2017 Fox DHX2 Rear Shock Review: Race Tested

The Fox DHX2 coil shock is chosen by both the current men and women world cup overall champions, Rachel Atherton and Aaron Gwin. This shock is the first twin tube, 4 way adjustable shock from Fox featuring the next generation of performance, perfect for any downhill bike or enduro machine. In this review, we will be talking about what we like and don’t like about the latest Fox DHX2 rear shock!

Overview

The DHX2 coil shock used throughout this test was mounted to a Santa Cruz V10 and features a 8.75” length eyelet to eyelet and a 2.75” stroke length. The SLS spring from Fox (Super Light Steel) is claimed to weigh less than a similar titanium spring for a more affordable price. I weigh around 165lbs (75kg) and found that I prefer a 525lb spring. Standing on the bike in a riding position, the 525lb spring on the V10 gives me 28% sag.

The DHX2 features the Rod Valve System (RVS), which Fox says “provides a more seamless damping transition when absorbing small to large impacts, resulting in faster system response, more control, and less harshness.” The Rod Valve System features 22 individual clicks of adjustment for low speed compression, high speed compression, low speed rebound, and high speed rebound. This allows the rider to fine tune the attitude of the bike on a magnitude of different terrain.

While not used during this test, the DHX2, along with the Float X2, can be configured with the new X2 2-position lever for on the fly low speed and high speed compression adjustments. This is perfect for those riders looking for a high performing coil shock on their trail bikes.

For a more detailed breakdown on all of the 2017 Fox rear shocks, click here.

Riding and Performance

Pros

There is plenty of tunability on the DHX2. Don’t hesitate to try different settings to find what works best for your riding style and bike characteristics. When I first mounted the shock on my V10, trying to find some base settings was important. I was given some settings from Fox to start with and then hit the trails. When first making adjustments to the shock, I found it most productive to make 3 clicks of adjustment at a time. It is hard to feel anything short of that on the trail with such a large range of tunability. Once I got the settings close to where I felt the most comfortable, I started making smaller adjustments with just 1 or 2 clicks at a time. After learning how each of the available adjustments changes the attitude of the bike, I became more comfortable riding and pushes the V10 to its limits.

The DHX2 never faded even on the longest and most demanding trails. The damping characteristics never changed and is something you just don’t have to worry about with this shock. After riding the same shock hard for a year, it is still going strong and feels like the day it came out of the box.  I rode this shock on some of the most demanding courses in the world like the World Cup race tracks at Mont Sainte Anne, Andorra, and Lenzerheide. It lived up to the challenge and proved to be very reliable!

Cons

One of the only negatives I found with the DHX2 was how the adjusters can get packed with dirt and mud, making them harder to turn. Even after being washed off, the clickers weren’t always as easy to turn, like fine grit had gotten behind the low speed adjuster.

If you aren’t careful, when counting clickers, it is possible to bottom out the low speed adjuster and begin turning the high speed adjuster by accident. This is something that should never be a problem if you pay attention when counting your settings. I have always been told to count clicks from all the way closed and find it very helpful to write down and keep track of my settings.

What’s the Bottom Line?

The Fox DHX2 is very impressive! It is the real deal. I found the shock to be very sensitive without giving up any mid stroke support.  The SLS spring is very light, roughly a half pound lighter than a traditional steel spring. The shock was always very consistent no matter how long and demanding the trail. The Mont Sainte Anne world cup racetrack is a testament to that! The adjusters were sometimes a pain to get to when covered in dirt but keeping a small pick in the toolbox helped with that. Overall, this shock would be a great addition to any downhill or enduro bike. It truly inspires confidence, keeping your tire stuck to the ground for maximum grip.

About Me

Max Morgan is 24 years old, and lives in Brevard, North Carolina. Max grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started racing downhill at the age of 15. He has now been racing professionally for the last 6 years, competing in the U.S. Pro GRT series and UCI World Cup series. Find me on Instagram @mxmorgan77.