Preview: 2009 FOX 40 RC2
2009 FOX 40 RC2
For 2009, FOX has made some revisions to their FOX 40 RC2 downhill fork. We’ve installed it on or Morewood Izimu and it’s been quite impressive. See some of the details about it inside.
FOX has made some revisions for 2009 to their FOX 40 RC2. The FOX 40 is their premier downhill fork that most all of you without a doubt have seen at some point. It is available in Black Diamond or White for 2009 as well as a white limited World Cup Edition 40 RC2. The World Cup Edition will be available in limited numbers with some custom tweaks done to it.
2009 FOX 40 RC2 in black diamond colorway (click to enlarge)
Featuring 8″ (203mm) of travel out of the box, it’s also easy to internally adjust the FOX 40 down in travel should you need less travel (adjustable internally in .5″ increments down to 6.5″). Axle to crown measurement is 571mm at 8″ of travel.
(click to enlarge)
Adjustments on the lower right leg include High and Low Speed Damping. Every year it seems FOX says they’ve improved the damper, this year its quite noticible. FOX has improved the damping for 2009 and we can feel a difference in the low/high speed settings based on older 40’s we’ve ridden previously.
high/low adjuster without cap (click to enlarge)
There is a protective cap that screws on to protect the high/low speed adjusters from damage.
high/low adjuster with cap (click to enlarge)
Rebound (red) is on the upper right leg and spring prelod is set on the left (blue).
(click to enlarge)
The 40 RC2 comes with two spare springs to help dial in the feel of the fork should you be lighter or heavier. The stock spring is Titanium (Blue) and is suggested for riders 150-180lbs. A purple steel spring is included for riders 120-150lbs as well as a green spring for 180-210lb riders. Additional springs are avialable to purchase for even lighter riders (black) or heavier riders (yellow).
(click to enlarge)
The upper and lower crowns see revisions and some weight reduction pockets over previous FOX 40 models.
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
In addition to the weight savings, the top crown also comes with direct mount stem holes. You can fit your favorite Boxxer direct mount stem up with ease. If you’ve got an older FOX 40, you can purchase a 2009 Crown for only $64.50 from FOX to run direct mount stems.
(click to enlarge)
The disc tab on the FOX 40 is somewhat unique and you need a 6″ IS front brake adapter to space the caliper properly for a 203mm rotor.
(click to enlarge)
MSRP:
- 2009 FOX 40 RC2 - $1600.00
- 2009 FOX 40 Top Crown - $64.50
Weights:
| Manufacturer | Model | Year | Real(g) | Pic. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOX | 40 RC2 uncut, axle & crowns (stock ti spring) |
2009
|
3216 |
 |
| FOX | 40 Top Crown |
2009
|
207 |
|
| FOX | 40 Lower Crown and uncut steerer |
2009
|
380 |
|
| . |
(click to enlarge)
We put the 40 on our Morewood Izimu build, but look to see it on a few other bikes as we try it out some more. The 40 RC2 has got a very nice feel to it and the stiff 40mm chassis has proven to be quite solid for us. See more over at FOX Racing Shox or consult the online manual for more information.
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I can’t even began to tell you how many times I rebuilt my 40 last year. That’s also includes the blader. Pretty sure that i’m done with it… bring on the new rockshox PLEASE!
yeah they don’t seem to last long between servicing. every fox 40 i’ve ever seen in the real world is leaking oil badly, and felt like the cartridge oil was fried.
i’ll stick with open bath systems
i hate my 40. The thing is always breaking and unless you are a factory pro. Fox could care less about you. I mean what ever happened to customer service?
and to top if all off, my quote from fox for fix my damper was over 300 dollars! god i cant wait to get a boxxer
I had this same fork this season. Its feels great the first week then after that its all over. Rebuilds all the time, If u get this thing enjoy the mantaince that comes with it.
The red-blue button /rebound comp setting like of hot water mixing at my bath room. Please change the color….
no postmount at this category…
Seriously, I dont know what you guys are doing with your forks or if you guys are just riding old 40’s or what… I rode an ‘08 40 all last season at Mammoth and havent had to rebuild it once… no leaks, no problems at all…. And I go 240lbs in gear so I’m sure not easy on the thing either. Took it out to Noble Canyon last week and even after sitting for a few weeks its perfect. I’ll still have it serviced before next season just for PM but there’s not a thing wrong with it.
