Submitted by
n2law
a Downhiller
from scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2003
Strengths: I have owned this bike 2yrs so far and ride every chance I get. To begin, weight. This thing Climbs like a goat, in decents it feels like you're sitting on your sofa at home. Corners like it's on rails. It looks sweet and it's made very well. It just feels like a dream. The price is not bad (competive with other high end frames).
Weaknesses: Only the lockout switch, but don't be cheap and get a remote lockout that goes on your handlebar (it works well). The Shimano idea from the other review works too.
Bottom Line:
If you want to feel comfortable and confident when riding, get this frame. I have taken my Foes to diff style trails and it has perform every time. You'll feel like you are on rails in corners, feel like you're riding a light hardtail in narly climbs but feels like you're decending in a cloud. I highly recommend it. Besides, i just looks too cool. Forget about those ugly looking frames (hint: Specialized)
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher, Specialized, and Santa Cruz.
Bike Setup: Crossmax disc UST, Mini Hope Discd, Fox Talas, King headset, Pro-Taper carbon bar, XTR cranks and front Derail, Plasma rear derail, Continental UST 2.3, Sram shorty shifters, Thompson stem and Easton carbon seatpost. And shock lockout remote.
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Submitted by
ryder drumm
a Racer
from pasadena,ca, usa
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2003
Strengths: Light, strongest out there, beautiful craftsmanship, looks pimp. Clmbs like no other, goes down better than any other XC bike, no flex in corners, corners like on rails.
Weaknesses: Thinking, yup still thinking. Hmm it may cause bike envy while riding and anger in other bikers from having an inferior bike.
Bottom Line:
Find another cross country rig that comes close to beating this and I bet it has a lot of similarities. If not that some funky rear shock with a flimsy swingarm that isnt as stiff as my Foes, trust me I rode the Specialized, the Foes can climb, corner and descend better when tweeked. Dont like the pedaling bob, make a lockout its easy, just by the cam, spring and cable route, use and old shimano thumb shifter instead of buying the $80 lockout kit from Fox. Best handbuilt bike out there, small shop does the best work I have seen.
Similar Products Used: Foes original full suspension monocoque bike, Dirt jumpers, dual slalom rigs, a few downhill bikes.
Bike Setup: Full 2002 XTR, Fox Float 125 RLC, Fox Float RL, Thomson seatpost, cane creek headset, azonic stem, SunRace hubs laced to ceramic T.H.E. xc rims, yes xc t.h.e. rims. MAXIS tires sdg saddle
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Submitted by
Art Castro
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena,Ca,USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002
Strengths: Very Agile Climber, Corners like it's on rails, One SEXY looking frame
Weaknesses: Cable routing, Shock position, Bottom bracket is a little low
Bottom Line:
This frame does it all. It climbs well, alittle better locked out, but still very good for longer rides not. It decends with inspiring confidence, at times it's really is amazing it only has 3" of rear travel and rails like it does. The bottom bracket is a little low, but this attributes to it's carving ability. Lateraly it's as stiff a hard tail; on a swithback it has no flex!!! Perfect for a true XC/FS Rig, Mine weighs 23lbs 10ozs... nice It does have some minor quarks, Cable routing, Shock access, and bb adjustment. These things are minor, if you want top performance out of anything, usually you must tweake it a little. Once dialed in this bike is a Keeper. I used to work at Foes and build these frames and can say that it's done all in house for top quality. You get what you pay for! Email me for any info. I'm pretty experianced with how to dial it in. I've also worked at a local shop for almost 7 years selling Foes. I recommend this frame to anyone who wants to perform with confidence.
Bike Setup: Manitou SX Ti, 9.0sl(Carbon)Set with matching brake levers, RaceFace Next LP cranks, King Ahead, Easton carbon(flat) bars and seatpost, Kore Elite Stem, Avid V's, Nuke Proof SuperFly Wheelset, Salsa Skewers/Carbon B-Booster, Time Carbone ATAC pedals, VDO 15+ CPU, Flight Gel saddle(older style), Continental Twister Pro dual compound tires/Maxxis tubes. Jaguar teflon cable/kevlar housing sets
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Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002
Strengths: Light, Stiff, Beautiful
Weaknesses: A few design quirks that can be overcome
Bottom Line:
This is an absolutely amazing frame. It's light and stiff and very sexy (I recommend black). I also recommend putting on high end, light components to do it justice.
