Welcome to the heavy weight battle of the century, we’re going head to head with 2 of the biggest contenders in the high volume gravity specific’ MTB air shocks. With the recent re-release of Rock Shox much anticipated Vivid Air, aimed at winning DH World Cups and mega Freeride events, we thought we’d put it to the test and compare it’s performance to the (widely regarded) existing market leader in that category, the mighty Fox Float X2.
Which will come out on top? Lets the fight begin!
Words // Scotty Prendergast Photos // Matt Staggs
In the blue corner: Fox Float X2
In the blue corner: Fox Float X2This shock has been a stalwart amongst the most elite gravity orientated riders for almost 10 years now, in that time we have seen riders pilot bikes decked out with the X2 shock from Enduro and Downhill World Cup wins along with a pleather of free ride event which is why hardcore riders who have opted for the X2 really maximise their performance. Over the years we have seen Fox refine this product to an overall more adjustable and reliable version of this shock. And true to form we see the X2 now available with high and low speed rebound adjustments which also allows riders to tune these features independently of each other and we also see the X2 come with the option of a climb switch.
One thing we will say with this new shock is that Fox have paid real attention to reliability and after sale service. Not that there were any huge reliability issues with prior models, but Fox have really refined this new shock to a point where maintenance is limited due to just how reliable these shocks are. Another thing we noticed with this shock is the amount of adjustability which really allows the rider to have their bikes rear feel exactly how they want, from planted and firm to fast and responsive and anything in between, this shock really is much better with small bump sensitivity than previous models whilst providing excellent mid to end stroke support over heavier terrain. This translates to a shock that has a very natural supple feel, that is supportive throughout the travel, yet generates a lot of traction to the rubber below.
The new Fox Float X2 may have a similar silhouette to prior models, however the new model/design boasts a number of cool features which include a new base valve piston design and compression tune said to increase dampening performance and improve sensitivity, a new 7000 series shock body on all models, hard chrome damper shaft finish for increased durability and it has a new seal for more durability to name a few. The Float X2 is obviously their heavy hitting air shock specifically designed for bikes from 150mm of travel up to 200mm DH Bikes, and is available in a trunnion mount and eyelet mounts but that does depend on the bike. Fitting and adjusting this shock is a breeze, there are plenty of tips on the Fox Website on how to tune your shock for optimal performance. We tend not to go into too much detail on bike setups only because that’s a personal thing, what we will say is there is a pleather of adjustability with high-low speed compressions and rebound settings so you can adjust the Float X2 to get it perfect for your bike and how you want it to perform.
I guess the biggest questions you want to know is how does it perform on the trails?! I have had the Fox Float X2 strapped to my bike for a couple of months now and of note, we put the Rock Shox Vivid in the same bike to get a true back-to-back comparison. I tend to set my bikes up a bit firmer, slower and more planted than some but what I will say is this shock felt very composed over a variety of terrain, sure we played with a few settings depending on where we rode but all in all the new Float X2 really does feel amazing to ride. It has plenty of small bump sensitivity over the light trail chatter but is also a super composed shock over big hits, high speed gnar, big jumps and booters. I can see why a lot of DH riders are going to an air shock like this considering its lighter and more adjustable on the fly than a coil. Coil shocks always have a great reputation for remaining very consistent in feel even when the shock gets hot, but we found the Float X2 is very good at maintaining a consistent feel even on longer runs so in short, Fox have really blurred the lines in that department, if it was case of coil v air, it would be hard to choose as they’re both really, really good!
I guess the big question is, would we live with a Fox Float X2 fitted to our everyday enduro or DH bike? Well yes, 100% we would!
