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So my bike (occam) has a Fox Float DPS Performance Evol. Always seems OK but it is bottom of the range.
I'm not too up on the hierarchy other than the basic guide here:
https://off.road.cc/content/buying/your-complete-guide-to-the-fox-rear-shock-range-6601
How far up the range do people suggest I would need to go to notice a significant difference? I've upgraded the forks and am happy with all of the other parts, I've just never upgraded a rear shock and wonder what a difference it would make. Would say a performance elite be a noticeable difference?
I am very much a fit and forget person.
get a different make.
What's it doing that you don't like?
Nothing that I don't like. That's half my question. If I ride recons and hop on a bike with revs I can feel the difference. It feels firmer and a bit more progressive on the front. Just wondering out aloud if a shock upgrade would improve the rear at all and if so, what.
Talk to a reputable suspension shop about what what they will do for a shock and correct tune or re-valve for the budget you think is reasonable. If you are fit and forget then better off without to much user adjustment.
I guess up from the dps is the float x then the x2.
Personally I’d probably pick up a Cane Creek Kitsuma air in your position to get better performance and more adjustability. I hear about too many issues with Fox X2’s and having had a float x it was ok but not breathtaking.
I’d your budget doesn’t run to that the new rockshox super deluxe ultimate is meant to be very good - I know a few people who have them and really rate them. Those people have had the float x and x2.
Not sure on the Fox specifically but I noticed a big difference going from an entry-level Rockshox Deluxe to the Deluxe Ultimate, it just seemed to do everything better. Pedalled nicer, dealt with hits better, just seemed to sit in the sweet spot on trails.
As mentioned above the new Super Deluxe Ultimate is really great, I spec'd that on my new frameset having realised what a difference the shock can make from my previous upgrade and I'm super happy with it. I just set it up as per the frame manufacturers recommendations (Cotic in this case) and it's been spot on. Never feel the need to fiddle with it now or even use the climb switch, whereas with cheaper shocks in the past I've always felt the need to fiddle or set it up for descending and either bob up climbs or lock it out on the way back up.
i've had a few DPS's and not liked any of them (came standard on Ibis Mojo/Ripley). Upgraded to a float x2 on the advice of Sprung Suspension and it's a lot 'better'. The DPS I always needed to add more pressure to stop it blowing through the travel, and then it felt harsh esp on small bumps. I was constantly fiddling with it to try and improve the ride.
X2, set it up once, never touched it since.
Nothing that I don’t like. That’s half my question. If I ride recons and hop on a bike with revs I can feel the difference. It feels firmer and a bit more progressive on the front. Just wondering out aloud if a shock upgrade would improve the rear at all and if so, what.
For your definition of improve you need to sorta decide what needs to be better... and as others have said widen your choice.
Even simply sticking to fox to illustrate you have a "dead DH" option and a livelier "trail" option. Neither is specifically "better" .. (though one has squishing noise issues)
Also in general the more expensive the shock the more dedicated tuning its going to take.. which if you enjoy is fine that but in general you can mess up a more sophisticated shock ( or forks ) way more than a simple one.
Thanks, some good points.