4-23-07 // Online Exclusive: Fox Shox 2008 Preview

The new DHX Air with its ProPedal 2-position lever

Rear Shocks

All Float models get a new air valve location for easier pump access.

DHX 4.0 and 5.0 Air rear shocks get their ProPedal knob replaced with a lever for quick switching between all or no ProPedal damping. DHX coil shocks retain the knob for fine-tuning your ride.

2008 DHX air and coil shocks get an updated ProPedal damping range. The new Boost Valve range will allow riders to virtually eliminate any ProPedal damping in the initial shock stroke for improved traction. The new dampers also allow for added bottom out resistance for improved big hit control. Finally the velocity sensitive damping circuits have been re-tuned to blend with the new Boost valve range.

Low-end rear shocks that lack rebound damping have been eliminated from the Fox lineup in ‘08.

Test Ride
When we A/B tested the ’07 and ’08 forks with identical bikes the difference was definitely noticeable, not night and day, but as speeds increase and you push the fork to work harder the ’08 forks really started to stand out. The F100RLC fork that I had strapped to front of a Yeti AS-R demo bike had more of a supple ride with better traction characteristics than the ’07 model. I also rode a ’08 Float RP23 rear shock on our final lap but the revisions to that product are ergonomic so there was no difference in ride. All in all I look forward to riding the new product on a wider variety of trail than the initial 10 miles of testing that we were privy to.

The Float RP23's air valve has been moved for easier access in '08