For the last thirteen years, Push Industries have been in the mountain bike suspension tuning business, allowing customers access to services usually reserved for sponsored racers. Last year they released their first complete suspension offering, the coil-sprung Elevensix shock. Aimed at riders aboard 140-170mm all-mountain and enduro race machines, the silver, Steampunk-esque shock is completely manufactured in Colorado from domestically sourced materials. It's also custom tuned for each rider based on their weight, riding style, and the frame the shock will end up on. Of course, domestic manufacturing and bespoke tuning comes at a price, in this case to the tune of $1,200 USD.
Push Elevensix Details• Intended use: all-mountain / enduro race
• Made in Colorado
• HyperCo steel spring
• Adjustments: two independent high- and low-speed compression circuits, rebound
• Parabolic low-speed needle design for both compression and rebound
• Weight: 870 grams (216 x 63mm)
• MSRP: $1,200 USD
•
www.pushindustries.com That price does include an element of future-proofing to help ease the sting a little bit. Push will revalve the Elevensix at no extra charge, allowing riders to swap the shock from one frame to another while maintaining the same level of performance. What about swapping to a frame that uses a different shock measurement? In that case, the revalving is still free, and the customer will only need to pay for the parts.
Push recommends sending the shock in once every 12-18 months for a factory rebuild (a similar recommendation to most suspension manufacturers). That service costs $125 USD, but it also includes the installation of any updates, such as a revised piston or valve, that have occurred since the shock was purchased.
AdjustmentsWe covered the details of the Elevensix extensively in our
First Look article, but it's worth going over the adjustments that make the most difference out on the trail. The most noteworthy is what Push call their 'Dual Overhead Valve.' This means that there are two separate compression circuits, each with their own externally adjustable high- and low-speed compression adjustments that can be selected with the flip of a lever. Now, the idea of a climb switch on a coil sprung shock isn't as novel as it once was, since Cane Creek and Fox both offer that option, but Push takes things a step further with the level of control they allow for each setting. The nature of the Dual Overhead Valve makes it possible fine tune each of the two settings, whether that's to make one for climbing and the other for descending, or one for rough, DH-style tracks and the other for smoother, jump-filled trails. Each circuit has 16 clicks of low-speed compression adjustment and 20 clicks of high-speed compression adjustment.
In addition to the compression adjustments, there are 20 clicks of rebound adjustment. That rebound is controlled by a parabolic shaped needle rather than the more typical cone shaped needle. It may seem like a minor detail, but according to Push, the parabolic shape helps make for a more consistent difference between each click.
The final rider-tunable element of the Elevensix is the steel spring itself, which is made in the USA by Hyperco. The spring uses Hyperco's Optimum Body Diameter design, a method that creates a spring that's slightly thicker in the center than at the ends. Along with saving weight, this is said to create a more linear feel, and reduce the likelihood of the spring contacting the shock body. Springs are available in 25-pound increments to allow even more fine tuning, since achieving the correct sag can be a little trickier compared to an air sprung shock.
PerformanceThe Elevensix arrived with a sheet containing the pertinent details of the initial tune, including the amount of preload, the compression settings for each valve, and the spring rate. It also included the name of the suspension technician who built the shock, the one who did the final check, and the recommended date for sending it in for service (one year from its arrival date). On top of all that, there was also a printout from the dyno testing that the shock underwent before it was shipped from Push's Loveland, Colorado, facility. An alloy Transition Patrol would serve as the test rig for the Elevensix, and within a matter of minutes I had the shock installed and was ready go.
Accessing the rowdier trails in my area typically requires grinding up steep logging roads, which gave me plenty of opportunities to put the Elevensix's lever to use. I was able to achieve a feel that mimicked the middle setting of the Monarch Plus that was in place previously, which provided plenty of support and minimal bob whether I was sitting or standing. The lever was easy to reach and activate, with enough resistance to prevent it from accidentally getting knocked out of position, although I wouldn't mind seeing the outer edge rounded down a little bit – right now it resembles a flathead screwdriver a little too closely for my liking.
Now, the fact that the Elevensix can be set up to provide a nice climbing platform is all well and good, but most riders aren't seeking out a coil sprung shock for the uphills – it's on the descents where the feel of a coil spring is still the holy grail, at least for small bump sensitivity. With the Elevensix, the most immediately noticeable trait was just how much more grip the bike seemed to have. The rear end felt glued to the ground, smoothly tracking over every little nuance in the terrain. That sensation made it easier for me to take a little more speed into corners or through chewed up sections of trail, confident in the knowledge that the rear end would stay on track rather than getting bounced off line.
The Elevensix installed on Transition's 155mm Patrol.
