The steerer on my 34s is creaking and I’ve noticed a small chip on the stanchion, so I’m guessing not worth repairing. I’ve been happy with these forks in the 3yrs I’ve ran them. They led me to buy a more up to date set with fancier damper for the hardtail. Sadly all the bargains from Merlin have gone.
So, what next? Pike Ultimate, 36SL (seems to be the 34 replacement) or 36 ?
cheapest option is a 150mm 36 from Germany with 3 position €270. I’m only considering it at 150mm due to the price,
36SL £649 with the 3 position damper is the current strong favourite, seems closest to the current fork with the benefit of a stiffer chassis.
Merlin still have the 36 grip, £449 but at 160mm would need an airspring change. I’m happy to do my own tinkering.
An outlier option is a lyrik at 140mm. The thinking being the next frame is likely to be a bigger travel bike and the fork would need to be upped to 160mm Weight is noted issue compared to the others.
The bike is a Stumpjumper 130mm used for trail riding. The current 34 can feel a bit flexy, but not enough to put me off them. I’ve been happy with both sets of 34 I’ve had. The Stumpjumper has the older 2022 design and the hardtail the updated chassis.
I’ve recently acquired a new hardtail. The old one had Fox 34s and the new one has 36s. Only a few rides in, but very happy. I also have a full suss with a Lyrik which is also great. Don’t think you can go wrong with those two.
I'd put the 150mm 36s on the Stumpjumper, it can take them, and they're the cheapest.
I have the same bike and similar ideas but my 34s are still ok which is making me hold back from buying anything else - next eventual bike (in no rush to change as Im happy with the frame still) will probably be 150-160mm travel. I’d go for the 36 150mm option - and let me know how they suit the flex stay Stumpjumper!
Got some older version Fox Factory 36s on the hardtail set to 140mm. Nice and plush but a bit more flex in the chassis compared to the 2025 Yari super deluxe mega whatever the top tier one is, set to 150mm on the FS.
But both are great forks, so I'd go with whichever is the cheapest. For me the Foxs feel slightly smoother, but they've both got so many adjustments on them that I expect you can get them to feel 99.9% the same.
Either Pike or Lyric, would be my choice, but I prefer their dampers compared to Fox
If you don't mind not having lots of dials to play with these would be an option
MERLINCYCLES.COM Either Pike or Lyric, would be my choice, but I prefer their dampers compared to Fox
If you don't mind not having lots of dials to play with these would be an option
Im not familiar with that rush damper and I’ve had poor experiences of cheaper Rockshox dampers in the past
The 36's at Merlin are GRIP2 not GRIP, and as such represent a very good deal... Different air shaft is an easy job to swap (upgrade to the new NA3 Glidecore version if you can, it's more expensive but noticeably better).
Cheaper Rockshox dampers are incredibly rudimentary, and I'd avoid if I were you...
Only experience with pike ultimates are the silver ones a few years ago they did and thought they were pretty average. Prefer the cheap £200 grip 34s that bike discount de punted out years ago which everyone on here seemed to buy.
Have lyrik ultimates on the FS and they are fit and forget and lovely though.
id get those Merlin 36s personally
The 36's at Merlin are GRIP2 not GRIP, and as such represent a very good deal... Different air shaft is an easy job to swap (upgrade to the new NA3 Glidecore version if you can, it's more expensive but noticeably better).
Cheaper Rockshox dampers are incredibly rudimentary, and I'd avoid if I were you...
Yes, sorry grip2, which is the same on my hardtail.
36 from Merlin ordered. Will sort out air shaft to 140mm
I have the same bike and similar ideas but my 34s are still ok which is making me hold back from buying anything else - next eventual bike (in no rush to change as Im happy with the frame still) will probably be 150-160mm travel. I’d go for the 36 150mm option - and let me know how they suit the flex stay Stumpjumper!
Im happy with the bike, but my wife bought a stumpie 15 and it’s got me thinking…… Mine did feel a little out of its depth on holiday in Canada
Just to say I have grip on a fox 38 and grip2 on a fox 36.
Both ace. The grip took 5 min to tune ( set to position 4) the grip 2 took weeks of bracketing and fiddling with to be happy with the set up.
If I was buying new I'd go grip. Its just as good.
I've run a number of forks in this travel range.
As for 34s - the 'new' shape 34s, with the rounded arch, are much, much stiffer than the older ones with the squared off arch. I happily run these at 140mm travel on a light-ish trail bike.
For this reason I would avoid the cheap, older 34s at Merlin (they would be ace on a hardtail at 120mm though).
Consider what bike you have now but also what you might buy in the future. If you are happy you wont ever want more than 140mm travel, and want to commit to a big spend, the 36SL is superb (I've only had a quick go but happy to make that statement) being nigh on as light as a 34 now.
However for less money, or if you think you might ever want to go up in travel, I'd go 36. Grip Damper is very good - and easy tp setup, with a wide working range. Grip2 is 'excellent' but requires an investment of time and effort to get setup right.
Grip2 is also not great if you are outside of a range of 'normal fit bloke' kind of weight from around 70-85kg and requires custom tuning or valving to get the best of it. Particularly if your light.
I totally misread the thread title as 140mm pork pie....
@P20 - has she got the alloy or carbon version? My brother has got the 15 alloy and although I liked it descending, it didn’t convince me it was worth the cost to upgrade… although the raw alloy evo frame sets for £1600 have got me considering it again!
She has the carbon expert. I’ve deliberately not ridden it…..
For this reason I would avoid the cheap, older 34s at Merlin (they would be ace on a hardtail at 120mm though).
Unless it's the old Rhythm version. Those are stiffer (but also heavier).
I'd get a 36 (not the SL), as with an airspring change these can be made to work with just about any bike in the future.
If for you money is no object, and you don't care about adaptability... the 36SL is probably the ideal option.
@P20 that’s the problem… I’d prefer the carbon but don’t want to be stuck with electronic only shifting - both in general and because I’d be moving stuff across from my current bike. Suppose it’s good for my wallet at any rate. To be honest the current frame is very good which helps calm the itchy feet!
New 36 arrived. Turns out they are 2022 when I registered them with Fox. The NA3 spring was a bugger to fit, it really needs some pressure to get it all the way in.
the crown is slimmer than my mk2 34 on the hardtail and the newer 36 on my wife’s stumpie.
Bike is now creak free! Decals to be ordered…. 
The NA3 spring was a bugger to fit, it really needs some pressure to get it all the way in.
Can you not take the air cap off for an easy life?
The NA3 spring was a bugger to fit, it really needs some pressure to get it all the way in.
Can you not take the air cap off for an easy life?
The air cap was off.
I rang Jtech where I bought it from. They said the double seal on the negative chamber did make it tight. They recommended placing steerer on the floor and push hard! It worked.
Based on recent experience with a 36 Factory Spec/Kashima coated thing. Stay well clear of Fox. I changed to a Mk2 Cane Creek Helm and the improvement was night and day in every respect.
If buying new today Pike Ultimate and another Helm would be the two on the shortlist.
Based on recent experience with a 36 Factory Spec/Kashima coated thing. Stay well clear of Fox. I changed to a Mk2 Cane Creek Helm and the improvement was night and day in every respect.
If buying new today Pike Ultimate and another Helm would be the two on the shortlist.
What was the problem?
