I'm a huge fan of the new 2023 rock shox super deluxe coil. It's not as expensive as the fox is, but it provides a great adjustability which is not so hard to set up properly + there's an extra adjustable hydroulic bottom out. Generaly speaking, a really good shock :)
@@BasicBodThor I kind if disagree It depends on whether you need these features or not. 21 Coil is a very good shock and is durable. If you have issues with bottoming out or need a lighter/stiffer tune then of course it is.
@@BasicBodThor I have had them both in the last year and the main difference to me is the adjustable bottom out. They are both really good shocks, but being able to run a bit softer coil and then turn up the bottom out is a bit of a game changer.
I recommend the new rockshox super deluxe ultimate coil with hydraulic bottom out. Again like the Zeb fork easy to set up and service yourself.. I'll chuck formula mod coil and cane creek kitsuma coil into the mix too.
Hi! I have a spindrift too and tried the Jade DH coil. In fact, I tried 2 of them and returned them both. It really sucked and I was getting the sucking feeling too, especially when rebounding. I think the shocks were sitting in the warehouse for a long time and because of that, the air from the bladder started to migrate inside the oil chambers and because of that you get more cavitation. Would recommend the RS ultimate coil. Great adjustability.
Totally agree. Although as people here have mentioned the shock tends to favour a planted setup with the recommended spring rate, although this is easily resolved by going up 25lbs in spring rate
From what I gathered, this isnt the first time you ride the DVO Jade, just the first time in this frame? So, if it doesnt feel good, first thing would be to change the spring, as opposed to jumping to a different shock, where you just start from 0 experience again if its a new one to you. And then there is always the possibility that a given frame doesnt perform so well with a coil shock due to not enough linkage progression in order to compensate for the linear spring rate of a standard spring. The solution to that would be a progressive spring or an air shock, which are inherently progressive. But I'd start with just a lighter spring and see where that takes you.
Big fan of the cane creek DB kitsuma both air and coil. Similar adjustability/Performance to a fox float x2 but that 3 position lockout lever makes it stand out
Great video. Of course, you're always stoked to ride a shiny new bike, but every bike no matter how expensive is going to have it's pros and cons. Lewis, you seem to have a keen sense for what is working and what could be improved. I go through the same process. I also run GX Axis on my Stumpjumper Evo. I wish it was a bit less prone to rattle on the descents but I don't know a fix for it. I'm 6'3" tall and run a 240mm OneUp dropper on my bike. Being limited on dropper length would be a big bummer for me.
The "best" rear shocks is actually the ext storia ( but hard too maintain because only few centers can do it ) the rockshox from 2023 would be nice too and he got the hbo that a dhx2 don't have so you can adjust the feeling of your end of travel you can do it with a progressiv srping on the fox but it got less impact on it and you can't stet it on top of a trail depends on what kind on trail you ride
The clutch in the gx axs derailleur is hot garbage. You cant tighten it. Ive warrantied a handful for customers just for them to have the same complaint with the brand new one.
I started in the middle middle with my compression and depending where riding I may go 2 or 3 more clicks of compression or 2 or 3 less from middle on less aggressive ride if that makes sense. I thought this was a good starting point 👍🏼
Based on my personal experience, and other peoples opinion as well, I'd stay away from Fox. I had an X2, they have no support at all, (altough I'm a heavy guy at 110kg). I used full travel on a pumptrack with max volume reducers, pressure, and everything cranked up. I then swapped it to a dhx2, and put a stiff spring on it. That was all right. But the other thing is, out of all the 20something clicks of compression, even suspension mechanics proved on dyno, that nothing happens untill the last few clicks away from fully closed. Another great example for this are my Bomber DJ forks, which are essentially Fox... Not to talk about the new Fox's "blowing up" like clockwork after about half a year of weekend riding. Some of them even earlier. (Vital MTB had a big test of dh bikes, the dhx2 performance elite only lasted a few days on one of their bikes.) I settled with the Cane Creek Kitsuma. Absolutely mind blowing shock. I misjudged the spring rate the first time, was way too soft, and still had a ton of mid stroke support on almost fully open compression, and never bottomed out, even in Wind hill drops and tight berms. Has HSC, LSC, HSR, LSR, and 3 position climb switch, that makes the bike a hardtail on fully closed. Fox's climb switch does nothing. I don't have any experience with Rock shox tho...
not sure what dropper you're using? but from the ones I've fitted, the OneUp V2 has the lowest stack height for the travel and they come with 10mm or 20mm reducers to change the drop included in the box ( additional 10mm brass keys to install)..
