Today RockShox announced that it has waved the upgrade wand over the SID, Pike, Lyrik and BoXXer forks and as well as the Deluxe and Super Deluxe shocks.
We’ve had the opportunity to test ride the new Pike Ultimate RC2 with the updated Charger 2.1 damper that promises, among other features, improved compression, better oil flow, and less seal friction. Find our first ride impressions under the Pike heading below.
RockShox Press Release
The new Charger 2.1 Damper
Completely re-designed to reduce hand fatigue and fight unwanted friction, the new Charger 2.1 increases confidence and control over every trail.
Ride “Higher”
Charger 2.1 defined: re-tuned high and low-speed compression. It’s no coincidence Charger 2.1 was designed and engineered at 6035ft in Colorado. Taking a softer approach to High Speed Compression (HSC), the redesigned shim stack helps limit the impact of high speed hits and harsh braking bumps. That means more control for you and less fatigue caused by feedback at the handlebar.
The new refined Low Speed Compression (LSC) adjustment range allows the fork to ride higher, giving you the most available travel and keeping your wheels on top of the terrain hit after hit.
Trail Tracking
Charger 2.1 defined: New piston wearband. You know that moment when the trail almost disappears from under you? You’re floating over the terrain? There’s nothing better. Charger 2.1 features an all-new piston wearband to get you to that moment faster. Better oil flow management through the piston provides better damping control keeping the wheels exactly where you want them to be, tracking the trail ahead.
Get a Grip
Charger 2.1 defined: New SKF rebound shaft seal. Let’s talk friction. Friction is the enemy. Friction creates vibration at the handlebar that causes arm fatigue, soreness and the potential to lose a grip on things. The new Charger 2.1 features an all-new SKF rod seal that decreases friction by upwards of 30% at the rebound shaft. Eliminating friction and reducing unwanted fatigue means a whole lot more control and hang (on) time for you. Happy hands rejoice!
Maxima Plush Fluid & SKF Seals
Maxima Plush Fluid: The best suspension requires the best fluid. Developed with the world’s fastest racers, on the world’s toughest circuits. Maxima Plush Fluid is designed to protect from suspension wear, reduce friction, and silence damper noise while maintaining a consistent feel in all temperatures.
SKF Wiper Seals: Friction down. Dirt out. Everyone loves a good collaboration, which is why we’ve been working with SKF, the world’s highest-performance seal manufacturer, for over 5 years. Together we’ll provide ultra-low friction wiper seals, less fatigue, and unmatched suspension feel, all while keeping the dirt where it belongs- because no one wants dirt in there.
Easy Riding – DebonAir Technology
A lightweight, highly tune-able air spring designed to offer a coil-like consistent feel throughout the travel – effortlessly soaking up the smallest hits and tracking the slightest changes in the terrain.
Front Suspension
Pike
Designed for today’s top trail-dominating dream bikes and ready for any conquest you’ve got planned. Ticking all the boxes, each and every detail made to reduce friction, minimize rider fatigue, and provide unmatched control over any trail.
Travel: 120mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm, 160mm
Upper Tube Type: 35mm aluminum
Wheel Size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 29” – 42mm, 51mm. 27.5” – 37mm, 46mm
Steerer: Tapered
Pike Ultimate
A true trail machine we couldn’t wait to have on our bikes and get to you. Featuring the new Charger 2.1 damper for unmatched trail control for every sweeping corner or loamy drop in. New ultra-low friction SKF wiper seals and Maxima Plush damping fluid all work overtime to reduce friction, silence noise, and provide lasting fork performance.
Weight: 1,832g (27.5” B, 120mm, RC2 damper, Maxle Stealth)
Pike Select+
Everything you need, nothing you don’t. Featuring the new Charger 2.1 damper for unmatched trail control. New ultra-low friction SKF wiper seals and Maxima Plush damping fluid all work overtime to reduce friction, silence noise, and provide lasting fork performance for every dirt searching mission.
Weight: 1,832g (27.5” B, 120mm, RC2 damper, Maxle Stealth)
Pike Select
Pike Select combines the DebonAir spring with the Charger RC damper, perfect for any trail junket you have planned. As a bonus, we included race-proven Maxima Plush fluid to help reduce friction, silence noise, and keep things running smooth ride after ride.
