First Ride: RockShox's Updated Lyrik and New Deluxe Shock

Apr 4, 2019 at 0:07
by Mike Kazimer  
RockShox 2020

What's in a name? Previously, when it came to the model names in RockShox's suspension line the answer was, 'A whole bunch of letters.' Those letters designated the features of each fork or shock; a Lyrik RCT3 for instance, or a SID RLC. That alphabet soup is going away for the model year 2020, at least for the components in RockShox's Signature Series, which includes the SID, Pike, Lyrik, and Boxxer forks, along with the Super Deluxe and Deluxe shocks.

Rather than a string of letters, there will now be three designations: Ultimate, Select+, or Select, in order to make it easier to see where a product sits in the RockShox suspension hierarchy. But there's more to the story than just a naming change and some new chassis colors – internal updates have been applied to the forks to reduce friction and improve performance, and there's a new Deluxe Ultimate shock in the lineup.

RockShox undertook a large data acquisition project last season in order to determine what changes could be made to improve their suspension products. Along with gathering feedback from a wide range of riders, time was spent trying out competitor's products in different forms – complete forks, someone else's damper into their own chassis, or a competitor's chassis with a RockShox damper. Based on the results of that project, RockShox took steps to reduce the friction in their forks, and to adjust the damper to prevent too much feedback from reaching a rider's hands.


RockShox 2020
The new rebound piston on the right is designed to keep oil where it belongs.
RockShox 2020
New SKF wipers are found on all Signature Series forks.

Fighting Friction

The less friction there is in a fork or shock, the better it can respond to impacts. It's a simple concept, but it's not always easy to drop the level of friction past a certain point. RockShox started by switching to Dynamic Seal Grease instead of SRAM Butter on the air spring side, and added a small amount of oil on top of that spring in order to make everything as slippery smooth as possible. On the damper side, Maxima Plush is now the stock oil, which is designed to reduce friction and make very little noise during compression and rebound.

There are also new SKF wiper seals, which are claimed to keep out the same amount of dirt as the previous seals without making as much contact with the stanchion tubes.

RockShox 2020
The high- and low-speed compression tunes have been changed for the new Charger 2.1 damper.

Charger 2.1

The basic design of RockShox's Charger damper remains the same – it's still based on an expanding bladder layout, but several tweaks have been made in an effort to create a more comfortable ride. There's now a lighter high-speed compression tune, and the low-speed compression tune has also been adjusted to give riders the ability to use the entire range. Previously, setting up the fork with the maximum amount of low-speed compression created a nearly unusable setting, but that's no longer the case.

When working to determine what was creating the excess feedback that riders were experiencing, RockShox found that one of the culprits was the rebound piston's split glide ring. According to John Cancellier, RockShox product manager, “We found that under high-speed, aggressive events, oil could actually flow through the little split... To really be able to control those low speed rebound events we need to control every drop of oil that's flowing through the damper. If something is flowing through past the piston without being checked, that means your fork is not being controlled. Once we figured that out, we moved to a fitted wear band, a piece of plastic that's pushed on to the piston and fitted with a bullet tool. It's 100% sized to the damper. It basically means that oil cannot flow past it.”

Along with removing the split glide ring, changes were made to the rebound piston's flow path to create more digressive damping. That change should speed up the the rate that the fork returns its original state after an impact, allowing it to better handle repeated large hits.

The Charger 2.1 damper will be available in the Ultimate and Select+ versions of the Pike and Lyrik, and in the Boxxer Ultimate. It can also be installed in previous model year forks. Prices range from $250 - $375 for the cartridge depending on the fork and features.


RockShox 2020
RockShox 2020
The Pike Ultimate receives the Charger 2.1 damper, and adjustable high-speed compression.



RockShox 2020
The 2020 RockShox Deluxe, Super Deluxe, and SuperDeluxe Coil, which now has a red powdercoated spring option.


RockShox 2020
RockShox 2020
The Deluxe Ultimate has a lever that provides three low-speed compression setting in the open position.

New Deluxe Ultimate Shock

Given how hard riders are pushing shorter travel bikes it made sense to create a new inline shock that could handle those demands. The Deluxe Ultimate is the result, and while doesn't look all that different from the current Deluxe, it has internals that are similar to what are in a Super Deluxe. It has a checked damper, which is designed to prevent oil from flowing backward through the compression and rebound circuits. There are two main settings, open and firm, which are selected by moving the black lever. There are also three possible low-speed compression settings with the shock in the fully open position that are chosen by pushing and rotating the blue rectangular dial. 0 is the base setting, and then there is a + and – depending on the ride feel you're looking for.



MegNeg Air Can

For riders looking to add even more tunability to their shock, there's a new air can available called the MegNeg. The can adds additional negative spring pressure, which can be adjusted by adding or subtracting bands.

That increased negative pressure should improve mid-stroke support and reduce the amount of force it takes for the shock to enter its travel, although it's best suited for bikes with more linear spring curves. On bikes with more progressive spring curves it's possible that installing a MegNeg will create too much mid-stroke support, potentially creating a harsher ride feel. Compatible with SuperDeluxe and Deluxe shocks, the MegNeg can is priced at $90 USD.
RockShox 2020

Prices

Pike Ultimate: $929 USD
Pike Select: $699

Lyrik Ultimate: $999 USD
Lyrik Select: $699

Boxxer Ultimate: $1699 USD
Boxxer Select: $1309

SID Ultimate Carbon: $999 - $1079
SID Ultimate: $799-$849
SID Select: $599 - $699




Lyrik Ultimate

The 2019 Lyrik was no slouch, but given how many improvements RockShox rattled off, it made sense to do a little back-to-back testing with the new model to see if there was any noticeable difference.

Sintra, Portugal, was the location of the test track, which had plenty of rocks, jumps, and corners to subject the fork to a wide range of forces. After a few laps with the 2019 fork, the swap was made to the 2020 version. The initial part of the trail was relatively smooth, other than a few fun-sized jumps, and the difference between the to forks wasn't readily apparent. But once things got rockier, and the size of the impacts increased, the new model felt noticeably calmer. It wasn't drastic, but it felt like the fork had a lighter action, and was better able to handle those bigger hits without using up all of its travel.

I'll be subjecting the Lyrik to plenty of longer, steeper, and even rougher runs to really figure out how it stacks up, but so far my initial impressions are that the changes are for the better, building on the already high level of performance offered by the prior version.


RockShox 2020

Deluxe Ultimate

The performance of a rear shock can be harder to evaluate than a fork due to the number of factors involved. Things like the kinematics of the frame, and the rebound and compression tune of the can have a big influence, and the way a shock feels on one frame can be completely different on another.

In this instance, I installed the new Deluxe Ultimate onto a Stumpjumper EVO 29 with 140mm of travel. The new three position compression lever is nice to have – I typically run it in the 0 (middle) position, but if I'm looking for a little extra grip it's easy to turn it to the -1 setting. The difference between the three settings is noticeable, but they're all very usable depending on what type of feel you're looking for.

