Air or Coil shock - Which do you prefer?

Nice - Watching a entire rear shock vid while riding a hardtail forever :D

Walmart was ahead of its time lol

Coil front+rear on downhill bike, air on enduro bike. And suntour XCM on my commuter, not sure what kind of sorcery is inside.

I like the adjustability of air shocks and I prefer them, but I don’t mind coil

My coil shock sounds like an old bed from a cheap motel....

I have been using cane creek dbcoil il last few weeks, I must say I’m delighted how it transformed my bike, it’s super planted on the trails, compared to monarch rt shock I previously had on the bike, I know monarch rt is probably the cheapest air shock but than again I have the cheapest coil shock. I have lost the poppy nature of my bike but I am really happy that I have a new personal best on most of my local trails now with the new shock. Great videos as always 👍

Great and informative video as always. Plus I love they way you also make them funny and interesting to watch. Not too long and not to short. Awesome stuff!

Another sweet video! MRP Progressive Springs just started shipping yesterday! Worldwide will have one, with our Hazzard shock, in a few weeks!

What a wonderful topic that I feel is worthy of discussion! I haven't been that picky about my shocks. Seems like no matter what, at some point the trail gets ruff and I just deal with it, but coil sounds awesome!

Did anyone notice Ned Flanders on the monitor in the background?

Good video. Have the same CC DB Inline on my GG Pistola and love it.

I switched from MRP ribbon air to their coil... amazing! They are both good, but I am a really light rider and it definitely helped get my suspension more dialed.

My '18 Enduro came with the RS Monarch that failed almost immediately. I was able to warranty it with a Debonair can. THAT chamber seal failed only a couple months later. I have swapped that out with an Öhlins TTX22M coil and couldn't be happier. I knew I would love it because I had the Fox DHX RC2 on my older Enduro. I'll never look back to any air shock. 👌

I'm with you ... pieces missing drives me crazy ✔

I had air on my Santa Cruz Superlight back in the day, then ran nothing but Marzocchi coil suspension for a solid decade. Now, I have a DVO Jade coil on my DH bike and DVO Topaz/Diamond on my trail bike. Never thought I would run air suspension until I tried the DVO Topaz and Diamond. The OTT adjustment on the Diamond really helps with small bump performance.

just got back into biking from a 10 year break but things keep going in circles... as usual. coil coil coil, then awww toooo heavy... k air then... air air air... nah I like the feel of coil etc.. last shock i had was a DHX5 coil with on the fly adjustable bottom out with air assist. kinda the best of both worlds.. coil feel with air support. And 10 years before that.... Stratos Helix pro on a Mountain Cycle - now I'm dating myself lol - but it's the same deal - coil with air assist - and it had lock out! 20 years ago! I mean.... air only is all good but even my old Marzocchi 66 with Ti spring was air assist and was a killer fork - felt great, at least at the time... anyways.. hard to beat a coil, don't think they are going anywhere. i feel like in the last 10 years, bike related things have kind of reached a plateau, wheel size and carbon stuff aside. Just get out there and ride.. you don't need a 6k bike to do it... 2-3k buys enough bike to have a great time on...

If anyone is wondering, The Marin Hawk Hill can take a coil, and it takes it just fine! Bought the Canecreek DB Coil IL from Worldwide 2 months ago and it feels amazing

I love my Cane Creek DB coil with the Cane Creek OPT remote. It makes it so you can use the climb switch as often as shifting. Riding a Canyon Strive 27.5

I've only tried air shocks, but based on your description of coil shock behavior on trails, it may be better for me. Thanks for your comparison review.

You can live without coil, you can live 2 maybe 3 minute's without air!

Here's my biggest coil shock con. Getting the right spring... I have a dhx2. When you finally find the right steel coil for your weight and riding style (£40 each) you then decide to get the pretty sls spring as you now know your right spring..... oh no you don't because the sls spring is more linear due to the nature of its design so now you have to guess and go a little higher. (£150 A spring) I had a 400 steel spring so you'd imagine a 425 would be right. I ended up with a 475 sls before it was right as the steel springs are inaccurate and the 400 one could have infact been 450 or 350. Sounds long winded because it is and for the price of all those springs you can buy a top secondhand air shock. I love my coil shock though.

