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Submitted by
David Hill
a Cross Country Rider
from Simi Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Chumash | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came w/ bike | | Strengths: | Wide range of adjustability, no maint. for 5 yrs other than air adjustments. | | Weaknesses: | Originally I had difficulty in unlocking and locking on the go, but I picked up a handlebar lever and now have NO complaints. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll XTR, Pro. ELO headshock on front. | | Bottom Line: | I have loved this shock! Rarely need to touch it. I ride a lot of loose rocky stuff and love the control is provides.
I keep the shock locked out for all climbing, but really count on it for the downhills. No disappointments for 5 years. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Stephens
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Gatos, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | When new it had a great feel on hills and enabled lock out for more efficient climbing. | | Weaknesses: | Air pressure drops from 180 to under 100 in less than 1 hour which makes the shock completely useless. | | Bottom Line: | Not worth it. The hassle of having to carry a shock pump with you, in order to pump it back up to riding pressure, is just not worth it! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wade
a Racer
from Woodbury
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | it's all good | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with frame | | Strengths: | Light, durable, no leaks, works great. | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | none, first FS rig. | | Bike Setup: | Turner O2/ Z2 up front | | Bottom Line: | I was all worried about blowing this shock when I got it. Now on my FOURTH YEAR with it and zero problems, I don't worry about it anymore. IF it ever blows, LOCK OUT and ride home. I never use lock out. It did click with the rebound damper adjusted full open. A few clicks closed fixed that.
I mess with the air about once a year. No reason to, it hasn't ever lost any--even over the winter.
And I weigh 165-175 depending on time of year.
Flawless performance for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HG GH
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho Falls, ID
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Rock's Cycling and Fitness | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | Nothing | | Similar Products Used: | SID | | Bike Setup: | Full XT | | Bottom Line: | Other than an odd problem that FOX had fixed within a week through the dealer, free of charge, this is the most amazing rear shock that has ever been put on a bike. I have turned down amazing deals on fully equipped XTR bikes lately for less than $1800 because it didn't have this shock on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a
from MD
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | mt. snow | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Strengths: | everything + | | Weaknesses: | high maintenance | | Bottom Line: | I had a 1999 vanilla float which I put about 3500 miles on a year and recently had to send it in for the first time to get rebuilt ( I did other maintenance up to this point on my own and all the repairs were simple). When I went to pick it up at the shop it was a brand new float rl for just the cost of shipping and it only took two weeks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Toland
a Downhiller
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | don't know | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | fox gave it to me | | Strengths: | holds up to everything you throw at it. plus fox will valve it any way you like it. I have mine set at progressive. Having the fox shock really made me go bigger. I WOULDN'T put a 5th element shock on my bike if my life depended on it. | | Weaknesses: | no problems, and if you do get problems fox will make it better than it was(if that's possible). | | Similar Products Used: | none of that 5th element
bassicly just fox | | Bike Setup: | Santa cruz Bullit
hay's
fox forx and rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | The 5th element nor romic even compare. there's no doubt about it that the fox Vanilla RC (7in progressive) or any other fox shock are the best out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from durham uk
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hamsertly forest black run | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | mts cycle sport durham | | Strengths: | unlimited adjustment,strong for the wieght.easy to service
| | Weaknesses: | nowt | | Similar Products Used: | vox vanilla r, stratos helix pro
| | Bike Setup: | Orange MrXC pace forx hope disc's | | Bottom Line: | Bought as an upgrade on advice of shop owner.
Has taken the abuse of 2 northeast winters from a clydesdale rider. Has never let me down even when used on my dh rig. Like all great components I will try to find a new frame to transfer this " BRILLIANT " bit of kit 2.
