[mobius]

I have a 2004 Heckler with a 5th element on it and my bike currently weighs about 35lbs. I want to lighten the bike and make it more trail built and less heavy freeride bike, but still want it strong and stable on the big stuff. I was considering trading my 5th for a float R and possibly getting an air pike.

Do air shocks and forks hold up to bigger faster DH shuttling (for the times i cant have my bighit with me) or should i stick with the 5th and coil fork and try to lighten my bike in other places?

What are the plus and negative sides to air suspension as i'm not really sure since i've never owned either.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[CreeP]

seals blow occasionally. I can't really say as i haven't watched them since my xc weightweenie days, and even then i have no experience to speak of.

Positive: even for the biggest like the 5th air dh you save some weight over even a ti sprung ver. afaik. Easy preload provided you have a good pump.

 

[nTek]

I wouldn't do that. 5th spring is a great shock. You would save 600g, that's not that much and the spring version has more travel (if you have the 2004 heckler) and better characteristics

 

[Transcend]

Air shocks major advantages are that they are infinetly adjustable, and supremely light.

They tend to ramp up faster then a coil due to smallish air volume (altho this is being remedied in the current crop of upcoming DH specific air shocks). They also tend to blow seals if they take a really big hit, due to this ramping up (again, will probably be solved sooner then later with a blowoff valve/remote circuit).

The major advantage is, ironically, this ramping up/adjustability. For a DH bike you could theoretically have a mega soft begin stroke for suppleness, and have it ramp up quickly to avoid bottoming out throughout the stroke. If they can figure out a blowoff circuit, it would quite possible be the ultimate DH shock.

The weight savings can be extreme, particularly ont he larger shocks. Springs alone can save you 1-1.5lbs of unsprung weight depending on the length of the shock. Imagine replaceing a 3" steel spring off a 5th of DHX with an air shock.....

 

[Transcend]

I wouldn't do that. 5th spring is a great shock. You would save 600g, that's not that much and the spring version has more travel (if you have the 2004 heckler) and better characteristics

600g is ALOT. Over a pound...

 

[OGRipper]

The weight savings is definitely significant, especially on a relatively light bike like the heckler. I think going to air shocks is a great way to lose some weight. If not the shocks you will need to go after wheels, tires, cranks, and other things that in my opinion are more likely to fail if ridden hard.

With air springs, you never have the wrong spring, and you can easily change your setup for different riding conditions.

To me the main negatives are less reliability and relatively poor small bump compliance. Seals can blow, especially on hard hits. It may be obvious, but if you're a big dude or have a really aggro riding style you will be more likely to blow air shocks. Also, if you blow an air shock your ride (or race) is pretty much over, whereas it's easier to limp home with a blown coil shock.

As others noted, air springs are generally more progressive, but the impact of that (for the rear anyway) depends in part on your frame and how you've got your 5th coil set up. As I recall the Heckler is a falling rate design (?) so something more progressive might be desireable anyway.

 

[binary visions]

IMO, the major problem with air isn't even, for me, that they blow more readily. Shocks blow sometimes - even coil shocks - that's just a fact of life. However, if you blow your 5th coil shock, you have a very bouncy ride out of the woods. If you blow your 5th air, you have a very long walk out of the woods...

For DH runs, though, where you're most likely to blow it, it's a comparitively short walk to the top or bottom of the hill, wherever a truck is waiting or civilization awaits.