Strengths: decent shocks, they are very solid and reliable. Awesome respond when landing a large drop. highly recommended for DH.
Weaknesses: started to make a weird noise on large drops, but a few adjustments and that got fixed.
apart from that none
Bottom Line:
its a shock that will last long. will not fail on you, even after extensive abuse, and should be for those doing downhill. Its an old product now, and i guess the newer stuff is better.
Bike Setup: Specialized FSR. Marzocchi Bomber MX Comp on the front.
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Submitted by
Bernard Mayor
a Downhiller
from Manila, Philippines
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007
Strengths: pro pedal, good rebound control, durable, can take any abuse, very plush.
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
'Been using it for almost 2 years now and it has not failed my expectations yet, it can absorb small bumps and won't bottom out when you hit big rocks. I do drop up to 5 feet high and it can absorb the fall.
Similar Products Used: manitou swinger 4-way coil, DNM rear burner
Bike Setup: Norco 2004 fluid one, 5.5 inches travel, with fox talas rlc model 2007. rear shox spring is 750lbs.
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Submitted by
esmundo
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005
Strengths: don't ask
Weaknesses: I'll tell
Bottom Line:
Facts first.. I am DH beginner who still working on basic skill on intermedite trail at a moderate speed. I'm only 140 lbs. My wheels never leaves the ground nor do I have the skill to do that. And this piece of c**p blew twice on me on the same day, which was only the second time I was on my DH rig. Hundreds spent, ride for 2 days and boom... I am not happy with it. Stay away, far away.
Bike Setup: 04 fuse w/ 02 super T front vanilla rear
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Submitted by
Bret Hinson
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2004
Strengths: Very simple, no bull SH@t
Weaknesses: Little heavy
Bottom Line:
I'm an ex-expert BMX racer, put some bikes through some hard sh@t, and know what works. The Vanilla for the price and make, is a decent shock, I rock the hell out of my SV400 and it ask's for more, Jumped it 4 to 6 foot high,(landed hard) and never winced, I don't care what anyone says, if your dropping off of 13 to 15 foot falls, and you expect a stock first generation Vanilla to recover flawlessly, maybe your not as bright as you think. If you are the "MAN" you think you are then drop off at the same height with a hard tail and a hard head!!! Just ride like you stole it!
Similar Products Used: havent tried any other shocks which can touch this
Bike Setup: 900/1.60 spring instead of the stock 700/1.57
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Submitted by
Ian Forrest
a Cross Country Rider
from Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2003
Strengths: Pretty inexpensive, functional fro the price
Weaknesses: Alot of kick on slow big bumps, no lockout, and limited adjustment
Bottom Line:
For the money it works just fine. Not the greatest for uphill because it doesn't have a lockout adjustment. The only adjustment you can make is to adjust the preload.
Similar Products Used: Fifth Element, Sh*t no good for freeridin, its a racers shock
Bike Setup: Super 8, Marzocchi Shivers, Double wides bla bla
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Submitted by
darren rohne
a Weekend Warrior
from xzvcdszf
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2002
Strengths: its a shock, well kinda
Weaknesses: POS! i blew it 2 times in like 6 months. NO rebound. slugish, bends, snaps, breaks, do not buy this if your doing more then like a 2 foot drop!
Submitted by
warren
a Weekend Warrior
from london, uk
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002
Strengths: No brainer shock, just ride it
Weaknesses: not adjustable, strong kick on big slow hits
Bottom Line:
The shock rides mostly well, and i never have to think about fracking around with adjusters but just occasionally i think that maybe it'd be worth upgrading when the rear end of the bike flys into the air coming through a big slow hit and i dont remember to get off the seat (which i shouldnt have to do)
Submitted by
Chris Robb
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Arizona
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2002
Strengths: Cost per application, OEM Replacement to full tilt race applications.
Weaknesses: None if the product is used for its intended purpose, per application.
Bottom Line:
After reading the reviews just for the hell of it, I,m a little annoyed at the intelegence level of some of the reviewers. Obviously some don't know how to properly equip a bike for the purposes they intend to ride. Why would a "Downhiller" or for that matter a "Freerider" use the plain jane version Vanilla? It's not designed for 5,6, or even shallower drops with a heavier rider, the shock in stock form is a "OEM REPLACEMENT", if you get "Bobbing", or "Sagging", you have two options....lose weight, or get the correct rate spring! Just to qualify myself...I don't work for and am not sponsored by FOX, and have extensively used their products on dirt bikes to full blown desert trucks. They have a vast product listing for every application, so pick the right one! I've got them on all my bikes, friends have got them, and NEVER had a problem that stupidity did'nt create.
Bike Setup: F/S, FOX rcl on the X/C bike, can't wait to buy the FORX
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Submitted by
gethin allen
a Weekend Warrior
from Wales
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002
Strengths: It can take quite a beating and is good on fast intermediate drops
Weaknesses: No rebound adjustment makes it hard to ride anything big slowly as the spring back will throw you off if your not flowing through the drop at a fair speed (speaking from experience), also it's quite eratic in the air when you come of the lip of a jump the kick from the lockout can move you off balance
Bottom Line:
if you can pick one up cheap then go for it, but I wouldn't by another one if mine broke I'd go for something a bit more upmarket
This shock has been performing at the same level for over five seasons of serious offroad riding. Other than replacing the pivot bushings, it has not had any other maintenance since I bought the bike. The reliability is so good, when looking for a downhill bike this spring, I wouldn't consider anything that didn't come equipped with a Vanilla coil.
The only criticism I can think of is it lacks any rebound adjustment - rebound is a little too slow as is.
Submitted by
Billy
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002
Strengths: - It looks nice & simple
Weaknesses: - Riding on roads, lots of bobbing up and down, lots of squishing/sucking noises, it shouldn't behave like that right? - feels too soft even with air at 165psi, (I'm only 180lb) - not verified, but I suspect it leaks air
Bottom Line:
There have been lots of variation in comments about Fox rear shocks in this group. Some people really like them, some people really hate them. Could it be that the Fox products are not built with consistent quality? i.e. sometimes the shocks are substandard while othertimes they might be top notch? I will bring mine into a bike shop for inspection, and if there's nothing wrong, I may opt to upgrade to something better.
The Fox feels okay off-road, but I think I would prefer something a little stiffer that doesn't bottom out so easily. I might try one of the Cane Creek rear shocks because they have been getting rave reviews here.
