The F100X suspension fork is the pinnacle in technology for a racing cross-country mountain bike suspension fork. The F100X damper with automatic intertia-valve technology coupled with the F100X chassis makes this the ultimate XC racing fork.
Submitted by
CNC
a Cross Country Rider
from MANCHESTER,CT USA Date Reviewed: November 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
case mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
the auto lockout,100m travel,very stiff yet somewhat lite
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
2 rockshox sid world cups,rockshox judy
Bike Setup:
kona kula primo scandium frame,all xtr and bontrager xxx lite,mavic crossmax sl's
Bottom Line:
i was affraid of this shox at first (auto lockout and weight 3.9 lbs.)but when i tried it i fell in love with it.i always used rock shox sid world cups,they only weigh 2.9 lbs. and the remote lockout.my bike alll together weighed 18.9 lbs.when i put the fox shox on my bike would go to a 20 lbs bike and i was affraid it would slow me down but it didn't.i didn't even notice the weight differance.i flew up the hills and was very happy.then the auto lockout scared me.i loved the rock shox remote lockout.i started riding the fox(i tuned it to my specs,bump,rebound and all that)and loved it.i could keep both hands on the bars , a bump would come and the shox went with it.i hit flat land and the shox stayed lockedout.i never thought i would like something better than rock shox but i'm sold on fox now.i bought a 2004 because i did't want to spend $800 on a new xterra and not like it.i picked this one up on ebay for $350 and love it.after this season i'm buying a new xterra and won't look back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
HTail
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area Date Reviewed: June 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Strengths:
Relatively light for being as stiff as it is & 100mm of travel. Smooth operation, Terralogic works pretty good once dialed in.
Weaknesses:
Wish it didn't have v-brake mounts. Oil leakage, but finally cured with the addition of Enduro Seal/Wiper kit (highly recommended). Expensive $$$$.
Similar Products Used:
RockShox Judy, Manitou
Bottom Line:
These are great forks, even though I have one of the early generations, it amazing how smooth, active and stable they are for XC/trail riding. In addition they are increadibly light for what is a pretty beefy/stiff setup.
Now that I've installed the Enduro Seal/Wiper kit, I think it's now working as promised. Play with air pressure, Terralogic and rebound settings...you should get buttery smooth yet stable platform performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neil W
a Racer
from Palo Alto, CA, US Date Reviewed: September 18, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Super Go
Strengths:
Very stiff when you are climbing and better than any other fork I've used going down.
Weaknesses:
Nothing except a little leak on the right seal but I'm not sure that it's really a weakness.
Similar Products Used:
None similar-Marzocchi EXR Pro
Bike Setup:
Almost all stock 04 Epic Marathon
Bottom Line:
It's great! The guy below me hits the seal problem on the spot. Go look up the fox fork manual online and see what they say about this terrible leak. In short they say that the small amount of oil left on the fork is natural and help the fork perform better. They also say that regular services are good and recommend what James mentioned in his review. Basically the thing everyone has been complaining about is actually not bad.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Racer
from UK Date Reviewed: September 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Keswick Mountain Bikes
Strengths:
Automatic lockout, Stiff.
Weaknesses:
Right seal prone to leaking if used in muddy conditions. Can be a nervous ride if used in slow technical terain.
Similar Products Used:
No other inertia valved for on the market.
Bike Setup:
04' Epic marathon
Bottom Line:
If you want a fork for fast varied XC use it is great. When ridden slowly the forks stay locked out and the valve becomes noticable, this makes things like slow rocky turns a problem.
The leaky seal is easly fixed by lifting the seal up and cleaning it from below, I use a bit of glossy paper for this, slide the seal up the fork leg and rotate the seal over the paper. The crap that is causing the leak will be removed, replace the seal and it should be fixed. Easy to fix but still no excuse for the problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from DuPont, WA, USA Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Anything not paved
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Great performer when working well. Combined with the brain in the rear it climbs like ridgid bike and comes to life in the rough.
Weaknesses:
Right seal is giving me headaches.
Similar Products Used:
See my previous reviews.
Bike Setup:
Off the floor Specialized Epic Marathon
Bottom Line:
Real tired of babying this thorough bred. Mountain biking is is tough on equipment and the equipment needs to be tough. I would never buy another Fox Shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carlos
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Razorback, Alafia River, Santos
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Nice looking, works as described
Weaknesses:
There is a tiny delay on the release of the lockout that translates to your arms absorbing some of the shock.
This shock seems to be for the person really looking for that automatic lockout function to squeeze all the performance out of the bike. This is not for the average person, specially given the price. I think this is perfect for serious racers.
