April 21, 2025
Written by: Dave Parman, Dirtlabs Suspension Tech
Vorsprung Telum Coil Shock Ride Review
Written by Dave Parman, Dirtlabs Master Technician
05-21-2025
When Steve at Vorsprung contacted Dirtlabs about becoming a dealer and service center for their new Telum coil shock, we jumped at the opportunity. We’ve been selling their tuning kits and products for years and have always appreciated their performance and attention to detail. I was especially excited to finally see the Telum in person, as I hadn’t had the chance until then. I was also asked to get some ride time on the shock and share my thoughts and initial impressions.
Having spent over a decade at Push Industries, I’ve logged countless hours building and riding custom-tuned shocks. So, naturally, I was curious to see how the Telum would stack up.
Vorsprung’s online Tuning Hub is very cool. If you enjoy geeking out on data and graphs, this is your spot, and if you don’t, maybe it’s time to start. Vorsprung clearly put a lot of time and effort into creating a great user experience. Their website lists a large number of approved frame fitments, and if a particular frame isn’t compatible, they explain why, whether due to clearance issues or linkage designs that don’t pair well with coil shocks.
After entering your personal rider information and bike details, the system provides a recommended spring rate, internal compression and rebound valve tunes, and external damping settings—including low-speed rebound, low- and high-speed compression, and hydraulic bottom-out control. The graphs show how those settings overlay with Vorsprung’s optimal damping curves. You can even tweak the settings to see how the damping curves shift. It’s not only fun to play with—it also gives real insight into what Vorsprung is aiming to achieve with the Telum.
One standout feature is Vorsprung’s Rapid Revalve technology, which allows you to externally adjust compression and rebound valve tunes. Normally, you’d have to disassemble the shock, re-valve, and re-bleed it. With the Telum, you simply use a special pin tool to loosen the base valves, then make internal tune changes via an external Allen slot that turns a worm gear. It’s a huge advantage and a compelling reason to consider this shock over others that require in-shop servicing for retuning.
I mounted the Telum on my longer-travel bike; a YT Jeffsy 27.5 with 160mm of rear travel. Up front, I’m running a Fox 38 with a Vorsprung Smashpot V1 and a WPS piston tuning kit in the GRIP2 damper. (It’s the best fork setup I’ve ever ridden, by the way.) My go-to rear shock has been the 2025 Fox DHX2 with the WPS tuning kit, which I consider the best I’ve used, so the Telum had big shoes to fill.
After installing it, I just stared at it for a moment, it’s truly a work of machining art. The bridge assembly (also known as the head, by other manufacturers’ parlance) is a bit larger than other shocks, but everything is well laid out, and all adjusters are easily accessible. My first impression after pushing on the saddle? Damn, this thing is smooth. It takes almost no effort to initiate the stroke. Vorsprung clearly invested in a top-tier seal head and a polished damper shaft. The polymer spherical eyelet bearings further reduce friction to nearly nothing. Even before hitting the trail, I could tell this shock would have incredible bump sensitivity.
So, how does that translate to real-world ride quality? Simply put, Vorsprung has dialed in every detail to deliver a top-tier ride experience right out of the box. And I have to say, it’s so damn good. This is, without question, the best shock I’ve ridden. The settings provided by the Tuning Hub were spot on. I haven’t changed a thing since dialing it in. The adjusters are there if I need them, but I haven’t needed them. Not once have I thought, “That didn’t feel right through that section,” or, “I wish it were more compliant or supportive.” It just handles everything. The consistency on long, chunky trails is fantastic. Small bump sensitivity is excellent, and big hit performance is supportive without harshness or spike, which is a problem I’ve noticed on several other coil shocks. The bike tracks beautifully and stays composed through repeated hits. I was able to focus entirely on the trail, without second-guessing how the suspension would handle tough sections.
I always aim to be honest and impartial when testing and reviewing bike components. At this point, I can’t find a single flaw with the Telum. It simply outperforms everything else I’ve been riding. I’m looking forward to spending more time on it to see how it holds up long term, but I fully expect it to do well in that regard too.
I’ll be genuinely happy to recommend the Telum to anyone serious about elevating their suspension game. Yes, the price is up there, but between the exceptional on-trail feel, the convenience of the Rapid Revalve system, and Vorsprung’s solid customer support, it’s worth every penny. Pair it with one of their fork tuning products—like the Smashpot coil conversion or the Secus air spring system—and you’ll have the balanced suspension setup you’ve always wanted.
Now for the sad part: I have to give the shock back… and add the Telum to my wishlist.
