If there’s one thing apparent from this list of the best rear shocks for downhill riding, it’s that coil shocks are omnipresent in the pro circuit. This could just as well be a list about the best coil shocks for downhill racing.
If we try to reverse engineer the logic behind every race team opting for coil shocks, it has to be that they provide unsurpassed traction and control in high-speed descents. Because that’s what downhill racing is all about.
And as far as bottoming out is concerned, an area where air shocks should reign supreme for their progressive spring curve (more resistance at the bottom of the stroke, pro riders aren’t exactly known for their inability to bridge huge gaps.
But everybody knows that riding a pro bike doesn’t mean you’re a pro rider, apart from the fact that those guys and girls have personal mechanics and custom tunes for their bikes. So it’s not going to be all coil shocks for this list. I’ll dive into some of the pros and cons of air versus coil shocks when discussing the shocks.
Big brand names like Fox and RockShox being omnipresent isn’t just about money and marketing. Suspension is inherently very complex and these manufacturers are very slow in adopting newer techniques. That’s a good thing because it means they’re not changing winning formulas, and suspension tech basically hasn’t changed for decades. It’s just become more refined and able to fit into relatively small spaces, e.g. a mountain bike shock.
So with this list I’m on the safe side. The amount of money you need to spend on premium suspension is huge nowadays, so I’d rather be safe than sorry. And unlike other reviewers out there, I have to pay for my products, and don’t get them sent to me for free.
With that out of the way, let’s see what’s made it on my list of the very best rear shocks for downhill mountain biking.
Fox DHX2 Factory
I think the best thing to do when reviewing the Fox DHX2 Factory is when you compare it to the DHX.
Although I’m not entirely sure, my guess is the 2 in DHX2 stands for the way the damper is designed, which is a twin-tube shock (whereas the DHX is a single-tube shock). The advantages of this design are most usable for fast mid- and end stroke scenarios, e.g. enduro and downhill riding. This is not a blog about the ins and outs of twin-tube shock, so let’s just say friction with heat buildup and fading is significantly reduced, and the shock is lighter than its single-tube cousin.
The lockout lever isn’t as easy to flick as the DHX, while sitting at almost the same position at the top of the piggyback. But it works just as great.
By far the biggest advantage of this damper is the addition of 4-way adjustment, meaning you have the ability to finetune high-speed compression. It is a feature understandably lacking in the DHX, which means a lot of fiddling trying to get your mid and end stroke support right.
When I have to explain the feel of a coil spring I go to the extreme and say it operates like a tractor, doing all the work for you, and comfortably plowing through the trail. The DHX2 is just as good as the DHX, and adds improved support for the latter half of the travel as well. Including a large bottom-out bumper when smashing into holes and miscalculating landings.
Of course, (externally) adjusting a coil shock is never as fine grained as the single PSIs you can put in your air shock. But the 4-way adjustment goes a long way in combining the benefits of coil suspension with more than enough adjustability, with alternative springs and internal custom tuning an option as well. So don’t tell me an air spring is better. World Cups are won with this thing.
- Just as good as the DHX in smoothing out the trail, with much better mid- and end stroke support.
- None but the World Cup worthy price tag
Fox FLOAT X2 Factory
The Fox FLOAT X2 Factory is probably the benchmark of air sprung rear suspension for trail up to enduro and downhill riding. It’s 4-way adjustability and option to add a climb switch makes it an ideal companion for race-oriented enduro riding. Or if you simply want one of the best rear shocks out there.
If you’ve watched anything online about suspension, you’ve probably come across Fox’ Dialed series, in which pro riders are constantly tinkering with their suspension and discussing adding or subtracting a click from their compression setup. I think that best sums up what this shock encompasses in terms of adjustability, since you can finetune it to your heart’s content.
The wide range of adjustability means it’s less dependent on rider weight, or riding style, since you can dial in your ride characteristics irrespective of those two. This means that the shocks versatility ranges from mid-travel trail bikes all the way up to downhill rigs.
The downside of such a broad range of settings is obviously the time to get dialed in is arguably more complex, but definitely takes a couple of rides longer than with a comparative shock.
I never see or hear it in any online review, but from a technical standpoint the Fox’ internals are outstanding. Along with the durable Kashima coating it means you have a superb premium product that’ll with some TLC will last very long indeed.
In general Fox’ ability to smooth out bumps is unsurpassed, and they throw in every adjustment you’ll ever need for high speed descents as well. The same rings true for the X2, which is still one of the best rear shocks for fast descending.
- All you'll ever going to need in an air shock for trail and enduro riding. 4-way setup offers classic tunability in a high-quality product that'll guarantee a long livespan.
