Submitted by
D L
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Noble / Sweetwater
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
private party
Strengths:
Super Plush, Stiff
Weaknesses:
Forks sent in by my LBS for new seals. It took 4 MONTHS, (YES MONTHS!) to get new seals installed at the Fox facility! WOW! Apparently 3 of the weeks were due to the forks being sent to the wrong return address by Fox. Sounds like nobody really cares about the customer at Fox.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox, Marzocchi, Manitou
Bottom Line:
Works great when working, constant problems with seals leaking, I will never again send to Fox for anything if I can help it. I've heard from others that they've had issues with Fox customer service, turn around, etc. Apparently customer service isn't important to them. I own two Fox forks, the others I purchased new at a LBS and I've had nothing but issues with the original seals either leaking or completely blowing out within the first few months of ownership. I've never had these issues with any other fork period! For the record, I take exceptional care of my equipment.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don Griffiths
a Cross Country Rider
from Ben Lomond, Ca, USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Top Secret
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$659.00
Purchased At:
Nowhere
Strengths:
The reviews sound good
Weaknesses:
Lack of product support, no custom orders
Similar Products Used:
Rockshox Mag 21, Hey 12 years 10,000 miles later they still work, no rebuilds.
Bike Setup:
95' Merlin Hard Tail, XTR
Bottom Line:
Well, Fox headquarters is about 30 miles from where I live as the crow flies, but I could not even contact anyone to request a custom 1" head tube installed in the crown for my "last a lifetime" $1900 titanium Merlin frame. So out of desperation I ended up purchasing a Marzzochi Corsa SL WC that was mfgd more than 7000+ miles away in Italy. I'll leave an honest review on the Corsa.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Arthur
a
from Philadelphia, CA, US Date Reviewed: February 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Test:
I read all the past years reviews about the malfunctions and sealing problems, but the 2007 model is superb, terralogic works without you notice any lag in time. it`s the best combination you can have with the epic brain. Try IT. you will not regreat!
Bottom Line:
I read all the past years reviews about the malfunctions and sealing problems, but the 2007 model is superb, terralogic works without you notice any lag in time. it`s the best combination you can have with the epic brain. Try IT. you will not regreat!
-------This is a test posting
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Armstrong
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson Date Reviewed: December 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Lemmon, etc.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Bikes West
Strengths:
tracks well, plush, reliable
Similar Products Used:
several Judys, RST, etc.
Bike Setup:
specialized epic comp, King headset
Bottom Line:
Two years of hammering rugged desert terrain with zero maint. and still going strong. I'm a 200# rider who likes long fast rocky descents. I get no knocking noises that other riders complain about. I now ride this fork fairly soft for extra plush on the rough trails here. Tracks perfectly on technical trails (along with the Chris King headset- a major improvement if you can afford it) especially on those slow speed/wrestle the front wheel around/do or die manuevers. It helps to set the compression damping on the high side. I use zip ties for gauges to make sure I'm using the full travel of the suspension.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Gangi
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anyone I am riding on
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Classifieds
Strengths:
Reliable, plush travel, strong/stiff, looks great. Did I say reliable?
Weaknesses:
Spendy
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX-Ti, Noleen Mega Air, Rock Shox Indy SL, old elastomer shocks
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS Air
Bottom Line:
This is the best and most reliable fork I have ever owned...bar none. I've had this on my bike for 2 years now and it has never given me any problems whatsoever -- no leaks, nothing. I just took it into the shop to get it serviced because I figured it had been neglected long enough. The shop charged me to change the oil and clean up the innerds, but everything else was 100% fine. Absolutely amazing dependability!
What attracted me to Fox in the first place is the plushness of the travel. It's top notch...better than other forks I have tried (although the new Reba's are pretty damn plush too).
The fork's 32mm stanchions are strong. This fork tracks straight and true, even when hammering the rock gardens. Sure this fork is 1/2 pound heavier than some other "XC" forks out there, but I will gladly give up 1/2 pound to have the stiffness up front.
Bottom line is that I am now a Fox believer. At first I was skeptical because everybody was blabbing about how great Fox Forx were and Fox was charging a ridiculous premium. But now that I've ridden a Fox I am a convert and will surely have Fox Forx on my future bikes...no matter what the cost.
