In this article I’m going to provide you with an overview of the very best rear shocks for trail riding, encompassing probably the biggest mountain bike discipline.
It’s probably the largest article on rear shocks I’ve written since the type of shock you’re looking for can cover such a broad spectrum of riding styles. So when deciding what’s best for you, keep the following in mind.
The shocks shown here are either inline shocks, or those with piggybacks, and air shocks, or coil shocks. So there are a total of 4 options to choose from.
Inline shocks are lighter and often don’t have high-speed compression and high-speed rebound. They can be found on short- to mid-travel XC and trail bikes that favor a bit of weight gain, a simpler setup, and compatibility with lockout levers for climbing and/or sprinting.
Premium piggyback shocks, either air or coil, have either high-speed compression, or 4-way adjustment (high-speed rebound as the fourth setting), which makes more sense for high-speed descents on rough terrain, such as you’ll encounter most for enduro and downhill riding. They are the heaviest, most expensive shocks, and offer the most adjustability.
There are benefits associated with air sprung shocks, and those with coils. With each shock I’ve listed some of their riding characteristics so you can decide what’s best for you.
Shock adjustability is shrouded in mystery, but here’s what you need to know, and what I find to be a pretty common misconception online. Which is that the necessity to revalve your shock is incredibly slim.
For example, Fox provides a couple of tried-and-tested race tunings for bike manufacturers to choose from for their frame kinematics. And revalving is a rarity during races, where 98 percent of readjusting the setup can be done using external adjusters.
So if top-level riders can get a correct setup basically all of the time by adding a little bit of compression or rebound damping, chances are, so can you. And barring some prototype shocks, you can use the exact same ones they’re using to break records.
The last thing I’ll mention is the availability of shocks for sale as individual products. All manufacturers list all of their shocks, but not all of them are for sale. Since it’s more common to upgrade your fork than it is your shock, the pickings are slimmer in the shock department, and for both RockShox and Fox covers the most premium and expensive versions, exceptions aside.
That’s because even very expensive mountain bikes don’t always come with the Ultimate or Factory versions, which is the current state of the bike industry we have to live with.
You can find an overview of all the shocks mentioned here at the end of the article. And with that out of the way, let’s dive into my list of the very best rear shocks for trail riding.
Fox FLOAT DPS Factory
The Fox FLOAT DPS (Dual Piston System) Factory is undeniably one of the ultimate XC and trail dampers worth your money. And you’ll need quite a lot of it to pay for the Kashima coated beauty.
The dual piston setup enables Fox to ensure a high level of compression adjustment in combination with a firm lockout, by applying both functions to separate circuits. It means there’s far less if any compromise between the two. For XC it means a very sensitive shock can exist besides a rock-hard lockout for climbing and sprinting.
I don’t know exactly why the air receives the same Kashima coat treatment as the damper body, unless the air sleeve is also coated on the inside with the stuff. What I do know is that the coating both hardens and smoothens the body, by filling in microscopic gaps in the anodization.
All this plushness is further enhanced by a large volume EVOL negative air chamber that serves to offer pressure for the initial downstroke (e.g. when you hit a bump and the shock needs to compress). Fox is at the top of their game when it comes to rear shock suppleness. Relatively small volume spacers let you add to the progressive nature of the shock without impacting its compression adjustment too much.
The same adjustability is offered as the RockShox Deluxe with 3 settings for low-speed compression (firm, medium, open), besides the lockout lever and rebound adjuster. Should you decide to install the remote version, you’ll only get a remote-operated lockout lever that removes the low-speed compression.
XC has moved from 100mm to 120mm of front suspension travel and Fox 34 vs Fox 32’s and this DPS shock is a fantastic companion for both aggressive cross country riders and trail enthusiasts.
- Incredibly supple high quality shock which is firm enough for XC and offer enough support for trail riding
- A lot more expensive than the RockShox alternative. Remote version disables low-speed compression adjustment
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
Fox DHX Factory
If you want to upgrade to a coil shock and Fox is your favorite brand, the Fox DHX Factory is a a pricey offering to achieve that next level of coil plushness.
