Formula Releases MOD DH Coil Shock

May 31, 2023
by Matt Beer  
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Piggybacking off of the adaptability of their current Mod shock (no pun intended), Formula has extended the sizing to include downhill bikes as well. The DH version is built with the same internal architecture as the Mod enduro shock but forgoes a climb switch.

Inside, Formula continues to use a bladder style damping unit for its low-friction and supple supple bump sensitivity characteristics. There's also a large 30mm-diameter High Flow piston that is said to help keep the damping consistent over long descents.

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Two adjustments are found externally; a rebound and compression adjustment. All other major compression changes are made by swapping out one of three Compression Tuning System (CTS) damper cartridges which are included with the MOD shocks.

The Mod DH is available in 250 Metric and 225mm Trunnion shock lengths with stroke sizes of 67.5, 70, 72.5 and 75mm. The Ultralight spring weights range between 250 and 550 in 50 lb/in increments, with purple or titanium-colored paint options. As for the weight, a 225x75mm trunnion shock weighs 826g with a 300 lb/in spring.

USD pricing is still TBD, but the MOD DH shock will cost €949 with the springs being sold separately. The titanium-colored spring goes for €180 whereas the purple finish is €209.

You can learn more about the MOD DH and the CTS here.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Shocks Formula


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93 Comments
  • 103 0
 How am I supposed to criticize this graph if one of the axis is the color of the cartridge
  • 17 7
 Shocking outcome, eh?
  • 5 1
 according to modern color range models, the correct color order should be orange-yellow-green...?
  • 13 0
 Anyone even understands the chart without a vertical axis? It says "valves behavior" in the subtitle. So does that imply that all cartridges behave better at higher speeds though green does best and all cartridges misbehave at low speed? Basically seems like you need to give them a beating to keep them in check and when the bike sits idle at night, you have drop by every few hours to insist to keep it quiet. I trust Formula makes amazing stuff but I'd like to have a dyno with this one, just to keep it entertained when I want to chill.
  • 6 0
 @vinay: One is shaft velocity, one is force. However this is a marketing graph and very misleading. One could argue that it is useless shit to appear "technical" by also being complete BS.

(normally those graphes are made up by pushing the shock through different shaft velocities with acceleration and deceleration forces clearly visible. What they did is a "peak velocity pickoff" value from different shaft speeds and pushed a graph through it, then photoshopped the f*ck out of it.)
  • 1 0
 @Helmchentuned: Yeah, I know. It just seems like there were only four velocities tested (including zero speed) judging by the sharp kinks in the graphs. Not such a huge issue as on this scale with a lack of values a higher resolution would not have made things any clearer. It is just that sending a half-assed over the internet isn't going to help anyone. I think there are some really clever people at Formula and I think the CTS stuff is a clever option for the end consumer to tune their suspension. All this greatness just doesn't come across. If you're going to publish a chart, you shouldn't leave your audience guessing or assuming what it means.
  • 3 0
 @Helmchentuned: In fairness find out most force plots of dampers in other companies press releases don't have values or scales on there axis and are heavily smoothed/simplified. Formula just happened to be very lazy with this one.
  • 18 0
 Simple, as speed increases, you have more and more chances to have the wrong color on your shock.
  • 2 0
 @cedric699: nope, that graph is utter marketing bullshit. could've only said green is firm, orange is medium, gold is soft. that's all there is to it.

this is bs for the same reason knolly has a double rocker which is not only completely unnecessary but only adds more stuff to get broken and need replacing.
  • 1 0
 @Helmchentuned: what exactly is a marketing graph? A graph w/o a Y axis?
  • 5 0
 Spring does boing boing when ride bikes
  • 1 1
 I want to like this comment, but it is currently maxed out at 69 likes. It would be a tragedy to ruin that.
  • 2 1
 @jonathanreid9: Ronnie Mac 69 approves this message.
  • 1 0
 @ElDebarge: Some photoshopped BS that implies to contain information but doesn´t.
  • 83 0
 They might as well have graphed the ratio of Stanley Nickels to Shrute Bucks.
  • 8 0
 But then they wouldn't be able to fit the graphic of the unicorns and leprechauns
  • 3 0
 @bikeryder85: Brah. They would obviously just put a footnote indicating the two ratios are the same.
  • 76 2
 I think I learned in like 4th grade to always label your x and y axis
  • 25 1
 It’s because they’re too cowardly to declare what shaft velocities they consider to be low, medium, and high.
  • 4 1
 Trade secrets
  • 2 0
 @half-man-half-scab: Why are shaft velocities so controversial? Seems like they'd be easy to measure.
  • 1 0
 @JohanG: I would guess that it's due to lack of cheap and/or open-sourced telemetry equipment in conjunction with the high cost of dynos capable of exceeding 2m/s. This leads to @dirtyburger's conclusion.