Thanks for the video!!!

I have a 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper with a Fox Air Shock which I really liked until I got my Evil Wreckoning with a Push 11/6 coil over. Now it's difficult to ride the Stumpjumper since I've gotten used to the supple feel of the Push. Additionally, I hit some pretty big stuff and have yet to bottom out the Push.

Once you get the right spring they have more adjustable than an air shock. You can get progressive springs and also the linkage on bikes make it more progressive. with a coil you can adjust preload which you cannot do on an air shock. Also most coil shocks have more dampening adjustments. This is not always true but most of the time especially in the lower end, you can only adjust air and rebound on an air shock. With most coil shocks you have preload, rebound dampening, hi speed compression dampening, and low speed compression dampening adjustments.

👍🏽 great info!

Just updated my ‘03 Norco with a brand new- old stock Fox vanilla coil, and it’s like a whole different bike . It’s an oldie but a goodie !

Great video. I've had the Push Elevensix a few times on diff bikes (evil and yeti) and found that for the endlessly punchy climbs we have here in the Northeast US...coil was too soft off the top (least it was for me a 220lb rider) and I prefer the pedaling platform of air.

Do you have a video showing the pros and cons of vertical vs slanted rear shocks?

You guys KICK AZZ in service and videos. THANKS for the breakdown

I'd like to try on a trail bike, the only times I've used a coil shock is at snowshoe mtn on a specialized enduro and at windrock bike park on a santa cruz v10. I loved the coil feel but I'm curious how it would be on a trail bike.

Suspension co's never really developed coil suspension to its potential vs air imo. Coil suspension can blow air suspension out of the water with r&d. The whole point of suspension is smoothing out bumps...I thought. 🤔

For a 130-140 travel hardtail are there more benefits to have a coil fork or an air fork. I think it's important to have the fork ramp up to maintain the slack head angle through g-outs (hardtails head angle becomes steeper through travel) but I also want a supple off the top feeling that you get with a coil. Considering an mrp ribbon coil or a pike Not too fussed about weight

I just bought me a 1998 k2 proflex that had a front shock system, but the previous owner got rid of it and put a regular air fork in it :( But that's beside the point This is my first full suspension bike and it has a "noleen, made in usa" coil in the back. Its feels great! I go through the travel a bit more than I like but theres no way I'm finding a aftermarket spring for a 20+ year old shock. As I upgrade it I hope in trying out a air option (my preference for forks, so I might as well try it on a shock) but for now the coil is the winner for me!

Guy riding has some great lines! Whipping that tail around!

I have only owned coil shocks on downhillers but my next full suspension will proably be air as weight is a big factor. For my downhillers the coil setup has always worked great and I have tried a few pre 2010 bikes at that time the air shocks I could not get then set up for my taste so I just stayed with coils.

Great video Jeff

What about a progressive 5th Element with a Ti spring matched to a Marzocchi z1 qr20???? Going old school WWC. How about elastomers in my Judy.

My dhx rc4 has air assisted bottom out Last 35% of travel is assisted by an air chamber that can be custom tuned

I prefer coil being a bigger guy I just feel that the Coil is more reliable. I dont like to run Max pressure in my Monarch but thats the only way I get recommended sag and it basically negates any small bump feel. I like the weight savings with air though but to be honest I never ridden a high end air suspension setup compared to a coil so maybe I would like it.

Love my dhx2 coil on my sb6c. May add one to my soon to be sb150

I had both and like both. As long as shock is set correctly there is no big difference. Easy maintenance and longevity are 2 main coil pluses. Weight I don't see as an issue. It is not like anyone slaps coil shock on XC bike. For DH or Enduro 150-200g more or less means very little as long as you are not exceeding certain weight limit.

Ive always wondered, if you were to compare a range of bikes with the same shocks (not manufacturer tuned), which system would be most progressive. Examples may be Four bar Twin link/vpp style Switch infinity Linkage driven single pivot Etc. Cant name all of them haha. And would having a particular system to aid progressivity have an impact on pedal bob or kickback.

