Air shocks aren't just for weight weenies anymore. The DHX Air 5.0 is designed specifically for the rigors of big-hit, big-terrain riding. Offering all the tuning options of the DHX coil - position sensitive, patent pending Boost Valve, adjustable bottom-out resistance, 15 click ProPedal adjustment, and external rebound adjustment - but featuring large volume air spring, the DHX Air 5.0 offers superlative small thru big-hit performance, in any terrain and any style of riding, in an incredibly lightweight package.
Weight: .99lbs/450 g
Lengths: 7.5x2.0, 7.875x2.0, 7.875x2.25, 8.5x2.5, 8.75x2.5, 9.5x3.0
External Adjustments:
-Air spring pressure
-ProPedal
-Bottom-out resistance
-Adjustable tuning range via schraeder
-Rebound damping
Submitted by
chucko58
a Cross Country Rider
from Silicon Valley, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Manzanita at Skeggs
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
Hasn't failed to date. Lots of adjustability. Lighter than a coil shock.
Weaknesses:
Low speed damping almost nonexistent. Adjustments interact, and there's no good info on how to set up this shock. Even PUSH won't touch it.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Van R
Bike Setup:
'07 Chumba XCL
Bottom Line:
I'm a big guy (220 lbs) with a fairly smooth pedal stroke, and this shock doesn't provide enough low speed damping for me. I suspect the legendary "mid stroke wallow" is really a total absence of low speed compression damping. ProPedal knob only makes small impacts harsher without reducing bob. I have to turn up the rebound pretty high to avoid getting bucked over water bars. The boost pressure interacts with the main air chamber pressure in ways that I can't begin to fathom, and Fox doesn't document.
On the plus side: All I do to maintain it is keep the air pressures up and wipe dust off the shaft from time to time. In two years of riding it has never failed. It wallows through the mid stroke but I have never once bottomed it out, even with the bottom-out knob all the way out and relatively low pressure in the boost chamber.
This shock might work decently for a little guy (or gal) who has the patience to figure out the boost chamber and bottom-out settings, but Clydes and Athenas should look elsewhere. Next stop for me is a Cane Creek Double Barrel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kinnigit
a Downhiller
from Colorado springs, CO, USA Date Reviewed: August 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Winter Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Cambria Bicycle Outf
Strengths:
I have a 2006 S-works enduro that had the notorious 5th element air. After replacing 2 5th elements i decided to try the DHX. I am glad I did. The fox completely transformed my bike. The enduro sits at 6" rear travel, the fox makes it ride like a 8" DH bike (And yes, I ride DH bikes quite often). The bottom out resistance feature is more like bottom out proofing. Ive done 12 foot flat to flats and still cant find the bottom of this shock. Spent a day riding Winter Park Ski resort last month, and had more confidence than ever as this shock makes the bike feel so much more stable (Dampening is fantastic). 2-position pro-pedal switch works as advertised, I ride my enduro XC quite often and have no bob problems on the climbs. Be warned, other reviews on this site are for the older, less reliable 5.0s. The 2010 version works great and takes a beating. I have tons of drops, hundreds of miles and a few big jumps on mine so far, and no issues whatsoever.
Weaknesses:
It is a little difficult to set up, but it is a set and forget setup. So you only have to tweak it once or twice, and you wont wanna mess with it.
Similar Products Used:
Rock shox, 5th element (AKA paperweight)
Bike Setup:
Fox 36 RC2 front, Full XTR & Saint 6" travel front an back- 28 lbs of freeride/XC/DH/Park fun
Bottom Line:
Dont hesitate on this one, the 2010 model is reliable, and WILL transform your bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
richness
a Downhiller
from LAkes, UK Date Reviewed: July 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
switch-backs.com
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Light, works very well. Excellent propedal. Adjustemtns genuinely pretty independant on 2010 version
Weaknesses:
needs a solid knowledge of suspension set up to get it sweet
Similar Products Used:
many old RS shocks. 5th element 2005, DHX5 coil, fox float, fox vanillas etc etc
Bike Setup:
ASx 7", 66 ATA RC2, XTR/Saint etc
Bottom Line:
Moved form 2007 DHX 5 coil to this to save weight. The propedal is now 2position, min or max - Dead simple, in max the shock works almost as well (you can barely tell the difference) but it doesn't bob hardly at all and out of the saddle acceleration is really impressive :)
Shock does blow through travel unless you sort it just right. IMO you need at least +2 turns of bottomout, plus lots of boost pressure. Main chamber should be a your weight in lbs +25% IME.
Small bumb sensitivity is then remarkable - very nearly what a sorted coil spring can do but it is still pert in the midstroke and the boost makes it not bottom.
Square edge hits blow-through valving is the best i've used, including the dhx coil from 2007, EVEN if shock is set good and firm and still works when PP is on max.
Very impressive and weighs less tha nthe spring alone on a coil!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Whistlerrocks
a Downhiller
from Whistler Date Reviewed: May 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
A-Line, Original Sin, B-Line and all rough downhill courses
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$655.00
Purchased At:
Dunbar Cycles
Strengths:
Everything!
Really smooth a lot better off drops than my 08 DHX 3.0 coil and it actually has really good small bump traction and big hit absorbtion way better than roco air world cup. Heard bad things about DHX Air 5.0 but I just picked up an 09 Fox DHX Air 5.0 for my Giant Reign X and went up to burnaby and it was amazing and was so much better than the DHX coil I had before. Adjustments work very well and are very easy to use and adjust! GGEETT OONNEE
Weaknesses:
Nothing
Similar Products Used:
Nothing compares to how amazing this shock is for downhill
Bike Setup:
08 Giant Reign X (Downhill setu), new saint group except for brakes (Avid Elixir CR) 09 Fox DHX Air 5.0 e13 SRS Fox 36 Vanilla
Bottom Line:
Really great shock. I wasn't sure if an air shock could with stand harsh downhill but this air shock is awesome. Rip up crazy downhill and never have to worry about it breaking or not having good traction. Love how you can set it up however you want. My fox dhx 3.0 coil was never really good on the bumps while still handling the drops after constantly changing springs and wasting money. Very coil like feel but the smooth, plush travel feels like it never ends and I can even go up the mountain even know it is definitely not as fun going down with the propedal combined with the maestro suspension. One of the best shock ever and serious downhillers should definitely consider it because it saved me about a pound and improved the performance a lot!
My advice is to go out right now and BBBBBUUUUUYYYY OOOOOONNNNNNNEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike B
a Downhiller
from medford, oregon Date Reviewed: February 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
time warp
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
lightwieght. plush on my reign x.
Weaknesses:
difficult to tune. takes a while to dial in. Blew the seals when it was on the heckler.
Similar Products Used:
DHX coils.
Bike Setup:
08 reign x.
Bottom Line:
Had this shock on my heckler before I picked up the reign x. Huge difference. On the heck it was just not tunable. Blew through the travel or was to stiff and non compliant.It just never felt smooth. This has everything to do with suspension design and having the right shock for that design. In my opinion the heckler should never run an air shock.
On the reign though. Wow. I can actually tune this thing and I can tell the difference. It so plush and the bottom out works great. It may be the shock just works better with maestro and not single pivot. Or its the maestro design is way better than single pivot. All I know is this shock is kicking ass on my reign x.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kelli
a Weekend Warrior
from los angeles CA USA Date Reviewed: January 2, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
new on ebay
Strengths:
very lightweight, holds air, great performer, maybe because I'm not fat like some of the others. They should get a coil shock.
