Fox Factory Twin-Clicker Shock
Fox Factory Twin-Clicker Shock
EVALUATION
A Beautiful Shock That Boasts Adjustable Compression and Rebound Damping
If you've been involved with motorcycles for several years you remember how simple suspensions used to be. Adjusting the suspension meant you were going to increase the shock's spring pre-load. Period. Nothing else could be adjusted. Replacing sub-standard shocks with different ones was equally simple; you bought a pair of Girlings or Konis. Price was $30 to $40 including springs!
Those days are long gone. Stock bikes have suspensions that are adjustable front and rear, some even have shocks with adjustable compression and rebound damping. And most bikes come with acceptable suspensions for the average rider or racer. For those who want something extra, many choices are available. Even if you are satisfied with the stock shocks, what happens when they start to leak? Not many stock systems are rebuildable. Replacing that stock shock or shocks with rebuildable units is a smart way to go.
Because many new bikes have single shock rear suspensions we were interested in testing a single shock replacement. We had a Honda CR450 around and since the stock shock isn’t rebuildable, decided to try the Fox Factory’s new shock on it.
The Fox shock, like all Fox shocks, is beautifully made and packaged. And each unit comes with an easily understood manual that details rebuilding as well as tuning. Many of the parts are lightweight aluminum, including the main body and the reservoir body. Other aluminum parts are the top spring collar, lower shock eye bushings and damping adjustment knobs. Steel parts include the top shock eye clevis, main shaft spring preload rings and high pressure aircraft-type hose that connects the reservoir to the main body. Internally a combination of steel and aluminum parts are used depending on application.
The big selling point of the new Fox shock, besides being rebuildable, is the adjustability it offers: compression damping is externally adjustable to eight different settings, rebound damping is externally adjustable to 40 different settings!
Adjusting the compression damping is as easy as reaching down to the top of the reservoir and turning a knob. Rebound damping requires dismounting and turning a knob at the bottom of the shock, just above the lower clevis. Compression damping adjustments are clearly stamped into the top of the knob. Aligning a number from one to eight, eight being the stiffest, with a punch mark on top of the reservoir body is simple and easy. An internal spring loaded detent makes misalignment impossible. Rebound damping adjustments are nearly as easy but unmarked. But it’s easy to remember that turning the clicker in, clockwise, makes the rebound damping stiffer; turning it out, away from the spring, reduces damping.
Fox recommends coarse adjustments for dialing in the shock. Our set-up began with rebound damping set 20 clicks out and the compression damping on 1. A few moderate speed laps on a motocross course indicated the rebound damping was about right at the mid-position setting while the compression damping was too light. Setting the compression damping to 3 was better, but still a little too quick. Bumped up to 8, the compression damping was far too stiff. That setting did provide a good example of what too much compression damping does. We ended up with compression damping on 4.
To find out what effect changes in rebound damping had, we followed Fox’s recommendation and turned in the knob one revolution, which is 12 clicks. Rebound damping was noticeably stiffer, slowing the up and down movement of the bike. Then we turned the knob back out two revolutions (24 clicks) and felt the suspension movements speed up. The more springy feel of reduced rebound damping was overdone a little so the knob was turned in six clicks. More laps around the track convinced the test riders the shock was dialed in perfectly.
Next adjustment was spring preload. The bike felt a little stiff, so we reduced preload by turning the lock and adjuster rings back !4 in. at a time until it felt about right. Riders less than 140 lb. will probably need a softer spring. Softer and stiffer springs are available from Honda dealers. We tried a softer spring, color coded with a white stripe, to see what it was like. Our lighter testers preferred it, the heavier guys liked the stock spring best.
The Fox Twin-Clicker shock is a success. The unit makes suspension adjustment for different tracks and conditions a simple, easy task, and an owner can rebuild a Fox shock with simple hand tools in a half hour or less. Fox has single shock models to fit Uni-Traks, Pro-Links and Monos for $335. And they offer a reservoir kit that incorporates adjustable compression damping for the new RMXs for $135 including labor to make the change. Fox products are available from many local dealers or directly from Moto-X Fox, 520 McGlincy Lane, Campbell, Calif. 95008. Phone (408) 371-1221. S
