In our first system comparison between the "DB Air" and the "Vivid Air" from RockShox, the CaneCreek damper didn't stand a chance despite the huge praise it received in advance (see FREERIDE No. 2/2012). An extreme end progression and stubborn work on fast hits did not match the image of the supposed super damper at all. CaneCreek remained silent about the test results at the time. Rather by chance, we discovered a forum entry on the manufacturer's website some time after our test. The topic was a so-called "High Flow Inner Air Can", i.e. an inner air chamber with larger openings, which was supposed to eliminate the problematic behaviour that had suddenly become more frequent. Only when we asked CaneCreek did they confirm this and we decided to retest.
In fact, the otherwise identical shock was equipped with significantly larger holes in the area of the thread of the smaller air chamber. The result of the ride tests in the Alutech "Fanes", which had already been used in the duel with the "Vivid Air", was a real surprise: the shock suddenly worked as claimed: A creamy spring behaviour with effective compression management, steel spring-like response, linear characteristic curve and high heat resistance. Even months of use did not weaken this function in the least.
Conclusion: A complex but excellently functioning tuning part for every rear triangle it fits into, and 100 per cent on a par with the competitor product from RockShox. Thanks to the great tuning guide on the CaneCreek website, the "DB Air" is easy to set up even for non-experts. Until recently, the decision as to whether it should be a "Vivid" or a "Double Barrel" air damper was purely a matter of taste. The customer only had to accept the fact that he was clearly tuning his bike for a downhill course with one of these extra-thick things. Because as effective as a CaneCreek works downhill, the soft-responding block without a platform is no advantage uphill. But now the "DB Air" is also available as a CS version. The "Climb Switch" has a noticeable effect on both the low-speed rebound and the low-speed compression. The shock is more responsive and rebounds much more slowly. This is intended to suppress bobbing and improve traction on climbs in exposed terrain. Both can be felt in direct comparison to a classic shock with a firmer platform (e.g. "Monarch Plus"). While the rear end hops over roots from time to time, it remains calmer with the CaneCreek and the rear wheel has more traction. We are now real fans!
PLUS Damping function, tunability, anti-wobble function
MINUS not a bargain, adjustment only possible with Allen key
Price 659 Euro
Weight approx. 520 grams (installation length: 222 millimetres)
Info www.canecreek.com
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