- None
Fox FLOAT X Factory
I’m a fan of the Fox FLOAT X2 so it might seem I have to think long and hard when doing a review on the Fox FLOAT X Factory. But fortunately it isn’t.
That’s because the FLOAT X targets a different audience, who’ll either feel less comfortable setting up suspension, or simply don’t want to. At least not ad infinitum.
Instead of 4-way adjustability like in the X2, you have low-speed and rebound adjustment, besides a soft-lock climb switch. I actually like such a suspension setup because it forces me to focus on riding instead of constantly experimenting with your setup, especially if you ride different trails.
Bracketing is a brainless procedure, and you’ll probably get up to speed on your first ride. The ride quality of the Fox shock leaves nothing to be desired. After you’ve set your sag and based on your initial settings, redialing compression and/or rebound feels effective, even with single clicks, making it a relatively easy process to get to the setup right for you.
The latest version of the FLOAT X has increased oil flow through the main piston to reduce the amount of air pressure you need to get the shock going. In turn this has led to less stress on the seals, and a smoother initial travel and small bump sensitivity, something the Fox brand is known for.
I’ve found a number of online reviews stating the necessity of a retune of the shocks internals. I’m not disputing the perception of the reviewer, but I tend to disagree with the notion of such a step as being normal.
Fox creates custom tunes for their pro riders and probably 2 stock tunes for OEM bikes, depending on the type of frame. Unlike pro tunes, which are rider and trail specific, stock tunes are one-size-fits-all tunes meant for the average rider, with average riding characteristics, hence they are a bit less performance oriented and lean towards comfort and plushness.
That’s probably what you want in a shock, and is also what you get with the FLOAT X. Since the shock does not offer high-speed compression and rebound, pushing the thing to its limits in a frame where it can perform sub par, with settings to prevent it from blowing through its travel, the thing will obviously feel harsh, which has nothing to do with the shock, but everything to do with the rest. Just keep that in mind.
- One of the more affordable options from Fox for plush trail and enduro riding. Soft-lockout lever provides a right balance between firmness and climbing traction. Solid package that offers the promise of easy setup for those who’re not looking for a million dials to keep them distracted
- If you want more settings the heavier, more expensive, 4-way X2 is the way to go
RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate
Apart from its crazy name there’s very much to love about the RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate, with one of the biggest brands in mountain bike suspension implementing a number of excellent features in this latest edition of their most premium coil shock.
The biggest change is the amount of adjustment. Oftentimes dialing in your settings means adding or subtracting 2 or 3 clicks of compression. That wouldn’t do with this shock which only offers 5 clicks for both low- and high-speed compression adjustment.
With both extremes of the setting the same, it means RockShox simply threw a number of options out the window. Your lowest setting is just as low as before, as is your highest setting. But obviously there’s a more noticeable difference with each click. And the dial has a little nick that shows you exactly where you are with your compression.
This doesn’t take away from the fine-tuning process but actually makes it easier to set it up, because the change feels more distinctive and offers better aid in whether or not it constitutes an improvement. And unless you’re some pro-level rider, you’ll never need the no longer present in-between settings.
Furthermore the shock has an interesting piece of technology called a Hydraulic Bottom Out (HBO) adjuster. It’s a 5-click adjustable circuit located inside an additional shaft at the top of the damper body, which diverts oil flow to the piggyback. When the top of the piston reaches and moves inside this shaft, it means the last 20 percent of travel has been reached, and the shock needs to ramp up to prevent bottoming out.
Since coil shock progression is linear, the HBO does a marvelous job of fine tuning this last section of travel for a piece of technology which is notorious for having difficulty providing control in exactly this region. The addition of this bottom-out feature alone is what sets it apart from its main competitor, which is the Fox DHX.
If you pile a cheaper asking price on top of that, as well as lower weight, it becomes really difficult to justify any other choice than this one for the average rider who’d like to start experimenting with coil suspension. A no fuss setup, easy adjustment, firm support with the climbing lever, excellent low-speed comfort and traction, solid control in the mid-stroke, and innovative control in the end stroke with bottom out prevention.
Maybe the Fox has better small-bump sensitivity when tested back-to-back, but the rest of this shock really feels like an unbeatable formula. For now at least.
- RockShox can be commended for implementing a number of standout features in a high-quality, yet easy to use coil shock
- None really
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
The RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate is the standard air sprung version of the high-end enduro and downhill shock.
Featuring the same RC2T damper, which stands for Rebound, and Compression which is Tunable in 2 ways. So you get your high- and low-speed compression, both with 5 clicks, and rebound adjustment offering 20 clicks.
The relatively low number of clicks to set up your compression is RockShox’ way of simplifying the initial damping. Instead of fine tuning with 2 or 3 clicks at a time, you can now actually bracket the shock using single clicks, which have a noticeable impact.
