[Avy Rider]

Just want to clear up this question once and for all..
I've read some comments on titanium springs saying that the feel is different from steel springs.

I've heard that they feel more supple over the smaller bumps and generally smoother...any truth to this?

I have an Avalanche DHF rear shock as well as DHF 8 forks and I'm wondering if they would be even smoother than they aready are with titanium springs.

Obviously the weight savings is the major reason to go titanium,but if they really do FEEL better than steel,I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks.

 

[cbcbcbcb]

Based on comparing a Fox Float and an Ellsworth/Romic EXC on the same bike, Ti definitely feels better than air.

I can't imagine there would be a detectable difference in feel between steel and Ti. Sounds psychosometic to me.

I have heard people say they use a slightly lower (5% to 10%) spring rate with Ti.

 

[EBasil]

Interesting. At a given spring rate, the springs should feel the same...ergo the spring-rating. I would think that the damper would mask any difference in extension/rebound behavior (since spring rates are only rating the weight required to compress the spring a given amount and ignores rebound speed) if the ti rebounded more slowly, for example.

I imagine the Ti spring feels a lot different than the steel one when clmbing, though. Gravity seems to have less effect on that miracle metal.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

I have one on my Avy as the only reason was I needed a larger spring (600lb) so I was forced into it. It does feel a tad different, but then again for me its a different weight spring so its hard to compare. For taking grams off the bike its huge and I'd say go for it. If the weight of the spring doesn't bug you, spend your money elsewhere.

 

[Matt D]

I think feeling the difference is BS. I just about guarantee people make that up just because they spent a lot of money on their setup and want to justify it.

No denying the weight benefit though.

 

[ohio]

They have slightly different return characteristics, so there WILL be a difference for the same spring rate and damper settings... whether one is better than the other is purely opinion, though. To be honest, I don't know that most people are really sensitive enough to feel the difference.

With some damper adjustments and a shock dyno, you could probably get the two to feel identical.

 

[LOOnatic]

The go-ride site states that it is more pliable, sensitive blah, blah, blah. It also DOES have a longer and consisitant spring rate (ie, memory) so that is worth something over the life of the shock.

However it IS a moving part so the weight savings can be argued to be significant.

I'm running an AVY with one but i never ran the steel on the shock.
I sometimes slap on the stock 5th element shock which does have the steel spring for comparison.
The shocks feel diff. enough but i can't tell if its the nature of the diff. shocks or the ti effect.
Anyway, i would love for some firm to end the myth and do an in depth shock dyno comparison for real world answers.

It looks purty and all but i dunno about *really* being worth the extra $$$.

 

[binary visions]

Originally posted by cbcbcbcb
Based on comparing a Fox Float and an Ellsworth/Romic EXC on the same bike, Ti definitely feels better than air.

Uh, that's not Ti being the difference, that's air shock vs. coil over.

I can't imagine there would be a detectable difference in feel between steel and Ti. Sounds psychosometic to me.

I agree wholeheartedly. Everyone thinks their bike feels faster/better/stiffer/whatever after getting a new part - including me. I just can't imagine the material being so different as to cause a noticable change.

I have heard people say they use a slightly lower (5% to 10%) spring rate with Ti.

I don't think so.. That probably has more to do with the type of shock. Someone going from a Fox to a 5th will run a lower spring rate because of the properties of the damper not because of the material change. The lbs. rating of the spring is the same whether its steel or Ti - just means it needs X number of lbs. to compress the spring 1". So you'd want the spring rate to be the same no matter what material it is.

 

[mack]

let me just say,
ANY THING IS GOING TO FEEL GOOD TO YOU IF U PAID AND EXTRA COUPLE HUNDRED FOR IT!!!

 

[crashing_sux]

Seems like everyone is saying there is no noticable difference or in the case of Go-Ride, that ti feels a bit better. I wish I could remember the source but I remember hearing or reading somewhere that a few DH pro's had experimented with ti fork springs to lighten their bikes up and they all rejected them saying that they didn't like the "feel". That's a little vague.

Anyone else heard something similar?

 

[Matt D]

Originally posted by crashing_sux
Seems like everyone is saying there is no noticable difference or in the case of Go-Ride, that ti feels a bit better. I wish I could remember the source but I remember hearing or reading somewhere that a few DH pro's had experimented with ti fork springs to lighten their bikes up and they all rejected them saying that they didn't like the "feel". That's a little vague.

Anyone else heard something similar?

nope.

Ti springs are a good place to save weight though, and some forks are coming with them stock (MRD X-works)

 

[crashing_sux]

Good to know, might be one of the few places I can lighten my bike up without any detrimental impact on performance or durability.

 

[binary visions]

I read on here once that a few people thought, or talked to people who thought, that the Ti spring felt "dead". I don't remember who said it, but it was specifically in reference to fork springs.

Now, personally, I think that's a load of crap, as I have a Ti sprung fork and it feels no different than the steel sprung version. But maybe the difference is more noticable when you have a super long 7-8" DC fork spring. Who knows.

Feel free to ignore my ramblings

As far as I'm concerned, Ti springs are fantastic - significant weight savings with no loss in strength at all... actually, an improved fatigue life.

 

[Repack]

I have been told that Ti does have a different elasticity than steel. Kind of like how elastomers having inherent damping characteristics. Spring rate does not take this into account. Spring rate refers to how far a spring will settle with a certain amount of weight put on it.
I have a Ti spring on my 5e and can not feel any specific differences between it and steel. The steel coils shocks I have run are all Fox's, so with the very different damping, this doesn't surprise me.