New frame ordered (Hope HB916)and wondering if the new 38 sized forks are worth a bit of extra weight? 100kg in riding gear, main riding is Lake District and Scotland so very often long, rough, steep and technical stuff.
Never felt short changed by 36’s before but notice most new bikes of that ilk are coming with 38’s. Will I benefit from 38’s or is it just the latest in a long line of new standards we don’t really need?
Yeah do it.
Fox have repositioned the 36 as more of a "Trail" fork now, with the 38 covering Enduro duties. As such the 36 is supposed to top out @ 160mm travel now, with the 38 going from there upwards.
The 38 is stiffer like for like, so in a longer travel application you will notice it. How much will be subjective, but for the 200g weight penalty on a 170mm travel frame, I wouldn't be too worried.
Grab a cheap mezzer Pro for 37mm 😀
i would go 38 as long as its not the basic 38. bike shop has lent me a bike while waiting for a warrenty claim and the basic 38's on it are no where near as good as my factory 36's(2018 so not the better grip2).
Spend the little bit more and get ohlins, you won't regret it
With the all up weight, 38s make sense, it's not a huge sacrifice, especially on a 170mm travel frame, and on forks it's even less of a real issue overall. I take it you're getting the Grip2 version as well if it's going on a 916, as someone else said, Ohilins is even nicer 😁
IME 38s are harder to get "right", but once sorted are more like a proper DH fork than anything I've ever ridden on. Until they're properly dialled in small bump perfromance is a bit crap and I know a load of people who struggeled to get full travel out of them for ages (me included).
My 36s (170mm) were right out of the box and they're really good. They also don't creak like an old Elizabethan warship the way the 38s do.
Ah sorry everyone I meant 36 vs 38 as a generic term for size of fork. The forks I am considering are the Ohlins RFX M2 Air 36 v 38’s to match the Ohlins Coil rear.
IME 38s are harder to get “right”, but once sorted are more like a proper DH fork than anything I’ve ever ridden on. Until they’re properly dialled in small bump perfromance is a bit crap and I know a load of people who struggeled to get full travel out of them for ages (me included).
My 36s (170mm) were right out of the box and they’re really good. They also don’t creak like an old Elizabethan warship the way the 38s do.
What makes them harder to get right? Are they not just the exact same internals but with 2mm thicker legs?
Also do all 38's (fox) suffer from creaking issues?
I wouldn't worry about a slight increase in stanchion size, buy the fork with the better performance irrespective of stanchion diameter.
They seem really sensitive to the tiniest adjustments in damping and pressures, which makes no sense in theory, but that’s how they behave in reality. Took me 3-4 months to get them sorted.
Afaik they all suffer from the creaky CSU issue. The overlap between the steerer and the crown doesn’t appear to be big enough. I read this was to keep stack height down given the extra travel and overall length.
Fox did a running change on the 38 CSU like on the 36 however it wasn't really announced. They added about 5mm to the steerer crown interface.
I've also ordered an HB916, but I'm sticking with the 36's off of me 160. New lowers sitting in a box waiting for it to turn up (even a due date would be nice).
I’ve also ordered an HB916, but I’m sticking with the 36’s off of me 160. New lowers sitting in a box waiting for it to turn up (even a due date would be nice).
My dealer reckons late July…ish.
My first (reluctant) 29er so need new forks, thought might as well go Ohlins to match coil rear but have to say my cheap 2018 fox 36’s converted to grip 2 have been flawless and incredibly reliable up to the point where they now have the dreaded CSU creak.
There are companies than can press the steerer out and put a new, less creaky one in.
Fox did a running change on the 38 CSU like on the 36 however it wasn’t really announced. They added about 5mm to the steerer crown interface.
Any idea whether they’re warrantying them or would I need to fork out for a new csu.
Also do all 38’s (fox) suffer from creaking issues?
3 CSU’s & counting, I would be inclined to say yes (everyone I know who rides at a pace has done at least one CSU).
Got a bit boring, albeit free servicing as a result of warranty work was always good. I’ve moved on from 38’s now & wont go back.
jackal
Free MemberAlso do all 38’s (fox) suffer from creaking issues?
TBH I don't know when it happened but at some point, Fox and Rockshox both realised that creaking CSUs were a thing they could get away with, and from that point on pretty much any fork could develop them. Doubly annoying that the aftermarket steerers in teh exact same CSUs don't do it so it's not even really a design flaw, it's a manufacturing flaw