@@LewisBuchananI also agree, the oneup is the dropper you want. It has a much shorter total length and a smaller stack height compared to the pnw loam
+1 vote for oneup dropper. A shorter dropper will only leave the seat higher for descents unless you loosen it and slide the seatpost down every lap… 😅
I ride a Geometron G1 with EXT Storia Lok V3, EXT ERA(V1), not tried the V2 yet. But I am sure it's great. V2 has floating axle and improved internals. I'm not sure if I've the settings dialed, but I think my air settings are great. My settings: The recommended settings make the fork quite harsh, so need to go lower. Vital MTB came to the same conclusion. ERA: LSR 2 clicks HSR 0 (will test HSR later) ++ chamber: 70psi + chamber: 60psi Storia: LSR 2 clicks HSR 2 clicks Rebound 2 clicks 400 LBS spring Rider weight 72 kg naked, +/- 86 kg, no exact current weight now, need a new scale. I run Cush Core Pro on 30mm DT swiss rims, with Michelin Wild Enduro tyres, 26PSI front, 28PSI rear, the bike is 18.14kg according to my scale. But here is what I can say about the shock and fork: Fork: Pros: It has all the adjustments Fox Grip 2 has, high and low speed compression & rebound But it has two positive air chambers, so you can adjust it the sensitivity and mid stroke support. So if adjusted right the fork is both supportive and plush, and can handle big hits. The big compression dial is easy to turn, much easier than Grip2, requires less force, but clicks nicely, the smaller dial is not as nice to turn as it's small, but that's unavoidable The air cap has a hex hey slot so you can easily undo it with a multi-tool No creaking so far, Fox 36 would have creaked already, I had it since it came on the market in Norway. Mudguard mounting holes at the arch Supports Torque Caps, so if you don't have that, it's recommended to get it, not only will it make the connection stiffer but will make wheel install easier. Cons: So far none. Shock: Pros: Usable adjustment range I forgot the number of clicks but it's not many. The climb switch is very easy to switch, yet it stays in place, only goes out of adjustment if I crash and hit it with my knee, foot or something. the damper is quite quiet As the shock came with the G1 frame it has spherical bearings which means the performance is great, as the shock will work smoothly despite frame flex under heavy loads. Cons: plastic bump stop spacer thing make noise on rough sections, when blasting trough rough downhills, besides that the shock is very quiet. ass it's a coil shock the coil can creak sometimes and it does fatigue a bit thus preload has to be adjusted from time to time, but that's just the nature of a coil shock. Need a socket tool for one of the compression adjustments.
i don't touch the compression (no high- and low-speed) at all on my zeb since i feel like the sensitivity gets worse when dailing it in (As for any fork). The support feels just right for me. (No Tokens installed, 90kg, can't remember my PSI Setting.. 🙂) I do have the new 2023 RS Coil on my DH bike and can recommend it just as much as the new Zeb. Very sensitive (of course, coil.. ) with an hydraulic bottom-out feature plus the ability to tune high and low speed compression separately. So you really can't go wrong with it since it's also a lot cheaper than the DHX2. 🙌
I don’t know if you just don’t show that in your video but when pumping your air shock or fork you should cycle couple of times the suspension so the air equalizes between lower and upper chamber. For example when you put 73 psi you had 66 in the lower chamber (as 66 was previous pressure) and 73 in the upper. Equalizing the chamber pressure and you should see that the ‘real' pressure was like 70psi Cheers 🍻
I don't have the Spindrift, but I do have the Tyee and it took me several goes to get the rear to my liking. According to Propain, at 91kg I should be using the 550# spring but I have my Springdex (550-610) set to 600 currently. Also the 2023 RS Ultimate coil was bucking on jumps with the recommended rebound setting, I had to soften that up some, but feels good now. I run my 2023 Zeb Ultimate at 83psi, but I am at 170mm length, so I imagine it needs more air compared to 180mm. I hooked up a shockwiz to my fork and with my preferred nuetral/poppy preference it had me add a token and pretty much had me lower the hi/low compression as far as it would go. I ended up with a couple clicks from full open on both and never bottom the fork under normal riding although I am not doing 10ft drops or anything BIG. I run the GX AXS as well, mine does make some noise but not that bad. I read that some the springs are just weak, not sure if that is universal or not.
Got the basic rockshox coil on my spindrift, zero pedal bob when sat down. Same thing with the dropper, still pondering on which length to get. Most likely wait for a cheap wireless one to appear and run a short post on lift days. Love mine, weirdly light for what it is 🤔
Lewis, concerning blowing through the fork travel (not the rear - you obviously need some serious fettle for that), as a general rule, do you pressurise to the trail type or do you pressurise to the sag (I’m assuming you’ve sorted the air chamber with tokens)? On the trail today, my own view is that even you should not have been using a great deal of it - I’m pretty certain you were not up to pace due to the reasons you listed. Concerning the shock, you need something with flexibility (this is your do it all enduro bike). So, something like the Fox x2 shock will give you that with its 4x adjustment and big air chamber designed for the gnarly options you’ll pursue and, whilst I hesitate to say so, get it pro tuned to you like the lads and lassesses use Jordy at the UCI races.
what iv found with the trail head app for like somone who works in a bike shop is that for probbly 70% of people its all the setup they need. but for someone like you who is probbly adding air as you feel like you just drop through the travel id say mabey try maxing out the tokens in the fork or mabey try out the mrp rampcontorle upgrade as when running at the pressure they say is reccomended you get the best small bump tracking so the wheel seems to hold well on the dirt but having a 10psi buffer each way is also not a bad idea like some people will go down 10 psi as they like it to be super soft
I noticed the AXS GX rear mech bounces around a lot but the GX normal mech doesn't, lots of people complain about the same issue and it seems to be down to the lack of cable which in turn holds the mech to a certain degree and quietens it down a lot, even had the same issue on xx1. If you Google it you will find lots of that issue.
I've had very good luck with the ohlins ttx22m paired with the zeb (I've done it on 3 bikes now). The ext storia is also good for the hbo, but I've found it a bit more fiddly to get dialed in (I can get the ttx dialed anywhere between planted and playful or right in the middle depending on my mood, the storia is a bit trickier to find the middleground - it likes to be set more planted but you can force it to the playful side if needed, finding the halfway point is tough). I've had very poor luck getting the DHX2 to get planted without killing any pop and sacrificing grip (I find when I get it to stick to the ground through fast chunky hits I have to add enough comp damping that the grip starts to suffer - so on berms and in the marbles it just doesn't stick as well). YMMV, I'm just a nerd with a bike.
I've always been a Fox rider, mostly because of motorcycle. I still prefer Fox for all my stuff. I rode a DeVinci Sparton with the ZEB and RockShox coil ( I can't remember the models) but that ZEB is legit, and the RockShox rear coil was impressive!