I've been extremely impressed with the Deluxe Ultimate's performance so far. Granted, I haven't taken it on any massive, non-stop descents to see how well it can deal with heat, but other than that I've ridden it on just about every style of trail, from smooth and jumpy to raw and rugged. It delivers a very controlled and composed feel, with plenty of small bump sensitivity, and the ability to tune the amount of end-stroke ramp up with volume spacers for bigger hits. I'll be putting more miles on the shock in the coming months, but so far I haven't come across anything that I'd want to change - it's been handling every thing I've tossed its way without faltering in the slightest.





Photos: Roo Fowler & Dan Hearn
rockshox.com

Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,719 articles

325 Comments
  • 245 4
 I gotta say, the RS naming of their shocks is pretty bad... the Super Deluxe Ultimate..... just three over the top buzzwords smashed together... haha
  • 98 1
 If it comes with extra cheese, it's ok.
  • 45 0
 Tell that to a non MTBer and they'll think you're joking.
  • 5 1
 Peter T Hooper wants his omelette back
  • 14 0
 @faul: and extra big ass fries
  • 21 0
 The pros get a secret animal style version.
  • 19 0
 Plus the knob goes to 11. Smile
  • 49 0
 waiting for the release of Super Deluxe Ultimate Supreme
  • 46 0
 Mega Super Deluxe Ultimate Supreme Super Boost Plus 2.1
  • 50 2
 I think it should be called the ass blaster
  • 6 1
 @thinkbike: with bacon
  • 27 2
 @Visicypher: super deluxe ultimate ass blaster with bacon
  • 36 0
 They're building up to the release of the condensed versions that will blow everyone's minds....the Royale and the Royale With Cheese. Cuz metric.
  • 9 2
 @takeiteasyridehard: Big ass Dank ass super deluxe ass plush ass shocks. Available now!!
  • 14 1
 Super, Deluxe, Ultimate ...............sounds like the menu in a massage parlor. :-)
  • 15 0
 @flashpoint50: or a drive through car wash
  • 6 4
 They have just put Ultimate after a shock they named 20 years ago its not that bad whats bad is no one actually knows much about the history of our not very old sport.

Would you prefer them to call in the Super Deluxe Better/Improved ?
  • 6 0
 @acali: You forgot 'Evo'. Other than that, spot on with the cycling industry jargon.
  • 3 2
 @heavyp: calm down.. we know the shock has been around for a long time. That doesn’t justify that it is called the super deluxe. It’s a ridiculous name and sounds like a McDonald’s number 3! Cool it
  • 2 0
 It was actually a toss up between naming it the 'Much Comfort Betterer' or 'Super Deluxe Ultltimate' - guess they didn't get the memo from Pinkbike users
  • 3 0
 I don't mind "super deluxe", it at least has some heritage behind it - I had one of the ooooold ones in a 2001 orange patriot back in the day, so the red spring is cool too.

The Select, Select +, Ultimage naming convention is pretty lame though.
  • 3 1
 @cycleo marketing bullshit at its best...
  • 1 0
 @CircusMaximus: haha nail on the head!
  • 2 0
 @andrewlombardo: the Italian restaurant near my home also uses a similar scale for burritos. Supreme adds sour cream and black olives into the mix.
  • 1 1
 What the fork are they doing? You had me at Ultimate. Lost me a Super Deluxe. Funny how they market showing the weights for the 27.5. Basically weight is same which 180gm more than Fox 32 Stepcast. I'll stick to Fox for now as an XC racer. Maybe their new set up is a better feel? I can add a dropper post with a Fox fork with out the big weight penalty. I'll make sure to pee before a ride too.
  • 1 0
 Sounds like an item from the Taco Bell Menu
  • 1 0
 They should get Guy Fieri to do their names
  • 1 0
 @thinkbike: Your italian restaurant serves burritos?
  • 127 8
 that pike with chrome lowers is sex
  • 41 16
 Errrr, I'm not sure which part of the fork you are going to insert yourself into (or visa versa) to achieve that analogy, but in any case, I think I've already disturbed myself too much even thinking about it for just a few seconds.
  • 44 8
 And i came here specifically to bash the chrome. Different Strokes.
  • 12 2
 Where is the black one?
  • 3 0
 I know i love those lowers! I hate how they just warranty replaced my upgraded revelation to a pike rct3 because of a catastrophic internal failure. And now they release that sexy monster =(
  • 6 1
 @onelivinlarge: you can (carefully) take the paint off with stripper, shine, and clear coat it. Id stear clear of @kookseverywhere though. Hear he's quick with the sram butter
  • 13 14
 why red?! I will never understand red lowers.
  • 3 3
 strip the stickers and they would look even sexier.
  • 28 1
 @burnadette: red is faster... common knowledge that
  • 3 0
 @bigtim: I suppose you’d start at the steerer tube, and work towards the taper. Assuming it’s off the bike.
  • 17 2
 Sorry to be Grouchy McGrouchpants, but this is kinda the problem with the cycle industry. So-called product updates with 0.00001% real improvement, but they changed to a new colour, which makes a ton of stock on shop shelves completely worthless, followed by massive online discounting, etc, etc

The circle continues...
  • 4 1
 The crown needs to match then it’d be sex
  • 10 0
 @fartymarty: A ton of old school rockshox forks were red
  • 5 3
 @burnadette: me neither.. Black all day long for me.. That way I know I will never get tired of it
  • 4 0
 @burnadette: Because that is a RS signature color. Same with Fox Orange, DVO Green, etc. Go black if you don't like red.
  • 2 1
 @bman33: i say again where is the black one?
  • 7 0
 @bman33 That is what she said!
  • 2 2
 @IllestT: Better save money for a good tuning sending to a specialist......Nothing new than oil ? stickers lol
  • 10 0
 Am I the only one who wants a black lyric with the same coloured crown as the boxer?
  • 9 2
 IllestT (55 mins ago)
Sorry to be Grouchy McGrouchpants, but this is kinda the problem with the cycle industry. So-called product updates with 0.00001% real improvement, but they changed to a new colour, which makes a ton of stock on shop shelves completely worthless, followed by massive online discounting, etc, etc

The circle continues...

How is this bad for the consumer? New buyers get cool bling. Old users can upgrade. Or, you can buy a discounted old model that will suite 95% of riders and save some bucks.Not seeing a problem here, other than the dumb stickers on the lowers.
  • 3 0
 @Poulsbojohnny: meh it wasn’t really worth that price in the first place Or they’d hold their value. Wait a year and get last years stickers for a better price inna years time the crowns going to be creaking anyway.
  • 2 0
 @theredbike: Most have black option according to he RS website.

