| Size | Shot put | Finishing | Price |
| 205x65mm | 659 gr. | Kashima | €988 |
The Fox Float X2 Factory rear shock is Fox's top of the range air product. Alongside it, there is the spring-loaded DHX2 model. The model under test is equipped with the 2Pos-Adjust lever which allows you to open and close the shock absorber, excellent from an Enduro perspective. We tested the 205×65 version with metric Trunnion mount.
FEATURES
| MEASUREMENTS (2-position Adjust Lever) | |
|---|---|
| Imperial Sizes | 7.875 2.0 x / x 8.5 2.5 |
| Metric Sizes (NEW 2021 model) | 210 x 50 / 210 x 52.5 / 210 x 55 / 230 x 57.5 / 230 x 60 / 230 x 62.5 / 230 x 65 |
| ADJUSTMENTS |
|---|
| 2-position Open/Firm lever |
| High-speed compression – 8 clicks |
| Low-speed compression – 16 clicks |
| High-speed rebound (w/VVC) – 8 clicks |
| Low-speed rebound – 16 clicks |
The shock absorber has adjustment at high and low speeds in both compression and rebound: high speeds have 8 clicks while low speeds have 16 clicks. This applies to both rebound and compression.
Its body has been redesigned with a new air spring which, according to Fox, requires fewer volume reducer spacers to achieve the same progressiveness as the previous model.
The structural rigidity of the shock body has been improved thanks to internal fins, but also to reduce hysteresis (where the shock valves open slower than the oil flow causing them to open, resulting in valve flex) . It has a new progressive “bumper” that slows the compression rate as the shock approaches bottoming.
FIELD TEST
I tested the Float X2 Factory rear shock on the Cannondale Jekyll 1 (there has been a way to use it in the past too on the older generation Jekyll). Such Jekyll 1 uses a high pivot design which makes the entire structure very sensitive yet progressive. It should be noted that on this bike, access to high speeds is difficult (like on other frames): to access it, you have to remove the lower plastic.
I used the default setup with a volume reducer spacer. It is certainly not easy to test a shock absorber and isolate it from the functioning of the bike itself: each shock absorbing scheme has its own history and could enhance a shock absorber or clip its wings. Maybe it's not always the fault of the shock absorber but of the damping scheme.
After riding for months with this shock absorber I can only say that it has so many adjustments that you can slowly find your ideal configuration. Always if you have sensitivity.
Thanks to the help of Enrico Rodella (BYB Telemetry) I was able to get some information to best adjust the shock absorber because I admit that even I, after a certain number of tests, began to no longer understand what gave me more advantage and what less. This is the advantage/disadvantage of having many adjustments in an ammo: if you are a biker who rides once a week, the risk of finding yourself fiddling with the adjustments, without any real meaning, is tangible.
With Enrico from BYB we understood that opening all the registers is not the solution: ok, at first you feel like the bike is softer (thank the fuck a friend of mine would say) but the hydraulics don't work very well. What's the point of buying a €1000 shock absorber if we then open everything up? If instead we close the registers a little we allow the hydraulics to work.
I have seen many testers open all the registers and put more tokens: in my opinion the best way is not this but to lower the air pressure a little, close the registers a little and not exaggerate with the tokens in order to work the suspension better. I'm having this modus operandi with modern suspensions which are reaching different levels from the suspensions of years ago.
The range of adjustments works well and you can hear perceptible differences by changing various clicks on the registers, both on the return and in the compression. This is without prejudice to whether you are a sensitive biker or accustomed to such adjustments. Of note is the very difficult position of returning to high speeds: on some frames, such as the Jekyll, it is difficult to achieve.
The bottoming resistance is excellent: certainly thanks to the bike too but we have never had bottoming problems or, if they did, we didn't notice them. The progressiveness of the shock absorber is so well managed that the bottom strokes have a muffled feeling.
The 2Pos-Adjust block proved effective in stopping unwanted suspension movements induced by pedaling: it is not a total block but useful for asphalt links or forest roads.
This product is born well supported: but it can be an advantage as well as a disadvantage. If you are a heavy biker, or one who rides hard, you will appreciate the fact that the shock is well supported and performs well. If, however, you are a light biker, or not too "daredevil", you may find yourself riding with all the registers open because it is excessively damped.
| Particular signs | ADJUSTMENTS Like many top-of-the-range suspensions, we find high and low speed adjustments for both compression and rebound, as well as an open/closed lockout. |
| + | Fantastic throughout its run Infinite and clearly distinguishable adjustments If you ride fast, you don't need many changes as you already have a racing approach |
| - | The many adjustments put non-expert users in difficulty The basic compression curve is too strong for light people or those who "don't ride big" It is difficult to access the return (high speeds) on some frames |
HOW MUCH DO THE FOX FLOAT X2 FACTORY COST?
There are various sizes of the Float X2: the Kashima (Factory) model varies from €945 to €988 (in testing).
THE VERDICT
A top of the range product for demanding bikers
The Fox Float X2 Factory shock is undoubtedly one of the best upgrades to improve your performance. But this is only if you are a biker who knows what you need: the many adjustments are useful if you are a sensitive biker otherwise the risk of messing around without finding meaning is real. If you are a non-evolved or light biker, you may not find all the advantages offered by this platform.
MORE INFORMATION TO THE OFFICIAL SITE
