sell it and buy a different fork - next time don't buy shite
I'm going to say it. I HATE my fox 38...
Little dramatic but i honestly dont even feel like riding with this fork. I dont know what it is but it just feels like absolute crap. My old fork was a lyrik ultimate and i thought i wanted to try something "stiffer" after trying a demo bike with a fox 38 and falling in love with it. but after owning it for 4 months now and it being on 2 different bikes it has been a very disappointing experience. To summarize i think the fork was complete overkill for the trails i ride and took the fun out of trail riding the steering became very heavy and climbing was harder. At my weight of 150lbs but i have just NEVER been able to dial it in no matter what i do. I've tried literally every combination i think i can come up with but what im left with is a harsh spikey/deflecting feeling fork, even off jumps it just feels so bad. It can defiantly plow harder than my lyrik ever could and im sure im way faster on it, but it just doesn't feel that great to me in the rough stuff or smooth stuff and im not sure why. I feel like it holds me back.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
1 - 20 of 305 Posts
Sounds like you haven't even dropped the lowers yet? Step one (really before even riding a new fork) is to drop the lowers, perform a lower leg service and at the same time service the air spring to check for excessive grease. While at it, check how easily the lowers slide on the stanchions, you might have tight bushings. If following this you still experience harshness, I'd look into a Secus or potentially even a Smashpot, but the latter is probably not a great idea if you're already moaning about the weight of the fork. Step 3, sell it.Little dramatic but i honestly dont even feel like riding with this fork. I dont know what it is but it just feels like absolute crap. My old fork was a lyrik ultimate and i thought i wanted to try something "stiffer" after trying a demo bike with a fox 38 and falling in love with it. but after owning it for 4 months now and it being on 2 different bikes it has been a very disappointing experience. To summarize i think the fork was complete overkill for the trails i ride and took the fun out of trail riding the steering became very heavy and climbing was harder. At my weight of 150lbs but i have just NEVER been able to dial it in no matter what i do. I've tried literally every combination i think i can come up with but what im left with is a harsh spikey/deflecting feeling fork, even off jumps it just feels so bad. It can defiantly plow harder than my lyrik ever could and im sure im way faster on it, but it just doesn't feel that great to me in the rough stuff or smooth stuff and im not sure why. I feel like it holds me back.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
I always use the lightest equipment without going exotic. The 38 has proven to heavy and way too much for the trails I ride. It was a bunch of cash to drop but I have sent more and been unhappy too. Just sell it and try something new. I always liked Fox cause I can get parts, the equipment is generally good for what it was designed for and it does look nice. I use the 32 SC cause it’s lite and just stiff enough for me. My overall thoughts on any equipment is that if I drop cash on the best equipment I can afford, if I don’t make the top, it’s all on me…..no equipment to blame…….does motivate me by thinking this is about the best it’s going to get so I must make the top…..even in the face of loose 10% grade……Little dramatic but i honestly dont even feel like riding with this fork. I dont know what it is but it just feels like absolute crap. My old fork was a lyrik ultimate and i thought i wanted to try something "stiffer" after trying a demo bike with a fox 38 and falling in love with it. but after owning it for 4 months now and it being on 2 different bikes it has been a very disappointing experience. To summarize i think the fork was complete overkill for the trails i ride and took the fun out of trail riding the steering became very heavy and climbing was harder. At my weight of 150lbs but i have just NEVER been able to dial it in no matter what i do. I've tried literally every combination i think i can come up with but what im left with is a harsh spikey/deflecting feeling fork, even off jumps it just feels so bad. It can defiantly plow harder than my lyrik ever could and im sure im way faster on it, but it just doesn't feel that great to me in the rough stuff or smooth stuff and im not sure why. I feel like it holds me back.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
dont even worry about it mate, i'll take it off of your hands and help u out 😄😆
Fox makes good equipment but one needs to match the equipment to your use. Not shite but there are plenty that are…..sell it and buy a different fork - next time don't buy shite
Did you keep your Lyrik or sell it? If you kept it, I'd throw it back on and unload the 38. I have to admit I was bemused when you said that you 'upgraded' from a Lyrik ultimate. The Lyrik is an excellent fork, IMO as good as anything off the shelf and better than most. Seems like you were trying to fix something that wasn't broken.
You’ve literally tried every combination you can think of. Contextually, it sounds like you’re just twiddling knobs and expecting magic to happen.
Do the basics. Pull the air spring side. Is it gunked with grease? How many volume spacers are in it?
Drops the lowers and make sure oil is present.
Or sell the fork. A 38 isn’t really an upgrade from a Lyrik from a damping perspective unless you prefer the Fox feel (I don’t).
Do the basics. Pull the air spring side. Is it gunked with grease? How many volume spacers are in it?
Drops the lowers and make sure oil is present.
