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This Just in, Coil Shocks are

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,855
9,560
AK
exactly like they have always been

Although they start going off on how un-poppy and un-playful the coil is and how poor it accelerates, well, at the least, the acceleration part of it is you are hanging it on a long travel horst link that probably pedals like a wet mattress and the stiction of the air shock helps a little bit. Put it on an efficient ride and that would probably go away.

Of course, the leverage curve has to be optimized for whichever shock is intended to be used, so that'll throw the results.

More of what I want in an air shock is just actual low/high speed adjustments where I can dial in chassis stability without turning it into a jackhammer. What I don't want is dipshit 3-position switches that force you to ride with no compression damping downhill because the other settings are like jackhammers and I'll use a suspension design that doesn't force me to rely on a climb-switch, so those resources can go towards designing the proper compression and rebound circuits. Not that we haven't finally arrived there with some of the stuff like the X2 air, but it was pulling teeth for years to get them to put the same kind of circuits into an air shock.
 

TrumbullHucker

trumbullruxer
Aug 29, 2005
2,284
719
shimzbury, ct
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^ probably a dentist :rant:


 

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,993
716
Interesting that they tested the Spartan with both. I sent emails to Vorsprung, Push and Avalanche about mine (2017 Spartan). All 3 recommended I stick to air cause of the suspension design.

Steve recommended the X2 via email, but agreed that the limit of 250psi and my weight might not work.
Push told me to call them. They had important info! Basically a sales pitch about how awesome their 11-6 is. When I mentioned my weight, I was shot down as their springs and tune only go up ti 220-225lbs (iirc) but they're working with the spring manufacturer to go up to 240 next year. When asked if they would tune an x2 i got a snobby reply that they don't have time to work on other shocks since the 11-6 is God's choice and other suspension isn't up to par. In the end he recommended that I stick to the air since they couldn't make money on me.

I called Craig at Avalanche and as always he gave me an explanation of why I should stick with air and offered a tune for my Debonair! To my surprise he worked on RS. I know he won't touch a Vivid, but the Debonair he said he could tune to my weight and riding. Big thanks to Craig for tuning the shock for me and saving me some money.
 

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
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I've ridden two different tunes of an 11-6 on my rfx and one of them I was kind of blown away by. It was pretty astounding how progressive of a spring rate feel it gave the bike. I don't know if it was spring wind or damping but from what I think is the damping layout of that shock, I don't know how it could not have been the spring. I was impressed, but I liked the way a fox tuned x2 for that frame rode better.

it's also like strapping a lead weight to your bike. It's noticeable. Weight is also a performance feature. I think Darren's doing some really cool things but I also think his market consists primarily of people who 1)haven't ridden coil suspension and 2) Haven't ridden well tuned suspension previously. Plus it sounds like he's more about selling things than helping people get their bike dialed in a way that's best for them. If anything it opens up his previously held market again. Just gotta get steveM to get a domestic mailing address in the US.

From what I remember, there's absolutely nothing about that spartan that would prevent you from running either kind of spring.
 
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StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
From what I remember, there's absolutely nothing about that spartan that preclude you from running either kind of spring.
I am curious about that part, too. I like the DHX2 on the Riot so far, and with a lightweight spring, it is only ~50g heavier than a CCDBACS.
 

ChrisRobin

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
3,346
190
Vancouver
While the design on my bike is a little weird, when I previously asked Craig about installing a Chubie on it, he didn't want anything to do with it. He told me to save money and stick with an air shock and have him tune it. Whereas Push had no problems with a coil shock, although they did suggest an 11-6! lol. I found the middle road where the Canadian distributor for Push in North Vancouver built an MX-tune DHX5 for me. It works well although I'm pretty curious to see what Craig could do with an air shock.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
View attachment 126850


I've ridden two different tunes of an 11-6 on my rfx and one of them I was kind of blown away by. It was pretty astounding how progressive of a spring rate feel it gave the bike. I don't know if it was spring wind or damping but from what I think is the damping layout of that shock, I don't know how it could not have been the spring. I was impressed, but I liked the way a fox tuned x2 for that frame rode better.

it's also like strapping a lead weight to your bike. It's noticeable. Weight is also a performance feature. I think Darren's doing some really cool things but I also think his market consists primarily of people who 1)haven't ridden coil suspension and 2) Haven't ridden well tuned suspension previously. Plus it sounds like he's more about selling things than helping people get their bike dialed in a way that's best for them. If anything it opens up his previously held market again. Just gotta get steveM to get a domestic mailing address in the US.

From what I remember, there's absolutely nothing about that spartan that preclude you from running either kind of spring.
what's that? someone in the bike industry is trying to sell you something? I am SHOCKED i tell you.
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,928
14,450
where the trails are
it's also like strapping a lead weight to your bike. It's noticeable
True statement.

I love my 11.6 to pieces but had the brand new CCDBA not puked all over my bike within minutes of taking out of the box I was pretty confident I'd have dialed in that shock to my liking. I ran a coil shock on my OG rfx for over 12 years so I was accepting of the weight penalty moreso than if I grew up on air shocks.

I still haven't tried an X2 Float on my bike but I'd like to.

