fox dhx2 travel change

SERVICE PROCEDURES

2021+ float x2 travel adjustment.

WARNING: Always wear safety glasses and protective gloves during service to prevent potential injury. Failure to wear protective equipment during service may lead to SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

The following steps guide you through the process of changing travel on the 2021 FLOAT X2 shock. Make sure that the travel change being made is appropriate for the bike application before use. 

FLOAT X2 Travel Spacers are available in 2.5mm (233-00-490), 5.0mm (233-00-491), and 7.5mm (233-00-492) sizes. FLOAT X2 Travel Spacers are NOT  stackable. Please order the appropriate spacers for the travel reduction desired. FLOAT X2 Travel Spacers must be used in pairs.

There are two different screws used with the 2021 FLOAT X2 Bearing Housing for different spacer configurations. 

WARNING: FOX products should be serviced by a trained bicycle service technician, in accordance with FOX specifications. If you have any doubt whether or not you can properly service your FOX product, then DO NOT attempt it. Improperly serviced products can fail, causing the rider to lose control resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

WARNING: FOX suspension products contain pressurized nitrogen, air, oil, or all 3. Suspension misuse can cause property damage, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. DO NOT puncture, incinerate or crush any portion of a FOX suspension product. DO NOT attempt to disassemble any portion of a FOX suspension product, unless expressly instructed to do so by the applicable FOX technical documentation, and then ONLY while strictly adhering to all FOX instructions and warnings in that instance.

WARNING: Modification, improper service, or use of aftermarket replacement parts with FOX forks and shocks may cause the product to malfunction, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. DO NOT modify any part of a fork or shock, including the fork brace (lower leg cross brace), crown, steerer, upper and lower leg tubes, or internal parts, except as instructed herein. Any unauthorized modification may void the warranty, and may cause failure or the fork or shock, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remove the black air cap and thread on your FOX shock pump. Slowly release all air from the main air chamber with your pump, then remove the pump. Verify that all air has been released by depressing the Schrader valve.

WARNING: Please verify that all air has been released from the air chamber by pushing down on the Schrader valve core. Failure to release all air pressure before further disassembly may cause parts to eject causing SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.

Rotate the wire retaining ring to align the opening in the ring with the tab on eyelet. Use a pick to remove the ring.

Slide the outer air sleeve away from the negative air sealhead to remove.

DO NOT clamp the FLOAT X2 Inner Air Sleeve below the externally threaded area. Only use the FLOAT X2 Air Sleeve Clamps (PN: 803-01-690 REV A) to clamp the FLOAT X2 Inner Air Sleeve between the ribs.

WARNING: Using the 2019 FLOAT X2 Air Sleeve Clamps (803-01-318 REV A) can cause damage to the inner air sleeve on certain size 2021 and later FLOAT X2 shocks. Please use only the 803-01-690 REV A Air Sleeve Clamps as they've been modified to fit all sizes of all FLOAT X2 shocks for all model years. Failure to use the correct clamp may cause the product to malfunction, resulting in SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.

Remove any Air Volume Spacers if present. Clean the inner air sleeve with Isopropyl alcohol and lint-free paper towels. Use the X2 air sleeve clamps (PN: 803-01-690) to hold the inner air sleeve while you unthread the shaft eyelet counter-clockwise with Knipex pliers or the eyelet torque tool (PN: 398-00-280).

Separate the Inner Air Sleeve from the Shaft Eyelet to expose the Bearing Housing.  Unthread the two screws in the Bearing Housing Cap counter-clockwise with a 2mm hex wrench. Lift up on the Bearing Housing Cap to reveal any Travel Spacers if present.

Hold the Bearing Housing Cap up to remove or add Travel Spacer pairs as desired. Make sure that the travel you are configuring the shock for is appropriate for the intended bike application. Position the Travel Spacers so their center through-holes are aligned with the threaded holes in the Bearing Assembly and the raised rim is facing up away from the Bearing Housing. (Note: The same Travel Spacers found in this shock are being reinstalled resulting in no actual travel change. This procedure is for demonstration purposes only).

Reposition the Bearing Housing Cap on top of the Bearing Housing and any Travel Spacers present, making sure to align the through-holes with the threaded holes of the Bearing Housing. Reinstall the two screws, tightening clockwise to 10 in-lb (1.1 Nm) torque with a 2mm hex wrench.

Replace any 20wt. Gold oil lost during disassembly (up to 2cc) then thread the Shaft Eyelet clockwise onto the Inner Air Sleeve.  Clean the inner air sleeve with Isopropyl alcohol and lint-free paper towels. Use the X2 air sleeve clamps (PN: 803-01-690) to hold the inner air sleeve while you thread the shaft eyelet clockwise with Knipex pliers or the eyelet torque tool (PN: 398-00-280). Tighten to 180 in-lb (20.3 Nm) torque.

Replace any Air Volume Spacers that were present.  Coat the air seals in a thin film of Slick Honey then reinstall the outer air sleeve with the air valve side first. Rotate the outer air sleeve until the tab on the eyelet aligns with the notch in the outer sleeve. Slide the outer air sleeve all the way to the negative air sealhead to engage the air seals. Reinstall the wire retaining ring making sure that it is fully seated in its groove.

Attach your shock pump then add air while you slowly cycle your shock through 25% of its travel 10 times as you reach your desired pressure. Reinstall the black air cap.

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2022 Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust review

Unrivalled coil performance from Fox’s latest descent-focused shock

Alex Evans / Our Media

Super-plush feeling; amazingly supple action creates ultimate grip on rough terrain; impressive mid-stroke support and bottom-out mitigation; adjusters have marked effect on shock’s feel

Damper adjusters with stock tune need to be wound all the way out for best performance, limiting potential usability for lighter riders; rebound adjuster hard to access; bottom-out bumper quite stiff

Fox’s DHX2 Factory rear shock is the brand’s most adjustable and capable coil-sprung damper, designed to bring race-level performance to the everyday rider, whether they ride trail , enduro or downhill .

The shock received a recent redesign , where it got a new chassis, damper and a larger, more progressive bottom-out bumper.

These changes are almost identical to the ones done to the air-sprung version of this shock, the Fox Float X2 I have also reviewed.

Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust (2022) rear shock specifications and details

The DHX2 chassis redesign, like the X2, moves the high-speed rebound adjuster to the eyelet end from the piggyback, where it was located before. The redesign also includes a shorter piggyback reservoir in a bid to increase compatibility with more frame types.

The lockout lever was moved from the high- and low-speed compression adjusters to the top of the piggyback. This, Fox claims, has enabled it to firm up the lockout compared to previous versions.

Other changes include a finned, steel damper body to increase stiffness and reduce hysteresis (when the damping circuit’s oil flow causes the valves to flex before they’ve opened, creating lag, which affects damping performance), and it has low-friction seals. The Ti-Nitride-coated gold stanchion of the old model has been replaced by a silver chromoly version that’s claimed to be more durable.

Elsewhere, it has 16 clicks of low-speed rebound and compression adjustment and eight clicks of high-speed rebound – that uses Fox’s Variable Valve Control (VVC) technology – and eight clicks of high-speed compression adjustment.

The damping is claimed to be linear to reduce harshness, too. Linear damping means the damping curve forces have a direct and unchanging relationship with shaft compression or rebound speed.

