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Fox Racing Shox
Vanilla X
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Submitted by
dog man
a Cross Country Rider
from victoria, B.C. ,canada
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | awsome | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | some | | Bottom Line: | good | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Northridge, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Chesebro | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | - extremely simple to operate
- heavy-duty construction | | Weaknesses: | - lack of tuneability
- rough ride ("clunking") on quick drops, fast bumps
- linear response | | Similar Products Used: | - thudbuster seatpost suspension | | Bike Setup: | - DBR X2 1999, stock | | Bottom Line: | Seems reliable and sturdy, but doesn't quite take out all the hits, especially the smaller quicker bumps which the shock can't seem to take, preferring instead to "clunk" and transmit a heavy knock up your spine, and this happens fairly often on washboards and downhills. It does well on big stuff, and is worlds better than a seatpost suspension if you just want to get away from a hardtail. I'm told it beats the pants off of the RockShox products in reliability by several of my LBS's.
The shock does pogo a bit and has no adjustability really whatsoever. That doesn't bother me much, I just like to get all around smooth performance, which it doesn't seem to do quite as well as I would like. In my opinion, the Fox Vanilla X just doesn't "feel" like the air shocks I have tried... they were plusher, smoother, more responsive.
I'm currently waiting to get a Cane Creek or Stratos, after which I may update this review. In my opinion, try different shocks before you buy them, on as much terrain as you can. Seems to me it's not worth purchasing this one outright, unless you get it cheap with a bike, and plan to beat the hell out of your bike and want sturdier stuff that will not require adjusting.
These factors notwithstanding, the price is unbeatable (FREE). It comes with a lot of bikes these days.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Kowalik
a Racer
from Maple Ridge, BC
Date Reviewed: November 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
anything big | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
very plush
adjustable from very very soft to locked out | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
Rock shox (all of em)
Fox (all of em) | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y-Glide
magura 500s
xtr | | Bottom Line: | awesome shock
no problems, and easy maintenance | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bas sommers
a Racer
from Holland
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Simple, works very well | | Weaknesses: |
The weight, but what did you expect for that price | | Similar Products Used: |
Fox alps 5 RS SID | | Bike Setup: |
Trek Y22 '96 model | | Bottom Line: | I would certainly not race this shock, I only use it for long trainingrides like those 5 hour rides on those really bumpy singletracks, and for that purpose the fox rules. It's much plusher the the alps 5, but if you are looking for a racing shock don't go here, but use a airshock (No SID doh)
5 chills for training shock !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
freeride crap | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
simple, Fox name | | Weaknesses: |
heavy, non-adjustable(except spring tension) | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
custom heckler(do you even care) | | Bottom Line: | Spec'd as an OEM unit on my bike, good thing they don't sell them aftermarket or the would lose tons in returns. Its not that bad of a shock if you don't like being able to adjust it. Its weight is a real drawback. Besdies that it rides smooth. 1 flaming turd becasue of weight, lack of adjustablity | Overall Rating: |
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