Rockshox Forks

[BrettS]

Hi all,

I have tried searching the net for help on this and haven't found anything.
I have heard it is possible from a friend but need something more conclusive.

Here is the question:
I know with all suspension forks you can add spacers to reduce the travel of the fork but is it possible to add travel to a fork?

The reason: Specifically a Rockshox fork (I need it to work with my lockouts) I want to upgrade my fork from an entry level 130mm Judy to a Reba or SID.
You can get much better deals on 100mm forks than the 120mm that I want. So would like to possibly convert a 100mm fork to a 120mm.

Thanks in advance 🤙

[PhilipV]

In the old days most RS forks had 120mm air springs with spacers acting as stoppers to make them 100mm. 

But now the forks are sold with air springs corresponding to the travel. 

You will need to buy a 120mm air spring as well for the 100mm fork that you buy. So factor that in your price. 

And you'll have to check compatibility with the parts codes on the RS website. 

[thebob]

If the fork you are looking at is a SID SL with the 32mm stanchion legs and 100mm of travel, then the answer is no. That fork cannot go to more than 100mm of travel. If you are looking at a SID with the 35mm stanchion legs, then yes it can go to 120mm, and you will just need a new air spring assembly. I suspect this might be for a Scott Spark, so your next issue is that the "mid" position does not work nicely with the Charger damper that comes with aftermarket forks. 

[BrettS]

27 minutes ago, PhilipV said:

In the old days most RS forks had 120mm air springs with spacers acting as stoppers to make them 100mm. 

But now the forks are sold with air springs corresponding to the travel. 

You will need to buy a 120mm air spring as well for the 100mm fork that you buy. So factor that in your price. 

And you'll have to check compatibility with the parts codes on the RS website. 

Thanks - I would prefer a more recent 100mm model (2020 and up)not sure if that causes further complications. I will have a look on the RS website and see if they have some more info.

22 minutes ago, thebob said:

If the fork you are looking at is a SID SL with the 32mm stanchion legs and 100mm of travel, then the answer is no. That fork cannot go to more than 100mm of travel. If you are looking at a SID with the 35mm stanchion legs, then yes it can go to 120mm, and you will just need a new air spring assembly. I suspect this might be for a Scott Spark, so your next issue is that the "mid" position does not work nicely with the Charger damper that comes with aftermarket forks. 

Correct, it is for a Spark. Thanks for the insight with the 2 different versions - however when you say aftermarket fork - do you mean modified Rockshox? 

If I was to buy a Rockshox SID (100mm/120mm) that was previously fitted to a Spark, would that still have an issue in the mid position? 

[thebob]

52 minutes ago, BrettS said:

Thanks - I would prefer a more recent 100mm model (2020 and up)not sure if that causes further complications. I will have a look on the RS website and see if they have some more info.

Correct, it is for a Spark. Thanks for the insight with the 2 different versions - however when you say aftermarket fork - do you mean modified Rockshox? 

If I was to buy a Rockshox SID (100mm/120mm) that was previously fitted to a Spark, would that still have an issue in the mid position? 

If you bought a fork that came with a Spark originally, you are golden for the Twinlock settings to work, but the same travel upgrade restrictions apply. If you bought a fork from a bike dealer, then the damper is not quite the same as what comes originally on a Spark, which leads to the issues as most lockouts are either open or closed, without a mid point, which is what Rockshox mostly sells to dealers.

[PhilipV]

As a fellow Scott rider, I suggest that you buy a nice RS Sid Pike or Revelation with the 35mm stanchions and slap a 120 airspring (or even better if it's the new Spark  : 130mm airspring) in it with the bin remote lockout Charger Damper and then throw that cable away. Then the remote only works on the back shock, and you can micro adjust the front independently as needed. 

 

But that's just my opinion, from someone who likes his Scott, but thinks that remote dual lockouts are crap. 

Edited March 3, 2023 by PhilipV

[BaGearA]

The vast majority of forks you can't

 

but certain models of the rockshox 35 now come spacers installed to restrict the travel 

[BrettS]

On 3/3/2023 at 10:24 AM, thebob said:

If you bought a fork that came with a Spark originally, you are golden for the Twinlock settings to work, but the same travel upgrade restrictions apply. If you bought a fork from a bike dealer, then the damper is not quite the same as what comes originally on a Spark, which leads to the issues as most lockouts are either open or closed, without a mid point, which is what Rockshox mostly sells to dealers.

Sorry to bring it up again - you mentioned in a previous post the 32mm stanchion Sid's could not be upgraded to 120mm travel. Is this just a manufacturing standard on these forks or because you cannot purchase the air spring? 

I have found a Fork - it is a SID Ultimate - looks like a 2020 model - 32mm stanchion.
On the trailhead app when I put in the serial number there are no upgrade kits for the fork.

Online it does appear that 120mm airsprings can be purchased? https://thebikehub.com/products/rockshox-sid-debonair-spring-shaft-120mm-29-32mm-stanchion-air-shaft-bumpers-h942554-02 - for example. I am happy to import if need be.

I have reached out to Cogent in PTA but they are not answering. 

[droo]

2 hours ago, BrettS said:

Sorry to bring it up again - you mentioned in a previous post the 32mm stanchion Sid's could not be upgraded to 120mm travel. Is this just a manufacturing standard on these forks or because you cannot purchase the air spring? 

I have found a Fork - it is a SID Ultimate - looks like a 2020 model - 32mm stanchion.
On the trailhead app when I put in the serial number there are no upgrade kits for the fork.

Online it does appear that 120mm airsprings can be purchased? https://thebikehub.com/products/rockshox-sid-debonair-spring-shaft-120mm-29-32mm-stanchion-air-shaft-bumpers-h942554-02 - for example. I am happy to import if need be.

I have reached out to Cogent in PTA but they are not answering. 

Check the SRAM spare parts catalogue for your exact model of fork as per the Trailhead description. It'll tell you what you can and can't fit, and I'll put a pint on the fact that the 120 spring won't be on that list, It exists, but that doesn't mean it's compatible.

Alternative solution - buy the 120 spring, fit it, and see what happens. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't fit, maybe you'll write your fork off.

No need to import, you can get them locally.

[droo]

On 3/3/2023 at 8:36 AM, BrettS said:

I know with all suspension forks you can add spacers to reduce the travel of the fork but is it possible to add travel to a fork?

 

Not even remotely accurate. Most mid-tier and higher forks need a new air spring to change travel because of the way the positive and negative springs equalise.

[BrettS]

3 minutes ago, droo said:

Check the SRAM spare parts catalogue for your exact model of fork as per the Trailhead description. It'll tell you what you can and can't fit, and I'll put a pint on the fact that the 120 spring won't be on that list, It exists, but that doesn't mean it's compatible.

Alternative solution - buy the 120 spring, fit it, and see what happens. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't fit, maybe you'll write your fork off.

No need to import, you can get them locally.

Thanks Droo.. I found this and from what I can see. It isn't possible to upgrade the airspring.

2022-rockshox-spare-parts-catalog.pdf