The faster the shaft speed, the more force is created by the damper, and the resistance created by the damper doesn’t suddenly change or alter.

Compared to digressive (that generates a large amount of force on slower shaft movements, then the forces flatten off as shaft speeds increase) or progressive (damping forces increase faster than shaft speed increases), Fox’s linear damper should feel more predictable and smoother on all bump types.

The spring preload ring now has a detent ball to stop it unwinding while the shock is cycling, meaning less preload can be run.

A rubber-like MCU bottom-out bumper is claimed to increase end-stroke progression and reduce harsh bottom outs. The new bumper is visibly larger than the old DHX2’s version.

The rear shock is available in both trunnion and eyelet mounting options, in both metric and imperial sizes.

The metric-sized trunnion mount 205x65 version of the DHX2 Factory rear shock weighed 504g on my scales.

Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust (2022) rear shock performance

I tested the Fox DHX2 Factory rear shock on a Marin Alpine Trail XR enduro bike, back-to-back with the Float X2 and the older discontinued DHX2.

The Marin uses a four-bar suspension design and is around 17 per cent progressive.

In my opinion, this amount of progression is better suited to air shocks with tuneable spring curves, but with a big enough bottom-out bumper and suitable compression damping, the frame can work well with a linear coil-sprung shock.

For context, the Alpine Trail XR is fitted with a coil shock from the factory, but the Alpine Trail Carbon 2 is fitted with an air-sprung shock.

I tested the shock in Scotland’s Tweed Valley on a wide variety of trails, including the exact runs used in the UK’s round of the Enduro World Series, through to the pedal-focused famous Glentress trail centre .

Trail conditions ranged from muddy bog slogging through to hero dirt grip in all-time conditions right the way to blown-out dust on baked-hard ground. This meant the shock got a thorough test on a bike and trails I know like the back of my hand.

Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust (2022) setup

Using Fox’s online tuning guide and Marin’s own setup guide on their respective websites, I initially installed a 350lb spring for my 76kg kitted-up weight. This gave me roughly 21mm/32 per cent of shock stroke sag, slightly more than both Fox and Marin’s recommendations. This spring weight made the bike feel too soft and spongy, despite using the compression damping to try to firm things up a bit.

A 400lb spring was an improvement, giving 18mm/27 per cent of sag, and let me wind some of the compression damping off, bringing the settings closer to Fox’s recommendations.

However, I still felt that it blew through its travel too quickly, and now the rear end was a bit harder at the start of its travel, the firm damping settings started to make it feel a bit choked on the compression and rebound strokes when hitting small, sharp, successive hits.

The solution was to go up to a 450lb spring and wind off the compression and rebound adjusters to fully open, a setup I’ve used on almost all bikes fitted with X2 and DHX2 shocks.

Although this spring weight only gave 15mm/23 per cent sag, I found the reduction in sag was worth the compromise for the decrease in damper resistance that improved smoothness and traction.

The heavier spring also improved mid-stroke support and bottom-out resistance without needing to increase the compression damping. Equally, the linear nature of the coil spring meant the off-the-top suppleness wasn’t significantly lost compared to the lighter coils.

Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust (2022) adjustability

Its range of external adjustability is palpable, where several turns of the compression or rebound dials in either direction has a marked effect on how it feels. With such a wide range of adjustment, finding a setting that suits your bike and riding style is highly likely.

Despite its range of adjustability, I’ve found almost every bike I’ve ridden fitted with a DHX2 or X2 has benefitted from having the rebound and compression damping adjustment set to fully open.

In my eyes, this means the stock damping on the DHX2 and X2 shocks is set quite firm from the factory. It is possible to re-tune the DHX2 shock at an authorised Fox service centre, with pricing varying depending on where you live. In the UK, for example, prices start at £40 for a re-tune .

The high- and low-speed compression adjusters are easy to use, with six- and three-millimetre Allen key fittings. The low-speed rebound uses a 3mm Allen key, too, but the high-speed rebound (HSR) now requires a 2mm Allen key to turn.

Mounted to some frames, the HSR adjuster is tricky to access without removing the shock. This isn’t good news for quick, trail-side adjustments.

Each time I changed the spring, I had to remove the 25mm shock bushings, hindering speedy swaps. This might not be a problem if your frame has narrower bushings, but is something worth considering if you like to fettle regularly.

Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust (2022) on-trail feel

The shock’s on-trail feel is dominated by its super-smooth and fluttery action, where no small bump seems to go unabsorbed by the damper.

That super-plush off-the-top action pays dividends both in terms of traction and comfort.

Smash the bike through a rock- or root-strewn section and the damper works overtime to smooth out every small to mid-sized imperfection and bump.

Its smoothness is sensationally pleasing thanks to the amount of traction it creates as the rear wheel moves in line with the terrain’s contours and sticks to the ground, generating grip.

Its hyper-smooth action reduces small-bump reverberation into the bike’s chassis, helping maintain control and composure, and increase speed.

When riding rough man-made trail centre trails, this fluttery nature directly improves comfort. Cast an eye down at the shock and it can be seen working overtime to absorb every small bump.

Compared to the air-sprung Float X2, the DHX2 is a step ahead in terms of smoothness and sensitivity, but this comes at the expense of spring adjustability and progression.

Deeper into the travel, it was still impressive, providing ample support despite the test bike’s less than perfect progression figure.

Of course, some of the shock’s mid-stroke support was thanks to the higher than suggested spring rate I was using, but it was possible to feel the low-speed compression damping taking over to provide resistance on the compression stroke.

I found I could push against the support in berms and through compressions, even with the adjusters set to fully open, without the shock bombing through its travel.

This made the DHX2 stand out as a true performer, where some coil shocks can feel too soft in the mid-stroke.

The compression damping felt harder than the old DHX2 that, on the same bike and trails, required a 525lb spring to provide a similar feeling mid-stroke and enough bottom-out resistance.

The large (23mm-long) MCU bottom-out bumper did a great job of eliminating harsh bottom outs. Despite some rather cack-handed landings and unsympathetic hole-smashing, the shock didn’t bottom so hard I felt even a hint of harshness.

Arguably, this extends the scope of its application to less progressive bikes, and is a good move from Fox, especially compared to the outgoing model’s short 10mm bumper.

However, the MCU bumper’s stiffness did impact its deep-travel feel. Hitting unexpected one-off, large-sized compressions caused the rear wheel to kick as it got close to bottom out, feeling akin to riding an air shock jam-packed with volume reducer spacers, where the final ramp up can be quite sudden.

Notably, this might not be an issue on frames with a more progressive suspension kinematic because the frame’s inherent design means it will resist bottom-out forces towards the end of its travel.

In my opinion, the stiffness and progression of the bumper is quite high and can catch out an unprepared rider if your technique isn’t spot on, your bike is not progressive enough, or you’re running the rear end too soft.

This is a small and acceptable price to pay for the grip and control offered by the first three quarters of the shock’s stroke. But if this is a deal breaker for you, I would consider opting for the air-sprung Float X2 to avoid the bottom-out issue all together.

There appeared to be no damper fade on long, rough and fast descents, adding to the shock’s high-performance credentials.

