I have these on my new bike and it doesn’t really match my (spoilt) expectations as a Formula Selva R rider. I’ve read about issues with them having not enough oil or too much grease etc. and that people doing a lower leg or full service immediately. My bike is current model year but had been on display at the bike shop for almost a year.
It’s the Factory Grip 2 version. The bike is a light eMTB (4kg heavier than my other bike) but the fork is the standard tune.
It may well be I haven’t got the setup right, although I have spent some time focusing on that, but it doesn’t all seem quite alright – absolutely and relatively comparing:
1. Returning to inconsistent sag amount most of the time when bouncing to measure.
2. Needs more hand force to move when pushing down on the stem cap.
3. Feels harsher on rocky descent despite having 20mm more travel (160mm).
4. Goes through travel quicker and uses more of it on drops.
5. Adding HSC to make it feel like the Selva (gold CTS valve) on drops, makes it harsh on rocky bridleways.
6. Feels ok on rough trails and during rides but after a quite flat 50km loop mostly on not very rough tracks there was a slight vibration fatigue in my hands that evening which is still lingering a day later. Bike saddle to bar distance is the same as my other bike, same bar sweeps and roll, same grips, same tyre at same pressure, total stack to bar is 15mm higher.
I started with the recommended settings which put me at about 20% sag (Fox calls that “plush” and 15% “firm”). That felt very harsh so I’ve gone up bit by bit to 30% sag (maybe too much, but it made it comfier), opening the rebound as I go.
Thought it worth checking for other STW experiences before sinking more time into it, cheers.
I am half minded to send both forks to a suspension place and ask them to service the 36 and adjust it to be as close as possible to the Selva.
