Jan 24, 2010
Whats The Advantage Or Disadvantage Of Air Shocks On A Mountain Bike?
Ok, so i’ve heard a lot of different answers for spring coil shocks vs. air shocks on a mountain bike. First off what is the difference between the two? And is there any advantage over the other?
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First and foremost, since everyone seems to misunderstand this… COIL SHOCKS ARE NO MORE DURABLE THAN AIR SHOCKS…
Now, with that out of the way, the difference between a coil-over and an air sprung shock is obviously that one uses a coil spring to produce the spring rate while the other uses air pressure.
Functionally, the real differences are weight and the nature of the curve of the spring rate.
By the nature of its spring a coil-over shock can have a very linear spring rate, one where it feels the same all the way through its stroke. If you have a 300lb spring, that means for every 1″ the spring compresses it require 300lbs to do so. Wether its the first inch or the last, it needs 300lbs.
An air shock on the other hand, is whats known as a progressive spring, one that gets progressively stiffer as it is compressed. As the shock compresses, the volume of the air chamber decreases making the spring become harder the more its compressed. The first inch of travel may only need 200lbs but the last inch of travel might need 400lbs.
To combat this, many shock manufacturers are now using high volume canisters to mitigate the natural progressive rate. Also, frame designs are taking this into account. Like the new Remedy from Trek, with the full-floater shock mount. It builds a regressive rate into the frame so that, when used with a progressive air shock, it creates a very linear feel.
The other major difference comes in set up on race day.
An air shock is easily adjusted as you progress… Going faster and need a stiffer ride, pump in some more air. Gonna go hucking, pump in some more air. There’s no need to change the spring since you can just adjust the spring rate to whatevers needed at the moment. Very good for all-around riders or new racers who really dont know the exact settings they like and are going more off of “feel”.
On the downside, things like altitude and temperature also affect the spring rate of an air shock.
A coil-over shock, on the other hand, will not be affected by altitude or temperature. Once you’ve got it dialed in, that’s where it stays until you change something. That more than anything, is why you most commonly see coil-overs instead of air on racer’s rides. They set em up exactly like they like it and dont want it to feel any different if race day is 15 degrees colder or hotter than it was on testing day.
For what it’s worth, I would take a coil sprung damper over an air sprung unit any day. I just like the feel so much better. Also, if you run a Ti spring the weight difference becomes pretty minimal. I hope that helps clear it up for you. Cheers.
Air shocks are very versatile and have more adjustment(s) then the coil over type and both are quite effective in what they do for different types of ridding. I use a Fox DHX 4.0 AIR and it is mostly used for all mountain and a little freeride. The coil over shocks are best used for freeride and downhill as they can take a bit more punishment and the springs are replaceable on some models to increase / decrease the amount of travel and impact the bike takes now the air shocks are also adjustable and can take quite a beatting too. It all depends on what you intend to use yours for as most bike frames are equipped with the best shock that the frame can handle and all of them have their limits…you just have to go out and find them!
Wow, Bad Leroy Brown, that was quite the explanation. I’ll make sure to go back and vote for your post if the asker doesn’t choose one. Anyhow, now that we are all experts on shocks, the only thing I have to say is that after riding with friends who have air shocks while I was on my hard tail, and watching them constantly stop to futz with their suspension, I opted for coils when I bought my first squishy all mountain bike. The shock and fork each have one adjustment: stiffer or softer. I just dialed it in at first and now I don’t have to think about it, and that’s how I like it. Now, I have a different bike that I use for XC and endurance races, and I still use coils despite the extra weight. I’d rather not have to worry about my shocks than lose a few grams off the weight of my bike.
air shocks are almost infinitivly customixzible and are most often lighter than coil shocks. coil shocks on the other hand are more heavy duty and that is why they are primiarily used on downhill bikes
air shocks can’t withstand as much impact but they are great for fine tuning. spring/coil shocks are sturdier though they weigh more