-5-way adjustable
-Platform Damping™ Control (PDC) provides improved power and pedaling efficiency. Square-edge blow-off elminates the harshness of standard shocks
-Adjustable position-sensitive-damping accommodates the widest range of adjustments of any shock on the market
-Complete bottoming control
-PDC enables the 5th Element to utilize much lighter spring rates than other standard shocks which provides a much smoother ride as well as being lighter weight.
-NitroTech shaft - harder finish than chrome, impervious to rust, environmentally friendly and excellent corrosion resistance.
-Body is coated with black zinc - excellent corrosion resistance.
Submitted by
robotkiller
a Weekend Warrior
from Chapel Hill, NC
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2009
Strengths: None
Weaknesses: Everything
Bottom Line:
Rebound damping is way too slow and small bump compliance is terrible. The shock is cheaply made, heavy and ugly. SPV just makes the situation worse. My shock was correctly sprung and I correctly set up the shock per Progressive instructions.
Bottom line: My 5th was a piece of garbage and had a harsh action that packed down
Submitted by
DL
a Cross Country Rider
from RSD, CA
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Strengths: Smooth as silk, no bobbing, reliable, low maintenance, works great on the Heckler!
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
Great shock for the Heckler. Smoothes out the roughest, rockiest trails...great all mountain and cross country shock. Climbs amazingly well. Absolutely no issues with shock at all.
Strengths: Vary plush which keeps a steady ride, keeps you on the track with no sliding because its almost always being pushed down.
Weaknesses: Not any really, unless you don't like plush shocks.
Bottom Line:
Its a great shock unless you don't like vary plush shocks. Is great for drops, the quality keeps you from bouncing and it will take any DH section vary smooth.
Bike Setup: Santa cruz V10, Monster T's, 5th's, e-thirteen, Double tracks...
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Submitted by
nick bedell
a Downhiller
from jackson wy
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2007
Strengths: full range of adjustments, price...
Weaknesses: getting it set up at first...
Bottom Line:
great shock. kinda of a pain to get set up. but also cool that you can set it up so many different ways if you want. this shock has been great so far taking everything i i throw at it, my back tire stays glued to the trail where it should be. takes drops well also. great value. all around great shock for downhilling with jumps and smaller drops.
Bike Setup: haro x3 66 rc2x 5th element, hayes 9's, and other things found on bikes...
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Submitted by
Rhys Beal
a Downhiller
from Haverhill England
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2007
Strengths: very, very plush. Much better than fox
Weaknesses: little heaver than others but still fairly light
Bottom Line:
This shock is very good. I have never come across a shock that is so plush. Landing from drops is like falling into a warm velvet glove, its a pleasure! And with all of its adjustment (it has loads) you can set it up to your riding style very simply. My shock has the ti spring, but my previous 5th element had a steel one and there is no difference, just weight. This shock is a lovely little upgrade to anything out there, buy it and it will transform you bike!
Bike Setup: scott high octane fr frame 2003, 222mm 5th element shock titanium spring 9.5" travel, pace rc150 monster forks 150mm travel carbon fibre and magnesium, race face next lp cranks 3 rings, hope mono 6ti, hope bulb hubs, mavic ex729, sram x.o, panaracer fire fr 2.4 and loads more.....
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Submitted by
Michael Spaff
a Downhiller
from Franklin lakes, new jersy
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2006
Strengths: good, shock for freeride
Weaknesses: sucks depending on the fork ur yousing
Bottom Line:
the shock worked great with the drop off tripple, but when i got the travis, it sucked, so i tryed the dhx 3.0 and that was so much better, also depends hou i is set up, but thats a pain in th ass
Similar Products Used: Dhx, dhx air, almost everything
Bike Setup: Bullet, 66, 5th
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Submitted by
Justin
a Downhiller
from Syracuse, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2006
Strengths: Smooth. Seems perfect for the bike that I race on.
Weaknesses: Improperly set up when I first got it
Bottom Line:
The first weekend that I rode and raced my bike, I realized that something wasn't right with the shock.... on small bumps, the shock kept topping out, and the compression damping was way to aggressive resulting in a slightly harsh ride. I called Progressive on the Monday after I rode and told them what was happening and requested that they sell me a heavier spring since places online seemed to be out of stock. They said that they would fix the shock on warranty (as I hoped that they would) and that they would sell me a new spring. So... I overnighted the shock to them on Monday and somehow they managed to get the shock back to me by Thursday, AND they gave me the heavier spring for FREE!!! I have to say that I am very impressed by this customer service. Plus, the shock seems to work great now that they revalved it!! I am guessing that a lot of the other people leaving poor feedback for this company aren't reading the information on Progressive's website on how to properly adjust the shock. I followed the instructions carefully, and the bike rides great!!!
