Followed up on this today at my local shop. They hadnt seen it before but got on the phone with another location with a Fox certified technician. He confirmed it was a known issue that Fox would repair under warranty. No formal recall as I guess it effects a small number of units. 3 week turn around time for the shock means I'll be waiting on having it done, but pleased to hear it is a known issue with a fix.

 

Hello oab1
Have they fixed the shock problem?
I cant believe myself I have bought another Trek after my last 2011 Fuel that was pure crap!
How do these guys stay in business coming with these gimmicks?
We have Push, TFT, Vorsprug and some other great tuners and they go to Penske that has nothing to do with bike sus ... oh Trek this is the last time Trek sees my money.

 

So this is not a Trek issue but a suspension company that only has a small number of issues. Penske has PLENTY of knowledge with suspension systems so I think that the tech is there. But it was a pairing with Penske and Fox/RS so they were involved in it together. I think it is a little unfair to blame a brand based on a third party product.

I assume oab1 got the issue fixed though. This was something Fox was willing to handle and they take care of their products such as Trek does.

 

@easterside so Trek has a small number of issues?
https://www.google.com/search?q=trek+re:aktiv+clunk&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
Even new bikes send for reviews have been plagued with this
https://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/...gory/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/trek-fuel-ex-97-review-51151/
Trek even has made some racalls for the knocking Reaktiv shocks
FOX and RS have proven that have good products to!
Penske has plenty of knowledge

..... so I am beeing left with a turd.

And this is the reason that in the late years the market has been taken over by companies like Canyon and YT ..... they are not doing stupid "custom" tech that constrain you to be their puppet.
Trek is doing custom 141 boost, 197 e2e shock(3mm shorter thatn comonly used 200) ABP bearings that have custom size bearings(chineese ones only available from Trek) and so on.

So by continuing to do this trickery, my expectation for them is ... to go bust and maybe get bought by a Chinese company for pennys.

 

Cool you can use google. You realize how many bikes Trek sells right? I bet the issue rate is below 5%.

 

There are not too many posts regarding it but I do understand it was on certain Fox shocks. And have you not been to your LBS? They have the means of replacing the damper which Fox sends out (then you're not left with a turd unless you want to make it one).

 

I have not attempted to have it fixed yet. The bike is actually riding really well, so I don't find that it is more than a nuisance. I would certainly like to have it fixed, but i'm waiting I wont mind the 2-3 week downtime.

I also agree it seems to be a Fox issue, and perhaps not even unique to the "re:aktiv" shocks as I have read some others have similar issues with their DPS units. I will admit the re:aktiv tuning isnt so noticeable to me on this bike, and i tend to use the lockout anyway, but it was a pretty staggering improvement riding the re:aktiv shock on the Fuel 9.9.

 

Sent my reactive shock from my topfuel to Dirtlabs in colorado. My shock had a bit of resistance off the top and I could feel it slightly while on the bike. Explained this to the guys at dirtlabs and they said they know what I was was explaining. They overhauled it and turned for better small bump compliance and it came back awesome! Felt totally different while still have an excellent pedal platform. I highly recommend them.

 

Oh wow, that is good information. Thanks for chiming in. Nice to know someone other than fox may be able to repair/improve it.

Can you elaborate a bit more on the symptoms you had? Did it feel sloppy or clunky off the top at all? Mine feels like a bit of free play, both in the initial stroke and again when transition back from compression to extension.

 

Josh, just cut it ...
Trek bicycle store Bezons 95-La Défense paris- velo trek route, VTT, VTC et accessoires de qualité - information SAV
Use the uber cool Google mentioned by you and translate it if french is a no go.

 

Service bulletin ≠ recall. Very different things. One involves the government, one does not. You can find that on google too..

 

BINGO. You get a cookie for telling the mans right.

Hmm. I wonder why they would use a valve like Re:Aktiv in the compression circuit of a mountain bike rear shock instead of the rebound.

Absolutely baffling!

You sir are fantastic.

 

Psh. What does Penske know about suspension? They are only one of the most well known premier developers of suspension systems on the most sophisticated race cars in the world.

Stupid Trek.

 

@DethWshBkr ya ... maybe thats why in race cars they are using this on the rebount circuit and on bike shocks are using it on the compression circuit, ya for bike anything will do.

The highlighted spring and shims are probably the culprit for the clunkines

 

@DethWshBkr ya ... maybe thats why in race cars they are using this on the rebount circuit and on bike shocks are using it on the compression circuit, ya for bike anything will do.

Hmm. I wonder why they would use a valve like Re:Aktiv in the compression circuit of a mountain bike rear shock instead of the rebound.

Absolutely baffling!

 

Oab1, shock didn't clunk or make noise audible. It was like it stuck very slightly anywhere in the travel. Example..I would lean over the bike and place my torso on the seat and use downward force to compress the shock. It did not at all very gradually and fluidly move. It was like it would reach a point and the all of a sudden release tension on the stachtion and move. Did this anywhere within its travel. The newer treks and other models did not do this. Dirtlabs told me that there was probably a valve tune change on newer models. Mine was an early 2017 9.8. Anyway they knew exactly what I was describing and told me they would tune for small bump compliance. Came back way way better. Still same great pedal platform with no pedal bob. I highly recommend you call them. They are super cool to talk and work with.

