So I love my Sentinel - but I’m tempted to try a coil shock on it rather than the Float X air shock that’s on there now.
I had a 2021 DHX2 Factory on my last bike and it was ace - it was less inclined to wallow through the mid section before ramping up hard at the end.
Ideally I’d get a Cane Creek db coil il but they don’t make the trunnion mount version long enough (need a 205x62.5 trunnion shock).
Wondering about a Dvo Jade or Jade X as they’re just under £400. Any experiences of these?
I’m not wild about the idea of a Bomber CR as they’re pretty heavy and don’t have a climb switch. Anything I’m missing in a similar price range?
I’ve got a RS super deluxe coil on my V1 with cascade link so fairly similar to the V2, can’t fault it. Way better than the custom tuned dpx2 for grip and plenty of support. I’ve got an ext coil for it to lighten it up a bit, j tech do a spacer to allow you to run the shorter spring.
I’ve got a DVO Jade X. It was on my Rail and it’s now on my Kenevo SL. It’s very good, but to be honest I’m comparing it with boggo OEM air shocks.
DVO Jade X is a decent shock, you probably want to get a progressive spring for it as well, as the actual shock doesn't come with a spring, so factor that in to the price.
With the budget in mind i'm going to go against your first thoughts and say the Bomber CR is lovely... a lovely lovely shock. I think bikes climb well enough these days that a lockout/climb switch is less of an issue than it once was and the CR comes in at a price that's hard to argue with. It's simple, effective and well priced, as well as being superbly plush.
Yeah it's heavy though.
I’ve got a RS super deluxe coil on my V1 with cascade link so fairly similar to the V2, can’t fault it. Way better than the custom tuned dpx2 for grip and plenty of support. I’ve got an ext coil for it to lighten it up a bit, j tech do a spacer to allow you to run the shorter spring.
My recommendation would be a Rockshox superdeluxe coil from Jtech.
When you get it from Jtech you'll get a custom tuned for your bikes leverage rate/weight/riding etc. I struggled with my Super deluxe on my Highlander until I spoke to James at Jtech, .and after a spring calculation confirmed it was the shock tune. It completely transformed the bike from a harsh mess.
Not only that, after riding it for a month or so I felt it was too soft, so James sent me a couple of EXT springs to play with...and went up half a spring rate, now running a 475lbs EXT spring with spacer and really happy. Great service.
There is a really good shock under the stock RS tunes on those super deluxes.
Saw the title and came here to suggest the Bomber CR. My current fantasy bike setup is a Sentinel with a CR with an Avalanche tune to it. The CR is the shock Craig reccomends as the best starting point. Most of the "extra" weight is on the spring which can and likely will be changed at some point anyway.
Even on my coil spring 6 pack in 2005, I never wanted a lock out.
Thanks for all the comments so far.
I’d ruled out the DHX2 as being too expensive. The super deluxe I’d thought about but it uses a 38mm coil and the Rockshox springs are really quite heavy.
I’d kind of categorised the Bomber cr in the heavy / limited adjustment box too. Looking again at weights actually it doesn’t look too bad - maybe with a custom tune to my weight / bike it could be an option.
The cane creek / dvo options could use a cane creek Valt which is quite light - the Fox sls spring is even lighter but too spendy.
The Jade X was in the list as it has bladder pressure adjustment which might be nice, takes a 36.5mm spring, doesn’t cost too much and I thought the middle position of the 3 position lock out thing might work nicely when on flow trails where you don’t want the full sensitivity that you would on full on tech trails.
So maybe it does come down to Bomber vs Dvo Jade X.....
Just a thought - one of the posts above mentions a progressive spring. On my last bike (Aether 7) I just had a normal Valt spring - if the bike is ok for coil why would I need a progressive spring?
Simple answer is, the way the suspension reacts. More or less at different parts of the curve. Just because something is suited to a coil, doesn't mean it can't be better (or worse) with a progressive spring.
My coil was/is a standard type, not progressive, i didn't see a need to change that, but i think we're getting into absolute finite details of suspension here and something that very very few people would truly notice outside of confirmation bias after spending money.
