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Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Lake Tahoe, California
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Marham | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | rscycle.com | | Strengths: | Good amount of travel. Has the smoothness of a Fox! | | Weaknesses: | n/a | | Similar Products Used: | Fox float | | Bottom Line: | This is probably one of the best coil shocks you can get. It's a great all mountain shock. If you are looking for a freeride shock, do not look at this one. It's not meant for freeride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
luke hlavenka
a Downhiller
from alliston
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | waterfall (blue mountain) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | cant think of any | | Weaknesses: | very easy to bottom out i dont know why but if i do like a 4 foot drop it bottoms out everytime | | Bike Setup: | 03 kona stinky rasta edition, junior T, avid 5, deore shifters and derailleurs | | Bottom Line: | maybe the shock just cant take anymore cus its 4 years old but i think if you ride downhill or freeride you should think of getting a better shock | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
luke hlavenka
a Downhiller
from alliston
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | waterfall (blue mountain) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | cant think of any | | Weaknesses: | very easy to bottom out i dont know why but if i do like a 4 foot drop it bottoms out everytime | | Bike Setup: | 03 kona stinky rasta edition, junior T, avid 5, deore shifters and derailleurs | | Bottom Line: | maybe the shock just cant take anymore cus its 4 years old but i think if you ride downhill or freeride you should think of getting a better shock | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JF
a
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Strong shock, durable | | Weaknesses: | Too stiff | | Bottom Line: | It's a good strong shock, it never broke down on me in 2 years, good for light freeriding, don't try a 6 feet or + drop because the landing is going to be pretty hard (trust me I tried it). I'm 6'0' 175 pounds and the shcok only bottomed out twice, it is too stiff for extreme freeriding or downhill. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nathan
a Downhiller
from ancaster
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | fox name
works great when u have it set properly | | Weaknesses: | blew it twice
| | Bottom Line: | this is a great shock, yes i blew it twice but it was my fault, i had the spring cranked up way to high. all the dumb kids think its the shock but its them. if its 2 sofft afrer 4-6 turns of the spring you need a heavier spring. dont blme it on the shock when its you, spend the 40 bucks and even get a used spriing its that easy
all in all this shock is awsome and would reccomend it to anyone, aslong as thier willing to set it up rite | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jord
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver bc
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | rebound adjustment works great, does everything, good value for what you get | | Weaknesses: | no compression adjustment, noisy, feels choppy over the technical stuff even with a lighter spring | | Similar Products Used: | vanilla rc, freinds dhx 5, swinger 4 way, 5th element cvt/5 | | Bike Setup: | 04 rocky switch, sherman sliders, 5th element cvt/5, dual 26/24 doubletracks, xt derailler | | Bottom Line: | ok shock, im now using mine as a backup as i got a 5th element, good for beginner riders. if it came on your bike and does the job keep it but i wouldnt go out and buy one because there's nothing really below it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Durston
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came Stock | | Strengths: | Reliable, Good on any size of hit if you got the right spring rate and rebound damping settings. | | Weaknesses: | Not a great pedaler, lack of adjustability | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Switch Ltd. with 05 Marz. Z1 FR 1, Race Face Diabolus, Azonic, Hadley, Sram X9 | | Bottom Line: | This shock should be used for moderate freeriding. It's definately not the best shock out there but it's pretty good for the price. It's not a good XC shock because it's a coil shock which adds a ton of weight and because it uses old technology so that it pedals much worse than the newer 'platform' shocks (Fox DHX, 5th Element, Cane Creek Double Barrel, Manitou Swinger etc.) It's alright for freeriding cuz weight and pedaling efficiency don't matter as much. If you're on a budget it's the way to go for a cheap freeride shock. The more expensive shocks offer much more adjustabilty and pedaling efficiency if you have the cash.
Also the Vanilla R blows pretty easy if your bike has a bad leverage ratio (ratio of travel:shock stroke). Anything over 3.25ish will likely blow the shock eventually if you ride hard. Bad leverage ratios hurt all shocks but it seems to be more so on the Vanilla R. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Taylor g
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Rebound works for about 6 months. | | Weaknesses: | I have this shock with my 04 stinky. I have been riding it for about a year now and i have never been more dissapointed.