launch.sram.com/en/rockshox/products/pike-ultimate
  • 3 0
 @thenotoriousmic: Yes..black with the polished/grey crown would look sick
  • 1 4
 I prefer all black. I feel like that was really a rock Shox thing....that I loved. Now it's seems like it's gonna be easier to buy an all black FOX. Seems silly to give up that advantage IMO. We could always put Red decals on a black fork....but you can't hide that silver color with decals. I think it's a poor decision....but that's just my opinion.
  • 6 0
 @gooded: I just looked at the RS website. Lyric, Pike and Boxxer all have a black option.
  • 2 0
 @IllestT: don't knock it - we get to buy last years barely ridden model 2nd hand on PB classified when the must have fan boys upgrade at the first sight of a new version
  • 3 7
flag Flowcheckers (Apr 4, 2019 at 13:37) (Below Threshold)
 No coil options=No Rock Shox.
  • 3 1
 @Flowcheckers: Fox 36 is all air , so is the 40 now. I believe all DVO is as well. What are you running?
  • 9 0
 @bman33: running his mouth! Ayooooo!
  • 1 1
 "that pike with chrome lowers is sex" ....I wonder which category that Identity would be raced under...
  • 4 0
 I'm not joking, if that Pike sex colour was available on the Lyrik I would probably buy one instead of the Fox 36 Grip2 that I'm about to buy.
  • 2 2
 very cheap lookign sex.
  • 1 0
 @gooded: All still come in black.
  • 2 0
 @bman33: Ok, I should have wrote "No new Rock Shox." I'm running a cheap Yari with the Vorsprungg coil upgrade, blows away any stock Rock Shox, plus less maintenance and stiction.
  • 1 0
 @Flowcheckers: well underrated fork even before you put the coil in.
  • 2 0
 @Flowcheckers: could you tell me more about that upgrade? I have a Yari 160 too
  • 1 0
 @Poulsbojohnny: Peel stickers.. Problem solved.
  • 1 0
 @bohns1: yes peel them and send to me
  • 2 1
 @Iron-nick: It will turn your cheap Yari into a super fork, and reduce the service intervals. Its the only 180mm coil kit available now, which is a really sad statement about all the major fork manufacturers. Here's the pinkbike article on it..

m.pinkbike.com/news/vorsprung-launches-smashpot-coil-conversion-kit.html

•130-180mm travel, internally set using included spacers.
• Full tool-free control over bottoming resistance.
• 11 coil spring rates available, from 30lbs/in to 80lbs/in precision wound in 5lbs/in increments.
• Rider weights from 45kg (100lbs) to 125kg (275lbs) catered for.
• Universal cartridge kits require only new top caps to be moved between different forks (and foot studs if different fork brands).
• Springs are guided and isolated both internally and externally to reduce spring buckling, minimising noise.
• Spring guiding system also means less rubbing, less wear and less contamination of the bath oil.
• More bath oil for improved lubrication and smoothness.
• Cheaper and more adjustable than comparable competing coil conversion kits.
• Only coil conversion on the market allowing 180mm travel.
• Easy and cost-effective to transfer from one fork to another.
• Allows full use of travel even for light, smooth riders.
• Prevents harsh bottoming.
• Reliable and low maintenance.
• User installable.
• Designed, developed and manufactured in Whistler, Canada.
  • 1 0
 @onelivinlarge: they get damaged when peeled
  • 1 1
 @IllestT: at least someone is seeing the wolf in sheep's clothing. Please add small improvements and upgrade the current model to add value to the already marketed products. Flashy names and stickers should not be the reason to offload the last model produced. Planned obsolescence should be curved please
  • 1 0
 @bohns1: gotta use heat and be careful Wink i just need them semi intact so i can scan and cut new ones
  • 2 0
 @onelivinlarge: I hear Ya I used a hair dryer but I wasn't trying to be to careful..
  • 113 4
 I saw that MegNeg air can and was like "Hey look! A Vorsprung Corset!"

Seriously RockShox, just buy Vorsprung already. They're doing your updates like 2 years ahead of you.
  • 151 2
 Yeah, shut up Meg
  • 12 8
 Where did I miss Vorpsrung doing an air spring where you can adjust the volume of the negative chamber?
  • 2 3
 Looks like the can on the fox float x that they already tried and moved on from lol
  • 32 2
 Also.
If you wanna make it easier for us bozos out here, just call them “good,” “better,” and “best”
  • 6 0
 @maxlombardy: may they never rest till your good is better and your better is best...
  • 5 1
 The Luftkappe has been the best upgrade to my Pike. For years, I could never get the Pike set up well for my riding in rocky technical stuff. However, the Luftkappe transformed the shock immediately to be much more plush while maintaining the top end support. These forks look awesome too though.
  • 3 0
 @JeffreyJim: DVO topaz has had volume spacer-able neg chamber
  • 1 0
 So is the Super Deluxe essentially unchanged with the exception of the switch to Maxima Plush? Seems unwise as RS hasn't been known to have the best rear shocks for quite some time now.
  • 4 2
 @maxlombardy: more like; crap, junk and fine
  • 4 3
 @AD4M: Comment of the year
  • 3 2
 Please don't buy Vorsprung
  • 1 0
 @gmcgurk: not quite.
  • 54 0
 Wow, Sram managed to sell us the Debonair upgrade once again.
  • 5 1
 *Meg Neg. Cause cool names sell products
  • 10 0
 cant wait for charger 2.1+superdebonairMegNegUltimateplus
  • 3 0
 @aceface17: you forgot SUPERboost...
  • 2 1
 @aceface17: Nah. Ulitimate stands for the end of the product life cycle. So, this time next year, 2021 Lyrik gets Charger 3 + Boost 20mm + 35.99mm stanchions; 2020 Lyrik is upgraded with Charger 3 and is renamed Pike 3.
  • 3 0
 Eh well, not like Fox hasn't done the same with their negative air chamber sizes.
  • 1 3
 @ccollord: yeah but fox actually make unbelievably good suspension
  • 52 1
 Oooo that Pike with the silver lower legs looks FIT
  • 46 1
 Prob not the wisest choice of adjective there. Sorry Rockshox... ;-)
  • 4 8
flag onemanarmy FL (Apr 4, 2019 at 11:18) (Below Threshold)
 @Franziskaner: That's what made the post good...
  • 42 1
 Why would you go from super straight forward lettering that actually denotes the features of the product, to some ridiculous, meaningless words that honestly sound really stupid. Just tell me what adjustments the thing has! That was the best part of your naming convention!
  • 7 4
 Same reason they don't have a 4 way adjustable damper in the new line up (vivid doesn't really count, it's pretty much abandoned)... They want you to think they know what's best for your riding. They are beginning to feel a bit like Apple in that way, and that's not good for riders (though probably great for OEM sales).

And right after Fox released a new 4 way damper...

I'm only missing high-speed rebound on the fork on my bike (36 hsc\lsc and dbair), and will continue to not buy rockshox until I can make those adjustments (I'm a big dude on a high leverage frame, I _need_ high-speed comp (PSI and volume spacers alone isn't enough to feel right) and rebound (gotta counter that high PSI) adjustments on my shock)
  • 1 1
 Just like with fox it is done to sell you the OEM stuff. If you knew that the OEM shock have little to no adjustments it looks bad. But nów you have to Google hard what you are actually buying. Many Will not Google.
  • 5 2
 All that with Charger 2 being only two years old, and we already have 2.1. Come on...
  • 22 1
 Glad I did not spend the $350 dollars to upgrade the Charger damper on my 1 year old but now two generations old Lyrik to the Charger 2. I'm probably not good enough to even tell the difference anyway.
  • 41 0
 I believe in you
  • 1 0
 I can tell you going from charger 1 to 2 was so much better, plusher and more supportive midstroke, I’d just wait til you need a service
  • 2 1
 I can upgrade my Charge RC damper to a Charge 2 to go with my Debonair air spring.
  • 4 0
 @Jimmy0: Genuine LOL Big Grin
  • 24 0
 Ditch the turtle and hare for rebound. Put a pic of me and Sam Hill
  • 4 0
 lol totally me. Best comment on here.
  • 20 1
 Why are brands releasing next years stuff so early, its April and 2020 stuff is already out?
  • 26 11
 Because the people running RS and many other companies are not cyclist but random jacks that went to business school.... The game is to play with the consumer mind to make you believe the stuff you have is already outdated/crap.

