Levo Gen 3 Second Levo post! Budget air shock upgrade thoughts.

[Jamescoughlan]

My Levo comes with the OEM Rockshox Deluxe Select R.

I’m not that interested in fitting a coil but I like the idea of fit and forget and I want to increase the downhill, hard charging, performance.

With that in mind I was thinking that a reasonably cost effective upgrade could be picking up a new OEM Super Deluxe R off eBay for under £200 and having JTech or TF Tuned fettle it to my bike and riding type/styleeee.

Thoughts and opinions welcome or other suggestions. This has probably been asked a hundred times but everyone seems to want coil.

Cheers

 

[Ridenfool]

Last week I purchased a Jenson Sale page 2022 Fox Factory Float X2 for a very good price.

Next, I found that Fox Service is replacing all 21-23 X2 models with 2024 versions. Just pay shipping. So, I called their Service line to confirm, filled out an online form per their instructions, and sent the brand new, mounted but unridden shock to their Fletcher, NC Service Center.

After talking over my particulars they offered to custom tune Compression and Rebound, and add Volume Spacers, to set it up for my body weight. The tech I worked with rides a Turbo Levo with this shock.

The shock has reviewers using terms such as "coil like" to describe the ride.

 

[mustclime]

Fox float x all day long. Got one used and it’s great for my Kenevo. Blew the fox x2 twice and sold it. Fox claims they fixed the x2 but they seem really cagey on what they fixed. I know the trunion shocks were cracking at the cap and they were blowing one of the two chambers in the shock but all the say is something was redesigned….tired of bata testing for fox.

 

[RebornRider]

Thought and opinion: "Budget" and "Upgrade" are mutually exclusive. Pick one! ;-)

Another opinion: For downhill hard charging, I think your choice of damper is more important than air vs. coil spring. You don't want the oil to get hot and frothy.

 

[mustclime]

Cheap, strong, light….. pick any two(KB)

 

[Jamescoughlan]

Well I went with this in the end after an expensive phone call with TF Tuned!

 

[Oakhills]

Good decision! How do you like the 11/6?

 

[Jamescoughlan]

I only managed one ride so far! Covid and holiday got in the way.

Did a 45km loop and it was great. Somehow managed to be supportive, then buttery smooth on rock gardens and poppy on clearing doubles and trail features. Quite an achievement on a heavy bike, ridden hard.

£850 built to my weight/bike/riding style so not cheap but won’t need servicing every year and I got a new Levo carbon for “only” £3400 so my man maths made amazing sense…

 

[irie]

Fox float x all day long. Got one used and it’s great for my Kenevo. Blew the fox x2 twice and sold it. Fox claims they fixed the x2 but they seem really cagey on what they fixed. I know the trunion shocks were cracking at the cap and they were blowing one of the two chambers in the shock but all the say is something was redesigned….tired of bata testing for fox.

But still peeps keep buying these Fox shocks and are surprised when the shocks shit themselves!

 

[Ridenfool]

But still peeps keep buying these Fox shocks and are surprised when the shocks shit themselves!

Considering they have been building premium suspension for motorcycles, trucks, race cars, and mountain bikes for decades, it seems unlikely that Fox doesn't have the resources to make this right. It took a while, but Fox completely redesigned the shock to address the problems and serve their customers.

Do you know of anyone who has had problems with the re-engineered* 2024 Factory Float X2?

This is the one that Fox is swapping out for anyone's 2021-2023 Factory Float X2 model, for the cost of shipping.

* Here's the laundry list of changes on the 2024 model from their site:

NEW base valve piston design and compression tune for increased damping performance and improved sensitivity

NEW bearing housing seal package virtually eliminates possibility of aeration

NEW scraper seal for improved durability

NEW more robust eyelet design on trunnion models

NEW 7000 series shock body on all models

NEW hard chrome damper shaft finish for increased durability

MCU bottom-out bumper for end-stroke progressivity

Matching 8-click HSC and HSR adjustment on GRIP2 forks and X2 shocks

Unrivaled high-speed rebound tunability via VVC (Variable Valve Control)

Independent firm mode circuit (on models with 2-position switch)

Finned inner body for improved structural rigidity and reduced hysteresis

 

[mustclime]

It’s a twin tube shock with twice as many seals. Twice as many seals = twice the number of seals to blow. You will also need to service more often. Sorry, I will stick with the Float X.

 

[Ridenfool]

It’s a twin tube shock with twice as many seals. Twice as many seals = twice the number of seals to blow. You will also need to service more often. Sorry, I will stick with the Float X.

To be completely honest, I've ridden MTB since before suspension was a thing, and in all the time I've spent riding a suspension MTB I have never had a seal failure, nor serviced a shock or fork of any brand, and I've not paid someone to. Sometimes I'll wake up in a cold sweat, screaming over nightmares about a suspension seal failure, but a stiff drink usually settles the mood.

Ok, there was an early Cane Creek shock that was so easy to take apart that I did once lube the seals, and I may have changed the oil once on a Marzocchi Bomber Coil a couple of decades ago because viscosity was the only way to alter the damping. This was back before they invented suspension knobs and screws.

