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Progressive Suspension
5th Element Air
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Average Rating
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2.91/5
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# of Reviews
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127
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MSRP
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Weight
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Description:
- Lightest aftermarket shock on the market - SUB 200 grams, for the 6.5” eye to eye length.
- Uses 5th Element™ CV/t™ (Control alve Technology) as used in the 5th Element™ coil shock.
- Adjustable Platform Damping™ eliminates need for a lock out system as used in other shocks.
- Adjustable rebound damping allows for refined traction and handling capabilities.
- Spherical ball joints in both mounting eyelets insure smooth action & improved durability, even on commonly found misaligned frame mounts.
- Lowest compression ratio allows for more usable travel.
- CV/t™ and a new technology air spring piston utilize the industries lowest air spring pressures for an incredibly smooth ride and long seal life.
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Submitted by
Mike Reynolds
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Peak District | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Schrader inflation valves diameter undersize,tons of pedal bob,loses air after a 1 fooy drop | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Enduro Expert | | Bottom Line: | I have 2 of these shocks both have failed,5th element replaced the first shock with no fuss, The inflation valve threads are very poor fit,so much so i have to use ptfe tape in order to reach the max pressure.. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry Monas
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All of em | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Colorado cyclist | | Strengths: | Wide range of adjustability (when it was working!) | | Weaknesses: | Not robust at all! After about 1 year of weekend riding the thing won't hold air and the negative airspring does almost nothing. I understand progressive is out of the MTB biz and they aren't really supporting this flimsy product. After e-mailing them I was told a rebuild would be $150. I'm saving the dough for a FOX RP3. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock shox, Marzocchi, Manitou, | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Blur, XT, FOX Talas, Mavic wheelset, | | Bottom Line: | I got a few rides of excellent performance, but that good feeling has faded now that my suspension is sub par and I'm probably going to have to shell out around $300 for a FOX. I would avoid this shock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Molan
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane,Qld,Australia
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Chainreaction cycle | | Strengths: | dont know it failed before first ride | | Weaknesses: | both air chambers leak - cannot ride more then 20 meters without total deflation. | | Similar Products Used: | nil first full suspension bike | | Bike Setup: | Mountain cycle zen, Marzochhi XC700 forks, Mavic Crosstrail with IRC Serac UST tyres, Shimano XTR brakes and mechs, raceface deus cranks,Xpedo Mountain Force pedals | | Bottom Line: | just doesnt hold air pressure | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phill Jung
a Cross Country Rider
from Piermont, NY 10968
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Too Many | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with Bike | | Strengths: | Light weight | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla | | Bike Setup: | Pushed Fox Fork, Heckler, Race Face, Avid disk | | Bottom Line: | I never really got it. The 5th element has always worked wonderful for me. I'm not hucking my bike, but I tend to really beat on it and the shock has never given me a single problem in the last two years. The shock got nothing but stellar reviews when it came out. You can pick one up new for next to nothing because of the negative reviews left on MTBR and I would highly recomend doing so. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a
from Morgan Hill
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with Frame | | Strengths: | Light weight, IFP compression adjustment really works, makes pedaling uphill a breeze. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to set IFP pressure as the volume is so small. 3 pumps and you are maxed. You lose about 25psi when you take off the chuck. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox RP3, Cane Creek AD5 | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Cycle Zen XC Setup | | Bottom Line: | This shock came with the frame which I got super cheap on Ebay brand new. First off progressive put the wrong valve cores in the schrader valves. They were too short so the shock pump would not register when attached. I filed down the outer lip of the valve so the core would be in the right place. Problem solved for 0 dollars.The shock has worked as it should but I find any IFP pressure at all ruins small bump compliance. Just not happy with the feel. I am replacing it with my old AD5 which I had leftover from a broken frame. Cane Creek is sending me the correct bushings for $20 and the AD5 is plush and the easiest shock to work on in the world. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from tn
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on my bike | | Strengths: | none. | | Weaknesses: | everything about this shock is a weakness. | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Iron Horse Azure World Cup | | Bottom Line: | P.O.S. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ken cockrum
a Cross Country Rider
from denver
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | denver front range, all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Came with Intense Spyder Free.
