FOX iRD Details• Recommends air pressure and rebound settings
• Offers setup assistance for FOX 32 and 34 forks, Float shocks
• 2013 and forward models
• App available for iPhone, iPad, and Droid
• Availability: early September
• MSRP: free!
For every rider with years of suspension setup experience who can breeze through the setup process - no doubt helped by the knowledge of exactly how they want their fork and shock to feel - there are many more who can be intimidated by the task, or simply don't have the know-how to allow them to get the most from their bike. That is exactly where FOX's Intelligent Ride Dynamics app comes into the picture, allowing riders to quickly and easily tune their Float fork or shock to a close to ideal setup with the help of a phone (the app will be available for both iPhone and Droid) or iPad.
The app guides the rider through the step by step process, starting by entering an ID code that is on 2013 fork and shock models that tells the program exactly what model they have, as well as the factory compression and rebound tune it uses. Next up is rider weight, fully geared up, that can be entered in either metric or imperial, that then allows iRD to calculate an air pressure to start at because it is aware of the air volume size. Every step is there, including the app also reminding the rider to fully open their damper's compression settings
before being asked to get on the bike while wearing all of the gear that they would sport on the trail, allowing the o-rings to settle to where the fork and shock sag point. Recognition software now comes into play as the rider gets off the bike and holds their phone or iPad up to the fork or shock, lining up their suspension with the seal and stanchion outlines shown on the device's screen. iRD reads where the o-ring is sitting on the stanchion tube and tells the rider if any air pressure adjustments are required. Because it knows the rider weight and air pressure in the fork or shock (more pressure requires more rebound damping), it can also suggest a rebound setting to start from.
Recognition software locates the o-ring once the fork or shock have been lined up with the outline on the devices screen.
While the recognition and setup technology may seem like something from the future, FOX is thinking even further down the road. Many riders, especially those here on Pinkbike, can look forward to an updated iRD app that will work with their 36-series Float forks, as well as other long travel, air sprung offerings from FOX that may become available in the future. Besides increased compatibility, there is also the option of FOX pursuing a social sharing feature where riders could upload their setups that they are using for their trails or a particular race course, thereby allowing others to compare what they have been running to other riders of similar weight. Add your phone's GPS capabilities to the equation and the possibility of easily sharing and looking up trail or mountain-specific setups becomes even more obvious.
ridefox.com
)...and come on , its for free...from Fox...that must be cool
