Suspension Component Technology/Functionality Discussion

Hey all, Tried to post the in the other thred..And I guess as a dealer I would have to give it a week or so for all FOX employees to catch up. But I have the all gold fox 40, Witch I believe is the 2025. Damper adjustment say X2. Does that mean I can drop in the new glidecore airshaft, And if I want new dampner??

Ok, Only reason I asked is that the OTHER colored side said ALL adjustments are backwards doable. It was confusing..lol.

My Jade is 170-200.

I also seem to remember something around 200 psi in the bladder. I also had a Topaz, I warrantied a Super Deluxe in 2020 and it was taking so long that I bought a replacement Topaz for the time being and by the time I got the Super Deluxe back, I could warranty the Topaz because it didn't hold air in the bladder. I could actually see some oil leaking out around some seals on the piggyback if I remember correctly though. So might be something else leaking too. 

Yeah I think bladder pressure is 170-200 psi or there abouts, depending on the feel you're looking for.  I bought a used one to try at one point and that damn thing leaked and felt like it was blown.  Guy I sold it to said he could fix it and wasn't worried - I was just happy to be rid of it.

Adding here for the folks not in the other discussion, yes, for 40 the Glidecore air spring and new Grip X2 damper are compatible with MY25 and MY26 forks. Apologies for missing this question here.

Can any math/suspension nerds answer this for me please 

Does higher IFP pressure in the piggyback reservoir decrease sensitivity (increasing brake away friction) or is it largely fixed by damper design (i.e how much pressure is generated on the oil side of the IFP) and the friction/area of the seal. 

Obviously there is a trade off, you could have a very small piston with a higher pressure (charge) or a large piston diameter and lower charge. Does it really change much? 

Higher pressure puts more load on the seals, which in turn adds friction. It also pushes on the area of the shaft so with a large shaft and/or high pressure you effectively add extra preload. The difference between a low pressure, small shaft system and something with a higher spring force would be over 10kg at the shock so if you can safely reduce that its worthwhile. As for the IFP itself, a larger diameter needs to travel less for an equivalent shaft displacement compared to a smaller IFP so it can respond much quicker as well. 

Jade x D3 I have in my hand says 120-180psi

Yep, that’s a different shock with different internal architecture and has different pressure requirements. New shock uses the new bladder pressure range. Older shocks will cavitate at 120psi and are to be set to 170-200psi.

https://tech.dvosuspension.com/tuning/jade/bladder/

Also look at the shock in the picture that’s being discussed, bladder pressure sticker can be seen, it’s the 170-200 range.

Yeah they made a couple of updates to the bladder (made it thicker) and the resi cap (latest ones are black) which made a massive improvement to reliability. 

Also the base valving was crazy stiff so the internal pressures would cause the rebound aduster o-ring to extrude out of the body after a while. If you make that shim stack much lighter you can prevent that happening too

I aired it up to 190 and back in business! 

Yes the air spring and damper are backwards compatible.

Random question; is there an agreed upon term to describe the the newer air shocks we see on the market. Stuff like the ohlins ttx2, vivid air, X2? They all have a similar look/design to them, there has got to be a name for that style right? 

I would say these are all large-volume air shocks. An extra sleeve on the outside of the air can allowing a much larger negative spring volume being the visual cue that ties them all together. Vivid is a monotube damper, Ohlins is a twin tube, X2 has been both. 

The catch is it's an inverse architecture to regular air shocks when it comes to damper body and reservoir location and how the oil flows. But regular air shocks are the reverse of coil shocks anyway, so... Yeah 😂

Air-over-damper? (from the automotive term coil over damper) Reverse air shocks? 

The reason why they exist is that you get the most performance, but servicing them is a pain compared to a regular shock. That's why they are reserved for the upper performance echelons. I guess you could make a regular air shock a twin tube if you wanted, the difference is just in where the air spring lives and subsequently the layout of the reservoir vs. damper body. 

Forgot to update the forum, the piggyback leaks and doesn't quite last a single ride before deflating back to 50 psi....

A rebuild will take care of that. Replace the bladder as well as the all the rest of the seals. If I remember correctly the kit plus the bladder was under $50 from DVO… it’s easy to do at home if you’ve worked on a rear shock before. Even if you haven’t it’s not that much work to do it.