All that said having two separate comp setups is the bee's knees. Necessary? Of course not. But awesome.
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,928
14,450
where the trails are
That's not what I meant son! Him selling tuning services is still selling you something. Now he's selling holistic objects rather than cheaper (IE more reasonable for some people) solutions.
I think if he manufactured a more traditional single HSC/LSC/R shock at closer to market price to Vivids, DH2x etc he'd sell a bajillion of them.
 

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,993
716
I think if he manufactured a more traditional single HSC/LSC/R shock at closer to market price to Vivids, DH2x etc he'd sell a bajillion of them.
Word. I understand those 3 adjustments, but I've never sensed lsr did much. What's it's relevance? Sitting through rocky sections? On a fork though, I think it's one of the most important adjustments.
 
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StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
I love my 11.6 to pieces but had the brand new CCDBA not puked all over my bike within minutes of taking out of the box I was pretty confident I'd have dialed in that shock to my liking.
I have a fresh rebuilt CCDBACS 7.875x2.25 that I can let go. :brows:
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
I would make you a fair offer right now, but I think I hear it leaking oil right now ... better go check the box.
:busted:
It was serviced by the CC mothership in NC, it is hopefully in a better shape than new (when I got it with the bike, it arrived leaking from the knobs a bit - are they assembled overseas?).
 

PUSHIND

PUSH Industries (Duh)
Dec 5, 2003
220
244
Colorado
Interesting that they tested the Spartan with both. I sent emails to Vorsprung, Push and Avalanche about mine (2017 Spartan). All 3 recommended I stick to air cause of the suspension design.

Steve recommended the X2 via email, but agreed that the limit of 250psi and my weight might not work.
Push told me to call them. They had important info! Basically a sales pitch about how awesome their 11-6 is. When I mentioned my weight, I was shot down as their springs and tune only go up ti 220-225lbs (iirc) but they're working with the spring manufacturer to go up to 240 next year. When asked if they would tune an x2 i got a snobby reply that they don't have time to work on other shocks since the 11-6 is God's choice and other suspension isn't up to par. In the end he recommended that I stick to the air since they couldn't make money on me.

I called Craig at Avalanche and as always he gave me an explanation of why I should stick with air and offered a tune for my Debonair! To my surprise he worked on RS. I know he won't touch a Vivid, but the Debonair he said he could tune to my weight and riding. Big thanks to Craig for tuning the shock for me and saving me some money.
That's strange.....the Spartan is much better suited for a coil shock due to it's leverage characteristic. I would never recommend air over coil on that bike. As for your rider weight, that too is not a factor on that bike as we go to 245 right now. Really disappointed to hear of your experience with our customer service....It would be great to get an email or PM to know who you spoke with as that just bums me out. I built this company around customer service and the online communities as most of you know and nothing other than customer obsession is acceptable to me.

Darren
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,191
media blackout
That's strange.....the Spartan is much better suited for a coil shock due to it's leverage characteristic. I would never recommend air over coil on that bike. As for your rider weight, that too is not a factor on that bike as we go to 245 right now. Really disappointed to hear of your experience with our customer service....It would be great to get an email or PM to know who you spoke with as that just bums me out. I built this company around customer service and the online communities as most of you know and nothing other than customer obsession is acceptable to me.

Darren
you have been infiltrated by lizards. set the air conditioning as low as it can go and you will discover the culprit.
 

ChrisRobin

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
3,346
190
Vancouver
You guys remember the 80s TV show 'V' with the lizard people?? Yeah I'd worship her.

This pic just screams: "Coil is bad, 3-pos switches are good, and the more boost the better"

V-Diana_1281128047.jpg
 
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Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,855
9,560
AK
Interesting that they tested the Spartan with both. I sent emails to Vorsprung, Push and Avalanche about mine (2017 Spartan). All 3 recommended I stick to air cause of the suspension design.

Steve recommended the X2 via email, but agreed that the limit of 250psi and my weight might not work.
Push told me to call them. They had important info! Basically a sales pitch about how awesome their 11-6 is. When I mentioned my weight, I was shot down as their springs and tune only go up ti 220-225lbs (iirc) but they're working with the spring manufacturer to go up to 240 next year. When asked if they would tune an x2 i got a snobby reply that they don't have time to work on other shocks since the 11-6 is God's choice and other suspension isn't up to par.
Push=JWs?
 

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,993
716
That's strange.....the Spartan is much better suited for a coil shock due to it's leverage characteristic. I would never recommend air over coil on that bike. As for your rider weight, that too is not a factor on that bike as we go to 245 right now. Really disappointed to hear of your experience with our customer service....It would be great to get an email or PM to know who you spoke with as that just bums me out. I built this company around customer service and the online communities as most of you know and nothing other than customer obsession is acceptable to me.

Darren
Thanks Darren, but I'm still above your range @300lbs+/-. I'll see if I still have the email if it still matters. Was your representative correct by saying that you no longer work on other rear shocks or do you still tune Fox stuff?
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
Now that I have your attention, one more trip to Thunder this season?
maybe. I have my Dr. Appointment on Tuesday the 24th. Hoping to get the cortisone shot, otherwise it's probably pain free enough for a trail ride, but probably not DH. Screwing around on the hardtail was OK until I tried to do some sick hucks, then it flared up.
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!