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Fox Racing Shox
32 Vanilla RLC
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Average Rating
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4.43/5
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# of Reviews
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7
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MSRP
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$
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Weight
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Description:At just over 4 pounds, it is the lightest coil sprung, 5.5 inch fork on the market. And, thanks to that coil spring and our ultra-refined and patented (RLC) open bath damping system, it is also one of the plushest forks money can buy. There comes a time when you just want to throw marketing jargon out the window and ride. That’s when the vanilla - good old, straight steering, true tracking, velvet smooth vanilla – shines like a diamond.
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Submitted by
MathewGHo
a Weekend Warrior
from MA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Case Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Sounds of compression and rebound damping. lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Squeaks oddly during rapids bump absorption. Lock out force knob does not work any longer. | | Similar Products Used: | Psylo SL
06' Float 90 RL
Boxxer 05' | | Bike Setup: | Extension Explore 06', Swinger 4-way, Crossmax enduro, Vanilla RLC, Juicy 5, X-9 | | Bottom Line: | I believe the fork is a great product for all the reasons everyone has ever said about it. My only complaints are with the customer service and their reluctance to back up their product. If you pay 600 dollars for a suspension fork, use it resposibly and maintain it, there should be no problems with in the first year. If there is a problem the manufacture should be able to handle the issues that arise by takeing the product in and servicing it accordingly. As bad as the Spesh future shock E-150 failed by design for the few years it was offered I would still rather have it on my bike because at least it was backed by the company. I like the product I just dont know what I'm going to do with the squeaking, non functioning lock out force adjuster, and any other problem that may arise. Contemplating selling for a Rock Shok | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Fall City, WA
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycles | | Strengths: | Predictability. This fork throws no surprises at you. The linear travel is so nice because you just know how the fork will respond. Plush on the descents. | | Weaknesses: | None really, but I guess adjustability in travel would be a nice feature for climbing, but based on other posts for the Talas, their can be issues with that. Coil sprung forks weigh a little more. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Black | | Bike Setup: | K2 Lithium 4.0 - 5" trail bike. xt rear deore front, hayes nine discs, manitou 3-way shock. | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to upgrade from my manitou black fork. I did my research on mtbr and saw the Vanilla got good reviews. Full Cycles had an 07 Vanilla advertised for $379, but they were out of the 07 and honored the price for the 08 Vanilla. Props to Full Cycles!
The Manitou Black is a lower end air sprung fork and it felt like when I was charging down a trail and compressed the fork 75% it wanted to buck me back in my seat or over the bars (regardless of how I tuned the rebound or PSI) The Vanilla is just so predictable that you don't have to think at all about how its going to respond, I just focus on my line and charge. I bought the RLC, and like the lockout feature when I have to climb the trail or logging road and the blow-off is nice once you get it dialed in just right, which is easy after a couple of rides. At 165lbs, I've got the medium spring in it and feel like it's perfect for me. Love the fork, and I feel like it's a great value compared to the other Fox Forks. Plush, and I've never felt like I was even close to bottoming it out hitting 2 foot drops.
You never see a 32 Vanilla on a new complete build bike, and I can only guess that's because there is a little extra weight to it, but I feel like the half pound weight penalty is totaly worth the added performance for a trail bike. If your thinking about buying the Vanilla, go for it... you won't be disapointed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R
a
from Long Island NY
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Incredibly easy to set up, dialed it in two rides. Tracking and steering is awesome. So plush and responsive makes you forget it's even there. No nonsense instruction manual. Controls on the fork make it very easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | None as of yet! | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi, RockShox, Manitou | | Bike Setup: | 06 Giant Reign 1 Custom Built | | Bottom Line: | After months and months of searching and disappointment I've finally found a fork that is PERFECT for my Reign 1. I've tried many but the Vanilla has to be one of the best I've ridden. For years i avoided Fox Shox because of the price but you know what you get what you pay for. After years of loyalty Marzocchi I have to give it Fox. They make the better trail bike fork that's for sure!! I still love my Marz 66VF and will never take it off my Kona Stinky till it dies. But so far I'm lovin this fork. So plus and it's so nice to be far away from Air assist or air forks. Had to change out the spring but it was so easy and the instructions in the Fox Manual made it easy. For the price of this slider I will never complain, because so far it has lived up to it's potential! Will write another review in a few months after I beat on it and see how it lasts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto Ontario
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Albion Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Light Weight
Smoooooth Action
Reliability | | Weaknesses: | Seriously? | | Similar Products Used: | 2003 Fox Vanilla RLC | | Bike Setup: | 2003 SC Heckler XTR Drivetrain, Fox DHX 5.0 Air,Mavic Crossmax ST Disc, Formula Oro Brakes | | Bottom Line: | I have had a Fox Vanilla RLC on my Heckler since I bought it in '03. I just updated to the '08 RLC last fall, not because the original wore out, but because I was hanging a few paychecks worth of new components on my Heckler and the fork was the last "old piece".
