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Obtainium Performance Products: Dress your RockShox Vivid for success
March 31, 2008Published by acadianLocated in Bellevue, Washington, Obtainium Performance is a fairly new and small company who is dedicated to manufacture high performance Titanium springs. If you are looking at dressing up your new RockShox Vivid in shiny Titanium – Obtainium Performance Products is your only option. But rest assure, their springs also work with other high end dampers.
 Obtainium Performance Products designed their system so you can adapt their springs to fit most high end shock by simply using a set of Performance Adapters. Their springs free length (6”/152.4 mm) is designed to fit 2.5, 2.75 and the 3.00 inch stroke shocks. For instance, the 3.00 stroke titanium spring will fit the RockShox Vivid 2.5 and 2.75 but will also fit the RockShox Vivid 3.00 with the aid of a space adapter. So say you purchased an Obtainium Performance spring you may use it from bike to bike because in most cases the titanium spring will out last the equipment. Not only does the Performance Adapters and spacer ad in the fitting of your titanium spring but it also facilitate optimal spring performance.  My Obtainium Performance springs showed in a box packed like it was filled with fragile crystal. Best packing job I've seen in a while! Needless to say, right off the get go they made a good first impression!  Mounting an Obtainium Performance spring on a RockShox Vivid 2.5 will require a bit more work as you'll need to slightly compress the spring to get the tight fitting spring collar on. I ran into this while mounting a 400# Obtainium Performance spring on my 8.5” x 2.5 “ RockShox Vivid. Installing the spring my 3” stroke RockShox Vivid was a piece of cake. The 400# Obtainium Performance spring came in at exactly 321g.  As the spring is being compressed if the ends aren't free to rotate the spring will tend to bind and buckle. Obtainium Performance adapters are made from Delron, and with a low coefficient of friction it helps the coil rotate under compression. This way the spring isn't restricted and able to perform and rotate freely. Performance Space Adapters weigh between 18g (for the RockShox Vivid Space Adapter) and 20g ( for Other Space Adapter) each.  Obtainium Performance uses aerospace grade titanium that is made here in America. 3-8-6-4-4 Beta-C titanium is specially made for springs unlike China grade titanium. They use the same processes that are required by the aerospace industry (like Boeing). The material and processes used in the manufacturing of titanium springs are inherently costly and unavoidable. Example, all Obtainium Performance springs are hand crafted and unlike steel springs that are heat treated or stress relieved for 15 minutes; the titanium springs are heat treaded for many hours and a very high temperature under a vacuum for memory. Then the springs must go through a rigorous finish process to insure the proper mechanical properties. As you can guess, the costs of titanium springs are not going to change anytime soon. The learning curve in manufacturing titanium springs is rather severe as a result not many spring companies are willing to take this high cost venture.  To insure that their titanium springs will out last other titanium springs, Obtainium Performance cycle test their springs to assure the spring you'll end up buying will not fail while using it. Out of each new material batch or lot they will cycle test one spring (soon to be featured on there website). Every time they purchase a new roll of material it comes with a traceable certification. They cross check the certification lot number and if the lot numbers are different from the previous run they will then cycle test a spring out of that new material. This is required in the aerospace industry and they find it important to do so in this industry. Now you might be thinking “Titanium springs can fail?”. Under the right circumstances yet rare yes a titanium spring can fail. If you are welding near your bike make sure you remove the titanium spring because a spark will destroy your spring forever. Try not to nick your spring because a small nick can cause it to brake under use, this is one reason why the springs are powder coated for a little extra security. Just take care of your investment and it will take care of you. By using Obtainium Performance Titanium springs you can save a considerable amount of weight. For example, the stock RockShox Steel 300x3.0 spring weighs around 468g while the Obtainium Performance spring + one Space Adapter is 277g. Weight for the spring alone is 259g.   Obtainium Performance might be a new company, but they are doing everything they possibly can to accommodate the riders that have that odd situation where their spring doesn't meet their need. They are actively reading of their emails, answering their phone and taking note of your special needs. As they grow, Obtainium Performance will do the best they can to meet your special needs. Keep an eye on their web site for news updates and available products. Speaking of not meeting needs - I did run into one issue. I tried mounting the 400# spring on an 8.5 x 2.5 Marzocchi Roco using two Obtainium Space Adaptors, and unfortunately it did not fit. With the addition of the space adapters, the overall free length of the spring ended up being too long. Just something to be aware of. I would like to thank Jim@Obtainum for the samples and taking the time to answer all my questions.  |
Comments
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keandmr
(April 2, 2008 at 2:13)
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ti springs are always better
Steel are better. Ti are just lighter.
there is no better or worse - both Steel and Ti will perform the same. Like Eder mentioned, with the added bonus of Ti springs is that you get to save a few grams.
Why the hell would you spend that much to save a tiny bit of weight?
trendy?
trendy?
it's a bit more than that. it also reduces unsprung weight which in some cases will enhances control characteristics of the bike. you can save up to half a pound just by using a Ti spring. For some that's important. Say you have an all-mountain mountain bike with a coil shock, half a pound starts making a difference after being in the saddle for a few hours - I know it does for me.
Ti springs react different and feel different than a steel spring.
Visually Ti springs are usually "more spead out" (the coils) making it feel more progressive.
However, if your going to get a Ti spring, break the bank. Becuase Ti has a shorter life span than steel, it wont be as "springy" after a while. If you spend more, you get more time out of the spring.
