RockShox pushes their trail category of forks to the next level in 2011 with the addition of the new
Revelation World Cup fork. With a
one piece carbon fiber crown and tapered steerer tube and a weight of only 3.46 lbs, the 150 mm travel fork is sure to raise some eyebrows. Inside you will also find details of yet another new rear shock for 2011, the
Monarch Plus. The new shock is intended for all-mountain use and is a hybrid of the proven original Monarch and the brand new Vivid Air shock.
Read on...2011 RockShox Revelation World Cup2011 RockShox Revelation World Cup
For 2011 RockShox makes major refinements to their Revelation lineup, including adding the World Cup model that you see here. One of the most exciting features on the forks is the new Dual Air travel adjust system. Dual Air lets the rider quickly and easily drop the travel by about 30 mm simply by turning the crown mounted lever by 90 degrees. Total travel sits at 150 mm, but is dropped down to 120 mm to keep the front end from wandering on climbs. Not only does the system add minimal weight to the overall package, around 100 grams, it also keeps things simple and doesn't involve making multiple turns with a dial to lower the front end. Dual Air will be available as an option on all of the Revelation forks.
The stunning one piece tapered carbon steerer tube
The World Cup Revelation that I spent my day on featured the new and very trick one piece carbon fiber crown and tapered steerer tube. The new tapered upper assembly is impressive to see in person, and drops weight while retaining valuable stiffness. Riders who push their trail bikes hard will benefit from the new carbon addition. Fittingly, only the World Cup model receives the carbon treatment. Aluminum standard and tapered steerer options are available on RL, RTL, and RTL Ti models. RockShox makes the leap to 15 mm thru-axles as well, and although new to the 15 mm gang, their Maxle Lite system is probably the most user friendly to use. The new Maxle Lite (
including the 20 mm version) does away with the full length steel skewer that was hidden within and instead moves the wedge system to the lever end of the axle.
At the bottom you'll find a 15 mm thru-axle
2011 RockShox Revelation World Cup details
• New World Cup model for '11
• One piece carbon fiber tapered steerer tube and crown
• Adjustable travel: 120 mm - 150 mm with Dual Position Air system
• BlackBox Motion Control damping
• Dual Flow rebound
• Adjustments: external beginning stroke rebound, low speed compression, floodgate and lockout
• 32 mm stanchion tubes
• Option remote PushLoc lockout
• 9 mm QR, 15 mm Maxle Lite, 20 mm Maxle Lite options
• Weight: 3.46 lbs
• MSRP $1090 USD
The World Cup's one piece carbon fiber crown and steerer tube is a thing of beauty
I put in a few hours on a Revelation World Cup equipped Cannondale RZ140 and came away impressed with the new fork. The Dual Air system proved to be easy to use and was very functional in the field, making it easier for me to make it around some of the day's tight switchbacks and up some technical climbs. While there are many forks out there with travel adjust mechanisms that accomplish the same feat, the quick and easy nature of the Dual Air design was a bonus. When the trail pointed the opposite direction the Revelation more than held its own over the fast and rocky terrain. Stiffness was never an issue, and many of us even commented to each other about how well the 3.46 lb. fork tracked at speed. There was nary a hint of flex, even when comparing it to larger legged and heavier models. While one ride is far from a proper test, I was impressed. The Revelation World Cup's total package is outstanding: easy to use travel adjust, light weight, and a stiff chassis should make this a winner for 2011. Look for a full length test at a later date as this fork will be on my short list of products to put a lot of miles on.
The Dual Air lever was easy to turn
2011 RockShox Monarch Plus2011 RockShox Monarch Plus
Somewhat obscured by the exciting new Reverb, telescoping seatpost and Vivid Air shock is the new Monarch Plus. This all new shock for 2011 is based on both the original Monarch and new Vivid Air, with the goal of producing a light and adjustable shock for all-mountain use. Using RockShox's Solo Air spring technology, along with Dual Flow separate rebound circuits, this new shock should be at home on today's mid-travel, weight conscious bikes. Those who earn their turns should take note of the three position external compression adjustment that can be easily flipped while on the go to make those out of the saddle efforts really count. Other external adjustments include beginning stroke rebound speed and air spring pressure. The new shock will come in a variety of common sizes to fit most all-mountain bikes.
Monarch Plus details:
• New all-mountain orientated shock for 2011
• Damper based on Monarch and Vivid internals
• Piggyback reservoir for extra oil volume and heat dissipation
• External 3 position compression adjustment
• Beginning stroke rebound adjustment
• Available sizes: 7.5" x 2", 7.875" x 2"/2.25", 8.5" x 2.5", 8.75" x 2.6"
RockShox.com
I'm not saying the fork will break left and right. But if it does break anywhere, it wont be the steer tube or the crowns, it'll be where they meet, and very simply for the reason that its all one continuous carbon weave that isnt smoothly transitioning.
I can say a lot more on this, I have a bit of experience using aerospace grade carbon fiber weave to make racing components, and an actual engineering degree unlike some of the wankers arguing here. But I'm not an expert.
If you don't like viewing opinions, it's probably best to completely overlook the comment section... which is full of what? Opinions?
Natual Selection? Here's one....some kid will certainly put a star nut in one unknowingly........
I had carbon steerers on a -road bike- back in '98. They really are nothing new, but on a 'all mountain' ride, who knows?
See there is a sense of humor haha!
nice product, time will tell its strengths and weaknesses, and I am sure there are plenty out there who buy new products for top dollar just because they are new... as Always I would give it a year at least to hear some actual Rider feedback, and by rider I am talking about you an me, Not pro riders who get stuff for free.... must be awesome.