I mean if you knew the way you want it to ride before you order. Get them on phone and talk to them is the best way. I told them obviously my weight and my frame. Then talked about the trails I ride and my style. They got it super plush up top but nice and supportive in mid and ramp up bottom support for my snappy agile jump style of riding. I made just a few small adjustments to the rebound, lsc and hsc and it was perfect for my everyday riding. I dialed it in super money one day at the bike park. But yes you do have to take the time to get it perfect but then trust me its the best you will ever have. I do think the new RS with HBO is killer for its price and many should go that route unless they want full custom which is why you go to EXT for custom tune for you.
@@StokedExplorer Yes, that's my plan. I'm dialing in the fork (ext era v2) since I have the storia in a somewhat happy place. Once I get the fork dialed a bit better I'll go back to focusing on the shock. Once I have feedback worth sharing with them I'll send it back to them. Neither are performing as well as my prior combos but the fork is what I'm really fighting with at the moment...
I tried a propain bike for a few days and no matter the amount of tweaking I did the rear end never felt good….almost like it was too kicky and sharp. Could have just been that I had a cavitated shock though. You should try a ext or push shocks only thing is they’re tuned for a specific bike so might not feel great on a different bike
Give the 2023 Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Air shock. I have it and it's super plush and adjustable. What I love about it is how easy it is to tune. And the high speed and low speed compression is fully independent from each other. Meaning if you change the setting on say the high speed comp, it doesn't affect the low speed comp and vice versa.
The gx axs is bad for chain slap because there’s no cable to keep the derailleur still. I actually put a shim washer in the b bolt so it’s like the new axs and now have no noise at all
Lewis! stay with dvo jade x which is superlative. Use a sprindex spring which is progressive and you have an adjustment range on the spring of 50Nm without having to use the preload. This means that if you harden the spring, however, it activates with the same force without losing sensitivity on small bumps!!! Adjust the bladder of the jade x at a lower pressure. Dvo better than rockshox coil and in my opinion also than fox. The fork I will be using with my dvo Jade x on my new bike will be the Fox 38. The rockshox zeb fork I've never tried it but with my ex lyrik rtc3 I've always had a great time. I was using 3 tokens to make it progressive and lower pressure Around 60/65 psito keep it sensitive at low bumps . Low speed compression fully open or three clicks from fully open. Tire pressure front 1.6/8 bar and rear 1.8/2 bar. I weigh about 84 kg dressed and 80 kg without clothes, I am 184 tall
absolutley love my spindrift i currently run an ohlins TTX22m.2 on mine with factory performance 38s and the bike feels so plush !! altho the ohlins isnt a direct fit i had TFTUNED build me one up as propain and many others told me it wasnt possible to run an ohlins coil. proved wrong haha
Ask Remy as well bro. My buddy rides Push 11-6, and he still is excited about the ride quality. If that's not enough Push has a new design for 2023 I believe.
I've found that in the past the rockshox stock fork settings are practically unusable (my guess is the settings or more geared towards comfort rather than support) whereas at least on the grip2 forks the fox stock chart values actually give you a pretty supportive setup. Granted it's possible this has changed since I last rode an rockshox fork.
I’ve ran the previous generation and now current generation Lyrik and the air chart on the latest is a lot closer. Used to be 10-15 psi over recommended now I just use the upper end of the recommended numbers.
The dropper would be a 170 I would guess, I would put RockShox super delux ultimate on the back of that, I have one on my new Hightower and the back end is the best I’ve ever felt. All the Tuning you’d ever need and awesome out of the box. Never ran a Zeb, got that daft hub end caps that stops changing wheels on bikes with Fox forks.
The 2023 RS super deluxe ultimate coil would have to be a contender for a new shock. I just picked up a 2021 version because I’m a cheapskate and prob don't need HBO 😅
New Rockshox super deluxe ultimate coil. It has the same hydraulic bottom out as the Push 11/6 but is way cheaper and so quiet. Ur suspension will be a silent assassin of speed. If u want high speed rebound adjustment then go for a DHX2 but I prefer the Super Deluxe.
Which pads are you using in your dominions? I just got a set, I'm using the stock resin pads that come in them. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to swap to the metallic pads that came with the brakes, or just to save them until I wear out the organic ones
The sram gx axs has a weak clutch even weaker then the mechanical gx version so it’s just gonna be noisy so upgrade to xo1. The spindrift has a tall seat tube that was the one deal breaker I had with the bike so I didn’t go for it. Try running open or 1-3 clicks of lsc compression the fork will feel more planted.
550lb shock seems high for your weight on trail riding like that. Probably ideal for your huge bike park sends but maybe a 4-450lb spring might be better at inners. Mint riding as usual man. Nice video too. Very watchable. I've got a rockshox deluxe ultimate Coil and find that easy to setup but I'm not on your level of skill!
Great video I reckon your 5-10 psi to much on the ZEB and add a token, rear shock I have DVO Topaz v3 and it's much better than Fox X2 not had rear Rock Shock but I've heard it's good not as good as the DVO. I think if your after the ultimate than EXT is best rear shock especially if you like to tinker and adjust for racing at differant tracks.
omg from like 11:10 you can just hear how much the drive train and frame arnt liking that rear shock got a verry harsh sound to it but also seems like the rear end just dosent want to run nice like it verry dead or dull
I think you're derailleur is super loud because it's AXS. The clutch is probably ok it's the entire derailleur that is clanging around because there is no pressure from a cable holding it in place. My friends AXS is annoyingly loud for that reason. SRAM clutches aren't really adjustable.
