Mountain Biking - 5th Element or Fox AVA rear shock. Need quick answer as bike will be shipping soon.

Bike will be shipping today. Both are the same cost so I need to know which one to choose. The Fox AVA or the 5th Element?



Thx.

Umm...which bike? That makes a diff...

Fox AVA...I thought AVA stood for Avalanche which is an entirely different company than fox?

Santa Cruz Blur

here's the pic.

I still don't think there is a Fox AVA...If you mean the Avalanche it is best on a single pivot to help stop pedal bob etc...it works but the blur is a multipivot which is best suited for the 5th...(as the ad shows)...thats my pic

According to Santa Cruz's website:

http://www.santacruzmtb.com/bicycles/retail/blur.asp

The bikes comes with Fox Float AVA-R.

Thx!


ps - So you think 5th element is better suited for the multi-pivot frame? I've never tried the 5th element before so it's hard for me to make a decision.

Go with the 5th element Air. Its a stable platform shock, with that shock on the Blur your bike will be extremely good at peddling and at everything else

Sorry now I don't know. I just know the Avalanche suits single pivots really well. Ihave heard thatthe 5th element rides really well so it might be worht trying..

The Fox AVA is also the shock of choice on the Intense Spyder VPX, the only recommendation is to turn it all the way out so the action is almost linear. The Fox AVA can be adjusted to ramp up or be linear, similar in what the Progressive 5th can do.

If you like to tinker and adjust this and that to "dial" in your ride, go with the 5th. If you like to "set-it and forget it" get the Fox!

L8R

Thanks everyone.

I've decided to pick the Fox Float AVA. The customer rep told me that the Fox has better dependability and durability since it's been out in the market longer. He said that the 5th Element has a lot of tinkering that user can set for that perfect ride.

As a2psyklnut puts it, I picked the Fox Float AVA for the "set-it and forget it" type of mentality. I don't want to constantly readjust everytime I change the pressure.

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Sorry now I don't know. I just know the Avalanche suits single pivots really well. Ihave heard thatthe 5th element rides really well so it might be worht trying..


Seriously.........Fox AVA......Avalanche? I mean geeze if you didnt know you could have just searched the net for "fox ava" and came up with reviews, pictures and whatever else lol:D

I looked on the fox website and found nothing on a fox ava shock :)...

Their website, simply put, sucks

This is the reply I got from Santa Cruz:


The Fox and 5th Element Air shocks are a bit different, but both work very
well and in my opinion you can't really go wrong with either one.
There is going to be a bit of personal preference in your decision, so it's
not all completely cut-and-dry.
I only have a couple rides on the 5th Air as we have just started receiving
them, and though all the guys here who have ridden the 5th like it, I don't
think you can make much of an accurate judgment just yet.
The VPP pivot system already optimizes pedaling performance pretty well, but
good suspension components are good suspension components.
The 5th Air does make the pedaling feel a bit more solid if you move your
body weight around a lot while climbing. While this is a good thing, some
think the Fox Air feels a little more "Plush" on small bumps for this same
reason.
From just the initial impression, I'd say the 5th would probably make a
better XC race shock as the platform damping circuit (CV/t valve) seems to
make it a better sprinter/climber.