… But I do agree with Rocko, WTF’s up with no post mounts? Fox is slacking there.
If you guys think the 40 is high maintainence wait till you get a boxxer… The Boxxer WC would have to be the most high maintainence POS I have ever had the misfortune of owning.
I have a 40 now and havent had any issues with it.
BTW just what are you doing to your 40’s?
take your fork to whistler for 30 days and you will become a self taught qualified Fox mechanic…no joke
Most new forks are not very reliable. The 40’s rip open like tin pepsi cans here. That is also a major issue. Being Stiff and Adjustable are big pluses for it. My 2001 Monster T may be coming back into play!
What fork won’t break after 30 days at Whistler?
I Agree with everyones comments, I owned three 40,s over the past years, there are the best forks out of the box and after a rebuild but it only last a short time. when they start to break down they feel like $h!^. Fox will never know cause they stoped helping the buget racer. Cause all their time is spent rebuliding their racers forks. When you spend 2 g’s on your front end it shold come with 52 free rebuild one for each week.
i love my 40! i have only had to rebuild once and raced 2 seasons on em.. and they just look fat!
FOX SHOX is the worst customer service I have ever had. I have an 08 that the bladder blew up twice on and they refuse to reconize it as a problem.
No post mount?
this is just rediculous.
I have the -09 40 in white here now and waiting for my v-10 frame to arrive in march so I havent tried it yet. But I have had a fox 36 float for two years and haven’t had a single problem with it! Bought the 40 cause I heard so much shit about the boxxer… And ofcourse cause my 36 have worked flawlessly for miles and miles and even more miles…
I keep hearing about the leaking oil and the pop can lowers, but nowhere can you find pictures of it. Can the people bashing the 40 show some? I’m thinking of getting one. I was, however, able to find a few snapped BoXXers and no one mentioned that.
Cheers!
seems like the rumour mill works overtime on all the long travel forks, plenty of company shills and sponsored riders from all three sides shouting the odds.
here’s the truth.
boxxers are flexy, 40’s need regular maintenance and Zokes are too damn heavy.
Pick your poison.
Yeah that’s a good idea RJ! Can’t you guys who have rebuild your forks so many times take pictures whie servicing. And sick lines can have a service department!
I have contacted fox for explosion scetches but got nothing…
G’day. y r u all complaining bout this fork. If u dont like it sell it and buy a 888rc3worldcup fork. These forks are absaloutly bombproof and are less expensive than the fox40 and bout the same as a boxxer….
trust me marzocchi have there 888 fork line up all sown up for 2009.
Jarrad, zokies have done nothing but go down hill from ‘06 onwards and not 2 mention they way the same as the 40’s and the boxxers put together. I say stick with the 40’s there light, beefy as f*** and supper adjustable even if u have to service them ‘every 10 hours of riding’ (thats what fox recomends!)
I’m considering picking up a 40 in the fall but after hearing all this i don’t know. I bought a brand new set out of the box, of 2005 marzocchi 888 vf’s back in 2006 and they’ve run buttery smooth and responsive with no problems now for 2 years. I have no once had to open either fork for any reason other then wanting to start the season on fresh oil.
They just don’t build em like they used to.
It may seem cool to not have to service a fork for 2 years but if you’re looking for a top performing fork nowadays they need basic servicing done to them to perform to their highest capabilities. With more people using the internet, some things end up getting blown out of proportion so take “horror stories” and “the best fork ever with no maintenance” posts with a grain of salt. You can ride a lot of forks without servicing them for a year or two but there are a lot of variables and your mileage (and performance) may vary.
all you guys are forgetting that these forks are WORLD CUP RACE FORKS!!!! they are going to be high maintenance! you may be looky to get them to last a seison but if you droped the oil out of them it would be black! they are awesome orks but need alot of looking after….. JUST LIKE THE BOXXERS!!!!!! even 2010, ive serviced mine already and have had them for 8 weeks!