Coil Shock for Focus JAM2 (Gen1 - Shimano)

[sputnik275wce]

Is anybody using a coil shock in the JAM2. I would love to hear your opinion.

 

[highpeakrider]

No but one here if you want to ask


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[Eckythump]

Saw a guy trying a Fox DHX2 on Instagram, you could message him to see how it is going....

 

[steve_sordy]

I have never ridden a bike with a coil shock, but I would expect a coil shock on the Focus Jam2 to have the same advantages/disadvantages as if you fitted it to a Focus Jam, or indeed any other similar travel/type of bike.

 

[sputnik275wce]

I have never ridden a bike with a coil shock, but I would expect a coil shock on the Focus Jam2 to have the same advantages/disadvantages as if you fitted it to a Focus Jam, or indeed any other similar travel/type of bike.

Thanks for the answer! Unfortunately its not that simple. It depends on how much the bike is build for linear or progressive damping. ?

 

[sputnik275wce]

Saw a guy trying a Fox DHX2 on Instagram, you could message him to see how it is going....

Thanks for the link. I just wrote to him.

 

[thul]

I have the DBcoil IL - Cane Creek Cycling Components on my Jam 2, loving it!

 

[Eckythump]

Not sure how it will work on a Jam2 with the suspension design initially being digressive to the sag point then progressive for the rest of the travel. Might be a bit mushy until it ramps up.

 

[Eckythump]

I have the DBcoil IL - Cane Creek Cycling Components on my Jam 2, loving it!

Blew my theory away!
Glad it’s working well

 

[steve_sordy]

Thanks for the answer! Unfortunately its not that simple. It depends on how much the bike is build for linear or progressive damping. ?

A very good point! As I said, I've never ridden a coil shock. With the Focus Jam2, I find that I am going through the shock travel much more than I would expect when compared to the fork travel. On my last three clockwork bikes I have had an imbalance of that sort between fork and shock. Sometimes it was the fork that was not progressive enough, sometimes the shock. Either were easily fixed by the use of spacers to alter the volume of the air spring. But with the Focus, I'm taking my time before doing anything to the shock. On almost every ride I'm finding the stanchion "O" ring right at the end of the travel. But so far I haven't felt any bangs or any other bottoming out symptoms. What I do believe is that because the shock is sitting into its travel a lot more than the fork, the bike orientation makes steep climbing harder and occasionally impossible. Making the shock more progressive and therefore more supportive would solve that problem.

Focus say this:
"The linkage is designed to give a digressive rate until the sag point at 30%; then the stroke becomes progressive until the end of the travel. This is said to give sensitivity at the beginning of the stroke to gain grip, and then ramp up to provide support during the mid-stroke, as well as to prevent bottoming-out on bigger hits."

I don't experience the "ramp up to provide support during the mid-stroke" but I do notice the "prevent bottoming-out on bigger hits."

 

[R120]

Olly Wilkins has a coil on his analog Sam, saw him riding it at Peaslake last week. He is sponsored by X-Fusion, so may be one of these? Or more likely a prototype:

VECTOR HLR

MRP Hazzard is available with progressive springs, and is designed for bikes where a linear coil would not be ideal.

Hazzard

 

[R120]

Heres is OW's bike

 

[sputnik275wce]

A very good point! As I said, I've never ridden a coil shock. With the Focus Jam2, I find that I am going through the shock travel much more than I would expect when compared to the fork travel. On my last three clockwork bikes I have had an imbalance of that sort between fork and shock. Sometimes it was the fork that was not progressive enough, sometimes the shock. Either were easily fixed by the use of spacers to alter the volume of the air spring. But with the Focus, I'm taking my time before doing anything to the shock. On almost every ride I'm finding the stanchion "O" ring right at the end of the travel. But so far I haven't felt any bangs or any other bottoming out symptoms. What I do believe is that because the shock is sitting into its travel a lot more than the fork, the bike orientation makes steep climbing harder and occasionally impossible. Making the shock more progressive and therefore more supportive would solve that problem.

Focus say this:
"The linkage is designed to give a digressive rate until the sag point at 30%; then the stroke becomes progressive until the end of the travel. This is said to give sensitivity at the beginning of the stroke to gain grip, and then ramp up to provide support during the mid-stroke, as well as to prevent bottoming-out on bigger hits."

I don't experience the "ramp up to provide support during the mid-stroke" but I do notice the "prevent bottoming-out on bigger hits."

A very good point! As I said, I've never ridden a coil shock. With the Focus Jam2, I find that I am going through the shock travel much more than I would expect when compared to the fork travel. On my last three clockwork bikes I have had an imbalance of that sort between fork and shock. Sometimes it was the fork that was not progressive enough, sometimes the shock. Either were easily fixed by the use of spacers to alter the volume of the air spring. But with the Focus, I'm taking my time before doing anything to the shock. On almost every ride I'm finding the stanchion "O" ring right at the end of the travel. But so far I haven't felt any bangs or any other bottoming out symptoms. What I do believe is that because the shock is sitting into its travel a lot more than the fork, the bike orientation makes steep climbing harder and occasionally impossible. Making the shock more progressive and therefore more supportive would solve that problem.