I think I can say with assurance that this is one of the smoothest forks you will ever ride. There is no break-in period that I can discern. You pull it out of the box, hang it on the bike and go riding. For '08 the Vanilla has 140mm of travel compared to 125mm on my old unit. It also now has Post Mounts for the Disc brakes of your choice and a nifty brake hose guide.
You get 2 extra springs with the fork to suit either your weight or riding preference. I weigh 170 and just left the stock spring in.
I have always liked the feel of the Vanilla. It just soaks up bumps and hits with no effort. It has a bottomless feel to it.You can tune the fork to your liking and the lockout lever is effective and easy to reach. The looks of the fork match it's inside simplicity. Vanilla is a perfect name. It just blends in with the rest of your bike instead of looking like Flava Flav's Clock hanging on your front end.
So far the '08 fork has been a nice replacement for the '03. I think that the Post Mounts stiffen it up a bit. I run a 7" rotor up front and there is nothing but a solid feel even when cranking on the stoppers.
There is a big difference between a Coil Sprung Fork and an Air Sprung fork. That is not a bad thing. I prefer the feel of a coil myself, but run an air fork on my hardtail. There are endless choices out there.
If your staring in confusion at the Baskin Robbins selection of longer travel forks, you can't go wrong with the Vanilla.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$440.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | This is a solid fork with great adjustability and smooth as butter right out of the box. Light weight for a spring fork and the multiple setting options on the RLC version give you the ability to dial in the fork for all riding conditions | | Weaknesses: | Beware if you are a heavy rider and you want to set up the fork with stiff spring resistance. Fox springs have always been a little soft for their ratings and the stiffest spring they offer in the 07&08 model is for a 180-210 rider. I am 6'1" and 190 lbs and this spring is still too plush for my liking. I contacted Fox and was disappointed to hear that they are not manufacturing a stiffer spring but directed me to a float fork. Tough advice since I already own the Vanilla and wanted a spring fork which is why I purchased this one to begin with... | | Bike Setup: | 07 Kona Dawg Primo. XT/XTR Drivetrain, BB7 stoppers | | Bottom Line: | Great fork, outstanding adjustability, bad engineering design that limits the available spring rates. I am an equipment engineer and will probably design a spring stiffener to support this guy. Bums me to have to engineer adjusters to satisfy my ride on a $500 fork!
Have to knock it down to 3 Chilis becuase starting in 07 they are not supporting the heavy riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan Nelson
a Downhiller
from Boone, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Backside of Howards | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | East Coasters, Blacksburg VA | | Strengths: | Very plush 5.5" coil fork! I have never ridden a medium size fork that I like as much as this one. I have never bottomed this fork out. I commonly hit four foot drops with out thinking twice. I love the adjustability of this fork. I am 5'10 160lbs and using the medium springs (installed) and love the way they feel. this fork also comes with light and heavy springs (must install). The lockout feature is great for those times when you want to climb. The oil damper makes this fork feel as smooth as most air-sprung forks. | | Weaknesses: | I am not sure that I am a fan of the post mount disc brake tabs. I think that I would have perfered the Industry standard disc tabs. I removed my brake caliper (Avid BB7 w/ 185mm rotors) to install new pads and clean the dirt/ mud off of and out of the caliper. Upon reinstallation, due to a mis-calibration in my tourque wrench, I actually damaged the magnesium. The bolt was a hair too long and push the magnesium out so far that it was rubbing slightly on the rotor. I contacted fox and they waranteed my for without any problem!!! Fox is awesome!!!. Fox installed a now lower for me, even though it was partially my fault. | | Similar Products Used: | NSYNC factory pos | | Bike Setup: | Rebuilt 2001 Kona Blast (Ford edition) hardtail Freeride rig. | | Bottom Line: | This is an amazing fork! However due to having to have it waranteed three months after purchase I have to give it only four flamin chili's. But I must add, that Fox is awesome and they were very willing to help me out! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a
from Marietta, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali, NC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$285.00 | | Purchased At: | Fox Racing Shox | | Strengths: | Great small and large bump absorption. No pedal bob while seated. The adjustments actually make a difference, and the fork can be set up exactly to one's riding style. The lockout with force adjust works pretty much as well as Specialized's Brain except in the front. The travel is extremely smooth. It is a coil fork so you don't have to mess with air pressures or have to worry about blowing it out. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | 2003 RockShox Psylo XC | | Bike Setup: | Sette Riddik 4" travel trail bike w/ Manitou Swinger 4 way Air shock with SPV, RaceFace Evolve XC cranks, RaceFace DH bottom bracket, Hayes HFX 9 brakes, WTB dual duty FR rims, Shimano XT hubs and drivetrain, Time ATAC pedals, SRAM PG-980 casette and PC-99 chain, Goodridge braided brake lines, WTB Pure V Saddle, Sette bar, stem, and seat post. ODI Ruffian lock on grips. Tires vary. FSA Z-S3 integrated headset. | | Bottom Line: | This fork is sweet. It isn't very heavy, it works well for any application. It is simple to replace the springs, which it comes with!!! And the travel is sooooooooo smooth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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