Like the Float X2’s lockout, I found the DHX2’s version good at stopping unwanted suspension pedal bob, but this came at the price of traction and comfort, so I tended to only use the lever on paved roads.

Fox DHX2 Factory 2Pos-Adjust (2022) rear shock bottom line

Not only does the DHX2 offer unparalleled off-the-top smoothness, with exceptional traction and terrain tracking in even the choppiest of scenarios, it also blends the mid-stroke support more commonly found on volume-adjustable air shocks, thanks to its sophisticated damping. Bottom outs are imperceptible, but the MCU bumper might be a bit harsh for some.

It’s a shame this impressive performance isn’t in the middle of the damper’s range of external adjustments, because that would open up increased fine-tuning potential, and make the shock more suitable for lighter riders in its stock tune.

If you’re looking for all-out traction with solid mid-stroke support, and your bike’s suspension kinematics suit it, the DHX2 is currently the damper to beat. If your priority is for mid-stroke and bottom-out control with quick spring adjustments, consider the Float X2 for similar performance.

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Fox DHX2 shock review – trail plush or trail mush?

Fox’s new rear shock is designed to be the ultimate plush coil option for trail riders, but can it support those claims.

Bike Perfect Verdict

Great if you’re after a super plush coil for ultimate traction, but lacks mid-stroke support and adjusters are counter intuitive

Super plush coil action

Awesome traction when dialed right

Stealthily quiet

Indexed and labeled preload collar

Lightweight spring option

Lacks mid-stroke support

Potential spikes

Counterintuitive compression numbering

Fewer sizes than RockShox coils

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We\'ll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

For information on Bike Perfect's testing procedures and how our scoring system works, see our how we test page.

Fox introduced its DHX2 as ‘the trail rider's coil shock’ with promises of super plush ground connection, high structural strength, and of course those steezy coil spring looks. However, the way it hoovers up small bumps and guarantees succulent, sucked-down grip is undermined by a lack of mid-stroke support. Trying to solve that can cause other issues and the compression adjuster labeling and rebound adjuster positioning isn't particularly helpful either. That leads to awkward comparisons to its simpler Marzocchi coil cousins. 

Here's a breakdown of what we think of the Fox DHX2, and whether we think it deserves a spot in our list of the best rear shocks for mountain bikes .

Design and specifications

Fox introduced the DHX coil shock and Float X air shock together, and while the spring is obviously different, the two shocks share a lot of similarities. The damping is based around a single high flow shaft rather than the dual shaft, oil reciprocating design of the DHX2. That means a larger shaft that should theoretically create a stronger and stiffer shock that’ll last better in lighter trail bikes where dampers can potentially be exposed to damaging sideload. 

The stroke can also be changed by up to 5mm by adding spacers inside the body, which is something you can do yourself if you’re careful. The piggyback chamber with ‘climb’ lever on the side and Low Speed Compression knob on the end is the same on both shocks too. Fox has also numbered the LSC knob so you can keep track of adjustment more easily, but there’s a potential issue with that. Fox always tracks clicks on its setup guides from fully closed, and the numbering reflects that. In other words from zero clicks is fully closed, while 10 actually means you’re running the least possible damping.

The shock body is obviously different because it’s a coil. Neat features include gaps in the thread for the preload collar as the more expensive DHX2 so that you get ‘clicks’ to track how many quarter turns you’re using. The collar is also laser etched with the max and min number of clicks and the tightening direction. The shock body also gets a scuff guard to reduce rub if the spring bends slightly as it compresses. 25lb coil weight increments make fine-tuning easier too and you can run it with a standard or lightweight (orange) SLS coil - both available separately.

The shock is available in most popular metric sizes in conventional and trunnion mount designs, but not as many sizes as the new RockShox Super Deluxe. The very small rebound adjuster at the base of the shock can be awkward to reach on some bikes too although you can also turn it with a 3mm hex key from a distance or a 2mm key or similar pick from the side.

Performance

Presuming you can get the right sizes and there are no clearance issues (our first host bike - a Pace RC295 - turned out to have a potential frame contact issue at full travel) the indexed coil preload helps simplify setup. 

While fewer seals than an air shock always make coils very sensitive, the DHX is insanely plush straight from the box even by coil standards. That’s great for a sucked-down ride that completely erases smaller roots, rocks and ripples and keeps the tire in contact like you’re running half your normal tire pressure. The ‘Firm’ lever is easy to reach and adds substantial compression to stop the otherwise obvious pedal bob. It still blows though at a low enough level not to buck you over the bars if you forget to flick it back open before a descent. 

After a few runs feeling euphoric about the outrageous smoothness of the shock and the quietness of the new damping design and hydraulic top out we started to have doubts about the levels of mid-stroke support. Pedaling felt very heavy without the ‘Firm’ level switched on and there wasn’t much to push against in turns or any load and launch situation. Videoing the shock and checking sag helped us double check that the spring weight was right but still we used too much travel too much of the time, and the bottom out bumper was getting a regular hammering. Finding a balance between enough LSC to lift and enliven the bike and starting to get a lot of slap and clatter over the roots and rocks it had previously been erasing proved to be really hard too. Not quite as hard as getting a balance between the rebound dial which always seemed to be on a knife edge between too sticky or too giddy. A situation that wasn’t helped by the fact the shock was buried deep in a lower linkage. 

Having proved it didn’t work in a linear suspension landscape (which wasn’t a massive surprise) we shifted it across to a more progressive environment on a Canyon Spectral 125 . It definitely improved things too, with the shock staying higher in its stroke more of the time. Trying to find the damping sweet spot between too soft and too spikey was still a real struggle though. We were still unable to separate whether it was an unintentional HSC effect from the LSC adjustments or whether the new High Flow piston isn’t quite enough high flow enough for really savage slaps. We’ll be carrying on testing, tuning and potentially taking the shock for a dyno session to try and work it out though and we’ll obviously update this review if we work out a solution or explanation.

Fox has definitely succeeded in making an insanely succulent and smooth shock that creates an almost caricature coil smoothness. If you’ve got a bike with a naturally very progressive suspension set up then it should sync with it pretty well. Sizes are limited compared to RockShox though and even if the damping adjusters give you the right range they’re labeled or placed in a way that can make tuning awkward.

On the bikes we tried it in, what we gained in succulent grip we lost in pop, playfulness, and pedaling efficiency with more spiking and slapping than we expected too. Throughout testing we couldn’t stop thinking about the much cheaper Marzocchi Bomber CR2 coil shock which is based on the old Fox Vanilla coil and turns in a more balanced performance overall for just over half the price.

Tech Specs: Fox DHX coil shock

• Price:  $569 / £629
• Sizes: Conventional: 210 x 50 / 210 x 52.5 / 210 x 55 / 230 x 57.5 / 230 x 60 / 230 x 65mm Trunnion: 185 x 52.5 / 185 x 55 / 205 x 60 / 205 x 62.5mm    
• Weight:  771g (210 x 55mm with 450lb SLS spring)

Guy Kesteven has been working on Bike Perfect since its launch in 2019. He started writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. He’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and he reviews MTBs over on YouTube.

Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

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FOX DHX2 - Madonna Setup Guide

Here are a few basics about spring-rate, sag and parameters that determine the spring rate you need.