Weaknesses:
have to unscrew the top shock mount to fill the air.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou 3 way swinger air
Bike Setup:
2008 Kona Stinky Deluxe
Bottom Line:
I swapped out the Marzocchi Roco TSTR coil for the Fox to save weight. I think I almost saved a 1/2 pound. The bike feels lighter. For 2008, I think Fox has gotten all the bugs out of the DHX Air. Lets hope so. Meanwhile it rides nicely.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
simonsays
a Downhiller
from Cheshire, UK Date Reviewed: October 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Chicksands
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Pauls Cycles
Strengths:
The shock is fairly light
Weaknesses:
After following the setup instructions from the annoying fox CD (why couldn't they just put it in a booklet), I kept finding that the shock was bottoming out. This problem got worse as the shock went into a state of partial compression. When I reduced the pressure, the shock completely compressed. I later found out that this was because the oil in the reservoir had become trapped and the shock had effectively seized up. This problem caused rubbing on a brand new frame and loads of hassle sorting the warranty out
Bike Setup:
Kona Coilair Supreme
Bottom Line:
Don't go near anything with this shock on. Do your self a favour and stop scrimping on a few pounds of weight. Keep your coil shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rattlesnake Mike PMBC
a Cross Country Rider
from pasadena CA USA Date Reviewed: September 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
So Cal
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
Very realiable
Weaknesses:
no lockout
Similar Products Used:
other RockShox
Bike Setup:
05 575
Bottom Line:
90% CC, 10% DH- this is not a FR shock, used in its element it will perform well. setting this fairly intriqit component is not as complex as all this banter will lead you to believe. I'm 200+ loadedrack. I have the main chamber @ 310 psi & the boost @ 205 with full propedal & 5 rebound. this provides a small amount of rolling bump absorbtion and the rebound keeps the rear down when it works consistently on the incremental " bigger obstacles ". the traction is impecable on the climbs and the power to the ground stays strong on the varying transitions. The % of abuse is reduced due to the stiffer setup and although its not "plush as it could be" it will surely last longer. Dont start out soft and work youre way up guys. The sag settig rec. 1" of travel from unlaiden to laiden is a good alternative but definetly go with higher boost pressure prior to setting main chamber sag ( at least 7+ higher than rec. boost pres. for youre weight.) The dropoff rides are good but most of the trail is work, personally I like the bike to be its best @ getting through the grunt stuff as the DH is free anyway. CYA
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gruntled
a Racer
from Illawarra, Australia Date Reviewed: August 26, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light. Hasn't broken.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't work properly. How dare Fox call this a FR/DH shock, it doesn't even perform on moderately rough terrain.
No midstroke compression even when tuned, detuned and retuned.
Bottom Line:
I am buying a coil because this shock doesn't work for more than the first quarter of it's stroke, after that it blows through to the end and then kicks back like a horse.
You need to adjust all the trimmings on it and it still performs miserably, on a bike with a 2.8:1 ratio.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dbkaczor
a Cross Country Rider
from groveland, ma usa Date Reviewed: July 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
fox
Strengths:
light weight, adjustability, pretty
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
other rear coil and air shocks
Bike Setup:
05 sworks enduro. sram, avid, 36 RC.
Bottom Line:
replaced the original shock with the dh5.0 air. i bought the frame in new condition on ebay and received it to find the 5th element was non-functional (thank you very much). i put out the $ for the fox. the manual that came with it was not helpful and thanks to you guys here especially tyson and ben for sharing your input i followed your advice and set up my shock in a similar fashion. took the bike out this past weekend for the first time (don't you love the first ride on a newly built bike?) i spent 3.5 hours technical riding and absolutely loved the feel of this shock. very minimal bob. pedaling up tech climbs not a problem. cant wait to go ride it again. the experience is all in the correct set up. since ive only had one ride, i will wait a couple weeks and give an updated revue. right now...5 chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luke Becker
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR. USA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Whatever tickles fancy
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$230.00
Purchased At:
QBP
Strengths:
Super adjustable. Good sensitivity. Durable (guess I got one of the few good ones). Very easy and affordable to rebuild.
Weaknesses:
Tweaks that are small effect the shock in big ways. The interconnection of all controls make setup and maintainance tedious, but for the persistant rewarding.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float R, Manitou Swinger.
Bike Setup:
Kona Dawg Primo, custom build.
Bottom Line:
I fortunately have one that has performed very well. No leaks, but I replace the seals every spring (which is very straightforward and cheap). No stickdown, but I check the pressures every two or so rides (if that matters?). It does a good job of keeping my ample mass connected to the trail. It is difficult (tedious?) to keep in proper calibration, but with diligent care it has worked splendidly for three seasons. It is not a "set it and forget it" shock by any means. But with responsible care and calibration it has rewarded me with many great rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
happy ending
a Cross Country Rider
from flagstaff Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
your mom
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
on bike
Strengths:
super adjustable, no air leaks
Weaknesses:
super adjustable, very slight oil leak
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
'07 chumba xcl w/talas rlc up front
Bottom Line:
given time to figure out and make the proper adjustments this thing runs great. initially, i was somewhat annoyed at all the time i spent to dial this guy in, but now that i have got the correct settings i love it.
i have ridden it hard for a year and had no durability issues other than a very slight oil leak that seems to have corrected itself (im guessing a seal re-set). have yet to bottom it out and i weigh about 215 and keep the main chamber at about 230-235 and the boost chamber at 170 with the bottom out at full out.
dont use the propedal much (3-4 clicks on long climbs) but i suppose that is more a function of the chumba's suspension design than the dhx.
no complaints at all and love the performance ive had so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bigfatadder
a Downhiller
from Thirroul, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: May 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Wrench Science
Strengths:
Excellent, versatile, lovely.
Weaknesses:
Have to take rocker arm bolt out, and then swing shock forward to be able to access main schrader valve on chamber. Only a minor drag.
Similar Products Used:
Pearls, Silly Scott shocks, lesser foxes
Bike Setup:
Ventana La Bruja
Bottom Line:
Climbs and falls. Immaculate. Absolutely immaculate
I am a light rider (150lb). As it is an airshock and inherently limited, I would recommend that riders over 190lb avoid it, because it is not made for them. It's a bit silly to buy an air shock if you weigh a ton, then complain about it. Use a coil.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyson *
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgay Date Reviewed: May 6, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Bow Cycle
Strengths:
Tunable, Light
Weaknesses:
Not as easy to use or robust as a coil
Similar Products Used:
various other coil and air shocks
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Normad 1.5 headset with SRAM am9 build, min modifications. Lyric 2-step fork.
Bottom Line:
I find it odd that this shock gets thrashed in the ratings so much. People keep talking about the air pressures they use... does anyone read the manual? I love the shock and if you use is right it will last (6 m for me and counting).
Main chamber 50-300 PSI (start with 200) Boost chamber 125-200 PSI (start with 125)
Basic Tune: 1)Set sag (25% of travel). Add/subtract 10-15 pds increments to the main chamber. 2)Set bottom out adjustment. This effectively changes the size of the boost chamber. Larger chamber= less spring rate increase and more likely to bottom out. Smaller chamber= rapid spring rate increase and more bottom out resistance. 3)Set Boost chamber pressure. Here is where tuning comes in... More pressure here= more mid stroke pre-load.
Set rebound to taste.
Tips: Too much sag: increase main chamber pressure
Blows through mid travel too quickly: Increase the boost chamber pressure. However this will also increase the terminal spring rate meaning that you will have to release the bottom out adjustment (i.e. make the boost chamber larger) to maintain the same bottom out resistance. I recommend adjusting the boost chamber size before adjusting the pressure because changing volume also changes pressure (remember high school physics? PV=nRT). Fox also suggests reducing the chamber pressure to 125psi when adjusting the size.
Bottom out? Increase boost chamber pressure if you want more resistance throughout the shocks travel or decrease the chamber size if you just want increased resistance at the terminal shock travel.
Want more propedal input: I feel I get more input when the boost chamber is more pressurized.
Bottom line: Setting sag on this is easy. Optimizing spring rate through its travel... not so much. It requires adjusting the a)pressure in the boost chamber and b)size of the boost chamber. If you can grasp how this 2 factors interact you can have almost any spring rate you want.
I'm 200pds and the Santa Cruz I ride loves to blow through the mid shock travel because of the suspension design characteristics. I run the main chamber with 240 PSI and the Boost chamber with 160 PSI but the bottom out adjustment rather loose. This gives me 25% sag, good mid spring travel and I'm NOT bottoming out.
Shock sticks?: Easy... use a teflon lube after every ride.
My 2 cents... I figure that many who have converted from coil shocks are not prepared for the added maintenance and tuning requirements of an air shock. Tune and maintain= smoking shock. I gave 4/5 because it is not easy to tune. Shock performance once tuned 5/5.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Buffalo Creek
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Redstone Cyclery, Lyons, CO
Strengths:
Good adjustability, pretty light
Weaknesses:
Not strong enough for a 240 lb dude.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Turner 5-spot w/ Chris King hubs and Fox Float up front
Bottom Line:
I used this shock for about 2 years (maybe 100 rides or something). I usually ride White Ranch, Apex, or Mt Falcon (so pretty technical in spots, very rocky). It's a decent shock, but gradually degraded over time. At last, with 200 psi in the main can, and 150 psi in the boost, the sag was about 50-60%. The sag was always an issue, but this was too much. I decided to add more air into the main can (as rumor had it that it would hold more than 200 psi) to see if I could reduce the sag. At 240 psi, the shock stuck down (I was not even sitting on the bike). Now its in the shop, and I think I'll get a coil instead. Like I said, the sag was too much all along keeping psi at 200 or below....and when I increased that it blew up. Sweet. A lighter person would have fared OK with this shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dylan Couper
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
once sorted great shock
Weaknesses:
leaked air from around rebound adjust, no pro pedal adjustment
Similar Products Used:
rp3, float r
Bike Setup:
05 specialised enduro
Bottom Line:
sent mine to the nz fox agents got them to service it and put the shrader valve in the top unit cost 60 nz just means you have to drop the shock out of the frame mount to put air in but it has made the difference i'm a petit 220lb and they are factory set for 160-170 lb
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bearry b
a Downhiller
from Israel Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
ALL
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light,plush, responsive. reliable can b tuned according to any riding style. from XC to hard hackin jumpin' FR .
