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If you’d like he DB coil IL have you considered asking TF if they can lengthen one to fit?
I haven’t - but they don’t make it in the eye to eye and stroke length even in the non-trunnion option so I’m not sure the shock is sturdy enough perhaps. I’ll drop j tech or tf tuned an email and see
I had a 2021 DHX2 Factory on my last bike and it was ace – it was less inclined to wallow through the mid section before ramping up hard at the end.
Have you tried a smaller spacer and a bit more pressure? Cured similar issues for me in the past. I’ve just bought an air spring tuning kit for my Sentinel as I’m not getting near full travel despite being happy with the rest of the stroke.
Have you tried a smaller spacer and a bit more pressure? Cured similar issues for me in the past. I’ve just bought an air spring tuning kit for my Sentinel as I’m not getting near full travel despite being happy with the rest of the stroke.
On the float x I’ve got I haven’t touched the standard spacers it came with. I am getting full travel but not noticed any kind of harsh bottom out - all I can really do is increase the pressure a bit more but it’ll get a bit harsher on small bump then. It’s got rebound and lsc adjustment - I’ve got lsc almost on it’s firmest setting I noticed last time out.
On the float x I’ve got I haven’t touched the standard spacers it came with. I am getting full travel but not noticed any kind of harsh bottom out – all I can really do is increase the pressure a bit more but it’ll get a bit harsher on small bump then. It’s got rebound and lsc adjustment – I’ve got lsc almost on it’s firmest setting I noticed last time out.
That'll be why it's harsher on small bumps, low speed compression is basically those low speed interactions, so trail chatter, and by winding up the setting to full, you are effectively removing the sensitivity.
First thing i do on any new bike with as much travel as a sentinel is remove all compression, compression is a fine tuning for when you have the correct pressure/spacer in an air shock, or correct spring on a coil shock. I don't tend to use LSC on any bike though, yes it may cause slight pedal bob on something like a horst link sentinel, but i'd rather have that than a less sensitive shock on small stuff.
The Sentinel is a nice frame, the V2 has increased it progression and can work well with coil shocks as well, in today's market there aren't really any 'bad' coil shocks, i wouldn't get too bogged down with any custom tuned shocks from other bikes, most off the shelf models will be able to be dialled in pretty well for a sentinel with the correct coil and the rebound/compression dials.
I’ve got lsc almost on it’s firmest setting I noticed last time out.
Why? Not being rude, just a genuine question. I’m only a month in on mine but found it climbs really well for its travel. Running LSC wide open and traction on technical climbs is amazing, as are stutter bumps and roots downhill. Try it with none and use the climb lever for fire road climbs if you need it.
Reason I mentioned spacers is as a larger rider, I run higher pressures. When running enough for good support, it often leads to a big ramp at the end preventing full travel. Reducing pressure to achieve full travel leads to blowing through the travel easily up to the ramp up. Using a smaller spacer means I can run a pressure that gives good support with a smaller ramp at the end.
Hopefully get a bit of time in garage this week to swap over before the weekend. I can keep you posted about what spacer comes out and goes in if you are interested.
Forgive my ignorance here but is the Sentinel suspension kinematics 100% compatible with a coil shock? I watched a video a while back by one of the big magazines and someone was explaining why some suspension designs don't suit air or coil shocks. Worth asking Transition about it first just to make sure. It may be that a tune on your current shock could work better. And cost less as well.
Progressive spring relies on the less stiff coils bottoming out on each other, ie "bound". I would also say that the spring before the less stiff coils bind, is springs in series, so spring rate is a result of all the varying stiffness parts.
But regardless of that, progressive springs store less than 10% extra energy over a linear coil, seem pretty insignificant and not really worth bothering with to me. Compare areas under the respective spring curves not differences in ending rate to see how much extra bottom out resistance you get.
The V1 sentinel was fairly linear, suited an air shock but didn't really work with coil.
The V2 is a different beast. Off the top of my head, I think it has something like a 24% progressivity so is perfectly happy with a coil.
25% progressive curve apparently. Transition say it should work ok with a coil on their website.
I’m just in the process of rebuilding my rear Pro4 - it hadn’t been as sharp as it used to be - found the panels were gunned up and one spring had snapped. Looked like something that had been dug out the ground. Once it’s had new springs and bearings (and I’ve refreshed my Oneup dropper) I’ll take the float X out and have a look and see what spacers are inside. I do have a new spacer kit for it - so if there are some big ones in there I’ll remove them and put in a smaller one and try backing off the lsc (I was trying to make it pedal better / hold up better in its travel) and increasing the air pressure. See what occurs.
Jade is still top of my list right now I think.
Just stick the 4 digit code on the float x body in the fox website https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike
It'll tell you what spacer is in there, pretty sure most transitions seem to have the 0.6 spacer fitted as standard.
Still prefer the Jade X to the Jade ;o)
I put an extra space in the shock on my scout and it was still mushy mid stroke.
Have been told that it can be set up well but it is a pain to get the sweet spot.