I work on computers and I need to take care of my hands and arms. This shock simply had a tiny delay on the release of the lockout that transmitted some of the shock to my hands and elbows. This, of course, is not advertised by Fox. I prefer a fully active shock, and I am sure one will keep your bike in one piece longer. Also, Fox forks are supposed to be stored upside down to ensure proper lubrication (What the hell is that?!). I sold the shock the next day I got it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Miranda
a Cross Country Rider
from BRAZIL Date Reviewed: February 26, 2005
Favorite Trail:
adeus mamae ("goodby mom"), perdidas ("lost")
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Tripp Aventuras
Strengths:
Terralogic system.
Weaknesses:
Expensive (but worth every penny). In the begining, Terralogic system makes me confuse and I have to spend some time to find my own performance tuning.
Similar Products Used:
RockShox Sid SL
Bike Setup:
Full XTR with V-Brakes
Bottom Line:
Excelent for more active bikers. After find your own performance tuning (there are three: air pressure, rebound and sensibility of auto-lock)Terralogic system works perfectly.
In the begining it feels bizarre because of the auto lock (the forks seems stiff). But when you familiarize with the system you realize that it is all automatic, and all you have to do is ride.
For brutally trail and rocky terrain the shock soaking up the bumps with confidence. You thinking you are riding another completely diferent bike (much better).
No air leak, no oil leak.
Buy it: if you want to be faster and safer in any condition. Don't buy it: if you don't have a mountain bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from DuPont, WA, USA Date Reviewed: February 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
adjustable for all riding styles, light, good travel.
Weaknesses:
broke twice in 9 months and I can't ride my bike.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Mogule and Rock Shock Judy for 10 years total use and no problems with minimal maintenance.
Bike Setup:
factory spec Specialized Epic
Bottom Line:
In the shop again. Rebound will not adjust (froze up). perhaps the warranty will fix this one. (doubt it) Will replace when I can afford it with more durable product. Weight is not the issue, if I can't ride my bike because it is broke it might as well way 10 pounds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from LALA land Date Reviewed: January 14, 2005
Trek 9.8, full XTR(V brakes), bontrager lite rims, some carbon stuff too.
Bottom Line:
I bought the fork for the 2004 race season last April. After being wary from the earlier reviews, I bought the fork and built up my bike. It took a while to dial in the settings, and when I finally did(you have to remember I built the bike from scratch, so there was a lot of fiddling that had to be done)I started to see results. Right when I got the bike dialed, the right seal blew. I knew this going in so I sent if off. The Fox guy was cool, and I had it back pretty quickly( week and 6 days?). Now I do believe that Fox has designed a new stronger seal. Since receiving my fork, it has been nothing but butta. I am no pro but I did podium 3 times this year with that bike and made a competitive jump to expert. If you buy the fork knowing that it will require a little extra TLC, and you keep up with it, it is a great fork. I wasn't happy that the seal blew, but since middle of summer, its been bomb proof. I usually hold to the rule "high performance means high maintainence" with just about anything. If you are looking for a "set it and forget it" type fork, move along please.GLTY
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travis
a Cross Country Rider
from Decorah, IA USA Date Reviewed: November 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
In-town 8 mile loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$775.00
Purchased At:
Decorah Bicycles
Strengths:
The terralogic valve works as promised, and it really makes you faster. It's not crazy light, that's a good thing, it actually holds up. It doesn't flex. Easy maintenance, simple to replace seals.
Weaknesses:
The lock out does what it's supposed to do, but it's still not fully rigid when "locked out". If you stand and hold the front brake and push on it, it will go down almost as much as a regular fork that's set up stiff. But when riding, you don't have all your weight on the front so it really feels as if it's locked out until you hit something. The right leg leaks a bit, but that's normal for most forks. There's lube in the legs, it seeps through. Not uncommon, so it's not a big deal. Not too much to cry about on this fork.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou, Rock Shox, Marz., etc.
Bike Setup:
(see Cake 2 review also, I forgot to mention this fork) 04 Fisher Cake, King Ti headset w/Ti spacers, Ti bar, Seven Ti stem, Thomson Masterpiece post, WTB Ti saddle, King hubs, Ti spokes, Bontrager Valiant rims, new XTR crank, XTR front and rear der, XTR V brakes w/ Ritchey pads, XTR shifters/levers, XTR cassette w/ King Ti lockring, NOKON housing, XPEDO Ti/Ti pedals, Control Tech carbon/Ti skewers, Conti tires, Panaracer X Air tubes. (Ok, so I work at a shop, we like the good stuff!)