Weaknesses:
none.
Bottom Line:
get it! you'lle enjoy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Srulik Bar zait
a
from Haifa, ISRAEL Date Reviewed: April 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All Carmel: Yaarun, Shokef, Meirav
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Reliable,NO air loss,quality feel & strong feel to all the knobs and dials. Lightweight, smooth operation, feels bottomless.Rides so nice.. Very plush shock. Endless tunning options.
Weaknesses:
Because of the o so many tunning options,You have to put some TIME to tune it correctly.Really. and it takes time!
Similar Products Used:
fox rp23, triad, manitou swinger,manitou metal & some rokshox
Great shock, as always fox know their job. I think they had defective production series , according to some guys here. for me, no problem for me. I ride every thing from XC to going down with rocks& jumps drops @ 1 meter height. no problems. Invest some time to tune it correctly. But when you tune it.. its amazing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Ab, Canada Date Reviewed: March 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
valley of five lakes
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came with my Nomad
Strengths:
When it works the shock rides well. I put it through both XC and DH and it handles them both well. Good on both big and little bumps.
Weaknesses:
I've had it for 3 months and I'm sending it back in for repair for the 2nd time. It leaked when I first got it and now it is leaking again. I've asked to have a new 08 model since I'm hoping they have worked out the bugs. I don't care how well this shock works when it has such poor reliablility it is a bad product.
Similar Products Used:
First air rear shock.
Bike Setup:
na
Bottom Line:
Wait to see if people start giving the 08 a better review before buying. You are taking a crap shot with this one because from the reviews I've read on here people either get a good one and love it or get one like mine that is bunk out of the factory. Fox needs to get it's QC act together fast. This shock has great potential, but my bike is out of action for the 2nd time in 3 months because of it and that is absolutely unacceptable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Young
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: March 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anything narly and down.
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Light, responsive, lively, easy to setup, adjustibility.
I have had 4 of these shocks on different bikes and they are amazing, get them custom tuned by Mojo and they are even better. I raced all last season on one on my VP and it was great. Now have one on my 224, felt so much better than the 5 coil that came on the bike. The adjustability is the best thing, 220/100psi for a local smoother track or Innerleithen etc then 200/80psi for Fort William/Dunkeld etc. Looking at getting a second one for the 224. 1: 9.5x3.0 (8.5" travel) for Dh then 40's off and 36Vans on and 2: 8.5x2.5 (7" travel) for AM/XC riding.
Great shock, gets better when custom tuned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cam Ron
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena Date Reviewed: March 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
El Prieto
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Incycle
Weaknesses:
Can't feel the adjustments on the propedal or any other adjustments. Whether you set it to the min or max.
Bike Setup:
07 Specialized Enduro S-works.
Bottom Line:
I purchased a 07 Enduro S-works and the shocks came with the bike. I was hesitant on buying the bike because of the previous reviews of the shock, but the price was too good. I rode el prieto about 3 times and the rear shock was gone. I was rubbing the wheel. I took it to Incycle and they told me I would have to pay for the shipping cost to send it to Fox and once Fox repairs it they will install it back on my bike. It's going to take 2-3 weeks. Piece of crap shock. The propedel never seemed to work, and had constant bobbing when pedaling hard. Should I say it again shock sucks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from irvine,ca Date Reviewed: February 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
aliso woods canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
lots of adjustments (that don't seems to work)
Weaknesses:
lots-o-bob, boost valve disabled by fox, uses full range of travel all the time
Bike Setup:
specialized enduro expert 2007
Bottom Line:
!!! AVOID THIS SHOCK !!! just got my 2007 specialized enduro 2 weeks ago complete with fox dhx 5 air shock. right away it didn't feel right. i weigh 230lbs, put 275psi in the main chamber and it still sags to 50%. when i rode it on the trail it felt as if i had a flat rear tire the back end was so low. have the pro-pedal maxed out...unable to add air to the boost valve since fox disabled the boost valve adjust due to the way the shock is set on the bike. the ride feels the same as when i blew the seals on my float (but that was after a year and a half of riding). heard that some folks have replaced the can on the dhx 5 with a float can and it helped. will try that. really hate the fact that i might have to buy a new shock for a brand new bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roger
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA Date Reviewed: September 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
McKenzie River Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$359.00
Purchased At:
Go-Ride.com
Strengths:
It’s light and that must be very important.
Weaknesses:
Dependability. Function.
Similar Products Used:
Progressive 5th Element, Marzocchi RC World Cup Coil, Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, various Fox Airs and RockShox coils.
Bike Setup:
06 Intense 6.6 with 07 160mm Marzocchi All Mountain 1 with standard dropouts, Marzocchi RC World Cup Coil, XTR pod shifters, Formula K24 disc brakes, RaceFace compact drive Isis crankset with 20-tooth granny, Hugi 240 hubs, DT Swiss RWS skewers, and Mavic XC717-Disc rims, real XTR pedals.
Bottom Line:
To be fair I never got to experience this shock when it was working properly. It was defective on my Intense 6.6 (new) and defective when I received it from Fox repair the first time. I sold it after it came back from repair the second time. I upgraded to the Fox DHX 5.0 coil and later upgraded to the Marzocchi RC World Cup Coil (read my review). This shock made a clunking sound during compression, blew through parts of its compression stroke and I was always hitting my pedals on rocks. It is amazing what we mountain bikers tolerate to save some weight. This shock is popular because it is more important for it to weigh a pound less than it is for it to perform well. By the way, my DHX coil didn’t last long either and when it was working did not perform as well as my Marzocchi RC World Cup.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Slabaugh
a Downhiller
from Hayden, ID Date Reviewed: May 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
private sale with frame
Strengths:
Nearly infinite adjustments available. Very smooth compression and rebound. A nice compliment to my Marzocchi Z1 Light front end. Lighter than a coil, more adjustable than an RP23 to tune out spiking with a more linear feel. Easy to get full travel without blowing through it too quickly. User servicable air sleeve. Doesn't leak air.
Weaknesses:
The nearly infinite adjustments are initially confusing. Needed a low-volume/high-pressure Float RP23 air sleeve instead of the stock high-volume.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float RP23, tested Manitou Swinger
Bike Setup:
urner Six Pack. Marzocchi Z1 Light, DHX Air, Saint crankset, brakes and hubs, Crank Bros Mallet, Answer Pro Taper, 07 SRAM X.9, Panaracer Fire FR 2.4, Sun Rhyno Lite, WTB Laser V Pro Gel.
Bottom Line:
If this shock doesn't feel right at first, don't give up on it!! The adjustability is the best feature, but it takes some patience and dialing in to get the right feel. It hasn't leaked air and has been ultra-reliable.
Initially, I felt like the shock blew through travel too fast on uphill climbs. I weigh 175 and have the shock installed on a high-leverage ratio, rocker style bike. For $35, I bought a Float RP23 air sleeve from Fox with new seals (just in case). With the new air sleeve, the shock is perfect for my riding style.
I have the main air chamber (with the new air can) set at 175psi (my weight), the boost valve has 135psi (enough to feel some mid-stroke support, but not overly harsh), the rebound is set to where return is barely slowed visibly, and the bottom out is dialed in to the first line (i.e. turned in 1/3), Pro Pedal is full on at max.
Some bikes (such as Chumba) are coming stock this year with the Float air sleeve on the DHX Air shock. It looks like Fox figured out that it improves the performance. Because I had to buy the Float sleeve myself, I'm only giving four chilis. I do recommend this shock to anyone who likes air over coil and lots of adjustments.
Here's what Fox says about setting the shock:
Recommended Sag: 25-30 percent of shock stroke
ProPedal Tuning: When the bike maintains a decent small-bump ride and pedals with minimal motion, ProPedal is set up correctly. To set up, start 8 clicks out from closed. Turn it in for a firmer ride, out for a softer ride.
Boost Valve Tuning: If you want a more efficient-feeling ride and a more-progressive stroke, increase Boost Valve pressure. If you want a smoother ride and a less-progressive stroke, decrease Boost Valve pressure.