Where the coil version has a 5-click adjuster for the new HBO circuit, the air sprung one is non-adjustable. That makes sense considering it removes complexity from a shock which bottoms out less anyway since it has an air spring that ramps up. However, the addition of the HBO circuit is a nice touch to an already great shock.
The main comparison to make would be the Fox Float X, since they’re both air spring shocks within the same price category. Besides parts availability and serviceability, an area where Fox will win, in terms of functionality it kind of depends, as it usually does.
The Super Deluxe Ultimate comes in a massive amount of sizes. And besides this, the Debonair air spring comes in both a linear and progressive version, making it more ideal to find a suitable match for your frame.
The Ultimate also offers high-speed compression, which is probably easier to set up as I discussed earlier. So that means it’s now better to start comparing it to the X2 damper, which is but then the financial comparison gets thrown out the window. Since the Fox is more expensive both new and on the second-hand market.
I think the best thing to do is to put the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate into a league of its own. Its user-friendliness is something other brands could learn from. Whether it’s setting up sag, adjusting compression and rebound, adjusting air pressure with volume spacers, or even servicing the thing yourself. It’s broad range of sizes will have an appeal to a large set of riders as well.
- User-friendly, yet high-performing rear shock suitable for the majority of both bikes and riders
- Is probably outperformed by the X2, which serves a more performance-oriented premium crowd.
Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Coil
The Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Coil is the U.S. based flagship product in the coil shock lineup. Responsible for reintroducing the coil-craze it has quite a reputation to live up to. The question remains, does it?
For starters, you get 4-way external adjustability with dials. So no fidgeting with allen keys in hard to get places. And considering the range of distinct adjustments you can make, that’s quite a necessary feature as well.
Maybe not as important for everybody, but this thing is the most gorgeous shock I’ve ever seen. Especially decked out all black with the gold highlights on the dials, it looks like some alien piece of technology from a Halo game or something. If I would build myself a new full-suspension mountain bike, the looks alone would make me want to create an all-black rig.
Anyway, with that out of the way, let’s head over to some specifications. DB stands for “double barrel”, which means the shock offers a twin-tube design, similar to the DHX2 and with all the benefits already mentioned there. It means it’s a hard-hitting piece of equipment with a wide range of applications, including enduro and downhill.
Compression and rebound resides in individual circuits, meaning the already impressive range of tunability offers distinct configurability with little to no crossover. And with a custom spring the shock can be tuned for riders upwards of 200 pounds.
Usually 4-way adjustability, either with your front suspension or in this case with the shock, offers the high-speed tuning you want to adapt your bike’s ability to deal with particularly rough terrain.
The lockout lever, which Cane Creek calls climb switch, offers three settings. Your standard open, a soft-lock, and firm(er) lockout probably meant for pedaling to the trail. Easy to reach, and located to the side of the piggyback, which is either left or right depending on your frame.
Coil shocks are even less straightforward than 4-way front suspension, because you have to take into account the amount of leverage the frame generates and take that into account when choosing the spring. So you have high- and low-speed compression, high- and low-speed rebound, spring weight and spring preload (sag). That’s a lot to take into account.
It’s highly recommended you dive into the nitty-gritty of which dial does what and how all of your settings work together before buying such an expensive piece of equipment. But for those of you who don’t want to, which I guess is the majority, Cane Creek offers a handy Quick Tune Sheet, which offers a range of unwanted ride characteristics and how to solve them with external adjustments (compression and rebound).
It doesn’t make this shock a fit-and-forget component, but it goes a long way in simplifying setup, even for those who think they know what they’re doing. I’m the first to admit I get confused sometimes with which dial to turn which way, let alone how many clicks.
The product excels across the entire range of trail characteristics when properly set up. From climbing to descending, your bike keeps traction in the rear without turning your ride into a dull affair. It makes this shock a true upgrade over any other shock you might have been riding. And 99 percent of how your bike rides is a question of proper tuning anyway, and these shocks offer the widest range of all shocks out there.
The price might be something to worry about, yet with proper care I don’t see why the already more durable coil shock couldn’t last you for years and thousands of miles. I’ve already stated that for a bike build I’d choose this shock, but the same goes for a shock upgrade as well.
- A thing of beauty and exquisite craftsmanship which is still unrivaled. Incredibly wide range of adjustments to really dial in your preferred ride characteristic
- Definitely not a fit-and-forget product.
Marzocchi Bomber CR
The Marzocchi Bomber CR takes up a special place around coil shocks. Offering the basics of suspension (low-speed-compression, rebound adjustment and coil preload) it’s one of the best shocks for people moving into coiled rear suspension.
