I'm in the market for a new bike and am wondering if it's worth the extra money to upgrade suspension. The lower priced build kit includes a Fox Performance Elite Float DPX2 EVOL rear shock and Fox Performance 36 fork. The next build kit up includes a Fox Factory Float DPX2 EVOL LV rear shock and a Fox Factory 36 Float fork. Is there a huge performance difference between "Performance" and "Factory" versions of the shocks? I'm more of a set it and forget it type of rider, checking air pressure occasionally but not the type to be adjusting settings all the time. let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
Fox "Factory" vs "Performance"
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Dango Dog
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The Performance Elite used to be a Fit4 damper a couple years ago. The only difference between that and the Factory fork was the Kashima coating. This was pre-Grip2. Is that not the case any more? What damper comes in the Performance Elite now?
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F36 Performance Elite is mostly GRIP2.
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Ah, interesting. Thx. This seems like the sweet spot for bang for the buck, IF you're going with Fox.
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Really the Factory version is only like $90 more. The Kashima is supposed to last longer than the black ano. Not sure that it makes a real difference in friction.
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Thanks for the edit @Dougal - that adds up and consistent with the feedback I got on the MTB Reddit as well. Much appreciated.
This means that if I swap out my Grip damper for a Grip2 on my Performance I essentially have a Performance Elite fork. For $360 seems like a reasonable upgrade which I'll consider. Thanks again.
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Agree with this. So does one of the biggest suspension specific tuners/retailers/service centres.
This seems to almost be beyond controversy.
This comment usually attracts Fox detractors chiming in to say that the forks are defective in design, manufacture, or both, if the non-Kashima is vulnerable to peeling, chipping and deterioration.
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I suspect that that would have happened long before now with a non-Kashima.
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Kashima is hard but when it goes it tends to flake. Anodising can vary in hardness depending on the aluminium underneath and ano depth. But anodising will scratch and not flake.
Possible, but before this Kashima fork I had multiple anodized aluminum forks that never developed any chips or scratches. One of them I rode for 10 years with minimal servicing. I'm not saying Kashima is bad, and maybe there is even some slight benefit, but I'm not sure it really makes that much difference.
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I guess there are always exceptions to everything. I’m just passing on what I was told.
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Kashima looks gorgeous on the bike, but I experienced zero performance benefits. The only difference I noticed was the Factory fork felt a tiny bit lighter than my Performance level fork. My Performance fork has Talas so maybe that's why it's a tiny bit heavier? Both forks have Fit4 dampers.
Why would any of that matter? OP asked what the difference is (Grip2 and kashima) ... Where and how he rides is irrelevant.
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Sure it does...stanchion wear would be more of in issue in some environments and a Grip2 offers more tuning options for different situations. Will 99% of people notice it? Probably not. Note that Fox just announced the Grip X2 damper to replace both.
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