Same great race-tuned chassis as the F100X, without the TerraLogic feature. Instead, you get 100mm of travel with a compression lockout, adjustable blowoff threshold and save about 2/10 of a pound - perfect for riders who prefer the lightest ride possible. Magnesium lowers support both 51mm IS disc brakes calipers, as well as linear-pull (V-brake) brakes.
You get a forged 7075-T6 hollow aluminum crown, factory-tuned compression damping, plus a 12-click rebound adjuster so you can really dial them in; plus a high-flow open-bath damper and Fox-patent scraper lip seals to keep things running smooth. 2005 F100's feature a new, slim damper cartridge that helps eliminate cavitation and allows a wider adjustment range. The new cartridge saves 30 grams over '04 forks.
Submitted by
david Lowe
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada City CA Date Reviewed: January 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
BY
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$530.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
everything dont break they are so plush can handle 8ft drops
Weaknesses:
none perfect fork out there
Similar Products Used:
reba....its lame
Bike Setup:
jamis dakar
Bottom Line:
get this fork its the best out there
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
david Lowe
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada City CA Date Reviewed: January 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
BY
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$530.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
everything dont break they are so plush can handle 8ft drops
Weaknesses:
none perfect fork out there
Similar Products Used:
reba....its lame
Bike Setup:
jamis dakar
Bottom Line:
get this fork its the best out there
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scheckler55
a Weekend Warrior
from London Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Tarquar XC
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$650.00
Strengths:
Good looks, plush, light, rigid when it works
Weaknesses:
Like all the others loose head set clunk developed in left leg after two rides. Went back to MOJO for warranty service and just got it back today with the problem not fully fixed - gone back to MOJO
Similar Products Used:
Talas - much better - I was told the RLT would be more reliable - less parts to go wrong
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance 1
Bottom Line:
I'm pretty furious, got a £2500 bike I've only been able to ride 1 weekend out of the last four. Angry with Fox for releasing a dodgy product on the market at £550 bloody pounds. Angry at the monkey at MOJO who was supposed to fix it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Jetnikoff
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia ( Townsville) Date Reviewed: April 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Tai Chi
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
OEM on 2005GTIDXC1.0
Strengths:
Torsionally rigid, easy to service ( unlike TALAS), smoth stroke, little flex.
Weaknesses:
Compression damping is extremely chaotic. When it hits an obstacle it sort of locks then blows through it's travel, chucking the rider over the front. Th 2006 forks do the same.The larger outer top out/linear load spring snapped in half. Neither GT nor FOX showed the slightest interest. Replaced with a spring I had.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Talus ( incredible, they just plain work), Psylo before these, Fox 2006 F100R ( same problems except spring so far), Rock Shox Revelation ( Uturn remote lock& compression)
Bike Setup:
GT IDXC 1.0, Pedal changed to shimano646 and rearset seatpost otherwise stock)
Bottom Line:
NOT up the the TALAS standard at all. Bought the bike partially because it had the FOX forks on it because my TALAS's had been faultless and these are garbage. They came on my 2006 one as well and I have change to Rock Shox Revelations which has improved the bike unbelieveably. Never thought I would have said that about Rockshox but the F100R's have been a sever letdown. Will be very circumspect about recommending FOX to the riders I train from now on except for the TALUS. If you get a bike with F100R's on it try and change them BEFORE you ride. Actually dangerous. Haven't had forks this bad since 2000 SID or Quadras. NOTE the review may not apply to the RLT's as they appear to have different damper unit ( though this may nt be the case)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Hunter
a Cross Country Rider
from QLD, Aus. Date Reviewed: February 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
somewhere in NZ
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Stiff,reliable,setting range,lock off,oh so very plush when dialed in.The faster its pushed the better it works.
