We could pontificate the history of RockShox SID iterations for multiple pages, but you’re here to read about the newest forks and shock, so we’ll get right to it. RockShox has redesigned their race winning SID fork to be significantly lighter, with a thicker trail version for 120mm bikes, and they’ve built a shock to pair with its fast and feathery intentions.
SID Ultimate and Select forks
Based on market analysis Rockshox decided to make both the new 32mm lightweight and 35mm trail SID forks in the 29″ wheel size alone. Their aim is to have one fork to meet the demands of World Cup XC racing, and a heftier option for 120mm featherweight trail bikes. This sounds like direct competition for the Fox Step Cast 32 and 34, does it not?
The lightest model, called SID SL Ultimate, weighs 1326g, with 100mm of travel and 32mm stanchions, while the more robust trail fork tips the scale at 1537g with 120mm of travel and 35mm stanchions. Each of the new SID forks comes with a 44mm offset. The fork achieves those low numbers in part because of its Charger Race Day damper that the company claims is their lightest production damper yet. The grams are further cut by eliminating the rebound knob in favor of a hex head to adjust return on the driveside lower leg. Charger Race Day dampers are backward compatible with SID and Reba forks as far back as model-year 2014.
All of this weight shaving is combined with a redesigned Debonair air spring that is said to help the new SID maintain ride height, race-formulated Maxima Plus oil that the brand claims will to keep the fork working consistently in all conditions, and new SKS seals purported to “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.”
In the lockout department, Rockshox is bringing the good old Grip Shift functionality into action. “Twist to lock, push the button to unlock—on forks, rear shocks, or both in tandem. With a consistent grip size and light-touch action, TwistLoc maximizes efficiency while keeping your hand safely on the bar.”
- SID SL Ultimate, 100mm, 32mm stanchions, Charger Race Day damper $799-869, €869-949, £779-849
- SID SL Select, 100mm, 32mm stanchions, Charger RL damper $599-669, €649-729, £579-649
- SID Ultimate, 120mm, 35mm stanchions, Charger Race Day damper $899-969, €979-1,059, £869-949
- SID Select, 120mm, 35mm stanchions, Charger RL damper $699-769, €759-839, £679-749
- Available at Tree Fort Bikes.
SIDLUXE shock
Fortunately, a lot of modern XC bikes and trail whips include rear suspension, and RockShox has just the shock to accompany their new SID forks. The SIDLUXE shocks are equally weight-conscious and race-focused, weighing a scant 227g. The shock eliminates the rebound knob in favor of a hex-key adjustment, and the low-speed compression lockout can be actuated by hand or cockpit lever.
The SIDLUXE will be a stock damper on some production bikes in the coming months, and RockShocks shared the following description on its tune characteristics:
“The damper is tuned to cater for a wide range of leverage curves on XC race bikes. Great ‘off the top’ with lots of control on bigger hits. We built the shock knowing that we would have a more progressive air spring due to a smaller volume. In turn this means we could use a lighter tune to deliver the same characteristics that our riders expect. Supple, supportive, and a super firm lockout when needed. The lockout feature requires very little force to switch between open and a super stiff lock.”
Visit the RockShox website for more info.
