The lightest, easiest to use, oil damped air shock on the market continues to evolve. For 2006, we've broadened the ProPedal and rebound adjustment ranges and increased the detent feeling on the lever. Our new proprietary ProPedal system provides increased threshold and flatter compression curves for greater efficiencty and improved traction. These new compression settings have been carefully matched to the linear spring rate of our high-volume air canister.
Weight: .43 lbs/ 195 g
Lengths: 5.5x1.0, 6.0x1.25, 6.5x1.5, 7.5x2.0, 7.875x2.0
External Adjustments:
-Air spring pressure
-DOHC ProPedal with 3 positions
-Rebound damping
Submitted by
jersey0826
a Weekend Warrior
from Fresno, CA Date Reviewed: June 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tour de Granite
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Pretty smooth ride on most trails. Handles small drops OK, and has held up well under abuse. Light weight, and looks good on my bike. Rebound damping works well.
Weaknesses:
The pro-pedal doesn't seem to do ANYTHING. I see no difference in sag, compression, travel, or rebound. I don't know about the factory settings as another poster mentioned, but there is no indication of firm or soft on my shock. I don't know if the function is broken, or if it doesn't do much to begin with.
Similar Products Used:
Fox float R.
Bike Setup:
06' Kona King Kikapu, XTR drivetrain, Fox F100 RLC, Mavic Crossmax XL's.
Bottom Line:
This shock came on the frame, which I built-up from scratch otherwise. I have found no reason to upgrade to another shock since it has worked well for me and the type of riding I do. The only complaint is the lack of stiffness with the Pro-Pedal lever. It would be nice to have a lockout for those steep climbs. If and when I do upgrade, it will be to something with a true lockout. Aside from this, I have enjoyed this shock, and would recommend it. I consider myself lucky after reading so many reviews complaining of the Stuck-Down problem. Maybe Fox has fixed this problem? Or maybe I have just been lucky...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Subaroo1
a Cross Country Rider
from Wodonga Australia Date Reviewed: August 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Nail can hill
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Came on Kona King Ki
Strengths:
Light, good adjustment
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Radium, Fox RL and Fox R.
Bike Setup:
Kona King Kikapu, Rock shox Reba, Hayes carbon strokers, FSA rims, XT and Easton components.
Bottom Line:
I have only used this shock for a short time and it has worked great for me.
Ensure you purchase the correct RP3 for your bike! the RP3 can be purchased with light, medium or firm factory set ProPedel (denoted by the sticker on it) and this can not be adjusted by the lever. It you have purchased the light factory set ProPedal the lever on the firmest setting will not make a big difference (read the manual, it's online)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
REM
a Cross Country Rider
from North Vancouver, BC Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light weight. OK damping. Propedal is nice when it works. Doesn't leak.
Weaknesses:
Damping is OK most of the time, but gets overwhelmed riding fast over really rough terrain (compared to a swinger for instance). Pretty bouncy when the pro-pedal is off. Compression and rebound damping seems to wear out over time. Shock gets hot easily.
Similar Products Used:
RS SID, various Swinger air shocks.
Bike Setup:
Yeti 575
Bottom Line:
Had a couple of these shocks, all have slowly worn out so that the rebound damping has to be almost completely closed to do anything and the pro-pedal no longer has any effect. The frustrating part is that the shock isn't worked over, it just the internals that seem to be shot. Seems like a short lived product that either has to be replaced or serviced often to keep working properly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, B.C Date Reviewed: May 11, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
-Pro Pedal works as advertised. Very effective. -Light weight shock -Compression adjust -Easy to pump and maintain shock.
Weaknesses:
-Blow through travel too quickly.
Bike Setup:
06' Giant Reign 2
Bottom Line:
IMO, the shock blows through travel too quickly. I set the correct PSI according to my weight and sag. Too much PSI, and you lose the plush feeling. Not designed for big drops, even though I still abuse it. Its still working perfect, no stuck problems. For trail riding, its perfect, very plush and responsive. XC is even better for Pro Pedal usage.
Good shock. Works, set it and forget it. Just probably not the shock for me. I like to freeride and hit big drops.
I'm hoping it doesn't crap out on me like it did for the others.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from Langley,BC Canada Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Light weight, affordable?
Weaknesses:
Stuck down!!!!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Super V(Uber Light)Jekyll S/A all LX M580 with RS Tora
Bottom Line:
Ok, this is my first real full susser. First ride, this thing gets stuck down. Brand new! I paid $150.00 for it and to send it to push will cost another $150.00. I should have bought RP23 for what I'm paying total. pretty crappy product. I know when I get it back from Push it will be ten times better, but what a pain in the ass. Save your money and buy a better shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Mathes
a Weekend Warrior
from Ladera Ranch, CA USA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
lexibm@cox.net
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Simplicity
Weaknesses:
Would like a "no platform" setting as well.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float RL
Bike Setup:
Kona "the King" 19", XTR group. Fox Float 130 RLC
Bottom Line:
Set the sag. Find the platform you like. Forget about it. Excellent shock for my 230 lbs. I did these 3 steps and have not had to touch the shock since. I wonder what the RP23 would be like, but, I don't need, or want, an upgrade. I simply do not think about my suspension anymore. I consider it "done". I trail ride with a XC mindset, as far as style and equipment goes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rodney Service
a Cross Country Rider
from Edinburgh, Scotland Date Reviewed: August 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Spooky Woods-GT
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Edinburgh Bike Co-Op
Strengths:
Came on a nice bike (Stumpy 120) Compared to some of the other comments about this shock, I think I was lucky! My retailer kindly agreed to pay for half of the repair costs despite MOJOs warranty refusal.
