[Tracerboy]

I walk up steep stuff, so travel adjust isn't needed.

What would be a good choice of a fork to match the feel and travel of the DHX5 coil?

I'm leaning towards the VAN 36 because it is also coil, has similar damping, and has same amount of travel.

I can get them brand new for $650 is that a good price? That's for the RC2 model. I will reveal my source of the $650 forks after I get mine. I would hate to not get one because all of you guys got one and cleaned out the stock

So, any other forks I should consider? TALAS is a joke, out of the question.

I was thinking of a 2005 z1Fr1, but might not be enough travel.

I do about 25%XC, 50% freeride, and 25% other crap.

66SL looks bonus, but I would never adjust the travel, so I would rather have a coil fork at one height. The other 66 forks are too tall and too heavy.


This fat wad of cash is going to give my pocket 3rd degree burns if I don't discharge it soon!

 

[tscheezy]

From what you describe, I think the 36 V would be the perfect choice. The ones we tried on the 6-Packs at Interbike complimented the Packs swimmingly.

 

[FXRob]

Please reveal your source where you can get an RC2 for $650 so I can have the one I bought price matched and credited back to me

Get the Vanilla 36, you'll be happy with it. I run it on my Pack with a DHX-A in back and it feels better than any other fork I've tried so far. I had a Z1FR1 before and it isn't even in the same league as the 36 Vanilla.

 

[Tracerboy]

Get the Vanilla 36, you'll be happy with it. I run it on my Pack with a DHX-A in back and it feels better than any other fork I've tried so far. I had a Z1FR1 before and it isn't even in the same league as the 36 Vanilla.

In what ways is the z1 lacking compared to the van 36? Obviously stiffness, but what else?

 

[FXRob]

In what ways is the z1 lacking compared to the van 36? Obviously stiffness, but what else?

You must reveal your source first, then I'll tell you

The Z1 ramped up very quickly no matter how low I dropped the oil levels and if I used 0 psi in the air chamber. For a 6" travel fork I usually at most got 4-4 1/2" of travel out of it at most. It felt good on small bumps as all coil Zokes do, but I just wasn't getting the most out of the fork. The Vanilla gives me a good 2" of more useable travel and it just feels much better damped, it really is a lot more plush than the Z1....especially at higher speeds. I also like the slightly taller A/C height, that and the stiffness just inspires much more confidence going down steep, rocky technical trails. It also doesn't bob very much when you stand and hammer the pedals which was surprising to me. I run both the high/low speed compression knobs wide open, haven't even played with those yet. It obviously has more tuning options than the Z1 also. They just don't really even compare in my book, the 36 Van is a LOT more fork in every way. I feel it is the perfect fork for my 6 Pack, the bike is able to handle everything and it does it very well.

 

[El Chingon]

I"m gonna disagree with FXRob, even though I trust his opinions. The new 2006 Z-1 light is a different monster completely than the 05 version. The new compression adjustment makes all the difference in the world. Get the oil levels set up right, and you will have all the useable travel you want, and then for those big hit days, add 10 clicks of compression or so to avoid bottom out. Now with that said, the 36 Van is going to be stiffer, however, the 36 Van I tried out was not even in the same league as the Z-1 in terms of plush travel. The fact that you can get the 36 van for $650.00, might be the determining factor here. You will easily drop an extra $100.00 on the Z-1. I suggest you try both forks before ruling either one of them out, but I think you will be surprised how much smoother the travel is on the Z-1 compared to the 36 Van. I sold my 05 Z-1 FR1 to Lycra FR. I did not have issues with plushness at all, and I never ran any air in the chamber either. I watch LFR do 5 footers to flat all day long, and he is using every inch of his travel, without bottoming out. Maybe I just set the oil levels right, but I've never heard a negative word out of his mouth regarding that fork. The only reason I sold it, was to get something a little stiffer, being that I weigh 240 all suited up. Chingon out!

A parting shot of Lycra FR using the 6 inches God gave him.

 

[FXRob]

I"m gonna disagree with FXRob, even though I trust his opinions. .