Oh well ohlins coil arrives tomorrow. So that will be out for a night ride this week
I put an extra space in the shock on my scout and it was still mushy mid stroke.
Have been told that it can be set up well but it is a pain to get the sweet spot.
Oh well ohlins coil arrives tomorrow. So that will be out for a night ride this week
Nice! Bet you’re looking forward to that - always thought the Scout was a nice looking bike.
Hoping to squeeze in a night ride this week but will have to be on the Marino as I don’t think my new pawl springs / freehub seal / freehub bearings are going to arrive in time to get the Sentinel up and running. Maybe by the weekend with a bit of luck.
Drop Transition an email, they will have a list of shocks they know that have clearance issues and ones that don't. I did for my alloy Scout before I received it when I was pondering what shock to run. I've actually been riding the Float X and been impressed with it so far. I can get a nicer set up than the range of Rockshox air shocks I had on my Bird 120LT.
I feel like the float x seems similar feeling to the RS deluxe I had on my Bird Aether 7.....I need a Fox ‘Megneg’ to firm up the midrange!
If I’m going to buy a new shock I’ll check with Transition first as to whether it will fit without hitting the down tube. The current shock looks like it’d be miles away but when I check out the token situation I’ll see how it looks fully compressed.
(I was trying to make it pedal better / hold up better in its travel)
You might not actually want a coil shock at all then TBH.
The more recent coil shocks seem to have pretty good pedaling platforms, but agree that they will always be a compromise between less good pedaling against better trail feel and descending
You might not actually want a coil shock at all then TBH.
You say that but I found the DHX2 I had felt better pedalling to me than the RS deluxe air with megneg.
Both have a little bit of bob at the start of the travel but I find that air shocks seem to dive deeper into their mid range easier than coil shocks. The coil felt more supportive in that respect - particularly in small compressions.
Air ramps up better at the end to stop bottom out - but on the DHX2 I could tweak hsc to help that on the biggest hits. I felt I ended up with the best of both worlds.
The Jade has that lsc / hsc adjustment split which is why it’s on my list.
Spacer swap done. Shock had 0.7 of spacers in it (0.6 + 0.1). Swapped the 0.6 for a 0.4 to reduce to 0.5 in total. Have kept the pressure the same at the moment but may add 10psi to see how it feels.
Like I’ve said, I prefer more air and smaller spacer as I don’t do big jumps and this combo gives mid support without the big ramp at the end.
@joebristol I’d definitely be experimenting with spacers and less lsc before even considering a change of shock. From your description, a bit more air would firm the mid stroke and bob less, smaller spacer would still allow full travel and wide open lsc would feel better on small bumps.
I’d definitely be experimenting with spacers and less lsc before even considering a change of shock.
Same here. Could make some big improvements I suspect.
I now have a coil shock on my 150mm bike (EXT Storia on Orange Stage 6) and while it is amazing, TBH the air X2 was also very, very good - once I'd set it up well.
Yeah coil shocks can pedal better than the wrong air shock, but my experience is they almost always soften the pedal response.
@clubby - thanks. I’ve completely opened the lsc now and bumped up the air pressure. Will see how that goes next ride - I’ll take my shock pump with me in case it’s too hard etc. If I feel happy with that but it’s not getting near full travel in big hits I’ll do the same by changing the spacers for smaller ones. I’ve got a bag of the ludicrously expensive bits of colourful plastic that Fox charge ££££££ for.
@chakaping - fair enough. The megneg’d deluxe was pretty good - but the DHX2 is a massive step up in terms of cost / quality so maybe not a surprise it was much better.
I’ve got a bag of the ludicrously expensive bits of colourful plastic that Fox charge ££££££ for.
Tell me about it! Can’t see me needing more than one out the pack to get the result I want. Along with the stock ones, that gives me four options in the right ballpark. Always the classified I suppose.
I used to have an air shock on the same frame that now has a deluxe coil with remote lockout; I’m a convert, love every aspect of the coil shock and the most surprising to me is that I never use the lockout, it’s a really stable pedalling platform!
So Transition have come back to say some shocks with long piggybacks can contact the downtube on the Sentinel in the smaller sizes. Couldn’t comment 100% on the medium - but the Bomber CR and Jade are the 2 biggest offenders as they have long piggybacks. So I reckon they’re both out.
Apparently the Jade X / DHX2 / Rockshox Super deluxe coil all fit. The Ohlins / Cane Creek would need to be measured and compared to the Rockshox / Fox options to make 100% sure they’d be ok.
On that basis I’m going to experiment with the current shock and save a bit of cash up - I really want high speed compression adjustment - so DHX2 / Cane Creek Kitsuma / Onlins TTX are the shortlist if I go coil.
Unless I see an absolute bargain Jade x / super deluxe in which case I might just try it anyway.
I've a 2021 Sentinel & have been having the same conversations with Transition & Tuning Shops as you Joe after my Float x2 went pop again.
