Cane Creek Double Barrel Air Rear Shock Review

by Dave Trumpore

Cane Creek's highly rated Double Barrel Air shock recently received a new climbing assist feature dubbed the "Climb Switch" or CS for short. After hundreds of miles putting it through its paces, it'south time for us to counterbalance in on the add-on.

2014 DBair CS Shock Highlights

• Weight: 509 grams (weight varies past size)
• Damping: Twin-tube independent pinch and rebound in two high-speed and four low-speed damping circuits
• Adjustments: High speed compression, Low speed compression, Loftier speed rebound, Depression speed rebound, Air bound rate, Climb Switch on/off
• Shaft Material: Induction-hardened 4130 steel
• Shaft Diameter: 8mm
• Cease: Anodized and laser-etched
• Mounting Interface: Norglide bushing 1/two" Universal Axle
• Tin Size: Standard (All Lengths) or Extra Book (200, 215, 222, 240)
• Lengths:190 x 50mm (7.5" x two.0"), 200 x 50mm (7.87" x 2.0"), 200 ten 57mm (seven.87 x two.25"), 215 x 63mm (8.5" x 2.5"), 222 x 63mm (8.75" ten 2.five"), 222 ten 70mm (8.75" ten ii.75"), 240 ten 76mm (9.5" 10 3.0"), 267 x 90mm (10.five" 10 3.five")
• MSRP: $695 USD

How Does Information technology Work?

Twin Tube Technology circulates oil continuously through the damping valving to accomplish highly controllable, independent damping for both compression and rebound strokes. This unique blueprint moves oil through externally adjustable valving instead of the main piston.

CS is a selectable climbing style on Double Butt shocks that allows the rider to retain the advantages of a fully-suspended wheel while climbing, without unwanted suspension move. CS is not your conventional pedal-platform as it adjusts both low speed compression and low speed rebound at the aforementioned time.

The Climb Switch changes the low speed damping of Double Barrel shocks in ane simple switch, to optimize suspension dynamics during climbing. Information technology does this past activating a set of internal 'climbing circuits' that are accessed when CS is engaged. Cane Creek tunes these "climbing circuits" specifically for the demands of off-route climbing to achieve improved pedaling efficiently with less unwarranted chassis movement while retaining an agile suspension platform.

Initial Impressions

Having already spent a day testing the DBair CS back in July, I had a fairly good thought of what I was getting my hands on, and the summit notch craftsmanship of Pikestaff Creek products actually needs no elaborating - pulling 1 of these shocks out of the box is always a pleasure.

As with all Cane Creek shocks it shipped valved and tuned specifically for the intended bike, in this example my 2013 Giant Reign-X. Cane Creek attempts to take much of the initial setup hassle out of the pic for the end consumer by shipping each shock with a tuning guide and a base of operations setting carte du jour that is specific to each individual frame. They claim that each stupor is gear up to the proper base of operations setting from the manufactory for you, so in theory all you lot need to exercise is bolt it on and ride with maybe only a modest amount of aligning to taste. Of grade I checked to see if my daze was indeed prepare to the intended settings, which information technology turned out to be. Time to striking the trail.

On The Trail

I spent the first day riding the stupor in the factory base setting as I wanted to see if Cane Creek had done their homework when creating tunes for each individual bike. Much like I found out in July during my initial test session, the base settings are very much spot on, and I would say 90% of the riders who buy this daze would exist fully satisfied if they were to just leaving everything as is. However, I am a flake picky near break setup, and now that I had the stupor mounted on my wheel and riding my trails I was really able to dive in and encounter exactly how much more I could squeeze out of the settings.

First up, with the climb switch turned on my bike became a totally different animal and climbing took on a completely new awareness. There was no pedal bob, no feedback, no quirky platform feeling, and all-time of all no change in ride summit/geometry since the CS does not bear on sag. Probably the most striking attribute of this shock when in climb way is that it retains its ability to absorb bumps with a controlled compression AND rebound stroke. Where most shocks in climb manner have a breakaway bespeak you tin can sense and no rebound control, the DBair CS only hammers up the roughest climbs without you fifty-fifty knowing it's there. Hands down this is the best climbing stupor I have ever ridden, and it does an amazing job of getting my vii-inch travel/30% sag trail bicycle up the thousand-foot extended climbs that are all too mutual here in Colorado.

Coming dorsum down, it's hardly a surprise that the Twin Tube technology does an amazing task of decision-making the ride. Cane Creek has built a solid reputation effectually providing shocks with superior damping and the DBAir CS is no different. I did end up settling on settings simply a scrap outside of the base settings provided, and I do tune the daze differently for trail riding and lift serviced bike park riding.