Bottom-Out Tuning: For most trail riders, this works best in the fully open position. For hucking and racing, go off a 3- to 4-foot drop with the knob in the fully open position. Repeat, adjusting the knob a quarter-turn each time until you are still using all the travel but not feeling the shock bottom. Note: This test works only if the sag is set up properly.
Rebound Tuning: Open the rebound to full fast. Pedal and ride off a curb and count the oscillations of the rear suspension. Repeat the test, turning in the adjuster one click at a time to slow the rebound until the rear suspension oscillates once. As the back wheel goes off the curb, the suspension should compress and return to its static ride height. This puts you in the ballpark.
DHX Air Maintenance: FOX recommends the air sleeve be removed and cleaned every 30-40 hours and an oil change once a year to keep the damper working well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Perry Therrien
a Weekend Warrior
from British Columbia Date Reviewed: April 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
If it works, it works well...
Weaknesses:
It stuck down on about the 4th Ride last fall and the Seal popped out last ride.. From what I can tell these are common problems.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro Expert 06
Bottom Line:
I am not a "hard" rider, approx. 20 days a summer. If you spend a fair dollar on a product you would expect a better result. I was without a shock for 4 weeks... they were not concerned at the shop I purchased it from and said it was common for FOX to have this issue. If there is another option that fits, go with that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ty
a Weekend Warrior
from Ocala, FL Date Reviewed: January 31, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Windrock, TN
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came on my Dirtbag
Strengths:
Lightweight and adjustability - period!
Weaknesses:
Honestly, none at this time. I have not experienced any negative problems with this shock. I understand that many had problems w/ stuck down and the like, BUT NOT ME...
If you get one that is not a LEMON, you should have great performance from this lil beauty. After riding it for a lil over a year - I have learned to tweak the shock to my liking! Believe me it takes TIME to do this. Many Many adjustment possibilities. Take your time and find your sweet spot for your riding style.
Some may say that it is not as plush for DH, I beg to differ. When set up correctly this shock handles small repetitive bumps at speed and the square edge bumps asl well. The adjustments make a difference! This is NOT a SET it and FORGET it shock. Take your time with it and you will be rewared with wonderful Performance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dulyebr
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Monica, CA Date Reviewed: November 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Porc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$420.00
Purchased At:
secret
Strengths:
Small bump compliance is awesome. Better control through rough terrain. Linear compression curve makes spikes a thing of the past! More comfort on all day epics.
Weaknesses:
225 grams heavier than the Rp3 it replaces
Similar Products Used:
2005 Fox Rp3, 2001 Push'd Fox Float
Bike Setup:
2005 Med. Titus MotoLite (w/FR lowers & DHX-air 5.0), Chris King hubs (w/fun bolts) & headset, Mavic XM819s, Pike 454 Air U-Turn, Enduro Martas 180/160mm w/Goodridge braided lines, FSA carbon xc-riser, XT cranks, front der. & 11-32 cassette, Sram X.9 triggers & X.0 med rear der., Thomson 90mm 0 deg. stem & seatpost, WTB Rocket V Stealth, Oury Lock-On grips
Bottom Line:
It makes everything good about having rear suspension better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Dodsworth
a Cross Country Rider
from LEEDS, WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND Date Reviewed: November 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
CBC SEYMOUR NORTH VAN
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Stiff
Strengths:
NOT ONE UN RELIABLE, CAN NOT BE TRUSTED, MORE TROUBLE THAN ITS WORTH
Weaknesses:
ITS GETS STUCK DOWN WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, NO MATER HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE YOU GIVE IT.
Similar Products Used:
DT SWISS
Bike Setup:
HECKLER
Bottom Line:
DONT BUY THIS SHOCK UNLESS YOU LIKE YOUR BIKE IN THE SHOP.
CUSTOMER SERVICES IS GOOD BUT ONLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.
GOING TO GET IT FIXED AND SELL IT THEN BUY ANOTHER DT SWISS.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Oregon Date Reviewed: November 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
I like this shock as it can be dialed in to the setting that I like best.
Weaknesses:
My only problem so far, and it's not all that bad is that I have to put lots of air PSI in the shock.
Similar Products Used:
RP3
Bike Setup:
Turner 5-Spot
Bottom Line:
I have read plenty of people who have experienced stuck down with this shock. I have had it for a year now and have had no issues with it. I have rode everything from XC to light DH type stuff with it and it has taken the hits with no issues. It compliments my Marzocchi AL/SL up front. I was suprised to see it take so much PSI to stop from pushing through the full travel but I do weigh 230lbs. Overall I am impressed with this shock and can recomend it. When I bought the frame new in late 05' I was told that Fox was adding a little extra shock oil to the shock to counter the stuck down issues. I guess I got one of the good ones.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Preston Stempler
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Valley, VA, USA Date Reviewed: October 18, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
I don't know, I only had two rides with it before it broke
Weaknesses:
Durability
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla RC
Bike Setup:
2006 intense 6.6, Marzocci All Mountain 1
Bottom Line:
I just got the bike last Thursday and set up the sag at 30% as intense suggested. Only thing was it was taking 225psi to get it there. Intense didn't send me a owners manual for it, so until today, I didn't know you are not supposed to put more than 200psi in the shock. I called fox and they said the seal that separates the positive pressure from the negative is bad and to send it back. Two freaking rides and it is on its way back to the factory?!? That is total crap. I won't buy one of these again, and its too bad I am stuck with this one as I am out of bike money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Salem, OR, USA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bonzai Downhill, Gonzo
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Weight, adjustability, tunability
Weaknesses:
Reliability, harshness in some situations
Similar Products Used:
Other fox air shocks
Bike Setup:
Turner RFX
Bottom Line:
Review #4 (I think). My last review was a bit more glowing than this will be. I've been on the 'revamped' 2006 version of this shock since February-ish. It has performed very well (read-no 'stuck downs') since that time until recently. I have kept float fluid in the air can REGLIGIOSLY, as per many of the gurus out there in MTBR land suggest--and as Fox does from the factory. I don't know whats up w/ this shock. I am convinced there is inherent design flaws in this model. It has stuck down last 3 rides in the last 3 weeks. 1 was on trail hitting all my usual 2-3' stuff, and the other 2 were doing some urban. Maybe 1/4" stuck down when off the bike-but when I'm sitting on the bike, its like at 70%sag. I have 'unstuck' it the last 3 times, but I don't know what is going on! Turner was UNBELIEVABLY cool back in January when my freshly repaired from FOX shock stuck down time #3 on its first ride back on the bike--they sent me a new shock! I have once again pled my cas to Turner-this time if they are as generous (fingers crossed), I am cutting my losses & going w/ a coil shock. I'll just deal w/ the weight penalty (and eat the upgrade charge)& do some extra leg presses during the week. If I was a big huckin' dude, I can see wearing my equip out...but in reality, this bike gets used maybe once a week on the trails for a few hours. The rest is rides after work around town, usually never (or barely) even leaving the ground. I don't know what true 'freeriders' and downhillers are doing with this shock to keep it running...or they all know better & stick with coil! )))whew(((
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford Date Reviewed: September 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
7 Stanes Scotland
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Adjustability, almost too much to experiment with - never get bored with! Bottomless feeling to full compression.
Weaknesses:
Stuck down problem from early issue models
Similar Products Used:
Float RL
Bike Setup:
Ventana Saltamontes 5 - 6" adjustable travel
Bottom Line:
After my initial dissapointment with stuck down problems, this shock has performed reliably well.
I have not noticed an appreciable effect from using pro pedal settings and need to experiment with this more.
Big thanks to Mojo UK for sorting the stuck down problems.
This shock is a viable alternative for big hitters (All mountian/free ride/down hill) without the weight penalty. It is also the closest to coil over shock in terms of performance. I think that Fox made a mistake in the early manufacture of these units and like anything in first run, there are often teething problems. That is no consolation for any of you suffering from stuck down right now, but I have not had any further problems with this unit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jamie Alackness
a Cross Country Rider
from Edwards, Colarado Date Reviewed: September 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Gooseberry Mesa
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Moontime Cyclery
Strengths:
Very smooth, bottom out adjust works great
Weaknesses:
Set up is a little tricky because everything is interconnected. Very finicky requires lots of maintance, leaked oil into air chamber, leaked oil out of rebound knob, propedal works then doesn't and now compression is totally gone.
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Swinger 3 and 4 way, Fox AVA, Foe's Curnutt which is without a dout the very best shock money can buy nothing else even comes remotely close. I wish I could fit one on my Titus.
Bike Setup:
Titus Moto Lite with Shimano XTR and Sram XO drive trian Fox Talas XTT fork, Easton bars, Thompson stem, King head-set, Mavic XL wheels, Salsa skewers, Crank Brothers pedals, Specialized saddle, a Gravity dropper seat post this is the best new part that I have ever added to a bike.
