FOX FLOAT X FACTORY REAR SHOCK
£659 (205x65mm, trunnion) www.silverfish-uk.com
With its all-new body and damper, Fox’s latest Float X piggyback shock is claimed to offer outstanding bump-eating performance in a lighter package than the Float X2 (reviewed in MBUK 403). The high-flow main piston requires less air pressure to generate the same spring force, and is also said to be quieter when riding than the Float DPX2 shock the Float X supersedes. External adjustment is limited to 11 clicks of low-speed compression damping and 16 of low-speed rebound, plus a lockout lever. Air spring volume is adjustable using spacers. The shock features a hydraulic top-out spring and an MCU-foam bottom-out bumper.
We tested the aftermarket version, which comes with a medium rebound and compression tune. With this stock set-up, we struggled to find a good compromise between having the spring-rate sufficiently soft to get the shaft moving fast enough to reduce harshness, and having sufficient rebound damping and high enough spring forces so that the shock could rebound quickly and not pack down in its travel. We were convinced a retune (from £40) would solve this.
Fox agreed to do light compression and rebound tunes for us. After this, the Float X felt extremely smooth, particularly when sitting at the sag point, with plushness its dominant quality. Hitting mid-sized to large obstacles, the shock was ready to compress and absorb impacts with no perceptible lag or stickiness as it moved into its travel. Equally, there was no compression spiking over fast, successive hits, although the rebound speed was only just quick enough to allow the shock to recover for the next hit, even with the adjuster left fully open.
Working together, the low-speed compression damping and adjustablevolume air spring provide stability and prevent the Float X from using up its travel too quickly. The spring has a gradually progressive ramp-up, with no perceptible increase in the force needed to compress it. Instead, it comes in for a ‘soft landing’ as it reaches the last portion of its travel and bottom-out.
The shock’s damping is very impressive, given its intended trail-riding application. It’s not quite as smooth at the start of its travel as the Float X2, and isn’t as adjustable, but matches it in terms of mid-stroke and bottom-out performance. We recommend finding out whether the stock tune is suitable for your bike’s kinematics, because otherwise a retune may be needed. For the price and weight, though – it tips the scales at a reasonable 507g in this top-spec, Kashima-coated ‘Factory’ trim – there’s little out there that can top the Float X’s performance. Alex A impressive damper with performance that outstrips its weight and cost