Submitted by
BJ1947325
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2010
Strengths: It's very light. The compression damping is just about perfect for my bike (3:1 link ratio) and my weight (150lbs). Rebound damping has a good range of adjustment.
Weaknesses: Adjustable compression damping would be nice.
Bottom Line:
I bought this 2008 Float-R cheap to replace a rather lacklustre SID rear shock that came with the frame. I often buy last years stuff to save money so I get a better bike than I could afford if I insisted on having the latest.
The Float-R has transformed the bike. rear end control is superb and I'm totally impressed with Pro-pedal, no bob at all at any time! I was a bit worried about all the bad reviews but we've had Fox shocks on bikes in the family for ten years or more from the old Vanilla Air to the Foat RP23 and although they do benefit from regular maintenance you have to remember that a service kit is only 15 bucks and they are really easy to work on. Am I pleased with my purchase? Absolutely!
Submitted by
Mike Mahoe
a Downhiller
from Canadian Rockies
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2008
Strengths: None
Weaknesses: Shock stuck 1/2 way down on my third ride
Bottom Line:
My shock sucked (sucked being the key word) on my 3rd ride! Less than 20 kilometers ridden. I thought it was a factory defect and am currently awaiting my new one in the mail. Now that I've read some reviews I'm pissed off big time! My advise would be "Stay Away From This Shock!" Now that I've purchased it FOX has my bent over the repair bench once again. I'm not going to but ANY more fox products period! I'm sick of their crap. Mike
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain Slayer 6/6" travel with a fox 36 fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jose Farwell
a
from griswold, CT. USA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2006
Strengths: It seemed to be great for about 5 months.
Bottom Line:
The shox came with my Kona Dwag...LOVE the bike!!! BUT,... seconds before my first ride at pachaug forest the shock completely bottomed out. stuck down!! went back to the shop where I bought it and no problems they gave me a new one. A great shop by the way,... Mystic Cycle. but guess what,.. 5 months later now the bike is in the shop to have the shox fixed for the same problem, stuck down. After reading the other reviews I guess I am not the only one having a problem. After the holidays I will upgrade..
Submitted by
Matt Weir
a Cross Country Rider
from Ballarat Vic
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006
Strengths: None, it was pretty bad.
Weaknesses: Dam thing doesnt hold air and it blew up on my second ride, it felt saggy and sloppy while i was out on the trail to. I am only a cross country rider and it couldnt even handle that.
Bottom Line:
I wouldnt really recomend this shock to anyone, at the price i wasnt to worried that it blew up but you would need to spend more money to get a better quality shock.
It is worth its weight. It came with my frame. With my pack, I'm ~210 lbs. I have USED this product in primarily dry conditions though some 'caught in the rain' rides.I gave it a 'wipe-off & spray-lube' maybe once a month, if that. After 14 months it wept oil slowly, noticeably. But I rode it. After 19 months it really leaked air. So I pumped and rode it. At 25 months I had to have the seals/oil replaced (cheaply and professionally) for $20.00/labor + $6.99/parts in Crested Butte, CO at the Alpineer. Thanks Mark. It has performed as a high quality air shock can be expected to.
I ride frequently (5 days a week or so, average of 2.5 hours a ride) and pretty hard over a lot of tough, abusive terrain (i'm a cross country downhiller in the rockies. they don't call em the rockies for nothing.) The bottom reducer wore out in half a summer of riding. The damn thing is a pain in the a** to remove for a part that is going to have to be replace twice a year. It's also expensive. I've had no problems with losing air pressure or seizure but I'm getting worried after reading the reviews above. This will be my third summer on the shock coming up. I have a feeling it may be the last. It bobs way too much on climbs, unless pumped up to a pressure that is unacceptable on the plunge (my whole reason for climbing). Bottom line: Buy this shock if it's all you can afford. Buy something higher end if you have the cash. You get what you pay for.
Bike Setup: 2002 FSR, marzocchi bomber front shock, mish mash of xt and lx components, rhyno lite wheels, race face xc crankset
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Thom Iverson
a Cross Country Rider
from Kirkland, WA USA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2003
Strengths: Smooth. Some user servicing, although the manual contradicts this by saying ONLY Fox can service.
Weaknesses: Crappy aluminum bushings that wear out fast and replacements are hard to come by and need special tools to install. Requires aftermarket Lizard Skin Boot to last at all.
