2015 Fox ATV Shocks Buyer’s Guide

By Jason Giacchino - June 22, 2015

We’re always pretty excited about Fox ATV shocks. Why? Well for starters they are one of few aftermarket brands out there pushing for new technology to gain acceptance in the form of an air spring; essentially a chamber of compressed air that does the job of the heavier (and less tunable) coil-over spring.

Additionally these guys know suspension. It’s difficult to find a single industry where they don’t dominate with quality shock offerings from off-road trucks to rally cars, from motorcycles to mountain bikes. It’s only natural that ATVs would be a part of their repertoire.

For 2015 their model line basically breaks down into two key offerings: the FLOAT series and the PODIUMs. They are easily distinguishable from one another even at a glance. The FLOATs are air sprung and lack the external metal spring we usually associate with an ATV shock while the PODIUMs make use of precisely such a coil on the outside.

Dig a little deeper, however, and things can get fairly complicated in a hurry. We’ve done our best to gather up all of their shock offerings this year and to break them down so as to make it a bit easier to determine which is the best choice for your needs. We’ll start by taking a look at the FLOATs.

FLOAT Fronts

FLOAT 3

FLOAT 3 is the perfect ultra-lightweight suspension upgrade choice for riders who need to spend more time riding and less time tuning. With the infinitely adjustable air spring and custom factory-tuned damping, riders can dial in the perfect setting quickly and easily. The FLOAT 3’s Internal Floating Piston (IFP) separates the high-pressure nitrogen gas from the damping oil, making the ride consistent and fade-free. Genuine Kashima Coat and Chrome silicon negative springs keeps the stutter bumps and chatter to a minimum. Better performance plus hassle-free adjustability and reliability, equals faster rides and less time tuning.

Position: Front
ATV Type: Recreational
Spring: Air
Weight: 2.1 lbs @ 14.1″

Adjustments: Infinitely adjustable air spring
Features: Genuine Kashima Coat
Samurai Sealing System (SSS)
Aerospace-grade PTFE-lined spherical bearings
High-flow velocity-sensitive damping
Chrome silicone negative spring
Fully rebuildable and revalveable
Weight shavings up to 6 pounds
(when replacing coil spring shocks)
Easy access Schrader air cap

FLOAT 3 EVOL R

Offering an infinite range of adjustability in an ultra-lightweight package, our Factory Series FLOAT 3 EVOL R air shock is the perfect ultra-lightweight and hassle-free suspension choice for your sport or recreational ATV. The FLOAT 3 Evol R is custom-valved specifically for each vehicle application, and its infinitely adjustable dual rate air spring and externally adjustable rebound allows the rider to quickly and easily tune for any terrain condition or personal preference. Inside its hard-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum body, the Internal Floating Piston (IFP) separates the high-pressure nitrogen gas from the damping oil to ensure optimum, fade-free performance. Replacing your stock shocks with a set of FLOAT 3 EVOL R shocks on your ATV not only dramatically increases its ride performance but also leaves about 6 pounds in the garage. Lighter is faster.

Position: Front
ATV Type: Sport or Recreational
Spring: Air
Weight: 3.2 lbs @ 16.6″

Adjustments: Infinitely adjustable air spring
MAIN Air Chamber (ride height)
EVOL Air Chamber (bottom-out/roll control)
Wide-range rebound adjustment
Features: Genuine Kashima Coat
Samurai Sealing System (SSS)
EVOL Air Technology
Aerospace-grade PTFE-lined spherical bearings
High-flow velocity-sensitive damping
Chrome silicone negative spring
Fully rebuildable and revalveable
Weight shavings up to 6 pounds
(when replacing coil spring shocks)

FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2

The ultra-lightweight Factory Series FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 offers infinite adjustability, dual stage air springs, a dual speed compression adjuster, a wide range rebound adjuster, and velocity sensitive damping controls that give you the best possible front end traction and steering performance in every conceivable terrain condition. Once again we updated and refined the performance and appearance, reduced friction and heat through the use of Genuine Kashima Coat, revised damping pistons, and performance altered internal features to provide a more robust, better performing and smoother running, highly adjustable overall package. Forget about heavy springs and running out of adjuster range – the FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 offers a huge range of adjustments allows you to set it up for anything from Race, Trail or Dunes. Tested and developed by the world?s best athletes and race teams, the FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 makes countless championships and podiums an easier goal to hit. Redefine your limits by following in its tracks.

Position: Front
ATV Type: Race
Spring: Air
Weight: 4.4 lbs @ 17.6″

Adjustments: Infinitely adjustable air spring
MAIN Air Chamber (ride height)
EVOL Air Chamber (bottom-out/roll control)
Wide-range rebound adjustment
Dual-Speed Compression (DSC) adjustment
Features: Genuine Kashima Coat
Samurai Sealing System (SSS)
EVOL Air Technology
Aerospace-grade PTFE-lined spherical bearings
High-flow velocity-sensitive damping
Chrome silicone negative spring
Fully rebuildable and revalveable
Ultra-lightweight
Weight shavings up to 6 pounds
(when replacing coil spring shocks)

FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 Wienen Signature Series

Take your riding to a world-class level with the performance and adjustability of the new Signature Series FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 front shock package – available directly from Chad Wienen.