5 grams lighter than fox r3? who gives a S#!+. | | Weaknesses: | Not A Fox.
Leaked Oil after 5 rides, hard to keep air pressures up. Makes weird noises going downhill, sounds like a Dying seal. | | Similar Products Used: | None, this is my first full susp. bike | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Thompson, Fox talas rlc front, V-brakes | | Bottom Line: | Works great if you are the type to buy a bike and ride it once, but if you plan on using your bike at all, replace this shock immediately or upgrade the frame before purchasing.
15 years of buying high end bikes and bike components tells me that Proggresive is getting away with selling CRAP! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin foat
a
from kent, england
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | palma majorca | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | not sturdy enough | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz sl | | Bottom Line: | ok so im riding trails rockier and bumpier in majorcian sunshine but it must be a design fault of how the piston is attatched to the pivot pins,whilst riding along the street and turning right i heard i clunk noise on inspection the front pivot point was clean out off its poor excuse for a housing having what seems 2 'o' holding it in the centre,so unless im missing 4,'front and back' substantial parts to keep the piston in place i cannot believe the good reviews this probuct has recieved | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin foat
a
from kent, england
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | palma majorca | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | not sturdy enough | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz sl | | Bottom Line: | ok so im riding trails rockier and bumpier in majorcian sunshine but it must be a design fault of how the piston is attatched to the pivot pins,whilst riding along the street and turning right i heard i clunk noise on inspection the front pivot point was clean out off its poor excuse for a housing having what seems 2 'o' holding it in the centre,so unless im missing 4,'front and back' substantial parts to keep the piston in place i cannot believe the good reviews this probuct has recieved | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Burkholz
a Cross Country Rider
from Menomonee Falls, WI,53051
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | John Muir/EmmaCarlin | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | E Bay | | Bottom Line: | I brroke neg air stem off. My mistake. I called Progressive to see about repair. They gave me an RA # and rough estimate of cost to repair. I sent it in and what do you know? Two weeks later it arrived as e-mail resonse indicated it would. No Charge! I don't know if you nay sayers didn't follow the simple instructions or if progressive improved C.S. but I'm totally stoked on them. Plus the shock is the baddest, lightest X.C. shock going. Keep up the great work! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
neil
a
from scotland
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This shock came stock on my Iron Horse hollowpoint. I bought the bike nervous I would soon have to replace the shock having seen many negative reviews on here. So far so good though. I've ridden maybe 3 times a week for the best part of a year, mostly trail type riding with a bit of light freeride stuff and (cowardly) downhill chucked in for good measure. I'm not doing anything bigger than maybe a 4t drop but I do a lot of things of that sort of size on the daily rides.
During this time the shock has operated perfectly with no servicing at all, it holds pressure as set and has never lost any when I've checked it - still rides like new today. I don't know if there was one bad batch, or I got lucky, but (so far) mine has been excellent - no complaints.
The IFP chamber really works well too - it took me a bit of jigging with the pressures but it now smooths out what little pedal bob made it through the bikes linkage while still feeling super smooth on the descents.
