Why the Weight of YOUR Mountain Bike Doesn't Matter
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 22. 02. 2023
- We all want the lightest bike, right? Well, maybe not. In this video essay, Henry compares light weight and heavy mountain bikes. Can a lighter weight bike sometimes undermine performance?
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Hi everyone, thanks for tuning in. Sadly, Henry hurt himself before filming the second part of the video so there wasn't quite as much riding footage towards the end as we would have liked - and lots more hobbling about. His only other job during the whole shoot was putting his three-month-long excel evening course to good use and nailing that spreadsheet at 11:40, which he's adamant he did. Others may well disagree.
Henry sacrificed
intense 951 xc
Lol ahhahaahahahahahaahahahaa
Prob could handle the corners on a heavy bike
@@eph8334 đđđ
Henry is massively underrated as a presenter. I feel like I don't see him on screen as often as some other presenters, but he kills it every time.
Yes, in terms of quality content and details...
I wonder why he got booted from GMBN...
Agreed - more Henry please. His subtle UK only jokes are great too.
@@armandutan5901 I think he left
he's good, he just needs to talk louder. Sometimes it feels as if he's trying to whisper MTB lies
Henry Quinney, yet again, single-handedly saving this platform.
Breath of fresh air compared to the other cringe fest!
Just my opinion đ€·
Ben cathro is my favorite addition to pinkbike but Henry is great
@@brainpaint43 Absolutely. If anything I wish Cathro could do these types of things without PB but that's a pretty tall order so if PB is what it takes absolutely... PB Racing all the way.
Sleeper Co, Cathro, Quinney... Just so good. Imagine if they made their own platform lol
Henry, Ben and Christine. If theyâre doing a video, even if itâs not in my particular area of interest or riding, is gonna get me to watch.
@@TeddyParker ive already watched almost all of ben cathros own youtube channel!
Henry still carries whole Pinkbike metaverse on his back.
Protect this man!
Everything about this is perfect. Henry's in fine form doing video editorials, and I'm here for it.
Couldn't agree more. My personal favorite: the soap box is still on his foot in the next shot.
Henry looks soooooooo much more at home on PB than GMBN. This video is the most natural and comfortable I've ever seen him.
Me as a xc rider reading the title đđ
Cry!
â@@strongerthanyouallday 50 lb. Bike = best bike.
Me with a Magic Mary 2.6 super downhill on the front of my hardtail đ
The heavy bike riders i c struggling up hill..
Gravity and brakes takes care of downhill.
My XC race bike weighs less than 23 lbs, ready to ride. Lighter IS better in the XC world.
Wow. What a production. It's not even the contents, it's making this story which takes up a fair bit of research and writing and after that, filming it. I can only imagine the amount of time and effort this took. Well done, very well done.
Iâm a light 60Kg guy and on my DH Scott Gambler on ski lift days I donât mind weight at all.
On my XC bike for looong days pedalling on the other hand itâs another history⊠I upgraded with lighter parts and faster rolling tires and it is night and day.
Maybe for people over 90Kg the difference in bike weight is less noticeable but for light people it is.
Nah I'm 90kg's and the difference between my 12kg and 15.5kg bike is noticeable, mostly, I think in the rotational mass of the heavier wheels and tyres and brake rotors - but it is much calmer and safer on the decents.
@@shaun1900 im 47kg and I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to ride xc with anything over 13kg.
I m almost 90kg, and I feel 700g removed from the wheels very well. So, weight is a factor. Even just keeping up with your friends is hard with burlier tires.
Ps. For some reason, jumping is way easier for me with burly maxxis assegai and tubes. Tail whips and other tricks come more naturally with way heavier wheels.
@@oliverjacobs8594 that's why as a fatty I have an XC dual suspension bike at 12kg's and an 8.5kg hardtail bike both with cages, pedals and I fully appreciate the weight saving, must be more pronounced for a featherweight.
@@5gvaccinator343 well yes. This comes down to rotating and unsprung mass. If you get a heavier seatpost, shock, stem or stuff like that, you barely gonna notice it.
Every once in a while pinkbike creates content that is really really good!
Not the case this time though
Time is one thing, and yes, 30 sec is not a big deal, but energy and resource expenditure definitely can be. When I pedal a 34lbs bike 3000+ ft in altitude, definitely notice the difference compared to a 27lbs bike. I'm not fatigued, cramping, or waining in concentration when it comes time to pointing the bike down the mountain and risking getting into an accident. To each their own, and hence why I weight weenie...