Who should buy it well i'm a big lad and it works like it should for me so i recon every one should have one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve wendell
a Weekend Warrior
from pittsburgh, pa, 15217
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Weaknesses: | Totally unreliable. I will promise you that this shock will fail on you repeated and after little use. Even with preventative measures the problems never end. Customer support is horrible and still cost you shipping. Advice save the shipping and scrap the darn shock. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Pro | | Bottom Line: | Get rid of this shock at all cost. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Omar
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Good for people over 170 lbs. | | Weaknesses: | Bad for riders less than 170 lbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocshox Sid XC Race | | Bottom Line: | I was reading the reviews and realized a trend. The review are polarized. Most people either like the shock or hate it. So, I look closely into each reviews and realized that most people over 170 lbs loved the shock and the so called racers and feather weights hated it. Just an interesting trend I thought I would share with you all.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Claude Roberge
a Racer
from Canada,Québec, Bromont
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | 17 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Smooth and easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | Sqeak a lot | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialize M5 with sram 9.0, cross max, race face carbon crank | | Bottom Line: | had the shock replace not able to lock it propely, the replacement one squeak a lot(had to check the problem with my LBS soon) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from NORCAL
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Downeville | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Customer Service, Adjustability, | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Risse Genisis, Rock Sucks | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight | | Bottom Line: | Shock performs very well in almost all conditions. The lockout is great and sometimes needed on a single pivot frame. Great customer service for a large company. While removing the lockout lever, (never do this!) I somehow managed to release all of the oil from the shock, rendering it inoperable. I phoned customer service and told them I was an idiot. I sent in the shock and a copy of the receipt. About a week later a new shock was at my door. If you are a bonehead like me don't take the shock apart. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | just riding | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | CAME WITH BIKE | | Strengths: | LOCKOUT, ADJUSTABILITY, ROBUST AND EASY TO SET UP. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | STUMPY FSR PRO WITH SHIVER SC | | Bottom Line: | THIS HAS BEEN A TRULY FANTASTIC SHOCK. I HAVE RIDDEN IT BEYOND IT'S SPEC AS A X-COUNTRY SHOCK AND HAVE SERIOUSLY NOT HAD ONE PROBLEM. JUST PURCHACED A ENDURO FRAME WITH THE NEW ITCH SHOCK AND I HOPE IT LIVES UP TO THE HIGH STANDARD I GOT FROM THE FOX FLOAT RC. WELL DONE FOX. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bill killen
a Cross Country Rider
from conifer, CO USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | bergen peak? | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$349.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | adjustable, fits on my 99 specialized fsr xc comp (only on certified), easy to install, lockout is easy to find | | Weaknesses: | seems to lose air after each ride. the Float RL (name for the aftermarket RC) came with 200 psi out of the box, after first ride i noticed the rubber ring was at the bottom of the stroke so i checked the air and it was running 50 psi!, good thing it has a lockout. only bad thing (except i carry a shock pump now) | | Similar Products Used: | fox float R that came with the bike | | Bike Setup: | 99 specialized fsr xc comp, xtr, marsCarbon, mavic ride wheels, panaracer firexc 2.1 tires, spd | | Bottom Line: | good shock. It is very comfortable to ride and the adjustments are easy to dial in. riding the first time was a 100% improvement from the float R with no adjustments. the float R was bombproof, i took it apart many times just cause and to pick pieces of the seal out of the inside (it squeaked and made funny noises) but no real leaks. the lockout is flawless and improved the climbing significantly (RL). After researching, fox was the only one that made an air shock for my bike. cane creek (first option) didnt have a fit for my bike so i decided not to go that way (hear nothing but good from them, great information direclty from them too)I think others have put CC shocks on their FSR XC but i remember it being tricky and with a few modifications (not for me). Fox really should be doing better with air shock technology since they have been doing it for so long. my advice to those that have them: just keep screamin. if it came on your bike (and failed)complain to the bike maker and to fox. this will put more pressure on fox to fix the issues not just as "one off" repairs.
cheers and happy ridin
beekay | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a
from Seattle, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Outfitters, Kirkland (since out of business, lucky for humankind) | | Strengths: | Plush action for an air shock, nice adjustment options, reliable product service | | Weaknesses: | rear eyelet brass bushing situation is way, way too ablative for reasonable use. A new engineering solution to this design challenge needs to be created for me to consider the product viable. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight with Marzocchi Z-1 X-Fly and somewhat burly trailbike parts mix (Hayes hydro discs, XT hubs/Rhyno Lite rims, etc) | | Bottom Line: | There is no such thing as a "FOX RACING SHOX RACING SHOX AIR VANILLA FLOAT RC". A "Fox Float RC" is an air shock with a damping adjustment clicker and a lockout. The "Float" in "Fox Float RC" is what designates it as a shock with an air spring. Anything from Fox that has the word "Vanilla" in its name is a coil spring shock. "Vanilla" and "Float" are mutually exclusive terms that do not appear on the same product.
That said, I like the way the shock itself works and I have had good experiences sending the shock back to Fox for warranty work, but I have decided that the Fox Float/Santa Cruz Superlight (with its relatively flexy rear end) are a completely incompatible combination - I replace my rear eyelet bushing every 2 weeks, which is completely unacceptable.