Have a 2018 Giant reign with the Rock Shocks super deluxe coil absolutely in love

Aye I'm rockin the db air IL, awesome shock though the db coil IL looks prety enticing

I have a DH bike, switched to full air because purchasing different coils to find out which works best for me pissed me off, purchased 2 non stock ones and still wasn't satisfied, now with air just tune it easily to my weight. Sidenote here have never bottemed out my rear or front and they are very subtle/sweet. Running Boxxer WC and Vivid Air. The Vivid feels so buttery soft sometimes I think I have a flat but check and it isn't so. save a full kilo on weigth too.

Im new to mountainbiking but i love my airshock so far.😁

Thanks Bro! Gonna try a coil out on my mate x

Coil, looks coiler😎 just realized you guys are local (Ventura county). I gotta come try on some 510 shoes, you got em in 13 men's? Sweet Nectar! See you soon 🤘

I ride a Santa Cruz v10 and I had a fox float x2 but than I said hey why wouldn’t I try a coil and now i have a bomber cr and I absolutely love it ... it just feels more comfortable to me 👌

Morning! Thanks for the info vid. I am contemplating a coil set up on my Stumpy Expert 29er...you mentioned linear and possibility of bottoming out on some bikes. Any thoughts around my Stumpy and adding a coil setup?

Currently I have a Fox DPX2 (190x51) in my stumpjumper. I am thinking of using/trying coil specifically the Cane Creek Double Barrel Coil IL CS Shock that you have on this video. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks for this video again.

I just bought a sentinel with air front and back. Thought I would not like it coming from an enduro with ohlins coil front and rear. I love it now. Air seems to be more poppier and lively then coil. But coil is definitely for monster trucking. I dont care about small bump sensitivity crap. Go fast pull up! Whats the worst that can happen?

love my coil dropperpost. coil damper will be next

Loving the vids ^^ Slightly off topic (but still on, sort of)... What sort of mounting hardware is needed to run a 2018 Fox Float DPS Performance Elite rear shock on a 2017 Giant Reign 2?? And where could I get it?? ;-)

Thanks for the video. I have a question. I like riding rough technical trails, but ride rather slowly (compared to race pace). The stoke for me comes in finding bits of "flow" in the rough. The advantages you cite for coil would seem better suited for slower, gentler riding (small bump sensitivity, linear, using deep travel), and the advantages for air would seem to favor downhill racing (progressive, less bottoming). Thus, I'm a little confused. How would a shorter travel, lighter weight, coil bike perform (more frequently using full range of travel)? The bits of humor really enhance the tone of your videos and make them fun to watch.

I am about to throw away about 4 coils, only air shocks for me in the future. Trying to find the correct coil is a minefield. Running a RS Vivid air schock on my DH rig, replaced the coil. My Vivid is very very supple and way lighter. never bottomed it out, sometimes i think I have a rear flat because of the suppleness. The adjustability is way way more advanced than on a coil shock.

I prefer coil shock. I had Ibis mojo HD4 asked the Ibis tech for change to Fox X2 to DHX2 the they recomended air shock . I've tested for week Fox DHX2 can tell you much better than air shock. So I got new Yeti SB150 with X2 rode 4 weeks now I'm riding DHX2 way better.

You rock !

Never tried one of those circular boing boing boing things but would love to!

Really interested in a CC DB CS (as an upgrade from a super deluxe r, because I really want a climb/pedal switch) although can't seem to find much information about how they perform with the reliability update. Also considering a DPX2. Dream shock would be the elevensix tho. Its just too sexy.

Question since you're the only ones who ever reply to my questions. I am looking at a Mondraker Dune 2020xr with coil shock and i just like to know if i can swap it to the air shock. I can't find any information on their site or the dealer. Pretty please🐱‍🚀

My cane creek db inline coil just like the one you guys have in the video blew up 2 days after i bought the bike

Just converted over from air (shock) to the Cane Creek DB CS coil. Absolutely amazing. Yes it’s heavier on an already heavy bike (2018 Kona Process 153) but, man, my rear tyre was glued to the ground in super chunky terrain in Southern Spain. Some tweaking of the factory settings required and some understanding of stroke and spring rates but definitely a done deal for me. Climbing I feel is brilliant despite the weight. Can’t recommend enough!

