I've always stuck with rockshox as they seem reliable and easy to service. I am now getting seduced by fox, due to wanting to save a bit of weight off my bike. ;
What is the deal with stanchion wear and reliability/service intervals; are they a pain, or is it just internet myth?
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Just as easy to service as Rock Shox. I have a set of 04 forks and there isn't wear as such to the stantions, few scracthes and that's it. All original parts with the exception of the seals
I was expecting that picture......
My rockshox forks after one years use.
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In constrast my Fox 36s are fine after a couple of years. I never did the regular basic service, just used some fork juice. Just had them serviced by Evans and they were absolutely fine.
They are really easy to service and it really only takes about an hour tops. Yes they are needy, but if you keep them clean and lube them before every ride they should be fine.
If you're fit and forget rider then perhaps marzocchi would be a better bet.
all comes down to maintenance, why do people complain that they spend £700 on a fork then 6 months later complain that the ano has worn off the legs? when they haven't even bothered to read the manual and follow simple maintenance procedure.
fox and rock shox forks are just as easy as each other to look after.
Fox got a slating a while back because they published unrealistic service intervals for real world riders and then i think there were fears that warranty issues wouldn't be accepted if the services hadn't been carried out.
I don't recall ever seeing a real life incident where this happened.
That said, i changed my Fox to RS directly on purchase because I just know RS fork service processes (thanks PP) and didn't want the hassle of learning fresh.
Just had mine serviced (for the first time) by TFT and the note that came back said they were good condition inside (ie. no worn anodizing).
Easy to just spray Fork Juice on the stanchions before each ride to keep the crap out of the seals. I don't do any other regular maintenance.
why do people complain that they spend £700 on a fork then 6 months later complain that the ano has worn off the legs?
because other £700 (or £300 for that matter) forks are far less prone to it and require servicing less frequently? And for £700 they really should have sorted something as simple as a dust seal?
The problem seems to be that the dust seals are poor. Dust gets passed and is collected by the oil-soaked foam wiper, which turns into an abrading pad. The newest generation of dust seals are supposed to be better, and the next time I service Munqe Chick's fox forks I'll be fitting Enduro seals.
They are easy to service, identical process to rockshox and takes me about 20 minutes (remove lowers-clean-remove and flush clean foam wipers-resoak wipers in float fluid-refit wipers and lowers, every few services change the lower oil at the same time). It's just that RS forks require it less often. I do our lyriks, revelations and rebas 2 or 3 times a year. MC's Fox were done prior to and after a weeks riding in Spain. It's not a myth, so if you 1) ride regularly and 2) don't enjoy tinkering I'd avoid Fox.