My understanding is that some feel 2m/s is about the upper limit of biking shaft velocities, while others suggest as high as 6m/s. The 2m/s opinion could be due to aforementioned dyno costs preventing small-time tuners from testing valving empirically at higher speed events.

Edit:These values are for forks, I have no info regarding shocks
  • 3 0
 Data was from a hand dyno. Units are perceived force. But if you use the same hand everyday, you can have great results.
  • 1 0
 @dirtyburger: Scared of getting it wrong on the internet.

For rear shocks the shaft speeds for high/low speed also depend on leverage ratios. So it's not exactly straight-forward.
  • 2 0
 @MonsterTruck: I use the same hand every day and usually have great results.
  • 40 1
 I remember the first time I drew lines with crayons.
  • 34 1
 Colored springs are faster.
  • 11 0
 Purple is the new Orange
  • 3 0
 But Orange is the new carrot.
  • 26 0
 You all make fun of the colors, but have you ever seen a shock achieve their levels of orange at medium speed?
  • 1 2
 Can I get a red one please ?
  • 1 0
 @fruitcake: Get the orange one and install the yellow spring as the negative spring.
  • 1 0
 @threesixtykickflip: let's hope so.
Would sure help our eyes out.
  • 26 2
 I just enjoy all the dust on the piston picks. Really makes me know they care.
  • 2 0
 I didn't notice, but now it's all I can see.
  • 7 0
 At least they appear to be images of real objects, unlike other brands that would give out 3d model images.
  • 1 0
 Some time ago when i hat to travel a selva s there were a few Chips coming out with the lower leg screws
  • 16 0
 That graph is....uh....incomplete?
  • 11 0
 I need this because it’s purple.
  • 3 0
 I want the spring for my DHX2
  • 9 0
 MAKE A READABLE GRAPH!!
  • 9 0
 I can read it. It says spinach, carrot, lightly dehydrated piss.
  • 3 0
 Looks pretty cool. But if it’s not a rock shock super deluxe way to think about it. Formula seems to be the hardest to service parts wise.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I would agree.

I got a used 35 with a bike I bought recently- the service had been neglected and there was significant stanchion wear. Had to just buy a new fork in the end as getting a replacement CSU was very difficult/astronomically expensive.