Do you know if there is a new spindrift coming out soon? Tyee came out just now and it looks absolutely sick Can't belive im saying this but if i like the new spindrift i might just sell my brand new santa cruz nomad just for the price performance...
So here is a review from a guy how rode nearly 200.000hm of trails last season on a Propain Spindrift (size L, 29): 1) I have long legs so I don´t mind the long seat tube. The issue is the short insertion depht. You basically have to run a ~180mm dropper + a quick release seat clamp. 2) The bike isn´t super quiet. The cable routing is ok, once you manage to secure those rubber plugs holding the cables in place. A layer of 3M mastic tape on top of the chainstay protection helps reducing further noise. The derailleur snaps back after heavy compressions (especially with sram products like you noticed in the video). 3) This is NOT an enduro race bike! The frame is designed to be an allrounder: it has excellent pedalling characteristics + has to perform as a freeride/ park bike. The trade-off is, that it can get hung up on roots, rocks etc. - it won´t feel perfect in that area, no matter how you tune your rear shock. But overall the bike feels "balanced" (with the 29" frame - on the mixed frame that´s not the case). 4) The customer support is top notch. They reply to emails in a couple of hours + I could also reach them easily by calling them. Overall very polite and cooperative staff. 5) Depending on the area you live, you can get to demo days and try out all their bikes. I spend multiple hours on pretty much every single on of their bikes (with different frame material, components, sizes, wheel size etc.). The whole crew is doing such a great job representing the brand. Good vibes all day + tons of informative conversations. 6) The build quality of the frame seems to be pretty high. I have zero complaints despite my frame looking like a wreck from all the abuse and countless crashes. Furthermore, the frame is super easy to work on. Easy to disassemble, to change bearings etc. Summary: For me the brand offers everything the average Joe needs - but not necessarily wants (everybody believes he needs a rearward axle path etc.). The value for money is unbeatable, great customer service paired with great allround capabilities. People compare the spindrift with frames double the price to find some imperfections - that alone speaks for itself. If you are a serious racer or money is no objects, there are definitely "better" options out there - otherwise just get yourself a propain, be happy and spend the spare money on season passes for the next couple of years...
also if you do want most supple/adjustable get a cane creek kitsuma coil best shock i've ever ridden from factory can dominate any shock and no need for custom tuning like most rockshox/fox
I have the spindrift cf mix, but grey with fox 38s and a dhx2 coil. It’s absolutely amazing to ride. I’m 95kg with a 500lb spring and it’s perfect for me.
I'm a huge fan of the new 2023 rock shox super deluxe coil. It's not as expensive as the fox is, but it provides a great adjustability which is not so hard to set up properly + there's an extra adjustable hydroulic bottom out. Generaly speaking, a really good shock :)
🙌🏽🙌🏽
Worth upgrading from a 2022 version do you think?
I’d say so!
@@BasicBodThor I kind if disagree
It depends on whether you need these features or not. 21 Coil is a very good shock and is durable. If you have issues with bottoming out or need a lighter/stiffer tune then of course it is.
@@BasicBodThor I have had them both in the last year and the main difference to me is the adjustable bottom out. They are both really good shocks, but being able to run a bit softer coil and then turn up the bottom out is a bit of a game changer.
Love the fact your "taking it easy" is our mere mortals race pace 😅. Awesome stuff 👊
That clutch noise on the AXS derailleur is exactly why I went back to a mechanical shifter.
I recommend the new rockshox super deluxe ultimate coil with hydraulic bottom out. Again like the Zeb fork easy to set up and service yourself.. I'll chuck formula mod coil and cane creek kitsuma coil into the mix too.
Hi! I have a spindrift too and tried the Jade DH coil. In fact, I tried 2 of them and returned them both. It really sucked and I was getting the sucking feeling too, especially when rebounding. I think the shocks were sitting in the warehouse for a long time and because of that, the air from the bladder started to migrate inside the oil chambers and because of that you get more cavitation. Would recommend the RS ultimate coil. Great adjustability.
One up droppers have a very short insertion length compared to other droppers, would maybe fit further in your frame
EXT coil shocks are amazing loads of adjustability
Totally agree. Although as people here have mentioned the shock tends to favour a planted setup with the recommended spring rate, although this is easily resolved by going up 25lbs in spring rate
From what I gathered, this isnt the first time you ride the DVO Jade, just the first time in this frame?
So, if it doesnt feel good, first thing would be to change the spring, as opposed to jumping to a different shock, where you just start from 0 experience again if its a new one to you. And then there is always the possibility that a given frame doesnt perform so well with a coil shock due to not enough linkage progression in order to compensate for the linear spring rate of a standard spring. The solution to that would be a progressive spring or an air shock, which are inherently progressive.
But I'd start with just a lighter spring and see where that takes you.
Agree
Big fan of the cane creek DB kitsuma both air and coil. Similar adjustability/Performance to a fox float x2 but that 3 position lockout lever makes it stand out
🙌🏽
Great video. Of course, you're always stoked to ride a shiny new bike, but every bike no matter how expensive is going to have it's pros and cons. Lewis, you seem to have a keen sense for what is working and what could be improved. I go through the same process. I also run GX Axis on my Stumpjumper Evo. I wish it was a bit less prone to rattle on the descents but I don't know a fix for it. I'm 6'3" tall and run a 240mm OneUp dropper on my bike. Being limited on dropper length would be a big bummer for me.
