The Cane Creek Double Barrel shocks with the so-called twin-tube technology brought unprecedented tunability to MTB shocks when they were introduced. Separate oil circuits for the low and high-speed ranges offered 4-way adjustable damping with both infinitely and independently adjustable rebound and compression stages for high and low speeds - any suspension setup, however individual, was possible.
Climb Switch: platform function for better uphill performance
Brief review: Initially, the focus was clearly on downhill performance; on the flat and uphill, some bikers complained of bobbing tendencies. With the Climb Switch (CS) technology, Cane Creek then upgraded its dampers with their own platform function. Since then, flipping the lever switches to a special uphill mode, an optimised setup for low-speed rebound and compression. Advantage: The damper remains active and offers strong traction, but effectively suppresses suspension bob. The rebound stage, which is hardened in Climb mode, prevents the suspension from rebounding too quickly at low speeds. The CS system deactivates automatically on hard impacts.
So everything is fine? In theory, yes. In Damper test by our sister magazine FREERIDE the Cane Creek Double Air CS, which had been freed from its initial teething troubles, made a very positive impression with its "creamy suspension behaviour with effective compression management, steel-spring-like response, linear characteristic curve and high heat resistance".
Setting options often remain unused by bikers
The downside of maximum freedom: many bikers did not even utilise the many adjustment options. "The twin-tube technology of the DB shocks offers even advanced suspension tuners such a wide range of adjustment options that they can tease out every last bit of performance for every rider and every terrain," says Jim Morrison, Head of Development at Cane Creek. "But for the many riders who don't think in terms of power-over-speed diagrams, the factory base settings feel so good that the dials remain untouched."
People also like to be comfortable. And even if the Cane Creek Tuning Guide makes the suspension set-up understandable step by step even for non-experts, you first have to make the effort to work your way through the 26-page document. So now comes the simplified version with the low-speed rebound and Climb Switch platform function setting options.
Basic settings come from the bike manufacturer
The basis remains a fully adjustable double-barrel damper, but the various adjustment options are adapted and set to the respective model ex works by the frame or bike manufacturer. As before, all the valves responsible for the low-speed damping are located together (see sketch), and the Climb Switch platform acts on the (low-speed) rebound and compression damping. There is one technical difference: the presetting of the high-speed damping in the C-Quent is no longer realised via specially adjustable valves but solely via shims (discs) on the main piston.
Once the development teams have found what they consider to be the best settings for the respective bike and the corresponding setting range, the high-speed damping and low-speed compression damping are permanently installed at the factory. What remains for the end customer is the now tool-free adjustment of the low-speed rebound and the Climb Switch platform.
Technical data Cane Creek C-Quent
Weight
295 grams (165 x 38 mm, without hardware)
Damping
Double-walled twin-tube damping for rebound and compression damping, two high-speed and four low-speed circuits
Setting options
- Low-speed traction level
- Climb switch on/off
Surface
Anodised with laser engraving
Available lengths
165 x 38 mm (6.5" x 1.5")
184 x 44 mm (7.25" x 1.73")
190 x 50 mm (7.48" x 1.96")
200 x 50 mm (7.87" x 1.96")
200 x 57 mm (7.87" x 2.24")
216 x 63 mm (8.5" x 2.48")
Miscellaneous
Handbuilt in North Carolina, USA
Now available for bike manufacturers.
Further information on the Cane Creek website: www.canecreek.com
Sebastian Brust
Editor