Problems? These are the problems: Rebound adjuster doesnt work, spring broke after a 8 ft drop, oil leakage, bolts are loose.
| | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 04 kona stinky, sherman sliders, block 8 handlebars, raceface crank setup, 5th element, mag 30 in the rear, mavic 729 in the front. | | Bottom Line: | I am a 14 year old, 5'7 140 pounds, and i broke it. I suggest to go with a 5th element or a RC, don keep this. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Burnaby BC Canada
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Metro | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Sharpley Cycle | | Strengths: | Overall plush ride. I came from a BMX then, few hardtails, so for my first fully, any back shox is wonderful. However, the shock it's self looks a bit cheesy with such a big frame. | | Weaknesses: | THE REBOUND. I dropped 6 ft onto concrete and broke my rebound adjustment. I bit of a surprise for me since it was brand new (about my 5th ride). I'll be patiently waiting for the day the oil just explodes out of the shock. Also, DO NOT go to sharpley for any cycling needs. The shop has the worst F*^kin service ever. The owner is unhelpful and he ripped me off my charging me more on a so called "derailer mount". The service is really really bad. | | Similar Products Used: | haven't got to use any other back shock. | | Bike Setup: | 02 VPS Launch with 04 drop off triple, deore shifter, El Norte bars and stem and 26/24 single track wrapped in Blue Grove and Nevagal | | Bottom Line: | 1)DON"T go to Sharpley Cycle.
2)Don't buy this shock if u r gonna go bigger than 6 ft huck
simple as this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
IRVING NAVARRO
a Cross Country Rider
from BRONX, NY. USA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | BLUE MOUNTAIN | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | A BIKE SHOP | | Strengths: | VERY STRONG AND SOMEWHAT PLUSH.
GOOD SHOCK TO START WITH.
GO FO A AIR SHOCK ASAP.. | | Weaknesses: | TO HEAVY. OTHER THAN THAT A GOOD SHOCK | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | JAMIS DAKAR EXPERT 317 MAVIC WHEELS XT/LX COMPONENTS.
THOMPSON SEATPOST/STEM EASTON BAR CHRIS KING HS. | | Bottom Line: | GOOD SHOCK THAT CAME WITH THE BIKE NOW IS TIME TO CHANGE TO A AIR SHOCK . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan S
a Weekend Warrior
from mission,bc,canada
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | street and woodlot | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came on my 03 norco 4by | | Strengths: | the shock preforms nice, rebound works good, but still want to goto rc | | Weaknesses: | none yet, bottoms out easily(i have 4.3" travel with a 1.5" stroke shock) | | Similar Products Used: | rc | | Bike Setup: | custom built 03 4by, 01 z5 fork(soon z150), double track rear, single track front, xt and raceface drivetrain, etc... | | Bottom Line: | the shock preforms good, but has lots of peddle bob, bottoms out easy unless landings are perfect(starting to do 5 feet to flat). bottom line is this is an very good shock but bottoms out easily and i am only 140 lbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Univega RAM 9DH
a Downhiller
from Amsterdam
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with Trek Y11 | | Strengths: | Great shock, I've had it for over 7year and it still performs like a brand new one, never had ANY!! maintanance done, unbelievable qualit, really! | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y11 | | Bottom Line: | Great shocks for life. The rebound although not ajustable is great. I gave it a hard time during it's 7years of existance but still performs like nothing happend, with NO maintanance. The best out there | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fred
a
from salem VA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | H/I @snowshoe | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | MAC center | | Strengths: | plush over small stuff, firms up for big drops, rebound adj. works well | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | swinger 3way air, DNM | | Bike Setup: | 03 kona stinky (6" travel) stock | | Bottom Line: | the shox soaked up all the rocks, logs and bumps of snowshoe's trails, held the back down over shudder bumps and was still firm enough to hit the 40' racer's edge jump on I and the 15' drop @ the end of K. (trails are maked w/ letters) it even makes the choooossshhh sound after big hits. it's the classic that still can't be beat for DH/ big hit performance | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
the Sock
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | There are no trails in Toronto | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Takes small drops, stairs and trail riding with ease, easy to adjust both preload and rebound, and the damn rebound works like a charm. | | Weaknesses: | No compression, hard feel, especially trail riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Float RL (wow, damn nice ride) | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | So far it's worked well for me. No compression on the shock, so it will bottom out eventually when I go for a bigger drop. Rebound works so well, I don't know how I got along without it. Without propedal or lockout, climbing feels like a carnival ride and feels "chunky" with small bumps on trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rej
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | 19th hole, Squamish BC | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Sucks up the small stuff pretty well, rebound ajust WORKS | | Weaknesses: | Bottoms out too easily on drops (3ft flat is horrible) | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou 6-Way, Progressive 5th Element, Fox RLC | | Bike Setup: | Stinky 03 w/ SuperT's | | Bottom Line: | If your a heavy rider (200lbs+), consider something better (Manitou 4Way / 5th Element). This thing was made for light riders. I changed my stock spring according to Fox's recommended weight settings and it STILL can't handle anything big. I'm getting a 4-Way before the lift season starts. Don't wanna be stuck with that thing one more year. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
26hopper
a
from gatineau
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | to much for this space | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | stock from bike | | Strengths: | good on trail and VERY smale raod bump (some like sidewalk )
light | | Weaknesses: | not enought tough | | Bike Setup: | stock at moment | | Bottom Line: | i went out last night and tried it on diferent terrain.