The "best" rear shocks is actually the ext storia ( but hard too maintain because only few centers can do it ) the rockshox from 2023 would be nice too and he got the hbo that a dhx2 don't have so you can adjust the feeling of your end of travel you can do it with a progressiv srping on the fox but it got less impact on it and you can't stet it on top of a trail depends on what kind on trail you ride
The clutch in the gx axs derailleur is hot garbage. You cant tighten it. Ive warrantied a handful for customers just for them to have the same complaint with the brand new one.
I started in the middle middle with my compression and depending where riding I may go 2 or 3 more clicks of compression or 2 or 3 less from middle on less aggressive ride if that makes sense. I thought this was a good starting point 👍🏼
🙌🏽🙌🏽
Based on my personal experience, and other peoples opinion as well, I'd stay away from Fox. I had an X2, they have no support at all, (altough I'm a heavy guy at 110kg). I used full travel on a pumptrack with max volume reducers, pressure, and everything cranked up. I then swapped it to a dhx2, and put a stiff spring on it. That was all right. But the other thing is, out of all the 20something clicks of compression, even suspension mechanics proved on dyno, that nothing happens untill the last few clicks away from fully closed. Another great example for this are my Bomber DJ forks, which are essentially Fox... Not to talk about the new Fox's "blowing up" like clockwork after about half a year of weekend riding. Some of them even earlier. (Vital MTB had a big test of dh bikes, the dhx2 performance elite only lasted a few days on one of their bikes.)
I settled with the Cane Creek Kitsuma. Absolutely mind blowing shock. I misjudged the spring rate the first time, was way too soft, and still had a ton of mid stroke support on almost fully open compression, and never bottomed out, even in Wind hill drops and tight berms. Has HSC, LSC, HSR, LSR, and 3 position climb switch, that makes the bike a hardtail on fully closed. Fox's climb switch does nothing.
I don't have any experience with Rock shox tho...
not sure what dropper you're using? but from the ones I've fitted, the OneUp V2 has the lowest stack height for the travel and they come with 10mm or 20mm reducers to change the drop included in the box ( additional 10mm brass keys to install)..
Pnw loam dropper
@@LewisBuchananI also agree, the oneup is the dropper you want. It has a much shorter total length and a smaller stack height compared to the pnw loam
+1 vote for oneup dropper.
A shorter dropper will only leave the seat higher for descents unless you loosen it and slide the seatpost down every lap… 😅
11:39 Sram Transmission can changed, also Sram RD with Type 2 clutch were adjustable, but Type 3 can't be, which AXS has.
I ride a Geometron G1 with EXT Storia Lok V3, EXT ERA(V1), not tried the V2 yet. But I am sure it's great. V2 has floating axle and improved internals.
I'm not sure if I've the settings dialed, but I think my air settings are great.
My settings: The recommended settings make the fork quite harsh, so need to go lower. Vital MTB came to the same conclusion.
ERA:
LSR 2 clicks
HSR 0 (will test HSR later)
++ chamber: 70psi
+ chamber: 60psi
Storia:
LSR 2 clicks
HSR 2 clicks
Rebound 2 clicks
400 LBS spring
Rider weight 72 kg naked, +/- 86 kg, no exact current weight now, need a new scale.
I run Cush Core Pro on 30mm DT swiss rims, with Michelin Wild Enduro tyres, 26PSI front, 28PSI rear, the bike is 18.14kg according to my scale.
But here is what I can say about the shock and fork:
Fork:
Pros:
It has all the adjustments Fox Grip 2 has, high and low speed compression & rebound
But it has two positive air chambers, so you can adjust it the sensitivity and mid stroke support. So if adjusted right the fork is both supportive and plush, and can handle big hits.
The big compression dial is easy to turn, much easier than Grip2, requires less force, but clicks nicely, the smaller dial is not as nice to turn as it's small, but that's unavoidable
The air cap has a hex hey slot so you can easily undo it with a multi-tool
No creaking so far, Fox 36 would have creaked already, I had it since it came on the market in Norway.
Mudguard mounting holes at the arch
Supports Torque Caps, so if you don't have that, it's recommended to get it, not only will it make the connection stiffer but will make wheel install easier.
Cons:
So far none.
Shock:
Pros:
Usable adjustment range I forgot the number of clicks but it's not many.
The climb switch is very easy to switch, yet it stays in place, only goes out of adjustment if I crash and hit it with my knee, foot or something.
the damper is quite quiet
As the shock came with the G1 frame it has spherical bearings which means the performance is great, as the shock will work smoothly despite frame flex under heavy loads.
Cons:
plastic bump stop spacer thing make noise on rough sections, when blasting trough rough downhills, besides that the shock is very quiet.
ass it's a coil shock the coil can creak sometimes and it does fatigue a bit thus preload has to be adjusted from time to time, but that's just the nature of a coil shock.
Need a socket tool for one of the compression adjustments.
Get the RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate with its hydraulic bottom-out feature :D
🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
11:47 I solved it by replacing the O-ring clutch (air conditioning seals) under the fixing screw with a little thicker one, and now it is rock solid:D
hi can you explain this a little more in detail please?
