Öhlins RFX 38 m.2 Fork: Tech Info, Impressions & Discussion

I haven’t felt that at all, definitely seems abnormal. Maybe as you say one side bushing is extra loose? Weird.

No prob @Allen_Gleckner me too!

Well I sent my fork to get it warranty checked and it indeed had a loose bushing. They'll replace the bushings, CSU and do a complete service with new seals everywhere, so I guess I'll basically a new fork over again, but working much better. I've asked to remove the negative spacer while they're at it, because I'm running 90psi in the main chamber and 215 psi in the ramp-up chamber (175 lbs) and I get so beat up with small chatter. My rebound is 1 click from fully open, both compression circuits are open and the small-bump compliance is definately not great. I have another identical RXF38m.2 that I'm currenly riding and it's a bit better than the first one, but not great even if I have a low main pressure. 

For comparison, my friend's RXF36m.2 feels wonderful on small bumps, so I can't wait to try it again when it will be fixed and have had a proper service. I do agree that the faster I ride the RXF38, the better it feels, but I don't think I've experienced it properly working yet. Can't wait, but I'd prefer not to have to warranty forks all the time to get one that works right. For me, it's been 7-8 forks out of 10 that had to be sent for warranty in the last years (the cheapest ones being the less troublesome!).

Have you ridden it since you got it back? I wouldn't be surprised that a loose bushing could be causing some extra binding killing some of the suppleness. Something seems wrong for how little main chamber pressure you are running... Granted I am a little heavier, 198lbs atm, but I am running 113 in the main, and 235 in the ramp. LSC -4, HSC -1 and LSR -5 and its feels like butter over small chatter. My zeb with the C3 feels much less buttery than the ohlins does with an absurdly difficult air spring to dial in. For reference my buddy who recently switched to a 38m.2 from a fox 38 is also 175 and he is running 98 in the main, 185 in the ramp with LSC -9, HSC -2, and LSR -8, I did remove the neg spacer in his. Hopefully the rebuild gets the fork sorted. 

Question for everyone.  I've got an RFX 36 and 38 both, and when I get fairly deep into the travel, let's say 50% or more, I often get what I can only describe as a ping in both forks.

I did a google-fu to see if anyone else had this issue, and ran into a few facebook posts mentioning it, but I don't have any social media so couldn't read on them when I click the links.

Both forks were serviced by Mike at Shock Howse before he closed up, so I'm assuming if anything was amiss he would have told me.  Just curious what this sound is.

Thanks for all the info in this thread, super helpful!

I got rid of my RXF38 because I couldn’t get it to stop diving, bottoming out, and clunking. Ended up running 300psi in the ramp (off the chart) and 140psi in the main (200lbs rider), and still getting full bottom outs in scenarios where it should never happen. 

I’ve been wondering what actually makes that sound. Thought it’s the lowers hitting the uppers, but it could be the valve in the ramp opening up. 

The naming is misleading. After learning what the ramp chamber actually does, I feel like they should’ve called it the “ramp-down”.

Thought their air spring is like HS3 in the EXT Era, where the ramp chamber actually ramps things up, but no. 

I’ve never heard a ping in my rxf38

Curious if anyone has tried the coil conversion? Thoughts?

I used a smashpot in the rfx38 m2. .. fantastic...best fork I used until I got an Intend ; )

I use the ohlins coil conversion. LOVE IT

You need to get the spring rate correct, I bought my recommended but went one up from the recommended weight. A little extra heat shrink on the spring keeps the fork quiet. I put a little extra on both ends of my coil. 

Thanks so much! Based on reviews I went up 1 spring rate. Excited to try it!

Anyone have an extra air spring top cap dm me I need one lol. 

Well, I installed the coil spring kit. When I was putting the lowers back on I was having trouble tightening the damper side bolt. I think at I was tightening the damper was spinning also? Long story short when I tried to install the rebound knob It was kinda stiff/not moving. The next logical thing was to tighten it down and turn it with a wrench and I busted it. It spins freely but I don't think adjusts rebound now. Any ideas on a fix? Such an idiot!