4 chili's for value as these are spendy forks, but 5 chili's for the overall rating because this is such a great piece of equipment.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: September 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
Stiff Legs (Tracks Well on Trail), Adjustments, Plush Travel, Lock Out Adjustment, Good Seals
Weaknesses:
Slightly on the Heavy Side
Similar Products Used:
Manitou SX, Manitou MARS Elite
Bike Setup:
2002 Stumpjumper Pro FSR, Fox RP3 rear shock,
Bottom Line:
This review is for 2002 Fox F80 RLC. Just like RLT with addtional compression dial. I replaced my tired Manitou Elite with this fork. This fork tracks on the trail so much better then my Manitou. Instead of deflecting off rocks it pushs right through them, whether climbing or decending. Bottom line--improves steering control! Compression seems a little on the stiff side, I'm glad I have the compression adjustment to lossen it up a bit. Fork bobs quite a bit during inital travel (first 10mm), just lock it out and climb or hammer the flats. Bob not noticed in rough stuff or downhill. Lockout threshold is great asset. I set it up stiff for racing--when I expect to be out of the saddle. Set it up plusher for longer, in saddle climbs. Durablity seems to be good, last owner had it for two years and never changed oil or serviced it. Bushings still seem tight and performs good. I'm a cheap skate, would I pay new, full price for this fork? Maybe, but I got it for 1/3 the price of a new one and it's already broke in--good deal in my book.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Font Ninea
a Cross Country Rider
from Menlo Park, CA Date Reviewed: July 21, 2004
Favorite Trail:
doctors park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
LBS (Go Ride in Redwood City)
Strengths:
tracks 100% on target, fully adjustable, perfect craftsmanship
Weaknesses:
only comes in 80mm
Similar Products Used:
1999 SID, rigid
Bike Setup:
SS Chameleon, geared Chameleon
Bottom Line:
I may have already reviewed this fork (though, I didn't see it on the board). Here is an update after riding for over a month on it.
It seems to have broken in nicely. The adjustments work as designed and everything is super smooth. I have noticed some "knocking" sounds when it tops out as others have mentioned, but it seems like it's not metal on metal, so I'm not worried. And it's not an "ugly" sound.
I love the lock-out feature. I really didn't think i'd use it, but it's proven itself oh-so-worthy in SS conditions when out of the saddle and hammering. I cannot imagine doing it any other way.
Another reviewer mentioned the Fox recommended air pressure seems too low. I thought so, too, but, after experimenting with higher pressures I think the manual is right on for my weight. YMMV. I found the default settings perfect for me, but you should experiment.
The hardest part after switching to this fork was learning how to ride again. I had compensated for my SID for so long it made my bike feel like it was from another planet. It used to be like steering a wet noodle. Now it's like steering an aeleron of a 767.
I recently rode a friend's SS with a 125mm FOX (don't know which one) and it ruled. I only wish the F80RLT came in longer lengths.
I could not be happier.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Hickman
a Cross Country Rider
from lkwd Co Date Reviewed: April 26, 2004
Favorite Trail:
mathews winters
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
hp bike works
Strengths:
Easy setup-adjusts very easy-very plush
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy but worth it for the stiffness
Similar Products Used:
judy dh
Bike Setup:
Salsa Bandito full XTR with a XT crank so I could get a 48t ring and king wheels
Bottom Line:
get ride very plush The lock out is easy to use while riding a bit on the heavy side but tracks very well
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig
a
from Thousand Oaks, CA Date Reviewed: March 15, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Pt. Mugu, Chesboro
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
Plush suspension, STIFF, easy to set up, tracks very well, more travel than w/ other 80mm forks (@ least SID).
Weaknesses:
Bit on the heavy side (not heavy, just a bit heavier than the SID I was using).