I am strongly considering ordering a DT Swiss, Cane Creek or Stratos to use as my primary shock, because this is ridiculous. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | vermont single track | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | For the first year I had no problems with this shock. It was smooth and didn't leak air, or any other problems | | Weaknesses: | During a normal ride I took a 1 foot drop that seemed to destroy the shock. Sent the shock back to Fox and they turned it around in 2 weeks. From reading the work order it seemed like they replaced everything inside the shock. About 6 rides later it started making that squishy sound (oil-nitrogen mix), Fox "supposedly fixed" the shock and turned it around in 4 weeks. The first ride out I noticed it was still making a slight squishing sound, don't they test these things when they fix them? I am considering buying a cane creek shock to replace the Fox, and I will use the Fox as a backup. All of my hardtail friends raz me "that is why they will stick with the hardtail, less problems". | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Santacruz superlight, xtr, chris king/bontrager, raceface next lp, | | Bottom Line: | I compete in a few local mountain bike races but my priority is several adventure races I do around the US. I have no confidence in this shock and would strongly recommend something else. I have no problem paying a good dollar for a product that is not going to give me aggro. I realize shocks need maintenance periodically, but this is ridiculous. Luckily I have a backup hardtail that I have used when my shock is out for repair. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a
from Pueblo
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good costomer service. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing's perfect. | | Bottom Line: | (The previous review, from 17 days ago, is "part 1".) >>>
Part 2: The shock locked up, sure, but in a little more than two weeks (and $45. shipping) they fixed me up right in the middle of the holidays! Nice, but I shouldn't be surprised - should I?
I also wish to thank my LBS for their help in the matter.
FOX did stand behind their product in this case - a great performer as long as this one glitch was an isolated incident. And now customer service can let the product speak for itself... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Pueblo
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Buttery smooth, nice-n-light, set-n-forget no leak air pressure, and a simple design.
| | Weaknesses: | Not a peep intill it stopped working at 9 months old.
And we'll see how soon I'm back on the trail... FOX - ahem. | | Similar Products Used: | my arms and legs. | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Instinct W/Atom Z2 | | Bottom Line: | This shock feels like it has endless travel - it floats over anything. That's 'sweet & low' weight too for you metalic calorie counters.
So, I get the bike in April with this "FOX RC FLOAT" and ride it good for 9 months. Five day ago the shock locks up - as if the lock-out's permanently on. The very next day my LBS ships it off to FOX...
At this point I have faith that FOX will stand behind thier product, and have me back in the saddle in a "reasonable" amount of time.
I was very disapointed when my reliable FOX shock suddenly became a "tube". These things do happen sometimes - I understand. So now I rely on FOXs' customer service rather than product - we'll see what happens... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john kemp
a Weekend Warrior
from Marin
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wheeler | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Employee-purchase from schwinn | | Strengths: | Light, good rebound control, high quality travel, easy to maintain, reliable. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Action-tech coil over | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn rocket 1, SID SL ,Race face LP, Hugi/Bontrager/ 14-17-14 wheels, Easton C2 riser and post, Avid Mag brake set, XT&XTR dive. | | Bottom Line: | 135Lb riders have lethally injured them on their first standard trail ride. 245Lb, Frame crushing giants, have only had to pump them up twice in a year. My experience: Love it. Nearly as plush as the coil-over on my past bike. Lock-out. Great on the small bumps, Orgasmic on the big. Super light, But this shock takes a lot $hit-talking. Many love it. The others shun it. Would I recommend it? Yes, but be careful: Read a few more reviews. See what other riders have to say. I'm a 170Lb rider who cultivated a love for free-riding on an XC racing rig, after substantile abuse my shock gets 5 stars.
So think about it. Check out the Cane Creek AD-12. And have fun riding.
-John | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommy
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfield, nj, usa
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | very adjustable | | Weaknesses: | needs matenance | | Bottom Line: | very plush very adjustable very nice | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sulphur Springs, Prairie Creek - Bragg Creek Alberta | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light weight, locks out, plush (when it works) | | Weaknesses: | Durability, warranty work, customer service | | Similar Products Used: | First - other than the coil-over loaner I've used while mine has spent most of the summer in the repair shop | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, XT components, Sid 100 | | Bottom Line: | I must have a lemon (or I hope it is a lemon). The first twenty rides the shock worked fine. Then the seals blew on a small drop. At 135lbs I wasn't expecting that to happen. The bike shop sent the shock in under warranty and after two weeks it came back broken with a different problem! It completely locked out and started making a knocking noise on the first ride. So much for quality control at the warranty depot. I'm looking at a full month with the shock being away for repairs. I contacted Fox about the problem through their web page but they never wrote back or contacted me. Who would I recommend this shock to? No one I like. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert J
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Smooth- fairly light | | Weaknesses: | Berrings get sloppy quickly | | Bike Setup: | Tracer | | Bottom Line: | This shock is smooth and handles big hits great.
