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Foes F1

MSRP $ 1500.00
# of Reviews 12
Average Rating 4.33/5
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Submitted by Mark a Downhiller from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2001
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $800.00
Purchased At:a bike shop
Strengths:Plush, fits 3" tires, steer-stop (prevents sliders from hitting frame), sorta light, looks cool if you make yourself some stanchion guards, when cables rub through the finish the legs can be independently rotated,
Weaknesses:Sorta flexy, a bit leaky, waaaaaaay too soft from factory, non standard axle size, kinda short on travel, parts never in stock, must fabricate your own stanchion guards
Similar Products Used:shiver, Super T (friend's bike), Monster T(squished in store) Boxxer (touched it), XVert (saw it in the window), Rock Shox Jett,
Bike Setup:Weasel, Race Face, 8" Hayes, 3" Gazz, stuff
Bottom Line:Nice plush fork, too short on travel and too flexy for serious downhill use. Better as an all-rounder, freerider, whatever. TIP: for heavier/harder riders, replace the stock oil with 20W to slow compression and rebound. I've had few problems with mine, and the price is pretty good.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Max Stanton a Downhiller from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:Joyride
Duration Product Used:6 months
Purchased At:0
Bike Setup:Foes DHS, Hayes 8", RaceFace, 321 on Hadley/Foes, fun sht!
Bottom Line:This is a follow up to my review a couple months ago. Still feel the same, fork is amazing, except for one fact. Any time you crash hard, the legs tend to twist in the crowns. This isn't bad cause you just straighten it out, except for when it happens in a race and you ride the fork like that. It can totally ruin not only the stanchion tubes but also the seals and the fork in general. Unfortunetly, this still happens with the bolts tightened to Foes' spec. Something that should be looked on, and its caused me to be wary of doing big drops and other stuff. The legs have moved on me in very very deep hard ruts also. But, it happens so little, I still give it 5 stars and haven't had to service it once. Oh, fork cost $800 now
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Todd McMiniment a Downhiller from Newport Beach , CA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2001
Favorite Trail:Darkside big bear, Tunnel S.B.
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $799.00
Purchased At:www.foesracing.com
Strengths:ON SALE AT WWW.FOESRACING.COM DIRECT

ONLY $799 with brake adaptor and HUB! Delivered to your house! These puppies are going really fast. Go buy one! Now Is the chance you've been waiting for. BRAND NEW 2001 F1 Wet Ones For only $799
Weaknesses:Everybodys going to have them so you wont have an advantage anymore!
Similar Products Used:Tons of stuff.... most of it is crap! Props to Zokes and Mr. Dirt
Bike Setup:same as below/ no KING HUB though/ through axle instead
Bottom Line:This fork is on sale and it's the last time they will be on sale. BUY ONE NOW $799 at foesracing.com

Go to Products and select F1 There is a link to order directly from there. This deal is not going to last forever, so go buy your new 2001 F1 Wet One for only $799 NOW!!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Todd McMiniment a Downhiller from Newport Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:The Dark Side (Big Bear CA)
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Strengths:Simply one of the most advaced designs available, and it's like 5 years old. Super PLUSH and can be super fine tuned which is a must on any race circuit.
Weaknesses:Too short for a lot of todays bikes. Must use top cap extenders to allow for longer head tubes. Triple clamps could be beefier.