And it's light. | | Weaknesses: | ??? Maybe it'll suddenly break.... | | Similar Products Used: | Nowt. | | Bottom Line: | While I would be very scared to spend money on this thing - given that many people seem to have had them blow up - I can't fault mine, it's been excellent so far, seems reliable, plush and durable. Would I buy another one though - not sure..... the horror stories would probably send me fox's way despite how good mine has been. ratings below are assuming you get lucky and get a good one like mine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Ellensburg, WA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Freud Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Recycle Shop | | Strengths: | It looked good on the bike. IT felt great for the first few weeks. Adjustments were made easly. Soaked up all the bumps. | | Weaknesses: | For the first few days it worked great. Then it would not hold air in one of the chambers. The next day it did hold air, but after a long hard ride neither chamber seemed to function properly. The small chamber (ib) would hold 0 pounds of pressure, while the larger one would only hold about 40 ibs of pressure. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Float R | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Specialized Enduro Expert | | Bottom Line: | I got a great deal on the 05 enduro expert from specialized. Over all its a great bike, except when it comes to the rear shock. This is my second specialized bike and I am dissapointed that they would allow a bad shock which is know for problems to be sold on their bikes. So far my bike has spent more time in the shop then at my own house. Hopefully when I get the shock back it wont go to crap. If it does I hope that specialized will make it right and give me a different shock for my bike. But if not I will take by buisness somewhere else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sal
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. 7, BC , Canada | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | mtbr | | Strengths: | The shock makes my Jamis feel like it has 5 inches of travel. Super plush. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Fox float, Cane Creek Ad-5, 12 | | Bottom Line: | The best air shock I've owned, just bought another one for my now xcis 30lb. Bullit | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
francois allaire
a Weekend Warrior
from dolbeau-mistassini
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | les crans | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Very light, Good adjustable pedaling platform. Large main chamber makes it easy to fine tune for any rider's weight | | Weaknesses: | Makes a bunch of noise on the rebound. Also the rebound knob seems to be garbage, it got may turns and you hardly notice any changes even with some turns.
My shock is sprigny, maybe because of the rebound knob being so trash. | | Similar Products Used: | manitou swinger, fox float | | Bottom Line: | This is a pretty lightweight shock that can take a lot of abuse. Mine makes quite a lot of noise on the rebound and the rebound knob itself is pretty bad to use at all. If this shock came stock on your bike, fine and learn to tune it. If you're looking for an aftermarket shock, i would suggest a manitou swinger air. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
anthony
a Downhiller
from Stamford, CT
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | mt creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Super light, mine is tough (its taken 7-8ft drops, scared to push it any further tho) | | Weaknesses: | rebound is shot to hell, | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Specialized Enduro Expert, Sram X-9 drivetrain, sun MTX front rim, Hollzfeller Stem, ZuZu pedals, Chunder Pro tires, e-thirteen drs. | | Bottom Line: | For an air shock its tough. I've seen it in videos on an sx (not trail) version doing drops bigger than mine to tranny (i land somewhat flat). My rebound control is totally useless. Im riding a pogostick on wheels. im only running 115psi in the main chamber, and 110 in the rear pedaling champer and its still springy. The knob does nothing to change the feeling. Probably a defect, so ill be sending it back to get fixed once my Fox DHX comes in. I will be keeping this shock for XC use because its incredibly light. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Raul Hevia
a
from Ivins, UT
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock Trail, Moab, UT | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Standard Equipment with Specialized Enduro | | Strengths: | Simple adjusting, good performing shock, light. | | Weaknesses: | Not strong enough, design flaws has made this shock to bust twice on 2 different shocks.
Unreliable.
Specialized is no longer offering this shock with their Enduros. They are offering the Fox DHX Air and are offering a discounted price for those who got the Enduro with a 5th Element if you want to replace it. | | Similar Products Used: | plenty of them to list. | | Bike Setup: | Enduro S Works, Fox RC 36 fork, xt, xtr components and WTB Weirwolf 2.3 super rocking tire!! Sun Rims, on and on... | | Bottom Line: | Dissapointed on durability, although the shock performs well under extreme trail conditions. I ride mostly in St. George, UT area. Trails are rocky, technical and demanding. Bikes take a pounding here.