Bottom Line:
This shock worked great for about a dozen rides and slowly self destructed from there. Greasing the air sleeve did help for a while, but when the propedal/compression dampening started going it was all down hill from there. The boost valve is the only thing that still works properly. I currently am running a three year old Fox AVA shock which beleive it or not seems to work better although I wish it had the bottom out adjust.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Salem, OR, USA Date Reviewed: September 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Adjustability, lightweight.
Weaknesses:
Initial reliability
Similar Products Used:
Fox Triad, Septune, Float, Demo'd DHX coil
Bike Setup:
06' Turner RFX
Bottom Line:
This is a 3rd follow up review. My last review was March-that was just after Turner sent me a new shock. I have been riding all summer on the new shock with no problems. I do keep the air chamber lubed up w/ float fluid-I'd say I open it every 6-8 weeks just to be sure. I do have to say the shock has taken big hits, fast sections, etc and feels fine to me. But I don't have coil experience to compare it to. My Turner feels like it will last for years to come-but I'm always looking down at the shock to see if it is getting stuck down...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton Date Reviewed: August 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Toads
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
came on Nomad
Strengths:
None - thats right none ! I hope you read this MBA , you guys keep recommending this turd to the public .
Weaknesses:
Quality control ceases to exist . This is the second time in 7 months of XC type riding that shock needs to go back for fixing . Pro pedal stopped working and main air spring is not holding me up despite adding 250 lbs. - used to take 190 lbs. to set my sag properly indicting seal problems - again . Fox does not care one bit that I will not be riding my Nomad for another week or two as I contacted them for a trade for coil version or to send me a new shock instead of overhauling this pos . They said they cannot trade or give me another shock - what customer service !
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox Sid air , 5th Element ,and many many Fox air shox but none as poorly made as this one .
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Nomad , Marzocci all mountain sl fork - 150 mm , King hubs and headset , Magura Marta SL brakes , XTR drivetrain , monkey bars and seatpost - 28 lbs. Cost about 5 grand .
Bottom Line:
This product is a complete turd - I guess Fox is so big now that they just do not care , well thanks to sites like this the word will get out to other hardcore MTBers . This shock is expensive too - almost $500.00 retail . Here is the good news - Marzocci is now making the Roco in an air version - hurray ! Bottom line Fox , improve your products or go belly up !
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ty
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando Date Reviewed: June 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Windrock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Adrenaline bikes w/ Frame
Strengths:
Thus far: Reliability has been great (No Air Loss), Very plush shock, Tunability, Lighter than Big Brother - Mr. Coil, and Looks Damn Good!
Weaknesses:
If I have to look for one: I'd say that it lacks Great mid travel progression. Not that much of a Big Deal!
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Swinger 3Way Air & 4Way Coil, Fox Float RL, Fox Float R
Bike Setup:
06 Transition Dirtbag, Sram drive, Easton goodies, Juciy, Zoke 66RC, DHX A, Sun Singletrack Camos
Bottom Line:
When I was ordering my frame I decided to go w/ the DHX A over DHX C, Swinger 4 or 6 way Coil, and the ROCO C. I wanted a lighter weight package given the weight of the frame. But was very hesistant to accept the DHX A since it was getting bad review regarding the STUCK DOWN Syndrome it went through. After reading literally countless forum threads and reviews, I found that the Infamous STUCK DOWN was a result of using incorrect parts from a distrubter/manufacturer, and has since been resolved. So I dove in!
I am soooo glad that I did. I took the bike (shock and all:)) to Windrock for a complete workout! That place is intense!! Many drops (Large and small), gap jumps (large and small) and the bike ate it up, and the DHX A did not make a PEEP! I will see what the long term reliability turns out to be.
But today the shock has been phenomonal and has worked flawlessly. I still have a ways to go in regards to fully feeling out the adjustments and what that equals in terms of trail riding results - but I look forward to the journey! Get it - YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Des
a Weekend Warrior
from Bunbury, Western Australia Date Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Fleet Cycles, Fremantle
Strengths:
Bottomless plush feeling, weight
Weaknesses:
Stuckdown after first ride
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float RL 04
Bike Setup:
06 Specialized Enduro
Bottom Line:
After finally hetting the bike of my dreams, an 06 Enduro, the rear shock stuck down on my first ride. The weather was warm and the shock had been properly set up. My local bike shop tells me that it will be around 2 weeks before I get the shock, and my bike, back. Very disapointed to say the least! I may upgrade my chilli rating after I get the bike back, if the shock continues to work properly. The shock, while working, felt awesome. I was taking drops that I would never have done on my other bike and it never bottomed or felt inconsistant. After the reliability issues have been sorted, this will be a great product, a little pricey to buy aftermarket though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Engelhorn
a Weekend Warrior
from Kirkland, WA Date Reviewed: June 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At:
Downhill Zone
Strengths:
See my review below
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Moment, Zoke Z-1, X-O shifters and rear derailleur, XT cranks, Thomson stem and post, WTB saddle, Hadley hubs, Mavic rims, Sapim spokes
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my previous post. I did purchase the DHX Air for my Moment and it absolutely transformed the bike. I started with the stock DHX 5.0 coil, but I can't ever leave anything alone, so I took that off and put on an Avalanche Mono-Tube coil with titanium spring. The bike was nice with both coils, but it didn't blow me away. The Avy in particular was over-damped in both rebound and compression and I felt like I rarely used the available travel.
I decided after my experience with the DHX Air on my Intense, to try it on the Moment. I got the '07 version and it is fantastic. It is plush, yet is still very responsive.
Only time will tell with regard to durability on both bikes, but I love the performance on both of them.
Highly recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Engelhorn
a Weekend Warrior
from Kirkland, WA Date Reviewed: May 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
too many to name
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Downhill Zone
Strengths:
Incredibly plush, looks good, holds air, super adjustable
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float, Fox RP3, Manitou 4 way air
Bike Setup:
Intense 5.5, Fox Vanilla RLC 130 that was PUSH'ed, Speed Dream wheels, XO shifters and rear derailleur, XT disc brakes, Thomson post and stem, XT cranks, XTR front derailleur
Bottom Line:
I've read the reviews and I know of a couple of guys at the local shop that have had bad luck, but my experience has been stellar.
The shock holds air, is adjustable in every way possible and most importantly to me, it rides like a coil. I never thought I'd say that, but it's true. The DHX air is unbelievably plush.
I previously owned a Titus Switchblade with an RP3. While light and dependable, the shock was definitely an air shock. It just had that sticky "air shock" feeling. I even sent the shock to PUSH thinking that would make a difference, but it didn't. The RP3 is great for weight weenies and racer types, but the DHX is all about cush.
My Intense came with the Manitou 4 way and it was pretty nice, but it started wheezing, so I decided to take a chance on the DHX.
The bottom line is that I really like the DHX. I'm so impressed I'm thinking of putting one on my Ellsworth Moment to replace the existing coil.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tomi Eloranta
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampere Date Reviewed: May 17, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came with the bike
Strengths:
Very smooth, very adjustable.
Weaknesses:
...
Similar Products Used:
Fox vanilla RC ProPedal
Bike Setup:
SC Nomad, spx am kit
Bottom Line:
First impression was dissapointing, after about 100km or so unit gave up and started to leak air from reservoir. Problem was fixed as warranty and since it has worked just fine. It think despite of numerous settings this is still very easy shock to set up to one's liking. Very smooth ride and works well with 36van RC2 fork. Of course there's that little concern about reliability, since it has broken once already... But confidence is building up ride after ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from New Mexico Date Reviewed: April 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came with the frame.
Strengths:
Plush, adjustabillity(propedal, boost valve, main, bottom out resistance, rebound).
Weaknesses:
Not quite enough bottming adjustment, Complex initial setup.
Similar Products Used:
Vanilla RC, Vanilla RC ProPedal.
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Moment, Psylo Race, XT, X.9, Thompson, Hope, RaceFace, etc.
Bottom Line:
If you can't read, can't follow directions or can't turn an allen wrench, this shock is not for you. That's the bottom line.
When I got this shock I knew about the stuck down problem and in the interest of knowing what it takes to stick one down and to learn if I had one of the bad seals I didn't follow the air sleeve maintainance directions in the manual that came with the shock. It took about a month of riding every day, often in subfreezing temps to get "stuck down". Notice it's called stuck down and not "stuck all the way down" it lost ~25% of it's travel by way of only extending about ~75%. Here's where it seems I did something extraordinary in relation to the other posters here. I did some research and discovered that it's easy to fix, very easy. More importantly it's very easy to aviod and here's where reading, following directions and turning an allen wrench become important. I have since followed the directions for air sleeve maintaince in the fox maunal and have not only had no problems whatsoever but in fact it seems more plush and smooth than it was new.
