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Coil vs. air for a light rider?

1496 Views 28 Replies 16 Participants Last post by SHIVER ME TIMBERS, Jul 1, 2009

IttyBittyBetty

Discussion Starter · Jun 29, 2009

I'm a small woman, topping out at just under 115 pounds. I'm thinking of getting a Transition Syren to take my riding to another level. I'm getting conflicting advice about the suspension I should put on the bike. All my bad a$$ DH gurlfriends say to go with a coil rear shock and fork for the kind of riding I want to do. Transition specs the Fox DHX 5 Coil for the rear and the Fox 36 Vanilla 160 RC2 for the fork. However, my gurlfriends are all in the 140-ish pound range, a fair bit bigger than I am. I am concerned that the suspension will be too stiff and I will end up spending a lot of time and money trying to find the right springs/coils.

Conversely, some knowledgeable guys I know recommend I go with air. They say that at my weight I will still be able to ride hard, take drops and such with good a DH air shock and fork The air fork and shock will be easier and cheaper to adjust to work well for my light weight (I could have it PUSHed to tailor it just to me). Transition specs the Fox DHX 5 Air for the rear and the Fox 36 Float RC2.

What do you all think? I appreciate your advice!

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

essenmeinstuff

· #2 · Jun 29, 2009

Coil has traditionaly felt more "plush" and is not plagued by the old lack of mid stroke support.

You should be able to calculate pretty close to the right spring weight.

Coil = set and forget
Air = bit more attention

If specing an air shock maybe look at others that have more favourable reviews, like roco WC etc.

If it were me, id go with coil in the rear (easy and cheap to get springs) and put the float or talas rc2 on the front

(because fork coils are more expensive and hard to come by in right weights...)

essenmeinstuff

· #3 · Jun 29, 2009

oh since you are quite light, once you have found your correct spring, maybe jump on a ti coil for the rear, brings pretty close to air shock weight anyway. :thumbsup:

DJ Giggity

· #4 · Jun 29, 2009

A Float 36 RC2 on the front and Coil rear might be a good combination of weight versus plushness. My DHX-C is a 2008 model and the rebound dampening is pretty light. It should still work pretty well with a light weight spring.

string

· #5 · Jun 29, 2009

I've always been a fain of air...till I switched to coil (RS vivid 5.1) about a month ago. Far better control and plushness.

The air is definitely easier to set up for your weight but with the right spring (I am assuming they make one light enough for your weight, but have no idea) coil is the way to go.

As mentioned play with the cheap coil springs till you get it dialed in then go for a TI spring. You might try calling transition and see what spring rate they recommend for your weight as a good starting point.

tmarkos

· #6 · Jun 29, 2009

Listen to your girlfriends. Your wieght has nothing to do with it. Air is inferrior to coil for DH.
I would see if Transition will switch springs out for you, or take off $40 from the price so you can pick one up that works for you. You can use a spring calc to make sure you get the right #
http://service.foxracingshox.com/consumers/Content/mtbspringratecalculator.htm

cwrender

· #7 · Jun 29, 2009

If you want to go coil, 500lbs will get you about 34% sag, 550lbs about 31% sag (if 115 is your geared weight). If you go air you should use a shock with a high volume air can (available from Rockshox, Fox and Marzocchi). The travel will ramp up extreme (progression) with an air shock and the maximum travel will be reduced for about 15mm when using a Rockshox or Marzocchi shock. My wife liked the "quality of travel" better when using an coil shock on the Siren (although the air shock was about one pound lighter).

P.S.: Dont use one of the regular spring calculators as the linkage rate is falling extremely (from 4.2 in the beginning to 2.0 at the end). You wont get the right spring this way. If you are not shure check the freeware version of the program linkage as there is a model of the Siren available on the net.

Kevin G

· #8 · Jun 30, 2009

tmarkos said:
Air is inferrior to coil for DH.

+1 What he said.

Just took the Totem Air off my Highline and replaced with a coil version for DH season; feels SO much better. Smooooth travel. I only use air (fork and shock) for weight savings during off season.

006_007

· #9 · Jun 30, 2009

cwrender said:
If you want to go coil, 500lbs will get you about 34% sag, 550lbs about 31% sag (if 115 is your geared weight). If you go air you should use a shock with a high volume air can (available from Rockshox, Fox and Marzocchi). The travel will ramp up extreme (progression) with an air shock and the maximum travel will be reduced for about 15mm when using a Rockshox or Marzocchi shock. My wife liked the "quality of travel" better when using an coil shock on the Siren (although the air shock was about one pound lighter).

