THE THEORY
The high susceptibility to defects of the first air dampers used to be the best argument in favour of steel springs. Defective air dampers are rare today, but breaking a steel spring is even less likely. The formerly tough response behaviour is also a thing of the past. Special coatings, low-friction seals and enlarged negative springs have greatly improved the response behaviour of air dampers and optimised their characteristics. Nevertheless, the following still applies: even today, there is no more sensitive and linear response than with a steel spring. With the DB Coil IL, Cane Creek is also tackling the major knock-out criterion of previous coil shocks: the extra weight. The compact design without a reservoir and a lighter coil spring made of high-quality steel make this possible. In terms of versatility, the air shock remains unrivalled. With a damper pump, it can be adjusted to almost any rider weight. With steel springs, you still have to convert to different spring rates.
But what about the supposedly fundamentally different suspension characteristics - air with its typical progression and steel stoically linear? Are the two systems even comparable? For older frames up to 2015, switching to steel springs was still problematic. However, with modern kinematics, which are already designed for large-volume air springs such as Rock Shox Debonair and Fox Evol, the exchange is usually harmless. Contacting the bike manufacturer will provide certainty as to whether the exchange will work. The challenger to the Cane Creek DB Coil IL in this test is the new Rock Shox Super Deluxe air shock with reservoir. A Ghost SL AMR X-All Mountain, which also comes with exactly these suspension elements as standard, serves as a comparison platform. For optimum comparability, we have set the damping to the same settings as far as possible. The bike was ridden alternately with both shocks, with an otherwise unchanged setup - on classic trail tours through to bike park use.
THE PRACTICE
Both rivals fulfil the primary task of a shock absorber in an exemplary manner: shocks are effectively absorbed, as befits premium-class suspension elements. This promotes traction and control and is easy on the rider. Nevertheless, there are small but subtle differences in how they achieve this. While the Super Deluxe already reacts very sensitively to small bumps for an air shock, the DB Coil is even more sensitive. Particularly on fast bumps, such as root carpets or braking bumps, the bike with the coil shock is slightly firmer on the trail and thus provides even more traction and safety. On big hits, however, the air shock has the edge because there is simply more travel available. The characteristic curve shows that the steel damper compresses the built-in rubber bump stop at 118 millimetres, whereupon it becomes highly progressive. Uphill, the high activity of the low-friction steel spring damper makes it necessary to reach for the climb switch lever even where the Super Deluxe can still be ridden open. However, thanks to the tamed (low-speed) rebound and compression damping typical of Cane Creek's Climb Switch, traction remains exemplary even in climbing mode. The fear that you would need different hard springs even with an additional load such as a daypack was unfounded. It is sufficient to adjust the spring preload.
CONCLUSIONS: Both shocks work perfectly. The Cane Creek reacts a touch more sensitively, but is heavier and more expensive. There is no clear winner in terms of performance.
WHAT THE TESTERS SAY
Christian Artmann, BIKE test author: With the good weight of the DB Coil IL, the question of air or steel becomes relevant again for touring and all-mountain. In any case, I was quite impressed by the suspension performance of the steel spring.
Ludwig Döhl, BIKE test editor: For me, there is no reason for a steel spring damper. I even found the air shock a little more sensitive. It also offered more reserves and was easier to adjust. So the air shock works better, is cheaper and even lighter. What more could you want?
Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager: From my own experience, my expectations of the steel damper were quite high. In this case, however, I would opt for the perfectly functioning air damper, which not only offers more suspension travel, but is also lighter and cheaper.
TECHNICAL DATA
CANE Creek DB Coil InLine (210 mm / 500 lbs)
Price 709.98 Euro
Weight 675 grammes
Setting options Spring rate of the steel spring, preload, compression/rebound stage (each in low and high speed), climb switch
ROCK SHOX Super Deluxe RC3 (210 mm)
Price approx. 573 Euro
Weight 475 grammes
Setting options Spring stiffness via air pressure, rebound, 3-stage compression, progression via token
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