Shock upgrade pondering : DPX2, STX22, ?? content

Based on my current issue with the stock shock on my Jeffsy I’ve been pondering an upgrade.

I’ve been looking at the DPX2 and have also looked at the STX22.  I’m a big guy (100kgs with my kit on) and I’d really like something a bit plusher than my current Float DPS Performance Elite which I find, once the sag is set properly, not really great on lots of little hits (it may be my poor setup and I was toying with tweaking air volume to try and run a few less PSI to help with this, but I don’t really know how to set a shock up properly, but I can get it to something that feels OK-ish to me through empirical iterations…)

I’m not convinced an upgrade would really be money well spent, but if I did, I’d probably get it from TF Tuned (or somewhere) and get it set up when I got it.  I’ll get the stock one fixed and may sell it on if I do upgrade (or keep it as a spare ?)

I ride mainly forest single track and a trip to the Alps once a year – I don’t mind pedalling up when I need to, but enjoy the way down more.  I’m no XC’er, though I do ride with a bunch of them from time to time (and in that case it’s me not the bike that gets me stuck at the back.)  I’d toyed with a coil as I really love the feel, but I do (now) use the middle (“Trail”) setting on the air shock for faster smoother trails and I think I’d miss it quite a lot.

Any experience or advice from anyone?

You aren’t going to go wrong with either, but I think the DPX2 is a twin tube reciculating design. The stx22 is a standard monotube. Ive heard the negative air spring on the Fox is bigger as well.

Like you, I tended to run my air shock in the middle setting, for 90% of the time, mainly because, with messing around, it had little to no mid stroke support.

It’s gone now & running a coil on my 130mm travel bike.

I don’t miss the middle setting at all, because it actually has some mid stroke support now. More supple initial stroke, better support in the middle, and still a nice ramp up at the end (partly due to suspension curve on the frame lending it to work well with a coil).

The only thing the coil shock did better, was be lighter.

I won’t be gopng back to air.

if you are having to use the trail setting then you are likely to be outside the damping curve of the standard tune.

is it a metric shock?

is it a metric shock?

Mine?  No.  200×57

Like me, you might find the base compression tune on the shock is too low for your weight.

I couldn’t get small bump compliance without mid stroke wallow, but still couldn’t bottom it. It was pretty rubbish. Putting enough pressure in to stop it wallowing resulted  in a shock that was harsh on the little stuff and  stopped at 75% of its travel. Sorting the base tune by changing the shock (an opportunity arose to get a dpx2) made all the difference.

HobNob +1 as long as the OP has the right leverage ratio ,if not invest in a full fat Float X2. Lots od tunability to dial it right in for the OPs liking.

Thanks for all the comment so far.  Food for thought indeed.  I clearly do have a longing for how a coil feels and have come to the conclusion that I’ll not get it with an air spring.  My layman’s opinion is also that having a coil is a better solution than an air for *ahem* the larger gentleman…

Having said that, the X2 was mentioned and it does seem to get a lot closer once it’s adjusted properly.  It seems (from reading random people’s opinions on the internet) to feel more “planted” than the DPX2 (which seems, again according to the vox populi) to be an improvement over the DPS I currently have.

I couldn’t get small bump compliance without mid stroke wallow, but still couldn’t bottom it. It was pretty rubbish.

This.

Have been looking at Ohlins coils TTX22, but there’s also a good deal on a 2018 DHX2 in the right size *wonders*

for the coil you will likely be limited by spring choice.  I recon you’ll need around  550-600lb spring depending on the leverage curve and the initial sag you want.  the jeffsy ramps up quite a lot which is handy for a coil.

I recon you’ll need around  550-600lb

That’s what the TFTuned spring calculator suggests (565, in fact)

EDIT : and they seem out of stock everywhere (at least in SLS variety)

I had an STX22, it was plush but leaked air – sent it back and the shop told me that they’d had nearly all of the ones they’d sold back and wouldn’t be selling them anymore.

I had an STX22, it was plush but leaked air – sent it back and the shop told me that they’d had nearly all of the ones they’d sold back and wouldn’t be selling them anymore.

That’s interesting.  Was more looking at the Fox anyway.

110 KG here, coils are heavy even with titanium springs and I always struggled getting air shocks feeling right until I got a new bike and sourced a Cane Creek DB Air which was a complete revelation.