Weaknesses:
non yet
Bike Setup:
05 Kona Kula Delux
Bottom Line:
Done well over 2000klm with them now, have had the head noise clunking, but only hear it on the road. I keep the steed pretty tidy and haven't found any leaks or loose bits and nothing has fallen of, i guess when you make so many thousands of the things you'r going to get one or two bad eggs. I followed the set up in the manuel, useing the zip tie and sag method for my weight, have a proper pump but never use it. Get the standing sag right for your weight and rebound set for riding style and you cant go wrong. True you dont get the full 95mm travel unless you hit real hard, but then it's a xc fork, not a coiler. I run 50psi for a ride weight between 73 and 75 kg, depending on fluid. Forget about the manuels presure/weight guide, and have a play. Love this fork.I give it 4 hot ones because i still think the lefty is better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse VOZA
a Racer
from St-Martin, Caribbean Date Reviewed: January 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
porcupine in Moab
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
TRISPORT St-Maarten
Strengths:
- FOX 'quality' - High tech product - Strong - Smooth
Weaknesses:
- Bushings - bolts
Similar Products Used:
Leftys, Maverick, Rock Shox
Bike Setup:
Yeti ARC and Yeti ASR
Bottom Line:
I think FOX is the most serious shock manufacturer. Look at how many racers racing on 'heavy' FOXs now. I never saw a shock that would run trouble free.
But the point is that I was reading along the review and found that the last 4 were talkin about my problem with the 100RLT.
I also lost the rebound adjuster knob on a ride and had to order a new kit... PLUS, The left leg bushing is clunking like a loose headset.
Bottom line. The fox shocks are the best... when they work...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin McMahon
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: December 28, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop (came with bike)
Strengths:
Don't listen to guy from Hong Kong. F***ing idiot. 100mm of travel Stiff Lightish Lockout
Weaknesses:
I would prefer a progressive fork. When I'm really hammering and the fork is already 30mm compressed I get a little thrown off because the geometry changes a lot. Maybe I'm an XC purist that should stick to 80mm forks...I haven't tried this bad boy out yet on some mean downhill to see whether I'll change my mind or not. It's also pricey, but not exorbant. We'll see whether I blow seals or not...If I do, I'm getting a SID Team this time.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox SID Race 80mm w/V-brakes. (Super flexy!!!)
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Element 50 w/EC90 flatbar, Selle Italia 215g saddle of some sort...
Bottom Line:
Go for it. Guy from China is an idiot and made the same post for the '06 fork and gave it a 1/5 having not used it. I didn't even know HK's could ride mountain bikes...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Valerie
a Weekend Warrior
from South Lake Tahoe, CA Date Reviewed: November 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Stanford Rock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$580.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Paths
Strengths:
Easy adjustments, ample travel for my style riding. Lock out option for climbing is great!
Weaknesses:
Expensive. Some gliches with the rebound contol lever locking up, then coming loose and falling completely off, it was history on my last ride, I lost it somewhere along the trail and never found it. The hex screw on the top backed out and the whole attachement fell of, so check it regularly, because it's hard to get the hex screw on very tight.
I'd heard and read such negative reviews about the customer service at FOX, I just wanted to give them some credit for taking care of me. I will admit it was very difficult to get in touch with a "live" person until I discovered the only way to do so was to have access to a "4 digit extension". There you could find a live person, or leave a voice mail for someone who would actually return your call. Anyway, once I explained the problem with my rebound lever falling off, they were willing to send one out to me in the mail, and I received it 2 days later. I was very pleased that I did not experience the poor customer service I'd heard so much about. Kudos goes out to the guys at FOX, Thank You!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
todd jennings
a Cross Country Rider
from kewanee il usa Date Reviewed: November 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
independence park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
little ades
Strengths:
Plush, sturdy
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
kona kula deluxe
Bottom Line:
Just got this fork back from fox,no more popping. Works great. I know i gave it a bad reveiw,i was disapointed with the popping. I wish fox another 31 years.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
todd jennings
a Cross Country Rider
from kewanee il usa Date Reviewed: October 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
indy
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
lil ades
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
popping, sounds like loose headset ready for seals to leak
Bike Setup:
kona kula deluxe
Bottom Line:
tired of all the garbage, fox was the last resort,does anyone make forks that dont suck!!! i raced this bike 5 times, popping on first ride. hard knocking on 5th race.. been in the shop they thought it was loose headset.. sorry fox but its goin back....didnt finish last race it anoyed me to much i put a marjunkie on this bike now it works fine, no more poppin!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Yun
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA Date Reviewed: September 30, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Skeggs Point
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$365.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Awesome stiffness. 32mm sanctions rule! Very plush, easy to setup. Lockout with threshold is a cool feature. You can tune it to act like a platform valve. Incredible fit and finish. This is one beautoful fork.
Weaknesses:
Could be lighter. For some reason mine weighed in at 3.6lbs. Compression ramps up to quickly, so I hardly get full 100mm travel. Slight clunking noise
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Skareb Super 100mm
Bike Setup:
Marin Rift Zone, stock.