Or sell the fork. A 38 isn’t really an upgrade from a Lyrik from a damping perspective unless you prefer the Fox feel (I don’t).
I have been down your exact same path. I had a Lyrik with a FAST Suspension damper valved for me. But the Lyrik had too much fore/aft flex for the terrain I ride. I switched to the Fox 38 based on the rave reviews from the media (I am now convinced 99% of mountain bikers have no idea how suspension should feel).
The first step to fix my 38 was to burnish the bushings, that only made a minor change since there wasn't too much excessive friction from the bushings in the first place.
Next step I isolated my air spring from the rest of the fork, here's where I found my 38 has a ridiculous amount of air spring stiction. I disassembled it, cleaned, inspected and re-installed. Still excessive stiction. Purchased a new air spring thinking there's no way Fox as a company could possible sell an air spring knowingly with so much stiction....well I was wrong, the new air spring was just as horrible as the original.
I have now installed a Vorsprung Smashpot. I haven't ridden it yet because of winter, but just pushing the fork though it's travel you can very clearly tell a major difference in stiction, it's nearly non-existent. As a bonus to really finish off this fork I have sent the damper to Shockcraft to have it modified and tuned. After all this it better be the best fork ever...since it's now the most expensive single crown ever..
Moral of the story, if you ride motocross and know what real suspension feels like....don't buy Fox or Rockshox
The first step to fix my 38 was to burnish the bushings, that only made a minor change since there wasn't too much excessive friction from the bushings in the first place.
Next step I isolated my air spring from the rest of the fork, here's where I found my 38 has a ridiculous amount of air spring stiction. I disassembled it, cleaned, inspected and re-installed. Still excessive stiction. Purchased a new air spring thinking there's no way Fox as a company could possible sell an air spring knowingly with so much stiction....well I was wrong, the new air spring was just as horrible as the original.
I have now installed a Vorsprung Smashpot. I haven't ridden it yet because of winter, but just pushing the fork though it's travel you can very clearly tell a major difference in stiction, it's nearly non-existent. As a bonus to really finish off this fork I have sent the damper to Shockcraft to have it modified and tuned. After all this it better be the best fork ever...since it's now the most expensive single crown ever..
Moral of the story, if you ride motocross and know what real suspension feels like....don't buy Fox or Rockshox
Fox 38 is stiff, I have heard big boys complain of it deflecting off of stuff at times.
For a 150# rider it would have to be used in a rough environment and ridden hard to see any benefit. For mellower trails there may not be a benefit.
I for one like the steering precision and tracking the 38mm stanchions/chassis provide (I have a ZEB), but it is also on a 180mm bike that gets ridden in the steep and rough stuff.
But more info is needed; what bike is it on, what travel are you running?
For sure drop the lowers and give it a once over, see how the bushings feel. Then try with compression wide open and LSR to your liking.
If still a no-go, sell it or trade for something smaller. Shouldn't be too hard
For a 150# rider it would have to be used in a rough environment and ridden hard to see any benefit. For mellower trails there may not be a benefit.
I for one like the steering precision and tracking the 38mm stanchions/chassis provide (I have a ZEB), but it is also on a 180mm bike that gets ridden in the steep and rough stuff.
But more info is needed; what bike is it on, what travel are you running?
For sure drop the lowers and give it a once over, see how the bushings feel. Then try with compression wide open and LSR to your liking.
If still a no-go, sell it or trade for something smaller. Shouldn't be too hard
It could be excess grease in the negative chamber but I think this problem is not as prevalent as people think (at least to the extent there's enough grease to actually cause problems). The 38 also needs a shaft clamp to remove the air spring from the sleeve. I recommend taking it to a shop if you're not comfortable with doing that.
I think more common is riders running too little pressure and too much rebound. If you want a soft plush fork you should have bought something different to be honest.
I think more common is riders running too little pressure and too much rebound. If you want a soft plush fork you should have bought something different to be honest.
What would you buy instead?Moral of the story, if you ride motocross and know what real suspension feels like....don't buy Fox or Rockshox
As other have said, do the lower leg service first and maybe change the oil more thinner. Decrease air pressure.Little dramatic but i honestly dont even feel like riding with this fork. I dont know what it is but it just feels like absolute crap. My old fork was a lyrik ultimate and i thought i wanted to try something "stiffer" after trying a demo bike with a fox 38 and falling in love with it. but after owning it for 4 months now and it being on 2 different bikes it has been a very disappointing experience. To summarize i think the fork was complete overkill for the trails i ride and took the fun out of trail riding the steering became very heavy and climbing was harder. At my weight of 150lbs but i have just NEVER been able to dial it in no matter what i do. I've tried literally every combination i think i can come up with but what im left with is a harsh spikey/deflecting feeling fork, even off jumps it just feels so bad. It can defiantly plow harder than my lyrik ever could and im sure im way faster on it, but it just doesn't feel that great to me in the rough stuff or smooth stuff and im not sure why. I feel like it holds me back.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
Next open HSC and try if it helps. If it's diving too much close it couple of clicks.