Seems like I'm always doing the exact opposite of the new trend..... I just switched over to a fox 40 float on my DH bike and got a new trail bike with RockShox revelation and fox ctd float. I weight 120 lbs and for years as everyone switched over to air, all I kept hearing about is how poor the small bump sensitivity was and that it's way worse for light riders. Finally the technology got perfected so I gave it a try and wow it is amazing! I suppose part of it is due to the ultra low air pressures I run, the negative spring in the fox 40 doesn't even let it extend fully.... But small bump sensitivity is incredible, the weight savings is unreal, and I absolutely love the progressiveness for when I overshoot the landing! I learned real fast that the rebound dampening isn't progressive as well, which is my only complaint; if it's fully compressed then the rebound valving is too weak and the fork shoots back pretty aggressively, and if I turn it up then I'll start packing up the travel.... Aside from that, I'm loving it and don't see myself going back to coil anytime soon!

Need a shock with both. Coil for the high speed sensitivity but an air spring to give more progression deeper in the stroke.

I find I bottomed out my RockShox Super Deluxe all the time even though it was set up right for my weight. I had a few volume spacers installed before putting the bike away for winter. If the spacers don't make a difference I'll be looking at a coil.

Great summary! Can you help me understand how you were able to fit the 210x55 coil shock on the Smuggler, which has a stock shock size of 210x50. You mention that you used offset bushings. What bushing offset size did you use? What orientation did you place them? Is there an offset bushing on both ends of the shock? Given the leverage ratio of the 2018+ Smuggler (2.4), did the 5mm longer shock stroke give you ~13mm addition travel? I'm trying to do something similar on my 2018 Smuggler, and have been having trouble finding how to properly prevent the wheel from making contact with the seat tube at full compression. Thanks!

This is the first time I’ve noticed Jeff’s dagger tattoo which is sick af

well if you're bottoming out, you need more HSC. also a stiffer spring helps. Cane creek made a 600 lb spring for my request as they and most companies don't commonly have it by default off the shelf. And I don't really get arm pump because I also run Rev Grips. Its all Kinematics based in my opinion. When a company says their frame is optimized for both, thats a load of horse shit. Eminent cycles is a super linear frame. and nearly all reviewers say the same thing. Must have air shock with max volume spacers and max HSC. While if you have an INTENSE or Santa Cruz frame with lower link pivot, you can play around the border (coil or air). The new YT Tues straight up needs an air shock. They even said they did a redesign to make it more linear per Aaron Gwin's request.

I run a DPX2 on my V1 Ripmo. I did ride a coil on a different bike recently and was very impressed. Not sure if I'll make the change. I'd rather switch out my drivetrain.

Would a coil shock from fox fit and work properly in the current Cube Stereo Action Team Hybrid?

I’d love to try a coil shock with a progressive spring or a titanium spring

Great topic. However, not hating, just want to add some insight and other facts. 1.) Just an FYI, they've been making coil shocks in smaller sizes for years. For example you could buy a 6.5 x 1.5 coil shock in the early 90's. 2.) 11.6 is custom only to a select number of bikes, might have wanted to mention that for your consumers. You mention it's custom, like anyone can get one made for their bike and that is simply not the case. One other thing to consider when thinking of coil vs air, air is more poppy and coil tends to feel more stuck to the ground. So if you like to boost a lot maybe air is better for your riding style. However if you tend to want to plow through terrain, coil might be better. I have both for my current ride, DPX2 and DHX2, it's good to have choices for different terrain or whatever tickles my fancy that day.

I like my air suspension since I use all of my bikes as dirt jumpers🤦‍♂️😂. Dj, trail and DH. All setup real hard and progressive for jumps

Coil is no option since i used to bottom out like all the time even with full spacers and 20 percent sag on my 150mm slash. Megneg saved my ass there, now my shock feels almost coil-like in small bump compliance and has more mid stroke support and ramp up too. Perfect match

On a Fuel Ex, would like a coil if it made sense (some people ride some) but it seems like getting a coil dialed would be hard.

What do you recommend for the 19’ stumpy LT 29 .. I live in Santa Cruz lots of rock gardens drops & jumps .. it’s the expert model with Rocshox. .