Bottom Line:
I replaced my Skareb Super with this fork, and immediately appreciated the added stiffness. This gave me more feedback from the handlebars, and raised my confidence on technical terrain.
It's super plush for only the first 50% or so of travel, then ramps up pretty quickly. This is much different than what I was used to with the Manitou coil/air setup which felt more linear. The Fox seems to soak up small bumps very well as long as you set the air pressure low enough. I weigh 167lbs with gear, and I run the fork at about 65psi. Even with that I can't get the thing to bottom out. Overall I'm very pleased with the fork. It's supple enough to handle the small XC stuff, yet ramps up to handle small 1-2 foot drops with ease.
All in all, I can't say its the ultimate XC fork. I have yet to try Manitou's new lightweight R7. Nobody can beat the Fox in stiffness though. 32mm sanctions rule!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rock Magnet
a
from East Hartford, CT Date Reviewed: September 13, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Biker's Edge
Strengths:
Stiff, light, responsive
Weaknesses:
None?
Bike Setup:
SJ '05 100 Expert, the shock came stock on this bike
Bottom Line:
The only shock I have to compare it to is the junk pogo stick shock on my old hardtail.
Once I got the dampening and pressure dialed in, this shock has performed like a dream. I have no issues to date after 500 miles of 100% bone-jarring single track. I love that these guys can build high quality components right here in the USA.
I don't know if I would have ponied up the $600 to buy as aftermarket, but certainly don't mind it as part of a $2400 complete speed machine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vernon
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, OK Date Reviewed: September 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
T-Town Bicycles
Strengths:
Stiff, oh so STIFF! No more flexing!
Smooth plush ride. Anything less than 2 inches disappears.
When you go at anything off angle it does it job and compresses so your tire can get up and over instead of flexing and focing the bike away.
Weaknesses:
Weight.
Similar Products Used:
RockShox and Manitous.
Bike Setup:
2001 Fuel 98 with very little stock components left
Bottom Line:
It's heavy but not that heavy. Very plush ride but doesn't rebound you or disappear in the rough.
Very stiff fork that lets you get over the rough stuff, even at an angle.
Good match for Fox RP3 rear shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chutneyboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: August 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
OEM
Strengths:
stiff, plush, adjustable
Weaknesses:
a tad hheavy, rather pricey
Similar Products Used:
Mag 21
Bike Setup:
retro steel hardtail
Bottom Line:
A great fork. I really like the lock out and even the rebound adjustment is handy. It's very plush and responsive and I do use the full 100mm of travel even though I'm fairly light and ride a hard tail. I even like the sound it makes when absorbing a hit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
olivier piedroid
a Weekend Warrior
from nantes Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Alpes, Brittany
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Spad, Nantes, FR
Strengths:
stiff, great track control, adjustable lockout
Weaknesses:
oil leaks, play in the stanchions, price
Similar Products Used:
Marathon SL, Vanilla RLC, MX Pro ETA
Bike Setup:
Specialized M4 FSR Pro, XT/XTR
Bottom Line:
Very plush, light and sensitive fork. But... At the very first ride, I noticed that headset loose feeling... After only 1 month of ride, the right leg began to leak some oil... After 2 months, some play appeared in the right leg... After 3 months and only 500 km (only hills, no mountain), creakings at every bump had become unbearable ! Sorry Mr. Fox, I didn't wait for the waranty service to send it back, I switched to an Italian product that is less stiffer yet so much more reliable...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scott bays
a Cross Country Rider
from charleston, sc Date Reviewed: July 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
oak mountain, Birmingham, al
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
light, adjustability, soaks up almost everything
Weaknesses:
durability
Similar Products Used:
sid, f80x
Bike Setup:
Niota ti
Bottom Line:
The fork provides the best ride i've encountered yet and is functionally a dream, but...
had to send it back twice in the six months I've owned it for oil leaks. The first time after only 7 rides from the top of the rebound adjuster and it took almost a month to get it back (having owned fox before I expected this) and this time it leaked from the right stantion seal and I am currently at 2 weeks without my VERY expensive bike, so obviously a mixed review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mikel Molina
a Cross Country Rider
from Alicante Spain Date Reviewed: June 27, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Marathon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1028.00
Purchased At:
Local Dealer
Strengths:
Amazing stifness, Sweet riding, Fox Quality.