I've put it through it's paces and it performs
great. The only downside is that it seems to eat up
berrings (sp?) like they are going out of style.
After installing new berrings the rear one developed
slop after only a couple of rides. Fox's response is
'well they do wear out' but they shouldn't need
replacing after 2 rides!!!
I would give this an easy 5 if it weren't for this problem.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ
a Cross Country Rider
from Fresno, CA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came w/ Superlight | | Strengths: | Lightweight, adjustable, durable, no stiction, holds air forever. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Air Alps 5R, RS Superdeluxe, Fox Vanilla | | Bike Setup: | Superlight - Super X kit | | Bottom Line: | This shock has been bombproof for a year of hard riding. I am not a lightweight at 185 lbs. I have done numerous races on it over some very rough courses (Laguna Seca to name one), and I have had no problems at all. I have never pumped air into it, since I initially set it up. Fox has done a great job here. I would recommend it to anybody, except extreme free riders and DH's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommy
a
from Fairfield, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | plush, very adjustable | | Bottom Line: | great | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ed
a Weekend Warrior
from boston
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Flume trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Titus Bikes | | Strengths: | ajustable,reliable,light,no leaks, good tech support | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Stratos Helix Expert, stratos pro,F
Stratos Helix Expert,Stratos Pro ,Fox vanila | | Bike Setup: | Titus Quasi Moto , Hanabrink G-6, | | Bottom Line: | Trouble free just ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt Jensen
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA.
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Pauly Creek at Downieville | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Lite, strong, no problem with the seals at all (go figger) | | Weaknesses: | None that I can find. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Fox rear shocks | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler with a Manitou Xvert R on the front | | Bottom Line: | I've got the 2000 model year which is apparently the one where they got the seals just right. I'm not lying when I say that I've put air in the shock twice in the 1 year that I've owned it. I weight 200 lbs and like to take the worst possible line over the rough stuff, and this shock holds its air unbelievably well. My bike came stock with the coilover Fox Vanilla shock. This was a great upgrade for a tired old coil shock. It weighs a lot less and is surprisingly supple for an Air shock. After watching all my friends curse their air shocks I swore I'd never own one. But this one kicks serious hieny. I give it 10 thumbs up, and 5 flamin chilies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcel Frenk
a Cross Country Rider
from Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rijk van Nijmegen | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Fietssport Vincent Ede | | Strengths: | Light, easy to adjust, lock-out lever. Works good on a cross country full suspension if you like a firm ride without bobbing. Easy to service the air sleave now Fox has a manual as well as video`s for it. But who supplies the spare parts in Europe? | | Weaknesses: | Not quite cheap, mayby too harsh for freerider bikes, rebound adjuster small and hard to turn (sensitive to dirt). Also if it is recommended to use something like a lizzard skin, why doesn`t Fox supplie or at least offer something of their own. And if you follow their maintainance scheme, you spend to much hours working on the schock instead of riding it, not to mention the amount of spare O-rings you need to buy. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Alps | | Bike Setup: | `00 Specialized FSR-XC S-Works M4 framekit, built with goodies from SRam, Tune, Bontrager, Rond and Magura. | | Bottom Line: | It came with the frameset, it works well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gavin
a Cross Country Rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | It does what Fox say it does. After sale Service | | Weaknesses: | the dial to adjust rebound is a little hard to use with adult hands, it could be a bit bigger | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Raven 2000sl | | Bottom Line: | Not a problem. I'm a big guy 96kg, and it is as plush or as harsh as I want to make it. The rebound feature is great and is needed, for a great days riding. The lock out, I don't use, but it's nice to know it's there if I ever do ride a 20km fire road. As for Fox's service; I rang them to see what I needed to order from my LBS to do an are sleave replacment (just as a maintanance thing) and they sent 2 o-ring kits, free. I know it does not cost them much, but that is service with a capital S. They have won me. As for not supplying a pump, does Hutchison give you a pump to blow up their product?