Coil shocks stay consistent when they heat up

Jeff just wondering what you think about a coil shock on the Smuggler? I have a '19 Smuggler and want to upgrade the DPS but kinda curious about a coil option. However, Transition doesn't recommend it. Thoughts?

I always see coil shocks on cheap low end Walmart bikes all the time, as opposed to air shocks I've only seen on higher-end bikes.🤷‍♂️

good afeternoon please let me ask you a question: what is the distance from eye to eye of that coil shock you show in your video????thx

What’s that Yeti bike at 3:14? It looks awesome!

Subbed.

"That supple feeling." That's what she said. Lol

Hey my name jeefff thanks for the like on my comment and go go worldwide cyclery

I am seriously considering getting a rockshox superdelux coil

What is the cost differential between air and coil, both to initially purchase and to maintain? Thank you.

I have a 2015 Commencal AM V4. All shock manufacturers say coil shocks won’t fit my frame. Can anyone tell me where it’s going to foul my frame? Is it when the coil compresses and gets bigger in diameter? Also would it fit if it was fitted upside down?

Hi, which one gives better rebound. There are EUCs coming out with suspension and one uses the same as rear MTB suspension. Which one gives a better jump capabilite. Like you preload the shock and then jump. Coil or Air?

Which bike co makes the beefiest rearends on a trailbike?

I got forced to switch to a coil after my rear shock(manitou swinger) began leaking. I can't believe how more plush my bike feels after switching into coil.

What do you recommend for a coil shock for a norco optic I’ve been doing so much research and can’t find much

I have a specialized enduro comp 2017 650b, could you tell me if a coil shock would be a good choice for me?

I understand why many riders really want or need a coil, and weight can also be an issue. I on the other hand really want progressivity in my rear shock. That improved massively when I got the Cascade link for my carbon Stumpy. THAT paired with a factory DPX2 w/a 3-pos switch was a perfect match. I have as perfect a rear shock response and adjustability as I could want. It's properly responsive now on small bump, and the progressivity ramps up just right when getting into the gNarLy and landing hard. Never "feels" harsh, never bottoms out, but for my riding style and weight I may just be very fortunate that I ended up w/a winning combo. So many riders with really nice bikes go through three or four different shocks before they get close to where they expect their bike to perform. The bike itself has an impact on this too. A Stumpjumper isn't going to progress through its travel the same way a comparable YETI, or EVIL, or KONA, or Santa Cruz would, so these bikes (and many more) with differing demands by the rider and differing rider weights will not all fare well with the same shock set-up. Not all these bikes will have availability for a Cascade link either, and I don't know what I'd do without that. Seriously the CC link made a massive difference and improvement. These new air shocks though, they really are improving the response and feel. The Double Piston systems with the FOX shocks, DPS, DPX2, the Rockshox Meg-Neg, DVO's, all that and a few others, they're doing so much to make the air shock much more capable and suit more riders. When it comes to weight though, that's where I think riders have less choice. Once you get to a certain weight of rider, you really will end up struggling and fighting with your air shock to get the perfect ride and response from it. I don't know if the cut-off for most air shocks (and keep in mind the differing geo on many bike frames) is at or about 200lbs, maybe just a little more, it's hard to tell and I'm mainly basing this on as much testimony as I've heard from so many riders. For instance, if you're having to push upwards of 300psi in your DPX2 it may be time to reconsider. But again, the rider's weight, that seems to be the turning point for riders to really require a coil shock, and then of course the riding itself may determine that, as in heavy downhill riding vs trail riding etc. ~JSV

My car has coil shocks but also an air intake. Is that the same as what you’re talking bout?

I have a cannondale scalpel that has the fox terralogic lefty up front, basicslly the "brain" intertia valve. Can I put one of those fox brain rear shocks on my rear shock too or is that only for specialized bikes??

Coil or air shock, full suspension or hardtail, road or mountain, electric or man powered... as long it has 2 wheels and a pedal, I’ll ride it!

Love The Office references

Air. But I wanna get another coil, cuz I freaking hate servicing.....ima go coil fork as well, if I can get the money