Weaknesses:
Color. PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Sid 00
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper M4 FSR 2004. Full Shimano XT. Mavic CrossMax, Ritchey WCS (HandleBar, Stem, Pedals, VBrakes) Selle Italia TransAm, Thomson Seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I don´t know what to say about the price here in Spain, is just amazing. But after test the fork, perharps, it worth´s every euro.
Compared with my SID 00, it is night and day, very stiff, very good response with soft impacts, the block is nice, and the quality of Fox is unbelievable.
I´ve tested de X version also, with terralogic, and i didn´t like it at all, i prefer to have the block whenever i want. It´s the same with the back suspension, i´ve tried the Epic, but it wasn´t for me, because i´m an old road biker and i want to have a HT when i´m climbing, even on bad tracks.
Now i have 4 bikes in one, HT, Front Suspension, Rally Bike (with Propedal active) and Enduro without propedal.
If you are in Europe and you think it´s too much money for you, perharps you are right, but when you try this fork, you can feel that Mountain Bike is definitely your cycling, no more road. The best fork for people that loves pedalling hard uphill without no bob at all. After 100 km (road and off-road), perharps you won´t think this is an expensive fork.
Peace and cycling.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom T
a
from Denver Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
oh so many
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
mtbr.com
Strengths:
stiff, responsive, blah blah blah. Its a Fox!!!
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float 100RLC; 2004 Manitou Skareb
Bike Setup:
NRS Air, CrossMax SL; XTR/XT; etc.
Bottom Line:
The NRS is my "race bike". Compared to my all-mountain trail bike it has a much lower bottom bracket and I found myself whacking my pedals on all too many surface level roots, rocks, etc., at least as compared to my other bike. This really frustrated me. The Skareb fork is 80mm and was decent, but I also liked the Fox on my trail bike much better. So when I came across a killer deal for the 100RLT I went for it. Based on my first ride (25 sweet miles of mixed single track!!) I realized what a great move this was: the fork performs much better (e.g. stiffer; handles "washboard" much better; etc.) and the extra 20mm appears to have raised the BB height just enough (even though it is probably only a handful of millimeters) that I don't seem to hit nearly as many roots and rocks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: May 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
steam donkey
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
650
Strengths:
Superplush. I notice that the naysayers complain more about the warranty guy than the product. Sorry you had the bad luck, but this is my second Fox fork and I'm 2-0 with the best mountain biking product I've ever used. Totally changes the way I descend. More than makes up for the slight amount of extra weight when compared to other brand's top products
Weaknesses:
If you stand and crank on hills, this fork has to be locked out. A very active fork, not necessarily a bad thing if you can remember the lock-out
Similar Products Used:
FOX 100RLC, Manitou Mars
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 100 with Fox 100RLT fork, Fox RLC shock, Avid V-brakes
Bottom Line:
Get this fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Texas Date Reviewed: May 17, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$657.00
Purchased At:
Ride Away Bicycles
Strengths:
Very impressed with the handling and ability to soak up bumps of all sizes. The shock seems to be well built and does what it claims to be able to do. Great setup abilities. I can tell a difference if I click up or down on the different controls. Much lighter compared to my old fork.
Weaknesses:
Cheap looking stickers...
Similar Products Used:
no products this well built... this shock replaced the stock manitou axel 100. Night and day baby...
Bike Setup:
NRS-2
Bottom Line:
So far I think I got what I paid for. I like hearing the shock work which is telling me it's doing its job. The "pisss't" sound is made on the small stuff as well and the big stuff. I also enjoy the wide range of setup with all of its controls. The lockout is also a nice feature that is easily turned on or off. I feel like my ride handles much better and makes me feel like a better rider. The lighter weight compared to my old stock fork is very apparent. Also, lot of "kool fork" and "sweet suspension" from other riders. Makes it easier to swallow the initial drop of cash for the fork... Price included installation and tax.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe therider
a Cross Country Rider
from american east Date Reviewed: May 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
yes
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
mailorder
Strengths:
working good for me, lite, responsive and stiff
Weaknesses:
finish is delicate, my RLC was the same
Similar Products Used:
02 RLC
Bike Setup:
ellsworth, well riddin
Bottom Line:
This fork has given me no problems, infact the one thing i sent it in for was a seemingly loose headset race, they checked it said it was within speck, so i checked my race and it was the problem. apparently it wasnt new(maybe a mixup at the shop), still not fox's fault. I felt like an idiot, and offered to pay fox for their time and they refused money. They rebuilt and reshipped my fork to me 3day for free. I cant speak for others experiances with their customer service but mine, like all the fox products i have used in the past has been excellant, thanx guys....by the way if you want some real abusive customer service call ellsworth with a problem they are alwayse willing to accomadate
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brendan
a Cross Country Rider
from NorCal Date Reviewed: May 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Spec'd on complete bike
Strengths:
Worked great for 3 rides
Weaknesses:
Blew seals within first 5 rides. Fox warranty guy sent me new seals said I could fix at home in 15 minutes- strangely takes trained shop tech 45 minutes with specialized tools.... Loose headset feeling I have had since day one turned out to be a problem with the bushings & I now need to send it back to Fox & be without a bike for a week.