• The rate of the spring you use in your DHX2 shock defines the amount of sag.
• Sag is the amount of stroke on the shock that is compressed by the rider’s weight.
• A higher spring rate will result in less sag.

Defining Your Spring Rate

Defining the spring rate that fits you, depends on a few factors.

• The spring rate depends on the design of the suspension. The same rider will need different spring rates on different bikes. You cannot simply transfer the spring rate from bike A to bike B.
• The spring rate mainly depends on the rider’s weight. The weight should include all gear you wear.
• You will effectively use less travel
• The geometry of the bike will be a bit more ‘up-right’, with a little higher BB
• The chance to bottom out is smaller
• You will effectively use more travel
• The geometry of the bike will be a bit more ‘slack’, with a little lower BB
• The chance to bottom out is bigger

The compression damping and the rebound damping are also very important in setting up the shock correctly. If for example you are a racer and have a very aggressive/ efficient riding style, you might want to go up in spring rate, but you can also play with the high speed and low speed compression.

It is recommendable to have a few different spring rates in your toolbox. This way you can change your sag depending on the gear you wear, the type of terrain you ride and simply how you feel.

These are spring rates we recommend, with a basic setting for the four damping settings. The number of clicks is counted from fully closed.

Regular (26%)

Hsc – high speed compression.

Large impacts hitting the rear wheel fast are absorbed by the spring and can be slow down by the high-speed compression damping. Adding HSC damping will slow down the suspension when being compressed by a large impact.

LSC – Low Speed Compression

Small impacts hitting the rear wheel are absorbed by the spring and can be slow down by the low-speed compression damping. With no LSC damping, the spring will be able to absorb every little impact and track the ground very precisely. By adding LSC, you can make your suspension use less travel on small impacts, which can make the suspension a bit calmer on small impacts. You can also add LSC to make the suspension move less by the movements of your body when pedaling. The ‘2-position lever’ is a lever adding a large amount of LSC for more efficient pedaling.

HSR & LSR – High Speed Rebound & Low Speed Rebound

The rebound damping defines how fast the suspension extends after absorbing an impact. More rebound damping means that the suspension extends slower. If it extends too slow, it might not be ready for the next impact. A compressed shock is holding the energy from the impact, so if your rebound is too fast, you will get the energy right back to your feet, making the bike hard to control.

Related Articles

• FOX Float X2 - Madonna Setup Guide

Mountain Bike Magazine

[Test] FOX DHX2 & Float X2 – Shock vs. Shock

When Fox launched their 2021 lineup, which came along with sweeping changes and new models across both front and rear suspension lineups, I was fortunate enough to get ahold of both a coil sprung DHX2 as well as the air sprung Float X2 air shock. Both of these shocks are completely new for 2021 after having gone through a top to bottom redesign.

Since it has a ~25% rate of progression, my personal bike – a Transition Sentinel – is designed to work very nicely with both coil and air, and thus it served as the perfect test sled for a comparative review between the two units. Below I’ll run through how the DHX2 and Float X2 worked individually and compared to one another…

DHX2 Details

• Twin tube / recirculating design
• Metric and imperial sizing
• Trunnion and standard eyelets
• 2-position lever (tested) option as well as no lever option
• Independent firm mode circuit
• Externally adjustable High and Low speed Compression and Rebound
• (VVC) Variable Valve Control
• Captured and tapered MCU bottom out bumper
• SLS (Super Light Steel) spring
• 896 grams (our scale – 205mm X 62.5mm / #475 spring)

The DHX2’s updated shock body and spring preload collar now feature distinct detents, which not only help keep the collar in place, but also make it easier to keep track of where your preload is set to.

The revamped damping system is totally different with a new high flow piston, but it still has 4-way external damping via 3mm and 6mm allen keys.

The high speed rebound adjuster is a knurled aluminum dial which, depending on how your bike is designed, can be a little difficult to access. There are a handful of holes zipped into it which you can utilize to make your adjustments via a small allen key.

For both coil and air offerings the reservoir takes on a shorter and stouter shape, which helps improve its clearance and broaden its compatibility with a wider range of bikes without sacrificing precious volume.

DHX2’s shock body also features a plastic sleeve to cut down on any metal on metal rubbing from the spring, thus helping to keep things quiet.

If you were familiar with the old DHX2, its bottom out bumper was so bad that with an update it could only get better. The new MCU bumper is much larger and features a tapered shape that’s encapsulated 360º at its base by the lower spring collar. This prevents it from pancaking out on the harshest bottom outs and gives it a very progressive feel at the end of the stroke.

Float Factory X2 Details

• Progressive bottom out bumper
• Float air spring
• Kashima finish
• 656 grams (our scale – 205mm X 62.5mm)

Both shocks feature the 2-position lever, but the ones with longer eye to eye lengths, aimed at downhill bikes, do not include them. The new lever features an independent circuit, which has a firmer lock mode compared to past versions. A 90º flick toggles between the two modes.

The latest volume reducers in Float X2 are two-piece, which means that in many cases you often won’t need to completely remove the air can from the shock, or even the shock from the bike for that matter, to address fiddling with your air spring curve. If you’re the tuning type or you’re coming off of an older shock with the round rubber band style volume reducers, then this is a bonus.

For the model I tested, there was roughly a half pound difference (240 grams) between the two models. Keep in mind, these weights will obviously vary with dimensions and spring ratings.

On the trail

Over the last few months I’ve gone back and forth between the two units often and on varied terrain, riding everything from bike park laps, big mountain missions and sessions on flowy trails with jumps and features. The damping side is a good starting point since this is essentially where both shocks overlap. On a surface level, much like the shocks we are now discussing, previous iterations of the DHX2 and Float X2 also had a broad range in their damping adjustments, but internally things are now very much improved. My main grievance with the old DHX2/Float X2 was that they both felt a bit dead and uninspiring. And while both new and old units offer good sensitivity and a very light breakaway force, the latter versions failed to impress when it came to building up resistance and support as they cycled through further into their travel. This meant that on the spring side, with the old Float X2, it was often necessary to pack the air can full of volume reducers to compensate for the lack of support. Regarding the old DHX2, it simply wasn’t optimal on most bikes that didn’t have ultra progressive suspension layouts. This is no longer an issue and both of these new shocks find the increased support they needed on the hydraulic side. As a testament to this claim and a nice segue into the next section, I rode this new Float X2 on my not-exactly-freakishly-progressive Sentinel in its most linear form, with precisely zero volume reducers in the air can and I never once felt a violent bottom out. While this affirms that there has been a big improvement on the damping side, it is worth mentioning that both the air and coil shocks have much improved bottom out bumpers, which also help greatly in this arena.

On the spring side, since this is a “Factory” level offering, Fox uses their Super Light Steel spring, which isn’t quite as light as titanium but it is substantially lighter than the average steel spring. Another bonus is that it is offered in 25 pound increments, which I firmly believe is underrated in its importance – particularly as I ended up finding the sweet spot at #475. Getting just the right sag is very critical on modern bikes! Anyhow, with the DHX2 on my Sentinel, I was able to get the perfect amount of pop and progression, and thus I never found myself thinking I would be better off with an air shock. The coil offered up GOBS of traction, incredibly sensitivity and amazing consistency even on the longest runs. It was also impressively quiet while doing its job.

