Air Spring or Coil Spring
- Thread starter Jim77
- Start date
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GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
Jim
wlc1 is correct, a coil spring fork is exactly what is says, as normal coil spring that absorbs the shock under compression inside the fork, an air spring is a sealed chamber inside the fork that is filled with air at a set pressure, the air then compresses to act as a shock absorber, most forks allow you to change the pressure of the spring for coil spring forks, or change the air pressure for air springs.
Why use one or the other:
Coil spring, cheap for lower end forks and also as they are very robust and able to take much bigger shocks than air springs they are used for the big hitting down hill and free ride bikes.
Air Springs are used as they are lighter.
IHTH
Giles
wlc1 is correct, a coil spring fork is exactly what is says, as normal coil spring that absorbs the shock under compression inside the fork, an air spring is a sealed chamber inside the fork that is filled with air at a set pressure, the air then compresses to act as a shock absorber, most forks allow you to change the pressure of the spring for coil spring forks, or change the air pressure for air springs.
Why use one or the other:
Coil spring, cheap for lower end forks and also as they are very robust and able to take much bigger shocks than air springs they are used for the big hitting down hill and free ride bikes.
Air Springs are used as they are lighter.
IHTH
Giles
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
To be honest, on a hybrid I would probably use a rigid fork, however if you do want the suspension fork an air spring would be better just as it is lighter, the Rockshox are pretty tough, they have a good reputation for standing up to alot of abuse. Not sure what brakes you are using, some of the suspension forks only take discs.
The lighter air spring forks are around 1.5/1.6 kg, the ligter coil forks are usually over 2kg.
Giles
The lighter air spring forks are around 1.5/1.6 kg, the ligter coil forks are usually over 2kg.
Giles
RedBike
New Member
- Location
- Beside the road
Coil springs are not as adjustable and they are normally slightly heavier. However, they are often plusher than air forks.
Suntour have a rather poor reputation in the UK. Whereas Rockshox are arguably one of the brand leaders.
The question has to be asked, why do you want a suspension fork?
Suntour have a rather poor reputation in the UK. Whereas Rockshox are arguably one of the brand leaders.
The question has to be asked, why do you want a suspension fork?
Hopefully to reduce vibration and give me a more comfortable ride on gravel paths. I am not concerned if this effects performance on tarmac as i am not a hill climber or speed demon.
Thanks for the info on the brands, it does seem that rockshox are big in the aftermarket whereas suntour seem to be fitted on lots of the hybrid bikes such as scott sportster p1. is this due to good marketing by rockshox or are they much better? if so do they do a lightweight fork suitable for 700 wheels?
thanks.
Thanks for the info on the brands, it does seem that rockshox are big in the aftermarket whereas suntour seem to be fitted on lots of the hybrid bikes such as scott sportster p1. is this due to good marketing by rockshox or are they much better? if so do they do a lightweight fork suitable for 700 wheels?
thanks.
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
Jim77
As Redbike mentioned the suntour forks do not have a great reputation, although that is within the MTB world, if you are just using the bike for light off road use, such as gravel paths then the suntour would probably be okay, the rockshox is design for much bigger hits to enable control over rocks and drop offs.
Giles
As Redbike mentioned the suntour forks do not have a great reputation, although that is within the MTB world, if you are just using the bike for light off road use, such as gravel paths then the suntour would probably be okay, the rockshox is design for much bigger hits to enable control over rocks and drop offs.
Giles
Cheers Giles.
I am only planning on using this bike for cycle paths when going cycling with my girlfriend. I am just looking to make it as comfortable as possible, but keeping the weight down as we tend to transport our bikes on a roof rack.
I am looking to get a full MTB later in the year aswell anyway as I would like to get into that too, so there is no need for the Hybrid to be able to cope with any real rough stuff.
-Jim
I am only planning on using this bike for cycle paths when going cycling with my girlfriend. I am just looking to make it as comfortable as possible, but keeping the weight down as we tend to transport our bikes on a roof rack.
I am looking to get a full MTB later in the year aswell anyway as I would like to get into that too, so there is no need for the Hybrid to be able to cope with any real rough stuff.
-Jim
RedBike
New Member
- Location
- Beside the road
I'm not sure a set of budget suspension forks will help you much. If they're well damped then they wont react quick enough to absorb vibration. If they're not damped and soft enough to move quickly over gravel then they going to bounce you about like a pogo stick when you hit anything rough.
You'd probably find wider tyres (if they'll fit) and a good quality carbon fork will work better than a budget suspension fork.
You'd probably find wider tyres (if they'll fit) and a good quality carbon fork will work better than a budget suspension fork.
RedBike
New Member
- Location
- Beside the road
It's worth trying a set of suspension forks to see how you get on; but it's also worth trying a rigid 'MTB' with wider tyres.
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
I think I would agree with this, bigger tyres at a lower pressure maybe the answer to what you are looking for, the only real way to find out what suits you best is to try things, the bigger tyre option maybe a cheaper thing to try first.
Giles