When Fox Racing Shox puts out something new, people tend to pay attention. Everybody that rides knows Fox. They’re everywhere, and for good reason. Simply put they make good stuff.

For 2010, Fox took a big leap forward by introducing 2 excellent product revisions to some of their key offerings:, the RP23 and the 32 line of forks. To say that they are impressive is an understatement.

RP23 first, since this will affect so many of you.

Not going to lie, when Fox offered to fire over a 2010 RP23, I wasn't that excited. I figured, "how different can it be?"

For this year, the Rp23 comes equipped with a “boost valve”, which helps give the shock a more pronounced progressive curve to the end of the shock stroke. The RP23 also has Fox’s Propedal system, which helps tame bobbing and allows you to control how firm you want your bike to pedal. You have 3 settings (light, medium and firm) for the Propedal, and you can flick it on and off. We had the shock installed on a Santa Cruz Blur 4x, and can say that in the lightest setting the Propedal did tame what little bob the 4x has. I have to admit though the strongest setting was just plain out harsh to me, but that’s personal preference I guess. Riders that want a super strong pedaling platform will likely dig it.  I found the weakest setting to be my personal favorite, but that might be because the Blur pedals so well that a platform isn’t the most necessary thing anyhow. It was pretty cool though when a firmer pedaling platform was needed, and the ability to choose how strong you want it means riders of all tastes can likely be satisfied. In the lighter setting, you can definitely feel that its on, but not at a huge loss of small bump feel.  

Now here’s the key thing. I am going to do my best to explain this, but it’s quite a difficult thing to capture. The 2010 RP23 feels alive. Most air shocks to me feel somewhat dead and spongy, never quite living up to the super-active nature of their coil cousins. The 2010 RP23 gets real, real close to the ultimate goal of feeling like a coil-over shock. It does an excellent job on small bumps, without any hint of stickiness or hesitation. It can also take bigger hits just fine, and somehow never wants to buck you over the bars. The bigger hits are the boost valve in action, and it sure does work. All the while, it feels playful and active, giving your bike an aggressive, almost youthful feeling. Think puppy over adult dog, and you’ll understand. Whatever analogy you use, it simply comes down to the shock doing an excellent job of absorbing a decent range of terrain, and keeping your wheel planted. Despite that playful nature, the shock still makes your travel feel “deep” and controlled. It’s an amazing achievement, considering with air shocks it used to be one or the other.

I cannot properly express how much I like the 2010 RP23. Coming from a 2009 DHX air and a RP23, the 2010 is so much better in every way. It’s more lively, it feels “deeper”, and the Propedal allows you to turn even the most blob-assed bobbing bike into a sprinting star. The only real complaint I had was that it seemed to lose a very slight amount of air over time, so it occasionally needed topping up. Not a huge deal, but annoying. We also didn’t get to try it on a wide range of bikes, so it might be best to ask Fox which size air canister you need to best suit your frame. Fox also offers their new Protune service, so you can get your RP23 tuned to your exact bike and riding style.

If you’re on an older air shock, throw it out. Give it to a homeless guy. Crack it in half, make a home for a hermit crab. Anything, it doesn’t matter. The 2010 RP23 is BETTER. Solid progressive spring curve all the way though with no harsh ramp up (unlike the wallowy DHX air) in a super light, tight package.

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The 2010 Float RLC is a whole new beast too. Armed with Fox’s FIT damper, the Float RLC comes with 140mm of travel, with adjustable Low speed compression, lockout and lockout breakaway, rebound, and you can even adjust the travel down to 100mm if you want to (although you have to open the fork to do it) . Our fork also had 15mm dropouts which were a huge upgrade over quick releases.

With an uncut steerer, the Float RLC 15mm came in at 1862g. I probably don’t have to say that’s pretty damn light for a 140mm fork with a 15mm axle. For wheels, we got a chance to ride a lovely Hadley set of hubs on Mavic 521 rims.

Getting the fork dialed in was dead simple. First, If you want it lower then 140mm of travel, get a qualified and sane mechanic to crack it open and lower it down. All it takes is ASK TERRY. Home mechanics that are competent can do it too, but its best left to pros if you can. You then adjust your air pressure to achieve proper sag, somewhere around 20% worked for me but again that’s personal preference. You can then fine tune your rebound and how much low speed compression you want, and off you go.

On the trail, the Fox Float RLC feels lively, and composed. It does an excellent job of staying up in its travel, but never feels like its short changing you. It doesn’t really dive, but there’s  no problems with using all your travel if you have to. The spring curve is progressive, but it’s a friendly progressive without a harsh wrist snapping ramp up. Stiffness is excellent, no doubt in huge part to the 15mm lowers, although obviously its not as stiff as the 36 line of forks.. The FIT cart seems to come from the factory with the perfect amount of progressive ramp to it, while maintaining a crazy supple ride. It’s  really quite impressive in every way that you’d want a fork to be.

Speaking of the 15mm lowers, I still have mixed feelings on them. On the one hand, 15mm absolutely destroys quick releases. They’re safer, stiffer, and stronger. I feel much better knowing my axle is a big honking one that’s firmly clamped in, instead of piece of a coat hanger relying on one little lever to keep my wheel from buggering off and making me lawndart in the process.  As well, Fox builds in a lovely little bit so that you can choose where you want the handle of the axle to be once its closed. It ensures that you aren’t going to end up with it pointing straight down or some other equally stupid spot. It’s a nice touch. That said, I still don’t see why they couldn’t do 20mm and just make it light. Doesn’t make much sense to me, and it seems like a marketing play more than anything. But again, I’ll happily take it over a QR.

Let's face it. Fox kicks ass, and the 2010 RP23 and Float RLC 15mm just hammer that point home. Fox have taken a good product, and just made it better. The rear shock is particularly impressive, and makes for a huge upgrade. It’s a clear and tangible move up from existing air shocks, including other shocks by Fox themselves. If you have an older bike and were thinking about upgrading it, the RP23 is a brilliant start. The 2010 Float RLC 15mm is a decent upgrade as well, but doesn’t have the startling jump up that the RP23 does. Fox is to blame for that one though, as quite simply they’ve always made great forks so really there isn’t that much room to jump up anyways. If you’re in the market for an xc/ trail/ all mountain fork though (or whatever other asinine division of riding is popular these days) the Float RLC is a great choice. Just make sure to get the 15mm axle to maximize how good the fork can be.

MattyP - January 25, 2010 I'm still not convinced about this 15mm front axel business.

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