As far as the Float X2 was concerned, I started out with one volume reducer and upon finding the ride to be just a hair on the rough side and not once achieving full bottom out, I removed it and found the perfect feel with zero reducers. On a bike with a 25% progression rate that really hits the “coil or air friendly” sweet spot this wasn’t a huge surprise, but knowing how many reducers I typically needed in the old Float X2 this highlighted the difference between old and new. On the air shock I really didn’t notice a great deal of added pop, which is often the case when directly compared with a coil. *However, it is worth noting that I did run a little less low speed compression and more low speed rebound as you’ll find in the notes below. The Float X2’s breakaway force was close to nil as I could activate my suspension with a single finger pushing on the saddle, and thus, its sensitivity was very impressive. Flawless tolerances, high quality materials in the seals and piston glide rings all deserve the tip of a hat here – the Float X2 is an incredibly well built unit. It is worth pointing out that compared to a standard trail duty shock such as Fox’s DPX2 or the RockShox Super Deluxe, you do pay a toll of roughly 100 grams. However that comes along with far greater adjustability and a calmer temperament in the face of the worst types of trails and on the longest descents.

As far as features go, the bottom out bumper on the DHX2 is an absolutely massive upgrade. On the most horrendous huck to flat, you no longer get the jarring metal-to-metal feel. Rather it has a nice progressive ramp as the travel kisses the end of its stroke. The same can be said for the Float X2. The lockout lever is located in the same spot and works in the same fashion on both units. On my bike it was slightly tough to reach due to its proximity to my water bottle, but that will vary with each bike. As far as functionality is concerned, it’s a huge upgrade. On the old units the threshold was so low that it was often difficult to tell if it was even engaged, rendering it nearly useless. At present it is far more effective, leaving you with just the right amount of a firm platform to push off of while still giving you a bit of give and traction on slippery technical climbs where you need the wheel to be able to react to the terrain. It’s also worth pointing out that the detents of the damping adjusters, which are identical on both shocks, were quite clear and easy to detect, even with the high speed rebound knob being a bit difficult to access.

Purely for the sake of geeking out, at 180 pounds here is where I landed on each unit:

DHX2: LSC -9 / LSR -9 / HSC -7 / HSR -7 Float X2: 174 PSI / LSC -12 / LSR -6 / HSC -8 / HSR -8

As far as a comparison between the two units, if you are someone who is torn between the DHX2 and the Float X2, I would say the first factor that you should consider is your personal situation. I do feel that the improvements to both shocks have narrowed the gap and made both of them more broadly applicable to a greater range of bikes and their inherent suspension layouts. But, if you have a linear bike that bottoms out easily such as an older Specialized Stumpjumper, then perhaps you should lean toward the Float X2 as you can get more support from it. If you have a very progressive bike such as the new Specialized Enduro, then the coil shock will be your hot ticket. For me personally, having a bike that landed right in the middle, I think I would have to give the nod to the DHX2. Although the Float X2 is far and away the best performing air shock I’ve used to date, I still don’t quite think that air shocks have totally narrowed the margins on traction. While it is smooth as butter, there is a bit more unavoidable drag as there are naturally more seals to contain the air in the air spring.

Therefore I feel that I got the absolute best all out performance from the DHX2 as the traction and mid stroke compliance was second to none. That made the ballpark half pound increase in weight simply an afterthought. I’ll leave it on this note – it’s been some time since I’ve tested the absolute cream of the crop Push 11.6 rear shock, and while it has seen a revision since then, the DHX2 just about closes the gap in terms of performance, while doing so at half the price. Overall, you really can’t go wrong with either shock, and depending on your bike’s suspension, one unit may be more optimal than the other, but on most bikes it is the DHX2 that will be utterly transformative to your ride.

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DHX2 Stroke and Eye to Eye Change

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Hi All, Has anyone changed both the stroke and E2E on a metric Fox DHX2? What parts require replacing? From my limited research ability, it looks like you need to change 3 main items - Shaft (not full shaft assembly) - Body/outer or External tube - Body/Inner or Internal tube As for the change in stroke (in my case, from 55 to 52.5mm) how do you achieve the restriction? Is it a simple spacer under the bump stop?  

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• DHX2.pdf 339 KB Views: 639

What shock size are you stating from and what are you trying to change it to? Might be more economical to list yours on pinkbike and buy a used DHX2 that matches your needs.  

I haven't got a shock yet. Fox don't make the size I need (210x52.5mm) but they do sell the bits to convert a metric shock. Looks like I can covert any of the metric options they do sell to suit. Nice find with the spacer, was looking for that part number. Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk  

Also, this here should answer your last question about change in stroke. Note the 5mm spacer under the bottom out bumper. https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/img/help/page969-ERLO/2019-DHX2-Shaft-Assemblies.pdf  

Yes I have made a few. You can either use the proper fox parts or take an off the shelf fox shock and fit 2 parts to make it that length.  

Can you confirm which parts are needed? Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk  

Why two spacers? If he's going from metric to metric, then it should only be one. If going from inch to metric then I guess it would be two.  

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Fox Shox DHX2 Rear Shock Review (Is Coil Right For You?)

Ever wondered why people put a coil shock on their bike? Would I benefit from running a coil? It looks cool so it must work better, right? The pros all do it so I should too...Well, whatever you’re thinking, you should probably research this question to make sure you are doing the right thing. Here is a rundown of the Fox Shox DHX2 where we discuss the performance as well as the reasoning behind riding a coil shock. So is it right for you? Continue reading to find out!

Overview of the shock:

The Fox Shox DHX2 Rear Shock is the most recent offering from Fox for high-end coil shocks. It uses twin tube technology (which is really confusing; click here to see how it actually works). Basically, it gives you a lot of adjustment. It allows you to independently change the high and low-speed rebound as well as high and low-speed compression so you can get your shock tuned perfectly for your bike, riding style, and riding location. This might not mean a lot to most of the riding community but for a select few, this shock is pure gold. If you are the type of rider that almost spends more time setting up the bike to be perfect than riding it, then this is the shock for you. If you are more the type to put it on the bike and go, then you can probably get away with just running an air shock with fewer adjustments.

Coil vs. Air:

If you have a modern trail or enduro bike, chances are it came with an air shock on it from the manufacturer. If you are considering the switch to a coil, here is what you need to know:

Coil shocks are linear . So if you have a bike with a suspension platform that is also very linear as it goes through the travel, you might not want to run a coil as you will spend a lot of time bottoming out . Air is naturally progressive as you change the volume of its container (i.e compressing your shock), which ultimately increases the amount of force necessary to bottom out. You can also change the severity of this progression with volume reducers, but that's a whole other topic.

Coil shocks offer less friction . The seal surface area (where the shock body meets the shaft) on a coil shock is much smaller, allowing the friction to be much lower than the friction on an air shock. This will allow for a more supple feel and will help your rear wheel stick to the ground on those small, chattery bumps .

Air Shocks are more tunable . Even if an air shock has the same number of adjustment dials as a coil (such as the Float X2 and DHX2), you can get your sag perfect! You can change the pressure one PSI by one PSI until you are happy with the “stiffness” of the shock. Coil springs come in either 25 or 50lb. increments, which can always get you close enough to the sag you need but might not be exact.