Similar Products Used:
Ran a 2004 version that gave me zero problems
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This fork has been nothing but problems and the warranty guy at Fox does not seem to care in the slightest. Fox basically sold me a lemon of a product and is not taking responsibility for their mistakes.
As soon as it is fixed I am selling it and buying a Manitou. Fox sucks and I will NEVER buy another product from them in the future.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
B-Man
a
from Truckee Date Reviewed: May 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Works pretty well when dialed in...
Weaknesses:
Have had a bit of a "loose headset feel" from day one which makes me feel like something is not seated correctly. Fork have been blowing oil all over stanchion tubes since day one and by ride 5 it needs the defective seals to be replaced. FOX admits they have been having a problem with the seals and they are sending out a kit for me to replace myself or pay a shop to repair. Lame.
Bike Setup:
On a brand new Giant Trance 1 with a RP3 in the rear
Bottom Line:
These forks seem to work pretty darn well when they are dialed in- however the problems definatley outweigh their performance....... Crappy craftsmanship and a warranty guy that makes you feel like your expensive fork blowing up and keeping you from riding is no big deal..... Value rating is a one since I now have to spend more $$ & time to make this thing work properly. 3 on the overall because it is a good fork when it works
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver Date Reviewed: April 25, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Searle Pass COPPER MTN
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$560.00
Purchased At:
bikesmart.com
Strengths:
Adjustability, lateral stiffness, PLUSH!
Weaknesses:
Maybe stickers...why not engrave! laser etching!!!
Similar Products Used:
rock shx, manitou
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth, Bling Bling components
Bottom Line:
this is a great fork. I don't cross country race but I wanted something light. I did not want the terralogic but rather my ability to adjust how responsive it should be.
This fork excels in all types of terrain. I can't speak about durability yet...<1mos old.
After reading about the terralogic not being "plush" I decided to go for the RLT. Each adjustment has real world applications. I've had some forks where you turn a knob and nothing changes.This fork rules.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Jabb
a Racer
from Provo, UT USA Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
walkway by freshman dorms
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
It looked really good in the photos
Weaknesses:
When it finally arived it did not look exactly like photos. The gray color was not as sparkely as I had hoped. The crown is a charming polised nickel color which really sets off the red accents on my frame.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
A stunning ten speed with suede handle bar tape and an elagant decal design with a subtle victorian feel.
Bottom Line:
It is a darling little fork but next time I think I will go with something in a sea foam green.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Moo
a Cross Country Rider
from Jerusalem Date Reviewed: April 7, 2005
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
No flex, great feel, flattens the big knocks and high frequency little stuff dissapears. Light weight, gives a great feeling of confidance going down and if set up right gets you up and over pretty much everything. Highly adjustable.
Weaknesses:
Blew all the oil seals after 3 months Oil came out of the top seals from the word go and never stopped coming out. To make matters worse in the middle of a technical downhill section oil came pouring out of the bottom of the right leg. I was lucky I dont use disks.
Similar Products Used:
Lots of stuff all around 100mm
Bike Setup:
Yeti Kokopelli,with xt,avid,sram,blackspire,wtb,easton ea70 and nokian parts attached
Bottom Line:
The best ride I have ever had!! changed the way I ride forever and will never look back. BUT the seals, this has been a long time Fox issue and not much seems to be changing. Why dont they just install enduro seals to start with? My problem will be coverd by the warranty and the local fox person knows what they are doing. I would buy this shock again but Fox needs to solve the seal issue as this will ruin the reputation of what I think is the best there is!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy
a Racer
from Quebec City Date Reviewed: April 1, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Don't know yet.
