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Nope, you just have to trust that they did it right, which if you read a lot of threads sounds like that can often not be the case.

Also I don't think having the trail shock or tune would cause that increase in PSI to occur. My trail DPS shock was set up like yours was. For 170ish lbs I was running 170-175psi
 
Is there a way to tell if the shock has the XC or Trail tune? I'm suspecting Fox sent the trail tune instead of the XC tune the last time the rebuilt it.

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Use the four letter/digit code on the shock. Enter it into the Fox code look up tool. On the left side at the link below.

https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike

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After considering a Sniper for well over a year finally built one up. Build is a little different due to stealing some parts from my Kona Honzo (now rigid SS):



Trail shock w/ brace
120mm Pike w/ Avalanche cartridge
11sp X01
XX1 cranks
160mm Bikeyoke Revive
We Are One Insiders (27mm ID trail rim) w/ Berd spokes and DT240s
2.6 Ikon front w/ insert
2.3 XR2 rear w/ insert
Parts bin stem and bars (Mt Zoom bars trapped in customs)
XTR M9000 brakes - 180/160
Xpedo pedals

Comes out to 25.2lb on my bathroom scale which per calcs should be about right. Finished building yest AM and got a quick 20mi in, initial impressions are that it's going to serve its purpose well. I wanted this as a bike for 50+ mi rugged races and general AZ riding when rigid SS won't cut it.

Front tire will definitely change to 2.35 Ikon or something, might lose the inserts too...carryover from the Honzo and not sure I need them with suspension. Only other note was that the M9000s felt like garbage, hoping they need a bleed and maybe metallic pads vs being that much worse than the Guides on my Honzo.

Has anyone done XC shock tune at 120mm? I think either that or just dropping to 100mm XC tune might be preferable for me for racing.
 
Duke, so you have the XC model? Why do you think the rebound is behaving differently between the two shocks if they have the same tune?

Still interested in what CM is, obviously Compression Medium, but Linear, Digressive, Progressive, etc.

Think this will do the trick?

FloatDPX2 SSD HSB Modifications
Sorry for not responding to this.

Yes, I have the XC model, but running a 120mm SC up front.

I'd be interested in getting Avalanche or similar on the phone and talking about the tune. Truth be told, I'm really after the ride of the XC shock, but with 120mm travel in the rear, and the additional fade-resistance capability of a reservoir shock.

Right now, the amount of compression is just not acceptable.
 
Sorry for not responding to this.

Yes, I have the XC model, but running a 120mm SC up front.

I'd be interested in getting Avalanche or similar on the phone and talking about the tune. Truth be told, I'm really after the ride of the XC shock, but with 120mm travel in the rear, and the additional fade-resistance capability of a reservoir shock.

Right now, the amount of compression is just not acceptable.
Yep and I am looking for the ride of the trail shock with fade resistance. I find the trail setting is plenty firm for racing and pedaling, especially if you put it into pedal mode.

I am finding the compression and rebound not acceptable.

Probably taking it off today and will try to reach out to Avy.
 
Yep and I am looking for the ride of the trail shock with fade resistance. I find the trail setting is plenty firm for racing and pedaling, especially if you put it into pedal mode.

I am finding the compression and rebound not acceptable.

Probably taking it off today and will try to reach out to Avy.
Truth be told I'd be fine with it tuned to either the XC or Trail tune for the Sniper. As is, tuned to the Following MB, it doesn't work for me. Like you, I'm back on my XC shock.

Let me know what Avalanche says.

I might be sending my fork off to Durango to have a Runt installed and my damper tuned to my weight, so I might see what DSD can do with the DPX2 as well.
 
Truth be told I'd be fine with it tuned to either the XC or Trail tune for the Sniper. As is, tuned to the Following MB, it doesn't work for me. Like you, I'm back on my XC shock.

Let me know what Avalanche says.

I might be sending my fork off to Durango to have a Runt installed and my damper tuned to my weight, so I might see what DSD can do with the DPX2 as well.
DPX2 is off, DPS is back on. Bummed because i wanted some performance upgrade, but dammit a reservoir shock just looks cooler, and that is what I am about!

Good news is that my bike weighed in at 10.85kg or 23.9lbs with 2 bottle holders, multi tool, co2, tube, levers, bag, and pedals. Not too shabby

Craig got back to me today and made it sound like the DPX2 in general is not a good shock for the Sniper because of the high amounts of progressiveness of the frame and the lack of tuning afforded by the shock. I sent an email back to see clarify if it isn't worth him working on it or just as is it is not a good shock. I might call him up tomorrow or later this week. I will follow up.

Let me know what you think about the Runt and what DSD says.
 