 

Oh it had always done this even when new. Kinda concerned me early on but thought that was the way it was designed being "reactiv"

 

Hey 1lawnman, thanks. That sounds very similar to mine. Started from new, and I noticed it is in fact sticky from anywhere in the travel. The transition from stuck to moving is the sensation I'm calling clunky. Mostly notice it on the initial hit, and again when changing direction to return to sag height.

I sent DirtLabs an email. Will gladly go that route if they can do something similar for me. What was the turn around time for you?

@adamyg, that very well could be. Where did you get that diagram? It certainly looks like the reactive valve, but I'm not too familiar with it. and if that is the case, are you essentially converting it to a DPS unit by "fixing" it?

 

48 hr turnaround. Not included shipping time to and from

 

Well unfortunately it is true that the parts needed to repair the issue with the re:aktiv shock are no longer being produced by Fox. So there is no fix available anymore. I was recommended moving on to the DPS shock.

I notice the 2019 models come with a DPS with trunion mount. I might try to get the bike shop to source me one of those.

Otherwise, Im not sure why you couldn't use a metric shock (165mm x 40mm is only 2mm more travel, maybe you can change the bump stop in the shock?)

 

So the BIG famous super brands called FOX and Trek have pulled the plung on us!
Anyway, as 1lawnman said, Dirtlabs seem to be really nice and very supportive but unfortunatley they cant source the Reaktive re-engineered parts.

So as I said before, the turd is on us, Trek belivers.

Now I know why all my friends ride on YT's an Canyon's. Here in Europe Trek is almost disappeared.

Also, how could you go to a DPS, as the eyelet bulkhead of the DPS doesnt fit.

 

The smartassnes on this topic is over the bars.
But this is much appreciated coming from fellow riders ... I just hope you get the same giz when you'll need it!

Anyway, Dirtlabs are working on a replacement for this "discountinued" 1 year old shock so maybe we'll get some good news. I dont know if its a completley new shock or maybe just a new piston.

Also regarding replacing this with a stock DPS there might be a problem with a raised BB witch is allready a bit high.
A 3 mm on the eye 2 eye will translate in a 8ish mm like BB raise, and this is considerable. Also the HA will get close to a XC machine.

 

Sooo I have some good news for myself. Just fixed my clunkin Reaktiv Trek shock

 

So my fix was to buy a proper bike, see attached
Al I can say to myself is "What was on your mind buying a Trek .. aka Turd?"

So the Spectral is:
- cheaper
- lighter
- better geometry(proper cockpit with shorter stem not XCish like Trek, slacker 67 HA, short 425 chainstay and better pedaling seat tube angle. Proper BB height)
- proper spec DT wheelset with 35internal and ~400g lighter than the cheap stupid flexy Bontrager Duster)
- Full XT
- Propper Conti tires that actually grip.
- suspension actually works as it should.

With Trek, you get:
I have seen on these forums that people go and buy a Trek with one thing in mind ... upgrading it.
They know from the start that they need to change the cheap wheels and tires, change the dropper post and the rear shocks.

So you get an already expensive Trek need lots of $$$ to get it fixed from the start.
In the end you get a Santa Cruz'ish price wise bike that is just average bloat.

Also seen these days they are pulling the plug on the Full Floater(marketing crap) justifying that current shocks are much better these days ) ..... boy these guys at Trek have big balls!

And almost forgot ...
Canyon actually will get a response to you if you send them an email.
Trek on the other hand choose to hide their heads in the sand.

 

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!

 

My ass is the only thing you will see of me on the trail comrade .. coz as of now I have a bike.

 

I am glad you found something that meets your needs. Coming here, among many people who get along with that very bike quite well, and spewing your BS is not doing you, or anyone, any favors.

 

So me talking about my real experience lets call it "BS" about a crappy OBJECT offends you as person? Just because you also have a Trek? This is childish ... al your replys are directed to me as a person and none regarding to the problem discussed on this topic.

Thats the point of these topics and forums, to talk your good experiences and bad ones. To ask for opinions and hopefully get advices from felow riders.

Also, if you get along ok with that bike, thats great for you, enjoy it ... but this is a topic of people that DONT GET ALONG WITH IT, and I repeat myself if needed ... TREK is doing crap marketing ... not bikes!

 

This is childish ...

ut:

 

After reading your posts I’m clearly a blessed man having such good luck with Trek.

Best luck to ya buddy.

 

So, after research I have found that FOX has issued a service bulletin to address the clunk in these shocks.
The service bulletin states that after replacing the piston housing(not easy to find part) with a version that has some different machining to it, the shock will get less clunking in middle and ferm setting also offering better mid-stroke support.
All in all, it will still suck in open mode.

 

You're still here?