was good until i started droping. it was very noisy and 3/4 of the time i was hitting the bottom. i weigh 170 pound and i dont want to imagin a 200 pound body on this. i will keep it in case of emergency but I am defenetely looking for something more agressiv then this thing. if u are a begener and wont be doing big things with it go an buy one but if u thing u are a bit crazy some time go for something more powerful. (off a drop of 2 feet it went baging, felt like it just died there hehe) good luck | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth
a Downhiller
from Milford, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | DIRT JUMPS | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very plush on small bumps
Light i guess | | Weaknesses: | SUCKS for big stuff
Rebound control blows shock
Bottom constantly
Blew it twice
No compression adjustmesnts, linear compression rate
Bobs excessively | | Similar Products Used: | RC | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Brodie Diablo stock | | Bottom Line: | If you're a trail rider this shock is perfect for you, it is extremely plush on small bumps and roots, and is fairly light
HOWEVER if you do any sort of freeriding involving drops to flat, don't buy it. It has cost me a month of riding due to blowing it twice. I tried an RC and was far more impressed. However, i will be getting a 5th or 6 way so i can tune it. I'm not very impressed with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brent mary
a Downhiller
from victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Great for the price. Can take big hits and very good for lighter trails too. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | FOX RC , Swinger 4-way | | Bike Setup: | 2003 stinky stock with boxxers | | Bottom Line: | This is the best shox for the price out there and there is only one other shox better and that is the 5th element. I can do up to 10 foot drops on to flats and it still is perfect. I have also tried the FOX RC but there is no difference other than the RC is as heavy as a rock towards the FOX R. My friend bought a bike with a FOX RC about the same time as me (April 03)and he already had to replace it and now it has a crack on the resivior. It is CRAP!!! Unless you are a serious downhill racer or something and you want to buy a 5th element then i suggest you buy a FOX R because it is worth it ,and it is the best shox in its class!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stinky Wiz
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Stock on '98 Heckler | | Strengths: | Absolutely no problems. Extremely durable. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't look as cool as the others. | | Bike Setup: | 03 SC Heckler, blah blah | | Bottom Line: | I weigh can weigh 240 all geared up, but it lasted through the 98 santacruz to the 03 model that replaced it. It is a piece of work, all I did was up the spring to a 400lb from the old 350 & replace the bushings.
This is the basic do it all shock & I find preload & rebound are all I need. Each click & turn makes a difference.