For me i see it the same as the people who can notice the difference between 25 and 26psi in a tyre 🙂
if the bike is ok for coil why would I need a progressive spring?
You wouldn’t, progressive springs are a sticking plaster solution to bikes with linear suspension curves. Most bikes are past that now.
You want a fairly common size shock for that bike, I would be on Pinkbike for one of the new style DHX2’s. The old ones weren’t amazing, but the new ones are really good. I put mine on a par with an EXT/Push. £400 will get you a barely used one.
I did like my 2021 DHX2 but was thinking of 0% financing this shock tbh so looking at new ones.....
Those were my thoughts on progressive springs - that they were for bikes that weren’t really designed with coil shocks in mind.
On the tyre psi front I notice the difference in say 25 psi to 18 psi when I’m looking for a grip on steep / wet / rooty slow tech - but I very much doubt I’m noticing a couple of psi different. I do mostly set my tyres to the same psi for most rides using a digital gauge though for consistency.
Slight tangent about progressive springs if I may. I'm having a brain fart and have myself trapped down a particular line of thought.
If a spring has two spring rates in different ends (the simplest form of progressive), doesn't that just work like springs in series? Unless the rates are so different that one end is coil bound before the other has finished its travel? If so, doesn't the softer end frequently go coil bound and does this have a fatigue issue on the spring?
you'll maybe be limited then as i don't think J-tech or TFT do 0%.
Tredz do and have shocks..
I’ve had my Bomber CR for over 2 years (on a Bird AM9) and I can highly recommend it. TF Tuned tweaked mine to suit my weight as well which made a good shock even better.
you’ll maybe be limited then as i don’t think J-tech or TFT do 0%.
Tredz do and have shocks..
I could always stick it on a 0% credit card if need be to open the options up a bit. A shock with a custom ish tune would be preferable to just vanilla out the box that may or may not suit me / the bike.
Have just ordered an ohlins for my scout from tf for the same reasons.
The x2 feels like crap compared to the fork (ohlins on the front).
They might do 0% and they had shocks in stock last week
The Nukeproof lightweight springs fit the RS Deluxe coil if it helps, none of the standard steel springs are light but more options secondhand for the Fox/Marzocchi etc
Looking again at the Jade X I think it’s less adjustable than I thought - looks like there isn’t lsc in the open position - it’s just a 3 position lsc lever. Might rule that one out then.
Leaves the Bomber CR and perhaps the Jade (not X) - neither have a climb switch so I think a custom tune would be the best option on both of those.
Or maybe look at lighter springs for a super deluxe ultimate coil and try and find one in a sale.
If you liked the damped feel of Cane Creek shocks, consider the Kitsuma. I have ridden several DB coils and the Inline coil - and the full fat version is much better IMO.
You can probably pick up a Valt spring cheap off PB buy/sell.
I’d love a Kitsuma or DHX2 factory but they’re getting a bit spendy for me.
I got lucky and found a literally new Ohlins TTX22 on eBay for £480 (turned out to be from a shop, I don’t know why they were selling it like that and I didn’t ask given the price!) and a used spring for another £60. I sent it to JTech for a tune which cost another ~£80 if I’m remembering right.
A few observations:
1. They only bumped the compression tune up by one “step” so the factory tune on the TTX was quite close to what the Sentinel needs anyway.
2. After the tune, JTech suggested running a fair few more clicks of compression damping than I had before. In the end the main change was a decent chunk more compression and similar feeling rebound.
3. With this tune I never never feel the need to hit the climb switch, I get great traction over rocks and roots, plenty of support to push into and plenty of pop off of features. What I’m saying is that you may not need the climb switch if you get it custom tuned.
4. I’m using a regular linear coil, I don’t have any problem with blowing through travel or bottoming out, I don’t think it needs a progressive coil.
5. Coming from an X2 and using the Ohlins light weight coil I ended up only adding about 80g in weight.
One other thing to keep in mind is that I’ve seen people struggle for reservoir clearance with the Bomber CR and also the Ext Storia in smaller sized Sentinel frames so maybe mount it up without a spring to check before spending on a tune.
Whatever you decide I would 100% recommend a coil on the Sentinel, it has made a big improvement to an already great bike.
