First Look: RockShox DebonAir - Monarch Shock Hop-Up Kit
Photos: Margus Riga
RockShox developed a simple and elegant solution to moderate the spring rate and provide a seamless transition from the negative spring for its Monarch RT3 and RC3 shocks. DebonAir, as it is called, is a two-chamber air-sleeve that adds volume to the shock's main air spring, and also to its negative spring. The modification is standard on 2014 Monarch Plus RC3 shocks and will retrofit to all 2014 Monarch shocks as well as last years's 2013 Monarch RC3 models. DebonAir is a one-two punch that extends the effects of the negative spring to
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 RockShox DebonAir (lower left) is a lengthened sleeve that adds to the volume of the shock's original air can, and also contains a separate chamber which extends the volume of the shock's negative spring. DebonAir-equipped shocks can be readily identified because the air sleeve extends to the end of the air can. Standard sleeves stop about 20 millimeters short of the end. |
RockShox developed a simple and elegant solution to moderate the spring rate and provide a seamless transition from the negative spring for its Monarch RT3 and RC3 shocks. DebonAir, as it is called, is a two-chamber air-sleeve that adds volume to the shock's main air spring, and also to its negative spring. The modification is standard on 2014 Monarch Plus RC3 shocks and will retrofit to all 2014 Monarch shocks as well as last years's 2013 Monarch RC3 models. DebonAir is a one-two punch that extends the effects of the negative spring to
 | add small-bump sensitivity through a full third of the shock's compression stroke, while the air volume that the sleeve adds to the positive side of the air spring prevents excessive ramp-up near the shock's end-stroke - which gives longer-travel trailbikes more support in the mid-stroke and a more seamless feel when driving the suspension deep into its travel. RockShox product manager Jed Douglas said that DebonAir can reduce the force necessary to move the shock by 25 percent in the first third of its stroke - where riders are most sensitive to the suspension. DebonAir is a simple retrofit that replaces the stock air can and simply threads onto the shock body. RockShox will have retrofit kits available in stores around June/July 2014 for $115.50 USD. |
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| A look at the DebonAir air can (top) reveals the added length of its outer sleeve, compared to the standard Monarch air can below - and also the addition of a separate chamber in the DebonAir air sleeve that more than doubles the effectiveness of the negative air spring. The two chambers are separated by a rubber seal. |
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| Mid and long-travel trailbikes, like the Norco Sight, benefit most from the DebonAir air-can upgrade. RockShox will offer the DebonAir as a factory option for the Sight's Monarch RT3 shock, and it will be standard equipment on 2014 piggyback RC3 Plus models. |
Pinkbike First Impressions:
 | Riding three different makes of bicycles with suspension travel ranging from 150, to 120 and 100-millimeters over Moab's chunky red rock trails provided a good foundation for assessing the effects of RockShox's DebonAir air sleeve. Longer-travel bikes get the most performance from the DebonAir upgrade, because the shock-spring can be charged with slightly higher air pressure, which supports the suspension in the mid-stroke without suffering from rough small-bump compliance. The improvement is also notable under power, because the shock stays up in its travel more and also keeps the rear end from settling on climbs. DebonAir seemed less effective on the 100-millimeter-travel bike, where the shock tended to run through its travel unless the air pressure was set quite high. And even with the higher PSI values, we didn't have to push the bike hard to use full travel. The red rocks are tough on any suspension, but the the consensus was that, for a bike with minimal suspension travel, a more progressive spring curve would reserve the last third of the shock stroke for bigger hits. That said, for long and mid-travel trailbikes, the DebonAir gives Monarch RT3 and RTC shocks the deeper feel that they needed to match the performance increase of the RockShox Pike fork. The DebonAir-equipped 140-millimeter-travel bikes were fitted with Pike forks, and they felt far better balanced fore and aft across a wide range of speed and terrain. While a hundred bucks may seem steep for an air can, it is a far less expensive option than the price of a new replacement for riders looking to improve the performance of their Monarch RC3 Plus shocks. - RC |
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Good on ya RS!
what they say it does
I've got a set of '05 Marz 66 forks, and because you can tune them (when you rebuild them) I've acidentally set them up too progressive. They were horrible, the top 70% of travel just collapses, then they ramp up way too fast and feel like they've bottomed out at 80% travel. Too progressive springs are shit, just as too regressive springs are. Yet it seems so many people think progressive equals good.
Really though, I'm glad there's finally an aftermarket option to combat proprietary bs.
This is like inception, the joke is a joke: there is no joke: it's all serious. I'm confused..
should really clarify that to mean from now on.
monarch plus is over £150 cheaper than the float-X, only thing lacking from my 2014 RC3 is the black damper body