XCSKIBUM

Other than the approximately 1/2# weight difference, is there any advantage of one system vs the other?

It seems that the coil spring would be more depandable albeit @ a weight disadvantage.

Will both have the same "lock out" performance/capabilities?

Which system will be less likely to "break down" in "the boonies".

ca7erham

Personally, having ridden a spring U-turn Recon and an air one (honestly, no idea which exact one or year, just that they were both 130mm) I can say that I preferred the coil U-turn. It felt more supple and I guess predictable (not sure thats the right word), plus I love travel adjust (even here in Ohio where for the most part we only have 50 foot elevation changes at a time). I'm not sure about reliability though, but my 200 pound friend (he used the stock spring) used one all of last summer with no issues (and his bike was ridden hard enough that the frame broke.)

XCSKIBUM

Thanks for the reply.

Did you have a chance to us the lock-out on the U-Turn?

I found an OE (new) take off U-Turn @ a good price. I was considering snatching it up.

Zephyr11

I haven't used the Recon, but I'll weigh in on the coil vs air thing. Most riders that I've talked to seem to prefer coil. Coil offers linear travel and a plusher feel. However, I'm probably in the minority here, but I like air forks. I like how easy it is to just add or remove air from the fork rather than either dealing with the stock spring or trying to find a soft spring. I do weigh all of 110 lbs though, so YMMV, but I figured I'd throw that in just on the off-chance you are a lightweight.

XCSKIBUM

Hardly a "lightweight" seeing as how I weigh a bit over 290#.

ca7erham

I did in fact use the lockout, I thought it was fine, but I'm probably the wrong person to ask about that, I almost never use lockout in the first place. If you weigh 290, you might want to look at the likes of a Pike if you've got the extra cash.

Metzinger

A couple of things to consider.
1. When adjusting a coil fork, there's a limit to how much preload you can add to a specific spring, so you may need to source stiffer ones for the U-Turn. Find out if there are ones which are recommended.
2. The air fork is much more adjustable, but may not be tolerant of high enough pressures. RockShox forks require higher pressures than some others due to the design of the air chamber.

ca7erham

It should be added that getting and installing a stiffer spring isnt too hard.

XCSKIBUM

In the last 2 months I have shed about 25# so the 290# weight is temporary. (I hope)

ca7erham

I'd still go with a stiffer spring, my 200 pound friend is running like 40% sag, which is fairly obnoxious, plus even me at 165-70 pounds found that I had to run the fork at max preload to get it to my likings.

XCSKIBUM

Like these? https://www.bikeparts.com/search_resu...p?ID=BPC322849

ca7erham

I have idea what exactly you'd need, but something like that.

XCSKIBUM

Please enlighten me.

dminor 

You can find these things out from RockShox web site. They have downloadable PDF manuals for most of their products. Now, granted, this is a service manual for an '06 Recon U-turn but I will lay dollars to donuts that the numbers still hold true. On page 11 of this service manual is a rider weight/spring weight chart that will tell you which spring you would need to get that fork with.

https://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/...ce%20Guide.pdf

Looks to me that you are definitely going to need the heaviest (black-stripe) spring they make for it, part no. 11.4310.139.000

ca7erham

See what D has to say, but what I meant to say was that I have NO idea, rather than an idea. I'm not sure whether or not it depends on what year you get.

XCSKIBUM

Great link.