Strengths: Excellent damping system at both high and low speed, with the DHX 5.0 on the rear, bike soaks up the hits like butter, this is a very light and rigid fork. Looks brilliant in white!
Weaknesses: Not many, though stansions scratch easily..
Bike Setup: Sunday Factory Frame, Fox DHX 5.0, Saint drivetrain and shifting, EX721 on Hope Pro II, Maxxis minnion and high roller combo, direct mount sunline stem, Avid Code 4 Brakes...
Strengths: The 2009 damper is way ahead of the previous years. Weight/strength is just right, coil forks are so much more supple.
Weaknesses: I feel that brake tourque and oil contamination due to shrink wrap on the spring is the demise of my left side bushings.
Bottom Line:
Fox has evolved this fork to be one of the best DH racing forks on the market. The new 2009 damper has some subtle changes that make it perform so much better then the previous dampers. Changes like a glide bushing in the seal head of the damper and MUCH better compression valving, make this fork so much smoother and more controlled through the stroke. However there is something I have encountered and that is premature wearing of the left bushings. I attribute this to a combination of contaminated lubrication oil and brake torque.
I think what FOX needs to do is redesign the bushings so that the left upper bushing is 2 or 3 times longer and the lower one is double, this would help counter brake torque effect on the lowers and lead to longer bushing replacement intervals.
They might also look at a way to isolate the spring from the lubrication oil and use a slick honey or M-prep type grease on the spring. That would eliminate the contamination of the oil by the shrink wrap on the spring.
I think a Air 40 RC2 is just around the corner once Fox figures out how to adapt a compresson blow off chamber for the air spring to make the air spring less progessive and more linear like a coil.
Similar Products Used: I have been on these forks for 4 years. I have teched many other brands, but none of them can touch Fox for internal quality.
Bike Setup: 2008 Glory DH with a cane creek Double Barrel...so you know that the fork better be good b/c that rear shock will make a weak fork obvious.
Strengths: the damper and feel of these forks is amazing, stiffness, look
Weaknesses: thin lowers. put a 1cm round hole in the lowers from a rock flicking up off the wheel
Bottom Line:
insane fork. takes a lot of setting up but once dialled in is amazing. sits nice and high in the travel and doesn't blow through travel like boxxers do. these forks give so much confidence when pushing limits. at speeds that i was starting to feel scetchy on my boxxers, with these it feels effortless, they carry speed so well, worth every cent. just don't let rocks hit them like i did lol
Strengths: Very plush, predictable, stiff, easy to tune, Light!
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
So far these have been absolutely great forks, I ride this bike 3 to 4 hours a week sometimes 8 hours a week, started riding these the beginning of August. The ride qaulity may not be a lot better than the marz 888rc2x, but they are a full pound lighter, and so far have been as reliable.
All I know this is a dumb question, but it is worth asking. On the Fox site they have a complete guide that shows the 40RC2 has an optional 1.5" steering tube? I have never heard Read More »
Tearing down my used 40 RC2 for the first time and the detent ball and spring are not there! I was wondering what exactly they are for? I bought this bike and never really rode it Read More »
Ok here's the deal,
I have a 2008 888rcv, and I have the ability to trade for a 2006 Fox 40. I ride DH, and am certainly not a huge freerider doing crazy drops to flat (nothing Read More »
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I'm selling my 2008 Specialized Demo 8 (Size L) . This is an amazing bike for several reasons Read More »