Weaknesses:
STUCK-DOWN 'tm' just outside first year of warranty (supposedly 2 year, but if you don't pay to have the shock overhauled in the first year the second year will not be honoured!, effectively - you pay handsomely for second years warranty ). Shock was very little used and hadn't even worn out its first bushing (Stumpies of this vintage are well known to wear-out bushes SUPER FAST so this gives you some idea of the limited use this shock has had) Shock was spotless and totally undamaged, I get through very little kit and 'ride light'. Despite a warning IN THE MANUAL about the 'Stuck-Down'tm' problem, and the immaculate,hardly used condition of my shock MOJO (Fox's UK importers) refused to honour the warranty.
Similar Products Used:
I am a full-time highly qualified bicycle mechanic, and worked (to my shame) at a store which sold Fox kit both OEM and after-market, considering that Fox kit is top-dollar my experience of fault returns and the resulting warranty dodging by MOJO and Fox was quite an eye-opener. I have witnessed MANY Fox product failures which I would personally consider warranty issues which were turned down for what I believe to be bogus reasons, or ignored as 'not a problem' (e.g. creaking between fork crown and stantions!) These are not isolated complaints that you are reading about here, be warned!
Bike Setup:
Stumpie 120 Minus Fox float 120 forks which it came with ( I sold these immediately I bought the bike, of course they developed play after next to no use but this was deemed 'acceptable' by Mojo!) Believe me, if I could afford to get a Manitou, DT, Cane Creek or other suitable shock to replace this I would, and will when forced to by the inevitable.
Bottom Line:
Avoid FOX products! If you're not a sponsored rider or simply very wealthy, you'll be paying through the nose for the high failure rate. The high investment is not rewarded with reliability, granted the products work well, BUT ONLY WHILE THEY WORK. The problem I experienced with this shock is even warned of in the owners manual! it happens independent of wear and tear, to undamaged products, yet the customer is forced to bear the cost of repair. I would give this shock a slightly higher rating if it were cheaper and were also backed up by reasonable after-sales, then the reasonably high performance might make the failure rate more bearable, not acceptable, just bearable. All manufacturers have failures, this is a fact of life, but should a high price marque like Fox suffer so many? and be so reluctant to honour it's warranty? All the above is just my opinion, from my perspective. The bottom line is YOU decide where to invest your hard earned cash, my advice?, SPEND IT ELSEWHERE!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nathaniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Mass. Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lynn Woods
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came on Bike
Strengths:
Looks nice. Is lightweight.
Weaknesses:
Everything. Clunks, clicks and gives you a headache from all the noise it makes. Rebound is too slow. Propedal is too soft in the firm setting. Heats up easily. Fox customer servive sucks. Worst CS in the industry. I hate Fox. Buy anything other than Fox. Manitou, Zocchi, Cane Creek....
Similar Products Used:
DHX coil, Manitou Swinger 3-Way air, Manitou SLR, and a few others.
Bike Setup:
2006 Cannondale Rush 1000
Bottom Line:
Don't buy this..."thing."
I don't like Fox, as you can tell. Luckily I have not yet encountered the stuck down thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian DelVecchio
a Cross Country Rider
from Gibsonia, PA, USA Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Anywhere in PA
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Came with Ventana frame purchase
Strengths:
It is plush and nicely adjustable when it works.
Weaknesses:
Take a guess. This shock has an inherent design defect in that it becomes stuck down whether it is your first ride or whether you have racked up 75 or so hours of use regardless of riding conditions. If you speak with Fox they will blame this on the rider failing to perform air sleeve maintenance. That is absolutely assanine. Air sleeve maintenance after the first use? Get real Fox. Not only is the "stuck down" defect an annoyance but it is also potentially dangerous to frame and rider. The second time my shock became stuck down, it happened in dry conditions, 45-50 degree whether after 10 miles of riding. It happened suddenly at high speed, causing the swingarm link to drop thus causing the chainring to bottom out and, wham, instant accident. I am beyond the one-year warranty period so Fox tells me I have to pay for their defect now. Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that it is an air sleeve mainetance, is that supposed to manifest itself through a potentially catastrophic failure? To the guy below, make sure you have a FedEx account because you will be sending it back more than once. I myself am going back to Cane Creek which I would have kept but for the fact the RP3 came with the frame.