Come to think of it you probably don't need to know how to read, the whole process is illustrated.
If you take care of this shock you will have no problems with it. If you don't take care of it you had it coming and you deserve the grief, I did.
I have used Slick Honey, Park grease, Red Devil grease and Tri-Flow on mine, all seem to work well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JC
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Lots of knobs for fiddling with. Light.
Weaknesses:
None to speak of
Similar Products Used:
Fox FLoat R, Rock Shox Coil?
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler, Fox 36R
Bottom Line:
I've ridden with this shock for just over 4mths and have given it a good workout - haven't had the stuckdown shock problem that many reviewers have mentioned. I got it with the bike in Dec2005. It has lost about 15-20psi over that time which isn't really an issue. My last bike had a FloatR with 4.5inch of travel and the new DHXair is a million miles plusher and adjustable. It just sinks into the travel when you sit on the bike and feels like a sofa, but doesn't seem to bob much when out of the saddle. Definately the best shock I've used!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford Date Reviewed: April 11, 2006
Yes there was a serious issue with lockdown whilst on one of my first rides during cold winter weather it locked down and trapped a cable against my new frame recking the up till then otherwise perfect frame finish. I sent it off to Mojo who fixed & returned it within a couple of days, and the problem has never reoccurred (touch wood). I have been using this shock for about 15 rides since this episode and no further problems. Unfortunately I have scratches on my new frame to remind me of this.
It's a shame to see so many -ve reviews cause this shock rocks. My confidence in the shocks reliability has now recovered and I am enjoying the benefits and experimenting with the massive range of adjustments. Look out for owners who "stick" with it and I think the lock down issue will be relegated to history.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mark
a Racer
from canada Date Reviewed: April 4, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
light , plush, feels like coil.
Weaknesses:
none to my knoledge as of yet
Similar Products Used:
5th element 5way ctv, fox vinalla.
Bike Setup:
rode the shock on a specialized enduro
Bottom Line:
i used this shock, and it felt great.
people are/were having the lock out problem, and fox has it fixed. the cause:
one of the manufactures changed the durometer of the rubber in the seals and never let fox know about it. the seals ended up being faulty due to this fact and leaked air, then gort stuck in the bottom out position. if this has happenned to you fox has replaced your seals and the problem should not reoccur. the newer made shocks are problem free, have have been assured by fox customer support.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Gilbert
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: March 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Warranty replacement
Strengths:
Looks the biz, didn't last long enough for me to pass comment on any other aspect of it's performance
Weaknesses:
Everything else. Fox have some serious QA issues that need to be addressed
Similar Products Used:
5th Element Air (another poor product)
Bike Setup:
2005 Specialized Enduro
Bottom Line:
This shock was a warranty replacement for the 5th Element unit that plagued my Enduro. The Fox unit lasted approximately 2hrs of light XC use before sticking down. I'd been led to believe the reliability issues had been resolved, and reports circulating were based upon a few isolated cases during cold weather. Let me explode those two myths, the problem has not been solved, and it happens during walm weather as well!! If you are thinking about parting with your own hard earned cash, do yourself a favour, don't buy this shock! If you are tempted get your LBS to throw in a good pair of walking shoes; you'll need them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bubba becker
a Cross Country Rider
from Stanley, ID, usa Date Reviewed: March 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
fisher
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$225.00
Purchased At:
work
Strengths:
extremely smooth, good adjustability, great uphill, evem better downhill
Weaknesses:
hard initial setup, rebound perplexing
Similar Products Used:
fox float, manitou swinger
Bike Setup:
kona dawg, lots of parts.
Bottom Line:
great uphill control, but really kicks on tight, droppy downhill. best shock ive used. with proper pressures, no problems at all, except reinflating for altitude (summer 6500ft, winter sea level) If youre a trail rider with moderate travel (5-7in.) and a bigger person, works very well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon Booty
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: March 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Warncliffe Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
www.rideonline.co.uk
Strengths:
Infinate adjustability, low weight, plush as a coil or your money back!
Weaknesses:
None to date, just concerned about sticking down reports.
I must stress I have had no sticking down to date.The shock makes my six inch bike feel like a ten incher and pedals nearly as well as the old (dead!) Swinger. Handles flat drops with ease, no harshness or clunks at all. My only thoughts on the sticking down fault are that if you read the Fox manual, you need to run a lot less sag than is considered normal. This means higher pressures. I run 280 psi in mine to achieve the recommended sag. I wonder if the bottoming out is due to a harshly bottomed out shock flexing its shaft and burping air past unseated seals from the positive to the negative chamber?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a
from Salem, OR, USA Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bonzai, Gonzo
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
This is a 2nd follow up to my original review on 1/16/16. After the 2nd stuck down in as many rides, I called Turner directly, who shipped me out a brand new shock that they had just rec'd from FOX that had been 're-worked.' I've been using this new shock for over a month now with ZERO problems :) :) I have done the biggest drops I've ever done, rode on cold days, and generally gave it a good couple weeks worth of riding. It seems to be working flawlessly now. To see what was going on with the new shock, I opened the main air chamber before installing it. There was about a tablespoon of Blue Fox Float fluid in there. I hope thats not the only fix they did to these... Also, about a week ago, Fox contacted me directly after seeing my other 2 posts here. They were very apologetic & wanted to know what they could do to get me up & running asap. I asked for some float fluid to keep the shock topped off like when I got it & they agreed. I do appreciate them taking the time to contact me, but only time will tell how the shock does. I am updating my chili rating for now based on performance SINCE I rec'd the new shock only.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Smead
a
from San Jose,CA,Santa Clara Date Reviewed: March 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
all bay area trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
came with bike
Strengths:
Product has good points, such as pro-pedle, it can since up hill or down and give you solid pedle platform with out adjusting, however my shock starteed to leak oil from rebound adjustment knob, so I sent it back to the Fox, 10days later, my shock came back vis UPS and still leaking oil, from the same area, when I called Fox there reply was send it back and we will recheck it...when I enquired as to how many times do must go through this before replacement of the shock, there wa no answer, another words you keep sending it back untill they fix it, or you go buy a new shock....as experienced company as Fox, they need to product test more and back their product, with better means of service.
Weaknesses:
leaks oil, gets stuck and you can not extend the shock.
Similar Products Used:
fox vanilla on my 06 stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Factory Specialized Enduro
Bottom Line:
Don;t buy untill they get this problem fixed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Downhiller
from Philadelphia Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Bike Line Montgomeryville
Strengths:
Light, adjustable
Weaknesses:
Took some time and experimentation to tune correctly
Similar Products Used:
No other long travel air shocks; Manitou 6-way, Progressive 5th Element, DHX Coil, Vanilla
Bike Setup:
Intense Uzzi VPX, 66SL
Bottom Line:
First, I have had no stuck-down problems with this shock. It has stood up well to the abuse I give it. I've taken the bike off 8' drops and it handled the landing well. I regularly ride rough, rocky trails and I it feels sweet.
I have somehow knocked the dust seal off. I guess I must have bottomed hard and jarred it loose. I had to (after I got home) remove the shock and disassemble the shock to get it in place.
It did take some time and experimentation to get it set up correctly. I finally have the bottom-out turned all the way in. This helped get rid of the mid-stroke wallowing that a lot of riders complain of. I'm 210 or so with gear on. I have 260 in the main chamber, and 185 in the boost valve.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ross McMahon
a Racer
from Boulder Creek, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
so many...
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Don't know. None, I suppose if it fails on a routine basis.
Weaknesses:
Reliability. I just got a brand new Enduro Pro today, took the bike out the car, sat on it and the shock blew through its travel and you guessed it, got stuck down. What a joke!! I didn't even ride it once!! I have a brand new bike in my garage that I've been waiting to get for over a year and I can't even ride it.
Similar Products Used:
Many Fox air and coil shocks.
Bike Setup:
'06 Specialized Enduro Pro.
Bottom Line:
What a pile of crap this prduct is. Fox should have never let this shock make it to the consumers in its present defective state. I'll be purchasing a coil over (not Fox) shock and take the weight penalty and keeeping the DHX air as an unreliable backup once I get it back from Fox and they say it's "fixed". Poor.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Eagleson
a Weekend Warrior
from Belfast Date Reviewed: March 7, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Kirroughtree Scotland
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bikedock Belfast
Strengths:
Potential for adjustability
Weaknesses:
Faulty design
Similar Products Used:
5th elemant air
Bike Setup:
SC Nomad
Bottom Line:
Shock failed 1.5 hours on its first shake down ride on the Nomad. Shock compressed going over a tree root and decided to stay locked.