어떻게 하셨는지 궁금합니다
i don't touch the compression (no high- and low-speed) at all on my zeb since i feel like the sensitivity gets worse when dailing it in (As for any fork). The support feels just right for me. (No Tokens installed, 90kg, can't remember my PSI Setting.. 🙂) I do have the new 2023 RS Coil on my DH bike and can recommend it just as much as the new Zeb. Very sensitive (of course, coil.. ) with an hydraulic bottom-out feature plus the ability to tune high and low speed compression separately. So you really can't go wrong with it since it's also a lot cheaper than the DHX2. 🙌
Thanks
I've got the 2023 RS super deluxe ultimate coil shock on my spindrift and it's amazing with a 450lb coil. I weigh about the same 👍🏻
You should try out a Novya shock from Novyparts. Thing looks sick! Custom made in France by Maxime Bouchez (former WC tuner and BOS engineer).
good to know that propain spindrift frame cant fit 200mm dropper
👍🏽
I use between 80 and 85 psi on a 160mm fork, I weight about 77kg, I use it with about 20% o sag
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I don’t know if you just don’t show that in your video but when pumping your air shock or fork you should cycle couple of times the suspension so the air equalizes between lower and upper chamber. For example when you put 73 psi you had 66 in the lower chamber (as 66 was previous pressure) and 73 in the upper. Equalizing the chamber pressure and you should see that the ‘real' pressure was like 70psi
Cheers 🍻
You also cycle at half pressure
You should get a one-up dropper mate, significantly shorter insertion depth - I'm able to run a 180 on a short insertion medium bird
I’m running a 210 on a large mega with 44cm seat tube with a kink in it. I’m 6ft. They are great posts, I’ve had mine 2 yrs now with zero issues
is it an aeris am9?
I don't have the Spindrift, but I do have the Tyee and it took me several goes to get the rear to my liking. According to Propain, at 91kg I should be using the 550# spring but I have my Springdex (550-610) set to 600 currently. Also the 2023 RS Ultimate coil was bucking on jumps with the recommended rebound setting, I had to soften that up some, but feels good now. I run my 2023 Zeb Ultimate at 83psi, but I am at 170mm length, so I imagine it needs more air compared to 180mm. I hooked up a shockwiz to my fork and with my preferred nuetral/poppy preference it had me add a token and pretty much had me lower the hi/low compression as far as it would go. I ended up with a couple clicks from full open on both and never bottom the fork under normal riding although I am not doing 10ft drops or anything BIG. I run the GX AXS as well, mine does make some noise but not that bad. I read that some the springs are just weak, not sure if that is universal or not.
If i get a spindrift for my next bike now i heve a commencal meta v4 is it good?
Got the basic rockshox coil on my spindrift, zero pedal bob when sat down. Same thing with the dropper, still pondering on which length to get. Most likely wait for a cheap wireless one to appear and run a short post on lift days. Love mine, weirdly light for what it is 🤔
Lewis, concerning blowing through the fork travel (not the rear - you obviously need some serious fettle for that), as a general rule, do you pressurise to the trail type or do you pressurise to the sag (I’m assuming you’ve sorted the air chamber with tokens)? On the trail today, my own view is that even you should not have been using a great deal of it - I’m pretty certain you were not up to pace due to the reasons you listed. Concerning the shock, you need something with flexibility (this is your do it all enduro bike). So, something like the Fox x2 shock will give you that with its 4x adjustment and big air chamber designed for the gnarly options you’ll pursue and, whilst I hesitate to say so, get it pro tuned to you like the lads and lassesses use Jordy at the UCI races.
what iv found with the trail head app for like somone who works in a bike shop is that for probbly 70% of people its all the setup they need. but for someone like you who is probbly adding air as you feel like you just drop through the travel id say mabey try maxing out the tokens in the fork or mabey try out the mrp rampcontorle upgrade as when running at the pressure they say is reccomended you get the best small bump tracking so the wheel seems to hold well on the dirt but having a 10psi buffer each way is also not a bad idea like some people will go down 10 psi as they like it to be super soft
I noticed the AXS GX rear mech bounces around a lot but the GX normal mech doesn't, lots of people complain about the same issue and it seems to be down to the lack of cable which in turn holds the mech to a certain degree and quietens it down a lot, even had the same issue on xx1.
If you Google it you will find lots of that issue.
I've had very good luck with the ohlins ttx22m paired with the zeb (I've done it on 3 bikes now). The ext storia is also good for the hbo, but I've found it a bit more fiddly to get dialed in (I can get the ttx dialed anywhere between planted and playful or right in the middle depending on my mood, the storia is a bit trickier to find the middleground - it likes to be set more planted but you can force it to the playful side if needed, finding the halfway point is tough).
I've had very poor luck getting the DHX2 to get planted without killing any pop and sacrificing grip (I find when I get it to stick to the ground through fast chunky hits I have to add enough comp damping that the grip starts to suffer - so on berms and in the marbles it just doesn't stick as well).
YMMV, I'm just a nerd with a bike.
I've always been a Fox rider, mostly because of motorcycle. I still prefer Fox for all my stuff.
I rode a DeVinci Sparton with the ZEB and RockShox coil ( I can't remember the models) but that ZEB is legit, and the RockShox rear coil was impressive!
I mean if you knew the way you want it to ride before you order. Get them on phone and talk to them is the best way. I told them obviously my weight and my frame. Then talked about the trails I ride and my style. They got it super plush up top but nice and supportive in mid and ramp up bottom support for my snappy agile jump style of riding. I made just a few small adjustments to the rebound, lsc and hsc and it was perfect for my everyday riding. I dialed it in super money one day at the bike park. But yes you do have to take the time to get it perfect but then trust me its the best you will ever have. I do think the new RS with HBO is killer for its price and many should go that route unless they want full custom which is why you go to EXT for custom tune for you.
@@StokedExplorer Yes, that's my plan. I'm dialing in the fork (ext era v2) since I have the storia in a somewhat happy place. Once I get the fork dialed a bit better I'll go back to focusing on the shock. Once I have feedback worth sharing with them I'll send it back to them. Neither are performing as well as my prior combos but the fork is what I'm really fighting with at the moment...
I tried a propain bike for a few days and no matter the amount of tweaking I did the rear end never felt good….almost like it was too kicky and sharp. Could have just been that I had a cavitated shock though. You should try a ext or push shocks only thing is they’re tuned for a specific bike so might not feel great on a different bike
RockShox ZEB should be used with lower pressure. Also start with no volume spacer.