Where the DHX2 holds a twin-tube damper, the DHX is a single-tube one. To keep things easy to understand, it means oil flows back and forth through the piston head and shim stack, which creates the overall damping force. This less complex design is cheaper, and arguably more durable and resistant to lateral loads caused by flexing frames. In terms of damping adjustability you get 11 clicks of low-speed compression alongside 16 clicks of low-speed rebound adjustment.
Besides the “open” mode, there’s a soft-lockout lever with a blowout valve, should you forget to flip it for your next descent. The lockout does a decent job of firming up the rear for more efficient uphill pedaling, but don’t expect an XC-like lockout. On the flipside the soft-lockout is better in keeping traction going over small rocks and roots typical for trail riding, which is the intended purpose of this coil shock.
Considering the lack of high-speed compression or even 4-way adjustment I would argue that on paper alone this coil should be used for (light) trail only. And when used in such an environment the shock’s ride characteristics are spot-on.
Typical for coil suspension is the absence or stiction and smooth move in the initial stroke, resulting in a much more sensitive ride for the first third of the travel when compared to your typical air shock. When you come from using an air shock the Fox DHX is a breath of fresh air, and what I typically associate with coil shocks in terms of leveling out trails it does so in textbook like fashion.
Fox’ sales page states this shock feels like a magic carpet ride, and although in general marketing mumbo jumbo is just that, I tend to agree with them on this one. There is so little trail chatter that it feels like you might have forgotten to inflate your tires. Not only does it mean your bike’s rear rides incredibly comfortable, and you can stay seated where normally you might want to stand up, the amount of grip your bike has is also beyond belief.
Then for a few side notes on mid- and end stroke support. The good thing is that the shock’s redesign includes a larger bottom-out bumper, to prevent that unnerving clanking sound should inadvertently misjudge your chosen line.
It’s not an enduro or downhill shock, you can’t dial in high-speed compression and/or rebound and the shocks linear nature has to benefit from your bike’s progressive leverage rate (if it has any) to smoothen out the end of your travel curve. Still, it will not provide the type of mid and end stroke support of your typical air shock.
Fully opening up your rebound only goes so far in maintaining support, before heading into the area of swapping out the spring for a heavier one or even sending in the shock for a retune, which is something of a last resort if you ask me, since I deem it highly unlikely that the stock tuning isn’t set broad enough for the average rider. It would mean the guys at Fox don’t know what they’re doing and miscalculated the tuning necessary for the shocks intended purpose.
Those latter two aren’t cheap anyway, and if you decide to go this route you might’ve just as well immediately settled for the DHX2 which does have HSC and HSR.
- Fox cheapest MSRP coil shock, for what it's worth. Extremely plush initial stroke and support. Worthy of the "magic carpet" monniker
- Really pricey for a shock that might lack support in the mid- and end stroke when pushed into downhill territory. If that's what you want the DHX2 seems a safer choice even if you have to add another 100 USD to the already significant price.
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
RockShox Monarch RL
The RockShox Monarch RL is the big brand’s budget lineup when it comes to rear shocks. One step up from the Monarch R, it not only features rebound adjustment, but also a lockout lever. Making this an excellent mid-tier option for both XC and trail riding.
Compatible with lockout levers, it’s the basic functionality you should want in a rear shock, and the price sitting under 300 USD makes it a solid upgrade for those of you who still want to be able to pay their mortgage.
The shock has been in RockShox’s lineup for ages and has seen very little innovations. It holds the Solo Air air spring, which means you can pressurize it using a single Schrader valve. This makes for a less complex setup, which is easy to service, even by yourself. And considering the popularity and widespread use of this shock, there are many YouTube tutorials out there to help you along the way, saving you even more cash should you decide you want to.
With so little configurability it can be hit or miss considering the setup, and you only have air pressure to work with and firm up the shock. But unless you’re an outlier in terms of weight, or you have a bike with a non-average geometry, the shock performs admirably and should cover the needs of the majority of enthusiastic mountain bikers.
- One of the cheapest big brand shocks on the market. Above average build quality and functionality. Easy to service, and even easier to set up.
- Lack of adjustability might make it less suitable for outliers in terms of rider weight, and bike geometry
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.