Weight: 1,825g (27.5” B, 120mm, Maxle Stealth)
First Ride: Pike Ultimate RC2
I have the Pike Ultimate RC2 fitted to my Giant Trance Advanced 0. Due to the launch only happening today and the sensitivity of riding embargoed gear on open trails, I’ve only managed to get two rides in. One short-ish ride on the Bottelary Hill Trails (from Zevenwacht’s side) and one longer ride which was three loops of Jonkerhoek’s fire hut trails.
It is too early to give a definite opinion, so keep an eye out for a full review later in the year. For now, however, what I can say is that the new upgraded Pike runs incredibly smoothly straight out of the box. Set at 130mm to match the travel of the DVO Sapphire it replaced on the Trance, there are no signs of unwanted flex. Compared to the DVO, the Pike is much smoother through the length of its travel, especially in the mid-stroke. It has also been easier to set up and get close to where I’d like it to be. I’ve attached a ShockWiz to speed things up and to get a feel for where software thinks I should be heading with the setup.
Early impressions are great and I’m amazed by how much extra performance engineers can still squeeze out of suspension. I’m stoked to see independent High and Low Speed adjustments. The new Pike appears to be a step forward on an already great fork.
SID
With a fierce commitment to competition, it’s easy to see why SID has more XC race wins than any other fork. Ever. The most trusted fork moments before the gun goes off, or in that last corner before the finish line. There’s nothing better than having race-day performance totally dialed with SID.
Travel: 100mm, 120mm
Upper Tube Type: 32mm aluminium
Wheel Size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 27.5” – 42mm, 29” – 42mm, 51mm
Steerer: Tapered Carbon, Tapered
SID Ultimate Carbon
XC racers are a special breed, one that keep weight savings and performance benefits top of mind. SID Ultimate Carbon is equipped with a carbon crown-steerer to save you grams without compromising any stiffness or control. Delivering a race-day performance package featuring our lightweight Charger 2 RLC damper, DebonAir air spring and race proven Maxima Plush Fluid. The Signature SID Blue color option offers up another benefit that’s even harder to pin down — style.
Weight: 1,481g (27.5” B, Maxle Stealth)
SID Ultimate
Racing is your way of life. We get that. The SID Ultimate is packed with all the characteristics that elite XC racers demand — gram savings, DebonAir air spring technology, the Charger 2 RLC Damper and race-proven Maxima Plush fluid. A complete race day performance driven package. The new Signature SID Blue color option offers up another benefit that’s even harder to pin down — style.
Weight: 1,582g (27.5” B, 100mm, Maxle Stealth)
SID Ultimate
SID Select+
SID Select
SID Select+
Built on the race winning SID chassis with our trusted DebonAir air spring and Maxima Plush fluid, SID Select+ is all about lasting performance. Putting your head down and really going for it is up to you, but with the Charger 2 RL damper, you’re already ahead of the competition.
Weight: 1,560g (27.5” B, 100mm, Maxle Stealth)
SID Select
SID Select features the proven DebonAir air spring and Charger RL damper. A race-ready package including Maxima Plush fluid providing lasting performance ready for any start line.
Weight: 1,560g (27.5” B, 100mm, Maxle Stealth)
Lyrik
Gotta get up to get down. We’re all about the earned bliss. Steeper, longer, rockier and now with more transfers in between— enduro riders all over the world are upping their game. If it’s a big mountain excursion or the coveted weekend podium you’re after, Lyrik is ready to help you conquer it all. Bring snacks and enduro on.
Travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm, 180mm
Upper Tube Type: 35mm aluminum
Wheel Size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 29“- 42mm, 51mm. 27.5” – 37mm, 46mm
Steerer: Tapered
Lyrik Ultimate
Designed not only for the race down, but the ride up. Holding onto every critical line, Lyrik Ultimate features the new Charger 2.1 damper for unmatched trail control and precision. New ultra-low friction SKF wiper seals and Maxima Plush damping fluid all work overtime to reduce friction, silence noise, and provide unmatched fork performance sun up to sun down.
