Fox 36 Van RC2 vs. Float RC2

need a new fork for my new bike. i have a line on a van and a float, wondering what folks would recommend? this will be my 'big' bike for the shore and bike parks, but i don't tend to air it out much. rear shock is an air, fwiw - rp23 right now but i might switch it for a dhx. i'm pretty light and like to think of myself as a "smooth" rider. have always ridden coil but from what i can gather there's no real different in plushness anymore. so, recommend me a fork please.

If you don't plan on climbing too much, go with coil - not that much of a weight difference.

sorry i'm noobs and don't know much about forks.

on a side note, i'm wondering what you think of the rp23? i had a choice of the rp23 or the dhx 5 and decided on the rp23 but am now wondering what others out there think too.

If you don't plan on climbing too much, go with coil - not that much of a weight difference.

oh i'll be climbing plenty! but i'm curious why (if there's not too much of a weight difference - and there isn't, like 1/2 lb from what i've read) you'd advise air if i plan on a lot of climbing?

on a side note, i'm wondering what you think of the rp23? i had a choice of the rp23 or the dhx 5 and decided on the rp23 but am now wondering what others out there think too.

i love the rp23 - have one on my fluid, very adjustable, durable and feels great. but i've heard my new frame was designed around a high-vol air shock, so despite the fact that they rp23 seems to get nothing but raves while a lot of folks dis the dhx air, i'm thinking of at least giving it a shot (a friend of mine has one, same size, so we're planning on mixing and matching for a few laps and comparing notes)

I ride the Float 36 and I'm a heavy hack - it feels as stiff/smooth/plush as any coil fork I've ever ridden. Go with the Float.

any benefit to matching air suspension in the front and back vs. air/coil? are suspension characteristics between the two types sufficiently different that you can feel the difference or that it would affect the ride?

Just curious, what took the Talas 36 RC2 out of the mix? That's my current front-runner, though I'm also considering the float (but I think I'd miss the travel adjust).

I'd go TALAS for the travel adjust, but as that doesn't seem to interest you I would just go for the Vanilla. Simple and reliable.

I'm very happy with my Float 36 RC2.

I have a 36 float (first air fork I've ridden) and I think it is just
as good as any coil fork I've ridden. Super easy to adjust with a shock
pump and light weight.

Just curious, what took the Talas 36 RC2 out of the mix?

out of my price range. plus i'm still a bit sketched out by the talas' history of "issues". i like travel adjust forks, esp. on hardtails (put a rev with u-turn on my chromag samurai for the winter and it has given that bike new life) but from what i've seen and heard this new frame doesn't need one; it's pretty well balanced.

air will give you a little more ramp up for those big hucks to flat.

out of my price range. plus i'm still a bit sketched out by the talas' history of "issues". i like travel adjust forks, esp. on hardtails (put a rev with u-turn on my chromag samurai for the winter and it has given that bike new life) but from what i've seen and heard this new frame doesn't need one; it's pretty well balanced.

Maybe reconsider the TALAS - or look at the new Lyric with U-Turn. I have always wanted travel adjust, and finally got a Lyric U-Turn on my Six last year. For climbing, it makes a very noticiable difference when you wind the travel down. So much so that on my new ride I again went with a travel adjust fork. This will be especially handy if you plan on doing lots of climbing.

And for rear shock - I have also had a DHX-air and my new ride has an RP-23 - very different feel to each shock. If you are using this "mystery" bike for the park, I would get the DHX air. More volume and "boost valve" = better Dh performance.

I've got a TALAS, and while it's probably a little different than the Float, I'm really happy with the air as it gives me the ability to fine tune better than I could with a coil.