Overall: just got mine for £850 from Pauls Cycles, crazy money most places are reducing em to £1099 which would still have been a bargain.
Looks terrific in the flesh with a v classy colour scheme, unlike the punk/military '05 models. Agree with other poster that 6" is a bit too XC for a "freeride" rig, will be upgrading my front to an 8".
Tried and tested design which only had problems back in '99 with driveside seat stay cracking but not heard of any problems since.
Strengths: Stiff, coil spring plush, weight for a Marz. Low pressure chamber-no air leaks. 200 quid at Chain Reaction (12/01) is a steal!
Weaknesses: weight for an air fork. Low pressure chamber-fiddly to adjust with shock pump (better off with a regular pump)
Overall: Weight is good for a Bomber, mine is 1550g with long steerer (approx 3.5lbs). Heavier than a SID but more reliable and stiffer.
Shockingly plush for an air fork, feels just like a coil sprung bomber. Got full 80mm after only a couple of rides and minimal fettling.
Excellent tracking, noticeably stiffer than the Manitou it replaced dont get brake rub on out-of-the-saddle climbs now.
V low pressure compared to most air forks, Im running about 15psi in each leg. Means the seals arent overloaded so its a more reliable system than those in SIDs, MARS etc.
I paid 270 for mine on sale from CR, theyve just dropped the price to 200 quid, an absolute bargain
Strengths: active suspension, no pedal interaction
Weaknesses: cant drop saddle much cheesey Fox shock bushes
Overall: Got an XCR as an insurance replacement for a stolen FSR. was V sceptical of the I- Drive and its position relative to UK mud.
Well after 6 months; the I drive really works, probably better than the FSR which is saying something. The I drive bearings are still fine, dirt/mud goes into the eccentric and right back out thru a hole in the bottom and never gets near the bearings.
Ignoring the I drive bit theres only one other main pivot so it should be pretty maintenance free (compare that with FSR/Stinky and other 4-bar linkages).
Would be nice to be able to lower the saddle without it hitting the shock, but to be fair half the full sussers on the market are like this. Also Fox bushes were shot after a very short time, but this is an issue for Fox not GT, and again loads of manufacturers use Fox.
Bottom line, I'd buy one with my own money.
Check out www.pauls-cycles.co.uk, theyre blowing out '99 and '00 models for near half price which makes them the best value full sussers around.
Weaknesses: cheesey bushes. Poor build (see review)
Overall: Had a Air Vanilla R for about 30 hours riding. The lower bushes are already shot and sloppy, and a buddy with a different Fox on a different FS design also has worn bushes in a similalry short time.
Started to squelch and slurp and lost damping- I assume the nitrogen charge has leaked passed its diaphragm/seal and into the Oil.
Kudos to the importers Mojo who are currently repairing it under warranty and have promised to get it back to me within a few days.
NB; this is a new old-stock '99 model on a '99 GT XCR (bought new cheap in '01). Ashley Wright (see above) also had many probs with '99 models so the other reviews might reflect an improvement in Foxs' design/construction.
