The Chickadeehill LFB6 Shock has 2 Positive Air Chambers
The new LFB6 shock by German suspension company Chickadeehill.
Chickadeehill is a small suspension company based in Aachen, Germany. They've gained quite a bit of fame in the mountain bike world for making AWK tuning kits for suspension forks. Their tuning kits and their first shock, the LFB6, share the same unique feature - they have a dual positive air chamber with a floating piston.
According to Chickadeehill, the dual positive air chamber with floating piston closes the gap between mid stroke support and plushness. The spring characteristics can be tuned very precisely and can be adjusted "to work with any leverage ratio, frame geometry and rider preference". Developing the LFB6 took them three years and the team at Chickadeehill says that their new shock is mainly aimed at gravity riders.
The shock has a twin tube hydraulic damping system and offers a wide range of adjustments. Low and high speed compression as well as low and high speed rebound can be adjusted externally and without tools. Riders won't be able to add volume spacers, but Chickadeehill can add them at the factory should the bike or rider need them.
The chickadee themed shock will definitely be a good conversation-starter.
The idea behind the twin positive air chamber is to create a nearly linear spring curve and offer more mid-stroke support. When you're running a rather low pressure on a regular air fork or shock to get good small bump compliance, you'll usually need a few progression spacers to prevent bottoming out too frequently. Therefore, the fork or shock will become really progressive towards the end of the stroke.
Chickadeehill LFB6 shock
Metric Sizes: 210 mm and 230 mm
Trunnion Sizes: 185mm and 205mm
Climb assist: optional
External adjustments: LSC/HSC & LSR/HSR
Price: 1279 € (including 19% VAT)
More info: https://www.chickadeehill.de/
Metric Sizes: 210 mm and 230 mm
Trunnion Sizes: 185mm and 205mm
Climb assist: optional
External adjustments: LSC/HSC & LSR/HSR
Price: 1279 € (including 19% VAT)
More info: https://www.chickadeehill.de/
Using two air chambers means that you can create a rather linear spring curve. The second positive air chamber replaces progression spacers and starts to work when you're using roughly 50% of travel.
In other words, the idea is to create a coil-like feel, but without the coil weight. It will be interesting to see how well this technology works in the real world but unfortunately there is no review dropping tomorrow.
The first batch of shocks is ready for assembly.
The external adjustment dials look like they can easily be turned while wearing gloves. In the center of the golden main air piston you can see the inner air sleeve. The white plastic sleeve is where the real magic happens: This is the floating piston that separates the two positive air chambers.
While the major parts of the shock are sourced in Europe, smaller parts such as seals are bought in from German dealers, but according to the manufacturer it is difficult to track the origin of these smaller parts.
This completely new shock is an interesting addition to the current offerings by other brands. The dual positive air chamber can mean that setup might take a little bit longer, but for every rider who likes to tinker with their suspension, it might be worth it.
A side view of the shock internals.
The LFB6 has a familiar shape and looks different nonetheless. It will be interesting to find out whether we'll see more of these in bike parks this summer.
The team behind Chickadeehill made sure the shock was tested thoroughly.
Philipp Heise putting the LFB6 through its paces.
After reading this article, you might wonder what Chickadeehill means? It's a play on words that involves the name of the founder of the company.
All photos by Kevin Sames
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Member since May 15, 2020
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I've used the Runt on a Lyrik and currently use one on a Fox 34. I am a fan of that product and of the dual positive chamber concept. It takes some experimentation to find the right pressure settings, though.
First available shock to do that (EXT will follow soon).
Chickadehill was the first to do it for forks. Even before manitou
Yes, it has been done in many forks already, ohlins included.
Then in later years moved all 3 chambers inside the air cartridge with ATA. This was more than 15 years ago!
I wish I had more hands, so I could give those titties four thumbs down
BUT I have always been fascinated from the old BOS Deville which is definitely more smooth and less prone to stick slip than any rs, fox, manitou fork I have recently ridden (even when they have been tuned) and which have been really supportive even without spacers.
. No joke. Just Bought a used Deville 34 from 2015 a week ago and tried it the last days. Unbelievably smooth initiation of movement from start to all of its travel. Besides open bath cartridge which saves some sealing and thus friction or breakable parts. High quality manufactured.