Fox Shox DHX2:

The Fox Shox DHX2 is a killer shock. It has 24 positions for adjustment for each know so you can really dial in your setup for your riding style, trail conditions, and bike . I have a Fox Shox DHX2 Rear Shock on both my DH and trail bikes. On the downhill bike, for me, it’s a no-brainer. It is extremely supple and with most DH bikes being 200mm+ of travel, you should have no issues with the bike bottoming out. I like my bike to feel more active and playful, which is something I can achieve with this shock. I have also ridden the Fox Float X2 on the same bike. While it offers a ton of support and bottom out resistance (which I personally don't think is needed), you can definitely notice the increased friction compared to the coil when riding over small bumps.

On a trail bike, you have to be careful to not pair the DHX2 with a bike that doesn’t have a very progressive suspension curve. My trail bike is a Canfield Toir which has 140mm of rear wheel travel and is slightly progressive. Being such a short travel bike, it is hard to find a good sprint rate that is supple but offers good mid/end stroke support. I definitely bottom out more than I did with the Float X2 but the added suppleness outweighs the bottom outs.

Very Supple Low maintenance   Very adjustable settings (compared to other brands)

Not progressive Heavier than air shocks Less tunable than air shocks (springs only come in 25 lb increments)

Is coil right for you?

If you have a bike that is progressive, then yes, a coil shock is probably good for you. It will allow you to have a more supple feel off the top but still not bottom out thanks to your bike itself being progressive. If you have a bike that is linear, then maybe! If your bike is linear and you are running an air shock with little to no volume reducers and do not have a bottom out issue then a coil shock will probably be great for you! But if you are riding a bike with an air shock full of volume reducers and still feel like you have a bottom out issue, then you probably should not get a coil shock as it will exaggerate the bottom out issue.

June 02, 2019

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PARTS & DRAWINGS

Dhx2 part information.

New for MY24:

Maintenance Information:

Oil Information:

IFP Information:

Upgrade Information:

Size Specific Parts:

Body Eyelet Assemblies:

Shaft Eyelet Assemblies:

Compression Tuning Update Kits:

Damping Adjust Assemblies:

Compression Valving Assemblies:

Rebound Valving Assemblies:

Piston Assemblies:

IFP Assembly:

Travel Spacers:

Assembly Drawing

Eyelet assemblies, damping adjust assemblies, compression valving assemblies, rebound valving assemblies, piston assemblies, damper subassemblies, 2pos firm mode valving, travel spacer assemblies.

2021-2024 DHX2 .

808-14-072-KIT Eyelet Assy: Shaft, HSR Adj [.375 Shaft, .950 OD X 1.804 TLG] Black

808-14-078-KIT Eyelet Assy: 2021 Shaft-End, DHX2, P-S, .375 Shaft

808-14-084-KIT Service Set: Eyelet Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, F-S, Std Eyelet, No CBV, No 2-Pos

808-14-086-KIT Service Set: Eyelet Assy: 2024 DHX2 / FX2, F-S, Trunnion, No CBV, No 2-Pos

815-02-184-KIT Damping Adj Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, 2-Pos Lever

815-02-196-KIT Damping Conversion Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Non 2-Pos

805-05-626-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 F-S / FX2 F-S P-SE, Main Piston, Compression, CX001

805-05-627-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 F-S / FX2 F-S P-SE, Main Piston, Compression, CX002

805-05-628-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 F-S / FX2 F-S P-SE, Main Piston, Compression, CX003

805-05-629-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 F-S / FX2 F-S P-SE, Main Piston, Compression, CX004

805-05-636-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 F-S / FX2 F-S P-SE, Main Piston, Compression, CX005

805-05-630-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 P-SE / FX2 P-S, Main Piston, Compression, CP101

805-05-631-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 P-SE / FX2 P-S, Main Piston, Compression, CP102

805-05-632-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 P-SE / FX2 P-S, Main Piston, Compression, CP103

805-05-633-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 P-SE / FX2 P-S, Main Piston, Compression, CP104

805-05-637-KIT Service Set: Valving Assy: 2024 DHX2 P-SE / FX2 P-S, Main Piston, Compression, CP105

805-05-441-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, RM

805-05-444-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, RF

805-05-484-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, ECR010

805-05-485-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, JCR010

805-05-487-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, P-S, RL

805-05-488-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, P-S, RM

805-05-489-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, P-S, RF

805-05-490-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, ECR012

805-05-494-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, JCR011

805-05-550-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Rebound, Main Piston, TR1

805-00-124-KIT Piston Assembly: Floating [1.160 Bore, 0.475 TLG], Bleed Screw

805-02-310-KIT Piston Assy: 2021 Shock, Main, HSR Adjust [.940 Bore]

805-02-313-KIT Piston Assy: 2021 Shock, Main, P-S [.940 Bore]

813-00-279-KIT Reservoir End Cap Assy: 2021 DHX2 & FX2

812-06-100-KIT Bearing Assy: 2021 DHX2, .375 Shaft

807-06-404-KIT Valving Assy: 2021 DHX2 / FX2, Firm Mode, 2021 Shock, CMM

2021-2024 DHX2 Travel Spacer Assemblies .

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How to get to Suzdal from Moscow

If you are ever in Moscow, you should look at The Golden Ring , a ring of towns and cities north east of Moscow which played an important part in the formation of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. The towns themselves are almost like museums and none more so than the jewel of the Golden Ring, Suzdal . You have to visit this town if you are in Moscow and I will tell you exactly how to get to Suzdal from Moscow.

You can do this in a return day trip to Moscow, just, but I recommend staying the night in Suzdal. That will give you the afternoon on the 1st day and the morning and early afternoon on the 2nd day to explore which should be enough time. You can get a bus from Moscow to Suzdal. However, there is only one bus a day and it is not very comfortable. A better option is to get a train to the nearby city of Vladimir and from there get a bus to Suzdal. There are multiple trains every day from Moscow and buses are almost every 30 minutes so you will not have to wait long in Vladimir.

Getting the train to Vladimir

Go to the state run website for Russian railways . In the departure station, click (or type) ‘MOSKVA’, in the arrival station type ‘VLADIMIR”, select your departure date (and return if you will go back to Moscow the next day) and click on the buy ticket button. You will have multiple trains to choose from. The fastest trains do the journey in about 1 hour 45 minutes. Be sure to check which of the Moscow train stations your train will depart from. More than likely this will be Mockva Kurskaia. Whichever station it is, you can get there very easily by using the metro .

How to get to Suzdal from Moscow? By train of course

Looking out train window

Getting Bus from Vladimir to Suzdal

When you arrive at the train station, follow everyone else that is leaving the train station. When you get outside, if you look across the street, you will see the bus station. The facilities in the bus and train station are pretty basic. the train station is a little better so if you want a coffee or something to eat, I would get it there.

In the bus station go to the ticket office and get a single ticket to Suzdal. Something like “odin billet Suzdal” should be enough to be understood. The ticket costs 98.50 rubles so its easier to have a 100 ruble note to get change from.

At the exit of the train station, the bus station is directly across the road

Bus timetables

And more timetables

My ticket to Suzdal is bus number 159, platform 10 at 12:00 and seat number 6.

Bus ticket to Sudal

When you have your ticket, go outside to the platform listed on the ticket and wait for the bus. Simple really!

