The guys over at Mountain Bike Action put out a nice review of our Trail bike, the Shaver. With its great attributes, the Shaver managed to get a review that not only made us proud, but put FoesRacing in MBA’s cover once more. Check out the review for yourself!
While the best mountain bikes in the world are conceived and designed in America, the majority of these bikes are then manufactured on distant shores. The two bikes tested here, the all-new Foes Shaver and Ventana El Rey 29er, were not only conceived in America but built here as well. These are American-made bikes that can be ridden-and ridden hard-on any trail in the world. While many riders will be drawn to these bikes because they were made here, one ride is all it takes to be drawn to them for a totally different reason. That reason is they are both great mountain bikes built to last.
Brent Foes is a master fabricator. His skills have been tapped by everyone from classic car aficionados who want old cars transformed into one-off dream-mobiles to Hollywood movie producers who need his ingenuity to craft custom carts for camera work. Walking around Foes’ workshop in Pasadena, you worry that Brent could be pulled away from his bicycle line to spend more time with his other, and some would argue more lucrative, side projects. Luckily for riders, Brent’s passion still lies with the bikes, and the all-new 2012 Foes Shaver is proof.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
Foes Fabrications has earned a reputation as a downhill race bike company, but the Shaver, which replaces the Foes 2:1 XCT, has broader appeal. This is a bike with attitude. It’s the tough guy in the group who isn’t intimidated by the most technically challenging terrain you will likely encounter on any trail from Birkenhead Loop in British Columbia to Copper Canyon in Mexico.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
The Shaver uses a made-in-Pasadena-USA aluminum frame, but that isn’t the whole story. The Foes guys use a monocoque construction technique for the top tube (which technically isn’t a “tube,” because it is two stamped halves welded together). The downtube is hydroformed, and the head tube is tapered. The Shaver has a replaceable International Standard Chain Guide mount (ISCG-05) for riders who plan to build their Shaver with a chain guide.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
Our Shaver was built, without compromise, to ride right in the middle of its potential extremes. A rider could go to the gravity extreme and build the Shaver with a fork similar to the 6.3-inch-travel Fox 36 Van with a single-ring crank and bashguard, or he could go the other way with lighter wheels along with Shimano XTR and carbon fiber components. Our test bike was put together with Shimano XT components and Fox Float suspension with a Kashima coating. The rear axle is a cool 12-millimeter system. Foes fabricated their own axle nut/derailleur hanger combo that is efficient and stylish. A set screw keeps the combo from falling out when the axle is removed.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
The setup: Foes gives you two rear-wheel travel settings. We found the shorter travel (the lower hole on the swing link) was better when using a fork with less than 6 inches of travel, and the longer setting was better for forks with over 6 inches. This is not an on-the-fly change, but with proper tools, it only takes about two minutes. The rear suspension ratio is 2:3, so dialing the suspension is easier than with a higher ratio where small changes produce giant swings in the feel.
On the trail: The Shaver positions its rider in an upright position with his weight biased toward the rear. The seat stays are a bit wide, and riders will sometimes make contact while spinning along. The bike feels lighter than its weight and gets up to speed without the rider having to engage the shock’s ProPedal feature (anti bob).
Cornering: Combine dialed geometry, amazing rigidity at both axles, Fox suspension, and grabby Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires and what do you think is going to happen? Magic. We caught ourselves pushing through every corner, trying to find the Shaver’s limits. The bike has a very neutral, light feel to its steering so you don’t expect it to stick, but it does!
Descending: Foes designed the rear suspension so the shock isn’t burdened with all the responsibility. The burly frame, low-leverage suspension ratio and beefy rear axle would make a downhill racer happy. It is pure bliss to a trail rider.
Climbing: Thirty pounds is 30 pounds. There’s no way around it. Still, pick a comfortable gear and, unless the trail is smooth, leave the ProPedal lever off and stay in the saddle. While you can plow through nasty lines when climbing, avoid flat-edged obstacles at this speed.
Braking: The rear end does stiffen slightly under braking, and our Shaver was delivered with a 7-inch rear rotor that we feel is too large. The Shaver offers its pilot so much cornering performance that you need to take advantage of it by braking early and getting off the brakes in the corner. Have faith. This bike will reward you.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
This bike is begging for an on-the-fly dropper seatpost. Is it worth the weight penalty? Sure. You are not riding some anemic carbon fiber creation. Take the penalty and make the downhills even more fun.
We’d swap out that massive rear brake rotor for a smaller-diameter rotor. If you are a big rider, however, leave it alone.
Finally, we only gave the Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires a three-star field test rating because, let’s face it, in a league of expensive tires, these guys are even more expensive. Still, they deliver in spades. It is hard to imagine a trail bike tire better suited to the Shaver than the Hans Dampf.
BUYING ADVICE
Big riders looking for a trail bike recommendation, here it is. The rear suspension ratio, the frame’s rigidity and Foes’ reputation for building bulletproof bikes make the Shaver an excellent choice. Plenty of riders want to support a company that still makes their bikes in America, but don’t buy the Shaver because of its citizenship; buy it because it is a great trail bike. There are plenty of great-riding trail bikes that are lighter and cheaper than the Shaver, but so many of those feel disposable. The Shaver is built to serve you well for a long time.
Source: Mountain Bike Action