Bottom Line:
So it's not 2.5 lbs, it's more like 3.4. Good thing. This thing's not so overbuilt you can't have a light bike with this thing on it. It's stiff, it's light enough, and the fork does what it's supposed to. The travel is nice and plush the whole way, the terralogic valve works like butter. It's the perfect compiment to bikes with platform valving shocks like the Fox pro pedal, or Manitou Swingers. Don't worry about the price. Good stuff aint cheap, cheap stuff is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
H
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: October 30, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Melbourne Bicycle Centre
Strengths:
Plush and smooth when valve opens in the rough stuff. Automatic lockout as soon as the trail gets smooth. Fox has definitely delivered in the innovation department.
Weaknesses:
Right seal. The right leg oozes oil whenever actively engaged for a prolonged period. No, there is not just a little asymmetry, oil actually gushes out.
Similar Products Used:
Marz z2 bam, Skareb super, Indy SL, Manitou 5sx
Bike Setup:
04 Jamis Dragon stock except with Easton carbon bits and stem, Flite TT, F100X, King, serfas barends and 959's.
Bottom Line:
I wish I could love this product. I will water that down to being 'suitably impressed with it'. And I am impressed most of the time. My speed and climbing ability has improved because of this fork. The recommendation of having the fork topsy-turvy when not in use is a lil ludricous. I have been doing this although it is a pain in the behind. The seals should be robust enough for the fork to be upright all the time. Fix the seal problem and Fox should be onto a winner. Like others have said, this is not a set an forget fork, like my dear old Marzocchi.
3 turds for value coz price should be a rough proxy for quality. 4 turds overall coz it is a great fork, but not outstanding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Racer
from Everett Date Reviewed: October 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Auto lockout. Ride quality. Stiffness. Adjustability.
Weaknesses:
Weapy oil seal. Price.
Similar Products Used:
Psylo Gold (100mm). Duke (80mm). Z1 FR (120mm)
Bike Setup:
Epic Marathon. Stans rims.
Bottom Line:
Great performing fork. Performs flawlessly on my Epic. My bike holds lines on downhill sections that none of my other bikes or forks could.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: October 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
any trails without horse turds
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Excellent performance on the trail. Smooth, smooth and smooth! Absorbs anything you ride over.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float and many others
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz
Bottom Line:
Reliable and ultra smooth. Had a head on collision with a horse and its rider. Bike veered off into rock quarry and smashed into solid slab of rock. Left support of fork was severely damaged. This sucks!!! Heard a loud popping sound and observed fluid shooting out from side of fork. Its hard to see such a great fork being smashed. But other than the incident above, fork is awesome.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kit
a Cross Country Rider
from yakima, wa Date Reviewed: September 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Little Bald Mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Ryder's Bike Shop
Strengths:
works as billed
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Fox RLC 125
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-x 100, fox propedal rear, raceface deus crankset, sram xo rear DR, XT front, Dave's speed dream wheelset, King headset and hubs, Hayes mag plus discs, Gravitydropper seatpost (sweet), egg beaters, stan's notubes.
Bottom Line:
I have read about some of the leaking/design issues with this shock over the last few reviews. I haven't had any problems whatsoever. I ride some brutally dusty and rocky terrain regularly, and the shock just keeps soaking up the bumps; no air leak, no oil leak.
The mecanism is amazingly efficient; locks out instantly and fully. Yes, it will break loose and bob for a couple pedal strokes if you hit a rock going uphill, but overall, it is locked out when you want it to 95 percent of the time. Thus far, I can't say enough about it, and will never buy another non-inertia valve shock again.
Don't buy another shock until you try this out - you'll be amazed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff Brownell
a Cross Country Rider
from DuPont, WA, USA Date Reviewed: August 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Anything not paved
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Old Town Bikes, Tacoma WA
Strengths:
Beutiful responsive fork and adjustble for different riding styles.
Weaknesses:
Blew a seal in 4 months of commuting to work 87.5 miles a week. My miles are 40% road. 40% of the time the inertia valve has the shock doing next to nothing. My off road is gravel road and a rarer single track. I am damn near 50 years old and 180 pounds. "I just commute to work." I read the owners manner before riding the bike. Care for it by the book and it blows a seal. Would you be mad, I am. My god they won't even fix it as a warrent becaue the warrent was for only 3 months
Similar Products Used:
Trek's old Mogul shok was trouble free and good performer for 4 years My jock judy is not a high tech beauty but itnever let me down in 5 years
Bike Setup:
THis fork comes standard equipment on my Specialized e Epic. Sweet/perfect bike for me but it has a puny seal on the fork.
Bottom Line:
This a performing nondurable fork. AND FOX RACING WILLNOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
danK
a
from USA Date Reviewed: August 21, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Good customer service. Manual is decent. Easy to work on
Weaknesses:
I didn't pay what most do, but this fork is pure marketing. I was asked last night how much I thought the fork was really worth. My reply: no more than $400 retail.
