Vorsprung Smashpot review — coil conversion for Fox & RockShox
We're Bikefix Genarp — an authorised Vorsprung installer with a CTW RD2 dyno on site. We've installed Smashpot kits on Fox 36, Fox 38, RockShox Lyrik and ZEB across every common enduro/trail platform. Here's what we honestly tell customers about whether coil-converting their fork is the right move.
What the Smashpot actually changes
The Smashpot replaces the entire air-spring assembly inside your fork with a steel coil spring and Vorsprung's own hydraulic bottom-out (HBO) bumper. You keep your existing damper (GRIP2, FIT4, Charger 2.1/3) — only the spring side changes.
The result is a fork with dramatically lower break-away friction. Small chatter, root sections and high-speed stutter bumps that the air spring used to absorb "around" instead get tracked. The HBO replaces the natural ramp-up of air, so big hits still feel controlled rather than crashing into the bottom of the stroke.
Pros
- Eliminates air-spring stiction — small-bump feel is dramatic
- Consistent feel regardless of temperature or altitude
- Longer service interval (200+ hours vs 100h for air shaft)
- Easier to set up — no positive/negative balancing
- Hydraulic bottom-out (HBO) bumper retains big-hit support
- Fully reversible — original air shaft is preserved
Cons
- —Adds ~300–400 g depending on spring rate
- —Less inherently progressive — frames needing strong end-stroke ramp benefit less
- —Spring choice matters — wrong rate feels worse than air
Who should convert — and who shouldn't
Riders who consistently report a huge upgrade: enduro and tech-trail riders under ~85 kg, riders chasing grip in chunky/rooty terrain, anyone running 4+ volume spacers, riders who get arm pump on long descents, and e-MTB riders whose air fork heats up on shuttle runs.
Riders for whom it's a smaller upgrade: heavy riders on overly progressive frames already running a properly tuned air fork, weight-conscious racers, and XC/down country riders where the air fork's ramp matters more than small-bump compliance.
Why install through an authorised workshop
Spring selection is the difference between a Smashpot you love and one you tolerate. We pick the rate from rider weight, fork model and ride style, install the kit and verify the result on our CTW RD2 dyno before you collect the bike.
We also service Vorsprung products on site — no shipping back to Canada.Workshop in Genarp, Sweden. We ship within the EU.