Did you read what I wrote? I'm coming off a 36 180, it doesn't get any stiffer than that for single crown.
At 190pounds I'm no feather weight, run Formulas with a 203 rotor...trust me when I say I hammer on this bike.
I just did two back to back days, each with over 50km's and lots of climbing and descending. I don't work for Fox so I'm not going to waste too much energy debating this....just hate to see someone miss out on a Fork that is such a great match for this bike.
After today's ride I'm still standing by my opinion: This 34 Float is wicked fast on the HD...both up and down.
Is this aimed @ me, if so yep did read your post first, but I was going along with comments from Fabrico!
I wasn't trying to CB you, ,sorry mate, no offence.
Just offering another point of view, I was not trying to say to you or anyone on here doesn't ride hard enough.
Ive been on my Float 34 and Chris King 15mm hub for 18months, Ive run 20mm std since god only knows, even had Lefty thru axle hubs in 90s they are stiff as a stiff thing.
I was also not saying that 15mm is bad or is not stiff, but give it time, maybe with the improved dampening it makes a bit of a difference, but even the top guys are asking for 20mm options for they're 34s and especially in 650b.
Now Im no Fabian, but he has stated a number of times that the new forks with 15mm std are not stiff enough for Enduro, and he's aimed that at Fox subtle like and they're his sponsor, not bagging it but people have agendas in certain areas of the industry, I will run both stds cause I can, but I have always preferred 20mm std and still do and that wont change its better period.
The 34 is a great chassis and perfect for that 130-150 area, I still believe 35/36mm is best at 160 above.
Im not surprised at your findings at all they mirror what I said 18months ago, but to me they're is 3 stages of testing, initial excitement phase and feeling of something new change always feels good, then as you bed into a product and adjust for performance changes you find out more about said product, then 3rd phase is the time period, how has it performed over time on familiar trails racing etc 2nd and especially 3rd phase is when you really find out about a product and if it matches the 1st phase or betters it.
Why I wanted fact based info rather than opinion a few weeks back on inital reports of the HDR, I wasn't anti but people miss apples for apples comparisons allot I find and you get subjective findings, don't get riled up, not suggesting you did this.
Recent examples for me would be XX1 and my HD, both have met the first phase and exceeded the 2nd and on track for the 3rd phase.
Then the 34 it ticked all the boxes in 1st phase as did the 15mm std
Fork went south on 2nd and really south on 3rd phase!
Hub 15mm std has not let me down, I just feel I can get more from a 20mm hubs and fork than a 15mm for me @ 160mm travel.
I used the tire analogy for this reason, Ive owned ridden allot of forks on the market, from most manufactures except XFusion tick that box!
I didn't take your reply as angry its just a internet interpretation, Im not quick to judge, like products I give them a long time to prove my experience wrong, always learning.
Only thing Id add is a drop in 20mm makes a big difference to a bikes feel, you've changed allot of things at once, so it will feel different great or otherwise, when I went from a 170mm fork to a Van 36 I couldn't believe the difference of that bike, still one of the best all round bikes Ive ever owned and specced setup wise, but it was good at 170mm but great @160 for ME! 20mm on both forks.
Im sceptical on Fox now even if I can replace the damper it will likely cost an arm and a leg here, Fox products here are the most expensive and the lest friendly to self service and tune and that puts me off.
Anyway peace brother, enjoy keep posting your thoughts on how it progresses, it will be interesting to see what happens next, I think you will find some 20mm options coming down the pipe line soon, too many top level racers are asking for it.