It's a shame as it's probably one of the smoothest air-sprung forks I've used off the top of its travel. Too bad it's just sitting in a box now...
  • 4 1
 @Quinn-39: I dn't know for canada, but here in France you have an exploeded view with quite all the parts available! As for servicing, 2 bolts 30ml of oil and you are good to go within one hour!
As you mentionned , maybe the smotthiest fork out there!
  • 1 0
 @romainV: unfortunately the lack of service done by the previous owner is the issue- I need a whole new CSU for it… not just seals and oil.
  • 1 0
 @romainV: I was formula fanboy for a couple of years. Wanted to order brand new selva C and mod shock, but before that I had bought used selva S to make sure it's right direction.
It turned out it had a broken bladder, and Formula refused to sell me a spare one.
I decided to fit there a fox fit4 bladder. It works but decided to get over with formula, at least for some time.
Even bos seems to be a better option now.
  • 5 0
 This is the omelette du fromage of graphs
  • 5 0
 once you go coil you can't recoil
  • 5 0
 What am I supposed to conclude with this graph?
  • 5 0
 Does the MOD work on bikes with rockers?
  • 1 0
 Not all,
You have to ask your local dealer and provide bike model/year + riders weight so Formula can calculate spring rate and if it's compatible with your bike!
  • 4 0
 Depends on how many mirrors you mount.
  • 3 0
 Their springs are really light and nice... still waiting for the enduro DC fork...
  • 1 0
 Freeduro?
  • 1 0
 But they only go up to 550lbs. That just isn't enough for some of us. Frown
  • 1 0
 @gabrielreichman: I'm sure they will add more springs if needed. Got to start off somewhere. For the Enduro MOD initially they only went up to 600 but added the 650 and 700 at a later date.
  • 3 0
 I loved my formula brakes until I needed a replacement bolt and it cost me 35 quid..
  • 2 0
 That green one is either really impressive for being so far ahead at high speed or really disappointing for being so far ahead at high speed…
  • 1 0
 orange is the new black . been using the mod shock on my new bird aegis 9 its surprisingly awesome fair play just not enough dealers in the uk to get hold of the new dh shock when it comes out
  • 3 0
 You had me at purple coil spring
  • 1 0
 Strange to see some italian mtb devices for a long time whereas there is no italian mtb brand, I mean: gravity oriented mtbs.
Ancilotti, OK, but what else?
  • 2 1
 Marzocchi?
  • 4 0
 MDE
  • 1 0
 Terra bikes
  • 1 0
 @Variable-Visual: Ah yes! Good one. Lovely. Thanks!
  • 2 0
 @MuddyFoxCourierComp: Ex-Italian brand I'm afraid, since Fox bought them.
  • 1 1
 @southoftheborder: hmm so Lamborghini is ex-Italian as well?
  • 3 0
 @MuddyFoxCourierComp: Yes. In the exact same way that Land Rover is no longer British. Ah, the wonders of a corporate world.
  • 4 0
 EXT shocks?
  • 2 0
 @vinay: I'm asking about italian BIKES, complete bike or framesets, not italian components, and not Colnago, Cervélo or Pinarello XC bikes made by roadies.
  • 1 0
 @danstonQ: Oh, but how does this make it strange then? Is it common to see both frame and suspension originate from the same country? In how global this industry is, more than a few countries house DH bike brands. And many don't even produce these frames in their home country. I think both (German) Nicolai and Alutech do produce frames in house and do spec Formula suspension. That's close enough.
  • 1 0
 @danstonQ: Cervelo is Canadian....
  • 1 2
 @carlitouk: I don't agree. Ownership doesn't equate to nationality. Land Rover cars aren't built and assembled anywhere else.
  • 3 0
 @MuddyFoxCourierComp: Yes they are I'm afraid. Brazil, China, India and Slovakia.
  • 1 0
 yeah Ancilotti, MDE and FRM come to mind ... check out the Terra Aria that uses thr MOD shock (also uses South Australian I-track suspension) also... but there are plenty of bike brands in neighboring countries, just look at all the bike brands in Germany, it's not that far...
  • 2 0
 You guys should check out Pedroni Race, long time gravity italian frame maker, they rebranded last year and are trying to evolve from super niche to bigger volumes manufacturer.
Got a really fast Enduro bike in the lineup
Here's their Instagram : www.instagram.com/pedronirace_bikes
  • 1 0
 Recently switched from Öhlins to the Formula MOD... instead better feel! This shock ist surprisingly amazing
  • 1 0
 Can you elaborate at all? I am seriously thinking of trying this shock on my bike Smile cheers
  • 1 0
 Own your puns, Matt. Don't be a coward Wink
  • 1 0
 That graph... It's just so Italian haha.
  • 1 0
 Ok this shock looks sick
  • 1 3
 So the CTS is basically a bunch of piston assemblies with prebuilt shim stack. Why not just supply the extra shims with instructions on how to put them together?
  • 11 0
 because 99,99% of the end users will automatically mess everything! When you see the level of understanding of the compression knob...
  • 3 0
 Also the port arrangement is different between the 3 pistons so it is not just different stacks. Cool thing is, you can tune the stack for any given piston so tuning options are very broad, 3 piston profiles, infinite shim stack options. In some PR release they say that the LsC adjuster changes the whole curve but from what I could see the LsC adjuster is a very classic bleed clicker so it just influence how quickly your stack gets loaded. Not a bad thing, but providing more detailed info, like dyno charts for each CTS, fully open and fully closed would be nice.
  • 3 0
 Because you have to strip the fork to change shims but you can change a CTS in the car park...
  • 1 0
 @mattwragg: Oh, would you do that in a space that is not nice and clean? Just like I wouldn't do a lower leg service in the car park when a sudden gust of wind could dump sand and dust inside. Obviously things aren't that exposed when you swap the CTS cartridge but you're still opening an entry towards the damping circuit. Would hate to have that contaminated and wear things down prematurely. Then again, I absolutely understand this isn't my job like it is yours. Once I'm already at the trails and the bike is working fine, it is time to ride not to finick.
  • 2 0
 @vinay: changing ther CTS in the forks can be done in the car park, it's a quick process, but yes, of course you need to make sure you work with some level of cleanliness, not that difficult though. swapping the CTS is really a matter of 10sec, so not a lot of time to get contaminated if you have some basic cleaning items like a rag. The CTS on the MOD can not be changed in the car park, but very easy to do at home and only takes 15-20min or so.
  • 1 0
 @Santacruz817: absolutely, and don't forget you don't have to do it each ride...once you find the right one for your style let's ride!
  • 1 0
 @Santacruz817: Yeah, I always thought CTS was a clever concept so I already had checked the Formula website how easy it is to do. I'm not too worried about the fork indeed but doing it with the shock seems like more of a hassle. Not even so much that it'd be hard to do, but the risk of losing or contaminating something would worry me. Doing it at home then yeah, that'd be easy and that's the point of course.

That said, I can imagine someone would bring a pack of CTS cartridges to their favorite trail and wants to experiment to see which one is worth buying. In which case you'd indeed bring more stuff and create a clean space where you can work on your shock without the risk of losing anything. I can imagine anyone with one of these units wants to try that at some point. Rather than buy the perfect cartridge just by looking as these colored charts Wink .
  • 1 0
 So green = moar?
  • 1 0
 Kang the Conqueror
  • 1 0
 Green is clearly stonks







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