In the long run this business system is going to run the industry to the ground but the wigs running the game do not care as they take the bonus and move to another industry.
  • 5 9
flag johny88 (Apr 4, 2019 at 8:41) (Below Threshold)
 Well, snow has melted a month ago, spring is here, nature is waking up.. and cycling season begins. However, all 2019 model bikes that are at my local shop just became worthless - morally. I am not going to spend top dollar on top model of a bike they have there - if I know it is not top model anymore. Yup, 4th of April and entire model year of bikes built on top end suspension models just got screwed. Sram just screwed over with bike manufactures. Unless they release their 2020 range in a month or so.
  • 28 2
 It’s pretty common - with Sea Otter coming up lots of companies will be releasing their 2020 products, even though those items will be available in 2019. I wouldn’t waste too much time getting hung up on a product's model year designation in relation to the actual calendar - that ship sailed long ago.
  • 5 0
 Car companies are showing us 2024 cars already. It’s just how marketing works now. Anything released in 2019 even in January is a 2020 product
  • 3 0
 @mikekazimer: exactly. If you know bikes, you know all the new stuff comes out with SeaOtter. Especially with Interbike being gone, it's the big event to show off your new stuff or at least introduce it.
  • 3 0
 @johny88: Look at Mr. Snow melted a month ago Frown (
  • 1 0
 Like Mike said... Sea Otter is next week. With Interbike and Eurobike going down Sea Otter is becoming the largest bike event in the country. LOTS of releases happen around Sea Otter. Expect a boat load of this stuff over the next 10 days.
  • 1 0
 @johannensc: wtf is wrong with the world.
  • 16 2
 The Pike Ultimate only comes in boost. I knew the day would come where they stop making non-boost forks/wheels. Am I the only one here cheap and still riding non-Boost standards? Boohoo.
  • 6 22
flag FrEeZa (Apr 4, 2019 at 8:19) (Below Threshold)
 Just get the boost, file out the holes to 20mm and ride. If the fork breaks, at least you won't be riding a Rock Shox any more, win-win!
  • 2 0
 You can retrofit the charger damper and the DebonAir Spring which brings your fork up to date even without boost. Oh yeah, cheap it ain't, sorry man.
  • 7 0
 They stopped making new forks in non-boost a year or two ago. You just didn't notice because the name didn't change. They still make the older non-boost Pike/Lyrik, but they're the same forks from a few years ago. As fiatpolski mentioned, there are upgrades available (debonair and charger damper) for the older forks.

The SKU count is crazy even without two hub sizes. Two wheel sizes * two colors * two offsets * 3-5 travel options
  • 5 0
 @Dualsus no dude! I'm on a 16 non boost pike and hope pro evo 2 hubs... Still no reason for me to upgrade.
  • 1 0
 @bohns1: Same for me 'cept a 14 non-boost Pike. I just put a luftkappe in it - gunna be a good day.
  • 7 0
 You can use boost adapters on front wheels.
Yeah it`s a bit fiddly, but it works and is cheap.
  • 5 0
 @iduckett: nice.. I was think of doing the avalanche damper myself
  • 3 0
 @bohns1: Exactly! There was nothing wrong with the forks to begin with! I keep it serviced every year and it’s been treating me well. But all this talk of luftkappe, upgrades and boost adapters have me thinking now.....hehe
  • 1 0
 Just used a Wolf Tooth Boostinator on my rear wheel to keep a non-boost wheel alive on a new frame... as long as you have the tools to carefully re-dish your wheel it’s super easy.
  • 1 0
 @Dualsus: i cant imagine buying a new, supposedly high end, quality fork, that claims to be a top of the line product, and then investing a couple hundred bucks in it just to make it better.
  • 13 0
 Would be nice if they just slow down on back to the future releases and assemble the bloody things properly from factory. Nothing like having to tear down your forks new as some git has thrown a tub of grease all over the air spring making the top travel of the fork feel like utter crap. Both SRAM and FOX are guilty of this. Probably wouldn't have to worry so much about fork friction as much out of the box.
  • 12 0
 I would absolutely love a Blue Casting for the Boxxer. Or maybe all colorways for all models, at least for the Ultimate series!
  • 15 1
 So they finally admitted that the Charger HSC factory tunes were garbage.
  • 9 3
 Is it wrong of me to say I've been underwhelmed with RS lately?
  • 6 0
 @hamncheez: I remember pre-pike days. i think they've just elevated your expectations.
  • 8 0
 Being lighter, the opposite is the case for me. Fox shocks, especially the DPX2 are absolute garbage. Wheezing crap with too much compression damping even in the lowest tune. The 36 chassis is far too stiff for me. Just beats me up and deflects off everything and then the CSU starts creaking. RS make a better product IMO.
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: From what i read, RS made it lighter. Before that, especially the Charger 1 RC had a very stiff HSC that made reshimming necessary for riders under 90kg.
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: how much do you weight? Ive found the RS stuff weak and underdamped, requiring insane amounts of air pressure to support me
  • 1 0
 @Uchwmdr: 67kg.
  • 12 1
 SID: still 150g heavier than Fox 32 Stepcast. but it's got clearance for plus tires, because that's what weight weenie XC racers want?
  • 5 0
 Its also noticeably stiffer and rides nice with the carbon steerer.
  • 11 0
 Can we just make suspension products that don't have to be re-built out of the box? That would get my money.
  • 12 2
 Time for the FOX 34 GRIP2. For those that want to go hard but still take it easy.
  • 13 0
 Like a tuxedo t-shirt. Because you want to be formal, but you're here to party. It would go well with the mullet frankenbikes people are riding these days
  • 5 1
 That's what the 36 is now tho. It's just the minor weight bump that gets you. If you get the 36grip2 and ride it at Fox recommendeds... It's like a race tune. Far from the Tshirt-tuxedo. BUT if you just follow Pivots tune or Yetis, minus a few psi... Bam, you be riden that caddy laid back with aviators and flip-flops all the way down the trail =)
  • 4 1
 Are 34s having the same CSU creeking issues as 36s? Getting that replaced in EU is a nightmare with 2 months turnaround... and then in 2 more months of proper riding, you can do that again...
  • 1 0
 @johny88: just get dvo.
  • 8 0
 Dude, they're *STILL* using Boost 110 and Metric shock sizing? How old are those standards, like 3 years? Like my grandpa the caveman was riding Boost/Metric. Where is the 'innovation'?
  • 5 0
 Shaddup and don't give anyone ideas! Next thing you know we'll be running Super Duper Ultimate Boost Plus 157 Front hubs! Oh great, now look what I've done. Facepalm Wink lol
  • 1 0
 @mtbikeaddict: ya man, every time I ride my ancient boost 110/148 metric shock bike, I'm appalled at how much the performance sucks. Super Duper Ultimate Boost Plus 157 can't get here fast enough.
  • 2 0
 @pinhead907: Lol. On the plus side (pun intended) I suppose 157 (or other) front and rear would increase cross compatibility and reduce SKU's?
  • 8 0
 Reminds me when Homer Simpson was a professional boxer and used his new found wealth to get better and more super deluxe car washes.
  • 8 2
 RS biggest issue Ive had is I have to run super high psi and the rebound in repeated square edges goes to pogo stick even with rebound really slow.