I hear you, and I'm not at all disputing the validity of your statement. I've done the weight weenie with a super light XC bike when I weighed 165lbs. Now my riding weight is 190lbs and my enduro bike is 40lbs! (It is also my "XC" bike as it is my only bike lol)
All I have to say is that you're body adapts to the situations you constantly expose it to. If I really feel the need to lighten the load, I'll just lose 10lbs of fatđ€·đŸ #problemsolved
I do plan to get in better shape, but climbing with a heavy bike is a great way to do that. (Better than the gym IMO)
This is one of the best MTB tech videos I've seen in quite a long time. I absolutely love this format! Witty and informative đ
Comparing mountain biking back in 1996 to today, it does amaze me how much has improved by letting go of being a weight weenie and packing on the pounds! Yes, it makes uphills more of a challenge, but the stability on corners and downhills puts a much bigger smile on my face (compared to fear)! Great video, Henry!
One of the best PB videos I have seen in a while. Great work in both content and production quality. Well done Henry and team!
Great vid and perspective on how important weight is (or isnât). Always enjoy Henryâs deep dives into this type stuff.
It seems to me Henry was supporting the notion that different trails require different bike solutions. No question the kinds of trail in this video are not "average", but more downhill focused and technical. Of course those trails demand heavier, more robust components to optimize the experience. It all depends on where you ride and what you like about mountain biking, as always.
This has been a thing for a while now, especially with modern geo, especially STA that lets you winch a big bike up. My Evil Insurgent is near 38 lbs and does mostly park and shuttle, but I've done 40+ mile rides on it.
That said, there is an argument to be made for very light downcountry bikes like the Epic Evo that can climb like XC but still rip downhill within reason. Just depends on what riding you're doing.
As someone who has ridden everything from xc racing to downhill, I couldnât agree more. I broke so many light parts back in the xc days it was ridiculous. Then went on to 20 years of DH. The last few years Iâve mostly been riding enduro. On my 4th enduro ride on a brand new bike, I tore a knob off the rear single ply tire causing a complete failure of the tire. Two rides later, I put a huge dent in the rear rim. After that I went to double down tires and Cush core. Couldnât be happier. The bike is a little heavier, but performance is way up!
I ride most DH (bike parks) so I'm not overly concerned with weight. That said, I prefer a lighter ride, but tires and suspension have more to do with that than anything, and for any DH rider that's gonna be a lot more important than weight. Still like throwing it around a bit though, so I prefer it lighter, it's just not something I obsess over anymore.
Excellent work Henry! This is both entertaining, informative & something we've been been trying to tell anyone who would listen for quite some time.
Thank you for using our tires to help illustrate such an excellent point.
I want to try a heavier casing tire to try to save my rims. Will def check out your products
That was a network quality or better video! Smart, informative, witty, great timing, well written. 10 out of 10 more of that please Henry!
Thank you for coming forward with this piece of intel! I personally sacrifice weight on many decisions on the bike in favor of performance and durability. For instance, I have a bashguard/chain guide, I use downhill brakes and large rotors, my rims, although carbon, are relatively wide and burly, I use inserts, I have a bell, 38 mm forks...
Love to watch Henry, always makes informative and fun videos. However, I'd probably disagree with sticking linkglide on, if your focus is descending, then perhaps uplifts are being used quite a bit, not sure a standard drivetrain won't last just as well. On an emtb however, linkglide looks like a great idea and I would definitely have used it had I not had a set of wheels with a xd freehub
âSome say this is intellectual property of Top Gearâ
Give this man a raiseđđđđ
Henry out here saying what I've been telling people for years. Thanks champ!
Thanks for the video... great to think away from mainstream marketing. I'd offer that for some people optimizing for stable, high-traction, downhill performance is their goal, but others enjoy that "spritely" ride as you describe it. A lighter cassette, wheel and tire moves more quickly up and down over the trail and the more supple tire casing provides a high-traction super smooth experience. While it really isn't about optimizing speed for many of us, the feeling of the bike does matter, and light weight components are necessary for a "spritely" ride that can not be experienced with heavier components.
This was good info. I do have to say that I was riding a 23-1/2 lb. bike in the late 1990's, and I loved it for the tight, twisty, XC trails that are my favorite kind of riding. My preference would be to not count grams on things like tires that improve durability and performance, but I'm happy to give up big rotors and suspension travel for less weight and a lower center of gravity.