Bottom Line:
Less than a year and the bottom "reducer" has quarter inch of play and a bent bolt, and it is apparently NOT available mail order anywhere, including from Fox. I do NOT do air, just tight technical rollover stuff. This shock apparently costs more to maintain a year than my Nissan truck, with shop/factory maintenance required. And why are rear shocks so expensive, but just another oragami part? More tissue paper componentry. You MUST get a Lizard Skin boot on the Fox from day one. At least I learned THAT by researching on mtbr.com! Better alternatives seem to be insanely pricey.
Bike Setup: Specialized FSRxc, Avid Discs, rock ring, XT hubs, factory Manitou fork. Smoke-Dart tires, grip shift.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Darrell
a Racer
from Round Mountain, NV USA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003
Strengths: Smooth, reliable, easy to set up.
Weaknesses: None whatsoever.
Bottom Line:
This shock is great. I've been running one on my Superlight for a year and on my Haro for a couple years with absolutely no problems. My wife has one on her Superlight and my brother is running a Float on one of his bikes. Out of these 4 shocks, with lots of miles on each one, we've never had a single problem nor have we rebuilt any of them.
Submitted by
Al Campbell
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2003
Strengths: Light
Weaknesses: Leaks air, needs too much mainteneance, poor ride quality
Bottom Line:
I replaced the Fox Float R on my Ellsworth with a Romic Second. The transformation in ride quality was amazing. Only when you switch to a quality shock do you realise how bad the Fox Float is. My mates have them on their bikes, they leak air, bushings seize etc. I will never use a Float R again.
Weaknesses: reliability, user servicability, customer service policy
Bottom Line:
i have had fox shocks on my two bikes and my wife's bike and each one has had to be sent back to the factory for failures within the 1st year (neither of us do anything gnarly, just regular cc riding). now the replacements are failing and fox doesn't honor the warranty because they are "more than a year old". they want me to pay $100 for a rebuild and they back this up by saying that their manuals state clearly that their shocks should be sent in at least annually for a complete rebuild (at my expense). i was told by their customer service chief that cyclists are lucky there is any warranty at all, that there is none on motorcycle components. i don't feel all that lucky. then, my rebound adjusting knob didn't hit the stop as i unscrewed it and it came out in my hand. i thought i'd just put it back in but the rod it operates is nitrogen charged and it had to be compressed in order to get the knob back in. called fox and they told me i'd have to send it in for a full rebuild even though i had done nothing wrong to cause the problem. sorry, but i consider this totally inadequate customer service. i don't believe a customer should have to pay $60-100/yr for maintenance. i am switching to cane creek becuase the reviews over there indicate the shocks are user servicable.
Submitted by
Jeff Bergen
a Weekend Warrior
from Omaha, NE.
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2002
Strengths: Light weight
Weaknesses: Creeks and squeeks like my date on prom night.
Bottom Line:
Shock works fine. However, after 5 to 10 minutes of riding it squeks and creeks bad, and I mean bad. LBS did a bench service on it, but after 3 rides it came back, with more personality than ever. LBS advises me FOX is still the best manufacturer of rear air shocks, so I will probably buy another one. I must be crazy, but I have to try something, this thing is a problem.
Bike Setup: My dh bike is a custom built club roost dh8. with this shock and super monster t's up front. Hope mini disc f+r, mrp devise race face crank and xtr group set. also i run a custom barracuda trials bike and a custom built identiti bsx beast also my brill onza.
So, I'll open with the facts. I'm 230 lbs, riding a stumpy xcr comp with the float r rear shock, Problem is I can pump the pressure up to 320 lbs and I still end up with way too mu Read More »
My 2012 Giant Reign X1 shipped in on Nov. 11. After hitting the trails about 4 times, the rebound adjust cap broke. I was running it 10 clicks in, wanted it slower, and reached dow Read More »
Hello i have a fox float r 7.875 x2,25 on specialized enduro 2004 ! i heard somewhere if i put lighter oil in the shock ,it makes softer and more sensitive! is this true? if it's Read More »
I offered to do an air sleeve seal replacement on my buddy's Fox Float R (see attached picture) circa 2009 I think. I've done em' in the past without any trouble, but this was the Read More »
help. my 2009 fox 36 float r is not so smooth. had it serviced and put 2012 fox/skf seals but still not running smooth. there is no problem with oil/air leaks and it performs ok. b Read More »