Here's a 4 ride old Ohlins for £450. You need the 65mm stroke with a reducer shim that comes in the box.
And here is the same seller as I got mine from selling a 60mm stroke version for £495 if you can face a slight travel reduction. DM me if you're interested and I'll tell you which shop they are from.
There are lots of Sentinel-tuned shocks on the German sites, you can buy your own spring instead of RS ones
You wouldn’t, progressive springs are a sticking plaster solution to bikes with linear suspension curves. Most bikes are past that now.
I wouldn't say that, it's a bit like saying air shocks are a sticking plaster for linear suspension (Single Pivot, etc) or slightly progressive (some 4-bars, horst, etc), many designs still have a less progressive curve, especially in the bottom third of the travel, so having a progressive spring can assist in reducing bottoming out or blowing through the travel, but again, it's about what you're doing with the bike.
If a spring has two spring rates in different ends (the simplest form of progressive), doesn’t that just work like springs in series? Unless the rates are so different that one end is coil bound before the other has finished its travel? If so, doesn’t the softer end frequently go coil bound and does this have a fatigue issue on the spring?
Not quite, especially in this world, you could mimic it, but it would be a bit of work, probably why if they use more than one spring in suspension, it tends to be in parallel, i.e. a spring in a spring.
I don't profess to fully understand how they interact with various suspension kinematics, but progressive springs can be transformative on the right bikes.
Nothing wrong with a nice sticking plaster if it saves buying a new frame.
You'd hope the current Sentinel wouldn't need one though.
You’d hope the current Sentinel wouldn’t need one though.
IMO it doesn't.
There are lots of Sentinel-tuned shocks on the German sites, you can buy your own spring instead of RS ones
Thanks - but unfortunately they’re all for the last gen Sentinel. The bike changed in 2022 so it takes a longer stroke shock now.
@appltn - thanks for your comments - the Ohlins looks very nice on your bike. I definitely want to keep the 150mm travel at the rear - I’m currently on a 150mm travel Lyrik Ultimate at the front as it’s what I already had. Going to get a 160mm airspring for it at some point. I was worried when I impulse bought the Frameset I was going to find a full 29er too much / would dumb down the trail and it was also longer travel than I was after (was thinking Aether 9 / NP Reactor really) - but I’ve been very pleasantly surprised - it’s been awesome in every way really.
Not quite, especially in this world, you could mimic it, but it would be a bit of work, probably why if they use more than one spring in suspension, it tends to be in parallel, i.e. a spring in a spring.
Can you explain further? I'm not asking to be argumentative, if I'm missing something, I'd like to learn.
The video about seems to show what I was thinking in that the softer, closer wound coils work first, then when bound, the rest of the coils come in. The same effect you'd get from a shorter spring inside a longer spring.
I hadn’t considered clearance would be an issue for a shock piggyback - do you mean vs the bottle or something else?
This is the bike - it’s a medium alloy Sentinel:
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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/L67GfX2Y/663-E4314-F740-4772-8640-FE1-F9-A66879-D.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/L67GfX2Y/663-E4314-F740-4772-8640-FE1-F9-A66879-D.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Although coil springs don’t ramp up at the end like air springs, they also don’t have a falling rate near the middle of the travel. Bigger negative springs help reduce that dip but hard to avoid.
The Bomber CR is a bigger external reservoir than yours, but only the context of down and out, so will be fine on your from what i can see there.
I’ve got an ohlins coil on my medium carbon sentinel and clearance is fine. I didn’t like the x2 it came with, it just felt harsh I thought.
Luckily I got pointed in the direction of those bargain ohlins coil shocks! They are 65mm stroke but come with the spacer in the box. It’s transformed the bike, come have a go on mine at nibley joe! Once my cracked rib is healed that is!
I think I would buy the 60mm stroke ohlins coil and get the stroke length changed. Imagine tf wouldn’t charge too much? Quick call would soon work that out! And through eBay mean PayPal credit or credit card!
That sounds good - let me know when you’re fixed! I just must not like the carbon frame as I can’t justify buying one even if it is a few lbs lighter - just need to keep making myself lighter / fitter to compensate.
