As it’s shock week, my Monarch has decided to suck up it’s travel too. I’ve managed to take it to pieces, and reset it but haven’t had chance to test it yet. I’m assuming if it ain’t bost, it’s on it’s way out?
As I haven’t got a spare £700 for a fox shock, and not really interested in another Rockshox offering (unless you can tell me they’ve sorted their issues out), I’ve notice cheap Cane Creek options and they’re available in the weird Levo size (210×52.5). I know CC had a major issues a few year ago, and some ppl will never return to them, I don’t need ppl telling me about those or how they’d never buy another, what the latest offering like?
Both the specialist tuner I’ve used, stock them, so shirely they can’t still be bad?

I’ve had the DB Air on my Cotic for nearly 3 years.

Had it serviced during the summer (TFTuned, and will use again), not because there was an issue, just felt I should.

Really happy with it, loads of adjustment, reliable and feels both supportive & bottomless.

I’d buy again.

Some interesting reading on the ‘how to fix…’ with the Monarch, but TBH, i can’t be bothered so mine will be getting sold as soon as it’s warrantied.

had no issues with the CCDB IL air or coil I’ve used.

I liked the DBair on my Spitfire. They had serious issues with the original Inline air shock but since that got sorted I haven’t heard anything bad on that front.

You can run a 210×55 on a Levo – just gives you 157mm of travel instead of 150.

With CC’s questionable reliability on the Inline shocks & Specialized’s appetite for shock destruction with the clevis mount, I would think CC shocks would be the bottom of my list for choices. 🙂

210mm i2i shocks are a common size, they as standard come with a 55mm stroke & have a spacer in them to reduce the travel down to 52.5mm in your instance, but the Levo is fine with a 55mm stroke – you just get a bit more rear wheel travel.

Go on Pinkbike & take your pick of shocks in that size.

I’ve had a CCDB on my bikes for about 6-7 years, I had it rebuilt to change length about 3 years ago, i’ve blown one piston in that time otherwise it has been a very solid performer.

Had a CCDB Inline on my Spitfire but it kept lunching itself – stuck down once at BPW which spoiled the weekend somewhat (it was a seal that flipped, so TFT said). Most of the problems were down to the back end being slightly out of alignment, but it was good when it worked.

Cane Creek did ne a warranty upgrade for $75 to a CCDB AirCS. That was lovelier and trouble-free. I had it on rotation with a CCDB Coil, which was also lovely.

No issues with my IL Air after a years use, it certainly performs better than the Deluxe it replaced.

My Norco Sight has a Cane Creek IL bought from these hallowed classifieds. Although the shock was in excellent nick and had just been serviced, it predictably shat itself when my unit of a stepson took the Norco out for a ride so I went with the TF Tuned upgrade and was very surprised to see that the bag of parts returned with the refreshed shock comprised of pretty much everything – shaft, can, cap seal, compression adjust lever etc. Since then it’s been faultless, but that’s only to be expected with what is effectively a brand new, redesigned shock.

Specialized bikes with a clevis fitting do have form for killing air shocks – might be worth considering a coil if it’s going on a Levo where weight isn’t really an issue?

Faultless happy Air IL user here, improved my Smuggler loads

As others have said, I’d consider the DBair but not the Air IL for that bike.

The DBair is probably my favourite air shock anyway and the damped feel it gives might suit an ebike quite well.

Thta doesn’t help if you’d only seen the Air IL cheap though, I know.

Had a DB Air CS on my old Orange 5 for a few years and that was faultless. The Air IL on my Rocket though needs a new aircan every service (3 so far…) always with a scratch on an internal surface with the tech saying it’s most likely side loading. I’ve checked the frame for alignment, fresh bearings etc and it still does it every time. The first two were after the normal service time, the last one had roughly 20 hours use on it as the bike has been laid up due to lockdowns and even then it still had the scratch.

The Helm fork on the bike was replaced under warranty at it’s first service after the bushings were found to be undersize from the factory and had started to eat away the stanchions (regular lowers service done), even the replacement fork is worrying me. Every lowers service the foam rings have a dark staining to them, presumably from the stanchion coating wearing away as the oil is the same I use on my other forks without staining.

When I can afford to I’ll be changing the fork and shock to another brand as I really don’t have any faith in Cane Creek stuff to last.

cheers guys, appreciate the feedback, though it’s still a little flaky.
A little used fox float on ebay, for half the price of those CC shock, has become the answer 😉

did you go for the fox because it was cheaper?

I loved my cane creek air and also my coil too

Yes, I’ve had an expensive month all round, so it was a large part of it, as I was heading towards buying a CC from the feedback above. That said I’ve had good experiences with fox shocks, only straying to RS, when it came as OEM kit. As the shock I’ve bought is off another Levo, it come’s with the correct tune, which is handy too

Our first Turbo Levo came with a Fox shock. Didnt have any problem with it and the guy who has the bike now has had no problems. The Levo SL came with a fox and again no problems.
Saying that not had any problems with the Rockshox ones.