Obtainium Performance: A Proper Titanium Spring
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
Obtainium Performance Products out of Bellevue, WA has been hard at work developing a new spring that takes the cake in the mountain bike titanium spring market. Using aerospace grade titanium, Obtainium created a superior titanium spring for the mountain bike industry that meets the demands of a multitude of riders and the best part is they’re willing to listen to what you, the rider wants. Obtainium springs offer proper compatibility across most shocks without rubbing/binding, lighter weight, tighter tolerances in spring measurement, and much more. This gives you not only a more accurate spring, but it won’t buckle or wear on the shock body. Details inside.
The Obtainium titanium springs have a 1.5″ inner diameter so they fit the new Rock Shox Vivid! In addition to that, with their Performance Adapters where necessary, the Obtainium spring is also able to fit a bevy of shocks (Fox DHX, Cane Creek, Progressive, Manitou, and more). Obtainium will also be manufacturing 3.5″ stroke springs for those new DH shocks that have a 10.5″ x 3.5″. So rest assured, you will have a lightweight option through Obtainium.
There are many benefits to purchasing an Obtainium titanium spring.
- Compatibility across all shocks should you change shock manufacturers, or even change a shorter stroke shock.
- Weight reduction (~ 200-300g savings in a 3″ stroke Vivid setup) without performance sacrifice at a good $/gram conversion
- A longer lasting spring that will hold spring rate and outlast a steel spring
- Easier installation of springs on the 3″ stroke Vivid
- Obtainium utilizes aerospace grade titanium (3-8-6-4-4 Beta-C)
- A closer true spring rate value to the number printed on the spring (the TI spring is much closer to the actual value on the spring)
(click to enlarge)
Obtainium has designed their system so the user can adapt their springs to most high end shocks by using various Performance Adapters. Obtainium designed their springs free length to allow it to fit 2.5, 2.75 and the 3.00 inch stroke shocks. This gives them the flexibility to increase the range of shocks that a typical spring will fit.
(left) typical steel spring | (right) Obtainium titanium spring with Performance Adapter (click to enlarge)
For example the 3.00″ stroke titanium spring will fit the Vivid with 2.5″ stroke and 2.75″ but will also fit the Vivid 3.00″ with the aid of their Performance Adapter. Not only do the Performance Adapters aid in the fitting of your titanium spring but it also facilitates optimal spring performance. The adapters are made out of Delron which has a very low coefficient of friction to increase the springs performance and make sure the spring is free to move and won’t bind or buckle.
Vivid with Performance Adapter (click to enlarge)
In addition to the compatibility that Obtainium has built into their springs, there’s more… Obtainium will manufacture springs that we, the riders have wanted for a long time with additional precision unseen in most every other TI spring option on the market. Offering quality titanium springs ranging from 200lb to 650lb within ~5% tolerance that fit the most common stroke sizes (2.5″, 2.75″, and 3″) in one spring. This means your TI spring can fit a multitude of shocks should you change bikes, shock manufacturers, or shock stroke’s.
Some of the most popular TI springs Obtainium offers:
| 200 x 3.00 | 300 x 3.00 | 350 x 3.00 | 375 x 3.00 | 400 x 3.00 | 450 x 3.00 | 500 x 3.00 | 550 x 3.00 | 600 x 3.00 | 650 x 3.00 |
| a |
Previously with some TI springs, compatibility wasn’t that great as there were lots of caveats as they would often rub the shock body. With the Obtainium adapters the springs aren’t restricted so the spring is able to perform freely without rubbing or binding.
(click to enlarge)
The standard 3″ Vivid steel spring is a pain to install on the shock. You have to compress the spring and wedge the collar in there. With the Obtanium TI spring, there is ample room to fit it without fear of damage or resistance.
(click to enlarge)
Obtainium also uses aerospace grade titanium that is made here in America. 3-8-6-4-4 Beta-C Titanium. This number represents the makeup of the spring in terms of Al, Va, Cr, Zr, and Mo. Cheaper China grade titanium doesn’t compare. Obtainium uses the same processes that are required by the aerospace industry to produce their TI springs. They cycle test their springs to 50,000 cycles to ensure it will last. In addition to that, if you’re wondering why the Obtainium springs don’t have the typical bead blast shine it is because they have gone through a different process of protecting the spring from alpha case through various acid treatments and clear coating to reduce the chances of alpha case which can possibly lead to a TI spring breakdown. Obtainium can also do various clearcoat colors (clear red / blue / green) should the desire arise.
“The material and processes in the manufacturing of titanium springs are inherently costly and unavoidable. Therefore the costs of titanium springs are not going to change anytime soon. The learning curve in manufacturing titanium springs is rather severe as a result not many spring companies are willing to take this high cost venture. To insure that your titanium spring will out last other titanium springs Obtainium cycle tests their springs to assure your spring will not fail while you using it.”
Weights:
| Part | Year | Real(g) | Pic. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obtainium 300 x 3″ (also fits 2.5″ & 2.75″) | 2008 | 259 |  |
| Obtainium 350 x 3″ (also fits 2.5″ & 2.75″) | 2008 | 309 | |
| Rock Shox Vivid Steel 350 x 3″ | 2008 | 594 | |
| Obtainium 400 x 3″ (also fits 2.5″ & 2.75″) | 2008 | 321 | |
| Rock Shox Vivid Steel 400 x 3″ | 2008 | 626 | |
| Obtainium Vivid 3″ Stroke Performance Adapter | 2008 | 18 | |
| Obtainium FOX DHX Adapters | 2008 | 39 | |
| a |
Price:
Starting at ~$194.00. You can purchase them directly through Obtainium.