Looking around at other forums, it seems there may be concerns over some piggyback reservoirs clashing with certain frames,/sizes at full bottom out.
Don't know why I'm looking, I don't own a sentinel v2.
Luckily I got pointed in the direction of those bargain ohlins coil shocks!
🥳
I hadn’t considered clearance would be an issue for a shock piggyback – do you mean vs the bottle or something else?
The issue can be with the reservoir contacting the downtube.
There's a guy on the pinkbike Sentinel thread who had all kinds of trouble getting an Ext Storia to fit his size M Sentinel.
Clearance problem with cascade link.
Clearance problem with stock link.
Eventually resolved with a revalved e-storia
I'm not saying it will be a problem for you at all, just check it before hucking to flat and putting a ding in your frame! Also I wonder if the alloy frame has smaller tubes and therefore more clearance than the carbon.
Have you looked for a 2022 Fox DHX?
Fox replaced Bomber CR with a new Float X. I was going to sell it on and buy a DHX2 & rang a Cyclinic to verify their one in stock was right for my Banshee. They said the DHX was a beefier shock for trunnion mount bikes. They also said give the Float X a go & I'm impressed, a lot better than the original X2. Talked themselves out of a sale.
Can you explain further? I’m not asking to be argumentative, if I’m missing something, I’d like to learn.
The video about seems to show what I was thinking in that the softer, closer wound coils work first, then when bound, the rest of the coils come in. The same effect you’d get from a shorter spring inside a longer spring.
Think it's just lost in translation, i'm pretty much saying the same thing, i.e. on a progressive spring you can do what the guy says, change distances, material, density, etc to get the progression, you could mimic this with series or parallel spring layout, i think that's where i was focusing on with your previous response, thinking you were putting a spring series as an alternative.
@argee
Now I'm making my head hurt.
Is a progressive spring similar to series or parallel springs?
If you made a progressive stack of spring washers, a single against two cupped together, against 3 cupped together, that would be progressive but logic says they would be in series. However, the point we agreed above about a string in a spring is clearly in parallel. It can't be both.
Edit. Or can it? With a shorter spring inside a longer one, initial movement is just the longer springs rate. Once the second spring comes into contact, there's two in parallel, which can be resolved to a single spring. That's then the same as two springs in series (isn't it?), Which again, could be resolved to a single spring.
The more a spin around with this, the more I convince myself that progressivity is due to the isolation of coils as the come into contact with the adjacent coil. (Become coil bound)
@Onzadog, yeah, it's getting way too sciency now, i thought i'd left that stuff back at uni!
I just see series/parallel having the issue of independence and influence from other forces, the headscratching one is just the reason i say mimic, by length, density, material, etc, etc, it's just a mechanical system in the end.
But, it does make progressive springs a way more desirable alternative ;o)
Yeah, must be twenty years since I last did anything with my mech eng degree. Hence the head scratching.
If you'd like he DB coil IL have you considered asking TF if they can lengthen one to fit?
Got a Jade X with a progressive spring on my 2019 Patrol - I reccomend!
If you’d like he DB coil IL have you considered asking TF if they can lengthen one to fit?
I haven’t - but they don’t make it in the eye to eye and stroke length even in the non-trunnion option so I’m not sure the shock is sturdy enough perhaps. I’ll drop j tech or tf tuned an email and see
I had a 2021 DHX2 Factory on my last bike and it was ace – it was less inclined to wallow through the mid section before ramping up hard at the end.
Have you tried a smaller spacer and a bit more pressure? Cured similar issues for me in the past. I’ve just bought an air spring tuning kit for my Sentinel as I’m not getting near full travel despite being happy with the rest of the stroke.
Have you tried a smaller spacer and a bit more pressure? Cured similar issues for me in the past. I’ve just bought an air spring tuning kit for my Sentinel as I’m not getting near full travel despite being happy with the rest of the stroke.
On the float x I’ve got I haven’t touched the standard spacers it came with. I am getting full travel but not noticed any kind of harsh bottom out - all I can really do is increase the pressure a bit more but it’ll get a bit harsher on small bump then. It’s got rebound and lsc adjustment - I’ve got lsc almost on it’s firmest setting I noticed last time out.