Le Duke can you post up a pic or two of your bike showing the stem profile? Did you end up going 66? I have a 66 Flatforce on order for my Primer which is an XC build and as light as a Sniper T. I want to get a little lower over the front and think the 66 will stretch me out a little more too...
trmn8er can you post pics and build specs of your Sniper weight Primer build?? I have the 2019 primer and as tempting as an upgrade to the sniper is, I am feeling like a lighter build in the 115mm rear shock postition can have the primer pedaling just as efficiently as the Sniper T. And honestly I prefer the 67.5 HTA of the primer to the over-slacked sniper anyway. Would love to see what you've done to lighten the load
 
trmn8er can you post pics and build specs of your Sniper weight Primer build?? I have the 2019 primer and as tempting as an upgrade to the sniper is, I am feeling like a lighter build in the 115mm rear shock position can have the primer pedaling just as efficiently as the Sniper T. And honestly I prefer the 67.5 HTA of the primer to the over-slacked sniper anyway. Would love to see what you've done to lighten the load
I have posted a bunch of pics but here are a couple more. And would tend to agree that the older generation Primer is more XC than the Sniper T, especially when you add a 34 SC fork and it can be very similar in weight. Also, the seat tube is 2 degrees steeper on the older Primer than a Sniper T. The Flat-force stem gave me just a bit more room, and more aggressive for getting me in the position I'm used to coming from XC whips. Depending on what you are after, yes, the older Primer is pretty XC when setup accordingly. The Sniper T is cool and all and I have a buddy who just got one. The Sniper T seat tube is pretty slack for my preferred power position. I'll list a few changes only vs a stock Primer Pro that I have made so far. Hope this gives you some ideas but if you are starting with a 2019 Primer it may be a different path and result and I'm unsure their frame is the SL. I'm no expert on that newer gen Primer and how it is different, but I seem to remember it's considerably slacker too.

2017 Primer Pro size Large
Renthal Carbon Lite 740 mm bar -45
ESI chunky grips -45
Shimano XTR race pedals
32T DM XX1 ring -10
Tubeless -?
Carbon cage
Garmin mount
Bontrager Montrose Pro seat (VERY nice, stock seat is an anchor) -120
Kabolt axle -30
Magura MT7 brakes, Magura SL rear, HC front rotors +100, worth every gram
Roval Traverse SL wheels, DT 240 based, 54t, 30 mm internal -265
Bike Yolk Revive 125 dropper -40
Syntace Flat-force stem, 66 mm, -15.5
Fast trak control case 2.3, Renegade 2.3 rear, both new compound -?? but a lot

26.72 lb with pedals ready to ride, a little under 26 lbs sans pedals and mount. I wanted strong wheels and could have saved weight here but at a little over 200 lbs I needed it. Brakes too worth every gram and still light

Next up: XX1 Dub 32T cranks -110
Fox 34 SC 51 -200
Final weight approx: 25.95 lbs with pedals, cage and mounts. Sniper T size Large stock w same pedals and mount right around 26.7, so yeah the Primer can be a bit lighter than a stock Sniper T w carbon wheels if mods are made. I would suggest the Primer is actually more XC than the Sniper T and will have a 68 degree HTA, and steeper ST. Can you make the Sniper lighter? Sure. But your dealing with an NM frame, not the SL like the Primer. I was really hot for a Sniper Trail, but not as much the T. Even the new Primer has moved slacker and that's just not what I wanted so I'm super happy to keep the older gen Primer and keep tweaking it. Kind of cool to have a 26 lb. trail bike ready to ride.



 
Some more notes after getting a few rides in on my newly assembled 2019 Sniper Trail. First, the thing is going to be perfect for my use...it is fast as hell up and down in the chunky terrain I like to ride. I bested a ~40min segment of rough up and down on South Mountain in PHX by roughly 10% the other day, definitely new bike excitement playing a role, but something I couldn't have done on the several pretty wide-ranging bikes I've ridden up there. It is more confidence inspiring than any bike of this category should be.
Can't wait to get things fully dialed cockpit, suspension, and tire settings-wise as it'll only get better.

Negatives - coming from my Kona Honzo, I definitely would prefer a ~1-2* steeper seat tube. Going to play with things a bit more to get the saddle a little further forward, but I'm already out of adjustment on the current saddle.

Also, although I'd consider this an acceptable compromise at the light weight of the frame, flex in the rear end is pretty apparent even under my 150lb. This is with the Intense brace installed. It isn't bothersome on the trail so much as slightly disconcerting on the road en-route to trail (literally thought I had a flat at one point), but I think I'd be considering something different or the T model if I were 175+lb. Will be interesting to see if this results in any further issue.