Similar Products Used:
Cane Creek Cloud 9
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Salty
Bottom Line:
Fox should gurantee this shock for a lifetime or recall them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Coeur d'Alene, ID, US Date Reviewed: March 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Strengths:
Can only talk about strengths when it worked. Light, Lock-out worked, took the bumps fine.
Weaknesses:
RP3 Weakness HAIKU:
Stuck Down Way Too Much Pain In Backside Cannot Ride Push Industries Help!
Bike Setup:
06 Cannondale Rush 2000
Bottom Line:
Seems like a great idea that almost made it. Bottom line is that Fox should step up to the plate and offer some help for folks that have dropped a load of cash on a product if they want repeat customers. Sending it to Push for help...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Milko
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampere, Finland Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Haven't ridden it much yet, but seems to work nicely. This is my first FS bike, so I don't have perspective to say much about the RP3. ProPedal works great, though, as there's no suspension bob when pedaling while sitting.
Weaknesses:
My RP3 got stuck down after the first test ride. The local authorized Fox service worked great, though - I got the shock back the next day I took it to service. I still don't know, though, if Fox have a solution for the stuck-down issue or not. I wouldn't want it to happen again when I'm out in the wilderness or when the shock's warranty period has ended.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
'07 Santa Cruz Heckler ("old" model, not the '07.5), RS Revelation 426 Dual Air, Shimano XT, Race Face Evolve XC, Mavic XM321 Disc, etc.
Bottom Line:
After the first trail test I have no complaints. Apart from the stuck-down issue, of course.
I got my RP3 with the frame, but I most probably would've gone with Rock Shox or something else cheaper (but probably just as good), if I had had to pay hard money for the shock, especially seeing how common the stuck-down issue is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J
a Racer
from UK Date Reviewed: March 19, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light weight, good when it works
Weaknesses:
Prone to sticking down, this has happened to me 5 times across 3 different RP3 shocks in 12 months. It can happen on a shock that has been fixed with 'different seals' and in both cold and warm conditions.
Fox claimed it was a bad batch of seals, they then claimed it was due to the cold and now 12 months on since the 1st shock failed (2 meters from my car the 1st time I used the bike!) They then claimed that my rear swing arm must be wonky. I have now had another new shock fail on a 2007 bike in warm conditions.
There is a serious fault with this shock.
Similar Products Used:
Work in the trade, tried most of them.
Bike Setup:
I have seen this shock fail (stick down) on just about every brand of bike that they are fitted to! Be it a long or a short shock stroke system.
Bottom Line:
The product is not fit for purpose. Regardless of the conditions you ride in or how you ride there is a good chance that the seal between the negative and positive air chamber will fail.
Turn round from Mojo in the UK when 'fixing it' is good but you don't know how long it will last after it has been 'fixed'.
If I could give it no chilies I would.
Harsh but fair I think.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Narciso
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton, CA Date Reviewed: March 16, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Danville Bike
Strengths:
When it works, suits my needs as a xc rider. Pro-pedal feature is nice, especially when it can be locked out for road riding to the trail head.
Weaknesses:
I have sent the shock in twice for repair due to air stuck in the negative chamber which limits the travel from 4" to about 2". When this has happened, all Propedal adjustments are equal (no lockout).
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float Vanilla.
Bottom Line:
Take away the two times this shock has already been sent in for repair, I would have ranked it higher. Until I can ride it for more than year without any issues, I will not be completely satisfied. Thank goodness for Jose at Danville Bike, he has supported me 100% on the purchase and is working with Fox for a solution.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: March 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Very nice fit and finish. Propedal seems to work real nice.
Weaknesses:
Shock was stuck down after one week. Never even took it to the trail. Just broke my bike in, and the shock stuck the weekend I was going to hit the dirt.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float R
Bike Setup:
2006 iDrive5 1.0 with stock setup
Bottom Line:
Nice shock before it broke. Actually, real nice! Before I bought this bike, I did some research. The only weak link I heard about before the purchase was this shock. Im an amateur rider, and I did not think that I could subject the shock to the abuse it would take to break. I was wrong. It is out to Fox right now on warranty. From what I can tell, this is typical of this particular shock. I would avoid it unless the price is right, then send out to be Pushed. 4 Chilis for being a well featured shock, and NOT considering the breakage. Only 2 chilis overall, because it broke rather quickly. Im sure once the shock gets the new, revised seal, I would give it 4-5 chilis overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Date Reviewed: February 19, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
Performance Cycle
Strengths:
Coming from a hardtail there would be to many product strengths to describe. So far this seems a plush ride.
Weaknesses:
After reading all of the post, I might as well add another one. First bike was a 2006 GT i-Drive 5 2.0. This came with a Float R. This was the best shock. I had taken this to hell and back and never had a problem (with the shock anyways. Check my post on the GT i-drive 5 2.0). After problems with the GT 2.0 I took the bike back and upgraded to the GT i-Drive 5 1.0. This came with the RP3. After 2 months of mellow riding (due to winter kicking in)I took the bike out for a casual ride only to find the inevitable (STUCK DOWN). What is the problem with these? According to Performance it was a rebound seal problem. Anyways, problem has been fixed but bike hasn't been out yet. We'll see.....