On the float x I’ve got I haven’t touched the standard spacers it came with. I am getting full travel but not noticed any kind of harsh bottom out – all I can really do is increase the pressure a bit more but it’ll get a bit harsher on small bump then. It’s got rebound and lsc adjustment – I’ve got lsc almost on it’s firmest setting I noticed last time out.
That'll be why it's harsher on small bumps, low speed compression is basically those low speed interactions, so trail chatter, and by winding up the setting to full, you are effectively removing the sensitivity.
First thing i do on any new bike with as much travel as a sentinel is remove all compression, compression is a fine tuning for when you have the correct pressure/spacer in an air shock, or correct spring on a coil shock. I don't tend to use LSC on any bike though, yes it may cause slight pedal bob on something like a horst link sentinel, but i'd rather have that than a less sensitive shock on small stuff.
The Sentinel is a nice frame, the V2 has increased it progression and can work well with coil shocks as well, in today's market there aren't really any 'bad' coil shocks, i wouldn't get too bogged down with any custom tuned shocks from other bikes, most off the shelf models will be able to be dialled in pretty well for a sentinel with the correct coil and the rebound/compression dials.
I’ve got lsc almost on it’s firmest setting I noticed last time out.
Why? Not being rude, just a genuine question. I’m only a month in on mine but found it climbs really well for its travel. Running LSC wide open and traction on technical climbs is amazing, as are stutter bumps and roots downhill. Try it with none and use the climb lever for fire road climbs if you need it.
Reason I mentioned spacers is as a larger rider, I run higher pressures. When running enough for good support, it often leads to a big ramp at the end preventing full travel. Reducing pressure to achieve full travel leads to blowing through the travel easily up to the ramp up. Using a smaller spacer means I can run a pressure that gives good support with a smaller ramp at the end.
Hopefully get a bit of time in garage this week to swap over before the weekend. I can keep you posted about what spacer comes out and goes in if you are interested.
Forgive my ignorance here but is the Sentinel suspension kinematics 100% compatible with a coil shock? I watched a video a while back by one of the big magazines and someone was explaining why some suspension designs don't suit air or coil shocks. Worth asking Transition about it first just to make sure. It may be that a tune on your current shock could work better. And cost less as well.
Progressive spring relies on the less stiff coils bottoming out on each other, ie "bound". I would also say that the spring before the less stiff coils bind, is springs in series, so spring rate is a result of all the varying stiffness parts.
But regardless of that, progressive springs store less than 10% extra energy over a linear coil, seem pretty insignificant and not really worth bothering with to me. Compare areas under the respective spring curves not differences in ending rate to see how much extra bottom out resistance you get.
The V1 sentinel was fairly linear, suited an air shock but didn't really work with coil.
The V2 is a different beast. Off the top of my head, I think it has something like a 24% progressivity so is perfectly happy with a coil.
25% progressive curve apparently. Transition say it should work ok with a coil on their website.
I’m just in the process of rebuilding my rear Pro4 - it hadn’t been as sharp as it used to be - found the panels were gunned up and one spring had snapped. Looked like something that had been dug out the ground. Once it’s had new springs and bearings (and I’ve refreshed my Oneup dropper) I’ll take the float X out and have a look and see what spacers are inside. I do have a new spacer kit for it - so if there are some big ones in there I’ll remove them and put in a smaller one and try backing off the lsc (I was trying to make it pedal better / hold up better in its travel) and increasing the air pressure. See what occurs.
Jade is still top of my list right now I think.
Just stick the 4 digit code on the float x body in the fox website https://www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike
It'll tell you what spacer is in there, pretty sure most transitions seem to have the 0.6 spacer fitted as standard.
Still prefer the Jade X to the Jade ;o)
I put an extra space in the shock on my scout and it was still mushy mid stroke.
Have been told that it can be set up well but it is a pain to get the sweet spot.
Oh well ohlins coil arrives tomorrow. So that will be out for a night ride this week
I put an extra space in the shock on my scout and it was still mushy mid stroke.
Have been told that it can be set up well but it is a pain to get the sweet spot.