Similar Products Used:
Manitous SXR, SID SL
Bike Setup:
Ibis Silk Ti, Mavic Crossmax, Race Face Next cranks, Crank Bros Triple Ti pedals, King headset, Paul's motolight brakes and Love levers, XTR shifters, derailleurs, American Classic bottom bracket, Fox Forx F80RLT
Bottom Line:
Only have 3 rides on it, but I'm impressed so far. I notice much better tracking and control due to the increased stiffness. Suspension movement is plush. Seem to be getting more travel than w/ the SID. I feel more confident on the decents. Great XC fork, especially for someone like me who weights 185.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christoph
a Cross Country Rider
from Stuttgart, Germany Date Reviewed: October 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Tremalzo Trails, Lake Garda, Italy
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$570.00
Strengths:
plush, stiff, easy to set up
Weaknesses:
maybe price
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Marathon SL 2003
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Element Race with F80RLT, wild mix of different components :-)
Bottom Line:
At first, the price does not really invite to buy this fork, if bike doesn't come equipped with. But this is really is the best fork I've ever used!!! I tried the Marathon SL before, but this is the opposite of this fork in terms of plushness. And it is plush from the beginning. Good job, guys from Fox!!! The fork is really easy to set up, and the quality of the components is outstanding. Not one single cheap part. The fork is also very stiff what makes it a good choice for use of disc brakes. Plus this makes steering very precise.
BTW: I can not confirm the clicking sounds some people mention.
I don' regret any dollar spent for this fork. I would recommend it to anybody who gets along with the travel of 80mm.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TODD
a Cross Country Rider
from GARNER Date Reviewed: October 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
All trails are favorites
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$520.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Rigidity, dampening, lockout.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Marzzochi atom race,m80, rock shox.
Bike Setup:
Kona Pahoehoe, xtr/xt, avid, thomson, selle italia, race face, titec, tioga, WTB.
Bottom Line:
I was concerned that maybe I was wasting my money on a new fork, but damn, this is the best fork I've ever been on. Yeah it's expensive, but it works flawlessly, and was easy to dial in. If you can swing the cost, get one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a
from Acworth, Ga Date Reviewed: October 1, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came stock on bike
Strengths:
Outstanding tracking, stiff, you can really tune this thing in.
Weaknesses:
Only thing I have bad to say so far is that it does leak oil on the right side.
Similar Products Used:
Manatou, Rock Shock Duke Race
Bike Setup:
S-Works FSR Epic, XT Drive and shifters, Avid SD 7 and levers, Cane Creek WAM, 959's
Bottom Line:
This review is for the F80RL. Best fork I have ever used. It was as dramatic a change from my Duke Race as I experienced going from a rigid fork to a suspension fork. I can not compare this to any other product used, its that much better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andy mills
a Racer
from winter park, fl Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
1990 UCI course at Durango
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Unbeliebably true when tracking and super plush. This is the sweetest fork I have ever ridden. Superior customer service.
Weaknesses:
Nadda
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Carbon SID, Rock Shox SID SL
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 100 (carbon), XTR cranks, Hayes Disc, King headset and disc hubs, SRAM XO drive train, Bontrager bars, stem, seatpost and cranks. FOX RL rear shock and 80RLT up front
Bottom Line:
This fork is the sweetest, plushest fork I have ever ridden. The lock-out makes it quite nice on climbs, but the rigidity of the stantion tubes allows you to take downhills MUCH faster and with more confidence than with forks I have ridden in the past. There is absolutely NO CHATTER like you get with a SID. I have actually been able to take sketchier lines with this fork because I'm 100% confident it will be spot on. When you finish an epic ride or race with a competitors brand fork, your arms are usually very tired and upper body fatigued. Not with this fork- its that nice (obviously make sure its set up properly).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
4ced2work
a
from dublin Date Reviewed: August 15, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Strengths:
Light, Stiff, Ultra-plush, company support
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
This is the nicest fork I've ever ridden. Stiffer than you could ever really need. If you look at all of the manufatures building forks for mountain bikes Fox has much more experience in building suspensions for just about anything with wheels. That experience shows, these are great forks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Avid Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any Singletrack
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
plush
Weaknesses:
customer service
Bottom Line:
If anything goes wrong with your fox shock you may have a problem gettting good service. That alone makes the shock only get 3 chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
axel
a Weekend Warrior
from yakima Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$310.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
stiff,plush,smooth as hell,simple,adjustable,looks
Weaknesses:
too much oil, this fork would weigh much less than any sid if fox could figure out how to use less oil. fox uses 190cc of oil and C*ck shox only uses 40cc, but they feel like crap
Similar Products Used:
fox vanilla 125r, bomber EXR, manitou skereb.