Gav | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Westwood, NJ
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Nice design, lightweight, and has a lockout feature. | | Weaknesses: | Noisy, poor design for adjustments. | | Similar Products Used: | Cane Creek AD-8 | | Bike Setup: | 99 Jamis Dakar Team, SID 100, XTR groupo, Mavic rims, Python airlight. | | Bottom Line: | I love the lockout feature on this shock but the blue lever fell off during my last ride and is somewhere on the trail. The adjustment wheel works well but it's to close to the main body of the shock making it difficult to adjust especially when wearing gloves. The other problem I have is the constant noise it makes. The tech person at Fox was very helpful and told me what to try but nothing has cured the problem so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a Cross Country Rider
from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Hydro Cut Waterloo | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | East Side Cycle | | Strengths: | It's super light - plush for an air shock - did I mention it's light. | | Weaknesses: | Air sleave service is a drag - but it's easy to do. Fox has a great how to d/l on there website. | | Similar Products Used: | SID, Cane Creek | | Bike Setup: | Intense Tracer - Race Face BB/Crank/Stem/Seatpost/Hdset-XT/XTR- Hayse Disks- Mavic F519/Sram 9.0SL hubs-Easton Monkey-Lite bar-Judy Fork | | Bottom Line: | This is a great shock backed by a great company. It sets up easy and feels almost like a coil over. Mine started making a noise after about 2 months (over 80hrs of ride)so I sent it back to Fox. They tested it and had the tech talk to me while he was going over the shock - then they replaced the shock - no fuss no will try this or that. These guys are real pro's. My one (1) shock and business was important to them. I will not ride another brand. Thank you Fox!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, La.
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hooper | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came w/ bike | | Strengths: | Strong, durable, plush(compared to other air shocks). | | Weaknesses: | Expensive, and no pump w/ purchase. With a $350.00 MSRP it should be included! | | Similar Products Used: | Tested SID, and Cane Creek AD-5 | | Bike Setup: | INTENSE TRACER!!!!! | | Bottom Line: | I'm 6'1", 245 lbs., and this thing has taken all of my punishment and laughed it off. Highly recommended, even with the jive @ss decision not to include a pump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Pan
a Downhiller
from France
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Infinate compression & rebound adjustments, lockout (for road links or climbing) | | Weaknesses: | Not so sensible on little shocks as a coil spring shox, like Fox Vanilla RX. But 2001 version should be better. | | Similar Products Used: | RS Deluxe :-(
Fox Vanilla RX ;-))) | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll 900SX | | Bottom Line: | This is a good one, very sensible damping adjustment, but it's not a comfortable shox, because air. Coil spring is heavy, but really progessive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Weikel
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton Co
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mahlon Dickerson NJ | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light weight | | Weaknesses: | Needs an air pump | | Similar Products Used: | Coil spring and elastomer rear shocks | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper pro fsr | | Bottom Line: | After riding 10x off trail rear lockout froze and locked shock out in any position. Most bike shops won't work on the shock(thats a big problem) and mine sent it back to Fox. Fox advertises 48 hr turnaround but by time you add 6-8 days for ups turnaround you are looking at two weeks of no riding!
For a shock of this price and performance that should not happen. Fox should at least do a second day air or better if they want their turnaround to be of any value.
Unless you are a frequent mister fixit this is not the shock for you(or me).
I am missing my coil springs already, 2 years of riding and never had a problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al Heberer
a Cross Country Rider
from Griffin Ga
Date Reviewed: February 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This is a follow-up review after 30 hours of very technical and rocky riding. The shock is great. I will report late on durability. I could not have done it with out the help from Santa Cruz. The folks there walked me through the procedure for changing the shock and replaced the small parts that I manhandled during removal of the old shock...be sure to grease everything when replacing a shock or you may find it difficult (or impossible) to replace. Hats off to the folks at Fox for great service. They restored my old shock (Fox vanila coil) so I have a replacement when my new shock needs maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. Very plush and light and fully adjustable. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox vanilla coil | | Bike Setup: | Heckler X set up light for xcountry, although I use it only on technical and rocky courses. | | Bottom Line: | Great---Great product, service and help from Fox and Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has a low cost replacement policy on non-warranty items. I got the shock at a great price. Why don't other companies have the same policy? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Blank