Not the actual bus in the end. The bus was more of a minivan.

Staying the night in Suzdal

There are a lot of accommodation options available in Suzdal. The place i stayed is Suzdal Hotel . It is actually a house and they have a few rooms available. The breakfast that is included is very very good. Trust me on this. They will even collect you from the bus station in Suzdal and bring you back the next day.

View out my bedroom window

Returning to Vladimir (and Moscow)

To return to Vladimir, just repeat these steps in the opposite direction – return to the bus station in Suzdal, buy a ticket to Vladimir and continue your onward journey in Russia. Simples! 😉

Train to Nizhny Novgorod

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22 comments.

Melissa Butler

I went to Suzdal over 13years ago for Christmas, I was on an on the go tour and they organised the train for us which was a very interesting journey. I would love to go back and explore longer. I am definitely impressed that you have done it on your own and it sounds like you had a bit of an adventure :).

Hi Melissa, it certainly was an adventure that’s for sure! Though sometimes, there is something to be said for letting other people take care of things for you and getting to relax and not be too stressed.

Sandy N Vyjay

Moscow is a place with an intriguing and enigmatic history. Suzdal seems to be a charming place with a rich heritage. As you have mentioned it seems to be a living museum of sorts. Nice step by step instruction on getting to Suzdal from Moscow. This is indeed an invaluable resource for first-time travelers to Russia.

Thank you very much for your kind words. I hope some people find it useful!

Thanks for recommending the Suzdal Hotel, since I prefer to stay in small cozy places with good breakfast. And the service of taking the guests from and to the bus station in Suzdal is a great plus!

Yeah I agree. I would rather stay in a family type place than a bigger place too!

I have never heard of this town and it sounds like a great place to visit if you are already in Moscow. Your instructions are very helpful and I like how you put a photo of the ticket.

You’re welcome Candy. If you don’t speak the language, Russia can be difficult to get around.

Michael Hodgson

Fantastic detail and extremely useful post for anyone wanting to explore outside of Moscow. Suzdal does sound fascinating.

Thanks Michael!

This seems like quite an experience! I am surprised that I haven’t heard of Suzdal before but as soon as I go to Moscow, I will have to do a day trip to there. Is a day trip enough to explore Suzdal?

Hey Lydia, you certainly can! If you go early enough in the day to Vladimir, you can probably get 6-7 hours in Suzdal.

This is a great post with quite a few good details. Pics looks so amazing. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed!

Wow, you are adventurous! I spent years upon years in Russia and never made it to Suzdal. Never realized Vladimir was less than 2 hrs away from Moscow.

Thanks Jenia. Russia is a huge place. You could live there your entire life and not see it all!

Thanks for the instructions. If I ever want to visit Suzdal I now know how to get there from Moscow via Vladimir.

You’re welcome!

Lauren Pears

Suzdal sounds really lovely! I need to travel to more places where there will be snow rather than just constantly chasing the sun 😉

I know what you mean! After 4 months of winter in Russia though, I was craving the sun so much!

I had never heard of Suzdal until now. Thank you for introducing me to a new place. It looks so calm and quiet under the snow. What are some things to do in Suzdal?

I think it is the sort of place you go to get away from the craziness of big cities and have some slower, quiet time. If my memory is correct, they also have a cucumber festival once a year every July. Apparently the cucumbers of the area are very good!

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Is Moscow Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded its neighbor country Ukraine, starting a war between these two countries.

This act of invasion caused many Ukrainians to flee their country and seek shelter in places like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, etc…

At this time, we recommend no travel to Russia or Ukraine, or any neighboring countries for your own safety.

Russia : Safety by City

• Nizhny Novgorod
• Novosibirsk
• Saint Petersburg
• Yekaterinburg

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is a political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of this huge country.

It’s one of the most visited places in Russia, and for good reason.

The best-known parts of Russia are concentrated precisely in the urban areas and cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Moscow’s history attracts the most tourists, as they are fascinated by it is a surreal and sometimes brutal but nevertheless thrilling and jaw-dropping national story.

In this city, visited by 17 million tourists annually, the history, told in its numerous museums, some of which are the world’s greatest, interacts with modernity.

For example, in the Garden of Fallen Monuments (Fallen Monument Park), you can see entire clusters of modern art contrasting with the very non-conceptual Communist monuments.

• Warnings & Dangers in Moscow

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Generally speaking, Moscow today is safe as much as other cities in Europe, despite its problematic history with criminal activity in the 90s. However, if you’re planning on traveling to Moscow, keep in mind that you should always keep your guard up and remain aware of your surroundings, just in case.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Generally speaking, transportation in Moscow is safe, but you should bear in mind that kidnappings have been known to happen, mostly in unlicensed taxis, so be careful when hailing one on the streets. Keep in mind that the most dangerous areas where small crime tends to occur are the underground walkways, called “perekhods”. Only use official services like Yandex Taxi, Uber or Gett taxi.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpocketing is very common in Moscow, and surprisingly it is mostly performed by groups of children. Pay attention to your belongings, don’t leave them in plain sight and be especially careful in crowded places like stations or near tourist attractions.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Moscow isn’t particularly susceptible to natural disasters. Some blizzards and snowstorms are possible during winter which can affect the traffic and delay your flights. During winter, be prepared to face the below-freezing temperatures.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The situation improved drastically when it comes to kidnappings and muggings. Generally, never accept free drinks or food when you’re in a club or a bar. Drink spiking and then attacking and robbing the victim have been reported on numerous occasions.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

After the recent terrorist attack in the subway in St. Petersburg the probability of this situation happening again in Moscow is very high.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

There are many scams in Moscow, usually performed by children trying to distract you and then steal some money from you. Never talk to strange kids on the street. Also, you should avoid playing street gambling games.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are generally safe in Moscow, though you should avoid finding yourself alone in clubs or bars, and of course, apply all normal precaution measures like avoiding remote and poorly lit streets and areas.

• So... How Safe Is Moscow Really?

Moscow experienced a rise when it came to crime rates during the 1990s.

Violent crime, as well as petty crime and scams,  had increased, but the biggest part of the violence was within the criminal groups themselves, and it didn’t affect foreigners that much.

However, it decreased since the 90s, so right now, for tourists, Moscow isn’t more dangerous than any other European city, it’s even less so.

The crime rate in Moscow is fairly lower than one in New York, London or Paris, so you should feel safe here.

Also, you can count on the officials to be uncorrupted – don’t ever try to bribe them: you will be charged with bribery.

Bear in mind that if you are a member of the LGBT community, there is no reason to avoid Moscow altogether but you should refrain from any public displays of affection.

As of June 2013, “homosexual propaganda to minors” is prohibited, which means that any discussion of gay rights or homosexuality issues in the presence of minors is punishable by law.

While you walk around Moscow, you might encounter police officials that may demand to see your papers to check if you have been registered within 7 business days of your arrival into Moscow.

You shouldn’t have any problems with this, because if you stay in a hotel then you are automatically registered and will be handed a confirmation paper.

• How Does Moscow Compare?
• Useful Information

Most countries do need a visa to enter Russia, and if you’re a U.S. citizen you must possess both a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. None of the nationals that do need a visa can acquire one upon arrival, so make sure you apply for your visa in advance. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

The Russian ruble is the official currency in Moscow. ATMs are widespread throughout the country and credit cards are accepted everywhere.

