Why does the year of manufacture affect what fork decal?

[steve_sordy]

I have been looking at replacing the fork and shock decals for my grandson's bike project. After specifying the fork, brand, type and the exact damping configuration, I keep getting asked which year the fork is. Ditto for the shock.

If they are not even interested in what wheel size the fork was designed for, why does the year matter? It is not just one supplier, just all the ones I have looked at.

Is it because the decal designs have changed over the years and they want to be true to the manufacturer's intentions, or has the detail design of the lower legs and the shock body changed so much that the decals won't work otherwise.

Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Mteam]

I have been looking at replacing the fork and shock decals for my grandson's bike project. After specifying the fork, brand, type and the exact damping configuration, I keep getting asked which year the fork is. Ditto for the shock.

If they are not even interested in what wheel size the fork was designed for, why does the year matter? It is not just one supplier, just all the ones I have looked at.

Is it because the decal designs have changed over the years and they want to be true to the manufacturer's intentions, or has the detail design of the lower legs and the shock body changed so much that the decals won't work otherwise.

Does anyone know for sure?

Depends on the year.... Sometimes the lowers are physically different from other years, sometimes it's just down to a different decal design /colours, and the lower is otherwise the same.

I think it's only if you go back a very long time that the lowers are a different shape though. Eg Think the fox 38 lowers are the same since they were introduced, but the fox 36 lowers from 2007 will be different to the lowers from 24

 

[RustyIron]

Subtle graphics and color changes. The cool kids can tell the difference. I can barely tell the difference if you set them side-by-side in good light and I'm wearing glasses.