Any idea of timeline for NA stock of the parts?

New coil/air hybrid shock from Intend just dropped: https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/intend-launches-hybrid-rover-shock.

i should get my shock in the marketplace, this thing looks insane, and, it's super light too!

FOX Float X2 Live Valve Neo information below

FOX Float X2 Live Valve Neo - Own Gravity - Own Traction
FOX Factory is proud to introduce the most advanced gravity shock on the market - the Float X2 Live Valve Neo

FOX Factory is redefining gravity suspension once again with the introduction of the FLOAT X2 Live Valve Neo—a groundbreaking combination of the most advanced air shock in mountain biking and the fastest electronic MTB suspension system ever developed.

Bringing together the unmatched tunability and performance of FLOAT X2 with the real-time responsiveness of Live Valve Neo, this new platform delivers a level of traction, control, and speed that has never before been possible.

The Perfect Setting—In Every Moment

Trail conditions change constantly. Rider inputs change instantly. The FLOAT X2 Live Valve Neo adapts just as fast. At the core of the system is Live Valve Neo, which reads terrain and rider inputs 400 times per second, automatically opening or firming the shock’s compression circuit in as little as 1/70th of a second. The result is suspension that is:

- Firm when efficiency matters 
- Plush when traction is critical  
- Optimized at every moment on the trail

Unlike other electronic systems, Live Valve Neo is fast enough to confidently default to a firmer setting—without interrupting ride feel. This ability has already proven itself at the highest levels of racing, helping professional gravity athletes achieve winning performances.

The Definitive Gravity Shock—Now Faster

The FLOAT X2 has long been recognized as the definitive gravity air shock—delivering exceptional sensitivity, support, and adjustability for Enduro and Downhill racing.  With Live Valve Neo integration, that performance is elevated even further.
Monotube construction increases durability and enables pressure balancing, improving damping response and consistency under the highest loads.

Live Suspension Gives You More

Live Valve Neo doesn’t replace rider preference—it enhances it.  A 7-position Firm Mode adjust dial allows riders to fine-tune how supportive the shock feels when firmed, while The Low Speed Compression and High Speed/Low Speed Rebound dials let riders dial in their ideal descending performance. Our FOX Bike App provides the opportunity to further adapt Live Valve Neo to your ride style - with preset tunes or customization through our Precision Mode adjustments.

The combination of pressure-balanced damping, 4-way adjustability, and ultra-fast electronic control creates a system that keeps tires glued to the ground while maintaining chassis stability at speed. The ride sensation is often compared to a trophy truck—where the bike remains composed while the suspension absorbs the terrain beneath it.

For gravity riders, that translates directly into:

- Increased traction
-Reduced fatigue
- Greater confidence at speed

Own the Moment

The FLOAT X2 Live Valve Neo represents a new benchmark in suspension performance—where cutting-edge mechanical engineering meets real-time electronic intelligence. Because in gravity, speed comes from control—and control comes from traction. 

FOX FLOAT X2 Neo Product Pages
USA: https://ridefox.com/pages/fox-float-x2-live-valve-neo-learn-more

CAN: https://ca.ridefox.com/pages/fox-float-x2-live-valve-neo-learn-more

AUS: https://au.ridefox.com/pages/fox-float-x2-live-valve-neo-learn-more

Float X2 Neo Highlights
- F-S and P-SE Neo Wireless
- CAN bus version custom for ORBEA
- Trunnion and standard eyelet options
- Wide range of sizes
- 3-way adjustable – high and low speed rebound, low speed compression
- Tool-free rebound and compression adjusters
- 750g (210x55)
- Uses same battery as all other Neo products
- Pressure Balanced Monotube architecture for GRIP X2 fork damper-level performance in a rear shock
- Larger 1/2” diameter shaft for increased strength and durability
- 1cc increment air volume adjustments for ultra-pre- cise spring rate tuning (Max 350psi)
- Updated Variable Valve Control (VVC) on high-speed rebound
- Parallel reservoir orientation available for frame clearance (select sizes)
- 7-click Firm mode adjust, 11-click Low-Speed com pression (same as LV Neo Float X/DHX)

Sizes and Pricing