Weaknesses:
Quality control, loose bushings
Similar Products Used:
SID
Bike Setup:
05 Epic Comp
Bottom Line:
This is for the F100RL. After less than a week and 20 km of asphalt riding we noticed that the sliders were loose and a knocking sound from the fork. We took it back to the shop who was gracious enough to decide to swap it with another one. The problem is that all the F100RL 2005 were the same! We went trough 2 other shops and checked them on all bikes in the showrooms and they are all the same. Felt like a loose headset. The shop called Fox for advice and they suggested to make four cuts along the lenghts of the bushings to "raise some material" and close the gap. We never heard something so ridiculous. To make matter worse, Fox Canada is now closed for the next week!
They wont even pick up the transport cost to ship it back to them. The bike shop will have to pay.
As far as customer service, you can't get much lower.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Garnet
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 27, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Prodealed through RMB
Strengths:
Stiff, Light, Plush, Adjustable.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Z1's, Exr pro
Bike Setup:
05 Rocky Mountain element 50 stock.
Bottom Line:
All around sweet fork. Buy it if your a serious xc racer. If your not a racer but you have the money this fork is perfect. Worth the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric radracer
a Racer
from FAll City Date Reviewed: March 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:
tapeworm
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Through kona
Strengths:
I am reviewing a f100 RL this is the closest thing I could find. It is stiff, plush, highly adjustable, and pretty light.
Weaknesses:
none really besides the owners manual air settings are all messed up
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Freerides, C-dale Headshok ultra fatty sl, a piece of crap RST, and Manitou X-vert
Bike Setup:
Stock Kona Kula Deluxe besides awesome Richey Pro mountain bike stem.
Bottom Line:
It is perfect for application. I am tough on my xc rides and like the four inches of travel and it still races pretty nice which is all I care about. If you are only a XC racer you should go with the 80 mm version because its probably nicer for your ride.
Fox Shox rocks my socks off
Peace out mtb'er friends
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, Colorado, USA Date Reviewed: March 13, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$520.00
Purchased At:
BeyondBikes.com
Strengths:
The RLT 100 is head and shoulders beyond the 2001 SID that is on my previous bike (Stumpy Pro HT). It inspires confidence, is excellent in the adjustment category, etc. It is not as plush as the Manitou Black Elite it replaced but bulletproof in comparison and provides much better control and feedback (not that plush is a requirement in a good fork). I have spent all my patience on Manitou. The FOX RLT replaced a Black Elite that just kept breaking and breaking. I need to send it back to Jenson for keeps this time! Unfortunately I cannot personally compare the RLT to the Manitou Skareb line or contemporary RockShock SIDs. Also, I have yet to see how the RLT handles and performs in an ultra event or two, although it performed great in the SW Texas Mas y Menos event a few weeks back (50k ride with lots of desert washes and fireroad).
Weaknesses:
None to date.
Similar Products Used:
2001 SID 2004 Black Elite
Bike Setup:
Specialized S-works Epic, built with mainly XT and similar grade components.
Bottom Line:
Great fork, great adjustability, great durability! Get one and leave the blown lockouts, leaky seals, etc behind! The RLT does an outstanding job of keeping your front wheel exactly where it needs to be, with the right amount of feedback.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Spidey-Lag
a Cross Country Rider
from Philippines Date Reviewed: February 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Coffee
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$490.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light weight, Rigidity, Adjustability, Capable of handling a wide range of terrain. Great looking fork.
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
Float RLC, F100X, Manitou black(Not even close...)
This fork has proven itself over and over. I first mounted it on my NRS. The fork transformed the bike into a completely different machine. It's the first and only fork I will keep on my spider.
It saved my life over some deep ruts a few months back. I would have definitely gone over my handlebars if not for the fork.
It tracks beautifully! It's stiff, plush, smooth as butter over any kind of terrain and it can provide a semi pedalling platform when the blow off threshold is adjusted properly with the lock out in the on position.
The fork feels like it'll last for a very long time. No durability issues yet. I've put somewhere around 2500km on the fork to date including one wet and muddy 25km race.