The adjustment range is pretty vast, but unmarried turns or a few clicks do make a big difference. In the end I liked the shock with a bit slower low speed rebound, and firmer low speed compression. I would attribute this to the fact that I establish the shock on my bike really comes live in the thirty% sag range, which on the Reign-10 is quite soft; and I wanted to retain chassis stability and control.

In total-on DH terrain this shock shines, and in that location was very footling terrain where I was able to push it by its ability. At that place was no fade and no modify of damping characteristics even on the longest of descents. If anything the shock was so proficient that it brought out the flaws in the front suspension. Since both wheels demand proper suspension to operate more than as a organization than individual components when talking overall ride characteristics, stability, grip and control, the fork ended upwardly holding me back from actually pushing the shock to its potential.

In that location were a few occasions where I forgot to flip the Climb Switch off at the height of a climb, simply to recall part way down the descent every bit things started to feel a fleck harsh in the rough. To exist honest though, at that place were times I forgot and did not even notice as the shock still retains all of its function with CS on. I actually find myself riding in the CS fashion quite ofttimes on the more than mellow trails here as I don't ever need the full travel my wheel provides and it actually rides better in this setting when the going isn't and so rough. I also find this setting extremely useful as a photographer when often times I find myself chasing the world's fastest racers around with a 30 pound camera pack on.

Things That Could Be Improved

First and foremost I would love to encounter tool free adjusters. Once I had the shock prepare this wasn't so much of an issue, just it is still a bother to me. Every other shock out there has tool complimentary adjustment and it is something I have simply come to look. I would even settle for a "tool" that snaps into one of the adjusters similar to the rebound adjuster on many forks. That way I wouldn't accept to break out my allen set, nor would the shock have to proceeds the weight and complexity of adding 4 adjustment dials.

I would also like to be able to measure sag and overall apply of travel a bit easier. A graphic on the daze shaft combined with a rubber o-ring makes that part of setting up so much easier. Trying to sit on a bike to gauge sag without this is a huge pain, especially since merely a few millimeters modify in sag one way or the other makes a huge difference. It is also next to impossible to estimate how much travel the shock is/isn't using through different sections without a rubber o-ring, which I find quite useful when evaluating how a stupor is performing. In the terminate I put my own o-ring on there, simply for $695 I would similar to see one tossed in with the owners manual.

I didn't have this issue, but I must mention that the small Climb Switch could exist difficult to reach on some frames. Even on a frame where the stupor is fairly centrally located, it was withal quite a attain with the seat all the way upward. On a bike with a very low shock position it could be an issue.

And of grade and then there's the price. Yes, the performance is amazing, but the cost of high end bicycle components is a scrap out of hand these days. The DBair CS does make my cycle far more enjoyable to ride, but I'k non sure I would merchandise that for something else that $695 could buy me.

Long Term Durability

I accept had this shock for 4 months and ridden and raced it all over Colorado, from the Enduro World Series to Fruita and everywhere in between. I have had zero issues. The CS lever stayed tight (unlike another shocks out there) so I never had to worry near the climb adjustment switching itself on or off in rough terrain. I also found that it holds air longer than my previous air shocks which is an added bonus.

What's The Bottom Line?

Without a doubt I can say this shock is on par with the best out in that location, and a definite upgrade to any wheel. On many modern 5 to 7-inch trail bikes it is hard or incommunicable to climb efficiently without some kind of climbing assist function, and the DBair CS provides this meliorate than anything I have ever ridden. You get all the benefits of a climb setting without whatever of the drawbacks. I will say that if you are going to drop $695 on this daze and you are still riding an older and/or mid-range fork, you lot might want to consider an upgrade to the front terminate every bit well to really take advantage of how good the DBair's damping is.

Setup is a cakewalk, so don't be scared away by all those adjustments. Cane Creek has done their homework, and while this appears to exist the virtually complex daze on the market, it is 1 of the simply shocks that practically comes set upwards and custom tuned out of the box.

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Virtually The Reviewer

Dave Trumpore's 20-year riding career has seen him sling a leg over the best and the worst the mountain cycle industry has produced during that time. From Junior Expert XC in his early racing days to Pro DH from 1998-2009, a handful of World Cup finals take pride of place on Dave's resume. Non being the biggest guy out there he has a smooth fashion focused on carrying speed rather than great his fashion downwards the trail. He has e'er taken a very technical arroyo to bicycle setup, in item with intermission and brakes. After trading number plates for a camera, Dave can now be establish chasing the fastest riders on the planet when he'southward not out racking up thousands of feet climbing and descending while exploring the vast high alpine trail networks of the Rocky Mountains.

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Source: https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Rear-Shocks,35/Cane-Creek/DBair-CS,12809

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