PUSH ELEVENSIX Rear Shock

PUSH Industries have been churning out quality suspension tunes for customers for well over a decade. Five years ago, PUSH decided to take the matter into their own hands by engineering and manufacturing custom shocks domestically. That shock is the PUSH Elevensix. The Elevensix is a no holds barred shock, with a price to match. We’ve put the latest version of the Elevensix to a long-term test. Keep reading for our impressions as well as comparisons to other current offerings.

Highlights

• One-year limited Warranty
• Fully custom
• Two independent circuits with both High- and Low-speed adjustment
• Very low reservoir pressure
• Hyperco Coil (progressive)
• Speed-sensitive hydraulic bottom-out support
• 4-port symmetrical progressive damping
• Polished steel spherical bearing
• High-strength steel shaft
• MSRP $1,200 USD

The PUSH Elevensix is largely defined by the shock’s specificity and customization. PUSH does not offer their shock for every bike on the market, as they painstakingly engineer each shock to each platform. Not only do the corresponding frames receive specific valving, but they also have uniquely machined compression valves, rod bumpers, and the reservoir is oriented to offer sufficient room in the frame. In this case, the PUSH Elevensix has been tuned and fitted to a 2022 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp.

Not only was the shock designed for the Specialized EVO, but PUSH tunes the shock specifically to the rider. Upon ordering, the customer must decide what his or her desired intention is or choose to discuss his or her riding style with a representative at PUSH. Once we sent our own personal intentions and rider weight over to PUSH, they sent over a fully built shock with no further tinkering necessary. The process from start to finish was impressively convenient.

At first glance, the shock looks substantial but fits within the frame seamlessly. Projecting out from the front of the shock are two independently adjustable compression valves. Each valve can be adjusted by both high and low-speed compression, and a switch allows the rider to toggle between each desired ‘mode.’ The shock came set up with an all-around descending tune coupled with a firm pedal platform.

The Elevensix makes use of a massive external reservoir. The high volume allows for lower internal pressures and less friction. PUSH utilizes an Internal Floating Piston (IFP), and again, the large volume of nitrogen and oil have a lower likelihood of cavitation in the lower pressure environment. The large volume also prevents excess heat buildup and maintains more consistent performance.

To control the last bit of travel during ‘bottom out,’ PUSH has incorporated a secondary shaft piston that provides additional compression damping during the last 15% of the stroke. We made a mistake in the original article by claiming the Hyperco coil was progressive; it is not. Push’s response is as follows, “The Hypercoil by itself is not progressive, but as a system it is. Meaning that we use different bump stop lengths and densities in combination with the Hypercoil to adjust the level of progression. That’s why you also see the different color bump stops used on our shocks. Our spring system is progressive, and our damping system is position sensitive with the second HBO piston.” We are sorry for the confusion.

The last, and potentially most important, design considerations for the Stumpjumper EVO are the spherical bearing and steel shaft. The spherical eyelet bearing uses hardened spherical ball bearings to eliminate rotational friction from linkages as well as shaft binding caused by flex under load. In addition to the spherical bearing, the shock uses a high-strength steel shaft to further aid durability when fixed to a yoke-style mount. These additions make not only a coil possible, but greatly reduce unnecessary wear and tear over the long haul.

Initial Impressions

The PUSH Elevensix has been around for five years, and throughout that time PUSH has made incremental improvements. Ongoing refinements within the Elevensix have delivered us here and right off the bat, we were impressed. The fit and finish were indicative of precise in-house machining, and the seamless transition from receiving, installing, and riding was a treat.

The PUSH Elevensix arrived fully assembled and ready for installation. Accessing the external compression adjustments on the two independent circuits did not require any tools. The feel of each compression dial was crisp with noticeable well-defined detents between settings. The actuating lever between the circuits has a similar feel with no slop and very smooth action.

Apart from the buttery smooth feel of the adjusters, the thing just looks badass. The quality of materials and the precise manufacturing process for each piece were apparent. If we were to use an analogy, if the Elevensix were a watch, it would be the Rolex Submariner. Both have equal parts design and aesthetics in a package that is far from cheap.

On The Trail

We rode the shock on trails ranging from super steep alpine to the desert in Moab. In addition to the wide variety of terrain, we rode the shock in brutal heat as well as on the ice and snow. The shock has been subjected to months of abuse, and throughout that time, we have logged hundreds of miles on park and trail use.

Throughout this time, we also compared the PUSH Elevensix to offerings from FOX, such as the Float X factory as well as the FOX DHX coil. Like the Push, FOX was kind enough to tune each to our riding style, making life considerably easier. These two opposing platforms made distinguishing ride characteristics much easier.

Prior to the arrival of the PUSH shock, we had multiple weeks to grow well accustomed to FOX's offerings. The test began with our Stumpjumper EVO equipped with the FOX DHX coil. The FOX coil was well-damped, and we found the mid-stroke support well within our liking. Power was delivered admirably, and the coil was both precise and playful.

However, the shock did have its limits. The coil’s lack of progression, coupled with the EVO’s kinematics, became unsettled in bigger compressions. The other major problem with the shock was its structural integrity. FOX does not recommend their coil offerings on a yoke-style frame. Fortunately, we didn’t have any catastrophic failure during the test period, but we did notice some sounds reverberating from the shock under load. We are not positive, but it may be the coil sliding on the two parallel retaining surfaces as the shock body flexes. Either way, trail performance was solid, but it would be short-lived.