Just got a second hand float X2 which feels pretty similiar to the DB Air but maybe not as sensitive on small bumps, however haven’t tried either in more extreme conditions like the Alps only coil.

110 KG here, coils are heavy even with titanium springs

no offence but the difference to a coil and an air shock will make bugger all difference to you.  My coil is only 100ish grams more than an X2

I’ve been thinking (over-thinking?) all this 🙂  My remaining concern on the coil option (other than sourcing a 550 or 600 2.25 SLS spring for a DHX2, which are hens teeth this side of the Atlantic it seems is that a coil at the back will be overkill compared to the fork (140mm 34 Performance Elite with MRP Ramp Control) and make the bike feel unbalanced.

I’m not going to upgrade the fork anytime soon, I don’t think, because with the Ramp Control cartridge I really do quite like it.  I can use all the travel when I need to, but it feels reasonably well sorted.  I’ve never used anything but the open mode on the fork, for example, and have never felt the need to (apart from a few hundred metres of “wonder what that feels like.  Oh, it’s worse”)

I have to say the tunability of the Float X2 really appeals, and seems a good compromise, so that’s what I’m erring towards for the moment.  I don’t think I’ll be disappointed, and I will give TF Tuned a call to have a chat with them about it, because I’d like it to go through their hands before I put it on the bike.  I think I’m off the DPX2 – it sounds like it too much like the DPS, and while I think a tuned one would be an improvement, I don’t think it’ll give me the options the X2 would for my 3 weeks in the Alps.  The price difference isn’t enough, I think.

There’s still the (much cheaper) option of getting the DPS fixed and tuned (I rode it today, and it does need more rebound damping than it currently has, so the stuck knob is an issue) and see what that does for me.

you may find what ever shock you get will feel unbalanced to the fork.  I found my standard pike unbalanced with the CCDB coil IL but fitting a luftkappe sorted that. I’ve had no issues with my mattoc pro2 & IRT either.  If you can get a coil in the correct weight I would go for that over an air shock.  really any of the decent coil shocks will be a great upgrade.  DVO, CCDB, Fox (vanRC with a push MX tune even)

Just looking at the CCDB coil IL in fact.  Looks like a seriously interesting option, and 550 x 2.25 springs seem to be available.  Not sure that they do a 600, but I think the 550 will be a decent starting point.

Oh blimey, I’m going to have to spend another evening on the internet 🙂

Is there any substantial difference between the standard piggy back CCDB and the IL for an application like my short-ish travel Jeffsy?

the piggy back uses an IFP while the IL uses a bladder so will be more sensitive.  I have a transition suppressor (155mm) and have no complaints what so ever about the shock.  I also have the OPT remove too.

It sounds like just the ticket…

While I’m overweight middle-aged mincer I can really appreciate how good X2 is. It is so much more controlled over repeated hits than DPS which I had for 2 weeks.

There are more exciting options available but some of them might need backup shock. I think best shock I have ridden on my old bike was loaned BOS Kirk – not the most plush shock but it has extremely well controlled damping.

I’ve just ordered a CCDB IL from TFTuned.  The guy on the phone had no hesitation whatsoever when I said what I wanted it for.  The X2 is also a shed load more expensive.  I’ll get the DPS sorted when I get the new one and either sell it on or keep it in my spares box not sure how much I’ll get for it, even freshly serviced).  Thanks all.

Well.  Thanks all.  What a result.  The shock is an amazing upgrade.  Really absolutely spot on what I was after (and the base tune that TFTuned advised feels fab).  The back wheel has absolutely oodles of traction for climbing up rocky/rooty climbs and is amazingly composed going down.  Putting the power down out of a corner feels like a motocross bike, the traction is extraordinary.

It bobs a bit more on long hauls up fireroads, but I feel no desire to use the climb switch really because on anything remotely techy it feels a lot quicker up as well as down because all the power gets to the ground.  I absolutely love it.  Only one thing remains to be answered, and that’s why YT don’t offer a coil shock in any of the stock builds, because it really feels like the bike was made for one.

What coil spring did you get ?

Cane creek DB coil inline.  Seemed a good compromise on size/weight vs settings and seemed a decent product.

I also changed to a DB Coil in-line recently and it (so far) feels great. Only 10g heavier than the CCDB Air it replaced. Way better sensitivity but may still need some tweaking for the bigger stuff – seems to bottom out quite easily although not harshly. Time will tell but early impressions very good.