Air vs Coil

Which Should You Choose?

Air vs. coil, this is the big debate! Although air shocks are the most common forms of rear suspension coming stock on most mountain bikes these days, coil shocks are becoming more and more popular when it comes to trail, enduro, and downhill riding.

Although some riders may not know it, each of these forms of suspension provides pretty seriously different feels and affect different bikes in different ways. Riders who prefer certain types of riding will benefit from choosing one or the other, so having the knowledge about what each shock does uniquely, how they pair with different suspension platforms, and the pros and cons of running one or the other are important when making a decision for the suspension you have on your bike.

What form of rear suspension is the best? Is it air or is it coil? Join us as we go over everything you need to know about both forms of suspension so you can decide for yourself who the big winner is when it comes to air vs. coil! We spent a good amount of time putting this together and hope we can provide enough information to assist you in deciding what is best for you and your bike! Enjoy!

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 2:22 - What Do Air and Coil Have in Common?
  • 3:11 - What Are the Differences?
  • 5:40 - How is Air Suspension Unique?
  • 8:33 - What is a Leverage Ratio? Progressive, Linear, Regressive. (Important)
  • 17:34 - Pros and Cons of Air and Coil Suspension
  • 24:31 - Suspension-related Technology
  • 26:42 - Conclusion
  • 28:00 - Outro
  • 28:41 - Office Poll (Air vs. Coil)

Follow Jensonusa