a Weekend Warrior
from Eugene, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them offer something. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Very Plush, lock out lever for cement, easy to tune while riding due to 24 clicks of adjustment, light weight. | | Weaknesses: | Have had it for nearly a year and have really really loved it up until recently when I started hearing and feeling a knocking, clacking when the rear end of my Heckler hit impacts, generally quick sharp ones. I noticed other reviews here regarding this issue and was able to get it into my local shop where I purchased the bike and had them ship it back to Fox for either repair or replacement. In the meantime I'm training on my hardtail. This is a great product, feels sooo smooth when operating correctly. Hopefully, when I get it back all will be great again for a long time. | | Similar Products Used: | Many coil, non adusting and non lock out fox vanillas. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler with lots of goodies on it. Great bike! | | Bottom Line: | Great product if it weren't for the above stated problem. Hard to believe how smooth it is. Makes my Marzocchi Bam Z2 feel non-plush at times. That good. Hope the mechanical problem is fixed. I'd buy another one in a second despite the problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jo black
a Cross Country Rider
from sedona,az
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | in the vil. of oak creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | dependable.great ride over hideious terrain.easy to maintain. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | statos's helix and ar-1,fox air,variety of coil overs | | Bike Setup: | stock 99 dbr xr4,then dumped the sid for a 99 z1 bam | | Bottom Line: | superior product.had a problem when new. they sent me a new one (befor i had to ship them the oem).had another problem,made a clack topping, sent it back.two weeks later got repaired shock back.4000+mi later still works perfect.good rebound adjust (though it starts at 18 on a 24 unit dial).don't use the lock out much but performs well when i do.the sticktion on this shock is perfect.allows the shock to be stiff till its overcome then soaks up the everything the nasty rocky ledgey trails here toss at it.rebuild it about every 2000 miles in this dust bowl(sedona). maintainence is easy - 20 min.keep around 200 psi in it.my weight is 175lbs.not too temperature sensitive.holds air.no pogoing.this is freeride country,lots of 1000 - 2000 ft decents(and accents of course),jumps and
boulder strewn trails, and this shock performs well over it all.just bought a 2000 for another bike.guess that says it all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tsunami a wanna be
a Racer
from NorCal
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ho Chi Minh Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Lockout
Infinate (seems that way) compression and rebound adjustments
Looks cool | | Weaknesses: | '99 version heavier than a CC AD-10, but i've been told that the 2000 version shaved over 100 grams.
'99 version must be sent to the factory for rebuilds | | Similar Products Used: | None on mtb. bike, but owned Showa, Kayabas, and Fox shox on my motorcycles. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight w/ Z2 xFly and Fox Van. Float RC. | | Bottom Line: | I heard a lot of good and bad about this product. IMHO I think what kind of bike you have will determine how well this thing work. It seems that all the Heckler and Superlight dudes think this shox is awesome, and I would have to agree with them. I weigh 150 lbs and when I want a stiff razor sharp ride I run my shox at 100 lbs. I go 85 lbs. for a plush ride and this is what I have it at most of the time. If your heavy and ride a different bike, you might have to set this shox at full max which is 300lbs! This is where I see you may have problems. With the 2000 version you do not have to worry about this because they have a larger air chamber and run at lower pressures (claimed by Fox). Also the 2000 versions are a lot lighter (claimed by Fox). Performance wise, this shox is everything that I expect a shox to be. Also it is fairly priced at $270, which is about the same as the other shoxs. (Note: mtn bike stuff is a ripoff considering my CBR900RR Fox Shox cost me only $580.00. For this I get a Shox thats good for at the very least 5000 miles between rebuilds, and it is supjected to cornering speeds of 100+ mph). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al Heberer
a Cross Country Rider
from Griffin, Ga
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Light weight, dampening that has an incredible range and an effective lock out switch that is easy to reach. Fox service, they were very helpful when I needed them. | | Weaknesses: | None so far except that I had to order a boot for it.(lizard skin) | | Similar Products Used: | fox coil | | Bike Setup: | Heckler X set up for cross country. | | Bottom Line: | Incredible shock. The only shock I have ever used that could be adjusted to give too much dampening. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Meisner
a Weekend Warrior
from Eugene Oregon
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
all difficults | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Smooth as her lips.
Lock out when not in mood.