Similar Products Used:Mr. Dirt, White Bros UD180, Boxxer (98), lots of Zokes
Bike Setup:Foes DHS Mono, Floating Disc, HOPE DH4's, Chris King Disco in the rear, Race Face DH and MRP
Bottom Line:Well the bottom line is that this fork is the best you can buy. Yes it has had it's problems in the past. But as far as performance goes, nothing touches it. Some of the new age forks like the Zokes offer similar suspension technology but at twice the price and DOUBLE THE WEIGHT. Poor guy above me... how'd ya like that UD180? Talk about junk. The only other fork that is worthy in my book is the MR. Dirt IFP which is still a bit hefty and will rip your head tube off in a bad crash, I affectionatly call it the "can opener"
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by RacerX a Downhiller from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001
Favorite Trail:A lot! (Joyride in Whistler, BC)
Duration Product Used:3 months
Purchased At:Joel Leyva
Strengths:Couldn't ask for a better fork. Everything about it (but price) is great. Super great activity in slow and high speed situations. Super light, yet stiffer then any fork out there but a Monster T (10x more then the Shiver). NO maitenence is one of the best traits
Weaknesses:Price. Although I got a great price on a full bike, $1600 retail is a lot. Luckily, its WAY worth it
Similar Products Used:Everything
Bike Setup:Foes DHS, Hope DH4, 321 rims with Maxxis tires, RaceFace and Azonic shtuff
Bottom Line:Is the this is the best fork made. I always thought it was good, but was a little skeptical of a sub 6 Ib inverted fork. The 9 Ib shiver is quite flexy, this baby is 10x more stiffer, laterally and front to back! The 6.5" could be jacked another inch, but doesn't need to be. I acts like 8". No maitenence, the 30mm hub is ingenious, endless adjustability, and the steerer stop is fu**ing tight. I would buy this fork over any other fork!!!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Tomás h. a Downhiller from Half Moon Bay CA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000
Favorite Trail:Whittmore gulch
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $450.00
Purchased At:MTBR
Strengths:Strong, plush, sturdy, stiff, I like the 30mm axel, it was cheap, and came with free disc and wheel, no problems in a years use. Good custumer service. Light fork. Sealed barings in hub, good oil bath, good seals.
Weaknesses:30mm hub (I can't but one by any other companie, and a replacement is horrifically expensive, making a second wheelset exprensive. The Rebuilds and the extension kits, and ANYTHING made by foes will cost you both nuts. When I got the extension stantion caps to use my 2.7 intense tire, they cost me 80 bucks and now limit my pumping up the air in the fork. The spring leg lets too much oil out and gets disc oily. The rebound leg does not work well enough.the crown idea sux, and replacing the stearer= replacing the lower crown too. Does not mount any fender but sex macheen (which isn't a prblem, cause sex macheen is the best) It is ugly (silver color)
Similar Products Used:Boxxer, RST hi 5/delta hl, Monster t, Super t, Mr. dirt, hanebrink 8, zzyzzx freeride 6.
Bike Setup:Giants ATX team w/ risse rear shock, hope brakes, intense tires, doublewide rims, raceface cranks, kooka 52 tooth change ring, xtr cogs, xtr rear derailer, azonic delux dh stem, azonic custom made handlebars, f1 fork, sdg bigboy sattle.
Bottom Line:This fork is real great, but way privey just like everything foes makes. If you take this fork apart (foes says not to) you will break the seals... So you have to either send it in, or be ready to fix lots of seals. It feels great, and doesn't break, or seize. Feels good slow, but anytime I am going fast, I don't pay attention to the fork, but I Don't notice any weird quarks. It is dependable, tough, and most of all was cheap. I Like.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by steve a Downhiller from parsippany, nj
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $750.00
Purchased At:Foes Racing
Strengths:super stiff!, ultra adjustable, light weight, race proven, smooth travel, great customer service
Weaknesses:not enough travel
Similar Products Used:dh2, dh3, monster t, shiver, boxxer, boxxxer, mr dirt, hanebrink, avalanche, risse
Bike Setup:foes dhs mono, f1, double wides, hayes, race face, sram, azonic parts
Bottom Line:this has got to be the stiffest fork in the world, i have only one small complaint, the fork should have about 7.5" of travel or even 7"...because 6.5" is not enough for sick places like plattekill even when changing the spring rates around...the 30mm axle is CRAZY! nothing is as stiff as the f1, the fork will never twist like other junk forks...also foes customer rep has got to be one of the best in the buisness, and from working w/ bike companies all day, they have got to be the best....i have bashed my fork up and even when theres a big gash in the fork nothing happened to it...it still runs smooth and seems to be getting plusher every time that i use it...cant wait to compare it to my new shiver
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by kidhuck a Downhiller from hopkinton, ma. U S of A
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Strengths:Awesome feel
Light(for a DH fork)
Looks damn cool
Weaknesses:difficult to keep fork from twisting in clamps on hard impacts, and no matter how tight the stem is clamped on the steer tube assembely it still moves with ease.
Similar Products Used:marzocchi
Bike Setup:Rocky Mountain DH race, sun doublewide/mavic 521, XT, Titec bar, newton stem, magura brakes in rear, formula hyd. disc in front. bunch other nice stuff
Bottom Line:Great performing fork, but has some bugs in the clamp/steertube assembly.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Race Foes a Downhiller from U.S.