The first shock that came with the bike would not hold air for the rebound chamber the first day I bought the bike. The shop Red Rock Bicycles gave me a new one of a new bike to replace it. Those people rock! The replacement shock lasted 5 months of use 3 times/ week average for 5 months, and started leaking oil so its been sent to Progressive for repair. They are good about warranty, but, they are not particularly quick to get it done. They got the shock and said they would get to it within 9 days and either rebuild it or replace it. Add shipping time to it and you are out 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. A bit aggravating.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cory W
a Downhiller
from Phoenix, AZ, US
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | light
durable (in my case)
good platform
adjustments are awesome | | Weaknesses: | I could not find any except maybe more ramp up at end of stroke | | Bike Setup: | SC heckler | | Bottom Line: | have literally beaten this for over a year and never serviced it and it rides like new. I was a stickler about air pressure but i still did 32 foot doubles and 2 10 foot drops with good landers. this along with countless DH courses and xc races and it still rides like new.
Guess i just got lucky | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
marco righetti
a Weekend Warrior
from bellshill scotland UK
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | red route glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | alpine bikes glasgow | | Strengths: | this is a follow up review from below :lightweight | | Weaknesses: | it simply does not work for me!its failed 3 times! and thats after 3 attempts at sorting it.
symptoms:it works great for months and then when you try to compress the shock it compresses and then takes hours to extend back, its obviousley an internal problem: perhaps it doesnt like my 220 lbs or the trek fuel set up?? | | Similar Products Used: | CK cloud-9 :never lets me down but its not stable platform tech and consequently bobs when riding on the flat. | | Bike Setup: | trek top fuel | | Bottom Line: | i wanted to like this shock as my friend at the lbs highly recommends it as he has not had problems with his but its just not for me so my second choice of spt shock is the dt swiss hvr200 which i will be getting soon hopefully! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Racer
from colorado springs, CO USA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with intense frame | | Strengths: | lightest shock i have ever felt, however thats its weakness!!! | | Weaknesses: | within three weeks of average (not agressive) riding, it leaked oil, lost air, and had about 10% dead travel with a nice clanking sound! | | Similar Products Used: | fox rc, manitou 3, and 4 way air, 6 way coil, fox rl air | | Bike Setup: | 5.5 vpp Great bike! | | Bottom Line: | this shock came with the bike, and within a few weeks of normal riding, it had all the problems listed above. i work at a bike shop, so i called progressive, and sent the shock in immedtiatly. luckily they did warranty it, HOWEVER it took TWO (2) MONTHS to geth the shock back. no way in hell would i ever recomend this shock, even when this shock was brand new, it did not feel nearly as good as most other shocks. bad product, and horrible customer service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Markham Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Just keeps on working without any problems & feels great | | Weaknesses: | Uuuuuummmmmm................ huh, can't think of any | | Bike Setup: | Santacruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | This thing just keeps going & going without any maintenance. I usually only check the air pressure every six months or so, even if it doesn't need it (and it never does). What can I say....... this thing is a great shock. I think that all of the bad reviews must be from a first production run. Oh yah, I also know a guy that has one of these on a Heckler (he beats the crap out of it) and has never had a problem in two years either. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Memphis, TN
