I have a hankering to try a coil shock on my 2016 reign. I'm looking at either the Rockshox Vivid or the Cane Creek Coil IL. I like the IL for it's lock out and I seem to use that a fair bit on my Monarch RC3
Whats the consensus for going coil or sticking with air? Have you done it? Was it worth it?
I have never had a coil only air shocks and if I do get a coil I'll be keeping the Monarch to swap if needed.
May be worth noting I am going to the alps for the first time in August so this is swaying me to try a coil.
Newer reigns are nicley progressive so should work well with a coil.
whether coil is for you is entirely down to your own personal preference though.
A coil should offer a more comfortable ride and better grip but may make the bike a little less poppy/playful.
sweeping generalization I know but hopefully you get what i mean.
I've been debating the same thing with my Hightower for a bit now. From what I've seen online, there's only certain coils that fit of a Reign due to the space?
It's pretty burly bike, so I'd have thought it would suit a coil well. I'm not sure if a coil would be right for mine as I don't want to lose the poppy/responsiveness of the bike for plushness. The Monarch is a bit turd on mine though.
what fork ya got?
What is your current shock lacking, what do you want to improve and what have you tried already?
Always my checklist for suspension changes.
I have a Cane Creek Coil IL for my 2016 Reign and it's superb on the descents - but even with the climb switch on, I can feel it sucking the life out of me and the bike on the flats and ups.
I've now put the Fox X2 back onto it but will definitely go back to the coil for uplift days
I'd put the money into a good fork first, then into a rear shock.
So, if you've don't that bit first, then check to see if the leverage rate works for your frame. Alot are built around the curve rate of an air shock (as mentioned above). Decide if you like the feel of a shock that has some kind of pedalling platform, (a climb switch type thing) and if you do, then dont worry about a coil shock too much.
If, like me, you're not worried about that, then get a coil. you'll have to get the right spring weight, so it's more of a faff. When you do have the spring spot on, it's fab tho'. The suspension performance is yards better (In my personal experience of a few bikes having run both).
I've never felt a coil shock makes the up's or flats, in any way painful. in fact, seated climbing is better on a coil as it's likely to be more compliant over small bumps/roots etc:
I’m firmly in the coil camp. My Scout feels much better with a DHC RC4 than the shitty Monarch; it’s plusher, more sensitive with better grip and doesn’t seem to impact on poppiness or make the flats / climbs any worse.
I’d say go for it, but I’m glad that coil is having a resurgence.
The fork is the standard pike. Played around with volume reducers and settled on 1. I'm reasonably happy with the fork but no doubt a lyric would improve it so much more but that's £700.
I have no real issues with the Monarch if I'm honest. It was blowing through its travel when I first had the bike so added 3 bands. It's better but I can still blow through the travel on a big old hit. I realise that a coil may do the same unless I go up on spring rate to compensate this but that will take the small bump compliance away.
The only reason I want to try a coil is that I simply want to try one. No rationale behind it!
<div class="bbp-reply-author">mindmap3
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I’m firmly in the coil camp. My Scout feels much better with a DHC RC4 than the shitty Monarch; it’s plusher, more sensitive with better grip and doesn’t seem to impact on poppiness or make the flats / climbs any worse.
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Is that a fair comparison? Bottom end air shock versus top end Fox coil?
X2 versus the RC4 is a more fair comparison, suspect it'd be a lot closer.
Yep it's the Macbook vs 200 quid no name laptop comparison really, at the top end it really does seem to be down to personal preference and skill in the setup, I can make any shock awful but it takes skills to get it right
yeah give it a go then
No talking out of it from me, I'm a convert. I've done the Pike coil conversion and so far the fork is superior in every way. So much nicer to ride. The only downside is a bit more weight, but I've not noticed it, there is a net benefit for sure. the benefit is a lot more noticeable than going from my old noodly RS Rev's to the new Pike.
As soon as funds allow my Cane Creek inline will also be getting upgraded to the Inline coil.
X2 versus the RC4 is a more fair comparison, suspect it’d be a lot closer.
Maybe, maybe not. I’ve tried lots of air suspension and never really been happy with it (front or rear). The fundamental issue for me with air shocks is stiction which is hard to eliminate when they rely on seals.
Coil forks are next on the agenda, although my Mattocs are pretty good (certainly better than my previous 350NCR’s, Yari’s and 34’s). They may get a stay of execution if the IRT upgrade is any good.
I would say i'm a coil convert. I'm a bit limited by the slightly odd size shock on my bike so air's are a real pain to get, so I essentially discounted them. I've had good experiences in the past with something like a Float X2 though, if they fit.
I'm currently running a coil (11-6) on my Fuel, having got so wound up with the Float DPS (weird Trek Re:Activ shock) which I generally felt was rubbish at most things. Push shock came up in the right size, so thought why not.
It's good, really good - hard to know how good compared to a decent air shock as I haven't ridden one for a while, but the back end has a frighteningly supple stroke off the top now, it doesn't wallow like a pig, or ramp up horribly because of volume spacers to make it ride better everywhere else.
I kept the air shock, but can't really see me putting it back on.
I wouldn't swap my coil for an air shock. The con of the coil is that it is heavier, it does numb the ride somewhat if you care about that nor not, it doesn't have the "pop" of an air shock because the spring is linear but I don't care about that either.
I use both, I think a major advantage of coil is it is easier to set up. Get the spring right and it can feel great straight away without much fiddling. They also look cool.
But air shocks are brill too. The fastest man on a DH bike likes them very much. It's a preference thing but sounds like you want to try it.
They may get a stay of execution if the IRT upgrade is any good.
Got a a mattoc with the IRT. Can’t compare it to one without but it’s certainly better than my pike + luftkappe.