[megablue]

Hey guys,

Wanting to try out a new rear shock and I think I’m down to two air shocks and maybe a coil. I had a coil on my last bike, which I loved, but my new bike (process x) doesn’t pedal as well so I’m worried it may be a dog to pedal with a coil.

so my choices were an x2, kitsuma air, topaz t3, dhx2, jade, jade x, kitsuma coil, or a hazard. I think I narrowed it down to the x2 and kitsuma air for the air side and just the kitsuma coil if I go coil. I’ve previously had a cane creek coil shock that I really enjoyed which is making me lean toward them.

Any words of advice or experience with these?

 

[WHALENARD]

Waffling between the two shocks myself.
The way I see it the advantage of the X2 is I could have it serviced anywhere. The advantage of the Kitsuma is to be much quicker tuning parameters on trail. I gather they will more or less ride the same though the VVC seems like it has a love/hate depending on who's riding it.

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[shakazulu12]

@WHALENARD I have a new takeoff x2 from my Spire if you are interested. Keep meaning to post it for sale and forgetting. I think you are near me so could be easy ship.

 

[megablue]

Waffling between the two shocks myself.
The way I see it the advantage of the X2 is I could have it serviced anywhere. The advantage of the Kitsuma is to be much quicker tuning parameters on trail. I gather they will more or less ride the same though the VVC seems like it has a love/hate depending on who's riding it.

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Yeah I’m lucky enough to live in the same state as cane creek, although I’d likely send it off to trail labs as they are cheaper but do great work. I don’t have any local shops that can do a full service on any suspension so it has to be sent off anyway.

 

[WHALENARD]

@WHALENARD I have a new takeoff x2 from my Spire if you are interested. Keep meaning to post it for sale and forgetting. I think you are near me so could be easy ship.

What size is it?

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[shakazulu12]

What size is it?

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205x65 trunnion

 

[WHALENARD]

205x65 trunnion

Thanks for the offer, unfortunately
I need 210x55 standard eyelet.

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[WHALENARD]

Yeah I’m lucky enough to live in the same state as cane creek, although I’d likely send it off to trail labs as they are cheaper but do great work. I don’t have any local shops that can do a full service on any suspension so it has to be sent off anyway.

I'm not up to speed on what third party tuners service Kane Creek shocks. So I suppose I should have factored that into my original post.

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[JonJones]

I've the Kitsuma coil and air shocks on my 150mm 29" bike and the 2021 X2 on another bike with similar travel.

The Kitsuma is a lovely shock, the dials are easy to use make a real difference between settings.

What is definitely worth noting is the climb switch. It goes from fully open and plush, to a supportive trail setting and the lock out is almost hardtail firm.

I actually prefer the coil and full open setting for climbing.
Definitely would buy again although I think it has an appetite for eyelet bushings... They're cheap and easy to replace though.

My X2 is fine, not as easy to adjust, it whistles on compression (a feature apparently) and the HSR is almost impossible to adjust on the trail.
It's nowhere near as plush but that is likely to be air vs coil.
Definitely prefer my 2019 version to that, and the Kitsuma to it too.

107kg rider weight if it helps.

 

[megablue]

I've the Kitsuma coil and air shocks on my 150mm 29" bike and the 2021 X2 on another bike with similar travel.

The Kitsuma is a lovely shock, the dials are easy to use make a real difference between settings.

What is definitely worth noting is the climb switch. It goes from fully open and plush, to a supportive trail setting and the lock out is almost hardtail firm.

I actually prefer the coil and full open setting for climbing.
Definitely would buy again although I think it has an appetite for eyelet bushings... They're cheap and easy to replace though.

My X2 is fine, not as easy to adjust, it whistles on compression (a feature apparently) and the HSR is almost impossible to adjust on the trail.
It's nowhere near as plush but that is likely to be air vs coil.
Definitely prefer my 2019 version to that, and the Kitsuma to it too.

107kg rider weight if it helps.

Yeah my only issue with the coil is finding a coil weight. My last bike I ended up having to buy 5 coils to get the “best” one which still wasn’t ideal. Not sure if I want to go through all that again lol

 

[JonJones]

I contacted Cane Creek support and told them my weight and the bike it was going on and they got it right. It was one rate (25lbs) up from the manufacturer recommended rate.

Granted I do fall between spring rates and that's likely to happen with coils, air is much easier to dial in.