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Stanky Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | ChainWheel in Little Rock, AR | | Strengths: | Silky smooth response. Holds air - I don't even know how long it will hold air because I reset the pressure (125psi big chamber, 95psi little chamber) about once a week. I can tell you that I reset the pressure even though the shock feels just fine - so it is probably holing air longer than a week's time. | | Weaknesses: | I was pretty worried about it due to the negative reviews... but they have been unfounded based on my experience. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox RP3 | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur (2005), Fox RL 80 fork, XTR/XT components, Egg Beaters, Easton carbon fiber bar | | Bottom Line: | Like I said, I was worried about the negative reviews at first. I was buying the Blur frame and I wanted to upgrade the shock and I was going to go with the RP3 because of the negatives. The guys at the LBS (ChainWheel in Little Rock) are SUPER knowledgeable and they assured me that they had at least 50 recent 5th Elements out on the trails and have only had like two bad experiences - one from way over pressurizing the shock and one on a really heavy guy (I'm no lightweight myself at about 210lbs, and my shock seems happy enough). They had no vested interest in either shock, but they overwhelmingly recommended the 5th, and I am glad they did. I absolutely love it. Perfect match to the Blur VPP. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bikerdom
a Cross Country Rider
from Milton NH
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$329.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo OEM Frame | | Strengths: | Nice platform dampening. Takes hits well. Set it and forget it. Light weight. Smooth. No noise. Never had any issues. | | Weaknesses: | None after TWO years of use without any servicing, rebuilds, etc... | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Float RL & Vanilla R & Float RL AVA & Vanilla RC, RockShox Sid & Bar, Manitou Swinger & Radium R, Cane Creek AD-10, | | Bike Setup: | Weyless XP w/ 5inch travel with Progressive 5th Element Air Easton RAD tubing, XT Disc Brakes(4 piston) & XT Tubeless wheelset & XT spline crankset/BB & XT Fr. derailleur, Sram XO shifter & rear derailleur, WTB SST98 Ti rail saddle, RaceFace SyStem & XY Post,'05 Marzocchi All Mountain SL 130mm travel, FSA DH Pig Pro headset, LP composites DH5 Carbon bars, Time DH pedals Sram chain, Marzocchi intergrated fender | | Bottom Line: | Perfect Single Pivot Shock!!! This was an OEM shock on a 2004 Supergo Weyless XP frame. I hadn't owned one(5th element) yet but had tested the 5th Element coil overs on some Santa Cruz bikes. First of all the Weyless XP kicks butt and between a great quality frame(which was a great surprise from Supergo)and rockin' shock I became a cycling NON-SNOB. Bikes, I've owned them all! If it's good, it's good and it doesn't matter what the label say's. Great shock! Read the manual and set it per the spec's. and you should be good to go. Mine felt perfect from the start. No sticky striction and Air holds perfectly in both chambers. I ride and have ridden this bike at least three times a week for two years splitting duties with my Rocky. Alls perfect. I might send the shock in over the winter for service because it's way over the recommended hours on it without service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Titus stock | | Strengths: | just over 5000 km! No problems at all. What more can i say?? | | Weaknesses: | Took some time to set-up right. But have it perfect for lots of km's now! | | Similar Products Used: | Non, this is my first full suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer X, SRAM X.0, Magura Ronin 80, Hope Mono Mini, Mavic XC717 Rims, XT cranks hubs & fr.derr. | | Bottom Line: | I've read a lot of reviews here that say it's crap..I DO NOT AGREE! At this moment it is serving me for 5000km's and without any problems. What more could i want from a product? It's pricey, but it proved worth it. There's nothing else i can add to it, it just works! I often check the pressures but it only looses very little over a month or 2, and to me that is most acceptable since other riders i know need more air during th same period. Just thought i'd share my experience with the world...4 value chillies because it still is a lot of $$, but 5 overall 'cause it proved to be worth it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Everywhere! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Reputable UK Dealer | | Strengths: | Nice enough at first... | | Weaknesses: | Its TOTALLY unreliable... must be lousy build quality. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Specialized Enduro Expert | | Bottom Line: | Have had the Enduro 2005 Expert for 3 - 4 months... great bike.
However, the shock is total utter crap! First one was replaced because the annodised coating wore off, second one replaced because the smaller IFP chamber collapsed, third one is now losing its protective annodised coating also... what an absolute joke this thing is!