I should have noted that I was speaking of an '05 Z1, I have no experience at all with the newer '06 models. Just to me the difference between the '05 Z1 and the 36 Vanilla were quite substantial. I'm not trying to say the Z1 was a bad fork, just to me the Vanilla does everything better IMO. Some of the '06 Zokes do look pretty nice though

 

[tscheezy]

I don't find anything difficult about tuning an 05 Z1 FR1 to ride like buttah, offer full travel (or with 1/4-1/2 inch of "oh-crap" reserve), and yummy down on Utah's finest.

 

[Tracerboy]

I"m gonna disagree with FXRob, even though I trust his opinions. The new 2006 Z-1 light is a different monster completely than the 05 version. The new compression adjustment makes all the difference in the world. Get the oil levels set up right, and you will have all the useable travel you want, and then for those big hit days, add 10 clicks of compression or so to avoid bottom out. Now with that said, the 36 Van is going to be stiffer, however, the 36 Van I tried out was not even in the same league as the Z-1 in terms of plush travel. The fact that you can get the 36 van for $650.00, might be the determining factor here. You will easily drop an extra $100.00 on the Z-1. I suggest you try both forks before ruling either one of them out, but I think you will be surprised how much smoother the travel is on the Z-1 compared to the 36 Van. I sold my 05 Z-1 FR1 to Lycra FR. I did not have issues with plushness at all, and I never ran any air in the chamber either. I watch LFR do 5 footers to flat all day long, and he is using every inch of his travel, without bottoming out. Maybe I just set the oil levels right, but I've never heard a negative word out of his mouth regarding that fork. The only reason I sold it, was to get something a little stiffer, being that I weigh 240 all suited up. Chingon out!

A parting shot of Lycra FR using the 6 inches God gave him.

I think Marzocchi forks have a good soft feel for the first part of travel, but this tends to make them dive down when riding steep stuff. Turning up compression helps remedy this, but makes the bike lose traction and defeats the plushness.

I'm running a Pike Coil right now. I like how it has a consistant plushness through the whole travel range. Sure it doesn't have the soft zone a Zoke has, but it feels like it holds a good amount of traction while still riding a bit higher in the travel in the steeps.

I would imagine a lot of the Z1 light's plushness comes from the half air, which makes the fork more progressive while being softer in the begining stroke. I'm afraid the z1 will not match my rear shock well on extreme DH sections where suspension consistancy can make or break you. I ride DH runs up to 40 mph in some cases.

For those who have tried, does the Fox Van 36 match the rear shock well in compression, rebound, and spring rates?

I'm pushing 200 lbs. I find most 32mm single crown forks flexy compared to the 66 and dual crown forks. The Pike is pretty damn stiff, but with heavy duty wheels and tires, it strains to hold a line in fast rockgardens like a stiffer fork.

That new Rockshox 38 fork could be a good upgrade next year. Kinda ugly, but I like ugly. Sorry guys, but I think turner bikes look dorky Could be a good combo.

 

[FXRob]

I don't find anything difficult about tuning an 05 Z1 FR1 to ride like buttah, offer full travel (or with 1/4-1/2 inch of "oh-crap" reserve), and yummy down on Utah's finest.

It must be because I'm a lightweight (160lbs). I know airwreck agreed with me when I made my 36 Vanilla thread back on turkey day about the Z1 and not being able to get full travel out of it....and he weighs 150lbs. I even had a hard time compressing the fork to lock down the ETA, it took me using all my weight and very hard push to get it to lock down far enough. The fork did feel good with what travel I was getting out of it, but the Vanilla gives me a good 2" more useable travel and it feels more plush to me than the Z1 did. I certainly didn't have any problem selling the Z1 though, there are plenty of people happy with them that's for sure.

 

[Bikezilla]

I don't find anything difficult about tuning an 05 Z1 FR1 to ride like buttah, offer full travel (or with 1/4-1/2 inch of "oh-crap" reserve), and yummy down on Utah's finest.

It looks like you got full compression in a few other places too, like the rear tire, the shock, and maybe even the back of the seat tube.