Bike Setup:
GT i-Drive 5 1.0 Stock
Bottom Line:
Hopefully they have corrected the problem for 2007. If this sticks again I may have to opt for something else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Southern California, USA Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Santiago Truck Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Worked great first 4-5 rides. Liked the pro-pedal as my rides are often long climbs. Liked the responsiveness after having been hardtail for 4 years.
Weaknesses:
You guessed it. The Stuck Down (could think of different spelling for the first word) feature was something I would have preferred to go without. A little disappointed w/shop repair as they were a bit elusive to the problem and, after reading the posts, I believe they wanted to avoid acknowledging the issue.
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
GT I-Drive 5 1.0.
Bottom Line:
For the first rides, I loved it - I guess this will happen with a hard-tail to full suspension convert. Very disappointed when this all happened as it was my first expensive (to me, at least) bike and I expected more in craftsmanship.
Hoping for speedy repair this coming week and that the posts regarding recalls are accurate and my problem will go away rather than recur.
Btw, I don't think weather has a thing to do w/it - So. Cal to Canada, seems like we all have problems...
Ride on all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon BonJovie
a Racer
from Marin, CA Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
old springs, windy ridge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Came on bike, bike nut
Strengths:
Seems pretty smooth, the propedal works really well, soaks up bumps and jumps real good. Works real well when the brakes are applied
Weaknesses:
Well everything was going smooth for about a year until one ride down mt tam. I blew the seals on the shock and it was squeakin like crazy. I also scuffed up the stanchion pretty well, but i think it had a lot to do with the place ment on the shock. other than that, i think its a little too xc ish. They tried real hard for that. When the seals go on it again im getting it pushed
Similar Products Used:
Fox, Rockshox
Bike Setup:
Trance 2 with aftermarket parts.
Bottom Line:
Its alright, i just think that fox has really crappy seals on they're shoxs. It cost some money to get it rebuilt but its still runninng strong and damn its less than a half pound so cant really complain about weight. Just wish it was more reliable. Like i said, as soon as i have the cash im getting it pushed. Whats funny is I heard push actually uses rockshoxs seals and other parts on the fox forks/shox that they rebuild. Makes you wonder. Never had a problem with my rockshox reba sl. the seals are great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sisters OR Date Reviewed: February 3, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
None at the moment
Weaknesses:
Stuck down and totally inoperable. I now have a hardtail.
Similar Products Used:
Cane Creek, other Fox Float
Bike Setup:
Ti Racer-X 29er, full xtr
Bottom Line:
High end bike with less than 1000 miles on it. Very disappointed to discover that this is a common problem with this shock, perhaps the 2006 in particular. Average review is much lower for 2006 than 2005. Given how common this is I would hope that Fox has a system or procedure in place to deal with this very quickly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rick e
a Cross Country Rider
from madison, wisconsin, USA Date Reviewed: January 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
9mile
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The stock shock is good. light.durable.does it's job well. i got it used and figured it needed tuning so i sent it into PUSH. night and day difference.
Weaknesses:
factory shock needs faster rebound. stock propedal could be alot more elegant in its functionality.
Similar Products Used:
DTswiss 210L
Bike Setup:
06 trance
Bottom Line:
good shock. light. (if user tuned properly) very very reliable. durable.
factory propedal is kinda week.(i think it just shortens the compression circuit) after i sent it into PUSH good turns into sick. i cant even describe the difference between the pushed shock and factory. but ill try. with PP (propedal) cranked to 3, the shock is more resistant to bumps until it reaches 1/4th through its travel, then it opens up much better then stock. rebound is faster and more "sure" in every way. with the maestro suspension on the trance, you dont need PP. so i have it on the first PP setting all the time. it feels like a pushed float R, but with low frequency compression filtering.
if u have this shock or want it, i can't recommend anything more then the pushindustries factory tuning system. makes this shock (which is already good) alot better
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony Hughes
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: January 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The ones far from my office :)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Propedal seems pretty cool so far.
Weaknesses:
Stuck down issues suck
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
GT iDrive 1.0 2006
Bottom Line:
I was very happy with the Float RP3 until my last ride. Based on what I have read in this forum it looks like I have the infamous Stuck Down issue due to a bad seal and once it is fixed I will be cruisin with no problems. I'm bringing my bike back to the shop Monday and hopefully they can fix it quickly (i.e. get Fox to fix it quickly). I had riden it several times and the shock was great! I took it out near my house on some easy trails in the cold after work one night and it was done for. Just wanted to vent like everyone else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland Date Reviewed: January 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Soaks the bumps, light, adjustable.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Commencal Meta 5.20
Bottom Line:
Great piece of kit, fitted to my Meta 5.20. Propedal never gets a look in but have found the shock really good so far, does not bob and provides a predictable ride and the back end sticks to the ground.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bracken
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: January 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light and cushy.