In the red corner: Rock Shox Vivid
In the red corner: Rock Shox Vivid The crew from [R]evolution have always been huge fans of SRAM/Rock Shox products. Largely this is due to the fact that the brand have always really ‘gotten’ what riders want and have been delivering top notch MTB suspension products for decades, so when we heard they were about to re-release the ‘Vivid Air’ gravity orientated air shock we were pretty damn exited. True to style Rock Shox have delivered another shock which is going to improve the quality and ride performance of any bike on the market. We saw the Vivid drop off the shelves a little while ago and I guess we were wondering if it would return, but we now see Rock Shox new Vivid has had a huge overhaul prior to mass production. Again, akin to the Float X2 the Vivid actually looks similar to the shock of yesteryear, it has a large volume air can and shock shaft which is also said to have ‘coil shock sensitivity’ in the initial part of the travel, yet provide super positive mid to end stroke support. Plus, just like the X2 the Vivid is remarkably tuneable so that any rider can really hit their sweet spot with suspension setup.
This shock is also available in a number of fittings, lengths, stroke lengths and the like, it is best suited for gravity orientated whips from 150mm to 200mm. Along with most modern air shocks the Vivid also boasts, Low-Speed Rebound, High-Speed Compression, Low-Speed Compression, Hydraulic Bottom Out and a Climb Switch. The larger shock body isn’t just for strength or aesthetics, the increased air volume, provided the rider with a shock that has a more consistent linear feel throughout the travel range, and that consistency remains solid throughout lengthy descents. Rock Shox have also improved the small bump sensitivity with the Vivid air to ensure a positive yet plush feeling shock that really allows the bike to hug the ground and maintain traction below. This air spring has plenty of adjustability, and just like Fox there are options of bottomless tokens so any rider should be able to have this shock dialled exactly how they want it to feel and perform.
Rock Shox has developed a new ‘position-sensitive damping system.’ Without getting all nerdy on you guys this feature allows the rider to tune the dampening depending on how much suspension travel you’re using which correlates to a shock that is very supple in the initial part of the stroke yet dynamic in the sense that when you blast through your stroke travel you can adjust how hard or soft the shock ramps up depending on how much mid to end stroke support you want. The ‘TouchDown Compression Circuit’ which is essentially the shock dampening within the first 10% of the stroke is achieved by letting the oil within the damper flow basically unrestricted which creates a supple sensation as it allows the shock to work completely open in the initial phase of compression. This is what provides this shock with outstanding small bump sensitivity yet, the main compression unit still allows the shock to remain very supportive throughout bigger trail impacts which translates to a very confident, controlled and planted feeling rear end.
True to form with all Rock Shox products, the installation and setup of this shock is really user friendly. Rock Shox have a heap of online manuals, videos, YouTube videos etc etc to really give you fans at home the proper insights on how to setup and tune your shock and just like Fox, Rock Shox have excellent warranty and after sales service. I guess the real question is what did we think of the new Vivid on the trail?! Well, its fair to say we’ve heard companies say they have developed an air shock that feels like a coil but it hasn’t really hit the mark, well the Vivid is an all-new beast because this shock is absolutely mind blowing. If anything, Rock Shox have probably understated the quality and performance of the new Vivid and true to form, this is no doubt why we have seen so many hard-core riders who have now opted for this shock over the coil.
I have ridden a ton of Rock Shox product of the years; in fact, I had a Super Delux coil on this test bike prior to trying the Vivid for a number of months now and for a rider who is a huge fan of coil shocks I’ll be completely honest that I think I prefer the new Vivid. It has that super cool Rock Shox style, it is super adjustable and its versatility and performance of a variety was absolutely outstanding, so again just like the Fox Float X2 we would be more than happy have the new Vivid air plugged into any of our gravity whips full time.
I guess the pink elephant in the room we should address is which shock did we prefer.
Well… both really! Both shocks have some little quirks and perks that will appeal to a ton of riders and both shocks look a little different. As far as performance, reliability and after sale service goes it would be a hard choice to go past either brand if considering a new air shock. With that said, Fox probably has a bit more micro adjustability if that’s your thing but again the downside is, it takes probably a bit more time to refine your setup. Rock Shox have a very user-friendly platform; with all the adjustments you see a noticeable and definitive change with the turn of each dial so although less ‘clicks’ we found Rock Shox a little more user friendly with setup ease.
With all that said, depending on what flavour you prefer I can guarantee you would not be disappointed if you invested in either of these products because overall, they’re both absolutely outstanding.