Similar Products Used:
everything
Bottom Line:
Here is my 1 year report: I had the right fork seal leak like many others but it's a quick and easy fix after you give them $15 for the parts. You can tear apart the fork and change everything in 15 minutes; it's so simple that I wonder how/why people pay so much. The first 8 months it worked flawlessly but now it seems no matter what I do the inertia valve is losing it's capabilities. It's not spot-on like it used to be. The fork was never perfect (no fork is): you can make it "unlock" (it is not advertised a pure lock-out fork like many think it is, but it's close) with hard sprinting, and if you hit a bump going uphill in a sprint the valve stays open so you have about 2 more seconds of bounce bounce. The rebound has been perfect since day 1, and the thing does no leak air. And the valving is a straight rate, meaning, there is no progression once the fork is acting like a regular fork. For the pure racer or hillclimber this thing is very, very good. It's a point and shoot kind of fork without the band-aid of lockout. For the trail rider or hardcore aggressive all-around rider, I'd look elsewhere.
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Submitted by
Chuck
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal Date Reviewed: August 19, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$750.00
Strengths:
Smooth straight out of the box...strong and it tracks well. Little deflection with hard braking using discs but not as good as Marzocchi MX and Marathon series.
Weaknesses:
A tad heavy. Poor oil seals. Very expensive. Unreliable. not as stiff as Marzocchi.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX-R. Mar, Black. Marzocchi Z1, Z", MX Pros.
Bottom Line:
These forks cost me a lot, so I expect a lot. They leaked oil almost from the word go. Even after having the dealer sort it all out they are leaking again. This effects the performance...of course and I thought they'd be kind of stiffer than they are. Bottom line ...I used Marzocchi Z1, Z", MX Pro for years to the point where neglect and take them for granted. These Fox forks cost so much more and deliver less with a prima donna list of maintenance needs. I just bought a set of Marzocchi Marathon SLs (2004), set the air (fiddled about a bit) let them bed in and now I forget about them...they do the job the way the Fox should. The interesting bit is they come from Europe and cost less.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my previous review of the F100X.
The F100X has worked great and as advertised most of the time. It has never leaked air which is critical with an air-sprung fork, but it has leaked oil. After reading the entire manual, I realized that I neglected some maintenance details. Neither of these I did, I just treated the fork like my old Marzocchi. I'll follow these instructions and hope it holds oil.
1. The fork should be stored upside down to keep the foam like seals at the top of the fork soaked with oil. If these seals stay dry they will eventually leak. (As for my brakes, Shimano states that my xtr disk brakes shouldn't be stored upside-down, but the fork wins. I can get the air out of my calipers by pumping the brake levers at the begining of a ride.)
2. The top seal is a dust seal that keeps the foam seal clean. This seal needs to be pried up and the underside wiped out every 25 hours.
3. Finally the foam seal needs to be replaced every 6 months to 1 year.
This should help keep the oil where it belongs...in the shock. 5 chilis all around to balance out my rather harsh review just below.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: June 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
lonely single track
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$699.00
Purchased At:
AZ Bikes
Strengths:
Nice auto lockout, plush, adjustable bump threshold, stiff steering
Poor oil seal design. I shelled out alot of cash expecting bomber Fox quality in return. This fork was sent to Fox last September due to defective seals that allowed oil to spew out of the right side of the fork. Now, I am again having the same problem 10 months into using this fork. Last time it took 3 weeks for removal - shipping - repair - shipping - installation. I have ridden the fork, but no big jumps or drops. A friend who purchased the non-locking 100 mm Fox fork last summer has suffered the same seal problems. 2 chillis overall, because the fork works well...when not being sent back to Fox's Warranty Dept. The fork is very nice when its not spewing, but not worth this kind of BS! We are in prime MTB season here. I hope to get a complete refund.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Van Hook
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT Date Reviewed: June 23, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Tahoe Sports LTD.
Strengths:
Works exactly as claimed, when it does work. Love the automatic lockout valve.
Weaknesses:
Poor quality seals. Manufacturing appears to have problems.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla 125 RLC, RockShox SID SL
Bike Setup:
2004 Specialized S-Works Epic Disc
Bottom Line:
I have had this fork since February, and it leaked oil out of the right leg almost since the first ride. Finally took it to the shop to have the seals checked out, and in addition to bad seals they found metal shavings in the oil due to the internal slider tube being very scored. It had been rubbing on other internal parts. Fork has been back at Fox for 2 weeks, they are supposed to be rebuilding it or replacing it, not sure which. Very happy with the overall feel and performance of the fork, but I believe Fox has some manufacturing and possibly design problems to overcome. As long as they stand by their product, I will continue to use them since they are far better than the other products I have tried and/or looked at.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Adams
a Cross Country Rider
from Glenbrook, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: June 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mt Jagungle
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$699.00
Purchased At:
BeyondBikes
Strengths:
Tracks remarkably well. Stiff and plush. Never have to worry about locking out or unlocking again. Beautifully engineered. Long (for XC) travel without bob or dive.
