Rockshox 35 Gold 4 years later | What you should know | The final Rockshox 35 Gold RL Review

[@SwaggyCheeseDog]

I currently have my bike in the shop getting one of these installed. I bought a Rock Hopper Comp for $400 and I am excited to try it out with my new Fork and tubeless tire conversion.

[@mikemtbs]

I think this fork will work really well on your rockhopper! have a great time and congrats!

[@73megalith]

Good clear review , thanks

[@mikemtbs]

Thank you!

[@javierRC82857]

I recently purchased my first ebike, the Merida E-ONE Sixty 500, it comes with this fork. I will lower my expectations, as long as it works and lasts, for now it is enough, in about 4 more years I will see if it is worth upgrading. I hope it is the 2022 version and does not have the problems of the previous version.

[@SH-ig6rd]

Nice video. I bought a lyric after finally deciding to upgrade, but the lyric had a problem straight out of the box. decided on a refund rather than a replacement after thinking more about it. IMHO (as an intermediate beginner not yet totally comfortable jumping), the most basic lyric seemed identical other than being quieter and having more solid feeling knobs. The 35 seems to have zero adjustability but that has never really been a problem for me. In fact, its probably been a good thing. I agree that this fork should probably be ignored as a viable upgrade choice. But if it comes stock and you're not yet an intermediate rider, then don't be put off by it and don't bother upgrading until you are an intermediate rider. I've even learned to love the squelchy noises.

[@mikemtbs]

Excellent thought process!!!

[@ashpunting]

I got a new Vitus E-ESCARPE electric mountain bike, and it came with that fork on it, but I'm only riding simple trails and light off-roading plus urban riding so I think I'm ok for now, thanks to your video 👍🏽

[@mikemtbs]

The fork does function and is very sturdy. It worked well for me for a few years until I hit a point in my riding that it was holding me back.

[@Ian-qf5ny]

It sounds like you and this fork have been on a journey together brother! Thats great that it survived and got you to where you are now but im happy for you to hopefully experience high end suspension! This was a great review! Ive been flirting with getting a brand new Rocky Mountain growler (last time i bought a brand new bike was 13 yrs ago) and the highest spec one has the 35 gold. Ive never heard of this fork before and yeah i ride very aggressive in BC canada and have very high standards/expectations for suspension. So it looks like ill just be going used and upgrading the living hell out of it as usual. For what its worth though, the plushest forks ive ever ridden were open bath damper. Its heavier and yes a bit more “crude” but when done well i think the higher oil volume and larger damper can contribute to a plush ride. I never really loved rockshox in general either haha. I even had a boxxer world cup on my dh bike (admittedly 10 yrs ago) but it was the highest end one and i never even liked it

[@mikemtbs]

Hey man, thanks for the insight!! You should look at the Marzocchi z1 as an alternative fork to replace a 35 gold. Good price point and has fox internals. I ended up grabbing a fox factory 36 for one hell of a deal to replace the 35 gold.

[@rustychain9518]

My Trek Fuel EX 7 has the 35 Gold fork with a DebonAir spring and the rebound adjustment makes a huge difference…I’m really happy with it.

[@mikemtbs]

Awesome!

[@mattjuskelis5648]

I’m riding a Yari now, life changing

[@mikemtbs]

Awesome! The Yari is a great fork! 👍

[@MatttKelly]

The recon gold came on my fuel ex5 (even tho stock they come with a rl silver, i think covid supply issues had something to do w that) anyways... For me im learning to jump and it just feels like it's not that strong and gets a little wobbly feeling when landing. I appreciate it for being a well rounded shock and its very decent for as you said an entry level bike. I think for the $ you can find something better for just $100-$200 more. Im going to be replacing them w a fox factory 36 when I get around to it. As for your review it was all spot on. Just because this fork isn't some top tier fork, doesn't mean it's bad at all. Its a great fork and really taught me how to ride and jump properly. Im just finding it a little sus on heavier hits. I doubt it would break but i can almost feel the flex in it which makes me nervous and the adjustabilitu just kinda isn't there but its kinda more a set it and forget it system imo. The compression and rebound are almost gimmicky unless its locked out either way.

[@mikemtbs]

Thank you for your kind words.I completely agree with you. Regarding everything that you just mentioned. I ended up getting a fox 36 factory fork. I've gotten a lot better of a rider much faster using the new fox fork

[@UpHillWill]

Great video man

[@mikemtbs]

Thanks!!