Got the same problem with my Propain Ekano. Feels like the seat is too high even tho i try to slam it down as far as possible.
on my dvo jade x on my tyee is needed a slower rebound tune from DVO. i also needed a 600lb spring too even though i was recomended 550
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GX AXS clutch is incredibly weak. I took mine off and sold i because it was just so distracting. Put a trusty XT on and it's silent now.
Give the 2023 Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Air shock. I have it and it's super plush and adjustable. What I love about it is how easy it is to tune. And the high speed and low speed compression is fully independent from each other. Meaning if you change the setting on say the high speed comp, it doesn't affect the low speed comp and vice versa.
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I've ended up running 10/15 psi more than the app said on my 2022 zebs
if you are not on a budget i suggest ext shock/push but if you're on a budget i think a super deluxe ultimate coil 2023 would be best
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The gx axs is bad for chain slap because there’s no cable to keep the derailleur still. I actually put a shim washer in the b bolt so it’s like the new axs and now have no noise at all
Lewis! stay with dvo jade x which is superlative. Use a sprindex spring which is progressive and you have an adjustment range on the spring of 50Nm without having to use the preload. This means that if you harden the spring, however, it activates with the same force without losing sensitivity on small bumps!!! Adjust the bladder of the jade x at a lower pressure. Dvo better than rockshox coil and in my opinion also than fox. The fork I will be using with my dvo Jade x on my new bike will be the Fox 38. The rockshox zeb fork I've never tried it but with my ex lyrik rtc3 I've always had a great time. I was using 3 tokens to make it progressive and lower pressure Around 60/65 psito keep it sensitive at low bumps . Low speed compression fully open or three clicks from fully open. Tire pressure front 1.6/8 bar and rear 1.8/2 bar. I weigh about 84 kg dressed and 80 kg without clothes, I am 184 tall
absolutley love my spindrift i currently run an ohlins TTX22m.2 on mine with factory performance 38s and the bike feels so plush !!
altho the ohlins isnt a direct fit i had TFTUNED build me one up as propain and many others told me it wasnt possible to run an ohlins coil. proved wrong haha
My EXT Storia V3 is the nuts... spendy but worth it in my humble.
Ask Remy as well bro. My buddy rides Push 11-6, and he still is excited about the ride quality. If that's not enough Push has a new design for 2023 I believe.
For general trail stuff... run the forks open with a token. Add some LSC on really steep stuff, like three clicks max. Easy :P
Man I love this trails at the Gulfie, makes me wanna go back to Scotland
Suspension tinkering is my least favorite part of new bike builds...Trailhead app set my pike up way too harsh, but it's a good ballpark.
Cane Creek kitsuma coil seems to be the choice of a lot of suspension shop fellas
Hello Lewis , So hows the Propain Spindrift right now?Did you change your Fork and shock? ty
I've found that in the past the rockshox stock fork settings are practically unusable (my guess is the settings or more geared towards comfort rather than support) whereas at least on the grip2 forks the fox stock chart values actually give you a pretty supportive setup. Granted it's possible this has changed since I last rode an rockshox fork.
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I’ve ran the previous generation and now current generation Lyrik and the air chart on the latest is a lot closer. Used to be 10-15 psi over recommended now I just use the upper end of the recommended numbers.
my experience with the rockshox recommendations is that it wasn't at all for me. (170 Zeb charger 2.1 rc2)
If I were you, I'd put the Fox in the rear because the coil rockshock sometimes cracks on propain spindrift and tyee models
rockshox coil ultimate is the absolute best shock, i ride it.. 10/10 never had any problems
The dropper would be a 170 I would guess, I would put RockShox super delux ultimate on the back of that, I have one on my new Hightower and the back end is the best I’ve ever felt. All the Tuning you’d ever need and awesome out of the box. Never ran a Zeb, got that daft hub end caps that stops changing wheels on bikes with Fox forks.
Get a shock wiz they’re very helpful with set up, they’re basically a telemetry kit in a tiny little box that threads to the air cap
The 2023 RS super deluxe ultimate coil would have to be a contender for a new shock. I just picked up a 2021 version because I’m a cheapskate and prob don't need HBO 😅
that first track looks so dope.
New Rockshox super deluxe ultimate coil. It has the same hydraulic bottom out as the Push 11/6 but is way cheaper and so quiet. Ur suspension will be a silent assassin of speed. If u want high speed rebound adjustment then go for a DHX2 but I prefer the Super Deluxe.
Ive only got entry level rockshox but I'm running about 20 psi more than they suggested
The clutch of sram axs is weak af. Unfortunately you cant tighten it. Same problem here...
Such a fettler and perfectionist Lewis 😂😂
Which pads are you using in your dominions? I just got a set, I'm using the stock resin pads that come in them. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to swap to the metallic pads that came with the brakes, or just to save them until I wear out the organic ones
I’m running metallic, they are great!
I think the RockShox super Deluxe ultimate coil ist the best for your money
Nice thanks
The sram gx axs has a weak clutch even weaker then the mechanical gx version so it’s just gonna be noisy so upgrade to xo1. The spindrift has a tall seat tube that was the one deal breaker I had with the bike so I didn’t go for it. Try running open or 1-3 clicks of lsc compression the fork will feel more planted.
That bike is so fire! How would it do on an urban downhill? Stairs?
Nice Video!
Which settings do you drive? (Comp+Rebound)
Because weigh just as much as you.
Have the same fork.
Rückfederung laut rockshox?