Weaknesses:
None. However, the slightest feeling of stiction did occur occasionally as it was transitioning from unlocked to locked on technical climbs. This is totally eliminated now after the first few couple of rides.
Similar Products Used:
Have owned Manitou Mars Super, Rock Shox Sid XC, Rock Shox Judy and ridden wth may other forks including Black etc.
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS1, Mavic tubeless, IRC Serac UST, Hayes Hydraulic, Easton Riser, all XT, Cane Creek headset, Race Face stem & seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I bought this as I love to climb fast and like the feeling of powering forward under lockout on smooth climbs. The fork is way better than I hoped. I am faster with the fork locking exactly wherever it is appropriate while flawlessly releasing evn over the smallest bump. There seems to be no delay in releasing. It handles getting air, steps and rock gardens at incredibly high speeds with confidence inspiring stiffness and beautiful plush, progressive travel.
The surprise was the fact that I can corner significantly faster without any feel of washout. In fact smooth fast sweepers are handled with more confidence and speed as the fork is locked out and tracks consistently. Hit the smallest bump and it absorbs the bump without the rider even noticing. If you want to ride XC fast, climb well and yet charge over the rough stuff, I think these are great. If you want plush but don't mind bob, save some money and buy the other Fox forks.
These forks are not cheap but worth every cent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lee Duncan
a Cross Country Rider
from Berthoud Date Reviewed: June 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Monarch Crest Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$775.00
Purchased At:
Excel Sports
Strengths:
Smooth Plush when active Great auto lock out
Weaknesses:
Cost too much Production problems?
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth w/XTR, CK, SRAM XO
Bottom Line:
I love this fork, but I've had problems with it right from the start.
For the 40-hour check, the ship found metal shavings in the oil. They called Fox who said to send it back. I got to ride the road bike for 2 weeks.
Now, 3 months later, it's leaking air when I take big hits (like high speed dips). This time Fox is shipping some part to the shop to fix the problem -- another two weeks w/o the Elly. :-(
I like the way Fox (and my LBS) are standing behind the product, but I wish it wasn't having problems. The good news is that I seem to be the only one having these glitches.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: May 20, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Frick Park/Bavington/ 7 Springs
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Tough as nails, stiff, highly adjustable, light for a 4in travel fork. Inertia valve/bump threshold system works like a dream!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Fox F80 RLT; Marzocchi Marathon S; Marzocchi MX comp; Manitou SX-R ( total piece of deuce)
Bike Setup:
2003 Specialized Epic, Fox F100X Terralogic fork, XT 4 piston disc brakes on Mavic 317/DT Swiss hubs. Thomson stem, carbon bar, LX shifters and fr. der, XTR rear der. and XT cassette.
Bottom Line:
This fork has changed suspension, period. Rigid when you need it and plush as ever when you need it. No lockout levers to mess with, just set it up and ride like hell! The 32mm stanctions are stiff as ever too, the fork tracks better than any front suspension I've ever ridden. It's worth every penny.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gregg Howard
a Cross Country Rider
from Laguna Niguel Date Reviewed: May 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Santa Ana River Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$622.00
Purchased At:
Bikes & Beyond
Strengths:
Stiff, light weight, very little brake dive when set up properly
Weaknesses:
cost... but it's really worth it! If you want to ride the latest & greatest, you pays the price!
Similar Products Used:
Nothing else really similar... previous fork was Fox 120RCL
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur with mostly XTR
Bottom Line:
I've seen the future and it is this fork. When you first put it on, it seems much too stiff...until you go over a bump.. surprise, it works like it's suspose to. It's a delight to get out of the saddle and push big gears without being penalized with fork bob. I know it's a lot of money to spend for a fork... what the hell, it cost more than my first bike... but it's worth it. I know that other manufactures will follow suit with active lock outs of their own and that the prices will come down... and you could probably wait for the next generation of forks to follow... but if you want to put the smile back on your face...buy one of these puppies now...you won't be sorry you did!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Aspen, Colorado Date Reviewed: May 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Horse Theif
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Strengths:
Everything
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
fox 100 RLC, Sid
Bike Setup:
Santacruz Blur, 5th element Air shock, all 2004 XT, easton cockpit, mavic XC 717 disc wheels, panaracer fire xc pro's.
