Spotlight: DSP TI Spring
Diverse Suspension Products Ti Spring
Diverse Suspension Products makes some nice titanium springs. We’ve used them in the past on our Intense M6 and decided to try them out again for another build. DSP make various Ti springs that fit just about every shock on the market (Elka, BOS, FOX, Rock Shox, Cane Creek, Manitou, etc). DSP makes springs that fit 3.5″ stroke shocks as well as 2.0″ to 3.0″. Learn more about the DSP Ti springs inside.
DSP makes Ti springs that fit shocks ranging from 2.0″ to 3.5″ stroke. If you’re unsure of how to measure your shock, check out our measuring article to learn the basics. Longer stroke shocks like the 3.5″ stroke Elka Stage 5 we have mounted here often need lower weight springs since the frames that use them typically operate at lower leverage ratios. DSP delivers just that by offering 200lb - 500lb springs for 3.5″ stroke shocks that we were looking for. For more conventional sized shocks, DSP offers springs in 50lb increments ranging from 250lb - 700lb starting from 2.0″ stroke to 3.5″. Check out DSP’s website, or contact them for specific sizes available.
DSP Ti Spring (click to enlarge)
So what sets DSP’s Ti springs apart from other springs out there? We asked Fadi at DSP some questions about their Ti springs to learn more about their product and you can see his responses below.
How are the DSP Ti springs tested? Where are they made?
MTB Ti springs are tested to the same rigors as our Moto springs. The Ti material is from the US and the springs are CNC wound and shot peened in Taiwan and then return back to Diverse Suspension Products in the US.
How does DSP make sure riders are getting the right spring? DSP offers free spring rate checking as well right?
We recommend riders/racers who are switching from steel to titanium to have their steel spring rate checked before ordering a ti because steel springs tend to have a large tolerance in spring rate versus a Ti spring which is very close to the given rate. We rate check springs free of charge and can help riders determine the correct spring rate they require.
Ex: a steel spring has 450 lbs/in printed as its spring rate. The rider needs a spring a bit softer and asks for a 400 lbs/in. We test the steel spring and see that it is indeed a 462 lbs/in spring and recommend a 450 TI spring. The 450 TI spring will be 450 +/- 2 lbs/in and the rider gets what was needed without going way too soft with the 400. The guesswork is removed since we offer testing free of charge and the rider gets what they were after without having to rely solely on the number printed on their spring.
What shocks do DSP Ti springs fit?
The standard Ti springs fit: Fox, Cane Creek, Manitou, Marzocchi, Progressive and other standard 36.3mm ID spring shocks. The 1.5″ ID springs fit: Rock Shock Vivid, Romic, Avalanche, and other 1.5″ ID spring shocks.
Note - Fox DHX/RC4 shocks use our standard 36.3mm spring. While there is a little play when using our standard springs on FOX shocks, they do not require any additional collars or sleeves.
DSP Ti spring mounted on an 10.5 x 3.5" Elka Stage 5 shock (click to enlarge)
Weight:
| Manufacturer | Model | Year | Real(g) | Desc. | Pic. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diverse Suspension Products | 200lb x 3.5″ TI Spring |
2009
|
278 |
 |
 |
| BOS | 200lb x 3.5″ Steel Spring |
2009
|
442 |
|
|
| Elka | 200lb x 3.5″ High Tensile Steel Spring |
2009
|
461 |
|
|
see more spring weights here
Price: Starts at $150
DSP Ti Spring (click to enlarge)
DSP Ti springs offer a great product to lower the weight of your bike without sacrificing performance or durability. Since DSP offers free spring rate checking, it can also help remove some of the guesswork when it comes time for you to upgrade to a Ti spring. Ti springs are not cheap and often when riders are upgrading to a Ti spring, they don’t have a mechanism to check their current spring rate accurately and have to rely on the printed value on their spring. DSP offers a very nice quality spring for a great price. They stand behind their products and are standing by to answer any questions you might have.
Facebook
Newsletter
RSS Feeds
Twitter
sorry, but, obtainium takes the cake when it comes to Ti springs. even though DSP is nice,( ive tried them) i still am hard pressed to find a spring that beats obtaium’s quality.
Obtainium certainly makes nice springs but at the end of the day a dollar is a dollar for most people. If DSP (or any other TI spring manuf) functions the same, and is cheaper, it’s well worth considering.
I’ve run a DSP spring for a while now, it has been great and saved me a chunk of weight. They are second to none for reliability, and use higher grade Ti alloy than most.
Some spring manufacturers use thicker springs with bigger spacing between winds to try and save weight, however, this results in more strain on the material due to greater deformation, so they will not last as long before either loosing stiffness or snapping!
Something worth considering when choosing.
LMFAO at the guy who says ‘obtanium takes the cake’… I’d bet any amount of $$ that you couldnt even tell the difference in a blind test. Good to see their advertising apparently works well though since you’ve obviously bought into the hype.
I did notice when you push down on the saddle, the spring sometimes makes a funny sound.But when I turn the spring it goes away,I guess that’s because of the small play you get when using a fox vanilla.
hello ….
I liked that I clarify for the springs of titanium:
I have a 920 Bicycle Lapierre DH, and use a spring steel 350/3.5 a foxdhx5 wanted to switch to a spring of titanium. which should I buy?
thanks
I wonder wheter there are some other pros and cons of Ti vs. Steel springs. Eg. which one last longer, which one got better performance (apart from the weight).. For how long can you be running one spring before you should change it for the new one in general? (for example I’ve been running my Fox steel spring for two years so far. My bike: Cove Shocker DH)
ti springs typically last longer (and hold their spring rate better as well). Steel spring life varies based on usage etc but you’re probably close to being due for a replacement spring if you’ve been running the same steel spring for two years.
I just got a 350# DSP ti spring for my Cane Creak Double Barrel shock on my Intense M6. I was very impressed how quickly DSP shipped my order. However after riding the bike with the spring, I’m much less excited. Even though I have the wear sleeve on the shock (it comes standard on newer shocks), the spring rubs the sleeve making gobbling turkey sound when the suspension moves (more noticeable at lower speeds). This wasn’t a problem with the steel spring. It’s not likely a fault of the spring itself, it just doesn’t play nicely with the CCDB shock, which is a real bummer. Perhaps if the wear sleeve were made of a different material it would be quieter. Any suggestions?
Lee, send DSP an email and see if they’ve got any suggestions for ya. They might have some tips to help reduce the squeal on the CCDB sleeve.