Fox Racing Shox 49 Float Factory GRIP2 29" Suspension Fork
Hard hitting control for your 29er DH bike. The Fox Racing Shox 49 Float take classic Fox 40 performance and turns it on for 29ers. With the new Float EVOL air spring, GRIP2 damper and VVC low-speed rebound adjuster, this factory version represents the very best downhill fork performance.
Key Features:
- Damping: NEW FIT GRIP2 damper with 4-way high- and low-speed compression and rebound damping.
- Spring: FLOAT EVOL air spring.
- Upper Tube Finish: Kashima Coat.
- Travel: 203mm
- Upper Tube Finish: Kashima Coat.
- Steerer: 1.125.
- Axle: 20mm thru axle.
- Wheel size: 29”
The 40 takes a giant leap forward in performance and control with the addition of the GRIP2 damper. Equipped with our patent-pending Variable Valve Control (VVC) highand low-speed rebound adjuster, improved compression damping and less friction overall, the 40 is just as comfortable in the bike park as it is racing the World Cup circuit.
"Factory" says it all. The best-of-the-best technology we have to offer is available in our Factory Series models with our buttery smooth, and ultra durable Genuine Kashima Coat. These products are World Cup proven.
Highlights:
- NEW 29" wheel option.
- NEW FIT GRIP2 damper with 4-way high- and low-speed compression and rebound damping.
- NEW Gloss Orange paint option.
- FLOAT EVOL air spring.
- Air bleed system ensures consistent fork performance at any altitude.
GRIP2: Next-Generation Sealed Cartridge FIT Damper
GRIP2 is our next-evolution sealed cartridge FIT system, our highest performing gravity-focused damper. The new damper shares its roots with the original GRIP architecture, but has been seriously enhanced with all-new technology: 4-way adjustability, VVC high-speed rebound circuit, high-performance mid-valve, and overall friction-reducing treatments.
4-WAY ADJUSTABILITY
The revolutionary design of the GRIP2 damper provides independently adjustable high- and low-speed compression and high- and low-speed rebound.
In addition to offering incredible damper control, the adjustments also have a wider compression damping range to increase support without adding harshness.
VARIABLE VALVE CONTROL (VVC)
FIT GRIP2 now features high-speed rebound using our novel and patent-pending approach: Variable Valve Control (VVC).
It’s a revolutionary way to adjust the high-speed rebound circuit, effectively changing valve stiffness rather than adding preload.
Unlike normal adjusters that add valve preload, VVC uses a leaf spring to alter valve flex in the high-speed rebound circuit. The adjuster provides the same effect as revalving high-speed rebound but without the need for damper disassembly.
MID-VALVE
A sophisticated mid-valve design allows more effective shaping of the compression damping curve, offering confidence-inspiring support that resists brake dive.
Tested and proven on the demanding World Cup Downhill circuit, GRIP2 has been relentlessly tuned to deliver just the right amount of support without harshness, giving it another level of refinement over previous generation dampers.
FRICTION REDUCTION
During the development of GRIP2, engineering uncovered improvements that greatly reduce friction.
Low friction seals help improve small bump compliance and honed, polished, and coated shaft and tube surfaces further eliminate friction for an unmatched ride experience.
Occasionally, without notice, manufacturers change product design and/or specifications.
Suspension Forks Sizing
A new suspension fork is one of the most noticeable and worthy upgrades you can make to your mountain bike. A higher quality fork will be able to deal with more difficult terrain, remaining composed on the trail and keeping your wheel in contact with the ground. This gives more grip, and therefore a more confidence inspiring ride.
Not all forks are made equal, there are some very important size and compatibility aspects to look at first.
Compatibility
Wheel size
There are a few different wheel sizes for mountain bikes. 26”, 27.5” (650b) and 29” are the most common.
There is also plus (+) and fat versions available. If you are not sure it should be written on the side of the tyre.
Whatever wheel size you have, the fork must be designed to suit.
Fork steerer
The fork steerer is attached to the fork crown, this comes up through the frame and headset to be clamped at the top by the stem.
Most modern bikes will have a tapered steerer, this is 1.5” inch wide at the fork and 1 1/8th inch at the stem. Some DH bikes and older mountain bikes will suit a straight 1 1/8th inch steerer.
It is easiest and best if the replacement fork has the same diameter steerer to fit into your frame and headset.
If you are unsure on the size, drop the forks out from the frame and you should be able to see straight away if the steerer is tapered or straight.
Axle size
If you are planning on using the same front wheel with your new fork, the fork’s dropouts must suit your wheel.
The width of the front hub has traditionally been 100mm, with either a 9 or 15mm axle. With a 9mm Quick Release (QR), a fork could be described as 9mm x100mm or QR to fit. A larger 15mm bolt through axle is more common on higher end bikes, a fork could be described as 15 x 100 to suit. This 15mm axle can be a quick release style and can be referred to as 15QR
Over the last few years, a wider 110mm spacing known as “Boost” has become the new standard, this is not available for 9mm QR axles and would be shown as 15mm x 110 or 15mm Boost.
20mm axles have been common on DH bikes for some time. Although DH wheels will be 110mm wide, they are not always “Boost”. There is a new DH Boost for front wheels and forks, this means the hub is still 110mm wide, but the disc rotor/mount sits 5mm out.
Travel
The amount of distance the fork can move vertically is referred to as travel (shown in mm). The frame manufacturer will have designed the bike around a certain amount of travel. The general rule is to stay with this. Increasing or decreasing the fork travel can result in the geometry being severely compromised, making the bike handle worse than intended and putting more stress on the headtube structure.
*Changing fork travel can void frame warranty from the manufacturer, please check with the manufacturer before any travel increase/decrease.
As fork travel increases so can flex, to combat this a triple clamp design is used for forks with over 180mm of travel. The hub plus the two crowns creates a triple clamp. The forks are for DH use.
Offset/Rake
The distance the axle is offset from the steering axis. This directly affects the “Trail”. Trail is the distance between the contact point of the tyre and where the steering axis hits the floor. The shorter the offset the longer the trail and vice versa. Wheelsize also affects trail. Larger wheels have a longer trail. With the popularity of 29er MTB’s, there is often an offset choice to be made.
The most common offset for a 29er fork is 51mm, however, fork manufacturers offer shorter offsets to increase trail.
Fitting
Once the correct fork has been chosen there are a few things you should know before fitting.
Crown race – Slid down over the steerer is the crown race, these are usually particular to the headset on your bike. They create a seat for the lower bearings of the headset to sit on, this should be removed from your forks and slid into place on the new fork steerer before installing the new forks.
Star Nut – Inside the steerer tube there is a star nut. This has a wedge design allowing it to be slid down into place but not slid back up. There is an internal thread that takes the top cap bolt allowing the forks to be held in place and allowing adjustment of the pressure on the bearings.
Steerer length – A new fork will have a long uncut steerer, this will more than likely need to be cut to match the length of your original forks, however, it can be cut longer or shorter if you wanted to have more adjustment for stem height.
Setting Sag
See our full guide to setting sag here
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