Weaknesses:
Shock became stuck down on 4th day of riding. Bad (extremely slow) customer service. Would like Pro Pedal to be stiffer.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla RC (the RP3 is the first air shock I've run)
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Slayer 70, mostly stock at this point
Bottom Line:
Shock became stuck down on a cold Christmas Day ride. I wasn't able to get an RA number until January 8th (they were closed and responded by email - but not with an RA number). Once I was able to talk to them, they indicated the shock would take 2-4 weeks to repair. With the wait for the RA number, shipping, repair, and return shipping, my bike will be down for 6-8 weeks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Edwards, ca Date Reviewed: December 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Push
Strengths:
transformed my ride. the stock triad on my stumpy was a piece of crap. this pushed rp3 has my bike climbing better than an epic, yet is smoother on the downhills
Weaknesses:
none yet, rebuilds and service may lighten the wallet but the performance is well worth it
can't speak to the stock performace of the RP3 but the factory tuned versions from PUSH are out of this world. with the tuning for my wt and riding style i mounted it on the bike and only had to add 5psi to the chamber for a perfect ride. pedal bob is eliminated and my bike now climbs as well as my buddies brain equipt epic. on decents, flip it to the softer setting and let it fly. i never realized the triad was holding me back on the decents as well till i rocked my end of the ride downhill at much higher speeds and with more control.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut, USA Date Reviewed: December 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Agressive CC
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Benidorm Bikes
Strengths:
propedal adjustment easy to reach on the fly, good small absorption, easy to dial in.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Cane creek cloud nine
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur LT AM build, medium size
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike since Feb of 2006 and have been faithfully riding twice a week for 2-3 hours at a time. I am always riding as an agressive CC rider and take some drops at every ride no taller than 3 feet. The terrain is always filled with rocks and roots. The shock and bike perfors very well climbing steep rocky upgrades. Since my initial setup, I have NEVER added any air or experienced any stuck down problems. The shock has had no quality problems and has worked very well for my style of riding. I will also add that I am 5'10" and 160 lbs. with my backpack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brett
a Cross Country Rider
from Laguna Niguel, CA Date Reviewed: October 22, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
N/A
Strengths:
It was working great for the first 8 rides.
Weaknesses:
The seals blew and all of the fluid ran out on a fairly rutted and bumpy but normal single track down hill run.
I hope Fox turns it around for me like the other people who have commented here. Has anybody had any trouble with the re-builds they have received back?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam S
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Date Reviewed: October 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
You Yangs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
None. It doesn't work.
Weaknesses:
Shock has "Stuck Down" and is now in need of repair.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized A1 Pro.
Bike Setup:
XC
Bottom Line:
I picked up a 06 GT IDrive4 1.0 3 weeks ago & haven't riden it off road yet. I haven't abused this or used it in cold conditions, just been cruising around in normal conditions. Already the shock has sagged completely and is now "stuck down". Fox should have more robust designs and more quality control over their components and suppliers. I shouldn't have to pull my bike apart and send the shock off for service. This sucks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
im gay
a Racer
from gaysville Date Reviewed: October 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
diamond back
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$335.00
Purchased At:
home
Strengths:
awsome
Weaknesses:
sukfull
Similar Products Used:
xdhn
Bike Setup:
sfhn
Bottom Line:
fshgnj
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ERIK
a Weekend Warrior
from FREAKMONT Date Reviewed: August 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
boggs
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
bicycle garage
Strengths:
Light, rigid, user friendly, effective ProPedal
Weaknesses:
dust/wiper seal
Similar Products Used:
Cane Creek Cloud 9--underated shock--very good, sold the bike it was on
Very nice ride--adustments are noticeable--haven't quite figured out how to control the "whip" at the end of stroke when suspension is at full extension--more rebound at the end of stroke--otherwise--it delivers as advertised--I had problems with the dust/wiper seal at about 105 hours of usage--even tho' it was beyond warranty--Fox took care of it & turned it around in 1 week!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Goat Creek Trail (Banff)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$460.00
Purchased At:
RVC
Strengths:
Doesn't bob like the fox float, the 'on the fly' propedal adjustment is very handy.
Weaknesses:
It fails to easily (7th hour of riding)
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float
Bike Setup:
Kona Kikapu Deluxe
Bottom Line:
This thing blew going over a 6 inch curb. I'm currently waiting for it to get repaired. The guys at the bike shop said they've seen this a before. Fox supposedly doesn't make them for use in Canadian weather. The seals are meant for warm climates and when used in cold weather the seal breaks causing all the air to transfer and stay in the negative chamber. I guess I could expect it to break doing something a little more aggressive, but going over a curb? come on, this is ridiculous. On the positive side, the guys at my LBS said it will be fixed and back in a week with a seal more suited to colder weather use. When the shock was working, it seemed to work very well, hopefully this doesn't happen again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT, USA Date Reviewed: July 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Solitude
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Guthries
Strengths:
Looks nice? Holds air pressure.
Weaknesses:
Never did work for me. No rebound damping at all. Tops out AND bottoms out. Pro-pedal adustments have no effect either. Defective, I'm sure. It's now at the factory under warranty.