Waiting for warranty repairs to be carried out.
Will post agin when I get it back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
juelz
a Racer
from toronto, ontario, canada Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
embryo
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
*Light, saves about 1pound over regular dhx *very adjustable infinate spring weight adjut *very good feel and small bump sensitivity considering its a air shock *very user friendly, got stuck down, opened it up, let the pressure out, regreased and put back together and haven't had a stuck down since
Weaknesses:
*became stuck down on a cold day *has little to no mid-end stroke damping *very linear and little compression make the shock blow through its travel with out modding the air chamber
*adding stiff grease to the air chamber makes the shock ramp up much better and gets rid of 90% of this problem adjustments work better as well A MUST DO MOD FOR THIS SHOCK IF YOU HAVE A LINEAR SUSPENSION TYPE!!!!
Similar Products Used:
manitou 4way, 6way, 5th, dhx5.0 coil.
Bike Setup:
orange 223 sub 40 lbs w/o tubeless and uncut post ect.
Bottom Line:
this shock is amazing for the serious race or the person with a heavy frame that need to shave some weight.
its quite similar to the dhx coil not better or worse just different. has a much differnt feel that some races will love cause its just rips.
needs lots of tuning and fiddling with to get right.
value is amazing cause it give you double the weight savings of Ti coils but at a fraction of the price performance is the same or slightly lower than the dhx coil because of the reliability and need to be serviced more. although its much more user friendly than the coil cause it can be opened up very easily.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alana
a
from Victoria Date Reviewed: February 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up to my last posting on this. After the shock got stuck compressed on its' first ride, Fox said they'd fix it and send it back. Got it back, and one hour into it's first ride it got stuck again!! Then, my LBS took pity on me and lent me an Enduro with this shock on it and sure enough, 30 minutes into the ride that shock got stuck compressed too! I hate this shock! I am just amazed at the poor quality of this shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from Upstate,New York Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Adjustable, shox feels great when its working.
Weaknesses:
fails
Similar Products Used:
all
Bike Setup:
nomad,super t pro, azonic wheels,etc
Bottom Line:
wait till fox works the bugs out of this one. If they do?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alana
a Downhiller
from Victoria Date Reviewed: February 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
magical mystery tour
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
LBS on a Nomad
Strengths:
Felt plush while it lasted
Weaknesses:
After reading all these reviews before I bought the shock, I was wary, and rightfully so as it turned out. Less than an hour into the very first ride it got stuck fully compressed and I had to ride back to the car with my feet banging into the ground because my bike was squished down (plus, the bottom of my brand new Nomad got scratched!)
Similar Products Used:
Vanilla R
Bike Setup:
Nomad, Vanilla fork, Chris King hubs
Bottom Line:
Fox refused to simply send me a new one, so my new bike is grounded, waiting for them to send back the hopefully fixed shock. Some reviews have said that the problem doesn't get fixed the first time, so I'm worried I'll have this come up again. I think it's extremely poor that Fox didn't recall this obviously faulty shock from the bike shops and that when customers encounter the problem, they insist we wait and go through the bother of sending it back etc etc instead of just sending us a new one. Poor customer service, poor shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakeland, FL USA Date Reviewed: February 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The TOE
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Awesome adjustability, can tune it to any condition
Weaknesses:
After a handful of rides on a brand new shock, it sticks in the compressed position.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float RL
Bike Setup:
Specialized SX Trail
Bottom Line:
Very poor quality control, it anything qualifies for a recall, this shock does! Beware of this shock!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Salem, Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: February 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bonzai Downhill, Gonzo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Santiam
Strengths:
Uhhhh. Lets see. Oh, tunability, lite.
Weaknesses:
Yeah, stuck down 2 times in 2 rides, even after going back to Fox.
Similar Products Used:
Lotsa Fox air shocks.
Bike Setup:
Turner RFX
Bottom Line:
This is my follow up to the review a few weeks back. Shock got back from Fox 14 days after I sent it in. 1st damn ride after being 'fixed' and stuck down again on the climb UP the trail!!!
Fox, you are absolutely losing the game here. Whatever you are doing, pull a Costanza and start doing the opposite. Fire your Grad school guys you must have hired a few years back. They have no clue.
I wish MTBR had a negative chili system.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse Dacus
a
from Russellville, AR Date Reviewed: February 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Sllyamo
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Plush ride and light weight. Climbing very well and also took the drops.
Weaknesses:
Piss poor design!!! DO NOT BUY!! At least this year. I have only been able to ride my bike 10 times or so b4 it blew out or started having the stuck down problem. This shock will be great if it WORKED.Maybe next year they'll have the bugs worked out. I'll never buy from fox again....
Similar Products Used:
other fox shocks and rock shock bar
Bike Setup:
2006 Specialized Enduro
Bottom Line:
The shock did ride well when it was actually on my F'in bike. I have been out of a bike twice. Today i road down the stair of the bike shop while picking it up from the first go around and it blew AGAIN!! I thought that FOX made good reliable products, but iam not so sure now. I read that most riders have this stuck down problem. But has anyone had it twice. this just seems pretty damn ridiculous!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtbhead
a Downhiller
from San Joser Date Reviewed: January 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
my secret
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Plush plush plush, adjustability (although I really haven't modified much from my original settings other than the Pro Pedal), Pro Pedal is really adjustable and nice, light weight compared to coil shox
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanillas (many different variations), Fox Floats (many different variations), Risse coilovers (a couple of them) and Genesis air shocks.
Bike Setup:
SC Nomad
Bottom Line:
Awesome shock! No problems yet on 4 good rides: some medium sized drops, jumps, and lots of stutters. The Nomad with this shock is amazing - climbs as nice as my Blur - then decends almost like my Karpiel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil Croxford
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: January 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Mountain Trax
Strengths:
Light, plush, highly adjustable, Fox customer service
Weaknesses:
Reliability
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla RC, Fox Float RL
Bike Setup:
Turner 5-Spot, Fox Talas RL
Bottom Line:
Went for the DHX Air (rather than coil) as OE on my 5-Spot against my better judgement having had reliability issues with air shocks in the past. Shock is very plush and has a distinctive coil feel without the associated weight. Virtally unlimited adjustment...almost more than my small brain could deal with!
However, unfortunately it turned out that my fears were well founded when the shock stuck down after only 8 or 10 rides. I was in the middle of a 40km loop that I'd driven 150 miles to ride and had to limp home with my suspension fully compressed.
To add insult to injury, I then find out that this was a known issue and Fox had neither recalled the shocks, nor issued a formal statement warning of the problem. Both my LBS and Turner were very sympathetic and, like many of my fellow reviewers, I was impressed with Fox's (Mojo's) responsiveness to the issue, but that is not the point! Fox's quality control should not let this happen and I'm afraid that this will leave me with concerns over Fox long-term reliability.
If you ride long distances that take you away from civilization, it is worth considering the impact of shock failure. If an air shock fails, you are invariably left with a fully compressed shock...have you tried riding your bike like that? If a coil shock fails, then the most likely result is loss of damping...not a great situation to be in, but at least your bike is still rideable!
If you want light weight and high performance, then I'm sure that this will be a strong contender when the quality issues are resolved. Personally, I have a DHX 5.0 Coil on it's way and will be steering clear of the DHX Air for the foreseeable future. If you are planning to go further than a mile from the car park, I suggest you do the same!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Salem, Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: January 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bonzai,Gonzo
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Lightweight, Adjustability, looks well built w/ Anodized bits.
Weaknesses:
Absolute & utter piss poor QC from Fox on this model!
Similar Products Used:
Fox Triad, Fox Septune, Fox Float w/ itch switch, Romic coil, Fox DHX-c
Bike Setup:
2006 Turner RFX w/ DHX-Air in back & 06' Pike up front
Bottom Line:
Well, I got 3 rides in around the hood on mostly pavement, then on my first ride in the woods, she got stuck down while climbing-didn't even get to the top of the hill. It has to go back to Fox, too. The Fox quick fix didn't fix it. I intentially waited for the 06' Turner for a few reasons-1 of them being that the 06 DHX would be fixed. Well, I rolled the dice & lost. It just baffles me how I've been reading of this issue for months on the Forums here, but the 2006 stuff still has same problems. Fox is a classic case of a company growing too fast (they must have some MBA grad students working for them nowdays-'growth at any cost' types). I've worked for and am currently working for one of these types of companies, and the voice of the customer is the first thing to get missed. Yeah, I know they're picking up the shipping for free now to & from their service center, but totally not the point here. I should have taken the advice of the folks on the Turner forum & gone w/ the Avalance or DHX-C. Now to spend the remainder of my long weekend calling Turner to see if they'll just swap my shock out w/ a different one-I want to race a little this year, and the worry of having the same issue mid-race would be a confidence killer for me w. the air. rant over, Jdub
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Corona, CA Date Reviewed: January 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great adjustability, very smooth - great confidence builder.