The way a coil sprung shock behaves will vary depending on a bike's suspension design, but the tune that Push designed for the Patrol was a very good match, and I didn't deviate more than a click or two from the out-of-the-box compression settings. Compared to the Monarch Plus, the installation of the Elevensix made the bike feel more like a mini-DH rig, giving it a more planted and less poppy feel. That was a benefit in rough, natural terrain, the type you'd find in an enduro race, but I did find that I preferred the feel of an air spring shock on smoother jump-filled trails. That's a trait inherent to coil sprung shocks, not just the Eleven Six – it's difficult, if not impossible to replicate the 'pop' of an air spring due to the more linear nature of a coil. I'd imagine that's a tradeoff many riders are willing to accept, especially due to the enhanced traction the coil Elevensix provides.
The silver shock accompanied me on plenty of long, steep runs, and in each instance there was no change in performance from the top to the bottom of the trail. It's also remarkably silent, reassuringly free of any strange squishing or sucking noises. There weren't any harsh bottom outs either, and even though I'm positive I used all the travel on a few hucks-to-almost-flat, I never felt the shock reach the end of its stroke. All in all, the Elevensix performs exactly as a shock of this caliber should, with effective adjustments, seamless, smooth operation, and after months of hard usage it still feels as good as the day it was installed.
Pinkbike's Take:
| The price is going to be the biggest stumbling block for any rider considering the Elevensix. After all, there are several air and coil sprung shocks on the market that deliver a similar level of performance for nearly half the price, and often at a lighter weight. Of course, none of those options offer the unique Dual Overhead Valve feature, and focusing solely on price would be selling the Elevensix short.
In addition to the excellent and reliable performance that it offers on the trail, along with the fact that it's made in the USA, the level of customization is what sets it apart from other contenders. It's like purchasing a tailored suit versus an off-the-rack model (full disclosure: this is pure conjecture - I only own one button up shirt, and it has short sleeves); for many riders, purchasing an Elevensix will be as close as they ever get to enjoying the tuning services and performance available to a full-factory pro. - Mike Kazimer |
Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review
"Bitchmaster"...
Push is legit. Best decision I have ever made for my bike
I'm not contesting the performance of the shock ,I'm saying there are other options with the same performance at a lower price.
Plus, the next great widget is only ~two years away.
While I'd like to believe this is the end all be all of shocks, how many people honestly know how to set-up their suspension? Plus having someone set-up a shock for how another believes they ride is getting out there.
I'm still surprised the reviewer get comprehension for the pricetag because "along with the fact that it's made in the USA". I never read that for any BOS product, made in France, same or higher labour cost than the US, or the fancy italian shocks (forgot their name). It should be worth mentioning for any product not made in a sweatshop, and that means more than the US.
I won't further comment on American engineering, also because making a generality isn't good.
It's the only suspension company that doesn't sponsor any riders.
That's how good their products are.
@Ozziefish: Do they keep up as a replacement rear shock? Sure this must be the most intelligent rear suspension you've ever had. It may be up to stubborn level intelligent though, willing to help you OTB whenever they can .
And I've also noticed they never seem to compare top-shelf items that they've previously 'reviewed' to/against one-another.
Like clock-work, the latest piece from somebody will pop up on here, they'll 'review' it, they'll claim it does what it's designed to do MAGNIFICENTLY, gloss-over things it doesn't( "an 'Enduro' shock isn't meant to climb, but this thing still does an admirable job getting you to the top despite this"), and they'll pronounce the piece the greatest thing since sex-just like they did with its competitor a month ago etc.
Well, I'm calling you OUT PB.. it's time to act like the honest, journo-centric rag you like to think of yourself as.
I'd(and I'm sure a lot of others would too) like to see a comparison between THIS shock, the Fox X2 air shock, and
the Fox DHX2 coil shock(with of course their SLS).
You can include the Vivid(s) too if you want, as well as the CC coil/air, but I figure since the PUSH and the two Fox shocks
have the latest and greatest technology and engineering built into them, Rock Shox and Cane Creek will prolly need to play catch-up on the next model revision(s).
Won't be hard. All you need to do is compare them in their natural environment(Point straight DOWN HILL), and tell us which one works BEST. Of course price will be a MAJOR factor, 'cuz the people who read your drivel have to PAY for their shocks, thus cost is a HUGE factor. You'll have to decide how much of a role cost plays here, i.e. if the PUSH is better, is it 2-times the price better.
Enough said, now DO IT!
Please...
