PEP PB1 vs. Fox EVOL vs. Elka factory vs. Axis

[Lquad71]

From inout from riders who have rode at least two of these...wat are some pros and cons of them all.....i know that people who only hav rode one of these sets will say they r the best hands down..so i want input from riders with experience with at least two of them...i felt these were the top shocks going right now...add some to the thread if u feel they earned a spot up here

[Lquad71]

found some pics just off the internet.. i apologize these were just some pics i found and im not sure if these are any of the bikes owned by people on here..

PEP PB1
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/?action=view&current=pep.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/pep.jpg" border="0" alt="PEP PB1"></a>

FOX Evol
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/?action=view&current=fox.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/fox.jpg" border="0" alt="fox evol"></a>

Elka Factory
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/?action=view&current=elka.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/elka.jpg" border="0" alt="Elka factory"></a>

Custom Axis
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/?action=view&current=axis.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn8/Datin71/axis.jpg" border="0" alt="Custom axis"></a>

[JJs450r]

Your probably gonna get a lot of mixed opinions, I like the look of the peps, but I ran the fox floats I liked them because they were quick adjusting easy to keep clean

[rollie]

PEP for sure, i owned a set of Floats and i liked them but you always have to check the pressure and what not, mine lost air a few times also due to snaping the top off the shrader valves, aside from that, i liked them, i rode axis too and its nice but in my mind PB1's can't be beat.

[Butter]

Man this thread will create some arguments for sure. I had PEPs on my old 400ex. They were a nice shock, no problems, but I knew from past experiences with my brother, getting them re-serviced sometimes can be really time consuming. I had Elkas on my YFZ. Again, great shock. A little shaky on the small choppy stuff, but that could of been resolved by getting them revalved for exactly me. Then I bought my race bike with Fox all around. Well the rear was complete crap, but thats because it wasn't made for anything on the bike. The fronts were awesome when setup, but I go riding alot on short notice out at local pits, and sometimes, I hated having to constantly do pressures in them. Plus having to ship them away for rebuilding is just scary to me because you don't know how'll you'll hit the company. In a busy time, dead time. I just don't want to be without shocks for a big race, or opening day, or whatever. So now both my 450Rs have Axis on them. My bro has ran them for 9 going on 10 years now from a stock framed 250R, to his Doug Roll 250R, to know his ARSFX/Axis 450R, and we know the shocks inside and out. Plus we rebuild our own Axis with fresh oil and nitrogen. And we can make them work on any bike. So why would I want to take a chance on anything else. All the brands are good in their own way, and people will sware by each one. Just do your own research with the company themselves and see what shock will be best setup for the type of racing or riding you do, and with the arms you will be running. Some companies don't get the same specs for the arms, and that makes a huge difference. For example lets say PEP has every imaginable piece of data on JB arms because ALOT of people run them together, but maybe Fox doesn't have as much info (Just an example, not true) so they take a general way of setting up the shock. You would much rather have the PEP in that situation because they will be exactly perfect for what you want. Go by actual facts and dealings with the companies instead of matter of opinion and you'll get alot farther in knowing what you want.

[Lquad71]

thats makes complete sense on whether or not the shock companies would have a better setup for a certain a arm/swingarm...but i havent heard anything at all about the elka factory shocks...im sure they work great but just want to hear opinions on them

[HondaRaceReady]

thats makes complete sense on whether or not the shock companies would have a better setup for a certain a arm/swingarm...but i havent heard anything at all about the elka factory shocks...im sure they work great but just want to hear opinions on them
I heard that not just anybody can buy factory elkas. I think you have to submit a request form to elka and be a serious racer to get them. I dont know how they ride though.

[Lquad71]

i thought i saw like an advertisement saying that they are releasing their factory shocks for the public to buy...so is it just availible but you have to meet standards???

[veenser2000]

Originally posted by HondaRaceReady
I heard that not just anybody can buy factory elkas. I think you have to submit a request form to elka and be a serious racer to get them. I dont know how they ride though.

It says on there site that you must be a pro registered rider in a recognized circuit to be able to purchase a new set of elka factories.

[rollie]

I've heard from peoplethat the elka factorys have TOO MANY adjustments for the normal racer/rider.

i also do agree with butter, ALOT has to do with the a-arms you choose.

keep in mind all the shocks you are considering are top of the line, so there all great shocks, Its more up to the rider:cool:

[Lquad71]

now i race the quadcross series and i saw a bike in the novice class on a kawasaki with factory elkas.

i would wait if you are going to buy ELKA's they are coming out with another new shock that Richard Pelchat and Jasmin Plante are testig right now. i would imagine they are better since richard was running them all year. An elka factory shock is a good shock and works really well if you spend the time to set it up, but they are on the heavy side and cost alot of money to rebuild or repair them.

I have personally owned all those shocks you are asking about and at the end of the day i would pick PEP PB1's they seem to be the ones for me.

[godzilla]

Originally posted by Lquad71
now i race the quadcross series and i saw a bike in the novice class on a kawasaki with factory elkas.

The rider may have bought them used though...its a possibility.

As far as I know, Elka will sell them to you but they strongly recommend that you have experience with their existing products before buying the factory , preferably the Elite so that you are comfortable working with them.

[fastredrider44]

I have the Axis Pro Air's now. It's a pain to adjust the air pressure before every ride, but I like the adjustibilty over buying different springs. Same for Fox. And yes, A-arm, swingarm/linkage make a huge difference. I haven't been aroung any Elka factories, but Elka's are not the best. However, they're oil holds up very well and makes a great shock with a long life span for the less serious racer. I had the chance to ride one of William Yokely's old race bikes, and that thing was very smooth, however, not any ol person is going to buy a set of Elkas out of a catalog and get that kind of oput of the box performance. I have rode on some bikes with PEP's that didn't do much for me, and then I've rode some that rode excellent. Its all on how they're set up.