Spot on. Many manufacturers sell bike with lightweight tires to keep weight down as a selling point. And as soon as someone buy the bike they also by heavier tires. Bad economy and not enviromentally friendly as many just throw stock tires in the trash. Should be industry standard to set weight without tires. Or have 1200x2 (front and rear) grams as industry standard spec for total weight
âSome say âŠâ âŠ. Loved the nod to the best show to come out of the UK ever. The BBC should be paying Pinkbike promotional fees. Such a well done video. Love your work Henry.
I too freaking loved this, hope it becomes a recurring joke
On note of the Versus tires, I run the Trail casing and Iâve never had issues with the casing being too weak. On my old Maxxis EXO+ set I managed to stretch the tireâs sidewalls while riding in Asheville NC on a 4 day trip. The Versus tires have had no such issues at all.
Agreed. I replaced my worn maxxis with trail casing versus tires and found that I could lower the pressure due to the tires stiffness. Found them harsh if I didn't reduce pressure.
@@richardaltman7468 yeah, I have to run at most 23 psi out back compared to 27 on my old Minion DHRII
â@@anthonywalters7434 Me too. I'm at about 18 psi front, also. Never had a problem at that low pressure.
The script and delivery in this video is excellent. Very well done.
I totally agree with you. I have switched to WTB Tough Casing tires and am now experiencing much better performance.
Best PB video ever. Thanks MR. Q.
I recently went from riding a 13kg hardtail to a 16.5 kg full sus and within a week i was used to the weight and it feels completely fine on the climbs. What I'm noticing alot tho is everything else that the bike offers. I live in a fairly flat area but nonetheless there's a lot of fast short enduro, drops and gnarly bits. The new bike just puts the hardtail to shame and it's been an absolute blast. I was worried a bit before purchase and I'd say if you're on the fence, the weight really doesn't matter :) Great video. Thanks.
Great video Henry!
The guy cops it, I rate his honesty and objective viewpoints.
Bike design and build HAS to be relative to the intended use, strengths and weaknesses of the rider. Good common sense logically explained with that British tone of humour we've come to love, well some of us haveđ
Keep it up Hendo
Always great to see Henry presenting
Great video! My Ibis Ripmo V2 weighs in at 34 lbs and I love it!
"some say" LOL love it!
Another big thing I've found about having thicker DH tires and inserts is the added weight of the tire makes them track better and are much less likely to get deflected which makes those gnarly chutes that much less sketchy.
Itâs like watching David Atemoborow but about MTB bikes. Love it!
I swapped to a Box 2 prime 9 and love it. I did think about going with the Box 9 speed eMTB specific rear mech. Maybe that would have worked out fine as well.
As someone who started in the mid 90s, and miss those days a lot, this video sums up a lot of why I don't really identify with the direction the sport has gone. I'm not a weight weenie, I ride a 4130 cromo hardtail, but I don't prioritize "performance" as much as I do fun and engagement. Bikes designed to winch me up a 30 minute fire road climb and then fully soak up any obstacle on the way down leave me feeling a bit "meh" compared to a 15-20 mile trail through the woods that has an element of exploration along with a variety of terrain to negotiate rather than blast through it with 170mm of travel. I'm not telling anyone that they are having fun the wrong way, just that what this video addresses seems like it's already very much catered to.
why is this so well written and filmed
Pinkbike's production value is through the roof these days! Fantastic đ€đ€
The 80's inspired intro was perfect! đ
Me, thinking horses for courses. If you ride in some MTB heaven like Canada - pork it up but when you don't have the extended elevation pointing down - well I like a lighter setup but would love to ditch the 12 speed for a wide range 9 or 10 speed 11 to 46 would do. The dinner plate 12 speed has my derailleur cage scooping up the forest plants on my rides through natural trails. Maybe I just need to fix a bucket back there and have my MTB double up as a berry picking machine??
A lot of forest undergrowth where I ride....
I do like a sturdy frame and geo for the short but rowdy descents I fly down. Tires - under 1kg for me per tyre. More than durable enough.
Great video though Henry, always fun to watch and Mike in the mobile Dutch Oven - classic.
I enjoy Henry's presentation style and in-depth analysis. He is correct, when discussing trail or enduro bikes, weight is not a high priority. Thanks for addressing this issue and providing me with facts to ponder when building a new bike.