Do you have 35 mm stem and bar? As your speed has increased, it may be that it is hitting your hands too much now and it's feeling harsh. If it's possible try 31.9 version of both. I also changed the OneUp carbon bar and it helped a lot.
Edit: I forgot this. Check how many tokens you have
Make sure the axle is aligned and the LSR is backed out a good 6 to 8 clicks at least. The compression stroke will lock up because of the interplay between those circuits especially for a lighter rider.
If you can lean the bike over and the fork won't articulate with minimal bar input, the bushings are roached. Pretty common.
If you can lean the bike over and the fork won't articulate with minimal bar input, the bushings are roached. Pretty common.
I'm closing in on 200lbs ready to ride and I wouldn't bother with a F38/Zeb. I've got a Lyrik & Marz Z1 the 36mm chassis is more than enough for me riding natural trails. I don't bikepark or do mega jumps.
A F38 should be easy to sell. Get rid of it and get something else.
A F38 should be easy to sell. Get rid of it and get something else.
Everyone is having this issue...Fox 38 is over damped..most of us are running the damping nearly completely open. And it still isn't that good. Though the 38 has all these great features. The ZEB just feels better and works. A part of me doesn't understand why fox does this other than....that they are publicly traded soooo....Little dramatic but i honestly dont even feel like riding with this fork. I dont know what it is but it just feels like absolute crap. My old fork was a lyrik ultimate and i thought i wanted to try something "stiffer" after trying a demo bike with a fox 38 and falling in love with it. but after owning it for 4 months now and it being on 2 different bikes it has been a very disappointing experience. To summarize i think the fork was complete overkill for the trails i ride and took the fun out of trail riding the steering became very heavy and climbing was harder. At my weight of 150lbs but i have just NEVER been able to dial it in no matter what i do. I've tried literally every combination i think i can come up with but what im left with is a harsh spikey/deflecting feeling fork, even off jumps it just feels so bad. It can defiantly plow harder than my lyrik ever could and im sure im way faster on it, but it just doesn't feel that great to me in the rough stuff or smooth stuff and im not sure why. I feel like it holds me back.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
Little dramatic but i honestly dont even feel like riding with this fork. I dont know what it is but it just feels like absolute crap. My old fork was a lyrik ultimate and i thought i wanted to try something "stiffer" after trying a demo bike with a fox 38 and falling in love with it. but after owning it for 4 months now and it being on 2 different bikes it has been a very disappointing experience. To summarize i think the fork was complete overkill for the trails i ride and took the fun out of trail riding the steering became very heavy and climbing was harder. At my weight of 150lbs but i have just NEVER been able to dial it in no matter what i do. I've tried literally every combination i think i can come up with but what im left with is a harsh spikey/deflecting feeling fork, even off jumps it just feels so bad. It can defiantly plow harder than my lyrik ever could and im sure im way faster on it, but it just doesn't feel that great to me in the rough stuff or smooth stuff and im not sure why. I feel like it holds me back.
its a 160mm 2021 fox 38 grip 2 kashima that cost me $2k... which i deeply regretted after my first couple rides on it.
Have you guys got any ideas what i should be doing? i've heard the negative airspring can be full of grease from factory but im really not counting on that to be the issue here, but it very well could be. It does feel quite sticky like the seals are dry as a bone so maybe it needs a good service before i make my finally call on it.
I think they say its more for heavier riders. IMO your kinda light weight.
I had a 36 3 years ago. Smooth through fast rough sections. But RS fork always feels more supple through low/ medium speeds.
The Grip 2 VVC is actually pretty lightly damped.Everyone is having this issue...Fox 38 is over damped..most of us are running the damping nearly completely open. And it still isn't that good. Though the 38 has all these great features. The ZEB just feels better and works. A part of me doesn't understand why fox does this other than....that they are publicly traded soooo....
I’ll add: take out all those tokens too.Sounds like you haven't even dropped the lowers yet? Step one (really before even riding a new fork) is to drop the lowers, perform a lower leg service and at the same time service the air spring to check for excessive grease. While at it, check how easily the lowers slide on the stanchions, you might have tight bushings. If following this you still experience harshness, I'd look into a Secus or potentially even a Smashpot, but the latter is probably not a great idea if you're already moaning about the weight of the fork. Step 3, sell it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
…and for a very inexpensive fix, try a Luftkappe. My 36 GRIP2 with a Luftkappe does not disappoint. Maybe it will help with the 38 as well.I’ll add: take out all those tokens too.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1 - 20 of 305 Posts
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Top Contributors this Month
View All
ilmfat
831 Replies
DIRTJUNKIE
449 Replies
Sparticus
360 Replies
Recommended Communities