Weaknesses:
Quality control seems lacking. A seal failed and I got the 'stuck down' problem.
Bike Setup:
'06 Enduro Expert
Bottom Line:
Let me start out by saying, I love this shock. Unfortunately, mine got the 'stuck down' problem that everyone is having.
I called tech support and they told me to send it in, they'd repair it and send it back in a week. I explained to them that I had taken a week off work and driven 1,000 miles to go riding, and now I couldn't because of their failed shock. The customer service rep said, "We don't have any in stock, so we'll build you one from parts and send it out tomorrow next-day air." Later that day I got a call saying they had finished it faster than expected and it would ship that same day.
I got the shock the very next day, and they even issued a UPS call tag for return shipping. Fox customer service got me a brand new shock in ONE DAY and it cost me nothing. Bravo, Fox! I'm very impressed. Thanks to Fox customer service, my riding vacation continued with only a minor hitch.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kel Bynum
a
from Grand Junction, CO Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
Follow up to my earlier post- I took my bike in and the LBS replaced the seals on the shock in one day and now everything seems to be working great. Functined flawlessly today on downhill/ xc ride with roough terrain and a few 3' drops. If it keeps working I love this thing!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kel
a Weekend Warrior
from Grand Junction, CO Date Reviewed: January 1, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Long travel, light, adjustability, plush.
Weaknesses:
Got "Stuck down" on second ride
Bike Setup:
Enduro Pro 2005
Bottom Line:
Nice shock while it worked. I got a screaming deal from LBS on 2005 enduro pro and was psyched that 5th element was replaced with DHX air. I hoped the stuck down problem that I had read about in this thread would have been eliminated- not! LBS closed on "stuck down" Sunday the 1st so I've yet to take it in. Luckily the problem happened on the tail end of a great ride on the Western Rim and I've yet to sell my old bike so I can still ride while the problem is (hopefully) corrected.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris H
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
great - when it works
Weaknesses:
stuck down after 20 or so rides. Is it reliable?
Similar Products Used:
5th element
Bike Setup:
s-works enduro 05
Bottom Line:
I replaced the 5th element (which was really awful) for the dhx air. It transformed the bike. Great adjustability, whether using it for all day trail riding or blasting downhills / hitting the jumps.
But then it stuck down. Now MOJO uk fixed and returned it within 5 days - great service - and replaced a seal. But the big question is will it happen again? This also happened to a fox float on my old enduro so undoubtedly it can happen. However I am concerned having read other rider's experiences. Have fox fixed this? Should I have sacrificed weight for reliability and got a coil over with Ti spring??
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Low-Key
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria BC Canada Date Reviewed: December 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Its great when it works!
Weaknesses:
It sucks when you spend a lot on a new product and they havent got the bugs worked out yet :(
Bike Setup:
came on my Nomad
Bottom Line:
When I first got my bike the shock worked great. After 20 rides it got "stuck down". On the ride home I beat the hell out of my cranks on every rock I had to go over. Took it back to the shop, they called the Fox service center in Edmonton. They promised a 24 hour turn around....ya right. I hate being lied to!!
I would wait to buy a DHX AIR 5.0 until Fox has fixed the problem. When it worked it was great. Sending it back and having to wait, sucks!!! To Fox: please have a good working product before you release it. Dont beta test it on your customers!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim H
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton Date Reviewed: December 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
came on Nomad
Strengths:
Plush when working which was for about 7 hours then got "stuck" .
Weaknesses:
Lasted 7 hours - got stuck in bottomed out position , had to climb steep hill and it just sucked !!! This product really blows !
Similar Products Used:
5th element air , Cane Creek , many Fox air shox
Bike Setup:
06 Nomad
Bottom Line:
What a load !!! Has not even seen mud or crud and took a dump on me ! The Fox manual says this may happen and to send in for warranty rather than try to fix yourself - sounds like it may have a few bugs to be worked out .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tekin
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: November 30, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came w/Spot
Strengths:
Somewhat near close to being an air shock that feels like coil
Weaknesses:
too many adjustments. many people having stuck down problem, so much so that there is even a paragraph in manual about what to do in this case.
Similar Products Used:
Fox propedal AVA
Bike Setup:
06 Turner 5Spot prototype TNT(works great) , Fox 130XTT fork, FSA and Sram comp.
Bottom Line:
I took ahile to set it up to get it working right. I had maybe 7 or less 3 hrs rides on this thing before it went back to FOX for service. The problem is shox getting stuck. I read many threads on this happening to many people. Some decided to fix it themselves by getting all the air out, cycle it, losen the air chamber on frame, take it off, throw a towel around it, open it up completely, add some oil , close it up. I did not want to take the chance and read another thread with someone having to have Q-rings replaced by FOX so it went for warranty. It functions great once all pressure ,propedal, rebound set correctly to weight. It complements Fox float 130XTT very well. 5" front and rear travel bike has almost no bob what so ever using this combo. I hope FOX would fix bugs with it before more people start sending them back for repairs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jens
a Cross Country Rider
from Munich, Germany Date Reviewed: November 30, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Came with Bike
Strengths:
The shock's performance is great. Very smooth, plush riding. Great Bottom Out resistance. Pro Pedal does exactly what it's designed for: No motion at all whilst pedaling but at the same time any (even small) bump will be absorbed. So going uphill on a bumpy trail is way easier than using a shock with a lock-out.
Weaknesses:
Bad quality. The one I got started squeaking like hell after the third ride on a single trail. I checked the pressure in both chambers and played with all the adjustments but the squeaking is still there. Overacting? No way, check out: www.audiodeck.de/Fox.mpg (2.8MB). Now I sent it back for replacement/service...
Similar Products Used:
DT Swiss 210L with Lock-Out
Bike Setup:
Nox Flux Freeride Bike with 6.5" rear travel, MZ 66 RC '05 Fork.
Bottom Line:
Great for freeride bikes in case you care about adjustability and weight. If only the quality would meet the performance, I would give 2x5 flamin' chilis for this one...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Alamitos, CA USA Date Reviewed: November 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Aliso - Laguna Coast Loop
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Fox
Strengths:
Lots of adjustability, it feels nice off of drops, decends, and climbs. This is definitly a shock that I feel confident on and feels way better than the 5th element that came with the bike which I distroyed.
Weaknesses:
maybe weight if your comparing it to shocks like the fox float and the 5th element but from what I read those shocks bottom out too easily. I'm sure the float would of worked just fine if I could just stay on the ground but why would I do that.
Similar Products Used:
5th element
Bike Setup:
2004 Santa Cruz Blur
Bottom Line:
I would highly recomend this shock especially if you like to jump and do a little bit of everything. Before I made my purchase I spoke with Santa Cruz tech support and they said it might be overkill for the Blur but at the time they really didnt know since he said they havent tested yet. Well its not overkill and it rides perfectly.
I bought mine directly from fox because I wanted it right away and from my research most of the retailers don’t stock the shock because it needs to be built up for that specific bike. You basically call 800 fox shox and press option 2 for bicycle customer service, tell them what bike you have and they know what size shock you will need and what spacers to send with it. If you place your order with them first thing in the morning they usually ship that same day. One challenge I had though was getting a live person, it seems that their ACD phone system dumps you in a full mail box after just a few minutes of waiting on hold. I noticed if you call right when they open which is at approximately 8 Pacific Time you can usually get someone. Worst case scenario just hit 0 and plead with the operator to get you a live person it’s that bad.
The other challenge I had was with Jason who works in that department. In fact he might be the only one working in that department since everytime I call I get him. The first shock that I received was making a air noise on the rebound. Kind of like the same noise that a bike pump makes when its blowing air and not attached to anything. All I did was adjust the main pressure so that I could achive the right sag according to their manual since I weight about 210 I had to increase the pressure to about 250psi to get it to their recommended .25in sag. I took it outside and started bunny hopping and it started making that air sound. By the way the max pressure on this fox is 300psi. One thing I did notice was that before I adjusted my sag or should I say added any pressure the shock worked very quietly and no air could be heard. The only thing is that these shocks come with very little pressure in them so where around 150psi. which is probably ok for someone much lighter. Jason at fox gave me a hard time and tried to tell me that the sound was normal but I insisted on sending it back because it didnt seem right and I wanted to play it safe. So after much grief I finally got my new shock and it dosent make any noticable air noises at 250psi. So everone knows that fox products rock but they need some help in the customer service area at least from what I experienced. Hope this helps
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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