Rather interesting! Here I thought I keep up on the latest and greatest and yet I had never heard of this LinkGlide group until now. And I only learned of the EX1 group a few months ago.
In any event, I am inclined to agree with Henry. I have long been of the mind that Iâd prefer to be overbiked than underbiked. And so while a 34# Trek Slash might be the proverbial bazooka in a knife fight on some days, itâs just what I need on all those other days.
Tire rolling resistance can have a much greater impact on climbing speed than tire weight. There can easily be a 15 watt/tire rolling resistance difference between a trail tire and an XC tire. This would add about 2 minutes to the climb time in your example.
And on a technical climb or flat, youâd gain more time because xc minded tires are easier to accelerate after a tight turn or steep section.
Best intro ever! But was Henry alive to see videos like this on VHS? Iâm curious what research was done so that Henry could bring the 80âs back on camera! đ
100% agree!i have a heavy gt trail bike and im 56kgs.i am really confident in going down and riding in gnarly features but going up the hill is really heavy for me.i tried my wifeâs trek hardtail going up is really quick and easy but going down its scary for me because it feels iâm too light and the rock will likely toss me out easy
Where on the bike is more important than the amount of weight. An extra pound in the BB is practically unnoticeable compared to the same pound added to the wheels
Excellent Video! Nice work!
Henry!!! Love to see you again. Cheers from Bavaria đđđ
Totally. Im riding a 60lb ebike now for dh and it handles better than my enduro did. The weight is a marketing tool for sure. Unless your a top level pro you do not need a light bike, you just need to adjust your riding style a bit for weight differences if it is significant.
100% agree with you! Especially regarding downhill performance and gear longevity. Also as a lighter rider (I'm 73kg geared up) I've noticed, for me, a slightly heavier bike allows me a bit more calmness and stability through really fast rough terrain. I don't get knocked about as much. Hence my Commencal Meta AM ticks pretty much all my boxes. And even downsized which is another story for Alice and her rabbit hole. đ€
Yup, sounds like a sensible choice. Personally I haven't looked at the weight of anything MTB for over a decade, the only exception is a few bits on my DJ bike, mainly tyres. You don't want to compromise strength but when you run >60psi you can get away with a lighter tyre and the extremities of the bike are the best place to save weight if you want to improve manoeuvrability.
Great video, thanks. I run eddy current tyres, inserts, 36 hole hubs, straight gauge spokes, 220mm brakes, 9 speed gears, coil springs. I couldn't care less about climb times, strava stats or racing. Just like a nice burly safe feeling on steep decents. We have so many different styles of bikes now it's crazy. I guess there are two different kind of riders 1. Adrenaline junkie, free riders who chase a feeling. 2. Competitive fitness style guys who want to measure a performance gain.
Great vid, nicely done!
Hands down, one of the best videos you guys have bet madeâŠ.
hands down the biggest upgrade to my "all mountain hardtail" has been swapping thin-walled XC tyres to Enduro tyres. So much more grip and damping, yet on the uphill a lot slower. The weight is not the problem here, but the high rolling resistance: concerning the weight: me+bike > approx100kg, so +1kg (both wheels combined) we're talking like ~1%. But the rolling resistance sucks up like another 20%.
nice format, i do like the elaborated opinion piece style of it
Brilliant video one of the best pinkbike has put out for a while
Exciting
Proposition dude cheers
I've always preferred heavier tires. Now I have the justification. đ
They ride so well and I never have flats.
Love this!! Great content đđ
I like the video, but we have to be honest about one thing: Our goals. Climbing has completely different requirements than descending. If you want a bike that does both adequately, you need to balance those things out. If climbing is just a means to be able to descend, by all means..but if climbing is more important or just as important, you then also have to consider what your goals are as a rider, and how much you can budget for it. Its all good advice, but the argument is more centered around descending than climbing.
I own an older (original) Ibis Ripley LS, carbon with carbon wheels and other bits but has a DVO Diamond 140. I did this to exend the capabilities but its still wicked fast and fun on the trails, but its a trail bike. The most important aspect is that the fit and setup is absolutely dialed. I'm using GX drivetrain....it could be XO, but it doesn't need to be. I don't skimp on the bits that really make a difference in performance and feel, and the other stuff its kind of whatever. If you have a big enduro bike, your goals should absolutely be different to maximize what the bike is made for and I believe for a big bike that has a bias for descending should be built bigger and stronger....and in reality should have a bit more weight to it.