They are super smooth and the air spring feel is better than fox.

Always felt like they were for the mellow comfort riders looking for a floaty pillow. Just never could get it setup for race speeds just pogo’ing when charging the rough unless psi was near recomended then it was just always near bottom of travel

Did that change, cause it sounds less damped if im reading
  • 4 0
 hey the 'pogo' effect is a feature, they even named it 'rapid rise'!! Seriously though, my old super deluxe sucked. Rapid rise was just garbage high speed rebound tuning. The shock felt ok on frames that didn't require super high PSIs, since the low speed rebound would be more in effect.
  • 3 0
 @hamncheez: or did you just need a higher rebound tune?
  • 2 1
 @clink83: I had a M/M on a S Enduro, the recommended tune. It probably would have benefited from a H/H on that frame, especially since I weigh 195 pounds. I looked around at the time, and I couldn't find a single one anywhere. It seems they only have medium and light tunes out in the wild. With my CCDBair, it doesn't matter since you can tune the shock anyway you want for any frame you want (too bad it has a very, very short service interval).

On this subject, it baffles me that people fell for that huge marketing/fake review BS that R3act2play Naild pushed on us. They asked Fox to make a shock with 0 damping, and when Fox refused they put the X2 on it so they could back off on the damping as much as possible? It was and is all nonsense. A year out and it has yet to "shake up the industry".
  • 2 12
flag zyoungson (Apr 4, 2019 at 14:55) (Below Threshold)
 RS is consumer junk, if you want performance go fox or any of the other top end brands
  • 4 1
 @zyoungson: consumer junk that allows you to order any shim stack they sell so you can easily swap in, which they give you the directions to do. That's some real junk there...
  • 3 1
 @clink83: ???? Something that literally nobody does. You mean the oem tunes they supply for specific frames because the shocks dont have proper adjustments.
  • 3 1
 @zyoungson: if think pro racers aren't changing out the shim stacks to match their spring rates I think you're mistaken. It's an easy fix when you do your 100 hour service. If you can't use the right compression/rebound shims for your frame/spring rates it's not rock shocks fault.
  • 1 2
 @clink83: Yes it is because frames are supplied with a specific shock tune and Light/medium/firm is hardly tuning more like getting it roughly in the right area and hoping the end user can roll with it, & on top of that they have no proper adjustments. r/s is mass market nonsense for the weekend warrior built to a price, jacked up on marketing and pushed to the oem market like a f*cking plague. If you want to to bimble around on trails with a cushy ride then fine but for anything more than that forget it. I can garauntee the pros are on custom gear because out of the box its f*cking terrible. They used to make good product years ago but not anymore.
  • 5 0
 @zyoungson: Exactly. You can't ride for shit with RS. Just look at Amaury Pierron, Cecile Ravanel, Sam Hill or Vali Holl for proof.
  • 1 2
 @zyoungson: dude your compression stack is defined by your leverage curve, and you have about a 3 click range for rebound based off your spring rate...if you can't get it right turning knobs isn't going to help you.
  • 3 0
 @clink83: The problem is that when a bike ships with a M/M tune, intended for the kinematics of that frame, its intended for someone of average weight, probably around 160 pounds. I think Specialized messed up the tune selection for their first gen Enduro 29er, because it seemed like it was tuned for someone even lighter. I weighed at the time over 200 pounds, and had to run the shock at 320 psi with all the bands in it to keep it from wallowing halfway through its travel. The Debonair that S put on the bike was not suited for the suspension design and contributed to this wallow. I had to run the compression in the middle or high (of three choices) all the time; if I ever put it in "open" it had no support for pushing into turns or off rollers.

The "Rapid Rise" was a crappy HSR tune, that was/is far too light, especially if you weigh more than 170 pounds. Their shims kinda suck, since the compression/rebound knobs had virtually no effect on high speed, and make the low speed feel chunky at higher adjustments. Pros all have custom shims tuned exactly how they want, but 99% of consumers don't.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: yea, but there are easy fixes for that. A new H/H shim stack can be found on ebay for $30-40, you could switch the debonair air can to a HV or standard can..lots of choices with RS.
  • 1 0
 @clink83: Or I could just get an X2 or a CCDBair and twist a few adjustments.
  • 1 0
 @Pavel-Repak: yeah. I swear that if you give them any bike with any fork they will ride the same. That is what people dont understand. These racers are not winners because of the shitty products, of companies they have signed with, but because they are extraordinary athletes that have trained almost their whole lives. Hard work+talent=prodigious champions. On the contrary, these same brands are making shit load of profit because of the image they make: if a pro racer who won a world cup rides our shit, it must be good right? Nope. It is just benefit for them both: pros live their lives being sponsored by brands which is totally ok, and brands sell their shit because pros ride them. Now, im not telling that All they sell is garbage, but just because the world champ rides it does not mean it is the best
  • 7 1
 Pike gets the RC2 damper. Lyrik doesn't change much and is still awesome. And the Deluxe becomes a Super Deluxe-mini with a 3 position open mode adjust(which will be left at full open anyway) and without the piggyback. And the Super Deluxe... remains the same but now with the 'Ultimate' moniker?

All in all, nice incremental upgrades, but no reason for me to upgrade unless I had an RCT3 Pike. Any of my bikes that had Deluxe shocks have already been upgraded to the Super Deluxe. And I already have an RC2 Lyrik, which IMO, is a phenomenal fork as is.

I am glad that the pricing is about the same as the 'older' models.
  • 2 1
 Good summary. The new Deluxe will be a good deal for those who want the added adjustments but don't need the reservoir. Fox has been good about this recently - low weight rear shocks with better performance (look at the Scott Genius and Ransom). Or that 454g reservoir equipped Intend Hover with LSR, LSC, Dynamic Seals and DH level performance in one of the lightest (230mm length) air shock packages available. Not all of us need or want a coil shock, but we want more adjustments in a lighter shock.

