el jefe vs. avy

[bbike]

Hi, I am in a little bit of a squeze right know. I do not know of which rear shock to get. I do not like the romics or the fox. (I have a fox r right know and hate it). Which shock should i buy. I could get the el jefe right know, or I could save for another month and buy the avy. It is going to be matched with my 2004 slider so i need a very plush shock. what would you get

[crazyguy]

the avy is custom valved to you and its a proven design with great customer service where the el jefe is new probably isnt custom tuned and form what i hear stratos blow up and the service is horrid no if you were to get the stratos make sure you get the el jefe Sr because its got those nifty little bearings in the eyelets thats gonna make a difference in the plushness but im sure the avy with proper torque on the bolts will be just as good and you have the custom valveing just the way you want your shock

[Universe]

Stratos isn't even a viable option when put next to an Avalanche.

[GrimniR]

There is no comparing the two - the Avalanche is superior.

Avalanche has been making this shock for awhile and they have thier shit down. They have absolutely great customer service, not that you'll need it. Thier shocks are custom valved just for you - if you don't like the valving they'll revalve it for free for 60 days after purchase. They are a company known for making the toughest stuff out there as well as having very quality dampening. On the other hand...

Stratos has been making the El Jeffe for about 7 months. Thier R and D for the El Jeffe consisted of purchasing an Avalanche DHS, taking it apart, and copying it. They are known for thier horrible customer service - just ask the Tri County Better Business Bureau. They are a company known for making stuff that's doomed (from an engineering standpoint) before it ever leaves the factory.

The only bad part is that Avalanche is absolutely swamped right now and they have a waiting period of over a month for new orders. So you can either wait for a shock from Avalanche of get an El Jeffe right now. Odds are you will be sending the El Jeffe back in to Stratos within the first few weeks of use anyway..

[OCRONPORD]

manitou swinger 4 or 6 way ???

[builttoride]

I've had a couple of problems with stratos, but to be honest they have been very very good to me indeed! good customer service! and the el jefe, does look like it will be a pimptastic shock... but then again avalanche are tried and tested, and come out top dogs normally, up to you!?

[Mountain Dewd]

yah since you getting a 04 7 inch slider i would suggest waiting a month and getting a swinger 4 way after market.

the valving will feel very simalar. imo i think your bike will feel kinda wierd with a really active shock on the back, and a spv fork on the front.

i have a swinger 4 way and it is incredable, i have owned a fifth element as well and the swiger is much nicer, it feels a lot livelier and it is much more set and forget. in a month they will be avaliable aftermarket.

pip said that the main reason it feels livlier than the fifth is because the fifth has 10 times more seal drag on it. the swinger is extremly smooth and it is simple to set up any way you desire and will match your front end perfectly.

if u r stuck on your two choices in the poll i would go for the el jefe because it has basically all the same adjusments and it is like half the price and you can get it right now.

any way u know what i suggest, swigner 4 way.

[Mountain Dewd]

btw how many of you guys hating on the new stratos have actually ridden it or have any expercince with it. i have heard very good things about THIS shock. i know stratos has had a lot of problems, but my dad has a stratos and has had real good service from them, i met those guys at sea otter last year and they seemed real cool, but


maybe the canadian department is terrible or something

[builttoride]

yeah, I think stratos customer care is pretty good, they have offered me free labour on fixing my shock, and within a week turn around! I'm seriously considering it, although i do kinda fancy a romic...

[Monster Mike]

Call avy order your shock put half down. Pay the rest in a month when the shock is ready. Avys the shit. I have mine and it is the shit. Proven performance or questionable quality? The avy kills everything. Lets put it this way i had a 5th went to avy and love the avy and the fift sucked in comparison. Loopie had avy went to 5th on his v10 and is going back to avy. If this clues you in fox has a new shock modeled of an avy now, strados now has one, risse now has one..... Get the picture. And they dont have Craig and his 20 years of suspension knoweledge behind them. Look at what eh best bikes in the world come with ie Brooklyn has avy, hood has avy, clifcat has avy, nicolai has avy.

[Alexey]

if your bike is single pivot then el jefe with spherical bearings for sure

[Monster Mike]

Originally posted by some_dude
if your bike is single pivot then el jefe with spherical bearings for sure

Whats the reasoning behind this?

[BRASSBALLS]

i have heard nothing but good things about the el jefe. peopl always talk shit about what they know nothing about. you know, fox makes some of the worst shocks ou there adn people still think there the best becuse they are in all the videos,mags,posters,etc....
it's like marz.
pretty awfull fork company, but peeps believe the hype adn always will.
i say get the el jefe, you'll save yourself some coin, get it earlier, and get to try something new out.
give the el jefe some time and it'll be a better shock than the avy. it's way overpriced for what your actually getting(avy)

i do agree with the swinger as well, looks like a very promising shock.

[bbike]

if i bought the swinger, i could only get it in a 2"stroke. I really need 2.25" stroke

[Monster Mike]

Originally posted by BRASSBALLS
i say get the el jefe, you'll save yourself some coin, get it earlier, and get to try something new out.
give the el jefe some time and it'll be a better shock than the avy. it's way overpriced for what your actually getting(avy)
.

Hmmmm, I doubt the el jefe is any better and also know that an avy is not over priced. I havent gotten to take apart a El Jefe yet but are the internals hard coat annodised? I doubt it. Thats one big reasogn behind avys pricing for forks and shocks. Everything is hard coat annodised. So that it lasts WAY longer. When you change your marzocchi fork oil it comes out near black..Why? becaus the internals arent coated. All Avy stuff is thus why oil comes oil near perfect after a year of use. Its not so much that dirt is getting in the fork oil in marzocchis its that the worn internals"dust" isnt getting out.