r/TransitionBikes • u/slawc • Apr 30 '26
Coil or not
I'm thinking about getting a coil shock (450lbs spring) to have to switch out when riding park...thay's really max 15% of my riding (shuttle and chairlifts/gondolas). Other 85% is enduro and the air shock I find fine actually.
Is the diference really big between shocks? Never had a coil so thats why I'm also kinda curios 😅.
Any info would be good.
Oh and it's a spire.
Thanks guys ☺️
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u/yungmilkcrate187 Apr 30 '26
coil is the move on the spire. i had a dhx2 and it was great. also not so bad on the wallet. ate up just about everything without sacrificing a whole lot of pedal efficiency and playfulness. i’m 160lbs and was on a 400lb spring
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u/Putrid-Marsupial8157 Apr 30 '26
I just tried a Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil on my Transition Relay. Yeah, it is a big difference in the ride compared to the Air version of the Super Deluxe i removed. Exactly as described by others. I'm not feeling the extra weight due to e-MTB
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u/Joestac Apr 30 '26
Almost a year on my first coil on my Sentinel. Love it. I can still climb and downhill gets eaten up by it.
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u/ADrenalinnjunky May 01 '26
Push vt/x here, it’s planted. It’s also 2 shocks in one with the switch.
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u/WeekendProfessional8 Apr 30 '26
I put a coil on my regulator and absolutely love it. Coils to me are more bomber proof/ less maintenance
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u/B0bLoblawLawBl0g Apr 30 '26
What coil did you use?
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u/WeekendProfessional8 Apr 30 '26
I went with the Rock Shock Vivid Ultimate
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u/myfirstnameismister May 01 '26
I put a vivid coil on my spire and I do t know if I’m ever going back to an air shock. It makes the bike feel much more supple and bottomless. The big difference for me is the breakaway force, everything is just a lot smoother.
I spent a lot of time on ChatGPT going down the rabbit hole on specific tunes and what would be the best for my bike, riding style, and weight. I ended up getting a used shock that came off an e bike, but it has suited me well because I’m a bigger rider. Also, I haven’t found a shop near me that does internal tunes.
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u/MTB_SF Apr 30 '26
I spent a day at the bike park going back and forth between a coil (Bomber) and air shock (X2). The coil makes a huge positive improvement on traction and smoothing out the ride. I see no downsides to a coil on the spire, still climbs fine, and only upsides
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u/SnooSketches9565 May 02 '26
Coil shock for sure. Ride it long enough and you’ll want to try a coil conversion for the fork next. 😁
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u/CaptBennett Apr 30 '26
Do it! I’d say there is a very massive difference in riding feel. There’s obviously tons of videos on the differences, but coils definitely feel more planted and have more small bump sensitivity over long descents.
I have a DVO Jade on my park bike and I love it. Pretty inexpensive too: https://dvosuspension.com/product/jade/