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Reviews 1 - 15 (50 Reviews Total)
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Submitted by
David Hill
a Cross Country Rider
from Simi Valley, CADate Reviewed: February 27, 2007
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.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.
Favorite Trail: Chumash
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Purchased At: Came w/ bike
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: Cannondale Jekyll XTR, Pro. ELO headshock on front.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rich Stephens
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Gatos, CA, USADate Reviewed: October 30, 2006
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!
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Wade
a Racer
from WoodburyDate Reviewed: February 17, 2003
Strengths: Light, durable, no leaks, works great.Weaknesses: none so far.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.
Favorite Trail: it's all good
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Purchased At: came with frame
Similar Products Used: none, first FS rig.
Bike Setup: Turner O2/ Z2 up front
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
HG GH
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho Falls, IDDate Reviewed: December 29, 2002
Strengths: EverythingWeaknesses: NothingBottom 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.
Favorite Trail: any
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Purchased At: Rock's Cycling and Fitness
Similar Products Used: SID
Bike Setup: Full XT
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a
from MDDate Reviewed: December 4, 2002
Strengths: everything +Weaknesses: high maintenanceBottom 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.
Favorite Trail: mt. snow
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$45.00
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Josh Toland
a Downhiller
from Santa CruzDate Reviewed: October 19, 2002
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).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.
Favorite Trail: don't know
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Purchased At: fox gave it to me
Similar Products Used: none of that 5th element
bassicly just fox
Bike Setup: Santa cruz Bullit
hay's
fox forx and rear shock.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from durham ukDate Reviewed: October 9, 2002
Strengths: unlimited adjustment,strong for the wieght.easy to service
Weaknesses: nowtBottom 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
Favorite Trail: Hamsertly forest black run
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At: mts cycle sport durham
Similar Products Used: vox vanilla r, stratos helix pro
Bike Setup: Orange MrXC pace forx hope disc's
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
steve wendell
a Weekend Warrior
from pittsburgh, pa, 15217Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002
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.Bottom Line: Get rid of this shock at all cost.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Bike Setup: Specialized FSR Pro
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Omar
a Cross Country Rider
from New YorkDate Reviewed: July 21, 2002
Strengths: Good for people over 170 lbs.Weaknesses: Bad for riders less than 170 lbs.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.
Duration Product Used: Tested or demo'ed only
Similar Products Used: Rocshox Sid XC Race
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Claude Roberge
a Racer
from Canada,Québec, BromontDate Reviewed: June 24, 2002
Strengths: Smooth and easy to adjustWeaknesses: Sqeak a lotBottom 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)
Favorite Trail: 17
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: Specialize M5 with sram 9.0, cross max, race face carbon crank
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from NORCALDate Reviewed: June 3, 2002
Strengths: Customer Service, Adjustability,Weaknesses: NoneBottom 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.
Favorite Trail: Downeville
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Risse Genisis, Rock Sucks
Bike Setup: SC Superlight
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from ukDate Reviewed: May 10, 2002
Strengths: LOCKOUT, ADJUSTABILITY, ROBUST AND EASY TO SET UP.Weaknesses: NONEBottom 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.
Favorite Trail: just riding
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: CAME WITH BIKE
Bike Setup: STUMPY FSR PRO WITH SHIVER SC
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
bill killen
a Cross Country Rider
from conifer, CO USADate Reviewed: May 8, 2002
Strengths: adjustable, fits on my 99 specialized fsr xc comp (only on certified), easy to install, lockout is easy to findWeaknesses: 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)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
Favorite Trail: bergen peak?
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$349.00
Purchased At: performance
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
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a
from Seattle, WA, USADate Reviewed: April 17, 2002
Strengths: Plush action for an air shock, nice adjustment options, reliable product serviceWeaknesses: 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.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.
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Purchased At: Bicycle Outfitters, Kirkland (since out of business, lucky for humankind)
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)
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
bob
a Cross Country Rider
from NYDate Reviewed: March 1, 2002
Strengths: For the first year I had no problems with this shock. It was smooth and didn't leak air, or any other problemsWeaknesses: 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".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.
Favorite Trail: vermont single track
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: Santacruz superlight, xtr, chris king/bontrager, raceface next lp,
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