Weight: 2,003g (27.5” B, 150mm, RC2 damper, Maxle Stealth)
Lyrik Select+
To endure, and enduro. Lyrik Select+ features the new Charger 2.1 damper for all the trail control you need. New ultra-low friction SKF wiper seals and Maxima Plush damping fluid all work overtime to reduce friction, silence noise, and provide lasting fork performance confidently guiding you through life’s many peaks and valleys.
Weight: 2,003g (27.5” B, 150mm, Maxle Stealth)
Lyrik Select
For all the ups, downs and to get you to everything in between. Lyrik Select combines the DebonAir air spring with the trusted Charger RC damper. Maxima Plush fluid reduces friction, silences noise, and provides all-around lasting performance.
Weight: 1,996g (27.5” B, 150mm, Maxle Stealth)
BoXXer
Whether covered in dirt, or soaked in champagne, BoXXer has been proudly displayed on the world’s largest stages longer than today’s superstars have been alive. Straight out of the boXX, it’s built to help you tackle the world’s steepest, rockiest, rootiest, muddiest, and scariest tracks.
Travel: 180mm, 190mm, 200mm
Upper Tube Type: 35mm aluminium
Wheel Size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 29” – 46mm, 56mm, 27.5”- 36mm, 46mm
Steerer: 1-1/8” aluminium
BoXXer Ultimate
More than 20 years ago, BoXXer changed the DH world when it hit the scene. Featuring the new Charger 2.1 damper for unrivaled control between the tape. New ultra-low friction SKF wiper seals and race proven Maxima Plush damping fluid all work overtime to reduce friction, noise, and provide lasting fork performance all the way to the finish corral.
Weight: 2,565g (27.5” B, 200mm, Maxle Stealth, Short Crown)
BoXXer Select
Saving every dime for your bike park pass? Keep it in the bank, BoXXer Select is built on the same great chassis as BoXXer Ultimate and features the DH-specific DebonAir air spring. Race proven Maxima Plush fluid and the Charger RC damper offer out of the boXX performance with low speed compression and rebound adjustment.
Weight: 2,558g (27.5” B, 200mm, Maxle Stealth, Short Crown)
Rear Suspension
Deluxe
With a no-nonsense attitude and ready for the hard-hitting trail and XC bikes of today. Deluxe family of shocks offer the best balance of descending and climbing prowess.
Deluxe Ultimate
A perfect match for the current crop of ultra-lightweight and capable dream bikes. Deluxe Ultimate is all new and offers a fully checked damper design allowing for a Low Speed Compression adjustment and optimal traction control tuning. Featuring Maxima Plush fluid for added performance and ride quality you can go on and shred till your heart’s content.
Weight: 340g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Deluxe Ultimate Remote
Deluxe Ultimate Remote puts the control in the palm of your hand (or fingers) giving you easy access to pedal performance. Maxima Plush fluid provides greater performance and ride quality, the result is truly Deluxe.
Weight: 345g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Deluxe Ultimate
Deluxe Ultimate Remote
Deluxe Select+
Deluxe Select+
With the updated Deluxe Select+, we paired the control found at the top of the Deluxe family with a user-friendly threshold adjustment. Maxima Plush fluid provides greater performance and ride quality.
Weight: 340g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Deluxe Select
Deluxe Select delivers a lightweight package with the same proven damping performance of the entire Deluxe family. Now featuring Maxima Plush fluid for added performance and ride quality.
Weight: 313g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe
Truly worthy of the latest “super bikes” and changing up the course for rear shocks. Rampant rock gardens, greasy half exposed roots, soft banked corners, loamy goodness — if there was a Holy Grail of shock control — it would be right here with the Super Deluxe family of shocks.
Super Deluxe Ultimate
Designed for the latest hard-hitting enduro and trail bikes, Super Deluxe Ultimate features the ride tuning abilities of an air spring with both compression and rebound adjustment to fine tune to any trail. With a solid threshold adjustment for pedaling performance and Maxima Plush fluid for a buttery smooth feel, riders can now easily dial in a podium-worthy ride.
