great fork, little pricy, AWSOME RELIABILITY. WARNING TO ALL THE OTHERS THAT adjust the supension YOU ARE MORONIC. YOU ALL SET TO 110% AND CASE THE LANDINGS AND YOU EXPECT THE FORK TO TAKE THE ABUSE. this fork is by far the best ive ever used. even the pro's at whistler thought it was a dope fork
Strengths: Light, 8 inches of travel, Sexy looks, axel functions well. Integrated stem optional. Easily adjusted.
Weaknesses: I have bent two of them, and broke one fork lower. All in pretty extreme conditions though, and I am not affraid to ride it still. I choose performance and light weight because they have a good warranty.
Bottom Line:
Sick fork, If you race DH or just like to pin it at the resort or local hot spot, get one. The new team is very similar.
Strengths: Nice and light, and unlike previous boxxers I have tried, they ramp up well. I came from a Monster T, and this fork is almost as buttery, and way more responsive.
Weaknesses: Stickers. Why does every boxxer have cheap stickers that peel and fall off. I also wish they would include an intergrted stem like marzocchi does
Bottom Line:
One of the nicer forks I have ridden. I was warned aout the turning radius being low, but found it to be fine. Ramp up is good, and very responsive. Only thing that I would change is a flat upper crown to lower the front end, but this is a personal pref.
Similar Products Used: 03 Boxxer Race, 02 Monster T
Bike Setup: RMX bike, Forks set with yellow springs, I turn the rebound on just a touch (keep'em fast), krank the high speed compression, and low speed compression a few turns. I am about 170lbs.
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Submitted by
marcel
a Downhiller
from berlin, germany
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2006
Bottom Line:
the best fork i ever ride- very sensitive and a lightwear ro racing- i´m a dropper on 20 metre cliffs but ride 10-15 races a year so i think i know what´s a good race fork. hope that my new one (foes f1 xtd) is as good as this one- greets from old europe !
Strengths: Easy to set up, Smooth looks, light weight. Mine is supple over small bumps, and hardly ever bottoms. This fork makes me confident to try big lines. Unlike previous years, mine has yet to blow a seal, even through race weekend after race weekend. Direct mount stem capabilities is definately a plus as well.
Weaknesses: I had a bad crash and twisted my fork, but after losening the clamps everything came back in alignment.
Bottom Line:
The 5th Element and the Boxxer compliment each other well. I have my shock at the recommend settings from Santa Cruz with my rebound opened just a bit, and my fork's compression is all the way open and about 45% rebound, other than that stock oil and springs. I am right at the weight setting for the stock fork so it was a snap to set everything up. Maybe 3 minutes. If you are looking for a sleek, light weight fork to be your racer's edge this fork is for you. If you aren't out trying to win world cups on your local trails, the price tag might be a bit high, but performance is valued on all skill levels and trails.
Bike Setup: M1, deemax, 5th element, Minion, X0, MRP... All that good stuff!
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Submitted by
antonio joder
a Downhiller
from switzerland
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005
Strengths: very ligth, super plush,race firm with standard ti springs, after a litle setup tuning for the rebound and turn to complete soft compression, the fork works like a dream!! i am on 5 sek. faster than before with the 888R on the same course!very stiff.
Weaknesses: today no
Bottom Line:
i love my RS-BW-C-05, she gife my a race ambiente and works great in all conditions.
Weaknesses: the whole fork. i had the shop put the fork on my new bike and as i rode out the store and did a small drop they bottomed out! i turned the corner to take it back into the shop but as i did that i bent the forks into a 90 degree angle. these forks were a hunk of crap!
Bottom Line:
peice of crap forks never relie on rockshox i think i may buy some cheapo 100 dollar fokrks since im payin this hit hole bike shop for those hunks of metal.
Weaknesses: bushings were on too tight, unreliable, they feel worse than some untuned boxxer 03/04 races ive used and thats unacceptable for a top level fork. The ti springs and slippery silver stanctions arent necessary unless your a serious racer. I made a mistake, if i wanted boxxers i should have got the teams, the same except for the stanctions and springs. Waste of money unless milliseconds count
Bottom Line:
one of the worst forks ive owned. Still unreliable and they seem worse than last years. Buy good forks. Marzocchi all the way
Strengths: Looks good, Rides well, lots of tire clearence, amazing down hill product, can also be used for jumping
Weaknesses: Soft springs, but can be equalized with harder ones, expensive
Bottom Line:
I highly recomend this product, i did a 8 foot drop off on a triel and it handled it very well, but my back suspension did not. i dont recomend people with weak frames to buy this, or people that dont jump or downhill, i recommed this for any triel rider and any person that jumps or downhills