Oh well ohlins coil arrives tomorrow. So that will be out for a night ride this week
Nice! Bet you’re looking forward to that - always thought the Scout was a nice looking bike.
Hoping to squeeze in a night ride this week but will have to be on the Marino as I don’t think my new pawl springs / freehub seal / freehub bearings are going to arrive in time to get the Sentinel up and running. Maybe by the weekend with a bit of luck.
Drop Transition an email, they will have a list of shocks they know that have clearance issues and ones that don't. I did for my alloy Scout before I received it when I was pondering what shock to run. I've actually been riding the Float X and been impressed with it so far. I can get a nicer set up than the range of Rockshox air shocks I had on my Bird 120LT.
I feel like the float x seems similar feeling to the RS deluxe I had on my Bird Aether 7.....I need a Fox ‘Megneg’ to firm up the midrange!
If I’m going to buy a new shock I’ll check with Transition first as to whether it will fit without hitting the down tube. The current shock looks like it’d be miles away but when I check out the token situation I’ll see how it looks fully compressed.
(I was trying to make it pedal better / hold up better in its travel)
You might not actually want a coil shock at all then TBH.
The more recent coil shocks seem to have pretty good pedaling platforms, but agree that they will always be a compromise between less good pedaling against better trail feel and descending
You might not actually want a coil shock at all then TBH.
You say that but I found the DHX2 I had felt better pedalling to me than the RS deluxe air with megneg.
Both have a little bit of bob at the start of the travel but I find that air shocks seem to dive deeper into their mid range easier than coil shocks. The coil felt more supportive in that respect - particularly in small compressions.
Air ramps up better at the end to stop bottom out - but on the DHX2 I could tweak hsc to help that on the biggest hits. I felt I ended up with the best of both worlds.
The Jade has that lsc / hsc adjustment split which is why it’s on my list.
Spacer swap done. Shock had 0.7 of spacers in it (0.6 + 0.1). Swapped the 0.6 for a 0.4 to reduce to 0.5 in total. Have kept the pressure the same at the moment but may add 10psi to see how it feels.
Like I’ve said, I prefer more air and smaller spacer as I don’t do big jumps and this combo gives mid support without the big ramp at the end.
@joebristol I’d definitely be experimenting with spacers and less lsc before even considering a change of shock. From your description, a bit more air would firm the mid stroke and bob less, smaller spacer would still allow full travel and wide open lsc would feel better on small bumps.
I’d definitely be experimenting with spacers and less lsc before even considering a change of shock.
Same here. Could make some big improvements I suspect.
I now have a coil shock on my 150mm bike (EXT Storia on Orange Stage 6) and while it is amazing, TBH the air X2 was also very, very good - once I'd set it up well.
Yeah coil shocks can pedal better than the wrong air shock, but my experience is they almost always soften the pedal response.
@clubby - thanks. I’ve completely opened the lsc now and bumped up the air pressure. Will see how that goes next ride - I’ll take my shock pump with me in case it’s too hard etc. If I feel happy with that but it’s not getting near full travel in big hits I’ll do the same by changing the spacers for smaller ones. I’ve got a bag of the ludicrously expensive bits of colourful plastic that Fox charge ££££££ for.
@chakaping - fair enough. The megneg’d deluxe was pretty good - but the DHX2 is a massive step up in terms of cost / quality so maybe not a surprise it was much better.
I’ve got a bag of the ludicrously expensive bits of colourful plastic that Fox charge ££££££ for.
Tell me about it! Can’t see me needing more than one out the pack to get the result I want. Along with the stock ones, that gives me four options in the right ballpark. Always the classified I suppose.
I used to have an air shock on the same frame that now has a deluxe coil with remote lockout; I’m a convert, love every aspect of the coil shock and the most surprising to me is that I never use the lockout, it’s a really stable pedalling platform!
So Transition have come back to say some shocks with long piggybacks can contact the downtube on the Sentinel in the smaller sizes. Couldn’t comment 100% on the medium - but the Bomber CR and Jade are the 2 biggest offenders as they have long piggybacks. So I reckon they’re both out.
Apparently the Jade X / DHX2 / Rockshox Super deluxe coil all fit. The Ohlins / Cane Creek would need to be measured and compared to the Rockshox / Fox options to make 100% sure they’d be ok.