Bike Setup:
03 giant nrs full xtr,fsa carbon,fox,hope mini's,hugi x317 disk whls
Bottom Line:
this fork is the best part on the whole bike. it rides better with this fork than it ever did before. for full suspension bikes this fork is perfect because for only having 80mm of travel it feels smooth enough to acount for about 130mm. for a short travel fork it is incredible. buy one for yourself.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Russ
a Racer
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
planet earth
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
This is the plushest fork I've ever ridden with the stiffness of 200 year old oak trees.
Weaknesses:
Can't say I've found one yet.
Similar Products Used:
Too many to list
Bike Setup:
2002 Sugar 1, XT/XTR, King Header, Fox F80RLT
Bottom Line:
This is the most amazing fork I've ever ridden. I've ridden Bombers since my first day on the trails for their unparalleled plushness and stiffness. Now there is a new fork on the trail and it's tearin' it up big time. No question this fork rocks! Worth the $$ and the wait. Everyone needs a Fox fork on their bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada Date Reviewed: June 20, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came on my bike
Strengths:
Plush,strong,great lockout with threshold adjust,nice rebound adjust.
Weaknesses:
A little bit on the heavy side but these forks decided which bike i chose.
Best shock I tested and since I bought it has only made me feel good about my purchase.I've terrorized the urban scene and jumped over everything I came across and love this fork.The little bit of trail riding I've done has tested the lockout and adjustments and when tuned work flawless.I've read the other reviews and read about noises and I'm glad to say mine make none other than the sound of the air chamber hissing and for the plushness of these forks that's just fine with me.They rock and i have not bottomed them out yet.If you are looking for the most plush and strong and adjustable forks buy these.If you are looking for light then buy something else and i have no suggestions because i couldnt find a lighter fork that felt even close to these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Emberley
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon area
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Stiff, Super spring-like suppleness.
Weaknesses:
Noisey, a little too supple for a fork with no compression damping. A tip from a reader to use the "Heavy-damping" style lockout on this fork to adjust compression damping works OK but is tricky to get a good spot since the lockout is abrupt at the dial not gradual. I find the damping on this fork is not very smooth and quite noisey/wheezy.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox, Marzocchi Marathon
Bike Setup:
Mostly stock Epic Disc
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to a previous negative review. After having problems with lots of noise and rough movement, and no response from Fox, I recieved a response from Fox by phone and they said to ship it to them -either myself or through the shop. I decided to wait since I was soon going to the Big Bear NORBA. At the Fox tent there they checked it out and said this: top of travel clunk noise is normal(I still dislike it but...)the other clunking, and I assume rough travel, they said was a bad bushing. I was not crazy after all.They said ship it. I have shipped it off and will report later.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott McKenzie
a Racer
from Grants Pass, Oregon Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Fall line
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$625.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Rigid, Sturdy, Great damping and rebound.
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
None compare
Bike Setup:
75 psi
Bottom Line:
This is the best fork that I've ever ridden and will continue to ride fox forks because of it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J
a Racer
from Glenmont Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
skidmore
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
fox
Strengths:
no plastic parts. 32mm stachions. beefy fork that can take some major abuse. yet still race worthy.
Weaknesses:
I too have the slight noise going on during the break in period. I wouldn't consider the 3.5 weight a weakness though, my ride still comes in under 23 pounds.
I gotta admit, in the search to build my dream ride, there was really only a close second,a marzocchi Marathon SL. After working in the shop and seeing all the Sid's come back with worn out bushings in less than 6 months did not instill any confidance in me. Manitou changes their fork platforms every couple of months, so who know when they will get it right. I could have had a marathon a little quicker than waiting for the Fox, but damn, it was worth the wait. I have since put a vanilla on my play bike. The other mechanic I work with loves marzocchi's. But in my humble opinion, those are the only two option's and fox so far has a 100% reliability rate, so after my research I picked the Fox F80 RLT.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clint
a Racer
from Gainesville, FL Date Reviewed: May 18, 2003
This is my first Fox fork, and I don't think I'll ever build/buy a bike w/ anything but a Fox now. My Rock Shox Duke race seemed to stop abruptly in its travel. This fork has much more linear travel and it makes a WORLD of difference.
The lockout threshhold adjustment ROCKS! It's almost like have the fork w/ the inertia valve. You can keep the fork locked out and have it respond to harder hits.