[@marklouieadame]

I did change the damper oil viscosity and added 3 tokens to make it supple and little aggressive damper. Now mine feels like Yari

[@mikemtbs]

Great idea! Some tinkering can get it to feel better for sure!!

[@Noah.bonte909]

My gold rl 35 160mm is blown protection coat scraped off for 50% bushings also gone oil leaking out for the 200th time gonna buy myself a marzocchi bomber Z1 180mm

[@mikemtbs]

Great idea and you will love the Z1

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

As you might remember I swapped mine off the giant trance x 29 and fitted a charger 2.1, but I'm currently in the process of converting it to a dual rate coil spring instead of the air spring, my friend is machining a guiding rod with custom titanium retainers, (scavenger off a valvetrain of a honda b18 build) I'm currently shopping nitrile orings to keep it smooth since it's going to be a open bath on the spring side... 😂😮 Not sure any of this will work but it's much more fun than servicing my helm, kinda easy but boring 😂

[@mikemtbs]

That sounds like fun. I enjoy messing with things to see what they can do as well

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

​@@mikemtbs the custom damper threads ate themselves last week, I'm not sure I can fit another "home turned" top cap since there's no material left 😂 Anyways the modified air chamber was leaking for awhile! My friend from work suggested pressing it with a copper bushing. Hm It was a good run.. It didn't stay on the trance x29 for long but it had a good life on my frankenbikes 🤘💀

[@delewvvfifa]

im planning on getting a Drag Shift 7.1 with that fork,do u have any opinion for that bike?

[@ferdzben2698]

My Rockshox 35 Gold comes with 160mm travel but I want to reduce the travel to 130mm. Aside from spacers, do I still need to replace the airshaft? Please be considerate. I'm not expert on these things. I already watched your videos but I'm still a bit confused so I just want confirmation. Thank you!

[@mikemtbs]

Of course and no problem. I don't like it when people are snarky either! All you would have to do is buy the rubber all travel spacers. You do not need a new air shaft. So you would need 3 of the 10mm black all travel spacers.

[@mikemtbs]

Once you add the travel spacers put the fork back together and before you put air in the air stantion cycle the fork slowly to make sure it bottoms out. If it doesn't bottom out w no air in it you may have to remove 10 to 20ml of the oil in the compression damper leg because you changed travel. Best way to do this is to unscrew the compression knob at the top of the damper leg. I just used my syringe to remove 10 ml at a time to get my damper oil level perfect when I did a damper service. You got this!!!

[@bobcar1972]

So what is your upgrade sir?

[@mikemtbs]

I found a deal on a fox factory 36

[@RichardADastardly]

Does the rebound damping adjustor actually click on your RockShox 35 Gold fork? Mine (on a new bike) does not, so I'm trying to figure out if it is faulty or they were just too cheap to include clicks. (I posted this comment previously but it didn't appear.)

[@flaviomarzocchi7444]

Do you have install bottomless token in this fork? What donyou think about tokens?

[@mikemtbs]

You can install up to 2 tokens. I didn't but it's possible

[@flaviomarzocchi7444]

@@mikemtbs ok, i use that fork without tokens, for the good balance with the shok manitou mcleod.. for me is a good fork, simple and functional.. too mutch underrated

[@mikemtbs]

@flaviomarzocchi7444 that's great! I will say I tried adding tokens and it became much more harsh. Also once I upgraded to a better fork I have been beating personal records for time on almost every trail that I ride. Some of the trails I've ridden over a hundred times and I'm beating my records by 4 to 6 seconds.

[@flaviomarzocchi7444]

@@mikemtbs ok, great

[@dev1ator_yt]

