Fox 36 GRIP2 Damper Upgrade [Rider Review]

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Upgrading your suspension's internals is a great way to improve your bike's performance without having to get a new suspension fork. Fox offers various parts to do just that, like their GRIP2 damper which offers loads of adjustment. Our friend Michael upgraded his fork recently and it's been plush since. Check it out!

Overview

The low-speed compression and small bump sensitivity is the biggest gain you will actually feel over the standard FIT damper. You can set the bike up to be super squish and just plain murder trail garbage, small roots, and rocks. Plan for an hour to do it right, put on some tunes, and get your bike zen on. Get your nerd on and put on all of your riding gear, the gear in its heaviest configuration. IMPORTANT; fill your hydration system all the way, pack your food, pack your tools, your hero kit, put your headphones on, socks, thickest jersey you will wear, and your proper bike shorts and your riding shoes. Then, again - SUPER IMPORTANT: back your compression clickers ( high and low speed) ALL the way off, that means the softest setting or counter cock wise backed all the way out) Then get your doughnut-eating self on the scale, do some 5th-grade math, and set your sag. FOX has a great video for that as well.

The low-speed compression and small bump sensitivity is the biggest gain you will actually feel over the standard FIT damper. You can set the bike up to be super squish and just plain murder trail garbage, roots, and rocks.

That's where the real fun begins cause that high speed is bottomless, play with the tokens (start with two) and pick a day to just set it up. ONE or TWO clicks is a big difference. Change only one thing or setting at a time. If you think you can adjust air pressure, rebound and compression all at once you will end up chasing your tail. While you are at it, open the notes section on your phone and start a note just for your bike! Title it the year make and model, put your fork model down and all your settings, it's just smart, if you think you are going to keep track of all the settings in your head, its a recipe for disaster, no shame in the recording.

Go find a spot that has it all and session it until you nail your set up. I like rolling downhills that require some pedaling over small rocks into some G-outs with a drop at the end or along the way. Your set up is done when you forget about your settings and the bike goes effortlessly where you look and you stop thinking...cause its dialed. The Fork will break-in, the seals will relax a little and you will have to visit your initial set up again. Highly recommend finding your perfect run, bike park, or section of trail you can session over and over.

Final Thoughts

Don't be on the fence about this upgrade over the FIT damper. It truly is "drop it and rock it", install. It is a breeze if you take your time and have a clean workspace.