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I think most of what you're saying is fair and makes sense... but I'd also be SHOCKED (no pun intended) if Fox, RockShox, etc. didn't triple check the product they bring to press launch events on a dyno or something just to make 100% sure that they didn't bring any outliers that slipped through manufacturing QC. There's people here on this forum for example, who've said that when they worked for Specialized, they would carefully go over every single bike brought to a press even to make sure it was running perfectly. I have no doubt that Shimano did something...

That this new shiny thing is the best thing ever and has unbelievable suppleness and bump eating properties is the usual spiel for any product lunch for any suspension company since forever. All the reviews for 36 grip2 were like that, and we all know how that played in the real world - with qa being just not good enough, and inherent chassis and dampers issues that were brought to the light later. That’s not to say that they were probably an improvement in some ways over the previous generations of similar forks. I guess what I’m trying to say...

Felt this needed an echo to show that Fox is still Fox, inverted or not. You think the forks they sent Vital, PB, and all the other media outlets are like this. 😉

I mean Fox is late to the game on this one and they are rolling out a giant marketing campaign with it. Some reviewers acting like it’s the first of their kind, said reviewers probably are not old enough to have ridden shiver sc’s. I’m sure it a good fork but it’s still just a fox fork at the end of the day. I wonder how many reviewers had their forks rebuild before jumping onto a brand new hand massaged RAD proto before making the review? If I get smoked on a run by a dude running the podium it’s...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLY2DidRYBF/?igsh=MWoxNGl4NzdoeXV5eA== Diaz already running into fun with the Podium…

Maybe! He was on the Podium last round he raced (I think) which is why this caught my eye. I can't imagine he didn't have a setup that was close to his 38 so the only thing I could think is... 1) Fox made him give it back because it was pre-production and is caught between forks (Podium on its way for him? I can't imagine there are a gazillion athlete versions out there yet). 2) Performance gains were too tiny for the weight penalty. His bike is already beefcake with his tire/insert combo 3) He loves to fuck with...

PUT IT IN THE LOUVRE

The clip is at 2:19. https://youtu.be/g4csYrMjmPQ?si=PkRFVmtD1l-nrAKI

I can't help but find it interesting that Richie is back on the 38 for the latest EDR https://www.instagram.com/p/DLXROdKsGBr/?hl=en Am I missing something?

Ohlins fits that bill pretty well. My 38M.2 is stiffer than my Lyrik but not quite as stiff as my Zeb. Better air spring and damper than both. Ohlins USA is in NC and really great to deal with IMO. The only downside is the lack of user serviceability but that's more due to tolerances being pretty tight and critical for the HSC clamp system. Otherwise, if you have a vacuum bleeder shock and fork damper servicing in the garage is possible. They have lots of tunes available depending on rider style and terrain.

That was solid gold.

I'm honestly considering buying one to do my own little test on my uber tiny YouTube channel, just cause I'm a spaz, but for those questioning Charlie's integrity I am 1000% sure he'd call it out as being a let down if indeed it was. Is it a massive leap forward in suspension performance? I think we all know the answer to that. Same-ish damper. Same-ish air spring. Same seals (as a 36). Yes, bushings are better/overlap better/different chassis. But guys at the EWS level aren't bolting this to their bike and going oodles faster (but not slower, it appears...

Great work on everything. Here is my million dolla...err, $2,000 question. Knowing what you know now, having ridden the fork, if Fox took it back would you go out and buy one?

I haven't had time to watch any of these deep dive videos, so this is a hasty judgement, but I gotta say that products like this make me think we're starting to completely lose the plot of mountain biking. Who wants to spend $2000 on JUST THE FORK for their mountain bike? And that fork likely requires you to get at least a new front wheel, so tack on a few extra benjies at minimum. And in return you get a fork that weighs as much as a DH fork. Look, I've blown a stupid amount of disposable cash on...