[Closed] Thinking of a coil shock on a DW 5spot - thoughts/opinions please

If you get the Van R pushed it will pedal very well. I had a Pushed DHX4 build for my 2005 Spec SX Trail by TFT and it pedalled superbly...no "bob" but on top of that felt limitless on the big hits. TF Tuned advised me to go for the plain Van R shock as after they set it up they said I wouldn't need the "pedal pro adjustment". They were right. It was great...the bike had good work out in Glentess Innerleithen and Hinterglemm this year. I am getting a new Nomad soon and that is going to have a coil shock too. I think they are more reliable and easier to set up. The damping unit on a coil shock is full of oil(same as on an air shock)BUT the weakness on an air shock is the air can and seals which are obviously not full of oil and rely on grease left around the seals when the shock is stripped down...thats the bit that is vulnerable to mud grit and grime. The damping rod on a coil shock is far smaller diameter and presents much less area for the muck to work on...Coil shocks win for me...if you dont ride a bike for a bit you dont find yourself having to remember the air pressure or checking it then pumping the darn thing up! With a TI spring the weight difference is not much. Best thing would be to get advice from TFT/Mojo as they will be able to tell you about set up and spring weight in detail.

i've just ordered a van rc for my dw 5spot. i'll be sending it to get tuned/pushed after i've worked out what needs doing.

the rp23 was my first air shock and probably my last. i just don't like the feel of it, mid stroke wallow, blows through it's travel set up with the correct sag. i've done the dcg mod which has made it usable. i'm 200 lbs
with kit. i don't think the rp23 works very well for the bigger rider.

a pushed van r from tft looks a good buy...

I'm very curious to see if the Van R fits the small frame.

I'mm assuming you guys all run med/large frames?

mid stroke wallow, blows through it's travel set up with the correct sag

This is more due to the damping setup, not the spring medium. I'm 200lbs.

A push tune would have sorted that. Seems that the fox air tune is still doing what it was doing in 2005 on their RP3's.

I've run a Pushed RP3 and a Pushed Van R.

The Van R is undoubtedly the better performing shock, but the RP3 came in extremely close but was over a pound lighter.

I favoured the weight saving over the 5% extra performance.

I'd not know from experience, but apparently some of the air shocks with large air cans can be a bit too progressive for the larger rider, of those that 'GO BIG!', but it can still be controlled with a damping modification or reducing the air volume in the chamber.

thanks for the feedback - I reckon I may well give this a go.
I've had the same experiences as you 'pastcaring' with the RP23 - done the shim mod, it works but its not ideal, was thinking either coil or low vol air sleeve for the RP23.

Any idea what the reliability is like of SH coil shocks? I'm guessing its better than an air can as not quite the same pressure on seals etc.

Anyone got a coil shock for sale...?

SH coil shocks are usually dead cheap unless its a fancy one.. If you're going to get it pushed, get a full serivce done and you've basically got a new shock.

I think I paid £25 for my VanR. It needed a service anyway, but I think all in it cost me about £100 at the time.

Scienceofficer - Member
mid stroke wallow, blows through it's travel set up with the correct sag

This is more due to the damping setup, not the spring medium. I'm 200lbs.

I'd not know from experience, but apparently some of the air shocks with large air cans can be a bit too progressive for the larger rider, of those that 'GO BIG!', but it can still be controlled with a damping modification or reducing the air volume in the chamber.

i agree, a push tune would of helped as did the dcg mod, either way the shock needs more compression.
i found the shock far to linear with out the dcg mod. maybe i could of tried the smaller air can but managed to get a 2011 van rc very cheap...

push have released rs monarch rt/rt am and the monarch rt3. sounds very interesting with good feed back so far.

got coil pikes with a van r coil shock , its sound on the up bits and even better going down t'other side , also like the no messin about with the coil.

Go for it, test rode one with an air shock, felt great, but I'm a coil man at heart so ordered mine with an DHX4. Feels lush in my half arsed/hang on and hope for the best style of riding. Had a reet good hoot on it in the Alps this year.

In fact here is a picture of it after dispensing of some square edged hits and me showing off some body english whilst being sat in the bike rather than on it and all the other drivel you read about. Wicked init.

[img] [/img]

[img][IMG] http://i52.tinypic.com/f6utg.jp g" target="_blank">http://i52.tinypic.com/f6utg.jp g"/> [/IMG]]my 5 spot at gt this weekend[/url]

I put a CCDB on my DW 5-Spot and it was a massive improvement over the RP23. Bags more control, and the best way I found to describe it was like riding with a rear tyre 50% wider!

PS As I'm selling the 5-Spot my CCDB is probably for sale if you're tempted!

Any idea of a ball park price for second hand CCDB...

sits back, primed to spit coffee over keyboard?

Sell you mine for £360. 2010 model not had a huge amount of use, comes with 450lb steel spring (am 12.5st) and the little adjuster thingy.

Gnnr - just two points, the first is to second what heihei says about the CCDB and to add that the 'feel' of the CCDB is one of control and composure. It makes the suspension design more transparent or to put it another way, it removes what the suspension is doing from the equation so that you're less aware of the actual suspension action and more aware of what's happening under the wheels. Another good way of describing it is that it takes out a lot of the drama and simply allows you to ride your bike, faster, with more control and more 'feel' for what's happening.
The second is to vouch for HeiHei's offer. He really hasn't had that CCDB all that long and it's in A1 condition. £360 is a fair price.

heihei, ygm

I've got a CCDB on mine and f'ing love it. It defo increases the rear traction and the travel feel endless 🙂

I'm 14.5st kitted up and run a 600lbs spring.

BTW if you buy heihei's CCDB, I’ve got a 600lbs steel spring you can try.

[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4958792271_c9912d28dd.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4958792271_c9912d28dd.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfergson/4958792271/ ]Scotland Aug 2010[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jamesfergson/ ]james_ferguson[/url], on Flickr

Nice hijack Pastcaring! Still I guess £360 was more than I had hoped to spend, even if the shock is the dogs danglies!!

Pastcaring would you think about selling on your Van RC to me?

Gnnr, very sorry for the highjack...

ygm

If the CCDB sale falls through with all the guys above I would be interested, assuming it fits a small frame

Ta

Dave

I'm 14.5st kitted up and run a 600lbs spring.

Toons that's a pretty heavy spring for your weight and the bike. I've been told by the guy at Cane Creek (I think his names is Malcom?) that you would typically go down a spring weight compared to what you would normally ride as the CCDB has quite a bit more compression damping than a normal damper, i.e. you can use the oil in the damper to take some of your weight.

The TF Tuned site is suggesting a spring weight of 570lbs for your bike and weight, so perhaps you should be on a 550lb? Just a thought.

I run a 550lb on my Nic (longer stroke at 2.25" and 5mm more travel) but the TF sping calculator is saying I should be on a 580lb (i.e. a 600). The 550lb is perfect though.