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Here's my 2018 tracer with x2 and 525sls spring. I'm 200lbs and still bottoming it. I blew the shock once, so that was warranty, then fox sent back a bad one right outta the box. Now I'm waiting for the new one in the mail. They are also sending a 550# black spring to try. And fox has really been awesome with all the warranty and communication of this shock.
Worth noting, this was not a long term review, but I was riding the same tracks I’ve been riding forever over, and over, and over again so any differences are immediately noticeable. I didn’t shuttle lap, all the riding I did was trail riding, so fatigue, different conditions, and solo and group paces were all par of the course through this little project.
Starting with the DPX2:
Fox Unvieled this shock to much applause, it was a full redesign and exactly what riders had been hunting for, that sweet spot between the classic Float air can and the full-on Float X2. I bought this shock for my Transition Scout, and it came with the .2 spacer in the air chamber. To anyone buying this shock: get at least the .4, I was able to get my hands on a .6 from Fox, and it made a world of difference.
The Ride: With the .6 spacer installed, the DPX2 became a shock born to charge, hard. It’s mid-stroke support made pedaling efficient and quick (in the wide-open compression setting with 7 clicks of adjustment) and when the going got fast, it just wanted to eat. I felt inspired and rode accordingly, getting a bit “sendy” as they say and never once bottomed out harshly (I didn’t even notice if I did). My cornering confidence lend to a burped flat on the last ride even.
It held the bike up over the rough stuff and handled successive hits without issue. I couldn’t get the DPX2 to become unsettled. It is the kind of shock that will transform a trail bike into a trail shredder, it picks up the slack from other air shocks and then some. With three compression settings, it’s perfect for riders who climb-to-descend (“Firm” is basically a low-speed lock-out), the long-haulers who will encounter everything along the way, and everyone else from parkrats to hard-hitting XC’ers. It’s a bridge shock for a reason, filling the gap between fast XC and big-time DH; a charging trail shock with the muscle to keep up.
Most riders wont have an issue with the next part of this review of the DPX2: I was not as impressed with the small-bump performance as I wanted to be, which is not to say that it is poor, rather, my local network is choppy, root-infested, and has more corners then a NASCAR season. I noticed that it would skip out a little more often than I’d like, and drifts felt more like slides than controlled smudging. Keeping in mind that I ride flats, the part about chatter feedback and some of the fine details I found irritating will most likely not be an issue for anyone on clips or riding literally anywhere else.
On a whole, the DPX2 is exactly what it should be, and sets a new standard for trail-bike airshocks. If you like air in principal, want the feel of air while riding, and like saving weight over coil options, the DPX2 will see you out and back to your hearts’ delight. And as a bonus side note, they are super easy to service regarding grease, dabs of oil, and changing the spacer.
Finishing with the Cane Creek Double Barrel InLine Coil:
Everyone has the one friend who bought this shock and doesn’t stop talking about it. The mini coil was Cane Creek’s answer to riders who just couldn’t get their head around air and/or really truly wanted the specific feel and performance of a coil shock. I bought one. Before going any further, let me say that I am wholly biased because this shock out performed every air shock I’ve ever ridden, and is exactly what I personally was chasing in terms of feel. Ok, back to it: I was worried about ramp up, or the lack there of on the Scout. The suspension is progressive, but not very, and it’s hard to gauge how that will feel coming off an air shock. Bolting on the DB IL with a 550# spring (I weigh about #210+ in kit), I was very curious to see how the coil stacked up against the latest and nicest air shock I’d ridden yet.
Out of the box the DB IL has a basic tune on it, and I didn’t touch it before leaving the house. Once on the trail, I slowed the HS and LS rebound down a touch, but that was it – I’ve left the compression settings as they came (this could change in the future, but again, this isn’t a long-term test). Like any good experiment, I went hell for leather and did my best to shakedown the new damper. It never flinched. Heavy drops, smashing rocks, big holes – not a worry, the bike trucked along, unphased. That was sort of expected though, and I was just glad it wasn’t worse than the DPX2!
The part where the coil truly shines is in the small-bump and chatter department, the point of contention I have with all air shocks, the DPX2 in this case. The harsh edge of root chatter and rain wash is gone with the coil, dulled over and muted. In loose corners, you can feel the rear tire’s sidenobs working the ground, as the flutter of the coil tracks the ground in an uncompromising fashion. For those not familiar, “Flutter” is me being able to simply rest my hand on my seat and see the shock compress – there isn’t the “breakaway” stiction found in air shocks from the seals. The degree of control and comfort were appreciated, again mainly to my personal preferences and flat-pedals-riding-style.
