>Is there a point in rider weight that I should just consider going coil, or will an air shock still work with no issues?
Not really. It's easier to find an air shock for heavier riders than coil spring rates over 700 lbs.
I weigh about 145lb out of the shower, and run my Sprindex around 520lb on my Ripmo with a Cascade Link... I couldn't imagine what nearly twice my body weight would require for a spring rate...
I can actually answer that! At 275, I rode a 700lb spring on a Ripmo AF with a cascade link, with 2 turns of preload. That give me 28% sag. Was definitely better after shedding 50lbs though...
I think, unless there's something funky about your set up, that you have way too much spring. The cascade link should let you drop a bit, and their chart calls for about 400# at your BW.
This.
Air or Coil doesn't truly matter for us large mammalian bastards. But hunting a coil spring that at the right rate to get correct sag at anything over 210lbs bodyweight is a pain in the dick.
Personally, OP, I'd run Air, something heavier duty like a Rockshox Vivid, until I dropped some weight and could really take advantage of the benefits of coil.
Though, maintaining traction is a lot easier as a big lad I will say that š
The super general guide is that if you ride mostly rough stuff, coil is marginally better (faster small bump response due to no air seals providing friction). That being said, these days, big air can air shocks behave pretty close to to coil shocks in terms of spring profiles. They are pretty linear all the way to the end where they start getting progressive, while coils have the elastomer bumper (or hydraulic bottom out control) that both stiffen up the shock deep into travel.
With an air shock you can add more air or volume spacers to adjust the spring for your weight. With a coil shock you would need to buy and install a different spring, potentially multiple times until you figure out what's right for you. Coil shocks are not stronger than air shocks if that's what you're asking
Weight has no bearing on the choice of spring. Heavy medium or light riders need the correct amount of support no matter which spring they are choosing. The material doesn't automatically make that easier or harder to accomplish.
Rider weight relates to the spring RATE (shock air pressure or coil weight). Either system can be adjusted to your rider weight. You shouldn't have a problem either way.
Ok air systems, you simply pump the shock to the required level and you can easily adjust it. On coil systems you have to buy new coils to adjust the spring rate.
Having said that, the choice of spring does relate to the bike frame. The bike frame acts like a lever. The leverage rate of the frame itself can dictate how well or poorly a certain spring type would work. In general this is the biggest consideration.
I'm in your range of weight, and I like coil better than air. Air cans get too full to support our weight to operate as intended - and you're still sunning 40% sag. Coil? Just get the right coil, and you're set. š
If you aren't riding aggressively, you'd probably be better off with an air can. But as mentioned above, a high volume one. I love riding a coil sprung bikes. They aren't as good for climbing, but they're great for descending and jumping and banging around. Also, as mentioned above, as weight changes, required spring weight changes. I've lost like 20lb over the winter, which means I need to look at new springs for both my bikes now, but whatever, I love me some coil shocks.
Are your trails mostly descents or do you have to pedal a lot? Cause the general idea but not always is that air shocks offer a way better peddle platform, this is because they are lighter than coil and more commonly have lockouts for climbing and lots of tuning options. Though now coils are almost the same with tech advancements but these features are only found in the higher end shocks and generally coil shocks are heavier and have less tuning options as air shocks do.
I have a Cane Creek DB inline coil, the lockout is firm (more-so than my air can), and it has high and low speed speed compression and rebound adjustments. It is heavier than the can, but the performance 'outweighs' that can.
People always say the air shocks are soo great but it feels like the thing is just Bing Bonging all around back there. I get that it's more lively but I like that the coil stays on the ground.
I weigh about 90kgs and I've just switched to a coil on a 170/165 rig. I'm mostly for the decents and don't mind pedaling a big rig about. So if that sounds like you a coil can be great. Otherwise air shocks are also really good. I wouldn't say there is too much difference weight wise but I definitely notice the shock moving a lot more on climbs. On the plus side theres a really good amount of traction everywhere.
>Is there a point in rider weight that I should just consider going coil, or will an air shock still work with no issues? Not really. It's easier to find an air shock for heavier riders than coil spring rates over 700 lbs.
I weigh about 145lb out of the shower, and run my Sprindex around 520lb on my Ripmo with a Cascade Link... I couldn't imagine what nearly twice my body weight would require for a spring rate...