Yeah most of these conversations seem to revolve around a very specific style of bigger, flowy mountain riding. The kind that's funner to film perhaps. Versus techy gnar fests with lots of sequential climbing to string together less epic descents. Not to mention repetitive techy session work to solve tricky spots and skill building. Certain types of New England riding for example. I'm open to a heavier more capable bike for whatever descents I do have, and certainly for whatever bike park days I might rarely have. But with admittedly being a bit behind the times (28.5lb "enduro" rig), I find it hard to imagine that my type of riding would benefit from a 35 lb chunker. But maybe I'm wrong!
@@diamondbracelette I moved from S. Florida which unsuspectingly is better suited for mid-travel bikes than XC bikes assuming you're not having one bike for MTB and gravel. It can absolutely use more travel as where the trails lack climbs, they make up for it with technical features. However I now live in Belgium, and its actually the opposite aside from a few destinations down in the Ardennes where you can actually get benefit from a LT MTB. To the point where my 140/120 Ripley was simply overkill for the trails here. XC/Gravel bike is practically all you need for 90% of the riding here. Vertical feet climbing/descending really isn't the metric for the bike...its how technical the singletrack is..
Worth it just for the Top Gear references. And sope box.
Say it with me everyone âHEAVY IS THE NEW LIGHT!â
đ€Ł
Always glad to see Henry on pinkbike
As someone who doesnât push their bike to the start of every downhill section I can honestly say that thereâs nothing more depressing than riding a 30lb bike around your local trail.
Larger wheels, larger frames and larger forks are all designed for larger people who expect an uplift.
This video and modern bikes are completely skewed towards downhill thrills. Ride your bike like a normal person and youâll never have more fun that with something like a second hand 26â specialized s works epic. 21lbs and an absolute pocket rocket! Iâve never had so much fun on two wheels :)
Love the humor, thanks for the video guys
Great video! I've often wondered why some folks pay through the nose for the highest performing lightest bike when they don't race.
Terrific video.
What about inertia - braking, turning, unsprung suspension mass etc?
My Kona weighs in at about 36lbs with DH casing tires, coil shock and a bash guard. The climbs are tough, but I just ride with people who arenât as fit as me in order to help my ego, and the descents are amazing!
This video was a good counterpoint to the prevailing narrative about saving weight at all costs, and I agree the prioritizing what is important to you as an individual rider is key, but also, if the industry was not constantly striving to minimize weight on some front, would things bloat out of control, necessitating a counterpoint video asking for lighter parts?
I'm a lighter rider who races XC and I totally agree with you about choosing performance over supper light weight especially on brakes and suspension. However I was a bit confused by your reasoning for heavier tires because with the DH casing tires tires on my Spire I felt that they were stiffer and so when I really got after it the point at which they would let go was pretty unpredictable. On my race bike I have lighter wheels and have always biased towards a lighter tire with some type of insert in it. I felt that the insert provided the support and the normal casing was great for grip. Any thoughts on this?
I didnât hear you talk much about how weight affects downhill handling, jumping, etc. I got a serious enduro e-bike recently that is 20 pounds heavier than my MTB, and it is really nice jumping and flying down hills. Feels planted and more stable. I ride ride dirt bikes as well, and my big KTM weighs in around 250 pounds, all due to a big motor, heavy suspension, and durable parts. It seems like added weight is mostly benefit down hill, and probably a huge cost for all mountain riding and up hill grinding. However, just like with dirt bikes, any weight disadvantage for climbing can be easily offset with a motor, and you can have the best of both worlds!
Cathro, Henry and Matt Beer stepped up Pinkbike content so much. I also really liked Alicia....
This was both informative and hilarious. Great job.
When did mountain biking become synonymous with downhill / enduro riding? XC and pedaling uphill are now the asterisk or afterthought?
Great vid, I'm so old and fat now, the weight of the bike matters no one jot. I have a Stumpy, a Scott Hardtail and a Cube Stereo 160 Ebike that weighs a ton and in the Alps, going down trails, the Cube is so planted and solid that it feels the safest bet. Happy riding.
