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Firstly, I have read lots of info on the MTBR thread but its a bit hard to find posts that relate to specific info, there are hundreds of messages!
Apart from the weight gain (about 200g) and slightly more complicated tuning for rider weight, in what way does a coil fork differ? Small bump is meant to be better but the air is rated highly for this too. Do they jump differently? Is an air fork more progressive? Aware that both use ramp control which I like.
I guess the coil has the potential to be more reliable.
Finally, stock supply on the Bird AM9 is 46mm offset. What will I find ride wise dropping to 41mm offset? I know they run 42mm on the Rockshox options, but have also had 51mm on with no trouble. I will speak to Bird direct on this..
ime coil has far superior small bump compliance and mid-stroke support. It's also simpler to setup - you just drop a spring in, adjust preload if necessary, go (without ever having to check the settings again). Air is going to be more progressive, but if you've got the ramp support then thats a non-issue (and may not have been an issue anyway depending on weight and what you like).
It's coil every time for me.
I've just gone to a coil Helm.
The small bump and initial suppleness is night and day better than even the best freshly serviced air fork I've used.
Mid-stroke is better than any previous air fork I've used, and bottom resistance was easy to tune using high speed compression.
The only downsides I can see to coil are if you are REALLY bothered about saving weight, or if you are in between spring rates it might be hard to get the setup you want.
Thanks. Part of me feels it would be silly not to try coil but still not sure. It may come down to what offset I go with and therefore what's in stock!
Ive got the coil Ribbons, they are amazing, way better than my old pikes with luffkape. I rode some 36s and found them harsh.I cant compare them to the airribbons though.
Ribbon Coil here too. Absolutely blow my old 2017 Fox 36 with ramp control and revalved Rc2 damper out the water.
Do it. You'll not be disappointed.
forks with a secondary positive chamber have most of the coil positives with none of the weight. I'll be replacing my mattoc with the mezzer once its released later this month. The IRT makes a significant improvement the mid stroke and bottom out.
It has to be MRP at the moment. Those with the Ribbon, what spring did you end up on (and what weight are you?) Also a few reviews have said the coil can be a bit dive happy and the air might be better for jumps and drops- how much stick do you give them?
not MRP forks but hte difference between my coil lyrics RC and my air HLR Sweeps is night and day in terms of performance. The coils are so much nicer to ride its ridiculous even with a shitty compression damper. More suppleness, less divey, more predictable, better tracking in corners. They are heavier though and the right spring rate is important. The sweeps i can get fairly nice but they are unpredictable in compressions/g-outs - ie i have one bit of trail which is smooth but a drop to berm to lip and the fork is not supportive on the lip having g-outed in teh berm(i have to yank like mad to not nose it) its quite unnerving as the coil doesnt do this - its super predictable.