 

[ungod]

I think you have to decide whether you want air or coil first, you're really talking a major difference there (progression vs. linear). What bike is this going on? Some bikes simply don't work with a coil, unless you use a progressive coil which aren't available for all shocks (so you would need to buy a coil shock that can use a progressive spring).

The new X2's are pretty different from the old ones, and they require a lot of special tools to repair. Cane Creek shocks can't be serviced at all by the end user. Depends on whether you like to service your suspension yourself.

You might also consider the Manitou Mara (air) or the Suntour (forget the model, it's the same shock as the Topaz but with an IFP instead of a bladder).

 

[megablue]

I think you have to decide whether you want air or coil first, you're really talking a major difference there (progression vs. linear). What bike is this going on? Some bikes simply don't work with a coil, unless you use a progressive coil which aren't available for all shocks (so you would need to buy a coil shock that can use a progressive spring).

The new X2's are pretty different from the old ones, and they require a lot of special tools to repair. Cane Creek shocks can't be serviced at all by the end user. Depends on whether you like to service your suspension yourself.

You might also consider the Manitou Mara (air) or the Suntour (forget the model, it's the same shock as the Topaz but with an IFP instead of a bladder).

Part of the issue is trying to decide between the two. I’m aware some frames aren’t made for coil, my frame offers plenty of progression to run a coil.

not too concerned with end user serviceability. It would be nice, but I would likely send it off to be done properly anyway.
Mara won’t work because they don’t make one in my size, which is why it isn’t on my list.

 

[Moosedriver]

I’m currently running the Kitsuma Air, it’s a great shock. I haven’t used the X2 , so I can’t compare that one for you. I was previously using a Manitou Mara Pro, which is an amazing shock. I would still be on the Mara Pro, but my Stumpjumper destroyed it about two months ago and I decided to go with the Kitsuma for the larger piston to hopefully have the shock last longer. The Hayes site shows the 210x55 eyelet currently in stock. In terms of set-up, I prefer the Kitsuma, I only had to adjust the HSR whereas the Mara Pro took longer to get dialed in. In terms of looks and serviceability I prefer the Mara Pro. Manitou built the shock for the user to be able to do everything on their own without having to send it off. That’s a huge bonus to me over brands that require you to send it to an authorized repair facility. Their performance is almost indistinguishable to me, with the Mara Pro being only very slightly better in my opinion. The Mara Pro is a good amount cheaper than the Kitsuma. I will stay with the Kitsuma for as long as I have a Stumpjumper, but I will go back to the Mara Pro on my next bike.

If you sign up for Universal Cycle’s email list, you can get a discount code that will work on either the Kitsuma or the Mara Pro. Probably the X2 as well, but I haven’t looked. Modernbike.com also has a good price on the Mara Pro.

 

[Rick Draper]

Kitsuma.

The are making a change on the newer ones as well on both air and coil versions. With you been in the USA you should get one of them by now I believe.

 

[MyDadSucks]

Yeah my only issue with the coil is finding a coil weight. My last bike I ended up having to buy 5 coils to get the “best” one which still wasn’t ideal. Not sure if I want to go through all that again lol

this is definitely a difficult part of coils. Spring calculators can say one thing, but every bike and leverage curve is going to be different so i generally end up deviating pretty far from the recommended rate. On top of that, spring calculators seem to aim for 30% of stroke, versus 30% of wheel travel, which is a whole other issue. But once you have it dialed in, the coils are way less finicky than air and i love the set-and-forget feel.

 

[megablue]

Kitsuma.

The are making a change on the newer ones as well on both air and coil versions. With you been in the USA you should get one of them by now I believe.

hmm hadn’t heard about that. What are they changing?

 

[Moosedriver]

hmm hadn’t heard about that. What are they changing?

They redesigned with a larger piston, they went from an 8mm diameter to 9.5mm diameter. They also adjusted the dials on the Kitsuma Air, they were receiving feedback that the dials were too hard to move, so they fixed them to be smoother. Both of these changes are already complete. I haven’t read about any other changes.

 

[Rick Draper]

hmm hadn’t heard about that. What are they changing?

I thought the news would come out with the new IL Trunnion shocks. It’s a running change on them. Let’s see if it comes out this week.

 

[Rick Draper]

They redesigned with a larger piston, they went from an 8mm diameter to 9.5mm diameter. They also adjusted the dials on the Kitsuma Air, they were receiving feedback that the dials were too hard to move, so they fixed them to be smoother. Both of these changes are already complete. I haven’t read about any other changes.

that’s from the gen 1 DB CS shocks to the Kitsuma. The Kitsuma is having a slight tweak.