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FOX† Factory Series 1.5 PODIUM† R Front Shocks
- Thread starter ABQSpyder
- Start date
Hypurone
Active member
I have em (as well as the corresponding rear 2.0 RC2) on my F3-S and it is night and day different! :yes: I couldn't believe they were calling the Podium shocks on the F3-S an upgrade when I first test rode one! :barf:
I didn't even bother to put one mile on my new ride once I got it until I had made the swap..... :roflblack:
I didn't even bother to put one mile on my new ride once I got it until I had made the swap..... :roflblack:
ABQSpyder
Member
Chuck
How are they on small bumps. The originals and a little harsh on small bumps. Do you like adjustability on them?
Thanks
Larry
Slowpoke387
New member
Just got ours back from doing the install of those along with the BajaRon bar. Definitely a difference. Calmed our F3L right down. Ive been whining and complaining about what a twitchy wandering ride this thing was since we bought it new. I have tons of two wheeled experience including racing for many years and knew something was not exactly right. Everyone and i mean EVERYONE told me it was me and i was fighting the bike with the common death grip and my bike experience was working against me blah blah blah. I knew better. Definitely was not me. My racing days have taught me that a light grip will help to not influence the front end with too much bar input. Anyway i chased this with tire pressures, laser alignments, leaning different ways, etc. all the while almost believing it just may really be me. Nope.
After doing the Fox shocks and BajaRon bar the bike now rides like it should've from the factory. Stock shocks are junk and that bar is a joke. Now it tracks nice and stable, doesnt dart around with every little imperfection in the road, requires FAR fewer bar corrections and less "monitoring" of the bars, allowing for a much more relaxed ride. Now it's possible to actually take a look at some sights here and there without worrying about riding off into the bushes. Less lean required through turns too. Less body roll in longer turns. I attribute a lot of this to the new shocks helping that new bar do its job. Definitely has smoothened the bumps out too. Noticibly faster shock action.
Bottom line is it should be like this from the factory and im shocked that a $29,000 bike would require another $1000 out of the box to get it stabilized. Do it if youre on the fence. Nice to know im not crazy. Yet...
After doing the Fox shocks and BajaRon bar the bike now rides like it should've from the factory. Stock shocks are junk and that bar is a joke. Now it tracks nice and stable, doesnt dart around with every little imperfection in the road, requires FAR fewer bar corrections and less "monitoring" of the bars, allowing for a much more relaxed ride. Now it's possible to actually take a look at some sights here and there without worrying about riding off into the bushes. Less lean required through turns too. Less body roll in longer turns. I attribute a lot of this to the new shocks helping that new bar do its job. Definitely has smoothened the bumps out too. Noticibly faster shock action.
Bottom line is it should be like this from the factory and im shocked that a $29,000 bike would require another $1000 out of the box to get it stabilized. Do it if youre on the fence. Nice to know im not crazy. Yet...
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We have two F3-S models: both have Podium 2.0 on the rear (didn't ride with the stock shock) and RT torsion bars on the front ends. One has stock Fox shocks and one has Podium 1.5 shocks. We do ride 1-up. The adjustable spring preload and rebound damping on the 1.5 along with the 40% stiffer RT torsion bar provide a noticeably better/smoother ride and more precise handling as compared to a fully stock front end.
The propose of the torsion bar is to transfer load from one side to the other. The result is flatter cornering at the expense of a smooth ride. Consider if one were to make the front end a solid connection of left to right wheel. The spring rate is now effectively increased by 2X: a bump on one side has to compress both shocks to absorb the energy. What happens is the bump lifts the wheel, tilting the bike as opposed.to compressing the shock, causing the rider's body to shift side to side. Personally, I find the 40% increase received from the RT torsion bar to corner quite flat, and be more comfortable with suitable smoothness and handling precision as compared to a very stiff torsion bar.
Wayne
The propose of the torsion bar is to transfer load from one side to the other. The result is flatter cornering at the expense of a smooth ride. Consider if one were to make the front end a solid connection of left to right wheel. The spring rate is now effectively increased by 2X: a bump on one side has to compress both shocks to absorb the energy. What happens is the bump lifts the wheel, tilting the bike as opposed.to compressing the shock, causing the rider's body to shift side to side. Personally, I find the 40% increase received from the RT torsion bar to corner quite flat, and be more comfortable with suitable smoothness and handling precision as compared to a very stiff torsion bar.
Wayne
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Hypurone
Active member
The stock Podiums on the F3-S are still under-damped IMO and is why they wallow and actually feel harsh on bumps, as they allow too much/too quick of a movement. The upgraded Podiums are waaaaay different in their damping curves and are fantastic at everything. And with all of that "adjustability" you should be able to find a very sweet spot! I believe I am at position 6 of 10 on the fronts (it is 8 or 10 positions). At this position they handle everything I throw at them (and I throw hard!).
Even super gnarly mid corner crap! 
hyea:
ABQSpyder
Member
The stock Podiums on the F3-S are still under-damped IMO and is why they wallow and actually feel harsh on bumps, as they allow too much/too quick of a movement. The upgraded Podiums are waaaaay different in their damping curves and are fantastic at everything. And with all of that "adjustability" you should be able to find a very sweet spot! I believe I am at position 6 of 10 on the fronts (it is 8 or 10 positions). At this position they handle everything I throw at them (and I throw hard!).
Thanks for the feed back I really appreciate!
Thanks
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