Overall, couldn't be happier to have finally pulled the trigger on the thing, I think it will serve me well.
 
Some more notes after getting a few rides in on my newly assembled 2019 Sniper Trail. First, the thing is going to be perfect for my use...it is fast as hell up and down in the chunky terrain I like to ride. I bested a ~40min segment of rough up and down on South Mountain in PHX by roughly 10% the other day, definitely new bike excitement playing a role, but something I couldn't have done on the several pretty wide-ranging bikes I've ridden up there. It is more confidence inspiring than any bike of this category should be.
Can't wait to get things fully dialed cockpit, suspension, and tire settings-wise as it'll only get better.

Negatives - coming from my Kona Honzo, I definitely would prefer a ~1-2* steeper seat tube. Going to play with things a bit more to get the saddle a little further forward, but I'm already out of adjustment on the current saddle.

Also, although I'd consider this an acceptable compromise at the light weight of the frame, flex in the rear end is pretty apparent even under my 150lb. This is with the Intense brace installed. It isn't bothersome on the trail so much as slightly disconcerting on the road en-route to trail (literally thought I had a flat at one point), but I think I'd be considering something different or the T model if I were 175+lb. Will be interesting to see if this results in any further issue.

Overall, couldn't be happier to have finally pulled the trigger on the thing, I think it will serve me well.
Interesting that you are having noticeable flex WITH the brace. I am 175lbs right now and have not noticed any flex. I have been taking it on our local flow trail and hitting doubles and table tops with no issues.

If it can handle South Mountain I think it can handle 90% of trail out there, especially if you are taking it on Geronimo, etc.
 
That only tells you what is SHOULD be. This rider has already sent it in 4 times to get worked on. I think he is asking is there a way to tell if Fox F'ed up or not?
Well, if it rides like $hit, isn't it obvious?

Just buy an Ohlins and be done with it.
 
Hi All...

I have a six month old (not much used over winter) Sniper XC. All has been good, other than setting sag and fiddling a bit with rebound damping, I haven’t paid it too much attention – it’s just worked.

However, two nights ago I locked it out for the 3 mile ride to the trails, unlocked as I got there and…pffffft. Lost virtually all air pressure. Rode home on the almost bottomed out shock as there was still a tiny bit of pressure in there.

Pumped it up when I got back, it held fine overnight and then for the ride I did last night. Obviously did a lot of fiddle with the 3 position lever to see if the issue would re-occur. It didn't.

Is this a known thing? Unsure how to proceed at the moment as I can’t reproduce it.
 
Hi All...

I have a six month old (not much used over winter) Sniper XC. All has been good, other than setting sag and fiddling a bit with rebound damping, I haven't paid it too much attention - it's just worked.

However, two nights ago I locked it out for the 3 mile ride to the trails, unlocked as I got there and…pffffft. Lost virtually all air pressure. Rode home on the almost bottomed out shock as there was still a tiny bit of pressure in there.

Pumped it up when I got back, it held fine overnight and then for the ride I did last night. Obviously did a lot of fiddle with the 3 position lever to see if the issue would re-occur. It didn't.

Is this a known thing? Unsure how to proceed at the moment as I can't reproduce it.
I'd check to make sure the schrader valve in the air port is tight and that air can is screwed on all the way and didn't back off a bit. If those check out, probably do an air can service. The air can kit is about $15 and easy to do.
 
Hi All...

I have a six month old (not much used over winter) Sniper XC. All has been good, other than setting sag and fiddling a bit with rebound damping, I haven't paid it too much attention - it's just worked.

However, two nights ago I locked it out for the 3 mile ride to the trails, unlocked as I got there and…pffffft. Lost virtually all air pressure. Rode home on the almost bottomed out shock as there was still a tiny bit of pressure in there.

Pumped it up when I got back, it held fine overnight and then for the ride I did last night. Obviously did a lot of fiddle with the 3 position lever to see if the issue would re-occur. It didn't.

Is this a known thing? Unsure how to proceed at the moment as I can't reproduce it.
I would do what gasman said, but then if the schrader valve is all good I would call Fox and see what they say before servicing your air can.

Until then ride with a shock pump just in case.
 
I'm getting a knocking/creaking noise on my Sniper T anytime I pedal with a fair amount of power. It happens both in and out of the saddle and with both sides of the pedal stroke. I'm nearly certain it's coming from the rear end.

I've loosened, cleaned, and re-torqued all pivot bolts to spec. Pulled cranks and cleaned them.

It almost seems like I'm getting some flex during the hard pedal strokes and the knocking sound is happening then. I'm 6'3" 205 lbs and a pretty strong rider, for what it's worth.

Any ideas on other things to check?
 
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