I already have a 36 and can’t decide whether to fit a smashpot or buy a brand new z1 coil, which I can get for a very decent price.
Has anyone any thoughts on this? Both have grip dampers; the 26 is the grip2 vvc, which I’m a bit mleh about, so I’m possibly fitting an Avalanche or Fast damper at some point anyway.
My 36 is in perfect condition and if I chose the Z1 I’d likely sell it to recoup the difference. But not sure I can be arsed.
So in purely performance terms, has anyone used both & what we’re your thoughts? I’m wondering if it boils down to the air ramp up within the Z1 versus the HBO in the smashpot.
I'd put the Smashpot in the 36. If you're underwhelmed with the grip 2, it's unlikely you'll feel better about the Z1 damper.
However, Steve at Vorsprung firmly believes that the spring is the most significant part of a fork, hence why they focus their upgrades there. You might find the damping better once 50% of the friction goes by ditching the air spring.
However, I'd also get your bushing clearances checked. Amazing how many high end forks are hampered by tight bushings.
Once I’d got it serviced, I’ve found the Fox 36 to be an excellent fork without any further modifications.
My initial plan was to fit the smashpot then on it needing a full service, get the damper tuned to me at the same time.
I started thinking about Avy dampers because I’ve had a number of shocks tuned by them & they were superb… really good. What’s bugging me is that every review I read about the grip2 vvc says how great it is, yet I find it to be average at best. I’ve also read that it’s a very easily tuned damper.
What I actually want is a 29” version of my Marzocchi 55rc3ti v2 😬
I scored a Factory 36 cheap to steal the damper for my Z1 coil.
Ended up sticking the 36 on my Banshee instead when fox replaced my blown rear Bomber coil shock with a new Float X factory. Saved about a Kg.
The 36 did benefit from a good service though & now I run it pretty much at Fox's specified settings.
The Z1 coil is a good fork, but it might not blow you away.
The Z1 coil is a good fork, but it might not blow you away.
Yeah, that’s how I feel about the 36, it just doesn’t blow me away. I know this is a whole different topic but I do feel like despite the manufacturers telling how much better each year’s fork is, how much of an improvement it is year on year, they’re just not any better. I now find myself looking for a particular feel in a 29” model that doesn’t seem to exist, hence the tuning route.
Grip 2 VVC dampers might be somewhat inconsistent, some riders are very happy with them but not all and suspension gurus on MTBR have some comments about different dyno results. At least mine wasn't very good in anything else than bike park style riding - I just couldn't get it to work properly on rooty sections with any combination of tokens and air pressure. The fork was serviced properly but it did not help.
Can’t comment on z1 but run a smashpot in a pike. Highly recommend. Sometimes only appreciate just how well it tracks the ground when try my other bike with a plain air fork.
flexibility too compared to PUSH in that smashpot can cope with travel change without needing anything new. It’s just a swap some parts job.
What I actually want is a 29” version of my Marzocchi 55rc3ti v2
Join the club - it's not just rose tinted spectacles is it? They were so great 😀
I was considering a Z1 coil but got a secondhand Helm Coil instead.
The damping is quite firm but I think the coil plushness makes up for that. It doesn't have the same ridiculous fluidity as the old Marz forks, but it's good enough to just "disappear" while riding IYKWIM.
I'd really like to try the Z1 as a benchmark.
At least mine wasn’t very good in anything else than bike park style riding – I just couldn’t get it to work properly on rooty sections with any combination of tokens and air pressure.
This is exactly what I’m finding; speaking to a few tuners the consensus is that it’s a decent damper strangled by its mid valve. I don’t know about that but I do know that on a recent trip to the Alps I experienced arm pump to the point my hands went numb on fast & rough tracks, which is something I haven’t had for years.
The 36 as it is now - completely standard - is superb on gentler terrain, twisty singletrack, bike park type stuff; it has the most support I’ve experienced on a fox fork, which is brilliant for pumping through stuff & as an ex-bmx racer this suits me a lot of the time. But for me this is also the irony; it’s superb in places that I could arguably ride well without any suspension.
Being honest with myself, for the majority of my riding, which I do alone, I don’t go too mad. For a lot of my rides a gravel bike would suffice & for that the 36 is absolutely brilliant. But when I want/need the suspension… I want it to work properly, or should I say - I want it to work how I want it to work, possibly not how Mr Fox (or Rockshox for that matter), wants it to work.
I was considering a Z1 coil but got a secondhand Helm Coil instead.
I’ve actually got a Helm mk2 air on my Stage Evo, which I rate very highly - I did contemplate swapping the forks around on my bikes as the Fox is perhaps better suited to the Evo, but when I checked, the tyre clearance for 29x2.6 was rizla paper at the arch, and didn’t have enough room for a mudguard.
I know this is a whole different topic but I do feel like despite the manufacturers telling how much better each year’s fork is, how much of an improvement it is year on year, they’re just not any better.
when I checked, the tyre clearance for 29×2.6 was rizla paper at the arch, and didn’t have enough room for a mudguard.
This may or may not help, but my favourite front tyre is the WTB Verdict 2.5, which is pretty chunky for a 2.5.
I took advice on here and fitted a Mudhugger Evo, which gives more space than my RRP and Rockguardz fenders, and actually works really well with that tyre.
I must admit I though coil was the answer to everything, but I've got one of the new Zebs and I think it's better than the coil Helm. Just that I'll have to keep on top of lowers servicing for it to stay feeling that way.
Got to say a few weeks/rides in and my new 38's are starting to feel amazing. Small bumps and rock munching are totally smoothed out. Maybe going 29 on the front has helped too, but they are definitely starting to bed in nicely
LSC completely open. HSC open or a couple of clicks from open, Still playing with LSR and HSR, but getting a nice little pop off features without being too bouncy.
Came from 2019 Lyriks, which were decent tbf
Grip2 vvt seems pretty 'meh' to me at jra speeds.
But. The faster you go, the better it gets IMO.
Love my smashpot. Although heavy it makes just about any fork perform superbly. Currently on a fox 38 factory with grip2 damper I think.
I’d have thought a smashpot is the better route here. Your base fork chassis is lighter than a Z1 chassis, you have a more adjustable / tunable damper and having an hbo with a coil spring is definitely worth having.