Hey Lewis Sick bike🔥if the 23 are like the 22 forks it’s just a cassette tool to open the air chamber for tokens
they are the same 🙌🏻🙌🏻
550lb shock seems high for your weight on trail riding like that. Probably ideal for your huge bike park sends but maybe a 4-450lb spring might be better at inners. Mint riding as usual man. Nice video too. Very watchable. I've got a rockshox deluxe ultimate Coil and find that easy to setup but I'm not on your level of skill!
Thanks
Great video I reckon your 5-10 psi to much on the ZEB and add a token, rear shock I have DVO Topaz v3 and it's much better than Fox X2 not had rear Rock Shock but I've heard it's good not as good as the DVO. I think if your after the ultimate than EXT is best rear shock especially if you like to tinker and adjust for racing at differant tracks.
omg from like 11:10 you can just hear how much the drive train and frame arnt liking that rear shock got a verry harsh sound to it but also seems like the rear end just dosent want to run nice like it verry dead or dull
If it were me I'd go for an EXT, Ohlins or Fast shock. Best there is!
Rockshox Super Deluxe Either Coil or Air get the 2023 version. Easy to setup.
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The first gen AXS Clutch sucks… get the new one and it works. The old is also not tuneable.
As usual sick riding and nice bike. I usually don't like murdered out stuff but the little bits of colour add a character to it.
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I think you're derailleur is super loud because it's AXS. The clutch is probably ok it's the entire derailleur that is clanging around because there is no pressure from a cable holding it in place. My friends AXS is annoyingly loud for that reason. SRAM clutches aren't really adjustable.
Maybe get the shock serviced and get a spingdex back on there see if that gets you your goal before going and getting a new one?
Do you return your test bikes to manufacturer or sell them?
The sram derailleur clutch is not adjustable unfortunately. I like sram but it's the only bad bit for me
Do you know if there is a new spindrift coming out soon? Tyee came out just now and it looks absolutely sick
Can't belive im saying this but if i like the new spindrift i might just sell my brand new santa cruz nomad just for the price performance...
Mate has the propain and the we all said it was noisy. Turned out it's the chain stay protector being quiet plastic. Solved it with VHS slapper tape.
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What camera are you using for the pov?
which camera set up do you use? Love the videos!!
great vid. I personly love the zeb more that a 38
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So here is a review from a guy how rode nearly 200.000hm of trails last season on a Propain Spindrift (size L, 29):
1) I have long legs so I don´t mind the long seat tube. The issue is the short insertion depht. You basically have to run a ~180mm dropper + a quick release seat clamp.
2) The bike isn´t super quiet. The cable routing is ok, once you manage to secure those rubber plugs holding the cables in place. A layer of 3M mastic tape on top of the chainstay protection helps reducing further noise. The derailleur snaps back after heavy compressions (especially with sram products like you noticed in the video).
3) This is NOT an enduro race bike! The frame is designed to be an allrounder: it has excellent pedalling characteristics + has to perform as a freeride/ park bike. The trade-off is, that it can get hung up on roots, rocks etc. - it won´t feel perfect in that area, no matter how you tune your rear shock. But overall the bike feels "balanced" (with the 29" frame - on the mixed frame that´s not the case).
4) The customer support is top notch. They reply to emails in a couple of hours + I could also reach them easily by calling them. Overall very polite and cooperative staff.
5) Depending on the area you live, you can get to demo days and try out all their bikes. I spend multiple hours on pretty much every single on of their bikes (with different frame material, components, sizes, wheel size etc.). The whole crew is doing such a great job representing the brand. Good vibes all day + tons of informative conversations.
6) The build quality of the frame seems to be pretty high. I have zero complaints despite my frame looking like a wreck from all the abuse and countless crashes. Furthermore, the frame is super easy to work on. Easy to disassemble, to change bearings etc.
Summary:
For me the brand offers everything the average Joe needs - but not necessarily wants (everybody believes he needs a rearward axle path etc.). The value for money is unbeatable, great customer service paired with great allround capabilities. People compare the spindrift with frames double the price to find some imperfections - that alone speaks for itself.
If you are a serious racer or money is no objects, there are definitely "better" options out there - otherwise just get yourself a propain, be happy and spend the spare money on season passes for the next couple of years...
try EXT E-Storia mate.. 100% you will love it!
I would make the shock softer and 1 click faster maybe
great vid as always, propain looks amazing.
Cheers
How heavy is that build? And is it mullet.
I feel the sake way about sram derailleur lil noisy I run shimano xt u can adjust clutch but I love rockshox and sram rotors with xt brakes custom lol
EXT for rear shock and you will be hooked 🔥
Which trails were you riding?
Try the bike with a 27.5er rear wheel. To me that changed a lot, and made it feel more composed and more lively at the same time.
That won't help the back end feel any less stiff if the spring rate is too high for the rider's weight.
80kg인 라이더는 리어 코일을 몇방을 써야 할까요?
I'm in NZ and would love to know if you can ship here!
would you perhaps gonna consider an ext shock?
Sure
dvos have tight tolerances that wear in after 15 or so miles
also if you do want most supple/adjustable get a cane creek kitsuma coil best shock i've ever ridden from factory can dominate any shock and no need for custom tuning like most rockshox/fox
I have the spindrift cf mix, but grey with fox 38s and a dhx2 coil. It’s absolutely amazing to ride. I’m 95kg with a 500lb spring and it’s perfect for me.
Also, fox dhx2 is a great coil shock with heads of adjustability. And the sram gx axs clutch is louder than most and cannot be adjusted
I demoed a spindrift dude and I found the seat tube way to long. Doesn’t make any sense for a gravity focused bike