Coil vs Air

cgarossi

Hi all

I'm a keen XCer and have recently purchased a Scott Scale 50 which I am very pleased with.

The bike comes with a Rox Shox Tora SL fork which seems ok but I can't find any write ups for it. It's a coil fork designed for XC use but im wondering if there would be any advantage changing to an air fork? Is there any difference? This fork has a good lock out which I use regularly, my friends Reba fork doesn't seem to lock out at all.

cee

the air fork will be lighter...

nicklouse

you would see a bigger change going to a Reba if you are looking at weight.

the coil or air question re weight on a Tora is pointless.

the coil air question re weight on a Reba has some debate.

but generally coil is plusher than air.

supersonic

The Tora Race air is 4.26lbs, which saves 1lb over say the 302 coil.

Steve_b77

Reba Race is 3.5lbs, even lighter!

Bungalow Bill

Air is lighter and gives you that adjustability once you have the pressure you want dialed.

But coil always feels that much nicer.

Bill.

Grimy

I'd have said there’s little in it, but air forks are more tuneable, and they get progressively stiffer the nearer to full compression you get as the internal pressure increases substantially, weather you see this as a flaw or a grace depends on your personal preferences.

If your mates Reba forks dont seem to lockout, then he’s probably got the waste gate open quite a lot. Again, nout wrong with that, depends on how you like them setup. Screw it down and little and they will lockout.

nicklouse

supersonic wrote:

The Tora Race air is 4.26lbs, which saves 1lb over say the 302 coil.

errrrr and the other differences between the 302 and the race? the coil is not 1lb difference.

supersonic

I know. 302 coil is 5.3lbs. Just a thought for anyone buying them standalone for an XC bike, look at the XC air versions not the commoner trail ones.

Coil adds about 0.33lbs in the SL, about 0.5lbs in the trail forks.

nicklouse

Like i said , but to put it differently, on a Tora the % weight saved going coil to are is small on a reba the % is a lot greater.(as there is less weight to start with and the coil is the same)

supersonic

Oh I agree, you wouldn't upgrade to another Tora unless you were really skint, Reba makes much more sense.

I do like my Tora 318 Air - 130mm of travel, 4.35lbs, tough as old boots and 82 quid new ;-)

dave_hill

Air forks - lighter, better range of adjustment, more expensive, not as plush as coils

Coil forks - heavier, smaller range of adjustment, cheaper, better ride characteristics.

In a nutshell.