Visually Ti springs are usually "more spead out" (the coils) making it feel more progressive.
However, if your going to get a Ti spring, break the bank. Becuase Ti has a shorter life span than steel, it wont be as "springy" after a while. If you spend more, you get more time out of the spring.
Doesn't Hooks law state that a spring will not loose its elastic potential untill it is compressed or stretched past its elastic limit. So your spring should never loose its 'springyness' , unless its over compressed. Which shouldn't happen if you get the correct strength, coil spacing and stroke length.
I have never ever heard of someone wearing out a spring. The rest of the shock is far more likely to pack up first, and more likely you will upgrade or change after a few years anyway.
As for the weight, if I have the money I will buy the lightest parts for my bikes as less weight means more control of the bike, therefore faster when I race. End of.
As for the weight, if I have the money I will buy the lightest parts for my bikes as less weight means more control of the bike, therefore faster when I race. End of.
spoiledgoods: the only reasons why a Ti spring would feel or react differently than a steel spring is because of:
1 - Spring end conditions are different than the steel spring (noticed how most Ti springs have open ends unlike most Steel springs which are closed)
2 - spring isn't accurately rated (says 400# but could well be 425, 250, 375..)
3 - spring isn't linear due #1
4 - all of the above
1 - Spring end conditions are different than the steel spring (noticed how most Ti springs have open ends unlike most Steel springs which are closed)
2 - spring isn't accurately rated (says 400# but could well be 425, 250, 375..)
3 - spring isn't linear due #1
4 - all of the above
The closed ends on the Titanium spring is so that the spring isn't left open to the elements by rubbing on the preload nut or stop end at the bushings. WHich will wear through the vynl / powdercoat and then apparently ruin your spring.
Regarding Spoiledgoods first post, that isn't entirely accurate. A Ti spring will actually retain its spring rate characteristics better than a steel spring of the same rate over time. Titanium actually becomes stronger as it is stressed, and is actually more durable that say, chromoly steel. Also, since it has less unsprung weight, the reaction of the spring is faster without being harsh, which is ideal in a DH race situation.
It's not just a weight savings.
It's not just a weight savings.
steel and titanium is a huge difference.. titanium drops the weight with also the fact that it will not fatigue in time or as fast as the steel will.. and looks cooler as well 
ya I've got a Ti spring on my bike and other than dropping a half pound it made my shock feel more "bouncy" or "springy" and the spring was better able to keep the shock in its low end compression which does mean better bump absorption. The shock with Ti spring is lighter than just a steel spring that I have.
it just looks soo nice
What do you think of Nuke Proof Ti Springs, dudes?
^^Mine has been mint so far.....Runniing it on a DHX
WOW, i think that would be a nice investment, being that i need to change spring rate anyway. how much do they cost?
just looked they run from $195-$250 USD
impessive prices if you ask me.
impessive prices if you ask me.
Ti, does it not have a better spring rate than steel anyways?
^not really, more for saving weight^
no dude it definitely does have a better spring rate
how much do this springs cost ?
TI spring looks so nice, and it`s lighter.
I've always been led to believe that steel is a better material for spring properties (steel springs are less likely to fatigue), but i suppose for a bike shock its not gonnae matter too much. The advantage of Ti obviously being less weight.
You have that backwards. Pretty much why you'll see some frames with Ti chainstays that flex instead of a pivot. That's a lot rarer on a steel frame, and almost unheard of on an aluminum frame. Ti is stronger and more resistant to stress and fatigue than steel is for this application.
ya athough steel is stronger than aluminum it is also a lot less stiff. I'm not sure how titanium is but robholio says its even less stiff than steel but yet stronger
Can't wait for them to have the #500 in stock, I'm for sure getting one!
Some downsides are that once your TI spring is dammaged you're out of money cause most spring manufacturers won't replace them. My Ti on my revox had a slight bend in it and caused rubbing on the shock body unknown to myself ( couldn't hear it )so now i got a revox scratched to hell ith a faulty spring and manitou doesn't want to know, a common revox problem apparently.... Any hoo I noticed that the Ti was slightly more stiff and through a race run didn't slacken off.
i was told that you need to take a +50 pound spring rate over a steel coil?
negative. a 400# spring is a 400# spring - doesn't matter if it's Ti or Steel or any other material for that matter. Linear vs progressive on the other hand is a different story.
thats a lot weight diference about steel and Ti spring... cool
MORE TECHNOLOGY Efficiency! WONDERFUL
it cool to finally see another company ti srpings for most dh applications. It been hard to order springs from RCS when they fail after a season. about time.
hot hot, i whaiting since a week off my Obtainium Performance spring!
When are they going to produce the 500lbs x 3inch stroke springs ready to buy but not avalible !!!! hurry guys reply to this comment ill be checking up on these posts
my spring will not go out late next week :-(
450x3" soldout
450x3" soldout
my spring will not go out before late next week :-(
450x3" soldout
450x3" soldout
Shitty deal boys, sold out already. Hope they produce fast! Keep me posted on whats happening with you guys that are buying, and if they are sold out or whats in stock If you happen to talk to someone that works there keep us others posted ! Thanks ..
look above the picture,
they hafe gife away all springs to pinkbike team))))))))
they hafe gife away all springs to pinkbike team
)))))))) i got my last saterday!! look my profil there are some picture!! :-)
just thinking if these suck as much as the totems.pissed off totem owner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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