Im still on my Float X2 and it is better when tuned well as mentioned above, but that requires a fair bit of time & you can't escape the short service intervals.
with regards to coils, Ive found the same as you & I have a similar shortlist, I think the Ohlins is currently top as I'm being advised it has the longest service intervals & in general the best wear out rates. I'm also looking at the EXT.
Just a case of saving up the wedge!
Ohlins is nice, and the op could nip into suar in Bristol and chat about it as they do transition and ohlins 😁
I think the Ohlins is currently top as I’m being advised it has the longest service intervals & in general the best wear out rates. I’m also looking at the EXT.
Not on the same bikes, but I currently have the Ohlins on one bike and the EXT on another and they are chalk and cheese.
The Ohlins is very damped and comfortable and insulates me from the trail, the EXT is all about grip and feels more like an air shock than a typical coil - until you get to where air shocks usually find their limits.
Also, the pedal switch on the TTX seems almost decorative, it's the least effective platform I've used. And I have got the updated valve which is supposed to be better.
Strange that you have found the pedal switch to not work well. When i put mine into position 3 it really locks up the suspension.
I did read that the longer length socks don't actually have position 3 as a climb seeing as they are designed for dh where it isn't needed
I did read that the longer length socks don’t actually have position 3 as a climb seeing as they are designed for dh where it isn’t needed
I believe you can tell what you have by the colour of the piece behind the 3 position switch. Gold for a third 3 HSC setting, blue for a pedal platform.
That said, I literally never feel the need to flick into the pedal platform on mine - I think Transition's suspension design does a great job without it.
Ohlins is nice, and the op could nip into suar in Bristol and chat about it as they do transition and ohlins 😁
SUAR is where my Sentinel Frameset came from - wasn’t aware they did Ohlins shocks. For the time being they’re something I can’t justify the cost of - will see what I build up cash wise over the next few months.
Also sort of watching some Code RSC’s (got Code R’s right now) and thinking about changing rotors from 200/180 to 220/200. And getting a 160mm airshaft for the Lyrik Ultimate. I can’t help myself fiddling with bikes.....
I’ve a 2021 Sentinel & have been having the same conversations with Transition & Tuning Shops as you Joe after my Float x2 went pop again.
Im still on my Float X2 and it is better when tuned well as mentioned above, but that requires a fair bit of time & you can’t escape the short service intervals.
with regards to coils, Ive found the same as you & I have a similar shortlist, I think the Ohlins is currently top as I’m being advised it has the longest service intervals & in general the best wear out rates. I’m also looking at the EXT.
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more - the same with the ext.
I believe you can tell what you have by the colour of the piece behind the 3 position switch. Gold for a third 3 HSC setting, blue for a pedal platform.
I was amazed to see I had the blue valve, yeah 😀
There's a chance it could be improved with a service -as the shock was pre-owned - but it had been serviced reasonably recently.
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more – the same with the ext.
Is second hand or new without warranty off the cards? That one on the pinkbike buy/sell was still available last time I looked.
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more – the same with the ext.
Go big or go home ;o)
Guess I’m going home then 🤷♂️
@appltn - which Pinkbike item is that? Saw a DHX2 on there which looked a decent price but it’s too long both eye to eye and stroke.
Here it is https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3271350/
At least for the Ohlins you’d need a 65mm stroke like this with a little plastic travel reducer clipped on the shaft. If you brought one new that’s what you’d get, a 65mm stroke with a 2.5mm reducer in the box to use if you needed.
Spacer:
With spacer fitted:
joebristol
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more – the same with the ext.
FWIW the EXT comes with two lightweight springs for the price, which closes the gap a bit. I'd be happier buying from and having a warranry with Mojo too.
If you're going for the Ext Storia v3, then the forks would also balance the bike up, could be a decent upgrade!
Lol @ new forks. I’ve got less than 6 months old Lyrik Ultimates on there.....
Edit - unless you just mean the upgrade to 160mm travel
Edit – unless you just mean the upgrade to 160mm travel
They do come in that flavour! https://www.mojo.co.uk/ext-v2-era-fork-1096-p.asp
There is an ohlins ttx coil on eBay in the right size. It’s from a Scott ransom which has a rotated piggy back to give more clearance. All you would need is the spacer to drop the stroke to 62.5mm
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joebristol
Full Member@argee – calm yourself down!
You can’t take it with you 😁
There is a guy selling an ext rear in Dursley, but off a patrol so 65 stroke, personally I just never needed more than the jade x, stuck the progressive spring on to help the ramp up at the end
Watching that ohlins on eBay now -
I don’t really get what’s rotated - it just looks like a normal shock. If the piggyback has to run facing the seat tube then it 100% won’t fit the sentinel. Can’t see why it would have to be run that way though.
I let all the air out the shock today to see how much clearance there is on the current shock - the answer is not very much 😳
Bomber CR and Jade definitely out the running based on that.
Transition say the DHX2 and Super Deluxe coil fit so the DHX2 is now my favourite option. Jade x 100% fits but isn’t that externally adjustable so reckon I’d want a custom tune on that option.
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