There are trade-offs to both shocks, the DB IL is heavier and needs springs, where as the DPX2 is lighter and easier to tune. If you prefer a more playful shock or one which can be used on more suspension disigns, the air option here is likely more for you. If you prefer that extra bit of tuning and want a shock that has a finer application, the coil option might be the choice for you. This isn’t a matter of right and wrong, it’s about individual goals and preferences. And for me, while I really enjoy the DPX2 and think Fox has a winner, based on how I ride [read: straight lines/bulldozer/wrecking ball] the DB IL Coil allows me an extra degree of control over performance. I run the DHX2 from Fox on my DH and “Enduro” bikes for this reason…I just prefer coil and refined tuning.
I hope this was helpful, I can try and field any questions, comments, or concerns!
http://linkagedesign.blogspot.com/2015/02/intense-spider-275-2015.html
We have dual rate rear springs for the big bikes (76mm stroke) ordered and on the way, just in the middle of trying to optimise the 65mm stroke springs for the smaller bikes and knock as much weight out as possible without compromising any performance characteristics.
For anyone interested, they will be utilising all of the high performance options from our manufacturer, such as high tensile steel wire (the same wire used on WRC spec springs), the same processing, manufacturing and finishing processes used on factory level Motorsport springs, designs accounting for spring preload and safety travel to keep the springs rate and length preserved for its lifetime.
The rate changes at 70% spring travel with a rise of 15% of the initial rate, so for a 300lb spring the effective second rate is 345lbs. This will provide great support deep in the travel for the bikes with a more linear design, anyone running a higher spring rate just to prevent bottoming will be able to use a softer rate without any issues.
Love to hear peoples thoughts, should provide a great solution for anyone looking to run a coil without compromising on the support deep in the travel that an air shock would provide.
Thanks,
Seanan.
Bringing this topic back to life as I'm thinking about buying a coil shock for my 2018 Patrol.
I recently installed the 2019 debonair spring on the Lyrik and it feels awesome, and now I'm thinking about buying a DB Coil Cs or an Ohlins ttx22.
The thing is that I can't decide which one to buy. The DB Coil has more tuning options, but the TTX has the 3 position HSC and LSC that permit quick tweaks on the fly.
My type of riding involves climbing paved roads and some fireroads to reach the downhill/enduro trails I normally ride. The trails have some roots and small rocks and are mostly natural and poorly maintained, without any berms or smooth surfaces, and I ride flats.
Has anyone of you guys tried both shocks and can give an opinion?
Do you think that I'm a good candidate for a coil?
Cheers everyone
Normally I have to make around 8 to 10 kilometers of climbing on paved and fireroads to get to the trails so, no matter how efficient a bike is, a firm shock always helps on those climbs!
I wish I could try them both, but there are no demo days here in Portugal. In fact, you rarely see a Cane Creek or an Ohlins shock/fork in here. So I have to make a decision based on what I read on the internet...
Cheers
just saying
11/6 is awesome, even if they are more expensive than having a third kid in China
If you can't fix or get parts for a Cane Creek or Ohlins easily in Portugal I wouldn't go that route.
Everything breaks eventually.
The suggestion about looking into service options and spare parts is my leading reason for suggesting the Fox option.
That said, the CC lever is dope and works as expected. It's a great feature on my DB IL, and the DB platform is really usable, the fine tuning being a great touch for finding the sweet spot. As stated, the Ohlins doesn't work the same.
The really nice option, if you're in the position to buy one, the EXT Storia would be the ideal option, as the hydraulic bottom out would give the Patrol a huge boost in how hard you can send it, and the small bump compliance is a dream for flat pedal riders. I highly recommend exploring that option. I reviewed the ARMA on here not long ago, and the Storia is just a smaller version of the ARMA with a climb lever.
Thanks for your insight, I'm actually looking for the DB Coils CS (non IL) as it is the only trunnion version from cane creek, but it might be very similar. And about the Ohlins, I doubt that the masters of suspension can make a coil shock feel bad, but that's a fair point.
@Klink du kul
11-6 is too much money for what it offers IMO, because I would have to burn one of the circuits with a climb mode, and I can pay half the price for a shock that already has a climb mode. And the fact that there are only 3 service centers in Europe gets me even further away from buying that shock.
@ac1
I have one service center like 40km away that services Cane Creek, Ohlins, Fox, BOS, Rockshox, and every other shock brand you can find (except Push and probably EXT), it's called "DPX racing" and is run by a downhill pilot named Daniel Pombo. What I meant was that I rarely spot a Cane Creek on a bike.
@sideshow
I'd also look at the DHX2, but there is no trunnion version yet, and the price of a Fox SLS spring is a complete joke, those guys have to be kidding when they ask almost 180 euros for a single coil, while a Valt from cane creek costs no more than 70 euros.
The problem with the Storia is that it probably requires an authorized service center like Push and I don't know of any service center in Portugal!
There's also the BOS Syors that has a hydraulic bottom out bumper, but no trunnion yet.
@RNeves
That all makes perfect sense, got it! I'd go with the CC then. It is an affordable and highly tunable shock, which also has a very effective climb lever. I think you'll be quite happy with it!
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