The RockShox fork range 2023 has just received another update and, this time, it’s the uber-popular cross-country-going SID that has gone under the knife. Along with a heap of fresh features, the fork gets more air volume as well as a host of other nifty updates. The SIDluxe shock receives an all-new high-speed compression system and increased oil flow. The brand has also given its Twistloc remote lockout a well-deserved refresh. Here’s everything you need to know.
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The latest SID fork has had an awful lot of work done to it and the improvements mean that it operates like an enduro fork – a very bold claim indeed. To help achieve that goal, it gets a new three-position damping system with ‘Lock’ for all-out efficiency, ‘Open’ to absorb all of the bumps and ‘Pedal’ that blends efficiency with traction thanks to the newest Charger Race Day 2 damper.
Internally, the new SID has the new Debonair+ air spring that’s more tuneable than ever, with differences in air pressure making big changes to the fork’s mid-stroke support. However, the brand says that an increase or decrease in mid-stroke support shouldn’t affect performance at the top end of the travel. This is all to offer more traction, control and comfort.
The Debonair+ spring, we’re told, improves performance thanks to its increased air volume. RockShox says that this spring is 50% more negative and 16% more positive volume. This is what allows for easier fork tuning through its air pressure. Then the boost in negative air volume in tandem with a new top-out spring is said to be credited for a more supple initial stroke. This top-out spring is an actual coil, rather than a rubber damper that’s said to maintain comfort and traction in the initial travel.
As seen on the latest Pike, Lyrik, and ZEB, the SID fork benefits from more rushing overlap in a bid to improve strength and durability as well as reduce friction inside the fork. The upper tubes are also longer, which has allowed for a boost in air volume.
Externally, the SID uses a new 35mm chassis combined with a machined crown to save weight without sacrificing stiffness. There are also torque cap adapters that allow compatibility with standard hub end-caps.
Only available for 29-inch wheels, each fork in the SID range offers 100mm to 120mm of travel with a 44mm offset. Every fork also offers the option of remote or crown compression adjustment. The top-of-the-range SID Ultimate 3P is claimed to weigh 1,476g.
But there’s yet another SID fork in the range; the SID SL. This gets most of the updates seen on the standard SID but it uses 32mm stanchions to save weight. This one comes in 100mm and 110mm travel options with the same features as the fatter-legged fork but it claims to tip the scales at 1,352g with 110mm travel.
RockShox has given its SIDLuxe rear shock a touch of newness too as it now comes with a new three-position damping system alongside the existing two-position setup. Both get a Lock position, as well as Open, however, the three-position system comes with a Pedal position.
The brand has also given its high-speed compression circuit a tweak, resulting in instant blow-off (the force of impact that’ll switch the lockout off). This has been done by increasing the oil flow inside but with more oil flow, comes the need for more bottom-out resistance. As such, RockShox has given the shock a taller and tapered bottom-out bumper.
The SIDLuxe is available with either the DebonAir or SoloAir air spring and its compression adjustment can be changed via a remote or lever adjustment. A 190 x 45 eye-to-eye shock is set to weigh 246g.
Last but not least, the Twistloc Ultimate suspension remote has received some changes. Now with a low-profile design, it’s said to offer more room for dropper post levers. There’s also the option to run straight or curved cable guides, along with smooth or textured grips.
Pricing for the new RockShox SID SL fork starts at £739 for the SID SL Select and that goes up to £959 for the Ultimate model. The regular SID starts at £839 and goes up to £1,069. The SIDLuxe shock will then set you back from £479 to £539 and the new Twistloc remote is priced at £119.
All of the new tech talked about here, including the Charger Race Day 2 dampers and two and three-position shock compression configurations are available as aftermarket upgrades.
