Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

fox floats 1 compared to fox float 2

Go to the Tom's Snomwmobile website. He goes into detail of the changes for the II's.
 
Figure I would bring this up, rather then starting another one.

Anyone have any personal experiences with the difference between the two. Not talking shock technology, but more what the rider would notice..

Thanks
 
aalso curious..since people want 500 for there float1s used and the float 2s are only another 200 or so new
 
Its going to depend on how you ride the 2s have a difrent feel thanthe 1s my thoughts are if you dont have floats and want them then buy the 2s. If you have the 1s it is not worth the money to up grade. With or with out a front sway bar makes a difrence.
 
And how much power your sled makes is anouther factor. But if your spending the money on go fast parts and dont have it for the evol x why are you getting the cart before the horse.
 
Fox's mountain shock site will not give out a lot of detail.
Clicking on each shock, opens more clickeys (we all like that !!), One clickable is 'compare'. Not a lot of info is given for the difference between the 2. I suppose so they don't stab theirself in the foot and say "hey, the floats are not as good of a shock as the floats2" and loose sales on the first version.
Here is that link on Fox Mountain shocks.
hhttp://www.foxracingshox.com/snowmobile/mountainttp://

Digging around Doo, ATV and bike forms you can find various techno info on the difference between the 2 and how more people who have used them feel about them. Pressure, valving and return hole size seem to be the biggest improvement for handling those days of mogaled up trails, and the way they handle the stutter bumps via the return valving. Floats 2 will handle these situations as well as be reflected in handling through deep powder too.
Deeper reading into the topic of floats will yield comments extending into newer users of the Floats and not being happy with them because they are constantly having to repump them and or adjust them for each days riding after the shocks set idle for a while. You will not hear this from vet tuners who have no problems with them and recommend stepping up to the remote reserviour shocks for even better riding and tunability. Remote or piggy back reserviour shocks will always out perform single chamber shocks when it comes to shock fade and precise tuning, but that is a whole different topic than we are covering here.
Stepping back into the realm of the topic, I believe one of the biggest differences between the 2 is the users tuneability and in general how well they can tell the real difference between the 2 as far as performance. Per say, you will feel a great improvement during agressive riding with the Float 2 as well as see rebuild costs of the both shock types right around the same price.

~ Gimpster ~
 
Now what does that actually mean????

Less shock fade. Shock fade is enhanced by air particles introduced into the oil during the shocks movement. Air in the oil affects the shock performance. Once air bubbles mix with the oil they will feel spongy or springy. Nitrogen is used in shocks to slow down this mix. It will not contaminate the oil with bubbles like normal air will

~ Gimpster ~
 
Don't think anybody really answered what the difference is between the original Float's and Float II's.

Original Float's are a gas shock and air spring. The extra seals on the shaft for air portion I would guess double or triple the stiction in the shock when you hit a small stutter bump and the shock should start to compress.

The Float II's have a small Negative spring in the air chamber that is always trying to compress the shock. This spring helps the shock to compress a lot easier on those small stutter bumps on trails.

I have run the original Floats for years and they can be brutal on a bad trail but when you start doing some small jumping and more aggressive you can almost hear them say lets go find some more of this stuff to play on. Neat thing about the Floats is nearly impossible to bottom as the air pressure in them goes up very steeply as they compress. The extra little air chambers you can add on make them less progressive on the air pressure rise.

Good Luck

MY TNT mtn longtrack skid has two Floats in it and only weighs 32 lbs. My design I built is similar to the Timbersdled which is a knock off of the Yami rear arm that collapses into itself.
 
Don't think anybody really answered what the difference is between the original Float's and Float II's.

Nope, and still haven't...

I am mostly looking to see if the upgrade money from float I's to float II's is worth the price. 300 bucks or so is steep! Especially if the difference is negligable.

So far, everyone has given technospeak... Yah, I know the mechanical differences between the two... though, does it actually work better? Not too many people out there have upgraded, it seems..
 
In simple speak original Floats may beat the H out of you on small high speed stutter bumps on trails, while Float II's do better.

Good Luck

PS Again the difference is one has small steel coil spring inside and one doesn't.
Do you suppose maybe the reason the OLd tech Floats are $300 less is because they don't measure up to the newer tech Float II's ?
 
Last edited:
I rode them both but they feel the same to me. I don't mind them on the back but I hate floats on the front. I would take springs over air. Buy zbroz.
 
what the differance between the 2. what was the upgrade. and are they that much better
The float II differs from the I in three ways, 1) Negative spring, 2) A machined shock cap to increase the air volume and 3) A new valve body.

The new cap increases the Air volume by nearly the same amount as the aftermarket chambers. It is my understanding that the I's can be upgraded to to the new spec.
 
Does anyone know if the the upgrade affects the original shock travel?

Seem that more "stuff" in the way might limit travel a bit?
 
In simple speak original Floats may beat the H out of you on small high speed stutter bumps on trails, while Float II's do better.
That is what fox says they are supposed to do anyways... I haven't heard too many real life experiences with them.

Do you suppose maybe the reason the OLd tech Floats are $300 less is because they don't measure up to the newer tech Float II's ?
yep, or because the marketing dept is that good...
 
Premium Features



Back
Top