maybe this would be better asked in the more specific area...:
Shocks and Suspension - Mtbr.com

 

Back when it was Quadra and Judy and SID I would agree. Nowadays I find Fox much easier to understand.

32: XC
34: Trail
36: Enduro
40: Downhill/Freeride

Then you have Performance, Performance Elite, and Factory models. The Elite is setup like a Factory minus the Kashima coated stanchions.

Larger the number, the burlier the fork and riding format.

 

If it wasn't obvious, the number relates to the diameter of the stanchions. Larger = stiffer but with some weight penalty. Generally the longer your stroke, the larger you want the stanchions to be to compensate for the increased free length.

I find Rockshox models very confusing. The only ones I know are the Reba and the Pike.

 

If you're a light weight rider or aren't doing anything crazy, the 32's are still fine for most riding. I run a 150mm Float on my AM bike and it works great.

 

would a beginner be able to tell a difference between performance and performance elite?

 

probably not unless you get super into tuning your suspension. the performance line is really really nice stuff

 

They're built upside down like almost all mountain bike forks; Water and grime gathers on seal tops and slowly filters into the fork. Oil also settles at the bottom, away from the seals too.

But look to the bright side, stanchions wear quicker which makes fork manufacturers more money. Invest in Fox!

 

I have found that one of the ridiculous looking #endurobro front fenders that straps onto the fork crown keeps a lot of the mud and junk from getting onto the stanchions. it's not perfect, but a big improvement.

 

do they still make Performance 34? The new budget line is called Rhythm, which I heard is surprising good and might actually be better than the normal 34.

The only confusing thing about Fox forks is the performance/elite/factory naming scheme which seems to have been made by people who dont speak english. Factory doesnt mean anything at all but it implies that its the most basic model, elite can only mean the best, and performance should mean its better than basic. None of that is true. The 32/34/36 naming scheme is really simple to understand unlike Rockshox's random names.

 

do they still make Performance 34? The new budget line is called Rhythm, which I heard is surprising good and might actually be better than the normal 34.

Yes, the Rhythm is currently OE only. haven't ridden one myself

 

Rockshox could do with a decent look at themselves in terms of presentation.

It seems there's a budget and quality version of each fork type (XC, Trail, Enduro etc)

XC - Judy, Recon, Reba, SID, RS1
Trail - Revelation, Sektor, Pike
Enduro - Yari, Lyrik

There's also crossover with Recon and Reba showing up on some trail bikes (at the lower end) and Yari too.

 

Is the Recon higher up the totem pole in terms of performance than the Judy?

 

Much. Not even close.