Moscow has a highly continental influenced climate characterized by warm to hot and dry summers and extremely cold, freezing winters with temperatures as low as -30°C – sometimes even lower, with heavy snowfall.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is the Russian busiest international airport. It is located in Molzhaninovsky District, Northern Administrative Okrug, in Moscow, about 29 km northwest of central Moscow.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Moscow, because it would cover not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Moscow Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Russia - Safety by City

• Where to Next?

9 Reviews on Moscow

That's just not true.

The person who wrote the text obviously have never been in Moscow and in Russia at all. This is ridiculous. Even about pickpocketing, the risk at most is medium, mugging is zero in historical places but is pretty high in sleeping quarters

Your rating is only two stars for safety though? So I am confused. Are you rating the article to be in poor taste?

I went to Moscow in 2021. I enjoyed the trip. I felt there were “unsafe areas” so I avoided them. So long as you know where you are going and don’t insult the locals, you should be fine.

51% safe?! Is this out of date?

Moscow and Russia in general are MUCH SAFER than Paris or London, yet those latter are more than 15 points ahead?!

Hell, it’s even admitted in the above text: “Moscow isn’t more dangerous than any other European city, IT’S EVEN LESS SO.” Yeah, you bet! And then: “the crime rate in Moscow is fairly lower than one in New York, London or Paris, so you should feel safe here.” So why the low rating? I don’t get it.

Also, the latest terrorist attack in Moscow happened in 2010… so how can you honestly say that the risk is still “high”? Especially for the fact Russia is very much on the edge when it comes to fighting terrorism domestically and over the world.

Sure, it might not be ideal everywhere in Moscow, but it’s WAY SAFER than in Paris, especially at night. You just can’t go out in Paris after the evening anymore, in most areas (I got assaulted for no reason at Châtelet-les-Halles and taking the RER train at dark is becoming more and more risky)… while in Moscow, chances are that you’ll see girls in miniskirts walking home while quietly singing. Or maybe you’ll stumble upon some gorgeous lady asking you for a lighter and then giving you her number for a coffee the next day. So very dangerous!

I sense a serious bias, here. Is it because of that LGBT thing? Could you pick a more extreme case? Yeah, you can totally be gay in Russia, just be so in private. There even are transsexuals, but this is a traditional and respectable country, so you should respect their choice of not publicizing various sexual lifestyles.

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are safe

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are very safe in my opinion! I’ve been to both cities visiting family! There are so many people out on the streets and on public transportation- I felt very safe! You need to change your ratings!!

Any update on Covid-19 to visit Moscow

I visited 118 country and Moscow one of the safest city I have been, st Petersburg as well, I read this article hoping to find any update on covid-19 restrictions upon arrival, so if anyone can update I’m planning to visit Moscow again but I need to know if quarentain is required or mandatory, anyone can share, cheers.

In Russia nobody cares, masks off. I dont know if fiew thousands of infected per day are high for you though. I was never arrested for not wearing mask, but you have to have it on you. Sometimes cops ask to put mask, you just do that and everything ok, some shops can refuse to do service if you dont have mask. I assume they pressured by boss, so just put on mask, they can give you gloves and dont cause any problems.

Written by someone who never visited Russia

A veer biased review. Moscow or St. Petersburg for being such brilliant truly cosmopolitan cities are extremely safe. Pickpocketing in Russia?! By children?! Who wrote this? Clearly by someone who has never been to the great country of Russia.

Have never been there. But wish me well

Bias review, Moscow is much safer than that!

This review is so bias and just wrong! First of all apart from being a political, scientific and etc center, it is an absolutely beautiful city and a very culturally rich city. For tourists there’s a huge range of delicious food, amazing shopping, a lot of cultural activities, and all sorts of entertainment. I’ve travelled there in December 2019, and most of the time I spent walking around and exploring by myself, be it during day time or night, nothing happened to me once. I mostly used subways and sometimes taxi, both safe. Just have a common sense when it comes to safety and you’ll be fine. You need to travel there at least once in a lifetime, it’s a completely different experience and it’s a beautiful one, NOT a communistic terrorist epicenter as some describe it to be.

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Article Contents

• Moscow : Safety by City
• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
• Share Your Experience

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Distance between Moscow and Tokyo

Flying non-stop from moscow to tokyo.

How far is Tokyo from Moscow? Here's the quick answer if you have a private jet and you can fly in the fastest possible straight line.

Flight distance: 4,661 miles or 7501 km

Flight time: 9 hours, 49 minutes

Because of the curvature of the Earth, the shortest distance is actually the "great circle" distance, or "as the crow flies" which is calculated using an iterative Vincenty formula. For a long distance, this appears as a curve on the map, and this is often the route that commercial airlines will take so it's a good estimate of the frequent flyer miles you'll accumulate as well.

This is a fairly long flight, so unless you have a Gulfstream G650 or your own Boeing or Airbus, you might be booking a commercial flight. In that case, your travel time would really need to include how many minutes to get to your local airport, wait for security, board and taxi on the runway, land at the other airport, and get to your destination. Scroll down to see a more realistic calculation that takes into account all these factors to get a more accurate estimate of your actual flight time .

Moscow to Tokyo airports and flights

In the quick calculation above, we assumed you had a private plane and just wanted to know the time in the air from city to city. But for most of us, we're going to be flying on a commercial airline (whether it's first class or coach). So that means we really need to account for all the extra travel time getting to the airport, waiting for our flight, and making it to the destination.

To give you a better estimate of real-life travel, we've put together a flight itinerary with actual airports. Eventually you'll be able to customize this plan, choosing your own airports and flights. But for now, here's an example we've selected to give you an idea of how traveling might work between airports.

Departure airport: Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO)

Arrival airport: Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)

With the airports selected, we can estimate the travel time to and from the airport, based on how far the airport is from downtown.

Getting to the airport: 51 minutes

Getting to your destination: 28 minutes

Now finally, let's look at an actual flight from SVO to HND and figure out how long it would take to fly including take-off and landing, and time to taxi on the runway.

Commercial flight time: 9 hours, 49 minutes

So now we can finally get an idea of the total travel time from Moscow to Tokyo including time spent getting to/from the airports, an estimated wait time of 2 hours at the airport for TSA security lines and waiting at the gate, and the actual flight itself.

Total travel time: 13 hours

Plan a trip to Tokyo

Trippy has a ton of information that can help you plan your trip to Tokyo, Japan. Start by reading the Trippy page on where to stay in Tokyo . If you're looking for a place to stay, you might want to check out The Peninsula Tokyo . A great place to eat might be Golden Gai . Trippy members can suggest things to do in Tokyo like Akihabara . Check out some of the questions people have asked about Tokyo like Exploring Tokyo solo for 3 days: Where to stay and what to do? . Click the button below to explore Tokyo in detail.

How far is it the other way?

The distance is the same either way if you're flying a straight line. But for a real trip, there can be plenty of differences so go ahead and check the reverse directions to get the distance from Tokyo to Moscow , or go to the main page to calculate the distance between cities .

If you happen to know Moscow, don't forget to help other travelers and answer some questions about Moscow!

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