[BIGHITR]

I'm a little bit confused. I've heard SO much good about 5th Element coil over shock. I also hear the Fox DHX 5.0 is a great shock. But some say the 5th element is a better shock. Now I know this is the "more money means better" psychology but let me ask this. If the 5th Element goes for $99 and the Fox goes for like $370, I would think a $100 shock can't compare with a shock running close to $400. So what gives? Which one is better and why?

 

[igz-]

Who the HELL said a 5th Element is better than a DHX 5?

5th Element stopped making rear shocks for a reason.

 

[jonKranked]

stock setup, 5th's sucked. with a few hours of work, and a few spare parts, you can turn a 5th into a shock that is on par with any of the modern shocks. This explains it:

http://www.mtbshock.com/shim_mod_kit.htm

basically, you are converting it from a shock with position sensitive compression damping to having speed sensitive compression damping.

There's also a whole thread about it in the DH forum, lots of people have done the mod:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180769

 

[BIGHITR]

Oh, NOW I SEE! So the 5th element doesn't come that way, you have to soup it up! So the idea is, to buy the cheaper 5th Element shock a third the price of the Fox and kick it up a notch BAAAAM! Thus saving you bucks... So if price weren't the object, buy the Fox. Got it!

Thanks!

I could have snagged a 5th for like $50 bucks thus the question. I'll skip it now.

 

[jonKranked]

Oh, NOW I SEE! So the 5th element doesn't come that way, you have to soup it up! So the idea is, to buy the cheaper 5th Element shock a third the price of the Fox and kick it up a notch BAAAAM! Thus saving you bucks... So if price weren't the object, buy the Fox. Got it!

Thanks!

I could have snagged a 5th for like $50 bucks thus the question. I'll skip it now.

I like tinkering, so I picked up 2 spare 5th's for $25 each (new old stock from santa cruz). So the remaining $300 is going to be spent on riding and beer.

edit: FWIW, a shock custom tuned to your weight/bike/riding style will almost always feeling better than a stock shock, hence some people prefer a modded 5th over a DHX. Sending a DHX to PUSH does basically the same thing (gives the shock a custom tuning).

edit#2: you can have the mod done for you (Craig at Avalanche will do it for $180, there's another place that will do it slightly cheaper). If price is an object you'll still save over $100 if you pay $50 for the 5th.