Rebound adjusting on a Fox is super easy and super effective. The fork is very responsive and precise, especially w/ smaller (1.90) tires. It is as precise, IMO, as a Cannondale Head Shock.
The quality of this fork is great, even in details like air valve covers. I can't even screw the cap on my '02 Rock Shox. The cap on the Fox comes on and off super easy.
A few people talk about weight, but it's not that big of a deal. If your the kind of person who runs superlight tubes at risk of flatting more, maybe you should buy a SID and suffer more. If you want a fork that is quick AND plush, this is your baby. If I have to add a few ounces for a fork that rides like this one, I'll do it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross Country Rider
from North Vancouver Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Cliff's / Rob's Corners
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$625.00
Purchased At:
Universal Cycles
Strengths:
supple on stutter and small bumps, still takes big hits for an 80mm travel fork, adjustments that do something, doesn't wobble like a white plastic fast food fork, lockout's easy to activate.
Weaknesses:
weird squooshy noises and clunks, still a bit heavier than claimed, did I mention the noises
Similar Products Used:
Float 80RLC, Marzzochi Marathon S, Marz X-Fly,
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Vertex hardtail, asst'd Race Face bits, Egg beaters,
Bottom Line:
Interesting to read of the other comments on weird noises, I got the same "wait 20hrs" response when I asked Fox about the squooshy and clunky noises. The clunk seems to get worse as it broke in, but it doesn't wobble so it doesn't seem to be falling apart. The clunk happens in the first bit of travel from full extension so you hear it on every sharp edge small hit, and it does sound like a loose headset. Other than the distracting noises it is directionally very stable and a plush fork. The only way I could get my Marathon to be this supple on rough stuff was to reduce the air pressure to the point where it would blow through all it's travel on bigger hits (and I tried higher pressure on the negative chamber but it always leaked down to be the same as the positive chamber as others noted in the review of that fork). The Fox is heavier than the Marathon, but the stability is worth it, and with the clunking and squooshing noises there's less chance of sneaking up on a bear and surprising it. Get a Fox, forget the bear bell. The ride and handling qualities are really great though. I'm running last year's Float 80RLC on my Rocky Instinct and it's been just as good performance wise, a bit heavier and a lot quieter. The F80RLT misses perfect scores for being this noisy for the big bucks. It's likely a 4.5 but not a 5.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Noble Canyon Area
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Seems to work really well at high speeds and in the rocky rough stuff. Lots of control. Super soft/plush travel. Lock-out work very well- it has a little movement which is nice. (Funny, the lock-out movement is about as much as the original MAG 21! Times have changed.)
Weaknesses:
Knocking noise at slow speed, as in technical climbing. The bushings seem very loose on the right /damping side. I keep thinking the headset is loose. There is a rough scratchy feeling when you push down on them. Not buttery at all. Though when you are flying down a hill all you notice is the knocking and wheezing noises, particularly at higher damping settings. Stock compression damping is so soft, I would prefer a compression damping adjustment like the RLC model.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Marathon, Manitou Carbon, old Judys
Bike Setup:
Fox FloatRL80 on stock 2003 Epic Disc with a few upgrades like lighter bars, cogs, Gripshift etc.
Bottom Line:
I like the fork at speed and in the rough. But something should be done about all the noise and bushing play. I'm worried it's falling apart. Having a loose headset feeling all the time is a drag, I'm sorry. I have seen someone say it is supposed to feel that way, something about oil needing to move around the bushings. Oh really? At the cost of this fork you have to have knocking and wheezing and no compression damping? Come on! The shop was not much help. They said Fox told them I should wait 20hours. Hmmm. It get worse each ride. I have gotten no response from Fox e-mail. I would love to have someone give me a straight answer. I will keep trying Fox and the shop. Any one out there know what I'm talking about? Or am I the only one? I'll hold back on raving about the action like everyone else until I get these issues sorted out.I'm ready to switch to Marzocchi.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam
a Racer
from Madison Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
on-line
Strengths:
Everything - Fox is the now the only game in my book.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
'03 Sid World Cup, '03 Sid Team, '02 Sid race, '03 Manitou Super
Bike Setup:
Nice
Bottom Line:
Fox Forx - don't use anything else...I swapped out SiD World Cups with the F80 after a lap on the course - wow!
