Submitted by
Ben Goring
a Downhiller
from Brisbane/Qld/Australia Date Reviewed: August 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Kenilworth/ Maleny/Qld
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Traded for my coil
Strengths:
Great build, works incredibly well, almost as well as the DHX Air
Weaknesses:
Hard to set-up fine for all conditions.
Similar Products Used:
Dhx Air
Bike Setup:
Santacruz V10 2006, 888's, Gravity Air shock.
Bottom Line:
Great shock and works unbelievably well for DH, very suprised to know that, never needed service since new and hopefully never will. Great choice, and if you don't already have one, GET ONE!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BCNomad
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver BC Canada Date Reviewed: April 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
CBC or Ned's
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
At least it works for a little while
Weaknesses:
Difficult to set up for a compliant freeride setup. Front shocks are Talus 36's so I figured an air shock would be easy to match air forks. Wrong. Either too hard or too soft. Dampening adjustment doesn't really work either. Not designed for Shore riding.
Similar Products Used:
Fox DHX air, Manitou Swinger
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Nomad, Fox Talas 36,
Bottom Line:
Might be good in less gnarly terrain but for skookum shore stuff, not-so-much. I'll be looking for sumething else soon. Besides, since the company's not making mtb shocks, support is non-existent. If you have a choice, pick something else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Hampshire, United Kingdom Date Reviewed: April 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Its lightweight, easy to setup... but as per the review below - go with feel rather than psi or recommended settings in the manual.
Weaknesses:
Nothing so far...
Similar Products Used:
None - have only ever used coil shocks before.
Bike Setup:
K2/Proflex 4500
Bottom Line:
I ride XC, after years of sticking to coil shocks I decided to go for an air, found the one I have on eBay new & unused of a guy who had it come stock on his new santa cruz, price was reasonable, so nabbed it.
A little over 4 months down the line... i'm happy with it! Its lightweight, does what I need it to do and takes a respectable battering with no complaint during or after. Touch wood i've never had the problems mentioned in the review below.
Few suggestions though - get a shock cover for it. Regulary take it off the bike and take apart & clean the bushings/mount kit, I find that despite the o-rings on the spacers I still have dirt getting into the spherical ball joint. Watch the pressure in the IFP chamber, after 4 or 5 2-3hr rides with mine I have to top the pressure up in this chamber by quite some bit... could be my riding, could be the norm with air shocks, dont think its mechanical as I had the shock serviced and checked when I got it.
Would I recommend the shock? Yes... personally I would.
But if you are thinking of buying one do so in the knowledge that you could run into problems, going by reviews it seems to be hit or miss with the 5th element air's. And... bear in mind that Progressive Suspension HAVE pulled out of the mtb market.
4 chilli's for value 4 chilli's for overall rating
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a
from UK Date Reviewed: February 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm on at the time
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Relatively easy to set up - go for feel not Psi until you get it right.
Weaknesses:
Build quality is rubbish. The piston gave up after 3 months and then proceeded to trash the internals. I have heard 5th Element are pulling out of MTB market; therefore perhaps they have cobbled the last few together. Why did Specialised stop using 5th Element on the Enduro?
Similar Products Used:
Stratos, Fox floats & Manitou 4-way
Bike Setup:
SC Nomad,Fox 36, xt & Hope mono M4s.
Bottom Line:
Don't bother. Product build not good - trashed after 3 months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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