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Progressive Suspension 5th Element CVT Air

MSRP $
# of Reviews 5
Average Rating 2.6/5
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Submitted by Chuck Chrencik a Cross Country Rider from Wilsonville Alabama
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:7 bridges Oak Mtn State Park
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:None
Weaknesses:Shock seals failed after 5 months .. Now the manufacture does not have any replacement seals or parts..I understand they no longer make this shock.. Do NOT PURCHASE a bike with this shock on it.
Bike Setup:2005 Santa Cruz Blur.. XL frame. %th Element rear shock came with the bike
Bottom Line:Do not buy this pc of garbage shock
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Andy a Racer from Little Hill, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:B-17
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Purchased At:borrowed...
Strengths:....I didn't pay for it?
Weaknesses:crappy platform, super-duper-death-by-seal-failure, no useful damping
Similar Products Used:float, septude, RP23, DHX air
Bike Setup:blur, float 100 rl up front....
Bottom Line:you must be kidding me....so much hype for garbage! even after progressive re-did their thing to it three times (including sending me a brand spankin new shock), the platform is gar-bage!! get fox, and be done...or cane creek if you can afford it
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Dirtdiva a Cross Country Rider from SoCal
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:Long, fast, tech ST
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Purchased At:Supergo
Strengths:Light, tunable and hasn't leaked, yet
Weaknesses:That DAMN bushing. It lasted six months before I mangled one of the rubber thingamajiggies on a long ride. Replaced the thing and noticed that it was jiggling out of place every 3 rides, then 2, then every ride. The stainless steel replacement isn't easy to mount on the shock, so, I had to go to the bike shop to get it done.
Similar Products Used:Fox Float R
Bike Setup:Intense 5.5, XTR group, Marzocchi SL120
Bottom Line:The shock performs well. No complaints about performance, once I figured out what setting I liked. The mount is retarded. I heard that Progressive is out of the MTB business, so customer service is questionable. I called Progressive and told them my issue. They actually charged me for the bushing and the shipping. What the !!!! It's been a week and I haven't received it yet. On the other hand, I talked to Chad from Intense and he was really cool. He shipped the stainless steel bushing free of charge. If it wasn't for Intense, I would have bought a Fox by now. I probably will, considering what a pain in the ass this bushing problem is.

...and I only weigh around a buck thirty.
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Emery a from Mountain Brook, AL
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2005
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Purchased At:Fat Tire, Colorado
Strengths:Light weight, adjustability, firm cross country feel, Progressive company stands behind product with 2-3wk turnaround time.
Weaknesses:only get @ 6mo of 4-5h/wk riding time before failure or needs some type of factory repair/service. With high tech comes high maintenance and the shock is not servicable outside the factory.
Similar Products Used:06' Push Fox RP3, Risse Astro 5, SID DualAir
Bike Setup:04 Lg Cirus Blur Minute 3, Raceface/XTR/XT, KingHS/Salsa/Easton, Avid J-7's, Mavic XL/Maxxis, Thompson/Flite
Bottom Line:This shock would be best on the new Blur XC's with the RP3 best on LT/ or all mountain set ups. Would be first choice for racing. Warranty issues/factory maintenance has been great but frequent. This last time (#3) they gave me a totally new shock with new ss ball eye's etc.
I purchased a 06' Pushed Fox RP3 while it was off at the factory instead of buying that new Yeti I have been eying since the Blur is still a great bike and now tuned more for all mountain with the plusher Fox.
Value rating is for Progressive's Customer Service, Overall is just because for all the times I have had to return it to the factory, maybe I had a lemon to start with.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Brad Wilhelm a Racer from Cleveland, Ohio USA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:porcupine rim
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $250.00
Strengths:light, best platform, linear spring rate
Weaknesses:"ball joint" bushings promote swingarm slop
Similar Products Used:fox rl, fox pro pedal, manitou qr, manitou spv
Bike Setup:Gary Fisher Cake 05, full x.o w/xtr ft der, fsa k force mega exo cranks, eggbeater triple ti, Reba Team fork, THompson Masterpiece post, Serfas Saddle, Cossmax Disc wheels, Monkeylite sl bar, Formula b4 pro+ brakes, stans rotors, irc mibro tires.
Bottom Line:Excellent shock that offers a very wide range of adjustments, durable, you can actually get full stroke out of them as well, unlike other brands. I would recommend it for any bike.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5






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