PRESS RELEASE
Fox Goes Electric with the Live Valve System
Introducing Live Valve, FOX’s most advanced electronically controlled suspension system for mountain bikes. Featuring ultra-fast reacting sensors and the fastest valve ever created by FOX, Live Valve automatically adjusts the fork and shock independently as the terrain changes.
Designed from the ground up by FOX’s Advanced Products Group, Live Valve essentially changes the way we interact with suspension on mountain bikes. Accelerometer sensors on the fork, rear axle, and main frame read bump input at the wheel and the pitch angle of the bike, sending information to the suspension Controller at a rate of 1,000 times per second. The Controller interprets this information and the solenoids adjust the suspension in just 3 milliseconds – that’s 100 times faster than a blink of an eye. In fact, Live Valve is fast enough to sense a bump at the front wheel and open the fork before the rider feels it.
The solenoids use a latching design that only requires a small pulse from the battery to toggle it between open and closed. The latching characteristic of the solenoids means that they don’t require power to be either open or closed, only when changing modes. This design is a key feature for power efficiency.
The speed and proficiency of Live Valve provides suspension control at a level not possible with conventional design, adjusting the suspension over 450 times an hour during a typical trail ride. The system optimizes the suspension based on climbing, flat terrain, and descending. It even knows when the rider gets airborne and can set up the suspension for a comfortable landing.
The Live Valve system is complex, but what you get is simple. It’s doing the work for you, allowing you to focus on the ride. Once the system is setup, all the rider needs to do is turn it on and enjoy the ride.
Live Valve by FOX, the future of mountain biking efficiency and control, is here.
Greg Callahan had this to say about the Live Valve system: “I was actually pretty surprised with the times as I'd spent pretty much full day riding the same trail with my race suspension and felt like I'd gotten as much time as I could out of the trail. I then switched to the system and straight away went 2 seconds faster than my previous best time, without it feeling any faster, it actually felt more relaxed as I was carrying more speed on the flat sections with less effort. I found myself overcooking corners after flat sections because I was carrying more speed without even realizing. Really really interesting stuff, I think the potential advantage with this could be pretty huge, even in races where we wouldn't expect it to make much difference.”
Compatible Systems
The Fox Live Valve system will be found on the following forks and shocks:
• 32 Step-Cast
• 34
• 34 Step-Cast
• 36 up to 170 (29) / 180 (27.5)
• Standard, metric, trunnion Shocks
• LV eyelet / EVOL air sleeve only
• Reservoir flips 180 degrees depending on frame fitment
Giant, Pivot and Scott will all offer complete bikes equipped with the Live Valve system for 2019. Currently Pivot and Rocky Mountain also offer Live Valve compatible frames. Niner and several other brands will offer Live Valve compatible bikes, with a complete list to be announced soon.
Pricing
USD Pricing includes fork, shock, sensors and controller.
- 32 Step-Cast: $3000
- 34: $3000
- 34: Step-Cast $3125
- 36: $3250
For more information and other applications of the technology, head over to the Live Valve microsite for a demonstration.
Comments
fartymarty
5 years, 6 months ago
This just makes me want to ride full rigid even more.
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Cr4w
5 years, 6 months ago
Let's not get crazy.
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Reed Holden
5 years, 6 months ago
Full rigid and single speed with state of the art disc brakes
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Cooper Quinn
5 years, 7 months ago
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RNAYEL
5 years, 7 months ago
Because you spent $10,000 on your bike last year, and you're yearning for something fancy but replacing a bike that you've only ridden 10 times doesn't quite seem right, so upgrading it for the low, low cost of US $3250 seems entirely reasonable.
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Perry Schebel
5 years, 7 months ago
is that the new "huggable" priest plushie? i hear the catholic church is trying to spin the current brand woes.
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Cooper Quinn
5 years, 7 months ago
Well, Buddy Christ didn't really work.
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PoCo_Rider
5 years, 6 months ago
This is one of those things like Di2 were I think, huh that's neat but can't see myself buying it even if I had the money. At my skill level I probably wouldn't notice the difference. Might make a difference to some pro riders. The innovation is always interesting though.
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Andy Eunson
5 years, 6 months ago
Actually I can see DI2 more so than this gizmo. Some bikes have horrible cable routing and shitty shifting as a result. DI2 cures that although better cable routing does too. But that is not always possible given the complexities of suspension linkages. But this? I think Pivot’s own website claims the DW link needs no lockouts or climb switches because of excellent kinematics.
I keep reading how lockouts allow better more efficient climbing but no one has ever to my knowledge put a number to it. No real numbers, no sale.
Like boost or super boost plus. I don’t know about others, but I haven’t been blowing up non boost wheels right left and center. Sure better bracing angle of spokes should be stronger. How much stronger? How much stiffer? If what I have is strong enough and stiff enough why is more better?
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IslandLife
5 years, 6 months ago
Hmmm K2 Smart Shock anyone?
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Merwinn
5 years, 7 months ago
Isn't compatible (yet...) with my '18 DPX2. How ironic. Still... intriguing.
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mike
5 years, 7 months ago
why??
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JVP
5 years, 7 months ago
There's 3250 reasons why.
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Cr4w
5 years, 6 months ago
Most of us would be better off getting a proper service/tuning for our suspension gear and then a proper setup from Suspension Therapy. Most people I see don't have a clue how to optimize their gear let alone take advantage of technology like this.
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DanL
5 years, 6 months ago
Weren’t LaPierre doing the same thing for cheaper on their bikes?
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Reed Holden
5 years, 6 months ago
Part of what lets me ride instinctively is knowing how my bike will Ride. Can you imagine if the computer miscalculates and now your suspension is super plush when you expected it to be a more rigid or vice versa. I'm sure its amazing and all but I also like predictability. If my phone is any indicator of the quality and durability of this kind of tech, I can see problems ahead....
Also, maintenance....spare parts.....enough said.
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fartymarty
5 years, 6 months ago
I would rather get used to how my bike behaves and adapt my riding to suit rather than have my bike adapt to how I ride.
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Billsbutnoskills
5 years, 6 months ago
It would be nice if it could make the bike pop like a low rider though or like Danny Mcgaskill at the press of a button.
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