(click to enlarge)
Lastly Obtainium also reiterates that it is important to note that spring rate is just that, spring rate. If you need a 350lb spring in steel, you will need a 350lb spring in Titanium. A titanium spring is a marvelous place to save weight as it doesn’t reduce the strength or capability of your bike. Chances are it will outlast your bike.
If you’ve got any questions feel free to fire Jim off an email at
jim@obtainiumperformanceproducts.com or phone 206.920.2245
He’ll be happy to field any questions you might have if we can’t answer them for you! They are striving to meet everyone’s needs so if you’ve got a suggestion feel free to drop him a line!
[Obtainium Performance Products Website]
April 1st, 2008 at 9:32 am
I still don´t see how they are “superior” to ti springs in any way.
The performance adapter is very simple and clever if it works though. Adding a plastic spacer to preload the spring and thus decrease the stroke is what I get from the text? If the spring rate is linear this shouldn´t affect the spring rate, so I guess this should work.
However a 2.5″ stroke ti spring should be lighter than a 3″ one with a spacer?
I just don´t see the point. Except if you´re running a vivid perhaps.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:40 am
It is superior in that it fits 2.5/2.75 and 3.0 stroke shocks. If you change shocks (Vivid / FOX / etc) you don’t have to go buy a new spring. The spring is also cycle tested to 50,000. The spring rate is to held tight to printed shock rate value. Along with the other facets mentioned. That sounds superior to me.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:38 am
Allright, it´s versatility does sound superior, haven´t thought of it that way.
But saying that a spring simply fulfills specification doesn´t make it superior to other without proving that others do not follow specification.
Good article though, I just feel it´s always good to ask questions when it smells like marketing hype, because it´s only then that you get the real answers..
Keep it up!
April 1st, 2008 at 10:54 am
Yea definitly know where you’re coming from. If you want more info on Obtainium’s process, he loves to talk about his process and products at length should you have any questions.
I can’t cite what everyone else in the titanium business does but Obtainium has their methods and reasons for their procedures that are very impressive.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:52 am
With using a spacer, I would be concerned with coil bind. If you are using a lower stroke coil on a longer stroke shock with a spacer, you would be much more prone to bind at the end of travel.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
While some of that may be true with a conventional spring, the Obtainium one is engineered to work with those three strokes listed (2.5, 2.75, 3). There will be no binding as they designed the spring to work in all three strokes.
As far as the spacer causing any issues (binding), that isn’t going to happen.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
They do indeed look like great springs.
However the weight savings will only be evident for people with 3″ stroke shocks. So the compatibility for with smaller shocks is a moot point to me.
For example my stock 400×2.75″ dhx spring weighed 420 grams.
Obtainium 400lb is 320 plus 40 = 360.
So a 60 grams savings for $220 hardly seems worth it, even for a weight weenie.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Scott: yes that is correct that the shorter stroke shocks will clearly see less weight savings than the longer stroke ones.
However.. most dh bikes (with exception) have a 3″ stroke and thats what most of our articles are based around
April 1st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I guess I glossed over the fact that they are basically creating a long stroke coil, with the shortest length possible and marketing it for all applications. I didn’t even think about that first off.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
april fool’s day?
April 1st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Yea it is April fools day… but theres no fooling here.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Very cool to see some heavier weight springs available, but to they make 650×2.35 DHX Ti spring?
April 1st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Fox doens’t mark their springs like everyone else does… A 2.35 fox spring typically translates to a 2″ or 2.25″
Measure the stroke of your damper. I’m pretty certain what you need a spring with a 2.25″ stroke which a few manuf make. You can ask Obtainium if they plan on making one that might fit.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
How do I get the custom graphics on the Reservoir?
April 1st, 2008 at 11:19 pm
You mean your’s didn’t come with a custom graphic?
April 6th, 2008 at 2:12 am
I assume that since the DHX adaptors are sold in pairs, a DHX runs a spacer at either end of the spring?
April 6th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Yes if you run a DHX you’d use an adapter at both sides.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Why the hell they do not make 3 x 325# springs! Do you have any idea if they are going to produce that?
April 11th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Blimey this ad seems to have worked, they have just put there prices right up
April 11th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Supersankari - send him an email or give him a call if you don’t see a spring weight you want.
He’s more than interested in hearing what you guys want. I see a 325lb spring in there now
April 12th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Impresive, good performance,great value and best of all you dont have to go to your bike shop to place an order.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I think at one point you mentioned that the adapters were made of delron. The real material is called delrin and is a stable engineering polymer that is really called polyoxymethylene. Delrin is just a trademark name from DuPont.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Quick question about these Ti springs. I’m looking for a higher rate spring for my SOCOM which as you know comes with a DHX 5.0. Since I got a large, the stock spring is a 450 x 3.25 spring. Will Jim’s springs work for my application?
April 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Yea. FOX for some reason marks their spring differently. A FOX labeled 450 x 3.25 spring is really technically a 450 x 3. So if you need a 450lb spring, you’d need to get a 3″ stroke spring for a non FOX spring.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:21 am
How thick is the DHX adapter?? I only need the thickness of the portion that is actually going to affect free length.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:23 am
We don’t have a dhx adapter to measure. Give them a call and i’m sure they can get you that info.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Concidering that the total free legnth will fit my 2.25″ stroke DHX-5 is there reason why it wouldnt work?
June 25th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I’m doubtful it will work with a 2.25″ stroke shock. Keep in mind, with Fox you will also need to run the fox dhx adapters as well.
Give them a call/email to double check though.