Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2001
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
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.
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
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Submitted by
Max Stanton
a Downhiller
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001
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
Bike Setup: Foes DHS, Hayes 8", RaceFace, 321 on Hadley/Foes, fun sht!
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Submitted by
Todd McMiniment
a Downhiller
from Newport Beach , CA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2001
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!
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!!!
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
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Submitted by
Todd McMiniment
a Downhiller
from Newport Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001
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.
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"
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
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Submitted by
RacerX
a Downhiller
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001
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
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!!!!
Bike Setup: Foes DHS, Hope DH4, 321 rims with Maxxis tires, RaceFace and Azonic shtuff
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Submitted by
Tomás h.
a Downhiller
from Half Moon Bay CA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000
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)
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.
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.
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Submitted by
steve
a Downhiller
from parsippany, nj
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Strengths: super stiff!, ultra adjustable, light weight, race proven, smooth travel, great customer service
Weaknesses: not enough travel
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
Bike Setup: foes dhs mono, f1, double wides, hayes, race face, sram, azonic parts
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Submitted by
kidhuck
a Downhiller
from hopkinton, ma. U S of A
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000
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.
Bottom Line:
Great performing fork, but has some bugs in the clamp/steertube assembly.
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
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
Bottom Line:
This fork is the baddest fork out for my setup and many tohers, no comnplaints
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
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Submitted by
blair campbell
a Downhiller
from hamilton new zealand
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000
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.
Bottom Line:
brilliant forks that will last for ages.only thing letting them down is the crowns.
Bike Setup: keewee dh(7"travel)foes f1/formula,hope rear,321's with gazzaloddi's
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Submitted by
JERRY HENSLEY
a Racer
from LOS ANGELES,CA USA
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000
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
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.
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
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Brisbane AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 1999
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)
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.