Because rear shocks work differently depending on frame design, the only comparisons I made in this review were to to the shock I had extensive time on. With forks, it's much easier to do a comparison, because there are less variables affecting their performance. Believe me, we're working to increase the number of comparisons we make when possible and feasible - we'll be having more pieces like this: www.pinkbike.com/news/dropper-post-test-review-six-2015.html in the future.
This is the second time I've seen PB staff get all bent up over user criticism, a while ago somebody commented how it must be so noce for PB staff to travel around and take pics at world class mtb events and the photographer chimed in about how tough his life is and he gets so hot and has to run around all day. Basically every reader after offered to trade jobs with him, he never said a word back. (Boo Hoo I had to run around in the sun watching a mtb race)
The point is that we support your site. If we think you have a cool fun job don't be a dick and pretend you are so hard done by and if we want better reviews that are more review than advertisement than figure it out or we can go read one of the other 1000 mtb websites out there. You represent this website so act like a professional.
So, I guess if all the 'top-end' shit works 'really well' now days, what reason do you have for reviewing any of it?
And you actually called a shock 'sportier'? What the hell does that mean?
Does it mean that the Vivid is designed more to carry loads of gravel like a truck?
As far as your contention that frame design plays too big of a part in shock testing, well, of course if you test a coil shock with linkage that was designed for an air shock you're gonna have problems, but you're supposed to be 'experts' on the subject. One would think an 'expert' would know which frame to test a given shock on.
I'll even give you one. My '15 951 came with a CC coil, therefore it's reasonable to assume Intense tuned the linkage to work well with coil shocks in general, and the CC in particular-although I called them before I purchased an X2 to find out if I'd have problems, and they said the 951's linkage would work perfectly fine with an air shock, and in my subsequent experience it does. Weighing 245lbs and riding on trails that have more rocks than dirt, and what dirt they do have is covered in braking bumps, I find out pretty quick how well suspension(and brakes work)
I have some experience on the motorcycle side with manufacturers, magazines, and product 'reviewing', and I can tell you this with certainty.
If you have the readership and your reporting and reviews are HONEST, manufacturers will advertise with you regardless of how you rated their product. If they're confident in it, they know sooner or later it will win a shoot-out, or 'comparo'(a term I personally detest, so please don't ever use it), and if it happens to be the best of the crop that year, you won't have a problem stating in another product's review that yours works better.
Lastly, your post came across as though you feel your reviews are perfectly fine the way they are, i.e. there's no room for improvement, so I'll leave you with this;
Becoming complacent or stagnant is the best way to become irrelevant.
As for calling a shock 'sportier', if you read that review, you'll see that what I wrote read, "However, I will say that I ended up preferring the feel of the Float X2 on the Nomad over the Vivid. It felt “sportier,” for lack of a better term, with just as much suppleness as the Vivid at the beginning of its stroke, but a slightly more supportive feel deeper in its travel, a trait that comes in handy when putting the power down to pedal through rough sections of trail."
We're always looking for ways to improve, and all of us here at Pinkbike are constantly striving to produce the best reviews and content possible. Rest assured that there's no sense of complacency or that we're resting on our laurels. Cheers.
Customs nice, but most shocks just aren't that bad... Definitely some props to PUSH, without them and other 3rd party tech/tune pushing suspension tech they way that have been we might have waited much longer for all the amazing damper tech we have today!!!
Once you're up at X2 pricing you're most of the way to a Push, it's like choosing Hope over King for your carbon wheelset.
This is not a problem, as you can't buy this shock for a bike it doesn't suit.. You don't buy an Elevensix from your LBS and then hope it will work with your bike. Darren only offers the shock with valving specific to certain frames, and does not offer it for suspension designs that won't benefit from a coil, or have not been proven to work based on extensive testing by Push.
So yes, you are right on point of fact that new wheels can benefit *any* bike, but it's not true to say that someone could fit an Elevensix and not benefit from a performance improvement.
respect.
But hopefully they can swap the ends to new standards and adjust the length along with travel enough during the 125 dollar service to keep the shock running into the FUTURE...
If I could afford it I would definitely screw with/up all of them
In addition it does not have to be setup with a Climb/Descend mode. Mine is setup with Trail/DH modes instead and even then the only time I use the Trail mode is on a 20% paved climb locally.
I understand that the price puts it out of the range for a lot of people, but it is no different than comparing a Raptor to an '89 Toyota. Yes they are both pickup trucks, but very few people would choose the Toyota if they cost the same.
If this shock gives me 12-18 months of consistent performance before I send it in for a rebuild then in my mind the price tag is already justified; I have spent far too much time off the bike due to catastrophic damper failures and waiting for the resulting warranty repair (which Cane Creek and GarageWorks were always VERY good and handling, I will give them that!).
