can get 10% off using EXTRA10
hanks for the input all. No thoughts on a simple grip or grip2 change?
"My fork is battered with little resale value (scratched stanchions, helicoiled brakemount bolt)"
get a new fork. The Zeb, 38 and Mezzer are all quite stiff. The lyric is also an option.
38 is pointlessly expensive. I have a 170mm fork and looked at the mezzer and lyric (ultimate). Zeb is too heavy for my liking. The difference in damping, air spring, HBO and ease of travel change on the mezzer sold it for me. TBH I doubt you'd go wrong with any of these forks unless you happen to be outside the weight/style range of the damper.
Not putting a triple clamp on but cheers for the suggestion. Zeb is the current favourite although i generally lean towards fox. Twice the price though is madness . I wonder when the öhlins 38 is out 🤔