I don't want to lose the springy, lively bike I fell in love with! No stable platform for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nicholas
a Downhiller
from Truckee, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | stick and stones at northstar | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on my '03 stinky | | Strengths: | Strong, reliable rear shock. | | Weaknesses: | It is pretty easy to bottom it out, but i like having 6 inches of travel in the back of my bike. | | Similar Products Used: | manitou | | Bike Setup: | '03 stinky, '00 Jr. T, panaracer fire DH pro tires. | | Bottom Line: | I really like this shock. This shock isn't bob free, but is still a good shock for trail riding or freeriding. It is also a good downhill shock. This shock is for anyone XCer to DHer who wants a strong reliable rear shock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a Downhiller
from alexandria
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | wintergreen | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | with frame | | Strengths: | good until it let go | | Weaknesses: | let go | | Similar Products Used: | swinger 4way air (very good), sid (also very good) | | Bike Setup: | sgs expert frame, boxxer, very beefy | | Bottom Line: | i weight 230 on a good day so i got a costume spring made(900*2.25), so i'm not easy on the shock. but the thing should of lasted atleast a year. i'm not doing any drops too big, only like 6'. but the first thing that i noticed is that the spring coller cracked and when i went to replace if the oil started to leak out on me, literaly. so i have to give this shock a F for durability and a C for the time that it lasted. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Adelaide, South Australia
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mach 2 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | JT Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong, look good, haven't bottomed out, easy adjustment, haven't had any problems in a year. | | Weaknesses: | None. This shock is great and myself and others haven't had any problems with them. FOx are a great shick company. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Bighit Comp, Dmr v8's, odi grips, dabomb bars, gigapipe bottom bracket and chain device. | | Bottom Line: | THe only way these get stuffed is if you are a dumbass and overtighten the preload and cause the shock to blow, or if you don't maintain it or adjust it too much. A great shock, I would recommend this to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wes
a Downhiller
from san juan capistrano
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | telonics | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Very nice shock. A little too easy to bottom on drops. Great rebound selection. | | Weaknesses: | I just blew it out. the shop took off the spring and the stroke moved around. that was kinda scary. supergo said it would take 6 weeks. prolly said that cuz they wanted me to buy something else. typical bull shi supergo gives you. took 3 weeks | | Similar Products Used: | vanilla | | Bike Setup: | 03 big hit comp. stock | | Bottom Line: | Great shock. dont drop to flat | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Cross Country Rider
from Marshall, NC
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Super plush, will easily take drops, once it is dialed in you can forget about it | | Weaknesses: | No lockout, but it really doesn't matter to me...also will of course bob more than say 5th Element | | Similar Products Used: | Cane Creek AD-5 | | Bike Setup: | IronHorse Hollowpoint Sport Manitou Black Sport Front, all XT | | Bottom Line: | performs very very well. It isn't as bob-free as 5th element, but also is jumpable unlike a 5th Element. If you want a reliable shock that is good in any conditions, get the Vanilla R. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mo Faka
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | A whole lot more adjustability than I thought it would have, lots of spring options(purchasable separately)Feels smooth through all it's travel if set up right. | | Weaknesses: | Lame owners manual, changing the preload is a pain in the A$$. | | Similar Products Used: | Vanilla, float, Alps 5R, rocksucks deluxe | | Bike Setup: | 02 stinky dee, 02 DJ1, hayes, raceface, ODI's, xt/lx etc. Vanilla R with 800# spring | | Bottom Line: | good shock so far. I have been really surprised and impressed by how much you can change the shock settings with just the rebound knob. Would have preferred a vanilla RC, but am happy with what I have. I'm going to keep this until I can get a good deal on a Manitou 6way or a Progressive 5th element. Overall I'd recommend this shock to just about anybody, from commuter to freerider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Trabuco Canyon
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Luge or Five Oaks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | www.cambriabike.com | | Strengths: | Smooth, rebound works, can't say the same for other suspension companies. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Stratos TR-1, FOX Vanilla | | Bike Setup: | DBR XTS-1, FOX Vanilla R rear shock, Shimano XT componets,
Hayes HMX-1 disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | It's a great shock, I can recommend buying this shock to anyone. If you are aggressive trail rider this shock is for you. Reading the other reviews it sounds to me that these guys do not have the right spring weight.
Call FOX tech support, they will set you up with the right spring weight for you.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robo
a Weekend Warrior
from Bratislava (Slovak Republic)
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Kaktus Bike | | Strengths: | Good sensitivity | | Weaknesses: | Bottoms out on 3+ft drops | | Similar Products Used: | DNM ST-8RC | | Bike Setup: | Specialized BigHit Sport | | Bottom Line: | Shock bottoms hardly an every drop over 3ft, tried to increase preload to recomended sag and more, still the same. Looks like there's low pressure over floating piston. I'm going to go to my bike shop for some tuning tomorrow, so I'll see what will happen then. Maybe harder oil can help. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Vajk
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, California
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ch 10 Guam | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Black Mtn Bikes | | Strengths: | Good for cross country riding. | | Weaknesses: | Shock started to blow out in Guam Ch 10 around 500 miles. May want to consider an aftermarket coil. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Specialized Big Hit Comp | | Bottom Line: | Rode moderate trails in San Diego, Intermediate trails in Oahu, Intermediate trails in Guam, and intermediate/advanced in Japan. The shock started to seep oil climbing out of Ch 10 and completely blew in Japan. If you MUST HAVE this shock, spring the couple $ for a new spring and don't try to lock it out on the road. I am going to get the 8" upgrade with RC and a bigger spring. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dennisd
a
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | cfmba | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Reliable
Coil over performance
Reasonable price | |
|
$ 225.00