A bike will last me eight or ten years and I've always been amazed how none, from many manufacturers, have ever leaked or failed. I have broken frames, spokes, and drivetrain parts. FWIW, I am fastidious about keeping the dust seals wiped down between rides. That, and I always open doors for the ladies. Maybe I just have karma working for me. (posting this should jinx that, right)

I do expect a similar experience with the X2. We'll see how that goes. I have read through the service manual and do agree it is a complex piece of engineering and fascinating to see how it works. The Vorsprung video comparing the earlier X2 internals to the Double Barrel from Cane Creek was illuminating as well, but is now dated.

This in no way is meant to take away from your being happy with the X.

Happy trails.

 

[mustclime]

All I am saying is I bought a Fox X2 for my Kenevo ( had to clearance the frame for it btw), the x2 lost all rebound damping in 4 hours of riding. The shop I bought the shock from set the shock back to fox, they took 3 weeks to turn it around and sent me a new shock. That new x2 lasted 10 hour of riding before it started “clunking “ . The shop look it apart and found the oil completely filled with air(fox foam) and sent the shock back to fox. Fox took 6 weeks to turn the shock around and sent me a new shock that sold I for $350. I took that money and bought a Fox float x that now has well over 100 hours on it with no issues. With the money lost on the x2, I spent $700 for a float x, I am just putting this out there so maybe others don’t suffer the same loss.

Oh, BTW, customer service and Fox racing can not be used in the same sentence with out using the word “sucks”. Fox has become so big they just don’t care anymore. I spent hours on hold and weeks waiting for them to reply to e mails. Just don’t bother, fox has no customer service.

 

[Ridenfool]

All I am saying is I bought a Fox X2 for my Kenevo ( had to clearance the frame for it btw), the x2 lost all rebound damping in 4 hours of riding. The shop I bought the shock from set the shock back to fox, they took 3 weeks to turn it around and sent me a new shock. That new x2 lasted 10 hour of riding before it started “clunking “ . The shop look it apart and found the oil completely filled with air(fox foam) and sent the shock back to fox. Fox took 6 weeks to turn the shock around and sent me a new shock that sold I for $350. I took that money and bought a Fox float x that now has well over 100 hours on it with no issues. With the money lost on the x2, I spent $700 for a float x, I am just putting this out there so maybe others don’t suffer the same loss.

Oh, BTW, customer service and Fox racing can not be used in the same sentence with out using the word “sucks”. Fox has become so big they just don’t care anymore. I spent hours on hold and weeks waiting for them to reply to e mails. Just don’t bother, fox has no customer service.

Yes, you have made it clear that you owned a 2021-2023 model that had the same problems everybody else experienced at that time. Nobody would be pleased with such a situation. Even Fox Service was likely overwhelmed and unable to keep up. That is how it sometimes goes when a complex product has issues that require manufacturing-level changes to address.

This in no way affects the quality of the 2024, as it has been completely redesigned internally. Time will tell if the changes are effective, but, from what I've read they have reduced the high pressure that led to the seal failure.

You are adding your sour grapes to an apples and oranges comparison between the old and the replacement. Then, discounting the fact that Fox is NOW (not then) doing the swap to the new tech for anyone who still owns one. (you don't) The new model wasn't ready when you had problems. They don't just wave a magic wand to make new tech.

From your story it sounds like you had no first hand experience with Fox Service, and, your complaints are more about how your LBS handled things than they are about Fox itself.

The Fox Service Writers I worked with were stellar. One on the phone, another via email. One of the most accommodating service experiences I have ever had. (particularly considering that I never rode on the new, in the box, shock they replaced)

They both encouraged me to take advantage of the ability to have it custom tuned. One had personal experience with the shock on their bike which was the same model Levo that I ride. That was very helpful.

You seem to want to continue through life being upset by your experience. Fine, if that is how you prefer to live.

The fact is that most of the things you are going on about Fox were unique and temporary, rather than systemic and permanent. The world keeps turning, and the situation changes.

Just because it didn't change in time for your scenario does not apply to now. You simply choose to believe the world is static and your bad experience is representative of everyone's. It isn't.

Considering how you go on about it, what led you to choose another Fox shock, rather than distancing yourself from them with a purchase from Rock Shox, Cane Creek, Ohlins, etc. instead?

If it were me in your shoes, now that the 2024 is out, I'd contact Fox directly, rather than work through the dealer. Tell them the story, get the dealer to support it with records and receipts, and see if they might offer to exchange the X for an X2, or, offer a credit for the money lost that could be applied to a future purchase of some other item.

You can always go back to beating a deceased member of the equine family.

 

[mustclime]

If I was going to get another shock for the Kenevo, it would be a high end coil shock. Something that would hold up with the long yoke Kenevo design. Nether fox or rockshox offer a coil for specialized Kenevo.

 

[rzr]

can recommend RS Super Deluxe RCT
additionally you have HBO now (in air shock as well)
ebikes' suspension is inherently better (more grip) coz of the sprung/unsprung weight ratio, no need for heavy coil (unless you want to remove the rest of pop/playfulness?)

 

[Dax]

If I was going to get another shock for the Kenevo, it would be a high end coil shock. Something that would hold up with the long yoke Kenevo design. Nether fox or rockshox offer a coil for specialized Kenevo.

Ohlins.