What do you/anyone recommend ? Which is better: RockShox Recon Silver RL D1 ? RockShox Recon RL-R D1 ? RockShox Yari RC B3 ? - but I don't see below 160mm and I don't intend to jump big jumps. But I would like I could jump OFC if I get that adrenaline rush. I'm not really fan of American brands so if there exists competition brand like from Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and South Korea maybe please let me know. I intend to use my bike for daily commuting, off road and city joy rides. I'm new to suspension forks but I studied basic stuff how to set it in different terrain and what is all needed to change/fit new fork on specific bike. My fork on new bike come with damage so I intend to return it for same model or exchange it for better one if I can when they tried to screw with me and offered me some discount when I confronted them. (over email with photos, there are more stuff but its not on topic) I have this fork: "RockShox 35 Silver, steel spring, stroke: 120 mm, Aluschaft 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 '' tapered, Boost axle" 27.5" One I got has Lockout and Rebound I checked yesterday, it wasn't specified on web. (and some don't have LR) But suspension its so hard now I think morons over inflated Air shock... and that's probably why I was thinking before "the handlebars height is too high for me" and that I should have chosen smaller frame... (I calculated frame for my height before buying bike and I know about adjusting Air shock pressure for my weight) Question If it doesn't say Compression like on this Gold and just "Lockout" is it binary / on and off ? No possible adjustment like leaving it in middle settings ? And I read some negative comments about this fork (Edit: Silver 35) and I'm unsure was it just about missing Lockout and Rebound, or it is really "just crappy fork" that they put on bikes to lower the price of bikes, and should I try exchange it for some better... I read also this fork cannot be upgraded except for LR if it doesn't have. (Silver 35) And I don't see this forks in stores anymore...

[@mikemtbs]

Buy a Marzocchi Z2. Their on sale now. You will love it and it won't break the bank. I think they are 100mm to 140mm. Italian company that was recently bought by fox.

[@Wimbelder]

Is did just buy one I did had a rs suntour fork on my emtb but that did not work and I did had a yari on my bike I had before this but I really like this fork and I ride my bike hard and yes the rebound dus not do much but at the slowest it is good for me and compression 1 or 2 tuns close works perfectly compleet open it is really lovely on rocks but not big drops

[@bj808bj]

Do you think the Z2 is a decent upgrade to the RS35 or more of a lateral? What fork did you end up replacing yours with?

[@mikemtbs]

I think the z2 will be a minimal difference but will still be better than the 35. I found a fox 36 factory grip 2 on sale for 495 and just had to do it. May still be on sale at planetcyclery.com

[@mikemtbs]

planetcyclery.com/fox-36-factory-suspension-fork-27-5-160-mm-15-x-110-mm-44-mm-offset/

[@mikemtbs]

Hope that helps!

[@bj808bj]

Awesome... Thank you so much for responding.

[@mikemtbs]

Happy to help and thanks for the sub!!

[@remastar666]

Rockshox 35 Gold or Rockshox Yari ?

[@mikemtbs]

100% go with the Yari !!!

[@mikemtbs]

Save yourself the trouble and buy a yari.

[@remastar666]

@@mikemtbs cheers mate.

[@Tytyrytkataaa]

Pretty much sums up all of the “hidden features” of this fork. Overall i really dont see who would buy a 2k-3k$ mtb and stick with this fork for the life of the bike simply because the damper’s performance is for entry level riders. With no upgrade options it looks to be an expensive disposable item. Do yourself a favor and avoid this.

[@mikemtbs]

I completely agree, personally I had no idea when I purchased the bike and learned the hard way. Forks can be expensive and I was definitely let down after I purchased my bike. New fork has been installed and videos are coming. Thanks again for your comment!!

[@ИванВетров-о6ы]

Я из России, купил себе в апреле этого года Rock Shox 35 Gold с ходом вилки 140mm , не вздумайте лить масло в демфер 5w, на такой вязкости эта вилка не регулируется это просто ужас какой-то , молотит в одном положении отскок ,нериально отрегулировать нормально отскок, залил масло синтетику 15w вязкостью и о Боже вилка начала работать как надо))

[@Jillaroo79]

I bought a Yari instead of this bc they were the same price. Rockhopper comp.

[@mikemtbs]

Great choice!

[@Emtbwebb]

This is why i regret buying my specialized turbo levo alloy 2022 model, i paid £4600 and it came with rockshox 35 silver forks they are the worst forks ever, dont know how specialized got away with selling their bikes with that fork on!! They belong in the bin or on a very cheap bike

[@mikemtbs]

It's an absolute shame

[@Prosecute-fauci]

I’m riding an Ozark trail ridge with a recon silver RL and this guy is talking about an entry level bike being $3000…. This is what is wrong with the MTB community. I’m not going into debt for a hobby.

[@mikemtbs]

The complaint was an entry level fork specd on a 3k bike…

[@Prosecute-fauci]

@ that makes more sense. I would agree with you. I just bought a 35 for $168 from Jensens USA as an upgrade from my recon.

[@chrisphillips1114]

It sucks