A real spinner. | | Weaknesses: |
None! | | Similar Products Used: |
fox coils | | Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz Heckler XTR | | Bottom Line: | So smooth, amazing! The lock-out is great on the pavement on the way to or after the ride. My amazing Marzocchi Z2 Bam even feels somewhat less smooth than this shock. Very, very nice. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Bartman
a Cross-Country Rider
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Fence Trail, UCSC | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Smooth like butter | | Weaknesses: |
Expensive
Requires expensive pump ($40) to setup properly | | Similar Products Used: |
Vanilla Coil '97 | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized FSR XC Comp '99 | | Bottom Line: | Just got the 2000 Float RC. The entire line has been redesigned to require less internal pressure. I only need 100 lbs air pressure to suspend my 165 pound carcass with appropriate sag. Only 4 rides so far, will let you know if any issues arise. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Major
a Cross-Country Rider
from Cali
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
smooth like glass
soaks it all up | | Weaknesses: |
it is air and air can leak out | | Similar Products Used: |
stratos helix pro
vanilla air r
vanilla r | | Bike Setup: |
fsr pro | | Bottom Line: | The float rc is without a doubt the smoothest riding shock I've used. I don't know what all the gabbing about air shocks lacking small bump sensitivity is all about because both of my air fox shocks are way smoother than the helix or the vanilla. The float soaks up the wave type stutter bumps on fire roads much better than any coil over I've used. The shock is very responsive. What I mean is that it can take a succession of fast hard hits and soak them all up while my coil overs would stiffen up quickly imparting a harsh ride. The only way to get a coil over to compare is to run it with way too much sag. Coil overs are bouncy, boingy boingy boingy. The float runs with near zero bounce. Even when you are hammering up a hill the shock moves to the pedaling but does not go boingy boingy. Quiet, very quiet. Coil shocks go clackety clack. The float goes...
I used to whine that the float did not have enough rebound adjustment untill I compared it to the other shocks. The worst of the bunch is the helix (can you say bucky?, I even sent it back to get revalved and it didn't do diddly), then the vanilla r, the float rc is next and the air r is best in this regard.
It developed a slow leak and I got an O ring kit in three days. Took the shock apart and was surprised to see that after 1500miles there was only a slightly grey residue in the grease. Cleaned it up.
put it back together with the new stuff and no more leak.Lubed it with Golden Spectro 7.5wt.
Another surprising advantage to this shock is that it makes the rear of my bike much stiffer than the coil overs. With the coils the rear has a tendency to flex and wash out on loose bouncy fast cornering. With the both air shocks the rear end is stiffer (laterally) and this helps to reduce the washing tendency a fair bit. The lock out works very well. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross-Country Rider
from vancouver, b.c.
Date Reviewed: October 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
alpine ridge | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
plush
lockout option
no leaking (mine atleast)
light | | Weaknesses: |
squeeks, (but most squeek a bit) | | Similar Products Used: |
only this one | | Bike Setup: |
dbr xr4, sid front | | Bottom Line: | This shock is treating me great. I have given it a real pounding and no leaking or breaking. I love the little lockout option for roads. I give it four. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Franco Groppi
a Cross-Country Rider
from Piacenza, Italy
Date Reviewed: June 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Single track | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
I own an RC model. It is really ight, robust and fine tuneable. | | Weaknesses: |
You must do all the maintenance steps at required intervals. | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized S-Works M4 FSR XC | | Bottom Line: | I am really happy with this shock. It works very well, but you have to do a patient tuning to get the best performance. It is very
sensitive to controls. Also the maintenance is really important to get your piece working well for a long time. I have placed a
rubber protectioj over the tube, in order to protect it from dust, water and mud. Also the SAG need a good tuning to get the best performance. I need to check the pressure one o two time every month. A litte pressure loose is absolutely normal but remember to do air sleeve service at least one time every month. Four flames only for the amount of work you have to spend around it.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TigerT
a Cross-Country Rider
from Huntington Beach CA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Excellent performance | | Weaknesses: |
After two rides developed knocking. Had the shock replaced. | | Bike Setup: |
Spec M4-FRS | | Bottom Line: | When it is working it is excellent. I just don't know how long it will last - or when it may fail. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mohamed Azmi Zainudin
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown,Penang,Malaysia
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pg Hill to Mt. Erskine | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Lightweight,simple uncluttered design & easy to set up...provided you have the Fox Shock Pump & use the manual as a guide. | | Weaknesses: |
The air seeps out a little as you release the valve of the Fox pump from the shock air valve.Just pump a little more to compensate for the air loss,works fine for me.Have yet to suffer any of the other problems mentioned by the other reviewers.No air leakage inspite of heavy hits & long rides.The compression limiter lock lever works as it should. | | Similar Products Used: |