Manitou Mara
With RockShox and Fox dominating the suspension space, there’s very little room for other brands to shine, even though they make excellent products. The Manitou Mara is one of those products, offering a great-looking damper with an angry-looking buddhist demon onto an aerospace-grade aluminum chassis.
Looks are great, but the least important for ride-quality. In terms of offering an excellent ride experience, the Manitou Mara is an tremendously capable rear shock, offering a very different feel from the super lightweight SIDLuxe.
It’s super supple off-the-top, goes really easy into its initial travel, yet still offers fantastic support and spring progression due to what Manitou calls IPA or Incremental Platform Adjust damping. I guess it’s another buzzword from the sales department, to denote two different shim stacks operating on high- and low-speed compression while you progress through your travel. It’s something you only find on premium shocks and you find it on the Mara.
Calling this thing an XC shock is interesting to say the least. It is an inline damper (meaning no enlarged oil volume with the help of a “piggyback”), so technically it could fade faster when used extensively on harsh downhill terrain. But it really doesn’t, making it a trail-worthy companion besides a burly XC damper.
Unlike many of its competitors it has 4 low-speed compression adjustments instead of 2 or 3. And Manitou decided it would be a good thing to switch the traditional blue and red colors for compression and rebound, which is more quirky than impactful.
- XC shock that feels worthy enough for trail riding
- None really
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.
Cane Creek Air IL
The Cane Creek Air IL (Inline) is a very expensive multi-functional rear shock, ready to take you anywhere from XC, to trail, to enduro racing.
An absolute gorgeous piece of machinery, the black shock with gold finishes offers 4-way adjustment enabling to finetune the setup for the aforementioned variety in riding environments. That’s both high- and low-speed compression, and high- and low-speed rebound. Dialing in your settings is done with an allen key. No blue and red knobs mar the sleek design of the damper, creating this unique but ultra-cool design.
All that adjustability is great. You probably never need a custom tune to get to the right settings. But more options does mean higher complexity, so patience is advised when you get to the setting that’s right for you.
Included in the package is the option to mount the OPT climb switch or lockout lever, also in black with gold touches.
For those willing to spend the money on a shock you get unrivaled external adjustability. It’s amazing that they could fit all that technology in such a small package, making it both the most expensive and heaviest inline shock I could find.
It truly is a better, better-looking, more adjustable, more complex, heavier, more expensive shock than all other inline shocks out there. It’s basically more everything that will create a perfect riding experience in the right hands. Plush of-the-top, sensitive mid-stroke support, and stable and controllable traction even when the going gets tough.
For an inline damper, the valve body is huge at 50.5 mm. It means more oil volume, and less heat buildup to virtually negate fading on prolonged downhill sections.
- Fantastic inline shock. Offering huge range of adjustability for the widest range of ride characteristics.
- The most expensive and heaviest inline damper I could find.
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.
Cane Creek DBcoil IL
The Cane Creek DBcoil IL is the lightest coil shock on the market, but besides that it has a couple of other things going for, that might make you want to choose this inline shock over its bigger brother the Kitsuma.
There’s the obvious matter of frame compatibility. The lack of piggyback makes it a much smaller package that will fit any bike frame provided it can run one of the available sizes.
Another more technical feature is the fact that Cane Creek has managed to move a twin-tube piston architecture into an inline shock, and including 4-way adjustability because they can. It’s a beefy inline coil shock that’s incredibly capable for trail and enduro riders, who want the functionality of a coil shock with proper climbing abilities as well.
No dials are found on the damper unit. Instead 4 allen key operated adjusters are sitting in a row with a lockout lever in the middle. A small allen key resides in the lever, which can be popped out by pushing on the small part which protrudes at the base. It’s a nice touch that encourages trailside tinkering and shock adjustment. Don’t let it drop though because the small tool is easy to lose track of.
It’s obviously not as easy to adjust as the dials found on the Kitsuma, but the design was probably done to reduce the complexity, weight, and price of the shock.
A thing to keep in mind with this shock is the progressive nature of the bike. Since coil shocks have a linear spring curve, they don’t ramp up when going deep into the travel. Since most suspension is air suspension, most bike manufacturers make frames with air suspension in mind. That means that this smaller inline shock runs the risk of not providing enough end stroke support (e.g. bottoming out) when put into a non-progressive frame built for air suspension.
