Lezyne Digital Shock Drive review – digital readings for clear suspension setup

Lezyne has two shock pumps in its range, there is an analog version and the more premium Digital Shock drive which we have here. While the basic Shock Drive will work for set and forget riders, the extra cost and portability of the digital gauge are going to be worth the extra spend. 

It's amazing the difference a few PSI can make to the ride feel of air-sprung suspension which means that if you are serious about getting the best performance having the best shock pump is vital to assure settings are accurate and reliable.

Design and aesthetics

Shock pumps aren’t usually the most glamourous or lust-worthy tool but Lezyne has done a great job on the Digital Shock Drive. The black and gold design looks very premium and is in keeping with the brand's other pumps like the Lezyne Grip Drive HV pump – a nice detail if you are brand loyal or like matchy-matchy trail kit.

As to be expected from Lezyne, the Digital Shock Drive has a full metal build using machined-aluminum construction for the body, handle, and fixings. The hose is braided so should resist damage from being repeatably bent into awkwardly mounted shocks. Mounted onto the body is the digital gauge which has a single button and the CR1220 battery cover which is opened with a coin. Pressure readings are rounded to the nearest whole PSI number and bar to the nearest tenth. There is a little bleed button too should you need to drizzle air out.

Lezyne rates the Digital Shock Drive accuracy to +/- 1.5 percent and the pump will go up to 350 psi (24 bar) – which is enough to cover all forks and shocks we are aware of. The pump isn't waterproof rated so if you do take it out on an adventure you will want to keep it away from the rain.

Performance 

Most importantly, the pump screws smoothly and securely to forks and shocks assuring a leak-free connection. The 19cm long hose gives lots of length and rotates 360 degrees from the pump body so you don't need to be uncomfortably hunched over the bike when setting up your shock. The screen is simple and easy to read, clearly showing the pressure as you use the pump. The chuck has a ‘zero-loss’ design that assures the pin is disengaged before it's unsealed to avoid any loss of air meaning the pressure you set it to is the pressure that is still in your suspension once the pump is disconnected.

A single-button makes pump operation easy, press and hold for three seconds to turn it on and off. A single press switches between PSI and bar and a 10-second hold zeros the reading – although I was never required to do this. The pump will auto turn off as well to conserve battery should you put it down and get distracted mid setup.

The slim design is easy to pack but it's quite long so won't fit well in a hip pack or pocket. I like that the hose screws into the handle, rather than using a clip, to keep it all together and stop dirt from getting inside the pump and then, in turn, your shock. The handle has a nice smooth 'bean' shape which means that although it's small, it’s comfortable and easy to grip in use. The pump action is smooth and it took little effort to get up to our desired pressures even on higher pressure shocks.

Verdict

Premium feel and simple operation means the Digital Shock Drive is an excellent shock pump to use. It's slim enough to pop into a backpack for detailed trailside tuning, however, it's a tad long to make it ideal for a pocket or smaller pack.

While there are definitely shock pumps that are considerably cheaper, it's about on par with most other digital shock pumps on the market. If you're a keen suspension fiddler the extra cost will be worth the clear pressure readings though and the pump feels more than durable enough to last many years.

Tech Specs: Lezyne Digital Shock Drive shock pump

• Price: $79.99 / £77
• Colors: Black/gold
• Weight: 111g
• Length: 225mm