FOX Live Valve Suspension: Robots, MTB and the Rise of the Machines 12

Electronically-controlled suspension is upon us. What does it do and how does it impact the ride? It isn't cheap, but innovation like this rarely is...

dstucki
8/27/2018 9:30pm
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12 comments

View replies to: FOX Live Valve Suspension: Robots, MTB and the Rise of the Machines

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bturman
6 years ago
Similar, but different. The RockShox e:i system that Lapierre uses only locks the rear end, and it's all dependent on a sensor at the front wheel. FOX addresses both ends of the bike and the system response time/algorithms are a big improvement.
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boaz
6 years ago
inconsistency feel on jumps would be a deal breaker for me. my favorite type of riding (id wager alot of peoples) is fast tech downhill mixed with booters. i’ll bet they get it sorted eventually but that is a big deal to me
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Carraig042
6 years ago
I believe this is going to be the next big thing in bikes once refined. It won't be on any of my bikes anytime soon due to $$, but one day I am sure it will be.
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jeff.brines
6 years ago
In motorized vehicles this is amazing, (and not completely new). In bicycles, I think the big thing we still have to get over is this... "The system can be slightly inconsistent when preloading for a bunny hop, jump, or other trail feature. Depending on the terrain leading up to a feature, the suspension will either already be open if it's rough or it will be closed if things are smooth."

They will crack that one, too, and I'd even wager you could select a "map" for a particular stage/trail where its less aggressive or more aggressive with respect to opening/closing your valving.

Depending on application it'll be something really rad. But for those obsessed with going downhill fast, its' not going to be the game changer it will for XC or marathon guys.

I basically leave my suspension wide open regardless these days, up or down. I think there is something else this technology will do, but it might have more to do with shaping your air spring curve in real time than it will damping. My $0.02.
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JVP
6 years ago
Yup, and I appreciated the review. It's an xc thing for now, that's for sure. They can benefit from it, and xc racers are weird so they'll happily pay. They're already paying some shady doctor more than this for their EPO, so it's a good value.

For aggressive recreational riders, meaning most of us, this is a no-go for now even if you're loaded enough to drive a 4x4 Sprinter conversion van. Anything that makes jumping more dicey that it already is get's a big "hell no!". I'm sure they'll get it dialed in time. That will really suck because I won't have a good reason to rail against it, other than it's electronics and I want to be away from all that crap when I'm riding my bike in the mountains.
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Mr. P
6 years ago
A Fox engineer was testing this in Downieville last year on a Trail/Enduro bike, they have been testing it on some rough and fast terrain with plenty of pedaling. Just wanted to throw that out there.
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dstucki
6 years ago
I raced this bike at the Big Mountain Enduro in Crested Butte. Had a top 5 stage finish on it. To be perfectly honest, the Scott Genius is not my first choice for an enduro race bike. I was struggling with the geometry, and it rides like a 120mm XC bike, not a 150mm enduro bike.I had no issues with Live Valve itself. The system performed as expected, and I definitely noticed how much more you can get out of the bike pedaling. I had it set up with a light threshold and longer timing for flat and DH terrain, so in the chunder, the system opens quick and stays open.

Chatting with the RAD (Racing and Development) program director at the launch it sounds like they have been testing with some top enduro racers and had success with faster times. There are a lot of top riders running cable actuated lockouts already, so why not make it faster and more reliable? It also sounds like there may be a chance we will see Live Valve on the DH circuit, maybe at Croatia? Word on the street is Gwin is interested in trying a lockout for that race, I don't see why they wouldn't at least try Live Valve.
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jeff.brines
6 years ago
Nice feedback man.

Yeah, the more I think about it, so long as I have the option to turn it off (wide open no matter what) I can see it being useful as is.

There were two stages this weekend where this system would have taken seconds off my time. Enough to matter in the overall? Not at some small regaional race. But at the EWS level? Absolutely.

I know this stuff will matter, but I also think the suspension companies have to go beyond damping alone to get the most out of the system...

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Big Bird
6 years ago
I've known this was coming for more than a year. Not stoked it's here. #Nobatteriesonmybike.
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