Rock Shox SID/Super Deluxe.Noleen coil over. | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized FSR S-Works FS.Manitou Ti 80mm up front & rear Fox Air Vanilla FLOAT RC. | | Bottom Line: | Keep up the good work you guys/gals at Fox Racing.Solid performing shock,performs as manufacturer claims.An inch more travel would be welcomed.Would give 5 cabais(FYI,that's M'sian for chilly) but 4 for now...let's see if any of the mentioned problems would also plague my shock. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ferday
a Cross-Country Rider
from Calgary, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
when it works, it works | | Weaknesses: |
it only works sometimes | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Element Race | | Bottom Line: | Even at only a couple months i am considering a change to a coil over. the shock does an amazing job when it works. It never came with a pump, and since it likes to lose PSI rather quick trips to the LBS are frequent (the pump is expensive). And it's noisy as heck. I have to give it four burning things because it rules, but wait until the shock technology is a little better and maybe the air will quietly stay in place. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross-Country Rider
from Chattanooga, TN
Date Reviewed: April 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Clemmer | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Lockout, Light Weight | | Weaknesses: |
Squeaks like an SOB, Poor quality control | | Similar Products Used: |
Cane Creek AD-10, Rockshox SuperDeluxe | | Bike Setup: |
Psycle Werks Wild Hare XC, Judy SL, Full XTR | | Bottom Line: | 3 shocks in 3 months... Need I go on? The first shock locked up compressed. The second shock, the lockout stopped working. The third on is great if you don't mind pulling it off the bike to clean the bushings after every ride. This shock squeaks incessantly. Do yourself a favor and buy a Cane Creek. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross-Country Rider
from Valencia, CA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Plush action
Lock out lever
Rebound control | | Weaknesses: |
Weight
Squeaky Polyurethane Bushings | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Element TO | | Bottom Line: | The shock squeaked from the first day I rode my bike until I removed the polurethane bushings and replaced them with the oil-lite bronze/aluminum bushings. Everybody kept telling me that if I cleaned and lubed the pivot it wouldn't squeak. Wrong! The plastic bushing was too large and could not rotate without squeaking. Fox went to plastic to save weight. The squeak is gone and the shock works great. Kudos to Fox's customer service. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Racer
from Versailles, France.
Date Reviewed: March 17, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Smooth, easy to set up, Lock out great for hills + road sections, light. | | Weaknesses: |
Iam currently awaiting my 3rd replacement shock The first lasted 2 months (loose valve spring = knocking) and then oil leaking in to air chamber. The second very loud knocking after 4 hrs use (loose valve spring) | | Similar Products Used: |
Alps 5, No problems. | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized FSR S_Works M4, Great bike shame about the shock. | | Bottom Line: | Could do a lot better ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eddieM
a racer
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The S.C Heckler I builtup recently has a FOX Vanilla Float RC and overall things have been great. First the good things:
1. Feels much better than other air rear shocks (i.e. Cane Creek, Risse,...)
2. No stiction noticed
3. The lockout is very handy for standing sprints
4. Decent weight savings over coil-over shocks
5. 24 click rebound adjustment
The bad:
1. First shock I put on needed to be warrantied because of a loose valve spring
inside (the spring that controls the oil valving between the compression
and rebound strokes). The shock made a loud knocking sound just as the
shock was about to rebound (bottom of stroke). Fox said it was inherent to
the design but loud knocking sounds from a brand new shock doesn't cut it.
The second one I installed now has 200+ miles and everything is fine.
Overall I love the feel of an air/oil shock as opposed to an air/air shock.
Despite the warranty situation I love this shock. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max
a racer
from CA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Tested on Cannondale SV.
Setup is easy,pump with apprx. your body weight and set your sag at 25%.Note weight restrictions: Max pressure for shock is 300psi. My weight is 180 which takes at least 200 psi to suspend properly.
A rider at 200 pounds or more may have difficulty getting proper set up.The FOX pump only reads to 300 psi and for heavier riders more thank 300 psi is needed to suspend them.
With high ratio suspension systems this fact is compounded.Once set up the ride is very active, the ride is smooth and supple over small bumps and handles large hit well.
The manual compression lever worked well for one ride until it suddenly stopped locking out the compression. Due to its design the compression valves deformed in the open position. Hum.On the second day while riding on smooth fireroads the shock compressed and did not return. Had to push, carry, coast back to the truck.
As it turns out due to its design, the collar that seals the HIGH preasure negative chamber from the positive chamber is screwed and glued onto the shock body.
Thus the glue and thread design is not capable of sealing air and the air leaks from the positive chamber into the neg. chamber and locks up the shock. A potential time bomb if you try to remove the air sleeve for service as FOX suggests.
I suppose all of the FLOAT series has this potential to fail as I have heard from several industry managers that they have had the same problems.
Overall when the shock works it works really well.
| | Overall Rating: |
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