Similar Products Used:
2001 Fox racing shock
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur LT
Bottom Line:
I cannot recommend this shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Giancarlo Pelosi
a Weekend Warrior
from Miramar, FL, USA Date Reviewed: July 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Markham Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Bell's Bikes
Strengths:
Great overall performance. Plush ride with little pedal bob. Great under stressfull and technincal trails for us heavy riders.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Manitou and Marzzochi
Bike Setup:
06 Giant Trance 1, XTR, XT, Fox, Shimano, Race Face, WTB, Kenda, Mavic, Chris King, ODI, Hayes Carbon, and SRAM.
Bottom Line:
Great shock. Buy it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Sabourin
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Adjustibility, great overall performance, Pro Pedal is pretty neat.....good xc shock.
Weaknesses:
None so far...maybe the Propedal Adjust lever could be a little less twitchy.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Stock 2006 Kona King Kikapu
Bottom Line:
I havn't experienced the "stuck down" problem as many other riders have, and I hope I never do. From what Ive seen, this shock has performed flawlessly; it has good adjustibilty/ tunability and performance. If you ride xc this shock will perform well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville Date Reviewed: May 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Gears Bike Shop
Strengths:
Not sure yet...
Weaknesses:
Loses pressure resulting in the back end of the bike sagging.
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 120 Expert
Bottom Line:
My buddy also has a Specialized with this Fox shock. About 1.5 months ago his shock blew (lost all pressure) and he had to have the entire shock replaced -- his bike was only a couple months old and it was only his 5 or 6th ride. Well guess what...now the same Fox shock on my bike is going and my bike's only a few months old too. What a piece of garbage!!! I'm not sure who to be more po'ed at...Specialized for equipping their bikes with such trash or Fox for producing an entire model year of faulty shocks. Seems like everyone is having he same problem (see other reviews/postings).
I'm especially frustrated in that I have a race next weekend...I hope I can get it fixed before then.
BOTTOMLINE: Do NOT buy this shock and do NOT buy a bike equipped with this model of shock. You'll be happy you didn't.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Bartzen
a Cross Country Rider
from Battle Creek,MI,USA Date Reviewed: May 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Fort Custer
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Propedal anti bob ajustablity. Fox Service repaired and now it works great.
Weaknesses:
Stuck closed in less then 10 miles of riding, Price
Similar Products Used:
First FS cross country bike
Bike Setup:
2003 KHS XC904r frame, Fox F100RLT fork, XTR ft &rear der.,XT shifterpods,XT disc brakes,LX crankset,Rinolite wheels,IRC Mythosxc tires
Bottom Line:
I got one with a bad seal, but that it has been repaired it works great.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs Date Reviewed: April 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palmer Park Network
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Fox shoxs are a solid shock and hold up to normal conitions well.
Weaknesses:
Recall on late 2005-2006 air shocks
Bike Setup:
Any
Bottom Line:
For all you with the sticking shox, go to your local bike shop and tell them what your problem is and if they don't know about the recall thell them to call. Fox has sent us a flyer telling of the recall. They had a bad batch of seals, clames they manufacturer change material without their consent. Fox is a good product, but Sh*t happens. I know I work at a local bike shop. I haven't seen many of these cases, but I know about it.
I didn't rate this with 5 chilli's becuase I think these shocks are a little over prices and I'm not a big fan of lockouts and propedal I like plush and supple. U loose some of this with these shocks is my feelings
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl Stump
a Cross Country Rider
from Sutter Creek CA USA Date Reviewed: April 10, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
bicycles Plus
Strengths:
My Fox fork works great.
Weaknesses:
This shock got "STUCK DOWN" on my first ride,which was on a gravel road with hardly any bumps.
Bike Setup:
SC Blur LT Fox Float xtt XT
Bottom Line:
I am really bummed. I paid alot for my bike, and I sure hope that they can fix this fast and permenant. Ithought that was how the shock was supposed to be. After several other rides I was happy with the front fork but thought the rear shock sucked. I was right.I cant wait till it is fixed so that I can see if it is all it is cracked up to be,and ride my bike again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick Ostanek
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Anns, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
12 mile creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
I only got to ride my new bike for 100 feet.
Weaknesses:
Shox stuck in the down position on the first ride in my driveway.
Similar Products Used:
05 RP3, 05 AVA, Float R, Risse Genisis
Bike Setup:
06 Rocky Mountain ETSX70
Bottom Line:
I've heard there have been a few problems with the 06 RP3's. I'm sure it will be fine when I get it back from repairs but a little disapointing on the first ride on a new expensive bike. I've had lots of Fox products with no problems at all so I am confident it will be fine when I get it back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Coelho
a Cross Country Rider
from Taquari Date Reviewed: March 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Estacao
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Bike Tech
Strengths:
I have been riding my King Kikapu for over 4 months and this shock is perfect, or at least the bike itself makes it perform better. I have seen some complain below due to 'stucking' stroke, I have never had this problem. My shock is working in the mud with full stroke operation and it seems flawless. The pro pedal tune makes the bike tail very stable and stiff like a hardtail on off the saddle sprints.
