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| 2011 Fox 36 Float FIT RC2 180 |
The brand new 180 mm travel 36 fork is an entirely new platform for Fox Racing Shox. While still utilizing 36 mm stanchion tubes, the fork features completely new lowers, longer stanchion tubes, more bushing overlap than a standard 36, and inside you'll find the new revised FIT damper. The new 7.1" travel 36 fork is designed for those riders who are looking for a long travel single crown fork that will be at home in the bike park or getting gnarly on built features. This is the Fox fork that a lot of aggressive riders have been waiting for. It's also worth noting that introducing the new 36 180 mm platform has allowed Fox to shave grams off of the 160 mm travel version.
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| The revised FIT damper sees both low and high speed compression adjustments moved from the bottom of the fork to the top |
There are three 36 180 platforms to choose from, and six models in total.
Fox 36 Float FIT RC2 180
• 7.1"/180 mm travel
• Revised FIT damper
• Kashima coating
• Adjustments: Low speed compression, high speed compression, rebound, air spring pressure
• Adjustable travel in 10 mm increments (internal)
• Air sprung
• 5.18 lbs/2.35 kg
Fox 36 Float R 180
• 7.1"/180 mm travel
• Open bath damper
• Adjustments: Rebound, air spring pressure
• Adjustable travel in 10 mm increments (internal)
• Air sprung
• 5.25 lbs/2.38 kg
Fox 36 Talas FIT RC2 180
• 7.1"/180 mm travel
• Revised FIT damper
• Kashima coating
• Adjustments: Low speed compression, high speed compression, rebound, air spring pressure
• New 2 position Talas: 180 mm and 140 mm settings
• Air sprung
• 5.4 lb/2.45 kg
Fox 36 Talas R 180
• 7.1"/180 mm travel
• Open bath damper
• Adjustments: rebound, air pressure
• New 2 position Talas: 180 mm and 140 mm settings
• Air sprung
• 5.4 lb/2.47 kg
Fox 36 Van FIT RC2 180
• 7.1"/180 mm travel
• Revised FIT damper
• Kashima coating
• Adjustments: Low speed compression, high speed compression, rebound, preload
• Coil sprung
• Hydraulic bottom out system
• 5.9 lb/2.71 kg
Fox 36 Van R 180
• 7.1"/180 mm travel
• Open bath damper
• Adjustments: Rebound, preload
• Coil sprung
• 6.01 lb/2.73 kg
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| All of the new 36 180 mm forks use Fox's 20QR thru axle system |
Kashima Coating
If you saw any race footage last season you may have spotted some lucky Fox sponsored riders sporting odd colored stanchion tubes on their 40 RC2 DH forks. There have been two obvious versions, the first being a silver colored coating that was actually an electroless nickle plating (EN). While the EN coating did significantly lower the friction and the big fork did see its smoothness improved upon, the silver coating proved to not last as long as Fox needed. The answer came in the form of Kashima coating. The gold colored treatment is done by only a single company that is based in Japan. Kashima has been used by factory motocross teams for many years. In the revolutionary Kashima Coat process, lubricating molybdenum disulfide is deposited, via electrical induction, into the billions of micropores on the surface of hard-anodized aluminum. With its debut on the international mountain bike racing circuit, the distinctive gold colored, Kashima coated stanchions maintain better lubrication characteristics, and the lightweight aluminum components treated with Kashima Coat attain a level of hardness and abrasion resistance four times tougher than standard hard-anodized aluminum. Besides an increase in durability, the real benefit should be a big increase in sensitivity that will increase traction and lessen rider fatigue. You'll only find Kashima coating on Fox forks in the mountain bike world and only on after market forks.
The Kashima coating will be available on Float FIT RC2, Talas FIT RC2, and Van FIT RC2 models of the new 36 180 fork (
as well as select other models).
Visit
www.kashima-coat.com for more info.
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| 2011 Fox 36 FIT Talas RC2 180 with Kashima coating |
There are two models of the new 180 mm travel 36 that use Fox's Talas travel adjustment system. The higher end and more adjustable FIT RC2 version as well as the air sprung and rebound only R 180 will appeal to riders who earn their turns and will take advantage of the low front end. The Talas system allows the rider to quickly and easily lower the front end by turning a dial atop the fork leg. All of Fox's Talas equipped fork's now use a simpler two position system as opposed to the most recent three position design. The new 180 mm 36 is adjustable from 180 mm down to 140 mm of travel.
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| The new 180 mm 36 Talas forks can be adjusted down to 140 mm with a turn of the dial |
Foxracingshox.comWhat do you think of the new 180 mm travel Fox 36 fork? Will it have a place on your bike?