What I don't get is the Rockshox pricing - they say the Select+ gets the Charge 2.1, but what about the normal Select?
  • 1 0
 I have a charger 2 rct3 pike but idk if its worth the upgrade
  • 2 0
 @PHeller: So there appears to be 4 different dampers. From top end to low end on the Pike:
1. Ultimate - Charger 2.1 RC2
2. Ultimate - RCT3
3. Select + - Charger 2.1 RC
4. Select - Charger RC


I'm glad they went with the name change since it's already pretty confusing. At least when you buy the Ultimate, you'll know it's the top of the line instead of trying to decipher very similar nomenclature. It's still confusing now but slightly less so.
  • 3 0
 @Almazing

When you say you always replace the Deluxe with a Super Deluxe, what's the reason for that? Is it just for dealing with heat build-up and long descents, or is there a noticeable increase in performance all the time?

I ask because I have a 2018 Deluxe RT that I don't really care for, at all. It just feels harsh, and I still bottom it out (and I'm on a Meta TR, which is somewhat progressive, +3 tokens!). I also once tried a different loaner shock in my bike and it felt a lot plusher. Oh and the climb switch is terribad. Completely kills all small bump compliance, making it a hindrance while climbing.
  • 1 0
 @Almazing: Thanks for doing this, a list like this should have been in the article! A little easier to digest.
  • 1 0
 @rezrov: Heat buildup for long descents and consistency in performance. The SD is a requirement for me when I take the my bike out to big chunky and long descents. The Deluxe is a great shock, but I'd limit it to general trail riding. If you're riding is gravity focused, the SD is the way to go, assuming you want to stay in the same family.
  • 1 0
 @Almazing: curious to know about the super deluxe, since if i get a new nukeproof mega frame, i will be forced to use this shock. Pros and cons?
  • 8 1
 meanwhile the MRP Ribbon just works.

no frills no colors no garbage marketing labels for suspension tech that's been around forever. just pure execution. O and you can get replacement parts for it too! Smile
  • 1 0
 This.
  • 5 1
 "Along with gathering feedback from a wide range of riders, time was spent trying out competitor's products in different forms – complete forks, someone else's damper into their own chassis, or a competitor's chassis with a RockShox damper."- So RS came up with an excuse for their riders to put Fox forks on their bikes?
  • 5 0
 megneg is like a massive insult as a compliment, is it not?

I love new stuff but this relentless march of just improving everything as soon as it has just been improved makes my head hurt.
  • 7 0
 Are these shocks going to be widely available this time? Or is this another OEM only?
  • 6 2
 The worst part about this new Ultimate level is that it raises the ceiling on suspension component prices which raises prices for all levels of products across the entire industry. In about two years expect to be paying $1500 for the high-end single crown fork options.
  • 12 0
 1500$ would be a steal for a Trust Message!
  • 10 0
 Fox 36 factory with grip 2 costs 1450dollars in europe, just saying...
  • 1 2
 @Svinyard: ok I admit it, you made me laugh out loud
  • 3 0
 I paid £550 (without VAT) for a brand new Lyrik rc2 earlier this year.

That seems like a bargain to me for one of the supposedly best forks on the market.
  • 5 0
 The alphabet soup names are still there, just hidden. Pike\Lyrik Ultimate can come with Charger 2.1 RC2 or RCT3. So they didn't really fix the naming, just added another level.
  • 5 2
 I've had more RS / sram components than I care to count. Everytime I think "wow.. that new rockshox product looks rad.. maybe they've finally figured their shit out"...
2 months later I'm wishing I had the trusty anything but rockshox/shimano combo
  • 6 3
 Bike industry is now adopting automotive industry tactics?! LoL With many bikes approaching and surpassing the $10k threshold I am not surprised.

'Let's call this years model next years model and bump the price. Brilliant!'

Marketing & advertising have replaced research & development - for the most part. Unfortunately.
  • 3 0
 "the low-speed compression tune has also been adjusted to give riders the ability to use the entire range. Previously, setting up the fork with the maximum amount of low-speed compression created a nearly unusable setting, but that's no longer the case."

ABOUT TIME. It wasn't "nearly" unusable, it was complete garbage unless you were road riding. Not sure I'm on board with less high speed compression in their forks though. I've always felt that my charger could use a little more HSC.
  • 2 2
 It didn't even help road riding! I mean, how often is your fork bobbing up and down while pedalling on the road? Even though tarmac looks smooth there are still bumps there for the fork to eat.
  • 2 0
 Actually on the point of HSC, my shockwiz always suggested for both fork and shock to make HSC softer as it was to firm. I weigh around 70kg, more adjustable HSC would help as I cannot do it on my super deluxe or lyrik rct3.
  • 1 0
 Right? like maximum you could use was 2 clicks before the thing became a pile of garbage.
  • 1 0
 @Archimonde: I''m the same weight as you and I've always thought the HSC was too firm on my RC2 despite everyone saying how plush the fork was. My hands often are sore when the going gets really rough.
  • 3 0
 so LESS damping means more rider feedback??? someone help me

"When working to determine what was creating the excess feedback that riders were experiencing, RockShox found that one of the culprits was the rebound piston's split glide ring. According to John Cancellier, RockShox product manager, “We found that under high-speed, aggressive events, oil could actually flow through the little split... To really be able to control those low speed rebound events we need to control every drop of oil that's flowing through the damper. If something is flowing through past the piston without being checked, that means your fork is not being controlled.""
  • 5 0
 Bypassing the shim stack=bad
  • 1 0
 @clink83: digressive valving=bad. But you think these guys would have figured this out in product testing.... bafoons.
  • 4 0
 Step 1: pick up nearly any suspension chassis that isn't hammered. Step 2: send to Craig @ Avy. Step 3: ride that butter continuously with nothing but a seal & oil change every once in a while
  • 3 0
 Amen. Craig’s dampers are truth and are super low maintenance. And he’s got his own coil kits now too.
  • 5 1
 I know I'm probably a minority, but I really like the dual position Lyric I have on my Slash, are there any plans to make a dual position Lyric with the Charger 2.1 damper?
  • 3 1
 Seconded! DPA Lyrik Charger 2/2.1 I'm not picky, I want red lowers! Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Bring back the u-turn coil!
  • 3 0
 So for current Pike/Lyriks owners, we could simply switch the SRAM butter to that new lubricant and get a lot of those benefits with little investments. There must be a "yeah but" coming up?
  • 4 0
 If you like the existing high-speed comp\reb tunes, and aren't riding so much pressure that high-speed rebound events (full compression quickly going to unloaded) squeezed oil through the old bushing, yeah pretty much.
  • 1 0
 Yeah but, why not get the ULTIMATE version for the fork for 1000 bucks more. What is 1k for the best to ever exist, ultimate form of a fork?
P.S. you can just ass skf seals and maxima plush to most of the forks, seen this on a manitou mattoc
  • 2 0
 Well every year the same shit, I have those oil/grease changes made by me 3 years ago on a 2015 boxxer world cup skf wippers included, and the fork reads the terrain with just the bike weight... (the oils I use are different though, they minimise stiction)

Is that rebound ring bronze teflon blend?
  • 2 0
 I'm confused by this statement...