Weaknesses:
There aren't.
Bike Setup:
Kona King Kikapu and some upgrades.
Bottom Line:
I need a shock pump! I have no idea which pressure I am running on the shock so I am adjusting it by feeling.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
larry
a Weekend Warrior
from Melville,NY Date Reviewed: March 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
rocky point
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
seems to work fine when not stuck down
Weaknesses:
getting stuck
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
giant trance
Bottom Line:
came on my bike,but when i got the frame it was already stuck down.I did not know this because i assumed that was the stroke of the shock.Built up the frame like that set the sag and went riding,after 4 rides the shock extends itself so i had to redo the rear cable run.A few rides later its back to being stuck.Sent it to fox and they said it was a defect in the seal from one of ther sub contractors, they said i now have a good seal, and what they did should fix the problem only time will tell
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Antonio Gordopilo
a Weekend Warrior
from Commack, NY, USA Date Reviewed: February 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Stilwell woods
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
NONE
Weaknesses:
The product itself. Got my brand new bike. Rode it 5 minutes. The Fox RP3 got irreversibly stuck down. Switched for a new one at LBS. Rode it in the parking lot. Got irreversibly stuck down.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Brand new Marin Mount Vision
Bottom Line:
GET AWAY FROM FOX FLOAT RP3 '06!!!
Looks like the whole '06 production is screwed up. The seals or something like that. 3000 dollars, millions of tons of illusions and you cannot pedal it because of a total lack of professionality from FoxRacingSoxs. GET AWAY FROM FOX FLOAT RP3 '06!!! and from Fox in general for ever.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Emery
a
from MountainBrook, AL USA Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$499.00
Purchased At:
PUSH
Strengths:
SMOOTH, improves traction, noticable differences in 3 settings, simple to set-up
Weaknesses:
Not so stable "platform" as compared to 5th ELement Air
Got tired of riding my old hardtail while my 5thElementAir shock was off for factory repair (they sent me a new one after having this one for 3 years! No charge). Well, found PUSH from this site and bought their modified 2006 RP3. This shock is my favorite for all trail riding due to its small bump sensativity. It's like having a new bike on technical climbs due to the much improved traction. Great for climbing over wet rock and roots. I like the simple air adjustment and the middle or "ProPedal" setting but the fully active setting throws a Blur out of balance. Seems like Fox had their eye on the old Risse Astro 5 when making the RP3 which I run on my 1998 Yeti AS-3. Very similar but the Risse offers infinite lever placement vs the 3 fox choices as well as the single air valve. The Push RP3 is very plush but would suggest the 5th Element to racers since it keeps the rear end of the bike from sagging so much and it is just as plush on medium to large bumps(and lighter by 1 oz). Guess you give up alittle for the "sag" and "plushness" of the RP3 but I'll take it for what I do, hard agressive trail riding!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Samaha
a
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: February 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The wide open desert
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$6500.00
Purchased At:
included with Moots Cinco bike
Strengths:
Pro-pedal adjustment, well built, and an otherwise fully adjustable airspring.
Weaknesses:
None found
Similar Products Used:
coil springs on various less expensive bikes
Bike Setup:
Moots Cinco Ti frame Fox Float 32 RLC front shocks Fox Float RP3 rear shock X9 Chain XO rear derailleur / XTR front XTR Crank / Cassette SRAM XO shifters SAINT Brake Levers / Res. XTR Brake Calipers Goodridge Metal Breaded brake lines Hope 2-piece floating Discs Chris King Titanium Headset Thomson Elite X4 stem Easton Monkey Lite XC Carbon bar Pedro Grips Moots Laidback post WTB Diva saddle
Total weight 28lbs.
Bottom Line:
I wanted the Moots Cinco for early on, but didn't want the 5th Element bull crap shock that they originally put in it because I wanted the bike to be an all around multi-purpose bike and that shock was not suitable for this. With the introduction of the RP3 on the Cinco frame.. I had to have it. The pedal efficiency, uphill, etc.. is like no other FS bike I've ridden, a lot of which can be attributed to the efficiency of this airspring/shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard Smith
a Racer
from Colorado Date Reviewed: January 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Back Mountain River
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
It is light and easy to manipulate. Strong construction
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Manitou's Rock Shox
Bottom Line:
Good shock. It is solid smooth and lightest among the category. Easy regulation, pro pedal is big advantage for climbing and old school hardtail climbers will love this feature, I am one of them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Almelo, The Netherlands Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Rose Biketown
Strengths:
It works, just for a few minutes.
Weaknesses:
Flawed contruction
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Red Bull Factory 700 frame, Fox Tallas RLC 2006 fork, Fox Float RP3 shock, SRAM X.0 trigger shifters, SRAM X.0 derailleurs, Magura Louise FR brakes, Mavic Crossmax Enduro Disc UST wheels, Schwalbe Nobby Nic (front) and Schwalbe Racing Ralph (read) tubeless tires.