Weight: 453g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Ultimate Remote
Here’s the cool thing about the Super Deluxe Ultimate Remote — it means that remote rear shocks are no longer just reserved for the XC elites — you too can conserve energy and accelerate faster by clicking from the “Threshold” mode to “Open” for full shredding. Designed for the latest hard-hitting enduro and trail bikes, Super Deluxe Ultimate Remote features the ride tuning abilities of an air spring with rebound adjustment to fine tune the ride to any trail or condition. With a solid threshold adjustment for pedaling performance and Maxima Plush fluid for a buttery smooth feel, riders can now easily dial in a podium-worthy ride.
Weight: 465g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Ultimate DH
RockShox paved the way for DH racing with over 20 years of results to back it up. The Super Deluxe Ultimate DH is where the technology and results come together. Featuring the ride tuning abilities of an air spring with both compression and rebound adjustment to fine tune the ride to any trail or condition. Now offering Maxima Plush fluid for a buttery smooth feel, riders can easily dial in a podium-worthy ride.
Weight: 485G (250×75, 2 Tokens, MM Tune, Standard/Standard)
Super Deluxe Select+
The all-new Super Deluxe Select+ is built for the latest breed of hard-hitting enduro and trail bikes. Offering the ride control you need paired with a user-friendly threshold adjustment all rolled into a great high performance-to-value package. We even threw in Maxima Plush fluid to reduce friction and silence noise.
Weight: 445g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Select
The look and feel that you expect from the Super Deluxe family of shocks in a straightforward package. Now featuring Maxima Plush fluid, it’s the perfect place to start honing in those riding skills.
Weight: 440g (210×50, 2 tokens, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Coil
The unmistakable feel of coil. Worthy of the latest “super bikes” and ready for all the rampant rock gardens, greasy half exposed roots, soft banked corners, and loamy goodness. The mountains are calling, and Super Deluxe Coil is there to answer.
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate
No-nonsense performance is the name of the game. The Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate was designed to meet all the demands of the latest and greatest hard hitting enduro and trail bikes. Featuring Maxima Plush fluid, solid threshold adjustment for pedaling performance, ride quality and compression adjustment to fine tune for any condition. The unmistakable feel of a coil spring all packed into RockShox’s Super Deluxe design.
Weight: 406g (Without coil spring, 210×50, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate Remote
On-the-fly remote threshold adjustment makes all the difference with the Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate Remote. Cecile Ravanel’s EWS wins in 2016, ‘17 and ‘18 prove that remote rear shocks are no longer reserved for the XC elites. Featuring Maxima Plush fluid for added performance, and that unmistakable feel of a coil spring are pushing the Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil Remote to bold new places.
Weight: 418g (Without coil spring, 210×50, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH
The Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH was designed to meet all the demands of today’s ultra-capable downhill bikes. That coil spring feel paired with the unique Super Deluxe DH tuned design. Now features Maxima Plush fluid for lasting performance and ride quality. Ready to push your riding limits downhill.
Weight: 441g (Without coil spring, 250×67.5 MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate Remote
Super Deluxe Coil Select+
Super Deluxe Coil Select+
A coil shock that not only looks the part, but acts the part when teamed up with the latest breed of mountain machines. Offering a user-friendly threshold adjustment and all the control benefits of the Super Deluxe family. Now with Maxima Plush fluid to help reduce friction and enhance that buttery smooth ride feel.
Weight: 398g (Without coil spring, 210, 50, MM tune, standard/standard)
Super Deluxe Coil Select
The trusted performance and ride quality that you expect from the Super Deluxe family in a shock that is as easy to understand as it is fun to ride. Now featuring Maxima Plush fluid, it’s the perfect place to start honing in those riding skills.
Weight: 393g (Without coil spring, 210×50, MM tune, standard/standard)
MegNeg
For the highly in-tune, MegNeg aftermarket air can allows you to fine tune more than ever before. Providing an even larger negative volume gives you more mid-stroke support, a plusher initial feel, and more bottom out force using less tokens. Go ahead and tune your shock exactly to your ride.
