Elka vs. Fox

[jrego23]

I will be installing Roll Design a-arms and a RPM axle this winter to get my bike out to 50" and ready for the track in the spring. However, I am a bit torn between the Elka Elites and the Fox Float Evol shocks.

Any help in determining which would be best applicable would be greatly appreciated as I am not quite sure of the pro's & con's of each. Something about air shocks scares me.

While I do ride everything from mx to trails, this bike is solely being built for mx.

Thanks in advance for the help!!!

[walshyfz86]

Elkas might be one of the worse shocks on the market. I never owned a set because i just dont like any of them. There factory valving is horrible. Ive rode a bunch of elkas. Even the factory elkas with trak system and they sucked. Ruff ride, push, bottomed out, horrible on braking bumbs and these where professional set up shocks. I owned fox for a long time and they are by far the best shocks out there. I got axis air shocks now and wish i still had my fox. plus elkas are the ugliest of shocks out there. I never lost any air in my fox shocks. And i landed pretty damn hard a few times on fox and nothing happened. I do really like the ride of PEP shocks to though. Just a thought.

[KB Motorsports]

I would select Motowoz or Fox Floats X Evols over everything i've ever riden. You can not go wrong with either of those brands. However, Elka you may be one of the lucky riders who receive good valving or your going to receive a poor tuned shock. Elka is hard to keep up with. They have the potential to be good but drop the ball a lot more then they should.

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[jrego23]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the Fox Floats are where I want to spend my money.

I live in New England so I have about 9 months of solid riding during the year. In those 9 months I ride anywhere from 8 - 15 hours a week with the majority of that time being track time.

What kind of maintenance do these shocks require and how often do they require a rebuild.

I'm pretty green when it comes to air shocks so I want to be sure I understand them completely before I open my wallet for a set of Evols.

Many thanks!!!

[fastjunkie131]

i run roll design xc a arms and long travel elkas and could not be happier. i race/ride xc only

[KB Motorsports]

Quote: Originally Posted by fastjunkie131

i run roll design xc a arms and long travel elkas and could not be happier. i race/ride xc only

I'm glad Elka took the time and set up your shocks correctly. You are one of the lucky ones for sure.

[ononewheel]

i actually got walshys foxes shocks a while back and have had elkas on my previous quad!so far im loving the foxes so much better !the range of adjustability on the foxes is crazy and so precise you cant do that w/elkas!!!i ride mainly trails but w/lots of bumps/jumps and i can ride consistantly fast w/foxes i never have to worry coming of somthing squirly the foxes soak it up and my air pressure has never dropped and i check them often!!!!best product for the money!!!

[REEKERS529]

+1 on fox they are bad ass

[DEVIN56]

Ive rode both Elka and Fox as well and the only plus to Elkas is a slightly bit less body roll but more push. I LOVE Fox Shox and the floats are the best thing I have ever rode on as well. Even PEP shocks on a 450r I rode (This was a rider of the same weight and they were tuned BY Wayne at PEP for one of his Pro Am riderz) were not able to compare to the Floats I had on my LTR... floats you can change your ride height in minutes, adjust the valving at the track.. they take a tad more to set up but once you get the hang of it they are easy.

As Far as maintenance, 2 different certifed Fox Techs told me to have them serviced twice a year and to replace the seals and O-rings once a year

[jrego23]

Seems to be unanimous that Fox are the way to go. Maintenance isn't to tedious either.

Thanks again guys!!!