Anybody got one?

Anybody ridden one?

Are they reliable?

Not a lot on the web about them since they caused a stir when they were released a few years ago.

Anybody dealt with Jungle/Stif as new importers?

anybody?

I have the initial version not the 2.1 and absolutely love it. Tried the frame with a RS Monarch and Fox RP23 which both felt about the same. Took a punt and bought the frame with BOS Vip’r upgrade for only £50 and do not regret it at all. When the going gets rough the Vipr is far more composed and controlled giving you the confidence to just ride it out.

It’s been very reliable for me. Apart from cleaning the bike after a muddy ride and the occasional drop of lube on the shaft I haven’t done anything to it. It carried on riding fine for over 2 years when I eventually decided I should get it serviced just because of its age rather than anything feeling bad.

I couldn’t find any information on performing a service at home so I sent it off to Jungle. Service from them was good. Communication was good and the guys sounded like they knew what they were talking about. It took a little longer than normal to get it serviced as the guys were away servicing sponsored riders at an Enduro or bike race. I think there are only a few of them so when they need to support a race I think the workshop can slow down a bit.

Mine’s been flawless and trouble free. I really should service it at some point.

My original VIP’R has been solid. Reliable and with a controlled, bottomless feel – it is the best air shock I have tried. Mate has the VIP’R 2 and he loves that too!

Good stuff – thinking about replacing a CCBD air CS with something small and lighter but still with control. Tried a RP23/CTD and it was just blew through the mid stroke. CCDB is great but its big and heavy.

Really want the bike to sit up in its travel until needed.

Honourablegeorge – you have it on a Ion 16 right?

I’ve recently swapped my Cove STD frame for a Vip’r 2 equipped Bottlerocket. Playing about with pressures at the mo’ I do miss the coil plushness but think I need to up the pressure as I seem to be using the travel too quickly in the soft setting. Compression damping flick switch is a godsend on the climbs though.

Compression damping flick switch is a godsend on the climbs though.

How stiff does the suspension go?

Just replaced a Vip’r with a Cane Creek in line on my Cotic Rocket. It’s like night and day, the CC is far superior IMHO and you can get it serviced easily.
I wouldn’t bother with BOS again.

Rik – Member

Compression damping flick switch is a godsend on the climbs though.

How stiff does the suspension go?

Still compresses but far more slowly so eliminates bob. I just need to try to remember to switch it back 😳

@mamadirt. You might need to balance the negative spring after setting to the correct pressure.

1. Place o-ring 20mm from shock seal
2. Cycle shock c20 times from full extension to o-ring
3. Check sag is correct
4. If not add or remove air and repeat step 2

Ah cheers! I’ll give that a go 🙂

No worries! 🙂

Ive got the original on a YT wicked and it’s been faultless, best rear shock ive had.
So i bought the new Vipr2 to go on my Bronson and the whole experience has been a disappointment, the service from Stif, as i have come to expect was dreadful, and the shock it’s self is supposed to be valved for the frame but it doesn’t feel right, now the rebound has all but gone.
Ive had it for 6 months and dread having to send it back to Stif/Bos.

I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if Bos had a decent importer/ Uk service centre like TF or Mojo.

Mike

I think in previous years the problem has been BOS not supporting their distributor with spares and components. I remember talking to a guy from Surf Sales when they got the contract a few years ago. He was telling me they’ve been to the factory to get trained. They have bought in all specialist tools etc .. Sounded like they were making a good effort to make it successful. But poor support from BOS meant they couldn’t do a lot themselves. Hence being passed about distributors for the last few years.

the service from Stif, as i have come to expect was dreadful

What was wrong with the service? As said earlier I used them earlier this year to get my BOS shock and KS seatpost serviced and apart from a 1 week delay while they were at a race the whole thing ran fine. Both items returned back to me fully working like new again.

I’ve had a Vipr on my Rocket for 2.5 years now. When it’s been freshly serviced, it’s amazing. However I do find that after about 6 months the performance starts to drop off and if I leave it for 9 months before servicing its getting really quite turgid. It does get quite warm, quite quick so I guess the damping oil is breaking down. (this is all aside from DIY aircan services).

Aside from that it’s about having to deal with Bos. In the 2.5 years, it’s spent nearly 4 months (both occasions across the summer) unusable, thanks to Bos’s appalling levels of customer care. The first time was a warranty issue – 2.5 months to resolve, the second time (this summer), a service revealed a problem that needed a part that Stif didn’t have on the shelf – 6 week wait. Simply. Not. Good. Enough. (both occasions Cy @ Cotic was kind enough to lend me a shock to keep me mobile).

Yes it’s lovely when it works, but I just can’t recommend anyone giving money to Bos.

Rik – yes, Ion 16

^^ Never had the performance drop off at all and services after recommended period only. No reliability problems, no inconsistent performance. Both Devilles and VIP’R have been exemplary.

I know this isnt 100% relevent to the question, but it might form useful background info.

I have Bos Kirk shock at present and previously had a CCDB air. The kirk feels pretty similar in performance to the CCDB air in terms of overall damping, and has a similar range of adjustments , but I find the kirk overall to be better in that it has the climbing lever (I wont call it a lock out, because it doesnt lock out, but does considerably stiffen up the shock), which makes a considerable difference for long smooth’ish uphill slogs.

Maybe the CCDB air CS is more directly comparable to the Kirk?

The kirk has been 100% reliable since I got it a year ago. Whereas the CCDB air failed in the first year, it was fixed under warranty quickly though.

The kirk taken a fair bit of (ab)use in all conditions. I havent sent it in for any service work yet, so cant really comment on the availability of spares, but it must be an issue otherwise people wouldnt raise it in threads like this.

jairaj Just service generally, not returning calls, taking 4weeks when they said 1, forks returning with issues they never went with, 2 of my riding mates have had similar if not worse experiences as me.

I need to send my shock off but knowing they will take 2 to 6 weeks puts me off, so thinking of using LoCo on here.

I still think BOS is some of the best suspension you can get but now Fox has sorted its shit out i’ll be using them next.

If it performs anywhere near as good as the BOS Kirk on the GF’s bike it’ll be brilliant.
Lots of people say BOS stuff if a pain to set up, but with her fork and shock we just followed the instructions in the manual and used the recommended base settings.
Much better performance than other air sucks we’ve had in the past, probably on par with my CCDB coil. And the Devilles are just divine when I’ve back to back compared the, to Pikes and Fox 36s.

Tom KP

Not had any bos stuff but I have found Stif not great to deal with regarding wheel builds (wrong specs big delay, poor coms)and KS post servicing (sloooow)