Not to dis the SID's - the new world cups are soo much better than any other sid I've used but I chose to go with the Fox because the course was bumby and had lots of roots and several fast DH's.
The F80 track really well! And when you want control on fast downhills - ofrget about it - the difference between the World Cups and the F80 is like night and day, really.
Fox is definitely heavier but the control and the confidence you get fromn these shocks is worth it. I rode the RLC last year on my Klein Adept pro - was impressed with Fox then - now I'm convinced that Fox is supreme.
(BTW - I really liked the new Manitou Supers - plush as always - maybe better bump contol than the F80 but not nearly as stiff.)
You'll really like this fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Enrique
a Cross Country Rider
from Caracas, Venezuela Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Solid feel, yet very smooth Predictable, reliable Easy to setup Lock-on works great while climbing
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Mars Elite, Rock Shock Judy
Bike Setup:
Specialized S-Works FSRxc, XT/XTR, Avid, etc.
Bottom Line:
I used to get off the bike through technical parts of the trail. I used to go very slowly while descending hills.
Not anymore.
One word for this fork: confidence.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Pocatello, ID Date Reviewed: April 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Pocatello Pedalfest Racecourse
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
I am sure everyone knows by know the Fox Forx is making some smooth forks. The tubes slide with very little friction. The machined knob are very easy to adjust on the fly and appear to be much more durable than those plastic knobs on other bikes. The lockout is a great addition. It takes a few cycles to get the lockout's full effect.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Duke XC
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic Comp
Bottom Line:
This fork will make your next ride a lot smoother, and it will allow you to be more aggressive. I will be racing on this fork for the next couple of years. It was worth every penny.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard Hayter
a Cross Country Rider
from Guildford, UK Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:
...the next one...
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$569.00
Purchased At:
Beyond Mountain Bikes, Cranleigh
Strengths:
Very stiff, no deflection, smooth and controlled compression, wide range of control on rebound, fairly light, look great.
Weaknesses:
Boy, they're expensive. £569 works out to about $900 at current exchange rates!
Intense Tracer: XTR shifters, front mech v-brakes and hubs, Race Face cranks and seatpost, Bontrager Mustang ceramic rims, IRC Mythos tyres, Syncros stem, Easton EC70 flat bars, Titec carbon bar ends, Royce Ti BB. About 25.5lbs all up
Bottom Line:
This fork is a great XC all-rounder. Light enough to race, tough enough to ride all day.
I'm pretty heavy (235lbs) but I ride pretty light: I'm not what you'd call aggressive, though I enjoy a good decent as much as the next man. So I put 115psi in the left leg and set the rebound about half way. The results are amazing. Virtually no stiction, very smooth and controlled compression and rebound. This fork feels plush like my old Z2s, but when climbing they are so controlled that so far I haven't wanted to use the lockout.
Descending, they feel amazing. The stiffness gives you great confidence to push the front end into turns whlie the suspension action eats the bumps. Small roots and stones are absorbed so well that you only hear them, not feel them: an amazing sensation. Bigger hits are coped with very well and the rebound damping pushes the front end back very well, without kicking up.
All in all a great fork.
I haven't had it long enough to judge whether it'll be reliable. If I have any problems, I'll write another review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Mill Valley Date Reviewed: February 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$580.00
Purchased At:
CycleWorks
Strengths:
Stiff, plush, tracks great at all speeds, uphill and down; maintenece, simplicity.
Weaknesses:
Would like disk-only version. Price. Slight clicking from stanchions (thought it was headset). Minor.
Similar Products Used:
Judy XC
Bike Setup:
Yo-Eddy (hardtail) with XT
Bottom Line:
This seems to be a very high quality product. Has improved my enjoyment on the mountain 100%, and increased comfort level at speed signigicantly. The bike is possesed!
I really like the easy lock-out, and being able to adjust rebound while riding uphill. Found that real bumpy rooty uphills favor slow rebound, while downhills the reverse. So if long climb I'll slow it down a few clicks.
If you can afford it, this fork will not disappoint you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rex
a Cross Country Rider
from Palo Alto, CA, USA Date Reviewed: February 10, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
City Cycle of San Francisco
Strengths:
Solidity, handling, smoothness of operation.