Signature Series Genuine Kashima Coat
Signature Series Decal artwork

The ultra-lightweight Factory Series FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 offers infinite adjustability, dual stage air springs, a dual speed compression adjuster, a wide range rebound adjuster, and velocity sensitive damping controls that give you the best possible front end traction and steering performance in every conceivable terrain condition. Once again we updated and refined the performance and appearance, reduced friction and heat through the use of Genuine Kashima Coat, revised damping pistons, and performance altered internal features to provide a more robust, better performing and smoother running, highly adjustable overall package. Forget about heavy springs and running out of adjuster range – the FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 offers a huge range of adjustments allows you to set it up for anything from Race, Trail or Dunes. Tested and developed by the world’s best athletes and race teams, the FLOAT 3 EVOL RC2 makes countless championships and podiums an easier goal to hit. Redefine your limits by following in its tracks.

Position: Front
ATV Type: Race
Spring: Air
Weight: 4.4 lbs @ 17.6″

FLOAT Rears

FLOAT MXR

The FLOAT MXR can handle everything from easy trail riding to Performance Racing. The FLOAT MXR is the smallest and lightest (only 1.1 lbs.) shock in our FLOAT AirShox line-up. With features like our Air Volume Adjust (AVA) system, infinitely adjustable air spring, aerospace heims and externally adjustable rebound damping, our FLOAT MXR is the absolute best solution for all weight weenies that think in terms of “Power to Weight ratio.”

Position: Rear
ATV Type: Mini Quad
Spring: Air
Weight: 1.1 lbs @ 10.25″

Adjustments: Infinitely adjustable air spring
Air Volume Adjust (AVA)
Wide-range rebound
Features: Ultra-lightweight
Velocity-sensitive damping control
Samurai Sealing System (SSS)
Self-adjust negative air spring
Infinite progressive spring rate
Internal Floating Piston (IFP)

PODIUM Series

2.0 PODIUM RC2

The championship winning 2.0 PODIUM RC2 gets yet another level of performance and benefits added to an already winning concept, improving suspension consistency and performance through superior heat dissipation. We’ve also reduced friction by utilizing Genuine Kashima Coat, and improved performance by adding the all-new improved damping piston, which provides consistent and fade-free damping performance that will outlast and outrun any competition on or off the track. This will put the new PODIUM RC2’s already legendary terrain-following, race-experienced ability and performance yet another step ahead of the competition.

Position: Rear
ATV Type: Race
Spring: Coil

Adjustments: Wide-range rebound adjustment
Dual-Speed Compression (DSC) adjustment
Spring crossover
Spring preload
Features: Genuine Kashima Coat
Aerospace-grade PTFE-lined spherical bearings
Custom tuned
High-flow velocity-sensitive damping
Fully rebuildable and revalveable
2.5″ ID dual or single rate race spring
5/8″ Hard chromed shaft
Bottom out control (application specific)
Infinitely rotatable reservoir hose

2.0 PODIUM RC2 Wienen Signature Series

Take your riding to a world-class level with the performance and adjustability of the new Signature Series Podium RC2 rear shock – available directly from Chad Wienen.

Signature Series Genuine Kashima Coat
Signature Series Decal artwork

The championship winning 2.0 PODIUM RC2 gets yet another level of performance and benefits added to an already winning concept, improving suspension consistency and performance through superior heat dissipation. We’ve also reduced friction by utilizing Genuine Kashima Coat, and improved performance by adding the all-new improved damping piston, which provides consistent and fade-free damping performance that will outlast and outrun any competition on or off the track. This will put the new PODIUM RC2’s already legendary terrain-following, race-experienced ability and performance yet another step ahead of the competition.

Position: Rear
ATV Type: Race
Spring: Coil

1.5 PODIUM RC2 Utility

The 1.5 PODIUM RC2 Utility was developed by FOX engineers to improve your Utility ATV’s ride by enhancing its bottom-out resistance, roll resistance and control in extreme conditions. Featuring Genuine Kashima Coat, improved performance by adding the all-new improved damping piston, which provides consistent and fade-free damping performance, external rebound adjustment, and Dual Speed Compression (DSC) adjuster, injects race-bred adjustability and fun into your utility quad without taking away any of its hardcore work ethic.

Position: Front & Rear
ATV Type: Utility
Spring: Coil

Adjustments: Dual Speed Compression (DSC)
Wide range rebound
Spring preload
Features: Genuine Kashima Coat, 6061-T6 aluminum body
5/8″ super-finished hard chrome shaft
Velocity-sensitive damping control
Piggyback reservoir
Chrome silicon spring
Teflon lined spherical bearings

More information can be found on Fox’s Official Site.

Tags: air sprung, Buyer's Guide, coil over, features, float, Fox, list, podium, Shocks, Shox, specs, Technology

2015 Fox ATV Shocks Buyer’s Guide

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