Bottom Line:
this fork is th S%#@. it is very XC friendly relatively light and stiff. the inertia valve system is really sweet, and you can't event notice the change from stiff to plush. this fork is worth absolutely every penny i paid for it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: March 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Helen's Cycles
Strengths:
Automatic lockout that seems to work perfectly
Weaknesses:
None for me so far
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi MX Pro, Manitou Black Elite
Bike Setup:
04 Klein Palomino XX, Full XTR, etc,.
Bottom Line:
I got a killer deal on the bike this fork came with, so I have no business riding on it. However, I agree with the post below that this will be the standard for all forks in the future. I read somewhere that inertia valves will be available for other forks as an aftermarket add-on. Anyway, I am continuously dumfounded at this fork. The lock-out is unnoticable because it turns itself on and off when neccesary, with no noticable transition. I don't race, and I'm not an efficiency freak or weight weenie, but I do appreciate this fork because it makes riding more fun. It allows you to get out of the saddle and hammer without bouncing up and down. I've never ridden a Fox fork prior to this, and I am very impressed with the forks bump-eating ability. It completly erases washboarding and rocks in a way that surpasses my Marzocchi, a fork that I was very happy with. If you don't believe that an automatic lockout is possible, go test ride a bike with one of these at a shop. You will be amazed. The only drawback to this fork is that it stays topped out,and during really steep climbs, you will find yourself chewing on your handle bar. I got a longer stem. That should solve it. It is also too pricey for the average Joe. (Including myself) I have a feeling the price will drop in the future. I also think it would be nice to have the option of completely disengaging the inertia-valve. I have yet to want to do this, but it would be nice to just have the option. If you race, get this fork over any SID. You will go faster with it despiite the extra pound. Lose that off your gut.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trevor!
a Racer
from Hobart, Tas, Australia Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Seamless operation from stiff to plush Fox reliability Fox durability Fox stiffness Fox looks!
Weaknesses:
Possibly the price, but you DO get what you pay for....
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth blah blah blah
Bottom Line:
My attitude toward this product prior to buying it was one of uncertainty. I was probably a little doubtful at first, but one ride and I was hooked.
Take a normal fox 100RLC and ride it, then imagine the fork becoming stiff and not zapping your energy on climbs, flats and that all important sprint to the finish line and you got yourself a F100X.
All I can say is this thing is great, its just so seamless in the way it operates. The best test I put the fork through was to ride on a really rough corrugated ride with deep corrugations which always zaps your energy. The fork reacted perfectly to all the corrugations making riding it much more bearable. 500 meters or so after those corrugations you have smooth road, the minute you hit the road, the fork goes stiff. Now ride the loop in reverse, the second you hit the trail with corrugations the fork gets down to work. No delays!
This fork is nice. I cant wait to get one on my next bike build!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: February 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$775.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Performs as advertised. Crafted well.
Weaknesses:
Travels back & forth to Fox headquarters.
Similar Products Used:
2003 Marzocci Marathon SL 105mm
Bike Setup:
2002 Intense Tracer w/ Fox Float on rear. V-Brakes.
Bottom Line:
This is probably the best fork available. The fork is light in weight, and is crafted well. Looks pro, especially after removing the decals. The oil bath system keeps the fork quiet while it does its job, and it does its job well. The inertia valve does work, and I could see this concept becoming the standard for all forks -- even better if combined with a rear shock that has same.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO Date Reviewed: February 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Buckhorn-Captain Jacks
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Quality, versatility, function
Weaknesses:
The freakin' price
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Mars, Rock Shox Psylo, Rock Shox SID SL
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight w/mostly '02 XTR stuff
Bottom Line:
After riding Rock Shox garbage for the past 3 years, this is an amazing upgrade. It's super-stiff and the inertia-valve lockout works as advertised. Unlike the last reviewer, I have no problems getting the thing to lock out while hammering up a climb. In fact, the thing kinda just works when you need it and doesn't when you don't. I have noticed a slight weight gain in the front end, but it's a small price to pay for a product that's leaps and bounds better than the cheese-ball SID I was riding. I ride long-distance races and a basic 25-mile loop for kicks and training. I do not obsess over weight. For me, the fork is perfect, though I'll be paying off my MasterCard bill for the next 2 years cover this purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete Hall
a Racer
from Caledonia, MI Date Reviewed: February 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Snow Norba XC Course
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Instantaneous lockout (kind of), lateral stiffness, smooth all the way through the travel
Weaknesses:
Weight, lock out does not come on when out of saddle(more in bottom line)
Similar Products Used:
Judy XC,'98 Sid, Sid SL, Sid Team (yea I'm a slight weight wenie)
Bottom Line:
This is one nice fork, but it has its problems. It goes exactly where i point it with out complaint and tracks true on larger hits (like quick high speed gullies). The fork is smooth all the way through the travel, it is nice (but certianly not nececary for a racer) to have 100mm of travel. But of course there is the weight penalty that goes with a 100mm fork and the inertia valve system doesn't help with the weight either. Besides weight, my other gripe was that while the fork was activated(interia valve open), if I tried to stand up and power up a hill, sprint or any thing like wise, the intertia valve could not shut off. This leaves you with a squishy 100mm travel fork with no easy hand operated lock out. It did not matter for me wether I had the forks treshold at essentially locked out or all the way open. It would still bob like crazy because the fork was being continually compressed and rebounding. The interia valve is only as smart as the physics behind it. In this case, the fork is quite smart, but it does have a flaw. Whether this is a fatal flaw, you decide. But for me, this combined with the portly weight of the F100X, was enough to turn me off from purchasing for 2004. I did consider the F80X though as it weighs less, but still has the bob issue (plus a true xc racer does not need 100mm of travel to ride). In case you were wondering my demo ride was on a 04 Specialized S-works Epic from Village Bike Shop - Cascade (best shop in West Michigan, don't even bother with Kentwood Schwinn, you will not get the right bike for your size and probably not ability either). The S-works was equiped with a Fox Brain shock (intertia valve as well) on the rear, which I noticed the same problems but to a much lesser extent. The ride was on varied terrain (roots, washouts, drops, sand, hardpack) at Yankee Springs, MI and lasted 2 hours (2 laps).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Donald
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada City, Ca, USA Date Reviewed: January 26, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Round Mountain, South Yuba River Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
RIGID. Decals easily removed. Simple to set up.