Ive had all three replaced under warranty so far, less than a week each time. However after going through three of the things Im going to insist that my dealer provides me with a 2006 Enduro spec. Fox DHX Air 5.0 shock which will hopefully last more than a few weeks at a time!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joseph
a Weekend Warrior
from Big D
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Weight, Looks, Adjustability | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Romic coil, Stratos Helix Coil, Stratos Strata Air, Cane creek AD-12, Fox Float, Fox RP3 | | Bike Setup: | Intense 5.5, avid mechanicals, manitou minute, sram 9.0 shifters, X0 deraileur | | Bottom Line: | Some reviews of this product cannot be trusted. Previous reviews have riders that screw up their shock and blame the company for their mistakes. Case in point, a rider knowingly and willingly "Tried to unscrew the rebound knob" to discover what the outer limit is, and when he did the knob came off, oil and air shot out causing his shock to fail. He then blamed 5th element and gave the shock a poor review. In the instructions it states that you are not supposed to unscrew the rebound knob, nor are you to dial it in to the point where it grinds against the shock. It states how many revoultions there should be and what the range of adjustment is and that to go past those points can cause damage, besides once you dial it past certain points the rebound settings will not change past the upper and lower limits.
On to another review where another rider screws up and puts the wrong air pressure in BOTH chambers of the shock. He mistakenly tries to use the SPV/Propedal/IFP valve as the MAIN SPRING, and inflates the main chamber to the SPV/Propedal/IFP setting. Ok, lets review. The SPV chamber is only for filtering out the unwanted bobbing/motion and its PSI is lower than main spring, it is only used to smooth out the ride and not activate the shock when you pedal. The main air spring supports the entire weight of you and the bike and any impact you come across. Now if you were to reverse the two air pressures, of course the shock will fail. The main spring is woefully underinflated and the SPV/Propedal/Whathaveyou chamber is overinflated. So the shock will fail because when you land, you go through the travel, bottom the damn thing out causing internal damage, blown seals, cracked shock bodies and frame damage. ANY SHOCK MANUFACTURER will tell you to properly inflate an air shock and that failure to do so will obviously cause it not to work right. That goes for Fox, Manitou, Rock Shox, Cane Creek, Stratos, and 5th Element. So if you don't know which valve is the main spring and which is the SPV valve, then ask your shop, another rider or better yet read the instructions! You can download them from progressive's website if you don't have them.
So now we have reviews that give 1 chili because the rider does something stupid. I hate to see this product given a bad review because I have used it without problems and can wholeheartedly recommend them. Make sure you have the right pressure in the right chamber, don't try and unscrew the rebound knob. And know that this is an XC shock, its not a downhill shock. So if you go try and huck off 10 ft drops and it blows out, that is your fault. 5th makes a downhill air shock and this ain't it. This is an XC shock and it performs like one. It filters out unwanted pedal motion, it turns single pivot frames that are a bobbing mess of energy sucking sponges into efficient cross country race rigs. It takes already efficient designs and turns them into the pantheon of energy efficiency they were meant to be. And it only takes small turns of the rebound knob to slow or speed up the rebound. A quarter turn and you will have gotten the rebound to your liking. Its not like other shocks where you have to do a full rotation or two to get it to change.
As far as what other reviews have to say about possible shock failure, I cannot say since mine have had no problems whatsoever. Yeah there are shocks that have blown out with proper use, non hucking, and non stupidity. But then again all air shocks, regardless of manufacturer, will blow out from time to time. You can see the reviews of all the air shocks from all the manufacturers and see that all of them have some percentage of failure. That is the nature of the component, using air as a spring because we would rather have a lightweight object than a super heavy but bombproof coil.
The shock gets 5 chilies for performance, and 3 chilies for value. Of course just about all air shocks are expensive, but then again you get what you pay for. Again, I have not had any leaks, no blown seals, it holds air great, and the adjustability really works and is very sensitive to small changes. So bottom line, this shock is not for dummies. It is for an experienced rider who knows it is for racing, trails and general use(not downhill, not hucking, not freeride). If you want to go that route with an air shock you have to get the 5th Element Gravity or Fox DHX Air to get a reliable free ride/downhill air shock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Ringwood,Vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lysterfield Lake (2006 Commonwealth Games) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | WebCycles | | Strengths: | I'll tell you once I have a chance to ride it.. | | Weaknesses: | Leaked air right out of the box - I recieved this shock on my new Intense Spider and it would not hold air for more than 1 hour & this was whilst I was building the frame up!!