On that basis I’m going to experiment with the current shock and save a bit of cash up - I really want high speed compression adjustment - so DHX2 / Cane Creek Kitsuma / Onlins TTX are the shortlist if I go coil.
Unless I see an absolute bargain Jade x / super deluxe in which case I might just try it anyway.
I've a 2021 Sentinel & have been having the same conversations with Transition & Tuning Shops as you Joe after my Float x2 went pop again.
Im still on my Float X2 and it is better when tuned well as mentioned above, but that requires a fair bit of time & you can't escape the short service intervals.
with regards to coils, Ive found the same as you & I have a similar shortlist, I think the Ohlins is currently top as I'm being advised it has the longest service intervals & in general the best wear out rates. I'm also looking at the EXT.
Just a case of saving up the wedge!
Ohlins is nice, and the op could nip into suar in Bristol and chat about it as they do transition and ohlins 😁
I think the Ohlins is currently top as I’m being advised it has the longest service intervals & in general the best wear out rates. I’m also looking at the EXT.
Not on the same bikes, but I currently have the Ohlins on one bike and the EXT on another and they are chalk and cheese.
The Ohlins is very damped and comfortable and insulates me from the trail, the EXT is all about grip and feels more like an air shock than a typical coil - until you get to where air shocks usually find their limits.
Also, the pedal switch on the TTX seems almost decorative, it's the least effective platform I've used. And I have got the updated valve which is supposed to be better.
Strange that you have found the pedal switch to not work well. When i put mine into position 3 it really locks up the suspension.
I did read that the longer length socks don't actually have position 3 as a climb seeing as they are designed for dh where it isn't needed
I did read that the longer length socks don’t actually have position 3 as a climb seeing as they are designed for dh where it isn’t needed
I believe you can tell what you have by the colour of the piece behind the 3 position switch. Gold for a third 3 HSC setting, blue for a pedal platform.
That said, I literally never feel the need to flick into the pedal platform on mine - I think Transition's suspension design does a great job without it.
Ohlins is nice, and the op could nip into suar in Bristol and chat about it as they do transition and ohlins 😁
SUAR is where my Sentinel Frameset came from - wasn’t aware they did Ohlins shocks. For the time being they’re something I can’t justify the cost of - will see what I build up cash wise over the next few months.
Also sort of watching some Code RSC’s (got Code R’s right now) and thinking about changing rotors from 200/180 to 220/200. And getting a 160mm airshaft for the Lyrik Ultimate. I can’t help myself fiddling with bikes.....
I’ve a 2021 Sentinel & have been having the same conversations with Transition & Tuning Shops as you Joe after my Float x2 went pop again.
Im still on my Float X2 and it is better when tuned well as mentioned above, but that requires a fair bit of time & you can’t escape the short service intervals.
with regards to coils, Ive found the same as you & I have a similar shortlist, I think the Ohlins is currently top as I’m being advised it has the longest service intervals & in general the best wear out rates. I’m also looking at the EXT.
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more - the same with the ext.
I believe you can tell what you have by the colour of the piece behind the 3 position switch. Gold for a third 3 HSC setting, blue for a pedal platform.
I was amazed to see I had the blue valve, yeah 😀
There's a chance it could be improved with a service -as the shock was pre-owned - but it had been serviced reasonably recently.
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more – the same with the ext.
Is second hand or new without warranty off the cards? That one on the pinkbike buy/sell was still available last time I looked.
I just don’t think I can bring myself to spend £700+ on a shock, so probably it’ll be the Kitsuma or DHX2 I reckon. The ohlins looks nice but it’s just a chunk more – the same with the ext.
Go big or go home ;o)
Guess I’m going home then 🤷♂️
@appltn - which Pinkbike item is that? Saw a DHX2 on there which looked a decent price but it’s too long both eye to eye and stroke.
Here it is https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3271350/
At least for the Ohlins you’d need a 65mm stroke like this with a little plastic travel reducer clipped on the shaft. If you brought one new that’s what you’d get, a 65mm stroke with a 2.5mm reducer in the box to use if you needed.