Weaknesses:
I had to mortgage my poodle to put it on the bike
Similar Products Used:
Sherman Manitou X Vert Super, Sherman, Minute One
Bike Setup:
Titus Switchblade. Race Face crank and chain rings, Huigi hubs, Mavic hoops, Hope Minis, Thompson stem and post. XTR driveline
Bottom Line:
This is a dangerous fork for an aging cross-country gentleman. The transition from locked out to plush is nearly indistinguishable, even while climbing rocky trails. Turning downhill, add 5? 10? (gasp) 15? mph and hope you don't get in over your head before you can drag it down to a more manageable speed. Don't buy it unless you install disc brakes at the same time. My wife frets every time I head out for a ride. She recommended I value it on the low end considering that we'll probably have the additional hospitalization costs to cover.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta Date Reviewed: January 19, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Stiff and efficient
Similar Products Used:
SID's
Bike Setup:
Intense Spider
Bottom Line:
I never realized how flexy a SID was until I got my FOX. Totally awesome. I got it with my Spider which I was really excited to try, but to be honest I think the Fox F100 is at least as cool or cooler than the Spider. It works amazingly well and when it is time to hammer it is like no other. I have used lock-outs before and have forgotten to unlock on occasion only to suffer greatly on the downhill. This fork saves you time and makes you faster because you don't have to think about it. Very cool product. I would recommend it to any racer or efficiency minded rider. So much better than a SID that there is no comparison.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trevor!
a Racer
from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Date Reviewed: January 12, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Fox reliability and durability. Killer performance. Great looks.
Bike Setup:
2004 Ellsworth truth with the usual accompaniments (FSA,XTR,KING et al)
Bottom Line:
Brilliant fork. I really didn't hesitate to buy this fork in the long run. Initially I said "I would never buy it" but jumped when I got a good deal and am so happy I did.
You NEVER NOTICE the transition from plush to stiff ever. It just seems to quietly and efficiently work for you. I have found it to be just perfect with my Ellsworth Truth.
Setup is easy. For me 70psi, 5 turns in to sensitivity (Racer type) and a half on rebound (or is it more???). I get the correct sag and the axel to crown height doesn't effect the quickness of my bike. I love the easy manaintance with this. No oil leaks, no loss of pressure, no getting a bit of travel - you get the full 100mm of plush movement.
Looks good, works great, feels even better and has that fox reliability that is now the benchmark with forks. I just cant find a fault really yet!