Five and Five for the RLT
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
michael
a Cross Country Rider
from somehwere Virginia Date Reviewed: January 16, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
650.00
Strengths:
plush, coil- like feel. Easily adjustable. noticably stiff
Weaknesses:
Defective out of the box, Price
Similar Products Used:
Marathon S 02
Bike Setup:
Ventana Saltamontes, 4" travel
Bottom Line:
It's a shame that such a great fork had to be made by a company that seems to have recently decided that it's just too cool to take care of its customers. Like the person two reviews below, my fork had the ""loose headset" sound and feel right out of the box. That would have been easily forgivable except for the fact Fox wouldn't even pick up my shipping costs and has taken their sweet time getting it back to me. I've recently been made privy to a number of other instances of Fox's customer no-service and quality control problems, So I'm not all that hopeful for my RP3's future.
The performance, however, is what I expected. I always loved my old Marathon S, but to get it to feel as coil-like as the Fox meant alot of bottoming and a great deal of brake dive. The Fox maintains a near bottomless feel even at the softer end and below of my recommended psi range. Damping is easily adjusted, and the fork tracks beautifully with no stiction.
One of the neat features a fellow MTBR member pointed out to me is the ability to use the Lockout knob and threshold blowoff to create something of a platform. To do this you simply set the blow off adjuster on its most sensitive setting and lock out the fork. I really have little use for this feature on a trail bike, but should I decide to race, I just might find it useful.
Overall, the F100RLT is a great fork, but be aware that Fox has started cutting corners in the initial quality and customer service arena. If you need superior XC performance and can put up with these problems, then this is a fork worth considering. For others who are less patient with these shortcomings, Marzocchi is probably your better bet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kenny
a Cross Country Rider
from wisconsin Date Reviewed: January 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
levis
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
oem on GF
Strengths:
rock solid zero flex lock out new looks for 05
Weaknesses:
makes rockshox look like walmart trash
Similar Products Used:
fox f80x rockshox sid
Bike Setup:
Gary fisher AC/DC hardtail
Bottom Line:
this fork works everytime without flex or brake chadder. So for the extra 1/2 pound over Rockshox or manitou it is worth every penny
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: December 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Showcase
Strengths:
handles well and rides smooth
Weaknesses:
quality control sucks
Similar Products Used:
rock shox psylo
Bike Setup:
titus racer X, full XTR....
Bottom Line:
Rode the shock twice and noticed a knocking noise inside the slider. Bike shop took it apart and discovered one of the bushing wasn't installed properly and had to be sent back to fox. Rather than just replace the fork (it was less than a week old) I had to wait two weeks for them to fix it. This sucks when you just waited a month for your dream bike to arrive! Bottom line is that they should have replaced it rather than me wait around for the screwed up product. I've been riding the fork now for about a month and haven't had anymore problems....rides nice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: December 5, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Melb. Bike. Centre
Strengths:
Superb small bump performance, bottom out resistance, rigidity, adjustability, set up ease, lockout feature with threshold adjustment, weight, wow factor
Just done over 700kms on this fork in last 9 continued days in rain, sun, dirt and sand and have nothing but high praise for this fork.
For those who's never ridden a Fox fork before, other long travel XC forks seemed to do a pretty good job. That is until you get your legs over a bike equipped with a pro tuned Fox, and suddenly all your perception of how a top quality race fork should perform changes forever.
Supreme small bump absorbsion to deal with marble sized pebbels and still ramps up nicely at last 1.5 inches of travel to deal with big hits are some of the most noticible features. And for big hill climbs or sprints the lockout feature is invaluable. Also by adjusting the lockout threshold dial, a level of pedal damping can be achieved.
The fork built tolerance is tight and have minimal flex and deflection, even when cranked into a bermed turn or a jump ramp. I have experienced no air leaks in the 2 months I've had the fork. For a 100mm travel fork with such a built and features it is quite light. Bit worried about the frequent maintenace requirement as stipulated in the manual but am happy to put up with it for the performance it gives.
Only gripe I have about this fork is the cost. Bloody expensive at half the cost of my Zaskar. But if the fork remains reliable, then it will be money well spent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Denton Bowers
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Fox
Strengths:
Light weight, sturdy, very adjustable.
Weaknesses:
Maybe retail price.
Similar Products Used:
Psylo, Judy.
Bike Setup:
Ellseworth Truth and all of the goodies.