Bottom Line:
I asked Biketown (Rose Versand) in Germany to build my MTB based on their Factory 700 (I changed the wheels, shifters, tires). I waited almost 2 months for my dreambike and on the first evening I drove to my brother to show off the goods. On the first ride of 1 km (over concrete road, no bumps) the shock got already stuck! (not kidding!) Luckely, the next day Biketown replaced it with a new one (great service). I read the manual and inflated it to 250psi and the new one seemed fine (took it for some city distances). I haven't been able to really ride the bike 2 months after the replacement (bad weather, busy with other stuff) but yesterday on the first real XC ride, the bloody shock got stuck again! And I just took it over concrete and some easy trials! I hope I can find a shock that fits the 190 mm, no RP3 for me again!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Coelho
a Cross Country Rider
from Taquari Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Estacao
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Bike Tech
Strengths:
Ultra Light and ultra smooth frictionless action. 9 clicks of noticeable rebound adjustment. 3 pro pedal positions, it can lock all off the saddle bobing while still absorbing climbing bumps from rocks and roots when activated and makes the hardest rear wheel landing hits smooth and fast small impacts absobtion as well. Couldn't expect anything else from a rear shock. Fox rules.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't come with pump.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Shox
Bike Setup:
Kona King Kikapu 2006: Replaced wheels with xtr/mavic 717 disc. XT hydraulic brakes. XT-XTR Drivetrain. Thomson Elite Seatpost/Stem. WTB Pure V Stealth Ti Saddle. Easton MonkeyLite EC70 XC Handlebar.
Bottom Line:
It requires too much inflation pressure, hard to achieve with regular pumps or air compressors.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bmills
a
from San Luis Obispo, Ca Date Reviewed: January 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Competetive Cyclist
Strengths:
It's easy to dial in because it has almost the same rebound adjustability as the Fox Forx.
Weaknesses:
Blew in under 2 miles.
Similar Products Used:
Float R, 5th Element, Fox Vanilla, etc.
Bike Setup:
2006 Titus Moto-lite, Fox float fork, 2.35 tires, truvativ, thompson, xtr, and other assorted goods.
Bottom Line:
I just bought a 2006 Titus Moto-lite frame, assembled it, went snowboarding for 12 days and returned to fine tune the gears of the bike on a small, mellow 1.2 mile singletrack run before going on my first ride to really dial in the shock on the next day.
As you can imagine I was anxious to ride this bike, It was fun snowboarding, but I,ve been waiting long enough to ride this bike after researching, selecting the perfect frame for me, spending way too much money on a frame (it's worth it), waiting for shipment, and finally building my beautiful new bike. At first everything was great. I could see the potential. The rebound was very adjustable and the propedal settings seemed like they would be great on the first climb the next day.
I was riding back home (1.2 miles later) and noticed the rear was severely sagged. The freaking thing blew! I did't even jump anything! It's stuck in the middle of the travel and the Fox rep advised that it was probably a stuck valve. This is probably a freak incident, at least I hope it is. I've been mountain biking for over 12 years and have never experienced an incident like this. I'm shipping this thing out and hopefully the new shock will perform as it is intended.
Hopefully customer service is quick. It's depressing to see your brand new bike sitting in the corner when it is raining but when it is 70 degrees and sunny it's an even higher level of irritation.
Once returned, I will ride it for a month and update on the performance and customer service. Because it probably is a freak incident, I will give it 5 chili's if it continues to perform as smoothly as it did the first mile.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Helipilot
a Racer
from SoFla Date Reviewed: January 11, 2006
This shock replaced my AVA and is much lighter and more responsive. Plus the ProPedal (now adjustable for '06) works great with the Blur when you are in between a full climb where the VPP kicks in and locks out the rear and the flats where you don't get much of a bob if you have a smooth spin cadence. I think it will prove to be a very popular shock for the upcoming season. Fox has done it again!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fabricio fracchia
a Weekend Warrior
from Venezuela Date Reviewed: December 31, 2005
Favorite Trail:
all around my city
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
came with my Blur LT
Strengths:
very improved from the 05 model, more efective clicks and lever fell, settings, manuals and webpage very helpful
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Radium R came with my Prophet 800 and after changed by the RP3 05
Bike Setup:
Blurt LT, size M, black anodized Marzocchi AM SL 130 mm Fox Float RP3 Race Face Diabolous handlebar,FSA FR230 stem,Crane Creek S6 headset Truvativ FireX cranks, ISIS drive Team SL bottom bracket LX disk brakes 203mm front, 160mm back, Dual Control Levers XT front and rear derailleurs, SRAM PG 970 cogs Mavic XM117 rims, XT 6 bolts hubs, DT spokes IRC Trail Bear 2.25" tires WTB Laser Team DH saddle, Thompson Elite seatpost Crank Brothers Mallet M… orange ones! Lizard Skin Logo grips
Bottom Line:
Is more that you can find in the other shocks... for all mountain and enduro this rules!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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