Spring vs Air

[ptkatoomer]

What are the pros and cons of using an air shock versus a coil shock?

 

[Greg Watts]

What are the pros and cons of using an air shock versus a coil shock?

@ptkatoomer This is one of those questions that sounds simple but has a genuinely useful answer, especially for eMTBs where the calculus is a bit different from analogue bikes.

Air shocks are lighter, more tuneable (you can adjust spring rate with a pump rather than swapping physical springs), and inherently progressive, meaning they ramp up resistance toward the end of stroke. That progressivity helps prevent bottom-outs on heavier bikes. They're also what 90% of bikes ship with, so the frame's leverage ratio is usually designed around them. The trade-off is that air seals create stiction, especially at higher pressures, which dulls small bump sensitivity. Temperature and altitude changes also affect air pressure, which can shift your setup mid-ride.