P.S.: Dont use one of the regular spring calculators as the linkage rate is falling extremely (from 4.2 in the beginning to 2.0 at the end). You wont get the right spring this way. If you are not shure check the freeware version of the program linkage as there is a model of the Siren available on the net.

Jesus - if a 550LB spring gets a 115lb rider 31% sag what monster of a spring does a 200LB rider need for that frame (i am assuming this was based on a dhx5?)

kenbentit

· #10 · Jun 30, 2009

I'd check with Transition to see what spring rate they'd recommend for your weight just to make sure it'll be right for you. Nothing worse than finding out nobody makes a spring light enough for you....

cwrender

· #11 · Jun 30, 2009

kenbentit said:
I'd check with Transition to see what spring rate they'd recommend for your weight just to make sure it'll be right for you. Nothing worse than finding out nobody makes a spring light enough for you....

light enough isnt the problem about springs with this frame. its more about heavy enough for larger riders.

P.S.: my recomendations were for all Fox coil shox (without RC4 as I never had one in my hands) and the current Marzocchi coil shocks. The leverage ratio at 40mm into travel is 3.75 to 1 and at 45mm 3.7 to 1 so thats why you will need fairly strong springs (or better: thats why smaller girls for whom the frame was designed wont have problems using standard valved shocks and regular springs).

norbar

· #12 · Jun 30, 2009

I don't know how the dhx air will work with lower volume than mine (9.5'' shock length) but for me it feels much too soft in the mid stroke and makes the bike feel dead and clumbersome. Even after a custom tune at mojo susp it steel feels far from coil. I'd never go dhx air again. Maybe other air shocks but not dhx.

Secace

· #13 · Jun 30, 2009

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Definitely go coil. I ride with lightweight (100-115#) gals that ride coil forks and shocks tuned for their weight. Their bikes feel like butter, eliminate every piece of trail chatter and take any hit they can throw at them.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS

· #14 · Jun 30, 2009

First off get rid of the DHX 5.0..........the most overated shock ever (IMO)

small bump sensitivity sucks
stiff at mid stroke
very harsh
chattery

IttyBittyBetty

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 30, 2009

Shiver Me Timbers,

What would you recommend instead of the Fox DHX 5.0?

Gman086

· #16 · Jun 30, 2009 (Edited)

I'll go against the grain here. The X Fusion H3 and a Lyrik Solo Air would just KILL IT on that rig! Most have never even heard of X Fusion but that technology works and I speak from first hand experience. Really depends on your riding style - if you go non-stop all day long then coil is your best bet because air can heat up but otherwise it would be a wise choice IMHO, especially for a lighter rider. Talk to the guys at Transition. And for the doubters - tell Andrew Taylor that air shocks don't work, LMAO!!! I think the DHX Air just gave all DH air shocks a bad rap (terrible shock).

Have FUN!

G MAN

SHIVER ME TIMBERS

· #17 · Jun 30, 2009

2

IttyBittyBetty said:
Shiver Me Timbers,

What would you recommend instead of the Fox DHX 5.0?

cane creeks are real nice but very expensive

bang for bucks
I really Love my Roco wc
manitou singer 6 way or X-6 is good too

first time pics of my new M-3

See less See more

Raptordude

· #18 · Jun 30, 2009

tmarkos said:
Air is inferrior to coil for DH.

I'm not sure. While I'm not crazy about running a Air Shock in the rear, I have a 888 SL ATA air fork for my front and its been nothing short of awesome. My friend runs a Boxxer World Cup and he's been pleased with that. Air forks for DH have really improved and provide for a rather plush and supple ride. Air shocks for DH is another story...

Karupshun

· #19 · Jun 30, 2009

I am going to vote for coil for reliability sake. I blew my 5.0 recently. My piggyback won't hold air, but the bike is still ridable short term. Not so with Air Cans, as they tend to crush flat.

If I had to choose an Air Shock, I would go Roco Air. There is just no noticeable stickiness, good stroke-support, and they seem to be holding up quite well to abuse on a few bikes running them here.

tmarkos

· #20 · Jun 30, 2009

Raptordude said:
I'm not sure. While I'm not crazy about running a Air Shock in the rear, I have a 888 SL ATA air fork for my front and its been nothing short of awesome. My friend runs a Boxxer World Cup and he's been pleased with that. Air forks for DH have really improved and provide for a rather plush and supple ride. Air shocks for DH is another story...

Agree,
One of my favorite forks was my Marz Z1 air. I should of stated rear suspension, cause that's what I was thinking of at the time.

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

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