I get it, this is an expensive and boutique item that is not for everyone, let alone every frame. I work part time at a bike shop and was able to get a good deal on the damper, which definitely helped with the decision; but after experiencing the ElevenSIx firsthand I would be more than happy to pay full retail for it.
Appreciate the informative post on the 11.6 though. And most definitely props on the weight loss!
I have not had too much time on the latest and greatest from other manufacturers; I have a couple rides on a Pike RC (160mm 29") and my previous fork was a pre-charger Lyrik (Solo-Air DH RC2 @ 170mm). I also owned a 2010 Van 36 RC2 @ 160mm of travel that came on my Trek Scratch. So I can't give much in the ways of useful comparisons, but I definitely preferred my Stage to the Pike RC that I rode.
I will say that my bike as is feels nicely balanced; ie, the Stage (170mm travel) is keeping up well with the ElevenSix ( I generally ride the bike in Trail mode, so 150mm of travel out back ). Externally adjustable air-spring volume via Ramp Control (as apposed to bottomless tokens) and the fact that my 170mm Stage has the same Axle to Crown as a 160mm Pike were some of the features that pulled me away from Fox/RS and others.
I did manage to break the low-speed compression knob (leaving me stuck in "climb") while on a ride; it was partially my fault, but I called MRP and I had replacement parts in the mail in a coupe days free of charge.
I prefer the Stage over the Lyrik in pretty much every area, the Stage definitely has a softer/smoother initial stroke when the air spring is properly set up and the small bump compliance is quite a bit better. Oddly enough, despite the smaller stanchion diameter (34 vs 35 on the lyrik) and axle (15mm vs. 20mm), I never perceived much difference in chassis stiffness. I remember reading something posted on another forum that surmised that the Stage's impressive chassis rigidity comes largely from an increase in bushing overlap when compared to its competitors, but I do have not confirmed this. I find the Ramp control and slow speed compression combination to be very useful in adjusting the fork/bike for the trail of the day, even more so than the High/Low speed compression adjustment of the Lyrik RC2.
I'm thinking the [main] reason for the huge cost of the PUSH shock is the extremely limited run. Fox sold out their entire 2016 production runs within a week of receiving them, and are now awaiting their 2017 model(s)-with the 'climb' switch. Selling that many obviously allows them to spread the R&D and production cost over much more units, and prolly even allows for a higher profit margin. I don't know how many PUSH sells, but I bet they're not even a blip on Fox's radar.
That thing is seriously bada$$, and the review forum over on MTBR is epic.
Totally stoked and have to say although it feels ace going DH I truly notice how the wheel sticks on tech climbs. Cleaning stuff I have never even tried before.
also is there any way to tune ramp up on something like this? i have spent most my mountain bike time on air shocks and really like the ramp up.
But like a lot of things in life, I suspect the fast riders would be fast on whatever they're given. Whereas I try and justify spending $ to make me faster. Well that's what I tell my missus.
I'm super keen to see how this BREW Nitro shox that Mike Levy is going to be riding in Whistler goes.....
Because I'll be buying the 11.6, or the BREW depending on its review (and availability)
Actually, it's not a 'dick move' at all.
Racers have been using the products that work the best over their sponsor's for years and year.
The American Honda Superbike team was sponsored by Jardine(exhaust) back in the early 2k's,
so they ran Jardine stickers on their Akrapovic exhaust.
Nicky Hayden was sponsored by Joe Rocket, so on his Daytona boots he replaced the 'Daytona' patches with 'Joe Rocket' ones.
My friends at Attack Performance(Kawasaki team) were sponsored by Arrow exhaust, but since Arrow actually TOOK power from the ZX6, Stanboli designed his own head-pipes and follow-on tubing, and ran Arrow silencers with it.
Sponsors give you product and/or money to DISPLAY their logo, and NOT their competitors.
Racers would be doing themselves and their sponsors a disservice not to give themselves every chance to finish as high as possible in the running order, therefore NO serious racer/team would EVER put themselves in a position to use inferior parts, thus their sponsor contract will rarely state that they HAVE to use sponsor's parts.
They just have to display their sponsor's logos
I'd buy one if I had an enduro rad bike but I'm a trail rider ????
yeah, lots of sources I buy from never disclose how many units they make or how many units they even have on hand --- some will just post on-line info like a YES or NO hat any given item is in stock.. some will do things like 5+ or if they have less than 5 units, they'll show how many. kinda weird why some are hush hush about their numbers, some aren't. some of the places I buy from which I would consider a huge company. I'm often surprised how many items they'll bring in at any given. often much lower than I would think for being the size they are.
Demo has since been sold !!
MTB is gay.
swedes (or people from sweden) are known for their style and design choices
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