"When working to determine what was creating the excess feedback that riders were experiencing, RockShox found that one of the culprits was the rebound piston's split glide ring. According to John Cancellier, RockShox product manager, “We found that under high-speed, aggressive events, oil could actually flow through the little split... "

This would suggest that the slit in the glide ring is allowing a separate unintended low speed circuit. Eliminating this should only make the fork feel harsher, giving increased feedback in the same way that adding a bit of LSC using the dials would. I mean, I like the idea of non-split glide rings, but the reason they gave for using it seems to be the opposite of what would happen.

Can anyone provide a better explanation?
  • 1 0
 sounds like oil getting through the split ring only under certain high speed events. Low speed damping would be unaffected.
  • 5 0
 Though it seems odd that more oil flow under those circumstances would result in harshness, unless it reduces the pressure enough to close the high speed circuit?
  • 1 0
 i realise i typed that very quickly. For a start i should have said "LSR" rather than lsc.
Either way i dont see how an optional extra flow path for the oil would increase harshness. If the pressure drops low enough for the hs circuit to close there shouldnt be enough pressure to cause excess damping force. Otherwise the high speed would just remain open. The whole description is very odd. I wonder if the change is actually just intended to reduce inconsistencies in the forks damping response and some marketing guy thought "less harsh" sounded better than "less unpredictable".
  • 1 0
 @gabriel-mission9: could it also be possible that when the split ring is forced open , it creates extra stiction ?
  • 1 0
 @JimLad: perhaps. Although i imagine nowhere near as much as a solid piston band with no split. Ohlins have just moved away from solid bands, using split bands instead to reduce friction. It seems odd that rs have done exactly the opposite.
  • 2 0
 They did a whole bunch of data acquisition. Tons of riders, their dampers in other makes of fork, other forks with their dampers, even their forks with aftermarket parts. It's lucky they did all that data acquisition because they used it to good effect - and made their forks more supple, with better dampers. Wow! All that data acquisition and testing to improve their forks in exactly the same way as they have been improving them for the past ten years! Well, I guess weight loss was not mentioned so that's soemthing.
  • 5 0
 When are they going to be available?
  • 2 0
 Worldwide Cyclery is showing 5-14 days, so i'd imagine pretty soon.
  • 2 2
 2021
  • 1 0
 Some are available already!
  • 2 1
 So would that magnet option work well for regressive single pivot designs? Specifically and older Cannondale Prophet. I do have a Dirtlabs tuned monarch with a high/low comp rebound tune. Also is there a way to run a coil with a design like that?

Love Rockshox stuff.
  • 4 0
 Could have come up for a better good-better pairing than select and select+.

I am for hire rockshox.
  • 2 1
 Well, you could say it is a take on the old nomenclature with the SL / Race / Team / Toilet.
SL=Select? Ultimate=Liquid Retina Display?
  • 7 2
 To be clear, which is the best level? Super, Deluxe or Ultimate? ????
  • 3 0
 Large, Grande, Venti??
  • 3 0
 @goytay: Hey, delete that comment asap, there is an embargo on 2021 product line... at least until June2020.
  • 1 0
 @johny88: June 2019 FTFY Razz
  • 1 2
 @goytay: Congratulations, you're stupid in three languages!
  • 2 0
 For those of us with 2019 stuff with Debonair air springs, would RockShox recommend the dynamic seal grease and adding 3cc of oil in there? If so, what type of oil, same as lowers?
  • 2 0
 Slickoleum with Supergliss or Motorex Semi Bath
  • 2 0
 I wonder if there is a "hidden menu" that applies still more gnar conquering abilities to the fork or shock ~ "Why yes, I have a SuperDeluxeUltimate ... Animal style" good of you to notice Big Grin
  • 2 1
 I really wish Rockshox had a factory service center like Fox where you could send suspension parts for repair and maintenance. That’s the only thing keeping me off Rockshox s suspension
  • 3 0
 They do, but it's handled through a dealer only. Most don't opt for it, since if they know enough to sell suspension service, they perform it at the shop.