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:Alot of em'
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:This fork is the plushest fork i have ever ridden and works great w/ my Foes LTS Mono. It is light and the 30mm thru axle just tops it off!!
Weaknesses:I have found no weaknesses in the fork b/c i am a light person but i can see trouble maby for someone heavier
Similar Products Used:-
Bike Setup:Foes LTS Mono, XTR Rear Der & Cassette, AC arms, rings and Pro DH Chainguide, Dblewides on an Arrow Prime bite DH(3.0) rear and and Intense Comp 60 front(2.7). Fox RX coil-over rear shock. All around my dream bike
Bottom Line:This fork is the baddest fork out for my setup and many tohers, no comnplaints
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by blair campbell a Downhiller from hamilton new zealand
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000
Favorite Trail:all NZ trails rule!
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Strengths:plenty of smooth travel that requires minimal maintenance.only fork to use plenty stiff 30ml axle.quite tuneable too.
Weaknesses:crown clearance on keewee not great(dntube).Already broken steering collar once.hard to get headset tight due to crown setup.
Similar Products Used:none
Bike Setup:keewee dh(7"travel)foes f1/formula,hope rear,321's with gazzaloddi's
Bottom Line:brilliant forks that will last for ages.only thing letting them down is the crowns.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by JERRY HENSLEY a Racer from LOS ANGELES,CA USA
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000
Favorite Trail:BLUE RIDGE
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Strengths:THE BEST FORK AROUND NEVER HAD ONE PROBLEM,SMOOTH AND SWEET
LEAVE IT TO FOES THEY DONE IT AGAIN.THERE IS NO BETTER FORK OUT THERE...SINCE I GOT THIS FORK IVE PLACED TOP AT EVERY
NORBA RACE IVE ENTERED THUS FAR .THANKS AGAIN FOES FAB
Weaknesses:THUS FAR IVE YET TO FIND ONE WEAKNESS WITH THIS FORK.
EVERY BIKE IVE EVER BOUGHT AND I HAVE OWNED 4 IN THE LAST 4
YEAR'S HAS HAD A FOE'S FORK I WILL NOT USE NOTHING ELSE
Similar Products Used:WB'S UD150 NOT A GOOD CHOICE FOR ME
Bike Setup:FOE'S LTS- FOES-WEASLE 1&2 FOES SLAMMER ALL W/FORMULA BRAKE'S
Bottom Line:THIS FORK IS GREAT ,IF YOU DONT RACE THERE'S OTHER FORK'S
OUT ,THAT DONT COST AS MUCH AND THAT WILL WORK GOOD-ENOUGH.
BUT EITHER WAY YOU WONT BE DISAPOINTED WITH THE F-1.
I HAVE USED THIS SAME FORK FOR THE LAST 5-YEAR'S AND HAD
NO PROBLEM'S WHAT-SO- EVER .... AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO
FOR THE NEXT 5 OR 10 OR UNTILL SOME-ONE CAN BUILD ONE BETTER.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Mark a Downhiller from Brisbane AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Smoothest, plushest most progressive fork I have ever ridden. Massively stiff and light.
Weaknesses:
Too light, they have tried machine out too much aluminium leaving a fairly weak set of tripple clamps. To avoid the forks twisting on harsh impacts the tripple-clamp bolts must be fully tightened which has warped the aluminium surrounding the bolts (there's not much metal) There is hardly any clearence between the downtube and the lower crown on my keewee, I had to have the crown machined and the race raised so the fork would fit. The diameter of the steerer tube was slightly too small so the race was loose (this was a problem with many 99 F-1's that I know about)
Similar Products Used:
WB UD150
Monster T's
Answer Ti's
Boxxer's
Risse the champ / trixxy
Bike Setup:
KEEWEE DH-7
Bottom Line:I've had these forks on my keewee for about 6 months, they are the new oil-bath version. Performance wise, they are the ultimate, nothing I've ever ridden even comes close, however the guys at Foes must be complete morons. The fork has been in production for so many years, they bring out a new model which is basically the same bar wet seals, which still has so many problems, problems that are so simple you wonder what goes on inside the FOES r&d. It's really frustrating because the forks have so much potential, yet they suck. If FOES got their shit together I'd never even consider another fork, but as soon as I sell these I will be looking at WB's new UD180's.
Overall Rating:2






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