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So I’ve got a coil shock on my Transition Sentinel 2022 - which is meant to have enough progression to run a coil. It came with a Fox float x on which wasn’t bad but felt a little soggy in the midrange - but felt ‘bottomless’ on drops. I’ve fpins every air shock I’ve tried so far feels like this on each bike - it must just be the way I ride.
The Cane Creek Kitsuma coil I’ve got on there now is better everywhere but drops where it feels a bit harsh - I assume I’m bottoming it out but not 100% on that. I’ve ordered a reverse components sag / travel measuring thing to check 100% what’s going on.
Assuming I verify I’m bottoming out - I think I’m running 26-28% sag (ish) on a 450lb spring. I’m 75kgs - should I be going up a spring rate and having less sag again (might be too stiff over stutter bumps and roots) / be tuning in more hsc to resist bottoming / looking at some kind of progressive spring?
I'd try more HSC first before replacing the spring. But if you're still blowing through then a firmer spring will be needed. You can dial in a bit more preload to help with sag.
A progressive may help, but might not be necessary. I'm running too firm a spring at the moment and need to go down a weight, but the small bump is fine - it's the midstroke and bottom out that feel a bit too firm.
Just pull the bottom out bumper up to the shock body and try a drop, you’ll see if it’s pushed all the way down again.
Could be too much HSC and you are running into a wall of damping on big moments. Easy enough on your shock to play about with individual settings and try different stuff.
Yeah it’s either bottoming or I had wondered if too much hsc.
My dhx2 coil I had before had a Fox tuning guide that gave really decent base settings that were helpful and only needed some minor deviation from to feel really good. Cane creek just say to start with the dials in the middle position and work it out yourself - which is a little bit annoying.
The Sentinel is fairly normal with its progression, so I’d be surprised if you were bottoming it out if you are running 26-28% sag, unless you are absolutely sending some monsters to flat, at speed.
You can measure the sag by pulling up the bump stop and sitting on the bike anyway. I wouldn’t want to run any less, as it will ride like crap.
Have you done some repeated setup on one track? It’s not a very exciting day, riding one track repeatedly, but running everything wide open & then fully closed, then one step at a time adjusting can give you a decent experience for what feels nice Vs what actually feels fast & is a good compromise.
Just pull the bottom out bumper up to the shock body and try a drop, you’ll see if it’s pushed all the way down again.
Do this first thing, then repeat a known drop with the HSC in different positions. Open, halfway, etc.
Also be prepared to maybe slow the rebound down as well, if it starts to feel bucky on the lip.
Doesn't sound like you're on too light a spring, if 75kg is your riding weight.
first off work out if you are bottoming or if the compression is too high already.
if its bottoming i would go up a spring rate and use less compression. coils are more active for small bumps so less sag isnt always bad. i always seem to end up running a stiffer setup than the usual recommendations.
depends on your riding really, jumpy aggressive or mile munching - and where you want to comprimise because there is no real goldilocks sweet spot for everything.
Have you done some repeated setup on one track? It’s not a very exciting day, riding one track repeatedly, but running everything wide open & then fully closed, then one step at a time adjusting can give you a decent experience for what feels nice Vs what actually feels fast & is a good compromise.
I did do this yes - but the track didn’t have any meaningful drops. I’m not a big drop person - we’re only talking 2-3’ high drops here - nothing monstrous.
I think I need to go and do the same on a short track with a drop or a few drops in a row by the sounds of it.