FOX FLOAT DPX2 FACTORY SHOCK
The Fox Float DPX2 arrived for the 2018 model year aimed right at all-mountain and enduro riders. You could consider it as a beefed up version of the Float DPS trail shock, or a slimmed down version of the X2 downhill shock, thanks to the light weight and tuning options respectively. The DPX pushes the Float X out of the Fox range. The DPX2 has been doing duty on my Norco Sight 29er trail/all-mountain bike for a few months. The stock Float DPS EVOL rear shock was fine – but did suffer on longer descents like those in Maydena Bike Park. While my Sight has been custom built up from the entry-level carbon model, the top model comes equipped with this very shock, in a metric length with trunnion mount. So this was the ideal upgrade to test on my Sight Carbon.
THE DETAILS
The DPX2 is a twin-tubed damper, borrowing from the X2, while using a much lighter Float EVOL air spring. So you keep the independent rebound and compression damping adjustments of a twin-tube design, while benefitting from the lower weight of an air spring and the larger volume of the EVOL air can to reduce any air shock stiction. Compared to some piggyback shocks the external chamber isn’t huge – and I found clearance with a bottle on my frame was no issue. The dials on top for rebound (red, on the left) and compression (blue, on the right) were easy to use with gloves. The rebound dial has 14 distinct clicks for adjustment. Compression has 3 settings of Open, Medium and Firm – with a further 10 clicks via a central Allen key to control how firm the open setting is. If you’re the kind of rider who wants a pretty supportive ride then you may end up running this a few clicks in, and with a substantial volume spacer. The main thing is, the adjustability is there and it’s easy to use. On the inside, the useful thing to know is that the oil recirculates. So it goes up from the base valve one way on compression, and back another way on rebound. You can find charts that show the process online but the advantage here is that the oil passes through the compression and rebound circuits independently (hence you can make adjustments to each without changing the other) and the internal pressure in the shock tends to be lower for greater reliability, greater shock sensitivity and better control of both the compression and rebound. That all sounds good to me.
ON THE TRAIL
Most of the testing I have done has been in south east Queensland. From rocky but short local trails to some slightly longer and rockier descents on the Sunshine Coast. The tuning process has been progressive, and while I’m running compression and rebound both pretty fast – I’ve found the settings that work for me. I don’t tend to send it a whole lot but I do like my suspension to be supportive more than wallowing, and I prefer rebound faster than slower. Not so fast to kick me off lips and hits, but not so slow that the shock gets stuck in the midstroke on rock gardens. Still I do like to run my Sight pretty plush. It’s not the bike I reach for when I want all out pedalling efficiency. That said, the Medium and Firm modes are really easy to access given the location of the dial, and the lock out has blow off. With the valve it uses it’s not the same super-firm lock out as an XC shock but it does mean if you accidentally leave it on and hit something big, it does blow through. But it’s still really firm when it does it – you’ll know about it. The EVOL air can and oil path help keep the heat in check, as the DPX2 does shed a lot of weight from a bigger unit like the X2 and some of that is in oil volume. And I think this helps the DPX2 have a wide performance window. From all-mountain bikes trying to trim some weight, to super aggressive XC and short travel trail bikes looking to gain top end suspension performance. The DPX2 has let me get my bike to ride just how I want it to. As an upgrade, if you’re after greater suspension tuning abilities on a trail or all-mountain bike, or really pushing the limits of a fast trail bike like a Norco Optic – I’d take a look at Fox DPX2. It doesn’t replace the X2 but does bridge the gap between the DPS and X2 perfectly.