Bottom Line:
This shock is amazing. I have been through 2 Psylos and one was rebuilt twice. The psylo was a great shock when it wasn't broke. So far the Fox has worked perfect. It is very stiff in turns and rocky high speed sections. It feels like butter at any speed. The shock feels bottomless and it is less travel than my Psylo. The stroke is even, and plush through the whole travel of the fork which makes it very predictibable. I have been able to take rocky sections with a bit more speed without feeling like i am pushing it too hard. It works well with my Float i have in the rear. My ride is so plush and efficient while climbing and descending i feel as if i am on a new ride all together. Fox has done it once again, i think it is one of the best shocks out there. No wonder it comes on all of the high end bikes at my shop. Don't just believe me, look at all of the cross country racers who are tired of riding the SIDs. Light shock and that's it. The RLT is becomming the standard on the race scene. It's little heavier but way worth it. I have put a lot of miles on this shock, and most of them have been on a very rock trail, no problems as of yet. And the little noise that comes from the shock is kinda cool, as long as it keeps the butter feel i have no complaints. This shock is for people who want the most plush feeling shock out there. If you race or just hit the trails with the intentions of having a dependable shock that will make your ride smooth and fun this shock has it all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Aroney
a Cross Country Rider
from Glenbrook, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: October 24, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Plush, stiff, bottomless feeling
Weaknesses:
Could not get Disk Specific version in Australia (yet)
Similar Products Used:
JUDY, SIDs, DUKE RACE
Bike Setup:
BLUR 5th Element, Crossmax SL, XT/XTR
Bottom Line:
Very impressed with the ability to set the fork real soft so that the small bump compliance is excellent, but at the same time, the travel ramps up progressively so that it feels like it will never bottom out. Very stiff. No stiction even when brand new. Took a ride or two to get used to the psssst rebound noise - but it lets you know its working - even on the little stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
NYKRINDFW
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX Date Reviewed: October 18, 2004
I demoed this front fork for 6 months on various bikes and fell in love with it. Absolute top of the line fork. Worth the money. When I bought my new bike it took 6 weeks or so to get the fork on the bike. It was an eternity. Finally got the fork installed on the bike and rode it 50 miles this weekend. Absolute Joy. This fork is like BUTTER !! It will make you a better rider. If you demo it you probably won't go back. Getting a 2nd one installed on my hard tail. Good for people who like/need to bunny hop logs and other obstacles. Good for aggressive riders-no delay in the action of the piston-unlike the stable platform/valve type forks that need an inital hit to become active. If you are looking for an upgrade that will get you excited about your ride, this is the component to upgrade to. FOX FLOAT RLT 100 !!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Denis
a Weekend Warrior
from Alameda, CA Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
as the previous review says
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$560.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
light and sophisticated construction
Weaknesses:
light and sophisticated construction
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi MXR bomber, coils and oil. hard to beat the reliability, zero maintenance , plushness and rigidity of my older Marzocchi, but the weight was a problem
Bike Setup:
Santacruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
air spring versus coil springs. that fork is plush enough, steers and tracks right and does the job, lock-out and its blow-off adjust, rebound all of this works perfectly if you need it... hopefully the self lubrication at the pilot bushings ( which I assume causes the muck on the stanchions noted in other Fox Forks reviews, there seems to be an oil film on the stanchions at all times) will extend the lifetime of the fork without need for rebuild. That fork does not strike me as more rigid than the 2002 Marzocchi, and costs quite a bit more money. a few eyebrow raisers: 1- manual recommends to store the bike upside down to keep the seals soaked with oil, this is ridiculous 2- no notches at the crown by the steerer tube base to easily remove the race when you will replace the fork in the future, I wonder how much damage to the crown and the race this operation will cause 3- due to the drop-outs position, the front skewer needs to be locked in a awkward position, prone to catching branches 4- at first pass the operation of changing oil or doing any maintenance on that fork is non trivial, I would say delicate. On the Marzocchi I changed the oil in about 15 mns. 4 chilis in both category because of the craftmanship and the reduction in weight and that it does the job right. I will post another review in one year
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cody Wilderman
a Downhiller
from Fraser,Colorado.USA Date Reviewed: July 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
the ones you can't ride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Totally Wired Cyclery
Strengths:
Stiff and responsive. plush as butter or locked out. Great adjustability for different courses. Easy to adjust. Looks sexy. Corners like mad. light but doesn't break
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Manitou sherman fox float rlc100
Bike Setup:
Yeti 4x special project
Bottom Line:
Best mountain cross fork out there. Very durable. Beautifully manufactured fork
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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