Upgrade options for a Fox 36

I’ve had my Fox 36 for 3 years now and it’s due another service. I’ve always thought it was adequate rather than amazing so this time rather than replace like for like I thought I’d look into improvements.

Firstly, I wasn’t sure exactly what I had. This is what comes up when I stick my serial number in the Fox website…

I wasn’t sure what damper I had but it looks like this which is an RC2,

According to the description “The RC2 had a reputation for riding pretty harsh and stiff. It was slightly over-damped…” which is pretty much how I’d describe it. I run it fully open with 1 volume spacer and use the air pressure to set the sag but it always feels harsh while trying to maintain a good ride height.

Anyway, I’ve had my head turned. My mate has had a few bikes in his workshop recently with Grip 2 dampers and even a Lyrik Ultimate which both feel blissfully smooth off the top and have way more support while being smoother everywhere.

I have absolutely not been keeping up with suspension developments so I’m not sure what options I have. Should I just order a Grip2 damper and bung it in? Should I push the boat out and do a coil conversion? Should I rob a bank and buy a 38? Actually nah, that last one isn’t an option.

I have the same fork but in 180 travel and found it very over damped when new.
Had a lighter tune on the damper and then installed a smashpot.
Night and day difference to it now

I forgot to mention, mine is 180mm aswell. It was set up by Mojo and supplied with my Geometron about a week before the big Fox debacle.

Very tempted by the smashpot actually. I never thought of having the existing damper retuned. Might be a cheaper option.

My 180 was miles better after it had the same treatment from Paul at Mojo that Stu’s had

I have 36 Grip 2 with a luftkappe at 180mm in my G16, it’s very good, but I want a MORC 36 conversion kit for it, I would do that over swapping the RC2 for Grip 2.

I am looking into a Diaz Runt as my next upgrade for my 36, heard very good things about them!

I’ve never heard of the Runt it looks like a nice bit of kit.

I’ve just been looking at the MRP Ramp Control. I always assumed (and from a quick look at some forums so did lots of other people) that it was some kind of adjustable volume spacer. It’s actually a kind of speed sensitive air damper.

The advantage of the MRP is that it’s tool free. You can just spin the knob on the trail to change the progression. I like that idea.

Not sure what I’m going to do yet but the rear end has always felt much better than the front so I’m looking forward to sorting it out.

I absolutely love the Smashpot. TBH I was never that happy with the stock fork (a 2016 29er Factory Fit 4). I used to have a coil Lyrik dh and frankly, I’ve still hardly ridden a modern fork that’s even close to as good, so it had a hard job to be fair. Really I was expecting to do a damper upgrade as well, but in the end the fluidity of the coil and the slightly harsh damper works pretty well together. I might revisit the damper some time.

Looking back on it, I’ve no idea how they could sell ’em for what they did, it was a 3-out-of-5 product all day long. But very pretty.

I have same fork but in 130 to 160mm 29er Guise. Luftkappe conversion and super slidy green seals. Now rides pretty decently.

Normal air spring on right

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHUgQ5xFJdE/?igshid=1daew2pa4lfnd

I have a smashpot in my 36. I played around with the shim stack and really rate it. Using with a fit 4 damper.

just as an aside, where is a good place to get a reasonably cheap grip 2 damper? Perhaps the older version which isn’t 2021s vvc thing ?

Luftkappe conversion and super slidy green seals

I’m open to suggestions for better seals. I’ve always wondered if they’re all the same or not.

just as an aside, where is a good place to get a reasonably cheap grip 2 damper?

That’s what I want to know. It looks fairly easy to strip down the RC2 so I might contact Fox UK for advice about a new shim arrangement. I’ll do the damper first to see what the difference is like. I’ll keep the standard air spring so I’m not changing everything at once.

I’d love a Smashpot but I didn’t want to make an already beefy bike any heavier. But then, I’ve never let weight be a consideration before so maybe I should just suck it up!

Chickadee AWK from Germany might be easier to get than a Runt. Then makes it a 3 stage air spring like Manitou.

The other option is an Avalanche cartridge. Having had one before, they are fantastic. They now offer a hybrid damper with a coil spring. That means you can drop the air pressure by about half which will make it a lot more linear but adjustable ramp up at the end.

The other top tuning tip is getting the bushing clearances checked, they have a reputation for being tight.

The RC2 damper has the Richie Rude/Aaron Giwn shim stack iirc.
Changing that helped loads, as did the Lufftkappe.
The Grip 2 forks are much better, no longer feels like I’m riding a whacker plate.

Also looking for a fork which is as good as the old stuff 🤷

Slight hijack – anyone on a modern coil conversion able to comment on whether they feel as good as the old Marz RC3 ti forks?

All these years of little incremental changes and the current Lyriks are great, but still just not quite as comfortable and effortlessly grippy as I remember the Marz being.

Would really like to try the new Z1 coil.

Me too.

Know a few who’ve gone Z1 coil and haven’t looked back.

Just sold my last pair of RC3 ti’s