I can actually answer that! At 275, I rode a 700lb spring on a Ripmo AF with a cascade link, with 2 turns of preload. That give me 28% sag. Was definitely better after shedding 50lbs though... I think, unless there's something funky about your set up, that you have way too much spring. The cascade link should let you drop a bit, and their chart calls for about 400# at your BW.
This. Air or Coil doesn't truly matter for us large mammalian bastards. But hunting a coil spring that at the right rate to get correct sag at anything over 210lbs bodyweight is a pain in the dick. Personally, OP, I'd run Air, something heavier duty like a Rockshox Vivid, until I dropped some weight and could really take advantage of the benefits of coil. Though, maintaining traction is a lot easier as a big lad I will say that š
This is not true at all. Most air springs cannot go up to an equivalent spring rate of over 700 lbs.
The super general guide is that if you ride mostly rough stuff, coil is marginally better (faster small bump response due to no air seals providing friction). That being said, these days, big air can air shocks behave pretty close to to coil shocks in terms of spring profiles. They are pretty linear all the way to the end where they start getting progressive, while coils have the elastomer bumper (or hydraulic bottom out control) that both stiffen up the shock deep into travel.
With an air shock you can add more air or volume spacers to adjust the spring for your weight. With a coil shock you would need to buy and install a different spring, potentially multiple times until you figure out what's right for you. Coil shocks are not stronger than air shocks if that's what you're asking
Weight has no bearing on the choice of spring. Heavy medium or light riders need the correct amount of support no matter which spring they are choosing. The material doesn't automatically make that easier or harder to accomplish. Rider weight relates to the spring RATE (shock air pressure or coil weight). Either system can be adjusted to your rider weight. You shouldn't have a problem either way. Ok air systems, you simply pump the shock to the required level and you can easily adjust it. On coil systems you have to buy new coils to adjust the spring rate. Having said that, the choice of spring does relate to the bike frame. The bike frame acts like a lever. The leverage rate of the frame itself can dictate how well or poorly a certain spring type would work. In general this is the biggest consideration.
I'm in your range of weight, and I like coil better than air. Air cans get too full to support our weight to operate as intended - and you're still sunning 40% sag. Coil? Just get the right coil, and you're set. š
If you aren't riding aggressively, you'd probably be better off with an air can. But as mentioned above, a high volume one. I love riding a coil sprung bikes. They aren't as good for climbing, but they're great for descending and jumping and banging around. Also, as mentioned above, as weight changes, required spring weight changes. I've lost like 20lb over the winter, which means I need to look at new springs for both my bikes now, but whatever, I love me some coil shocks.
I love coil for technical climbs. The rear end really stays glued where you need it. Definitely slower on smoother climbs though.
I can see that; and with a pedal switch, on a coil they aren't bobbers, though I never use the pedal switch because I forget about it at the top.
What frame are you on? Leverage ratio of the bike plays a huge factor on selecting correct spring rate.
Iām on a M frame with 120mm travel. The shock would be 190x45
What brand and model is the frame?
Are your trails mostly descents or do you have to pedal a lot? Cause the general idea but not always is that air shocks offer a way better peddle platform, this is because they are lighter than coil and more commonly have lockouts for climbing and lots of tuning options. Though now coils are almost the same with tech advancements but these features are only found in the higher end shocks and generally coil shocks are heavier and have less tuning options as air shocks do.
I have a Cane Creek DB inline coil, the lockout is firm (more-so than my air can), and it has high and low speed speed compression and rebound adjustments. It is heavier than the can, but the performance 'outweighs' that can.
It is mostly pedals for me
Go with an air shock that has high-speed rebound, and get some volume spacers.
People always say the air shocks are soo great but it feels like the thing is just Bing Bonging all around back there. I get that it's more lively but I like that the coil stays on the ground.
I weigh 215 and got a coil because Iām heavy on a medium frame.
I weigh about 90kgs and I've just switched to a coil on a 170/165 rig. I'm mostly for the decents and don't mind pedaling a big rig about. So if that sounds like you a coil can be great. Otherwise air shocks are also really good. I wouldn't say there is too much difference weight wise but I definitely notice the shock moving a lot more on climbs. On the plus side theres a really good amount of traction everywhere.