Purchased At: It came on my Sunday Factory Frameset
Similar Products Used: Romic shock, Manitou swinger 6-way
Bike Setup: 2006 Iron Horse Sunday with a Rock Shox Boxxer front fork.
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Submitted by
Griff
a Weekend Warrior
from Conestogo
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2006
Strengths: VERY VERY ADJUSTABLE, can fit almost any company spring on it ( im runnin a manitou) great support from progressive
Weaknesses: um......um..........none
Bottom Line:
This shock is awesome, i bought mine used, and when i adjsut the begining and ending stroke a feel hardly any change, which could be why buddy sold it too me, oh well, besides that the thing is sweet u can run any cheap manitou spring on it so u dont gotta waste ur money on buying a progrssive one unless you want the silver spring lol, i noticed one thing while putting air into the chamber my pump would read 150 psi but then when i would check it after i pumped it, it would only have about 90 in it so then i put about 200 psi reading on the pump in and got about 140 psi in the chamber, so i realized the pump reads the preasure in the chamber pump hose and pump chamber... so add about 50 psi on your pump gauge to get what u want ie 90 needed put 140 in then check it!
Strengths: Adjustable to $hit. Fairly light for the travel. Easy to find springs for cheap. It just looks sexy as hell!!!
Weaknesses: Takes time for initial setup. Hard to get shock pump in the lil hole.
Bottom Line:
I have ridden the ever loving crap outta this shock for 2 1/2 years. I dont have money for multiple bikes so this is literally a do-it-all. I bomb gravity fed parks, ride urban, and commute (short distances, dont get me wrong) I have never done any maintenance to it either. I aint gonna lie and say i go big with it but, im no school girl either. If you have the right weight spring and, set it up correctly the first time. It will be butter, butter i SAY!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Fox vanilla-r, vanilla-rc, DHX
Bike Setup: Bullit, 66rc's, Trail Pimps, Hayes, Race Face Northshore..ect.........
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Submitted by
eric
a Weekend Warrior
from lynnwood wa
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006
Strengths: tuneable and very supple. feels like you are stuck to the trail. it also ties the chassis together really well. my bike holds a line much better that before, climbs like crazy.
Weaknesses: complicated setup, if the fellas take the time like the downhillzone did it makes all the differince. proper spring rate is key.
Bottom Line:
this has been a great product for me, i am big 6'4" 235 lbs. and i ride hard. it does what i want and need with no hassles. i would recmend it for trail riders.
Strengths: Can't think of any because the shock didn't work.
Weaknesses: The customer service is the worst I've ever dealt with. Absolutely clueless and unorganized. The shock had to be sent back two times and it still didn't work right.
Bottom Line:
The first time I called these idiots for a spring change I was told that I had to send it in. I was also told to buy a replacement spring which was the wrong one. I sent the shock in and they told me that it would be like it was new when it came back. They told me that it would be a "rush" order. Eighteen days later they looked at it. In the meantime, I had called them to find out what was taking so long. I was told that they would get back to me. It didn't happen. I ended up calling them back three days later. I received the shock and went for a ride. Not bad. Next ride the shock blew. The bottom out adjustment knob fell out too! I sent it back to them again. I laughed when I was told that it would be a "rush". When I hadn't heard from them I called and spoke with another one of their pathetic customer service reps. Again, I was told that they would call me back. Two days later I got a call from their manager who asked me what I wanted to do with the shock. Since it had been 30 days from when it was last worked on the warranty was expired. She said it would be $100 to fix it!! I asked if they had a dumpster at their facility. When she told me that they did I told her to toss it where it belongs. I have a feeling the dumpster spit it back out. The manager was ignorant and I can see that her managing skills are reflected in the company's success. Do yourself a favor and avoid a bike with their shock. I know two others that dumped their 5th element for a Fox. I bought a DHX coil and it's fine so far.
Submitted by
J Kaye
a Downhiller
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006
Strengths: its an alright shock i didnt mind it
Weaknesses: it seems to cause too much problem easy to distroy if u do big drops
Bottom Line:
some might say this shock is not for beginners .... but this also isnt a shock for hardcore riders. i blew mine while i was in whistler and that was not fun. dont get this shock if u plan to do big drops. also dont get it if ur taking ur bike on planes cuz u run the risk of blowing it if dont take the air out and if u do take the air out u have the risk of forgetting to put the air back in. but besides that its a good shock if ur not too much a crazy biker
Submitted by
phil arscott
a Weekend Warrior
from tacoma washington usa
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2005
Strengths: super plush, looks good, performs well when not blown out!
Weaknesses: Blows easier than any thing else i've ridden, rebounds blown, leaks air, makes this loud KLANK sound when it is uncompressed, just a lot of trouble
Bottom Line:
Don't buy this shock unless you want to have problems, they are more trouble than they aare worth and a real headache!