The air-sprung Float X was in comparison very spritely. Not only was the weight significantly less, but the bike exhibited a more ‘direct’ feel. We felt as if every little input had an impact on the EVO’s direction, leading to its nimble nature. The small bump compliance was exceptional, as the high leverage offered by the EVO’s linkage eliminated any perceptible stiction from the extra seals. Compliance was most likely aided also by the switch from the previous twin-tube damper to the X’s monotube damper; increasing port size and reduced friction.

There was, however, more to the feeling of the Float X than we would expect from a progressive air spring and low weight. Unlike the coil, the frame itself felt torsionally stiffer. It is reasonable to assume that the shock itself is exhibiting structural support to the chassis as the large diameter stanchion will resist flex considerably more than the small travel rod found on the DHX coil. As a mechanic who had worked on previous generation Stumpjumpers, we did notice some air shocks had damage to their internals from side load forces. The Float X is considerably more stout than the previous generation FOX DPX2. The Float X adds 70 grams in addition to larger shaft diameter. We did not spend enough time testing the X’s durability. Despite our limited time, we did notice that the eyelet bushings had worn a bit more than we would have expected.

After our stint with FOX’s offerings, we bolted the PUSH to the bike and immediately noticed a difference. The Elevensix was completely silent. The shock felt supremely stout and robust. The tune that came with the Elevensix was not like a whisper but yelled at us to push harder. Our desire to have a tune that could handle high-speed compressions was answered! At slower speeds, the considerable damping and compression weren’t particularly comfortable. However, as speeds increased, the Elevensix provided control and composure in spades.

It may sound like everything came together easily; you would be wrong. The relationship between how the rear and front of the bike functioned as a system was different between the FOX shock tunes and the PUSH Elevensix. Using the exact same fork setup throughout would have made the bike unstable. We found the bike would “stink bug” with the PUSH in comparison to the Float X especially. It wasn’t a massive difference, but a couple of clicks (compression and/or rebound) can go a long way. Without slipping into the dark abyss of suspension setup, we do think that there is something to be said about the virtues and limitations of a custom-tuned shock. You could have a brilliantly tuned shock, but if your fork is not tuned well in conjunction with the shock, then it’s all for naught.

Is this a negative critique of the PUSH Elevensix? Not in the slightest. The reality is that there is still going to be a certain degree of tuning necessary to get the bike functioning as one desires for their terrain. Naturally, we went overboard to make our lives easier and evaluate beyond feeling. We used a BYB telemetry system to aid our fork setup and substantiate the PUSH Elevensix’s performance. Apart from fork setup, the telemetry system confirmed the PUSH shock performed precisely within the desired intention.

With the tune settled, and after months of time in the saddle, we have nothing but good things to say. The bike maintains traction, but it has plenty of pop to make quick maneuvers. Unlike the two previous shocks, we never felt like there was something structurally lacking. The PUSH silently did its job, and we ended up forgetting that it was even on the bike.

As far as climbing went, the shock never wallowed excessively. We had previously thought about changing the tune on the second compression circuit to something geared more toward flow trails. Instead, we ultimately chose the extra support while we climbed roads and pedaled across town to the local trail systems.

Things That Could Be Improved

As a brand, if you are going to charge a premium for a product, you best deliver. Ask any "in the know," rider about PUSH and their reply is one of lust and a reputation for performance. PUSH shocks continue to be so in demand because they deliver what they promise. We did not find anything throughout the test period that had us questioning the quality and/or performance of the product.

Long Term Durability

We rode the PUSH on a regular basis for several months, and we found nothing that would be a cause for concern. Despite this, a one-year limited warranty is shorter than expected.

What's The Bottom Line?

There are a lot of good-performing shocks on the market, so what’s so great about the PUSH Elevensix? The PUSH Elevensix makes getting the shock setup dialed much easier, and the shock excelled for the intended riding style we asked the shock to be tuned for. Overall, the shock's ride characteristics impress, but what really stood out was its impeccable build quality and worry-free performance.

Apart from the tune, there were innumerable features that aided the shock’s performance. From the progressive coil, hydraulic end-stroke support, dual independent circuits, and unparalleled durability, the PUSH Elevensix offered a unique blend of attributes found on many coil and air shocks today.

The only issue is cost. At over $1,200, the PUSH Elevensix is eye wateringly expensive. Despite the laundry list of quality features and positive ride characteristics, the price will be hard to justify for many riders. Despite this, we believe there is a significant market for this boutique product. This shock is for someone that is willing to pay the premium on a coil shock that is sure to last many seasons on any bike.

Head to PushIndustries.com to learn more.

About The Reviewer

Greg Montgomery - Age: 30// Years Riding: 20 // Height: 5'11" (1.8m) // Weight: 150-pounds (68kg)

When he's not winning pro-level trail running races, Greg is hammering the trails of Idaho and the Rocky Mountain region on his mountain bike. Fit, fast and knowledgeable, he's also a mechanic for his friends, where he gets his hands on all kinds of different cycling products. For fun, he'll pedal his regular bike up moto trails, keeping up with his friends on e-bikes.