DVO vs FOX - Who's in the know?

Author	Message

Kirky86

Posted: Nov 17, 2018 at 9:27

Quote

Alright PB?

I'm just on the verge of buying a new (well, new to me) Downhill sled.

I recently upgraded my old rides Boxxers to a set of 40's and now wouldn't look back - so my plan was to make sure the new rig was equipped with Floats and an X2.

I have however, seen a bike equipped with DVO Emerald on the front and a DVO Jade on the rear.

Has anyone used these back to back? I've got very little experience with the DVOs and nobody in my circle of riding buddies has a set to give any feedback.

Looking for honest opinions, no wrong answers!!!

Cheers all!

Kirky

bikenation

Posted: Nov 30, 2018 at 7:03

Quote

I have a lot of experience on Fox and DVO suspension. This is my honest take on it.

I loved my Fox 40, I thought it made me a better rider because of how stiff the chassis is and the rc2 damper is well known for its performance especially for big guys like me (191cm 90kg) but every fox 40 needs service regularly or they will self destruct, so be prepared to change your oil and clean bushing and seals every 40-50 hours of riding, have suspension fluid and crush washers for footnuts on hand. Tools too, otherwise service is expensive.
I also really loved the old rc4 shock and the current dhx2 shock is a more adjustable version of it. The rc4 is super reliable and only needs service once per season normally. I don't know about service on the coil x2.

The DVO Emerald to this day is the most reliable and service free fork I've ever used.
I serviced it out of the box in April and didn't touch it again until August when Ronnie from DVO did a full rebuild. The oil was dead but I wouldnt have known it, no wear on the fork at all, one broken shim in my compression stack that was fixed with zero effort and they are so user friendly it could have been done in my own living room.

He did not change the seals.

Fork felt better than new after the rebuild and lasted until October at the end of the Whistler bike park season when vorsprung again changed the oil and that was it.
April until October riding 5 days a week in Whistler and squamish. I changed my oil twice and I didn't replace my seals, I was shocked.

The fork is a bit heavy but is almost as stiff as a 40 imo, inverted suspension is super sensitive as well and with all the adjustment options including Off.The.Top negative spring you can dial it in to be perfect.

The jade is not as adjustable as a dhx2 but is very comparable to the rc4 performance and reliability, I never thought about my jade shock which says to me it did its job quietly and confidently, that's all I ask, the only shock that outperforms it may be the cane creek double barrel, if you know what the knobs do.

Hope this helps. Dm me if you want to talk more.

bikenation

Posted: Nov 30, 2018 at 7:13	Quote
I should also say that I always felt like my Dvo emerald let me take lines that I couldn't with my 40, not sure if it was because it was inverted or because of the off the top adjustment allowing me to dial in the feel of the front wheel but I could take lines full of braking bumps in to shit corners full speed, the fork never seemed to skip or deflect, it just smoothed it out and kept going.

Kirky86

Posted: Dec 1, 2018 at 6:12

Quote

bikenation wrote:

I should also say that I always felt like my Dvo emerald let me take lines that I couldn't with my 40, not sure if it was because it was inverted or because of the off the top adjustment allowing me to dial in the feel of the front wheel but I could take lines full of braking bumps in to shit corners full speed, the fork never seemed to skip or deflect, it just smoothed it out and kept going.

Well that sounds like a shining review. Maybe I won't be so quick to get them up for sale and swap to a Fox setup then!

Would be lovely to give them that length of time testing in Whistler, but a couple weeks is all we can afford haha. I wonder if DVO would fund some sort of season long test haha.

.....and by fund I mean sort accommodation.

.....and by accommodation I mean dump me on someone's couch.

Whatever.

reverend27

Posted: Dec 4, 2018 at 11:39	Quote
Dvo also have the new Onyx sc or DC downhill/Enduro fork. Stiffer and lighter but not inverted like emerald.

Kirky86

Posted: Dec 4, 2018 at 16:43	Quote
Yea, I'm get to see an Onyx in the flesh. I'll re-live my youthful love of Shiver DCs and Dorados with these for now. If they go the distance, maybe DVO will become a contender for future purchase again....

manofsteel1973

Posted: Apr 22, 2020 at 20:14	Quote
I have both fox 40 and dvo Emerald, o prefer dvo for tech trails and big mountain ride, fox 40 is good for jumping and smother flows DH trails.

Tdawgtit

Posted: Apr 24, 2020 at 12:33	Quote
Even the fork boxes on DVO would outlast internals of the Fox Hahaha Enjoy 'em! Loads of fettling to be had dialling in

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