Focus say this:
"The linkage is designed to give a digressive rate until the sag point at 30%; then the stroke becomes progressive until the end of the travel. This is said to give sensitivity at the beginning of the stroke to gain grip, and then ramp up to provide support during the mid-stroke, as well as to prevent bottoming-out on bigger hits."

I don't experience the "ramp up to provide support during the mid-stroke" but I do notice the "prevent bottoming-out on bigger hits."

My ring is always completly at the bottom of the stanchion. I also put some more psi into the damper. It got poppier but the ring is still all the way down.

 

[sputnik275wce]

I have the DBcoil IL - Cane Creek Cycling Components on my Jam 2, loving it!

What are you loving about it compared to the air shock?

 

[sputnik275wce]

Olly Wilkins has a coil on his analog Sam, saw him riding it at Peaslake last week. He is sponsored by X-Fusion, so may be one of these? Or more likely a prototype:

VECTOR HLR

MRP Hazzard is available with progressive springs, and is designed for bikes where a linear coil would not be ideal.

Hazzard

Thanks! I will have a look at the mrp hazzard??

 

[thul]

What are you loving about it compared to the air shock?

The bike just feels more playfull

 

[sputnik275wce]

The bike just feels more playfull

Hey thanks

 

[Keisari66]

Can you still fit a tec pack if you have a coil shock with a piggyback?

 

[sputnik275wce]

I am pretty sure it will get in the way. But with a canecreek il coil it wont (no piggybag).

 

[Eckythump]

My ring is always completly at the bottom of the stanchion. I also put some more psi into the damper. It got poppier but the ring is still all the way down.

Have you added any volume tokens? I put in 2 of a possible 3 to get it how I wanted. A lot cheaper than a new shock.

 

[R120]

Depending on what your existing shock is you could try upgrade to one of the new Meg Neg can for deluxe and super deluxe shocks

How to get even more performance from your suspension – RockShox MegNeg Upgrade for Deluxe and Super Deluxe shocks | ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine

RockShox Deluxe/Super Deluxe MegNeg Air Can Upgrade

 

[Keisari66]

Decided to get the dbcoil inline. Now I don’t know what the eyelet size should be, there’s open eye 15mm too but I don’t think that’s what I need. The size is 210/55 with 25x8mm hardware right?

 

[sputnik275wce]

Decided to get the dbcoil inline. Now I don’t know what the eyelet size should be, there’s open eye 15mm too but I don’t think that’s what I need. The size is 210/55 with 25x8mm hardware right?

You should ask Focus directly, they always gave me satisfying answers...

 

[sputnik275wce]

Have you added any volume tokens? I put in 2 of a possible 3 to get it how I wanted. A lot cheaper than a new shock.

No i have not, but i will try for sure. Thanks

 

[thul]

Decided to get the dbcoil inline. Now I don’t know what the eyelet size should be, there’s open eye 15mm too but I don’t think that’s what I need. The size is 210/55 with 25x8mm hardware right?

Yes, I have (I'm 95Kg):

Cane Creek DB Coil [IL] Metric 210x55mm
Cane Creek Shock Hardware 25.0 x 8mm
Cane Creek VALT® Fjær 2.25/500 (57mm)

 

[Keisari66]

Yes, I have (I'm 95Kg):

Cane Creek DB Coil [IL] Metric 210x55mm
Cane Creek Shock Hardware 25.0 x 8mm
Cane Creek VALT® Fjær 2.25/500 (57mm)

Thanks ?

 

[Keisari66]

Bumped into a problem :| Cane Creek DBinline coil with valt 2.25” spring and after install it’s touching the frame... what’s the next step?

 

[khorn]

Bumped into a problem :| Cane Creek DBinline coil with valt 2.25” spring and after install it’s touching the frame... what’s the next step?

View attachment 14599

View attachment 14600

Sorry to say but you will never get that setup to work. Furthermore when you compress that spring it will also move a bit sideways and rub even more.

Karsten

 

[Keisari66]

Sorry to say but you will never get that setup to work. Furthermore when you compress that spring it will also move a bit sideways and rub even more.

Karsten

Actually when it gets compressed it moves further away from the frame.

 

[khorn]

Actually when it gets compressed it moves further away from the frame.

Agree with regards to the leverage factor, however when you compress a spring it will expand a bit sideways and/or even go into a slight arc.

That setup will rub the frame for sure but it’s your bike and it’s a free world so do whatever you like

Karsten