Weaknesses:
Hard to get one. Waited for 3 month to get the fork. Rebound adjuster will hit the downtube on right turns.
Similar Products Used:
2002 Marathon S, old Rockshox
Bike Setup:
Seven Ti Hardtail, XTR drivetrain with Kings hubs with Mavic 517. Avid Ultimate brakes, Ritchey Stem, Easton carbon post and handlebar.
Bottom Line:
I recently put together Seven titanium hardtail. The frame took 3 weeks to make, but waited three months before the Fox F80 RLT was available. However, it was definitely worth the wait. It is very smooth in operation, and handling seems to be quite accurate. I had been coming off the original Bridgestone MB-0 with no suspension and find the Fox fork seem to be as accurate but definitely much more comfortable and able to take higher speed on bumps.
I found the stack height of the control on the right will hit against downtube as someone else warned before. You have to be careful when storing the bike into the trunk of when you lay the bike down .
Lockout with blowoff compression adjustment is a great feature. However, I can never make the fork completely rigid since it will compress under higher load such as standing up to climb the hill. 2002 Marathon S is slightly better for climbing since it allows a lock down position for lockout and does not seem to have a compressible setting one locked out, but the benefit is negligible during the ride.
No leakage, and no noise problem. So far the fork is great and would rate it as definitely worth the three month wait to get the bike with the right fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico Date Reviewed: January 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Colima Volcano Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Bicicletas De Manzanillo
Strengths:
Quality and design. Very easy to tune to your bike and riding style. Super stiff and tracks very well. Goes exactly where you point it. Absorbs small shutter bumps better than previous Fox Forx.
Weaknesses:
Expensive... and weighs more than advertised. Mine weighs 3.57 lbs.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla, Fox Float, Manitou Black Elite.
Bike Setup:
Turner O2
Bottom Line:
The F80RLT is about 1/4 to 1/2 lbs heavier than a Manitou Skareb or SID. I feel the weight is not a penalty when you consider the ride charateristics of this fork. It is far stiffer than any other fork in it's weight/travel class. The fork performs very well in high speed turns. Steering is predictable and precise. It doesn't dive when you grab a handful of front brake. It soaks up big hits as well as the highspeed shutter bumbs. I found the recommended pressure settings to be a little too high for my 200 lbs weight. Great fork. I feel the fork is pricey, so I gave it 4 Flamin Chilis for value. 5 Chilis overall
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave T
a
from Salinas, Ca. U.S.A Date Reviewed: January 16, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bobcat Bicycles
Strengths:
Uncomparable Stiffness, Tuneability and Quality.
Weaknesses:
Sad (but not a shocker!) to say they lied about the product weight. Mines 3.8 and change.
This is a tough one to rate because Fox completely missed the mark as far as a "Light-weight" fork is concerned. Overall function & build quality is typical Fox first rate. If I didn't get this fork at an employee purchase price I'd have to say it's not a value BUT the way the ENTIRE LINE of Fox Forx perform will make you forget about heft & an empty pocket book. I'm no racer so I don't care about grams that much - For the Racer's out there it's a 3 at best and for aggressive cross country types like myself it's a perfect 5, SO I'll split my ratings and call it a 4.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anonymous Gerbil
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston Date Reviewed: January 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$620.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat.com
Strengths:
Incredibly stiff, performs great on both the big hits and the small bumps.
Weaknesses:
The stack height of all the control knobs is a little too high - some clearance issues with my 14inch frame's downtube (more in the comments section)
Similar Products Used:
None - this is first ever suspension fork. My previous fork was a rigid steel fork. Cannot compare to other suspension forks. But in terms of stiffness, the Fox is as stiff as my rigid fork !!!
Bike Setup:
All the best stuff - Custom Seven Teres, kings hubs and tubeless Mavic rims, RaceFace turbines, SripShift X-0, XTR disc brakes, Thomson stem and seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I have been very pleased with the F80. Incredibly stiff, very plush. Since I cannot compare to any other forks or to the coil ones, this review may not be of much value.
But the reason I am writing is for those folks with smaller frames contemplating this fork. The stack height of the rebound and lockout knobs is too tall. Consequently, these knobs hit the bottom of the downtube if/when the fork is turned too far to the right (as in possibly a crash and the handlebar is twisted in that direction). Damage to the frame from the knobs hitting the downtube voids the lifetime warranty on the frame.