Suits anyone from racer to weekend warrior to general trail rider!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
W. Jones
a Racer
from Davis, CA Date Reviewed: January 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hole In the Ground
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Wheelworks (Employee Purch)
Strengths:
confidence inspiring smooth ride, quality construction
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Ventana [El Toro] Single Speed, Shimano Disc brakes, Race Face Cranks, Velocity Wheels
Bottom Line:
If you ride a single speed this is the best fork to get. I'm standing and hammering all the time and the fork works great even on the uphill hits. I tried everything I could to trick it on the first ride but it was smarter than me. Get one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
baconman
a Cross Country Rider
from RI Date Reviewed: January 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hot lap around the NY Yacht Club compound with the security guards chasing me.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Smooth, stiff and no bob. Eats up root farms, loves dropoffs.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX Carbon, Judy SL, Duke U-Turn SL
Bike Setup:
Intense Spider, full XTR, Easton cockpit, Hutch Python's with Stan's
Bottom Line:
This is the best fork ever made. The travel is plush and linear and the fork won't bob and doesn't need a lockout. It does everything a fork should and well. It has no weaknesses.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron Sandberg
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicagoland Date Reviewed: December 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Kettle Maraine
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Fox
Strengths:
Reliablity, stiffness, fox quality, easy to use
Weaknesses:
a bit heavly, however increased pedal efficancy may offset weight penalty
Similar Products Used:
just about everything but a sid
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Elemant Race...full race setup
Bottom Line:
With out a doubt the single best fork I've ridden/ raced in 10 years (my first fork was a Marzoc. X51 back in 1992). I may have been one the first to get my hands on this fork(purcahsed directly from fox). Set up has been easy, changing the blow-off threshold is a piece of cake, it's great to be able to sofen the fork for trail rides and then later firm it up for racing. I have seen some of the oil leak issues that other have mentioned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Gundersen
a Racer
from Ontario, California, USA Date Reviewed: December 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Angelus Oaks - SART
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
InCycle
Strengths:
For the F80X: Unmatched attention to detail. Quality parts, materials, worksmanship. Flawless in every regard. Auto lockout is a huge advantage for forgetful guys like myself. XTremely plush suspension. Super-stiff. Easy to setup. Great range of adjustments (that really work!).
Weaknesses:
Weight & Price. It was extremely difficult for me to pay a ton o' dough to add .75 lbs. to my bike.
Similar Products Used:
SID Race & SID Race.
Bike Setup:
Turner Stinger (killer frame), full XTR, CrossMax, + best of everything.
Bottom Line:
Incredible fork. Works just as claimed. Haven't had any problems with "weeping-oil". I have the 2004 version, so Fox may have fixed it from the '03 model. It's the best fork money can buy - so if cost is no object, or if you have the sponsors, Go-4-It! Setup is extremely easy. All the adjustments work well, and have quite a wide range (rebound + bump threshhold). I am riding my fork with a bit (7 lbs) more pressure than recommended by the manual. The manual is the weakest part - it's a generic manual for all of Fox's forks. If you're paying $775 for a fork, the least Fox can do is give you a very detailed, product-specific manual. The suspension is incredibly plush, and unmatched by my 2 previous Sids. The one thing that I do miss on my Sid is the ability to use the fork to "trampoline" jump over a log/curb. You can't do it on this fork, because when you apply the initial pressure downward - it's rigid, thus no "trampoline". Bottom line: The best fork on the market, just not the lightest. Only 4 Chilis for value, because the thing costs more than most full bikes out there. Perfect rating for the O.A. though. This fork will make it's debut at various XTerra & MTB races in '04. I'm hoping that the auto-lockout and better ride will make up for the increased weight when racing. Ideal fork for rich guys, Sponsored Racers, and those willing to pay for the best of the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Australia Date Reviewed: December 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Manly Dam
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Mountain High
Strengths:
Stiffness, plushness, FOX dependability.
Weaknesses:
Nothing at all.
Similar Products Used:
FOX Vanilla RLC, SID Race, various ROCK SHOX.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth TRUTH Propedal AVA, XTR, XT, Custom Wheels.
Bottom Line:
I was hoping to be the first to review the FX100 but ordinary weather kept me away from the trails until Saturday. These forks are the best forks I have ever had the pleasure of using. The Inertia Valve works flawlessly you don't even feel it working. What you get is a fork which is as smooth as cream, yes even plusher feeling than my Vanilla RLC with all the same solid traits and with a lot less weight. Pedal hard and stand, the fork settles down into its travel and is locked out until you hit a bump, the transition is seamless, quiet and buttery smooth...ooohh soooo smooooth(sorry about that, just can't wait to use it again) At the moment my setup up is at 65psi, 15mm sag, bump threshold 10 clicks back from full + I weigh 164# - I’m still toying around with the rebound settings. Hope I haven't forgotten anything, drop me an email if you want to know more. If you want a new fork this is the one to get and well worth the extra dough, don't wait another minute!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
g love
a Cross Country Rider
from charleston, sc Date Reviewed: December 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:
ocoee
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
oem fork
Strengths:
works like they say it does. entirely locked out until it hits a bump and then it's super plush.
Weaknesses:
a little heavy.
Similar Products Used:
rock shox mag 20/21, sid xc, sid sl
Bike Setup:
2004 specialized s-works epic disc, full xtr, crossmax
Bottom Line:
I've been wanting a fox fork for a while, but they are so freakin' expensive. So far it's everything that it's cracked up to be. You don't even notice that it has an automatic lockout system. It's seamless. very stiff. the only problem that i have had is that the fork legs are so wide apart that it makes it hard for the computer sensor to read the wheel magnet. so far it's killer. i'll post update after further use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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