There are a few design quirks (mentioned by at least one other reviewer), but you can work around them. Here's how:
(1) Front chain ring clearance/bottom bracket: When I first put the bike together and got on it, the chain derailed at the front derailleur because it wasn't yet adjusted. The chain slipped perfectly between the inner chain ring and the frame. I almost freaked out because I thought I was gonna need to take it all apart to get the thing out. IMPORTANT. I was lucky to have used a BB like the Race Face Isis XS BB, which allowed me to move the chain rings IN, not out (and using spacers like others recommend), thus reducing the clearance so the chain could not fit down in there any more in case of derailing. We were still able to align the front chain rings with the rear cassette very well, so the bike shifts beautifully. I have a 9 speed, 11-34 cassette set-up, and I can use all of the gears perfectly. This whole issue was worrisome at first, but fixable.
(2) Cables: Foes runs all of the cables down the right side of the frame, which I agree places a weird kink on the rear brake cable near the shock if you use V-brakes instead of disk. Instead, I ran the rear brake cables down the left side of the frame and secured them with zip ties. It's important to protect your frame first with some electrical tape where you will put the zip ties, because they will wear off the paint otherwise. This solution works well.
Hey, look, the bottom line is that this is an amazing frame. It's a bit like a high end Porsche or Ferrari that requires a little tweaking, but after that it's amazing. The only problem now is that I have trouble riding because so many people on the trail stop me to say "Wow! Cool bike!"
Bike Setup: XTR derailleurs, Marzocchi X-Fly 100 fork, King headset, RaceFace Isis Next LP crankset, Avid SD7 brakes and shifters, RaceFace riser bar, RaceFace XS Isis BB, King hubs, Mavic x517 ceramic rims, Thompson stem, RaceFace XY seat post, Selle Italia Trans Am seat, Time ATAC carbon pedals, Panaracer FireXC tires
Weaknesses: chain suck, no space between chainrings and frame. have to use bb spacers with throw off your chain line so I ditched granny gear. please tell me how to use a rear quick release ??? Foes customer service ( very busy )
Bottom Line:
This bike takes a ton of dialling to get right. I will just list the quirks I have found so far and this is the 2002 frameset. got to run 3 mm at least of spacers on the drive side bb to avoid chewing your new shiny swingarm. Foes is aware of this set-up and I believe it is a common flaw with all models ( chainguide or rings ) got to either get a new rear quick release or point it straight down fully closes can't lock due to frame overhang. once shock is dialed either flip it upside down or get the new FOX bar lockout or as I have done forget about it you don't really need it at all this thing climbs like a goat anyway. a lot of crossover cables due to the fact that all the routing is down the drive side. a lot lower bb height at least 2 " takes a bit to get used to this.
Bottom line if you want a project get noe if you want a out of the box standard set up thisis not for you. Flip side is once you get it going this thing rides like a dream without the granny gear :)
Bike Setup: full xtr with mavic crassmax wheels and sid sl.
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Submitted by
Dirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Meadow Vista,CA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2002
Strengths: For me, overall handling,is my number one. Second is frame stiffness, flex free. Third is desending ability.
Weaknesses: Rear shock lock-out is very hard to get without looking, (even after 14 months).
Bottom Line:
Fantastic handling, highest quality manufactured, flex free ride. Take time to balence the front and rear suspensions and you get a super handling smooth ride. Got it for $1300.00 because of other equipment purchased at same time. Have seen advertised ever lower now. Bought over tracer or ellisworth because of less pivot, bearing points to wear out. Want bike I know is going to last.
Favorite Trail: Harmony Ridge, from White Cloud east)
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At: Jenson
Similar Products Used: Specialized
Bike Setup: Mostly xtr with some xt. Hugi240, easton, 2001 sid 100, all quality equipment.
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Submitted by
Terry H
a Cross Country Rider
from Foot Hill Ranch
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2002
Strengths: Cost! Climbs like a Banshee! Superlight weight! This bike is a great all around trail bike. The most amazing atribute of this bike is how well it climbs. FXC descends great and is really stiff.
Weaknesses: I can not find any yet, Shock is a bit hard to reach.
Bottom Line:
I tried almost every bike and the FXC is what I finally went with. I liked it for the price, the weight and performance. It was the best value I could find and it looks B*tchen. I recommend it to any one considering it.