That was a really funny video. And the content and logic was interesting too. Awesome stuff.
for my local Michigan terrain, my trailbike - a GT Sensor - is kitted up with heavier duty enduro spec wheels, bigger 2.5 and 2.4 Assegai/dhr2 tires, 35mm RS tubed 140mm fork w/ RS Super Deluxe air shock, platform pedals shorter stem wider bars, tall stack height, Saint Brakes.....it's essentially a downcountry freeride bike for my modest terrain. It's a heavy pig compared to what my friends ride, but it's a beast on our local trails. It's all related to your local terrain and how many sidehits you roll into your rides
my enduro weights just about 17kg as a XL with 500mm reach. full 29er. and i even think about getting a coil fork and some downhill castings instead of my DDs. i weight just about 75kg for a 1,9m and i dont feel heavy on the uphills. the bike is so sticking to the ground with that coil back and that weight. love how stable it rides and that i dont have to worry about stuff breaking down cause everything is more on the overkill side.
I agree. I've found that simply upgrading with quality parts takes out significant weight. Replacing a SX cassette with E13 Helix R, swapping powerspline crank to dub NX took my hardtail from 32-33 lbs stock to 29 lbs. This includes upgrading to 200mm 4 piston rotors and enduro casings.
My FS is 36 lbs stock which people say is heavy. Doesn't ride heavy and a 50T will get me up anything. If you really care that much about climbing to count grams, go to the gym and get some fitness which is what I have done/ am doing.
Posted to my group chats: Watch This. Not for the content so much as the continuous stream of dry Henry Quincey humour. đ
Love this video and it sums up the topic perfectly, 99% of the disagrees in the comments(especially on the pinkbike website) completely missed some main points u made in the video. Best Pinkbike vid of 2023 so far, love how u stir the pot for people who complain about everything.
There needs to be a segment where you explain that we have to be thankful to bike industry to make the heavier bikes more and more expensive đ
Holy shit, never expected Henry here. Way to go!
Just what i needed to hear. THank you!
He is a great presenter. Dry Brit sense of humor with obscure references to illustrate his points
I always wonder if loosing 1kg of bodyweight has the same effect on the riding as having a 1kg lighter bike...
Was just thinking about this a few hours ago. Losing 5kg of body weight is like taking a 15kg bike and turning it into a 10kg - for straight fireroad climbing at least. I guess in all other riding situations, the weight coming off the bike as opposed to the body would have very different effects. I think?
@@peterkelly7937 I guess it depends on if youâre losing fat or muscle. đ
Transition makes nice bikes, noting you have a Spire. I have a Sentinel alloy which I really love riding - great mix between downhill ability and efficiency with climbs and flats. Probably weighs a bit less than the Spire, with slightly less massive forks. I wish Transition made a Spur in alloy, as I really like its more nimble spec's. Great video, and good, honest presentation.
I've been wondering how good a long distance pedaler the new Smuggler is vs Spur, it does have an alloy model
Henry has knowledge and the skill to deliver in a fine manner
Great to hear someone finally pointing out the obsession of mtb brands with elite racing weight saving products... I will happily pay premium for components that will last me longer, and will have me more time on the trails not on the bike shop. Thanks Henry đđ
I have a light hardtail and a heavy all mountain full suspension bike with inserts and DD Maxxis casings . On easy, long and steady roads I climb faster with my hardtail but in technical terrain I can climb better and a bit faster in my fs bike because it provides more grip and stability and the geometry is fantastic. It really depends on the scenario.
I mean pinkbike has been at the forefront of praising and pushing the light weight everything for years. Got to love bike journalism - do this one year, oh not that is wrong and do this other thing the next year.
Great work all round
Great video, Henry. You forgot to mention inserts, though. Definite weight gain, definite benefits.
Henry, I have a Spire and would love to know your take on what coil shock to run. My rider weight (full gear) is 205 lbs. I was thinking Fox but not sure on spring weight, or to go progressive spring or not ?
I'm not Henry but I did put a coil shock on my sentinel which has the same leverage curve as the spire just 20mm less travel. My opinion is to do it. It transformed my bike for the better in every way. I went for the cane creek dB because it's got such a wide range of adjustment that you don't need to get it tuned. Any brand of coil will be good though. I would definitely get it from your local suspension centre. Ask them the questions, they know their stuff and there's a spring weight calculator online. I also spoke to transition about progressive or linear springs. They said the bike works with either. If you're in the bike park doing massive Huck's and big jumps then go progressive. I went linear. I lost a little bit of low speed pop but i can't say I've felt like I need a progressive spring even on medium sized jumps and Huck's of 6ft or so. Hope that helps.
Great appearance by Mat!
Great weather segment, Henry 2:28