MSRP: $819.50
Adjustments: Rebound, high- and low-speed compression (w/ climb mode on high-speed compression adjuster)
Sizes Offered:
- Metric:
- 190 x 37.5 / 40 / 42.5 / 45 mm
- 210 x 47.5 / 50 / 52.5 / 55 mm
- Metric Trunnion:
- 165 x 37.5 / 40 / 42.5 / 45 mm
- 185 x 47.5 / 50 / 52.5 / 55 mm
Stated Weight: 407 g (size not specified)
MSRP: $819.50
Adjustments: Rebound, high- and low-speed compression (w/ climb mode on high-speed compression adjuster)
Sizes Offered:
- Metric:
- 210 x 47.5 / 50 / 52.5 / 55 mm
- 230 x 57.5 / 60 / 62.5 / 65 mm
- Metric Trunnion:
- 185 x 47.5 / 50 / 52.5 / 55 mm
- 205 x 57.5 / 60 / 62.5 / 65 mm
Stated Weight: 502 g (size not specified)
Blister’s Measured Weight: 487 g (185 x 55 mm Trunnion)
Intro
Along with some tweaks to their fork lineup (including the RXF36 m.3 we’ve been testing), Öhlins also updated their TTX Air shocks. We’ve now started spending time on the overhauled TTX2 Air — the version with a higher-volume, more linear air spring. BLISTER+ Members and folks with our Digital Access Pass can check out our early impressions of the updated TTX2 Air. Here, we’re going to dive into the design details and what Öhlins has changed in the new shocks.
Design
As with the original m.1 generation versions, the TTX1 m.2 and TTX2 m.2 are essentially the same shock with two different air can options. They use the same damper with the same adjustability and features, but the TTX1 gets a smaller, lighter air can that’s meant to feel more lively and supportive, while the TTX2’s higher-volume air spring is intended to offer a more planted, grippy feel. As such, the TTX1 is offered in smaller sizes for shorter-travel bikes, while the TTX2 is offered in bigger ones for longer-travel All-Mountain and Enduro bikes, with some overlap in the middle of the range.
[The TTX1 is offered in 165 mm Trunnion / 190 mm eyelet and 185 mm trunnion / 210 mm eyelet lengths, while the TTX2 comes in 185 mm trunnion / 210 mm eyelet and 205 mm Trunnion / 230 mm eyelet sizes.]
Notably, there’s still no option for a 225 mm Trunnion / 250 mm eyelet version of the TTX2 Air. If you want an Öhlins shock in those sizes (typically reserved for DH bikes), you’re looking at the TTX22 coil shock as the lone option.
Both versions use a self-equalizing negative air chamber, as with most modern air shocks, and use clip-in volume spacers to alter the volume of the positive chamber (and thus the amount of progression in the spring curve). The TTX1 just starts from a smaller baseline and offers a more progressive overall adjustment range. It’s also got a slightly smaller negative chamber to match.
Öhlins has simplified the process of changing the stroke in the TTX Air shocks, with new clip-on spacers that can be installed or removed without needing to unthread the eyelet from the end of the damper shaft, as was required on the prior-generation versions. Aftermarket versions come set to the longest stroke option for a given eye-to-eye length, with three 2.5 mm spacers in the box to shorten the stroke by up to 7.5 mm total.
The damper itself is largely the same, but gets a few design tweaks. It’s still a twin tube design with adjustable high- and low-speed compression and low-speed rebound, with a climb switch built into the high-speed compression (HSC) adjuster. The HSC lever’s first two positions offer standard damping settings, with the third serving as a climb switch; the low-speed compression and rebound adjusters have finer resolution, with 16 and seven clicks, respectively. The climb mode has also been firmed up compared to the prior version.
The updated damper uses a bladder in the reservoir rather than an internal floating piston (IFP) for reduced friction, and Öhlins has updated the seal and bushing designs with the same goal in mind. It’s also been designed with remote compatibility in mind (a remote conversion kit is available separately), which works with Öhlins’ own remote, or options from other brands that pull 7.5 mm of cable, such as Scott’s Twin Lock and Orbea’s Squid Lock.
All of those updates, including the new travel spacers, bladder reservoir, and firmer climb mode can be retrofitted to m.1 generation shocks as well. Finally, the TTX1 Air gets a new lower eyelet that does away with the funky triangular-shaped design on the m.1 generation version, which caused compatibility issues on certain frames (particularly ones that use a shock yoke).
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) Just how substantial do the changes that Öhlins has made to the TTX Air shocks feel on trail? A promised reduction in friction sounds positive, but how noticeable is it? And what about the other tweaks?
(2) How have the ease-of-use updates panned out? Are there any drawbacks?
(3) And how does the TTX2 Air stack up against some of the bigger gravity-oriented air shocks that have come out in the years since we tested the m.1 generation version, including the new Fox Float X2?
Bottom Line (For Now)
We’ve been big fans of the Öhlins TTX Air shocks for a while now, especially for folks who prefer firmer compression damping and a more composed, supportive feel than a lot of more mainstream options offer (especially from off-the-shelf damper tunes). While the updates to the new versions sound more like a refinement of the same recipe than a ground-up redesign, the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach is a commendable one. On paper, Öhlins has made some real improvements to the usability of the TTX Air shocks, made some performance updates in the process, and not messed with the things that their predecessors did well too much. We’ve started spending time on the TTX2 Air m.2 to find out how it’s all panned out, so check out our Flash Review, linked below, for our early take, and stay tuned for a Full Review down the line.
Flash Review: Our Initial On-Trail Impressions
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Flash Review below to read our initial on-trail impressions. Get our Digital Access Pass to view all our Flash Reviews and Deep Dives, or become a BLISTER+ member today to get access to that and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Flash Review: Öhlins TTX2 Air m.2
Öhlins has given their TTX Air shocks an overhaul, and here’s our early take on the updated TTX2 Air m.2.
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