5 years ago, 5th element shocks were all the rage... now everyone seems to hate them. When did they go wrong and why do people not like the 5th shocks anymore?
I'm tempted to believe that 5th haters are the ones who just want to jump on a bike and ride it right off the dealer floor and not spend the time to dial it in.
The first few months that I had my Uzzi SLX w/ 5th element, it was AWFUL. It didn't bob... at all, but it was also very harsh on small bumps and bottomed hard on big hits. But then I went to a NORBA national race and got the Intense team mechanics to replace the spring and set all of the adjustments for me until it was spot on. It's very supple on the small hits, never bottoms harshly (I use all of the travel, but I can never feel it bottom), and it doesn't bob at all. It actually bob's less than my Tracer w/ RP3 rear shock w/ the propedal set. Much less bob than my old Ellsworth Truth w/ float rc, and my dad's Titus motolite and way less bob than any faux bar (single pivot) pogo stick.
I've had the Uzzi SLX and 5th element for 5 years now and it still feels better than any other suspension that I've tried.
Enough with my testimony, what is it about the 5th element shocks that people don't like? I can't imagine a rear shock performing any better. I have a Socom on order w/ a Fox DHX 5.0 since there weren't any Revox shocks available. Hopefully I won't be disappointed with it.
I'm tempted to believe that 5th haters are the ones who just want to jump on a bike and ride it right off the dealer floor and not spend the time to dial it in.
The first few months that I had my Uzzi SLX w/ 5th element, it was AWFUL. It didn't bob... at all, but it was also very harsh on small bumps and bottomed hard on big hits. But then I went to a NORBA national race and got the Intense team mechanics to replace the spring and set all of the adjustments for me until it was spot on. It's very supple on the small hits, never bottoms harshly (I use all of the travel, but I can never feel it bottom), and it doesn't bob at all. It actually bob's less than my Tracer w/ RP3 rear shock w/ the propedal set. Much less bob than my old Ellsworth Truth w/ float rc, and my dad's Titus motolite and way less bob than any faux bar (single pivot) pogo stick.
I've had the Uzzi SLX and 5th element for 5 years now and it still feels better than any other suspension that I've tried.
Enough with my testimony, what is it about the 5th element shocks that people don't like? I can't imagine a rear shock performing any better. I have a Socom on order w/ a Fox DHX 5.0 since there weren't any Revox shocks available. Hopefully I won't be disappointed with it.