...yeah, that's rad.
Most people have heard that if you overtighten your carbon bar or seat post its strength is drastically reduced and problems are coming soon.
While this isnt totally catastrophic to the budget when its a 200$ easton bar but what about when you realize that you just crushed your steer tube... 1000 fork is in for a BIG repair.
I'm not against carbon, just not sure AM needs to be ALL CARBON, there are plenty of better applications than this IMO
or are we just going to go straight to 2012 alreadY?
The progression is one piece/uncut carbon from steerer and all the way to the bottom of the stanchions (sorta like some of the road forks). If there is no way of surfacing carbon suitable for wipers/seals/bushings then you could have a thin metallic pipe over the carbon stanchions. You could use a big diameter for the stanchions since they weigh less. There would be no bulgey crown, just smooth lines from crown race and into top of stanchions, and less stress risers.
Think about this... how many steel steer tubes have you seen snapped?
How many aluminum ones (I snapped one myself)
now, how many carbon seatposts have you heard of snapping? Same principal as forks. If carbon seatposts can't barely hold up, do you guys honestly think a crown on a single crown fork will?
O well, natural selection. Buy more of this stuff people. It will keep trail population down.
(and no, I'm not debating carbons usage either. It works for frames, stems, fork uppers / lowers, rims... but NOT the one single piece that holds the entire front end together on a bike).
Like said. carbon is fine for many many things. Just specific things like steer tubes and seatposts have always been dumb.
Regarless, it's not a "carbon debate". I'm not debating it's strength. If you were to read what I put you'd understand that. But anyways, unless you yourself have experience in hand laying carbon tubing and sheet... please refrain from commenting on it.
Sure it's proven to work in short term.
In the end, it's rider safety. If he wants to ignore it go for it and buy it. Same ordeal with people that ran carbon forks on their race bmx bikes. Sure, everyone and their mom said they were proven, but then again, if they were so proven why have I witnessed 5+ sets of them breaking in the long stint I raced for.
Same with everything man. Sure, everything is proven, until one dude goes down at a race, kills himself, then it hits national headlines. Then its a "faulty" product. No... it's just another point of people taking stuff too light. Example... street bmx. 23 lb street bikes now. Safe... no. Major news headlines yet.. fortunately not. All it takes is one bad thing to go, then it's one big f*ckin' snowboall.
"I called you out for your "natural selection" quote. Please, continue..." well UncleCliffy, if you call someone out about something, generally you mention that specific ordeal. It's like me calling you for something, and stating something completely off the point.
Saying that putting alu steerers is stupid, is like you are denying whole industry's knowledge in that area, and the fact that they chose it as the material for steerers for most of forks available on the market. Are you smarter than Rockshox engineers doing those steerers since like 10 years or more?! Who do you think you are?! Alu steerer's stupid?! Carbon steerer's stupid? CRo-mo is the way to go?! I don't know if it's resin you are inhaling too much but it got you messed up.
And if you broke your alu steerer make sure it was the tubes fault, not of your bad skills. Accidents like that happen sure, if it's not your fault make a warranty claim. Make sure you are right, because if it was your fault, then you cro-mo steerer won't save you from natural selection. YOu have to hit something big time to break an alu steerer even in XC bike...
Do yourself a favor kid, learn to talk like a normal human, or stfu. Simple. You may have had a point if you actually could talk like an adult.. but instead your entire post is filled with put downs.
now, tell me this, actually you know what, Quote me... when did I attack anyone?
It's extremely funny how you took my semi long lil debate binge, and turned it into something so completely out of wack. Are you really taking yourself this seriously to type in the way you did?
O, and btw, sure, more steel frames have broken, there are millions more steel frames than carbon. So, pull your head out of your ass.. and actually start looking into the ratio's on things.
O and btw, I do remember you also. You are the ones the admins were watching for your bad attitude. You and that big tard guy. Keep it up bro... your history on the site is FAR worse than mine.
O, but according to you, if something is produced it MUST work. It must be good. And it wont break. Why.. because a few engineers designed something and a company is putting a ton of money into marketing it. But then again, I can't remember the last time a company over 10 years old has not had a critical design flaw with at least one of their products.
These are trail forks meant for rarely encountering harsh landings and sheer impacts, so I think it's safe to say they should do fine on XC bikes. They used carbon because for the given application, you can ride it safely. Frames are made from it and undergo the same forces, why is instantly a big no no to use it for a fork? Don't you remember the all carbon xc fork? Hear about any breaking news horror stories about those?
It's nothing about skill of instant strength assessment. Did I look at it and said it the specific fork would break. No, I said it was my opinion it was a stupid idea. I did however refer to carbon breaking in general, but I never once used a steer tube as an example, because well, carbon steer's is a new ordeal.
btw, love the negative props guys. Keep em coming. Taking this as a compliment in this case. It's no different than being in a hippy or liberal forum (not that I partake in that)
it doesn't matter that you work with composites, you obviously don't work in the design department... it's obvious because all of your comments provide no backing whatsoever, it's just hollow statements. You hear one thing from one person, take it as gospel, and preach it to the masses.
How is this a bad application of carbon? How are aluminum steerers bad? (i want you to answer those) Yes, things will break, no matter the material. you need to pull your head out of your ass and look at how big of a fool you are.
Honestly, there is no way i can describe how big of a dumbass you are in my mind, it would be one thing if you were 12, but you're 25.
I meant who cares about your frustration and your wish for everybody to shut the f-lowerpa-ck up? Cuz I don't so I just keep on writing
(thought i'd chuck a spanner in the works)