Where other brands are in a race to cram more technology into ever lighter chassis, Marzocchi has gone the route of offering standout suspension products which keep riders their sanity from a tunability standpoint, for a more than respectable price point.
Its relatively simple design ensures an increased durability, easier serviceability and tunability, with about the same ride quality for the average rider as you would get out of a shock which is twice as much. As a companion to the great Bomber Z1 (or more expensive Z2) fork, you’ll get a suspension setup to tackle just about any trail out there.
Obviously it has to deal with the shortcomings of just about any coil shock, which is end stroke and bottoming out support, caused by the lineair spring curve. But there are many ways to deal with this or at least mitigate its effect to some degree. And knowing which frame is well suited for coil shocks is one of those things.
On the flipside the Marzocchi Bomber CR offers the expected small bump sensitivity and traction anyone who installs a coil shock is looking for, for a small sacrifice in liveliness and pop.
Comfort, traction, the ability to ride longer with less fatigue, all for a decent enough price are part of the winning formula that’s called the Bomber CR.
- Best mid-tier coil shock on the market for either people who want to move into coil suspension or people who're adverse to spending twice as much on a shock.
- No firm mode or lockout lever for easier climbing. Doesn't offer all bells and whistles to finetune mid- and end stroke.
Specifications rear shocks for downhill
Name | Price | standard imperial sizes | standard metric sizes | Trunnion metric sizes | adjustability | weight | buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fox DHX2 Factory | 679 USD | 7.875×2.0, 8.5×2.5 (2-position Adjust Lever) 9.5×3.0, 10.5×3.5 (w.o. 2-position Adjust Lever) | 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 230×62.5, 230×65 (2-position Adjust Lever) 250×75 (w.o. 2-position Adjust Lever) | 185×50, 185×55, 205×60, 205×65 | (optional) open, firm lever 8-click high-speed compression 16-click low-speed compression 8-click high-speed rebound 16-click low-speed rebound detented coil-spring preload | 504 (w/o spring) | |
Fox FLOAT X2 Factory | 699 USD | 7.875×2.0, 8.5×2.5 (3-position Adjust Lever) 9.5×3.0, 10.5×3.5 (w.o. 2-position Adjust Lever) | 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 230×62.5, 230×65 (3-position Adjust Lever) 250×75 (w.o. 2-position Adjust Lever) | 185×50, 185×55, 205×60, 205×65, 225×75 | (optional) open, firm lever 8-click high-speed compression 16-click low-speed compression 8-click high-speed rebound 16-click low-speed rebound | ||
Fox FLOAT X Factory | 599 USD | N/A | 190×45, 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 230×62.5, 230×65 | 185×52.5, 185×55, 205×60, 205×62.5 | open, firm lever 11-click low-speed compression 16-click low-speed rebound | 477 | |
RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate | 529 USD | N/A | 210×47.5, 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 230×62.5, 230×65, 250×67.5, 250×70, 250×72.5, 250×75 | 165×45, 185×47.5, 185×50, 185×52.5, 185×55, 190×45, 205×57.5, 205×60, 205×62.5, 205×65, 225×67.5, 225×70, 225×72.5, 225×75, | open, firm lever 5-click high-speed compression 5-click low-speed compression 20-click rebound 5-click hydraulic bottom out adjuster | 507 (w/o spring) | |
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate | 599 USD | N/A | 190×37.5, 190×40, 190×42.5, 190×45, 210×47.5, 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 230×62.5, 230×65, 250×67.5, 250×70, 250×72.5, 250×75 | 165×37.5, 165×40, 165×42.5, 165×45, 185×47.5, 185×50, 185×52.5, 185×55, 205×57.5, 205×60, 205×62.5, 205×65, 225×67.5, 225×70, 225×72.5, 225×75 | open, firm lever 5-click high-speed compression 5-click low-speed compression 20-click rebound hydraulic bottom out adjuster | 458 | |
Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Coil | 730 USD | N/A | 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 230×62.5, 230×65, 250×70 | 185×50, 185×52.5, 185×55, 205×57.5, 205×60, 205×62.5, 205×65, 225×70, 225×75 | Tool free 4-way adjustment 3-Position Climb Switch | 468 (w/o spring) | |
Marzocchi Bomber CR | 299 USD | 7.5×2.0, 7.875×2.0, 7.875×2.5, 8.5×2.5, 8.75×2.75, 9.5×3.0 | 210×50, 210×55, 230×60, 230×65, 250×75 | 185×52.5, 185×55, 205×60, 205×65, 225×75 | 10-click low-speed compression adjustment 10-click rebound adjustment coil-spring preload adjustment | 390 (w/o spring) |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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