Dirt Labs, Shockspital, etc offer RS service, so I don't get your point. SRAM dsd is limited in their service capabilities too(5 years max).
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer as you tested the stumpy evo with the fox shocks, too: what’s the difference between the shocks, does the deluxe help to overcome the shortfalls of the evo you mentioned in the previous evo test? Thanks!
  • 9 5
 I’d bet moneys they’re still not as good as my DVO Diamond.
  • 10 0
 Of course it's not... the best suspension is the suspension you have...
  • 4 2
 But we have been told that ale the previous iterations of Pike/Lyric/Guide/wahtevergarbage was faultless and simly the best. Guess they were not?
  • 3 1
 My 2019 Lyrik destroys every single crown I've tried before. Happy with it.
  • 4 0
 I'm curious how a specific type of oil can reduce noise?
  • 2 0
 I think Rockshox marketing/naming department are all a touch stoned and watching a bunch of DragonBall Z. Next up, Super Siayan Deluxe Ultimate!!!
  • 1 0
 I'm sure they were pretty pissed when Marzocchi came out with a better looking red fork... and beat them to the red springs. Athletes are on red springs already.
  • 3 0
 Regarding the shocks it says Metric Sizing. Where are the sizes? Cant seem to find it on their website
  • 3 0
 Right when I was thinking of moving to Fox, Rock Shox goes and does this. The forks look sick.
  • 4 0
 I just ignore all this and put in an Avalanche open bath cartridge.
  • 4 0
 Say "piston split glide ring" 3x fast
  • 3 0
 Way to announce a product and not even provide basic details like the shock sizes that will be available.
  • 1 0
 Yeah their website is absolutely pathetic. All they provide is pictures of pro riders and how their ultimate shit is the best now. WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THE SIZE, THE TECH AND THE FEATURES. and all they provide us is some maxima and skf bullshit
  • 4 0
 Oh, so it's like team, race, world cup, but then more hyped.
  • 1 0
 They went to a full ring seal instead of a split ring nylon seal??? Took an entire team of engineers to figure out that a solid blocks oil and something cut in two pieces doesn’t?? Idk
  • 3 0
 I have to have a red lyrik...
  • 1 0
 I thought the opposite. I like the idea of a red spring, but I think they should do what Ducati does with its race bikes. The red they use for production bikes is nice but it always looks muted and dull in photos, so they paint their race bikes with a super bright, almost orangey red. Rockshox should use a brighter red is what I'm saying. This old school ketchup just doesn't do it for me. Even the Fox orange is preferable to this colour. Some people love it though, which is cool too.
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know if you can get a 230x57.5mm super deluxe coil shock? I know you can get it in that size for the super deluxe air, but can't seem to find one for the coil?
  • 2 0
 You can get a 230x60 or 230x65 and put a spacer on the shaft to reduce the stroke to 57.5
  • 2 0
 Or just use a 230x60 and have that little bit more travel post-bottomout.
  • 3 1
 You ever spray some Maxima SC1 on your stanchions before a ride? That stuff will change your life.
  • 2 0
 Love it when the new forks get released, then you really find out how last year's forks really stack up
  • 1 0
 I still can’t find a Rockshox super deluxe coil to fit an Intense Carbine 230x60mm. Are these things available only as OEM?
  • 1 0
 @nealy578: finally, thanks man
  • 4 2
 CLASSIFIEDS:
SRAM LLC / RockShox
New Graphic Designer Needed
- No Experience Necessary
  • 2 0
 On a 2 years time period, they pushed 4 iteration model. What make you think this one is better.
  • 3 0
 More on the SID ultimate please. Cheers.
  • 1 0
 Great to see RS is fine tuning everything. I like how everything is backwards compatible too. I’m tempted to buy one of these new Charger 2.1 to add to my older Lyrik.
  • 1 0
 It would be cool if the crowns matched the lowers. (The Boxxer with red crowns would be sick)
  • 1 0
 SRAM has plans to make these available and in stock for dealers and consumers to purchase in time for the 19/20 ski season.
  • 5 4
 Still no fully adjustable low speed compression on the rear shocks... just the usual meh 3 positions lever. Why?
  • 6 1
 So you can switch it on the fly! Otherwise you'd have to go "well got to the top of the climb, let's take off 4 clicks of compression now"
  • 2 0
 superdeluxe coil rct has adjustable LSC
  • 1 0
 @cycleco: Other brands manage to do compression adjustment and a climb switch..
  • 2 0
 Super deluxe Air RCT also has adjustable LSC. Has done for 3 years.
  • 4 6
 It would be amazing or impossible? For a suspension company to say we made the perfect fork no need for improvements. If you constantly change the product then you are not happy with the performance. Why should I be? It's not like some new teck was just invented. What if last year's fork and the year before that use different parts. No one is going to stock parts for a fork that changes every year.
So after two or three years throw away your fork ?
  • 7 2
 A company has to always be improving their product. Do you really want them to settle on what they have and not look for ways to improve it?
  • 3 0
 Totally agree. Elastomer forks were sooo good. We should have stopped there. I hate innovation. Old is always better.
  • 5 0
 @funkendrenchman: f*ck yes. !
I want stuff that is reliable and works with out failing. Easy to repair.
Hey the new I phone came out. New and improved. You better get one.
  • 2 0
 Anyone know id the 2020 RC2 upgrade kit would work with a 2018 rct3?
  • 2 0
 Yes it will.
  • 2 0
 so, are any of the internals backwards compatible?
  • 2 0
 I'm going to wait for the 2021 stuff to release at Eurobike this fall
  • 2 1
 I like my little Manitou Markhor with simple 30mm stantions, rebound adjust and lock-out
  • 1 0
 so treks 2 year thru shaft exclusive would have expired by now......no thru shaft = thru shaft meh
  • 2 1
 Seem a bit behind the curve of the Ribbon and Helm with no coil option. The silver RS option looks a bit meh to me.
  • 3 2
 Yawn, I remember when RS made good products for riders, now its just consumer junk with ridiculous marketing.
  • 1 0
 Almost as good as buying a used Fox 36 and throwing an Avalanche damper in it...
  • 1 0
 20 mm vs 15 mm (front) 12 x 148 mm vs 15 x 148 mm vs 15 x 157 mm ( rear)
  • 2 1
 Nice work on the MegNeg!! Soooo 2015 though.
  • 2 0
 Nice Romic spring
  • 6 7
 Now make a rear shock that is comparable to a Float X2 and stop trying to sell us shocks for dummies. I am seriously considering a Lyrik though.
  • 4 0
 Their website says they still sell the Vivid Air, which is technically their DH air shock. However, most WC and EWS Rockshox riders who do use air, use the Super Deluxe I believe.
  • 1 2
 @Rubberelli: Must say I've only ever seen a couple of vivid airs in the wild. They must have had issues or just simply sucked, interested to hear if anyone is still running one.
  • 5 0
 @northshoreshred: What happened to the Vivids? I've heard nothing but great things, a friend has one, and I'm looking at getting one, but it seems everything is Super Deluxe nowadays. Apparently the name wasn't exciting enough. lol
  • 2 0
 @mtbikeaddict: I had a vivid air. Liked it, but it wasn’t as smooth as an X2 but feel like it handled bigger hits pretty well. Cold weather killed them quick.
  • 3 1
 Just get a Float X2....? I don't get why you'd want RS to try the Vivid Air again. Compared to the X2, they're a pain to deal with. Vacuum bleed on the X2 means you can replace the oil in a few minutes. Teardown is much more straightforward as well.
  • 1 0
 @northshoreshred: I have a 2011 for sale that was just completely torn down and rebuilt. 7.875 x 2.25"
  • 4 0
 @northshoreshred: I use one on my Session. It's a magical can for sure. Once you have the shock dialed in, you literally never need to touch it again. It will be dialed for rough as hell or smooth and fast, as well as jumps. It is a PIA to rebuild however. In fact, just pay someone else to do it. Its worth it.
  • 1 3
 @northshoreshred: I run one on my older V10 and I love it, but only after I figured out what that "Ending Rebound" knob (red dial next to the blue dial, not the 'main' rebound at the end of the shock) does... Not what you'd expect...

I would think that would effect damping at the deepest compression of the shock. NOPE. It's extra damping at the TOP of the stroke which, when jumping, makes for a very 'interesting' (pronounced "Endo") launch off the lips.

Leave that knob OPEN if you're not racing. Even then, I really can't think of why you'd want to add extra damping at the full extension of the shock.
  • 1 1
 @Rubberelli: Vivid is only standard sized. The Vivids can't be fit to newer metric shock bikes and also don't come in small enough sizes for trail bikes like the SD and SDC.
  • 2 0
 No one has been using a Vivid Air for years. If the Superdeluxe DH is good enough to win the world cup, and the Superdeluxe is good enough to win the EWS, why would you use a shock from 2012?

I would go Float X2 or Superdeluxe, myself.
  • 2 0
 @invictarocks: SRAM has a set up guide or video I remember. That ending rebound is by far the most important knob to dial it in. Each click makes huge changes, while the regular rebound and compreasion make only slight changes.
  • 5 4
 Still won’t be as good as my mattoc pro2 with the IRT.
  • 5 4
 Worst product naming in history
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer What sizes are the new Super Deluxe Ultimate available in?
  • 3 1
 Want that red coil!
  • 2 1
 spray paint?
  • 1 0
 So 2019 bikes allready outdated.
  • 1 0
 Is Rockshox naming shocks after "In & Out Burger" hamburgers?
  • 2 1
 What a line up!
  • 2 3
 Literally, looks like a line up of suspect products.
  • 2 0
 @zyoungson: yeah and I like them
  • 1 1
 Cool stuff. Still can’t figure out which is which.
  • 2 1
 Old is new again!
  • 5 5
 the best just got better!
  • 4 4
 New Lyrik sounds like my 2018 Yari :-)
  • 4 3
 No black option?
  • 1 0
 ok,ok,ok,ok,ok,ok,ok,ok!
  • 3 5
 Oh jeez. I wash that Pike wasn't silver... My young self is just waiting for the paint to fall off them Wink
  • 3 5
 Rockshox backhanding fox with their new red spring
  • 2 2
 They had red springs years ago
  • 1 2
 Megneg not magnet
  • 3 5
 They keep changing them because they haven't got it right yet.
  • 2 0
 Exactly right They only get marketing right
  • 1 3
 Do they have 38.99mm stanchions?
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