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
Strengths: the auto lockout,100m travel,very stiff yet somewhat lite
Weaknesses: none
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.
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
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Submitted by
HTail
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2006
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 $$$$.
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.
Submitted by
Neil W
a Racer
from Palo Alto, CA, US
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2005
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.
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.
Weaknesses: Right seal prone to leaking if used in muddy conditions. Can be a nervous ride if used in slow technical terain.
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.
Similar Products Used: No other inertia valved for on the market.
Bike Setup: 04' Epic marathon
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from DuPont, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005
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.
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.
Bike Setup: Off the floor Specialized Epic Marathon
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Submitted by
Carlos
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005
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.
Bottom Line:
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.
Similar Products Used: Rock Shox SID, 2005 Manitou Minute Two
Bike Setup: 2002 Trek Fuel 100, 2005 Manitou Minute Two, 2005 Fox Float RP3
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Submitted by
Alex Miranda
a Cross Country Rider
from BRAZIL
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2005
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.
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.
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from DuPont, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2005
Strengths: adjustable for all riding styles, light, good travel.
Weaknesses: broke twice in 9 months and I can't ride my bike.
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.
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
Bike Setup: Trek 9.8, full XTR(V brakes), bontrager lite rims, some carbon stuff too.
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Submitted by
Travis
a Cross Country Rider
from Decorah, IA USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2004
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.
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.
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!)
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Submitted by
H
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2004
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.
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.
Similar Products Used: Psylo Gold (100mm). Duke (80mm). Z1 FR (120mm)
Bike Setup: Epic Marathon. Stans rims.
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Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2004
Strengths: Excellent performance on the trail. Smooth, smooth and smooth! Absorbs anything you ride over.
Weaknesses: None
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.
Submitted by
Kit
a Cross Country Rider
from yakima, wa
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2004
Strengths: works as billed
Weaknesses: none
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.
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.
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Submitted by
Jeff Brownell
a Cross Country Rider
from DuPont, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2004
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
Bottom Line:
This a performing nondurable fork. AND FOX RACING WILLNOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT.
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.
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