The Gonexo is an entry level 25 inch ILF riser from Core, a sub brand of Archer’s Gear. They are known for their quality entry and intermediate level archery gear at incredible prices. The Gonexo is one such incredibly priced piece of gear. Don’t let the price fool you though. This is a full featured ILF riser.
Tipping the scales at only 900 grams, the Gonexo is a great riser for beginners and young archers who want something more upgradeable than bolt on bows. The paint finish on this riser is nice. I specially like the Pearl White version. Being an ILF riser, you can pair it with any set of ILF limbs. A cast magnesium riser, personally, I wouldn’t set this riser up with high poundage limbs but all the information I found online indicates if can manage 40 lbs. I’d probably go as high as 36 but that’s just me.
For a “budget friendly” bow, the Core Gonexo in my opinion, is a looker. Its slim and sleek profile gives it a premium look. It has all the standard mounts for sights and a clicker as well as top and bottom dampers and the main stabilizer mount. Burger holes for the plunger and a wrap around rest are also present here. The clicker plate and its extension have lines to help archer keep track of their clicker positions.
The riser also features an easy to use eccentric limb alignment system. Unlike the opposing set screws that most ILF bows use to align the limbs, the Gonexo has a system where you rotate the contact point of the limb bolt off center to line the limb left or right. It’s surprisingly easy to adjust and get right!
This system is remarkably similar to the old SF Axiom’s alignment system before they switched to the more common opposing set screws. Now that I think about it, the geometry and grip position remind me of the old Axiom as well.
The riser’s light weight makes is super easy for young archers and beginners to pick up and shoot. A lot of archers out there prefer putting most of the weight on the stabilizers and not on the riser itself. Its lightweight makes easy for intermediate shooters to fine tune the weight distribution and balance. That said, the Gonexo might not be the best option for competitive barebow style shooting.
Feedback post shot is as expected of magnesium risers. Vibrations are note crazy you will feel em. Shoots feel calm and smooth. Not at all aggressive and jumpy like how more rigid CNC Machined risers feel. It’s the perfect stress buster bow. It’s just fun to shoot. It’s one of those bows that immediately feels like an extension of your own arm.
The one thing about the Gonexo that I am not a fan of is its short sight window. I find that the top of the sight window blocks the sight pin for me. It’s because at my draw length, I have to put the sight block at the very top of the elevation bar. This will not really be an issue for younger archers or those with average draw lengths or shorter faces 😊.
Another thing I believe is worth considering on the Gonexo is the limb alignment system. I love how simple and easy it is to use specially for beginners. I have some concerns about its ability to handle draw weights of 38 lbs and above. Being made of multiple parts, I worry that it may become a point of failure. I haven’t heard of any failures for this bow however and Core/Archer’s Gear has pretty owner warranty coverage so I’m that worried. And, with Island Archery, we take special care of recommending parts and understanding what their limits are. (SHAMELESS PLUG).
The Core Gonexo riser is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate archers who are looking for a full featured ILF bow without having to spend a fortune. It is easy to setup and tune and even easier to use. If you’re on a tight budget but want to experience archery with a full ILF setup, the Core Gonexo is a great bow to start with. It has killer looks, a great price and all the features you need. Affordable doesn’t have to mean cheap.
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