I called up Fox to discuss this, and their rep stated that this a common problem on some of the smaller frames, in particular he mentioned the Moots. Well my Seven Teres is very much close to the Moots in terms of geometry. May be manufacturers need to get together and agree on some kind of commons standard for the clearance ? I can't imagine the clearance nightmare on some Rock Shox models with the remote lockout thingie - what would happen if one of those hit the downtube? Yikes!
Anyways, my local bike shop added a 2mm aluminum spacer between the bottom of the headset where it sits on the fork. We also trim the red rebound knob by 2mm. Everything now clears. So basically there was almost 4mm clearance need - you can see why Seven would void the warranty from this type of potential damage.
Other then this issue - which has been cleared thanks to the ingenuity of my local bike shop, this fork is great. Love the performance and plushness, incredible stiffness (as good as my rigid steel fork), and I actually use the lockout funtion on smooth roads and during long climbs.
I got the fork from Speedgoat, and they have a deal where you get a King headset with the fork purchase. I paid $620, with free shipping. So I consider it a great value. Look around for deals - you can get some great prices if you do some research.
Five chilis for value as I think I got a great price, and four chilis overall. It would be five chilis overall as well were it not for the knob clearance issue - which thankfully has been solved.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from SD, CA Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Stiff, plush, adjustable
Weaknesses:
Not quite as maintenance free as my old Headshok, but more on that later
Similar Products Used:
Headshok SL, Rock Shox Judy XC
Bottom Line:
Very plush, stiff fork. Loving it compared to my old Headshok. I guess I didn't really know how good a fork could feel until this. Absorbs everything from ripples to big hits much better than my old fork. I'm having a few quibbles with the set up b/c the thing is so adjustable but I guess that's a good thing once I get the set up right. I dunno about a 650 dollar fork though... that's A LOT of money...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JAEN jean-philippe
a Weekend Warrior
from chatillon ,FRANCE Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$844.00
Purchased At:
STREAK'X
Strengths:
le look,la rigidité,le comfort,la sensibilité,le poids resonnable
Weaknesses:
l'anodisation fragile ,le blocage incomplet ,la mollette de blocage trop prés du reglage de la detente
C'est certainement la meilleur fourche de XC du moment ,elle n'est pas trop lourde et nettement plus rigide que mon ancienne SID SL ,elle est egalement plus sensible sur les petits chocs mais elle a quelques petits deffault ,l'anodisation est relativement fragile (elle marque facilement)a ce prix là c'est pas normal ,le blocage de la compression n'est pas complet contrairement a la SID(surment pour la fiabilité dans le temps)et la mollette de blocage est trop prés du reglage de la detente (dereglement accidentel du reglage de la detente et enfin le prix n'est pas donné(mais c'est le prix de la qualité)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Folsom, Ca Date Reviewed: January 9, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Hammer Head Bikes
Strengths:
Stiff, Stiff, plush, did I mention it was stiff?
Weaknesses:
small clicking sound and feel at the top of the travel. Kinda like having a loose headset.
Bike Setup:
Racer x Al.
Bottom Line:
Like night and day compared to my old SID SL. Worth the extra weight to have stiffness. Mine weighed in at 3.75 LBS which is much more than the claimed weight -- and that's with a hacked steer tube.
The lockout doesn't lock out all that well. Can't get that rigid feel when you want it. This is due to an adjustable blow-off that's only supposed to kick in on big hits. Even adjusted to the stiffest setting, it will yeild to small bumps. Oh well, at least it keeps the $600 + fork from breaking.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch, New Zealand Date Reviewed: January 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light, stiff, reliable, and they work really well - the best cross country forks I've ridden on.
Weaknesses:
I'm still paying for them.
Similar Products Used:
Girvin/Noleen in the old days, laterly Rockshock Judy XC
Bike Setup:
Standard spec Kona Kula Deluxe with a Flite saddle
Bottom Line:
They work - put all the adjustments somewhere in the middle and go riding - you won't have to worry much about 'tuning' them, because they work perfectly in a huge range of conditions. Ideal for cross country / single track, and the lockout is useful when sprinting etc. Don't buy them for out of bounds stuff - they are too nice for that! Enjoy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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