Another way of thinking about a progressive frame is that early in the travel the shock piston moves slowly (slow leverage ratio) while later in the travel the shock travels much faster (larger leverage ratio eating up the travel).
As expected the Cane Creek DBcoil IL moves immediately when you get into the saddle, which is a sure sign of ongoing traction for smooth trail riding. The reason for a coil shock resurgence is that it offers benefits to the majority of riders. Where coil shocks shine is in small bump sensitivity, comfort, control, traction, climbing, and fast descending on rocky terrain. Air shocks trump coil shocks in bottoming out, playfulness (up for debate though), hard cornering and jumps (in general).
Cane Creek isn’t the biggest suspension player by far. RockShox and Fox carve out almost 90% of the suspension market. That means that both servicing your shock and getting spare parts is more difficult and more expensive. And I say that because it unfortunately has been my personal experience, where I had to pay a huge amount of money to get a specific part I could get anywhere else. This might be because I’m not located in the United States. It might be a one-time unfortunate coincidence, but it’s important enough to put it here.
What Cane Creek has achieved with the DBcoil IL is to make a coil shock everyone can use, with plenty of adjustment that’s relatively easy to set up with some reading and patience, and offering riding characteristics that’ll make you ask yourself why you didn’t find out about coil suspension sooner.
- Excellent coil shock for light and mid-travel trail bikes.
- A higer risk of more difficult and expensive service
Specifications rear shocks for trail riding
Name | Price | discipline | standard imperial sizes | standard metric sizes | Trunnion metric sizes | adjustability | weight | buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fox FLOAT DPS Factory | 479 USD | XC, trail | 6.5×1.5, 7.25×1.75, 7.5×2.0, 7.875×2.0, 7.875×2.25 (3-position lever) 6.5×1.5, 7.25×1.75, 7.5×2.0 (2-position remote) | 190×40, 190×42.5, 190×45, 210×50, 210×55 (3-position lever) | 165×40, 165×42.5, 165×45, 185×50, 185×52.5, 185×55 | open, medium, firm lever 3-click low-speed compression rebound | 221 | |
Fox FLOAT X Factory | 599 USD | trail, all-mountain, enduro | 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 | |
Fox DHX Factory | 569 USD | trail, all-mountain, enduro | N/A | 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55, 230×57.5, 230×60, 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 detented coil-spring preload | 509 (w/o spring) | |
Fox DHX2 Factory | 679 USD | enduro, downhill | 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 | enduro, downhill | 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 | ||
RockShox Monarch RL | 289 USD | XC, trail | N/A | 165×38, 184×44, 190×51 | N/A | open, firm lever rebound adjustment | 215 | |
RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate | 529 USD | trail, enduro, downhill | 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 | trail, enduro, downhill | 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 | |
Manitou Mara | 475 USD | XC, trail | N/A | 170×30, 170×35, 190×40, 190×45, 210×50, 210×55, 230×60, 230×65, 216×63, 200×56, 200×50, 190×50, 165×38, 152×32 | 165×40, 165×45, 185×50, 185×55, 205×60, 205×65 | External Adjustments: Compression Platform Rebound Air-Pressure Internal User Tuning: Air Volume (Spring Rate), Shim Stack External Tuning: High Speed Compression, Low Speed Compression | 275 | |
Marzocchi Bomber CR | 299 USD | enduro, downhill | 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) | |
Cane Creek Air IL | 630 USD | XC, trail, enduro | N/A | 190×42.5, 190×45, 210×50, 210×52.5, 210×55 | 165×40, 165×42.5, 165×45, 185×50, 185×52.5, 185×55 | High-speed compression & rebound. Low speed compression & rebound. Climb Switch. | 385 | |
Cane Creek DB Kitsuma Coil | 730 USD | trail, enduro, downhill | 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) | |
Cane Creek DBcoil IL | 526 USD | trail, enduro, downhill | N/A | 200×50, 200×57, 210×50, 216×63, 190×45, 210×55 | 185×52.5 | Tool free 4-way adjustment Climb Switch | 285 (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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