I water tested the shock and the fault was a leak from around the valve stem as it enters the shock body. after a phone call to the local 5th element agent I was able to replace the o-ring that was cut during assembly and it's now holding air no problems. | | Similar Products Used: | nil | | Bike Setup: | Intense Spider, full XTR | | Bottom Line: | Whilst I was disapointed that the shock was faulty, a 10 cent o-ring was the only problem (5.0mm I.D. x 1.0mm section). The valve stem un-screws from the shock body with a 3mm allen key which you can get to once you remove the valve. Makes you think that a general service may also be possible to DIY.
The australian agent for 5th Element could not be more helpful, even offering to send me the required part. From other USA reviews maybe the factory needs to take a leaf out of Neezy's book.
My ratings are based on nothing except what it looks like.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Coyne
a Racer
from Cape Town, South Africa
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Effective platform, plush over the bumps | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Float RP3 | | Bike Setup: | Mountain Cycle Zen | | Bottom Line: | Unbelievable performance - 4 inches of travel feels like 5 or more. Have thrown my bike off things I shouldn't have and this shock takes it all. Super-plush on the downhills, and minimal bob on the uphills. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
marco righetti
a Weekend Warrior
from bellshill,lanarkshire,Scotland UK
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | red route glentress forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | alpine bikes Glasgow UK | | Strengths: | its light | | Weaknesses: | i'm afraid this shock is a piece of crap!
at the beginning of august when i pushed the saddle down the shock compressed and wouldnt rebound and there was oil leaking from the red knob, so the lbs sent it back to the service guy and he repaired it with some modifications....i've had it back for one month and its doing the exact same thing again except theres no oil leak....my CK cloud-9 never gave me problems....so this shock is going back and its staying back because i dont want it anymore!!! i want a reliable stable platform technology rear shock so i think i would like to try the dt swiss hvr 200 shock | | Similar Products Used: | CK ad-5 and cloud-9 | | Bike Setup: | 05 trek top fuel | | Bottom Line: | i'm a man that doesnt swear ....so i wont start but i have to say that i'm REALLY dissapointed with this piece of crap!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ANDREW
a Weekend Warrior
from BATON ROUGE, LA. USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | COMITE RIVER AND HOOPER | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | adjustability, tunability, light, and very plush | | Weaknesses: | poor instructions, delicate system, should come with the pump | | Similar Products Used: | none, except an old crappy noleen | | Bike Setup: | stock shock on 2005 ironhorse hollowpoint expert | | Bottom Line: | This shock really is the pinnacle performer when compared with others. It is light and responsive, with a very good platform. The build quality is evident, but it was not designed for mere mortals. I am a 245lb rhino who loves this shock! Here is the real scoop!
When I bought the bike with this shock, I read many polar reviews. The gist is that it is a creamy shock for the five minutes it actually works. Despite the bad press, I rolled the dice. I'm very glad I did....so far.
Being forewarned by mtbr articles, I did not horse the rebound adjustment open, or over-torque the air pump to the valves. Nonetheless, the first ride was disastrous. After adjusting the top chamber to 80psi and the lower to 125psi, the shock collapsed completely after 30 minutes of riding. What an idiot, I thought. I was warned. I got off the bike and walked back to the truck dejected.
When I got home, I was thinking of all the explatives to use to describe this shock to you. I wanted to make sure you did not make my mistake and ignore sage advice. Then I thought to double check the air pressure one more time. Well, it was low. I used my special shock pump to adjust the two chambers again. Since then I have ridden it hard several times without failure or air loss!
I think the lesson here may be that the shock does not register accurate air pressure before or during break-in. The air pressure adjustments should be made c |
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