Of course their casting is not that stiff but for 140-160mm trailbikes and riders up to 90 kilo it's sufficient.
That's what manitou did.
Look at mezzer or mattoc pro vs expert.
But spacers are shitty. Always opening up the fork with those fine threads is time consuming getting on my nerves and in winter not the best idea to perform trailside.
Cheers
Would love a revised version with same only refined damper, more stiffchassus, for both wheel sizes and just eased if the niggles the old ones had and that would be a killer air fork.
Some had reliability issues and the others that didn't, are still rolling around today
-a guy with a hardtail with a fork with LSR and LSC who couldn't tell you his current setup.
I'm 100 kilos (without gear) and ride heavy/smashy, so I take the time to adjust all 4 knobs (and PSI & volume spacers) on my fork and the 3 on my shock because if I left them in the middle then the big suspension movements I cause would not be well controlled, decreasing comfort and traction. So I took the time (maybe an hour, nothing crazy) to dial it in.
Opposite might be true for a 55 kilo rider, where the middle adjustment could be overly stiff and then there isn't much movement of the suspension, also decreasing comfort and traction.
Jokes aside, I've owned suspension products with 4 way damping adjustment in the past (LSR, LSC, HSC, HSR). From my experience, the first one does really have an impact on ride quality. The next two is nice to have, especially if I want to push my bike to the limit (eg. racing, chasing KOMs). The last one is just a gimmick IMO, I can't feel the difference between different HSR settings.
Nowadays, my forks only have LSC and LSR, shock only have LSR (with lock out).
On my old bike I had the 4 way spinners too, and spent a whole day lapping the same rock garden trying to dial everything in, and only wound up changing a single click.
On both bikes, once it felt good I stopped messing with it. I certainly don't change it around for different rides or anything.
I also have a Z1 on a hardtail, and I actually use the single compression lever all the time to adjust for different types of trails. I use it way more than the fancy dials because it has a useable amount of change that I can feel and even if I get it a bit wrong, it is easy to just open back up. I think that fork is probably perfect for most riders, including me.
But even then, you are going to have to pry the orange lowers on my factory 38 out of my cold, dead hands.
"even if I get it a bit wrong, it is easy to just open back up"
Not sure why this doesn't apply to the LSC/HSC as well if full-open is the default, it's pretty easy to spin them all the way open. Yes, the lever is convenient for making quick changes, but I don't think it has a more "useable amount of change", it's just that you're more willing to slap it all the way around.
I'm certain that other people have different experiences, just sharing mine.
Trek did it with a valve between the main and secondary chamber that was fysically pushed open by the main piston , by the way.
Now, almost 10 years later, I hop Chickadeehill won’t reproduce the same mistakes. Sure they are aware of such misproductions.
Herr the chamber just starts moving, when the pressure in both chambers is at the same level.
Try an AWK, RUNT IRT in your fork. This is superior to solo debon air stuff
I wonder if it has something to do with the leverage ratios being higher on the rear sus vs the 1:1 of the fork?
And commenting on complexity, many rear shocks already have these adjustments, but no one is complaining....
Just wait untill they give some sponsorships and more ppl see the product on the trails.
These guys know what they are doing.
There wasn't such a rant about the new EXT shock, which is quite similar regarding the air spring (at least from my surfacial technical understanding, maybe differs in detail).
For when you're off to ride the trail centre and your Fox Factory suspension just isn't expensive enough!
My "budget" gear: Suntour Triair + Marzocchi Z2 prefectly do the job and l love it
Trickle down economics is the hypothesis that tax breaks for companies will create jobs and other benefits for the poorer. It's also not true and has been thoroughly debunked.
Where it's useful is DH racing when you're doing the same run multiple times over a couple of days as the LSC in particular ups as you get faster and more confident, but then offsetting the dynamic changes becomes quite routine, like for every 2 clicks LSC I need +1HSC, +2LSR, - 1HSR as an example.
I liked it when racing, but not so bothered now
And difference to other air shocks... X2? Can you give a review and comparison, please?
Then lets See about categories 2 and 3:
Price
Function
Pass.
Like an Audi.
If you really want a custom tuned shock, a good stock shock sent to Avalanche will get you the ride characteristics you want for less cost (and with less complexity).
I would love to have one of these shocks. It would suit to my Mezzer.