As you may have guessed from the featured features of the electronically controlled forks from the RockShox Flight Attendant series, launched earlier this year, updated battery-free suspension components may soon follow. A new chassis design from Pike and Lyrik is coming, complete with some of the stewardess’ equipment features, but ZEB has not been forgotten either. All of these forks also see a redesigned shock absorber, plus they get the mechanical bonuses that are on the flight attendant’s chassis.
Not only the front end of the bike, many rear shock absorbers are also on the menu for 2023, including the Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate shock absorber with a separate threshold piston and its DH sbling with externally adjustable hydraulic bottom control. The most noticeable internal change is the separation of compression adjustment at high and low speed and greater overlap of the bushings, while the outer body of the coil dampers is 21% stronger.
Chassis and fork inspection
What’s different about RockShox Ultimate level forks now, apart from the sharper Pike and Lyrik lower leg assembly lines and the crown control unit (CSU) that mimics ZEB? Basically everything. The technologies are the same in the Pike, Lyrik and ZEB Ulitmate series, but there are changes in the air spring volume and chassis design to adjust the rigidity of each fork to the ideal use case. Both the Pike and Lyrik retain their 35mm stands, while the ZEB chassis remains virtually unchanged, except for the pressure relief valves on the rear of the lower legs, which are now available on all premium fork models.
To better differentiate the segments for each fork, RockShox has limited the movement of the new Pike and Lyrik, allowing them to optimize the chassis-to-weight stiffness ratio in favor of the types of bikes on which they will be mounted – including air springs. The movement numbers vary from 120-140 mm and 140-160 mm in steps of 10 mm and will require air springs of a certain length to change the stroke. Only ZEB, where the chassis carries and retains the wider bracket of 160-190 mm – was only two years ago when it debuted.
Pike Ultimate Details
• Travel options: 120, 130, 140 mm • Redesigned 35 mm chassis on the stand • Charger 3 has a completely new internal floating piston (IFP) • High speed compression, low speed compression and low rebound speed • ButterCups in the air and shock absorber shafts • DebonAir + air spring with increased air volume • Ultimate Bushing Package maximizes the overlap of the bushings • Pressure relief valves release air accumulation in the lower legs • Maxima Plush shock absorber reduces friction and attenuates noise from shock absorbers • Sign Gloss • Gloss RockShox fender sold separately • MSRP: $ 1054, € 1139 *, £ 1017 * (* incl. VAT)
Lyrik Latest details
• Travel options: 140, 150, 160 mm • Redesigned 35 mm chassis on the stand • Charger 3 has a completely new internal floating piston (IFP) • High speed compression, low speed compression and low rebound speed • ButterCups on air and shock absorbers • DebonAir + air spring with increased air volume • Ultimate Bushing Package maximizes the overlap of the bushings • Pressure relief valves release air accumulation in the lower legs • Maxima Plush damping fluid reduces friction and muffles the noise of shock absorbers or • Under black ”Colors • RockShox fender with bolt sold separately • MSRP: $ 1,107, € 1,196 *, £ 1,069 * (* incl. VAT)
ZEB Ultimate Details
• Travel options: 160, 170, 180, 190 mm • 38 mm chassis • Charger 3 has a completely new internal floating piston (IFP) • High speed compression, low speed compression and low rebound speed • ButterCups on air and shock absorbers • DebonAir + air spring with increased air volume • Ultimate Bushing Package maximizes the overlap of the bushings • Pressure relief valves release the accumulation of air in the lower legs • Maxima Plush damping fluid reduces friction and muffles the noise of the shock absorbers • Glossy black or corporate color with RockShox bolts sold separately • MSRP: $ 1,159, € 1,253 *, £ 1,119 * (* with VAT)
Charger 3 shock absorber
RockShox started with a clean slate as they approached the design of the Charger 3’s shock absorber and preferred the IFP style because of its ability to blow oil through a port in the shock absorber. This also allowed engineers to “split” high-speed and low compression speeds, keeping each setting independent of each other – “no compromise”, as they say. Usually one would slightly affect the other and therefore change the characteristics that the riders did not intend to change.
All Pike, Lyrik and ZEB Ultimates and Select + forks are available as standard with the Charger 3. The shock absorber can be retrofitted with each ZEB, as this CSU has not changed, but will otherwise only fit 2023 Pikes and Lyriks. There are 15 LSC clicks, 5 HSC clicks, 18 rebound adjustment clicks and no custom setting is currently available because RockShox believes that each click is a big enough change and the attenuation range will suit all weights and rider styles. . We also put a lot of effort into making the Charger 3 as quiet as possible, and part of that success is backed by Maxima’s Plush shock absorber fluid.
Although the deaeration procedure has changed due to the new shock absorber, no new Charger 3 recovery tools are needed and all service tutorials can be found on the RockShox website.
ButterCups
These magical little elastomers that sit at the bottom of the shock absorber and air spring to smooth the transition of forces in these components when the fork starts to move. They reduce high-frequency vibration by 20%, and that’s not a number RockShox just came up with – the testing team measures it with sensors.
ButterCups offer 4 mm plush suspension movement and are exclusive to the same fork group as the Charger 3: 2023 Pike and Lyriks and 2021+ ZEB shock absorbers. The ButterCups kit adds approximately 40 grams to the fork, but the new Pike and Lyrik have dropped overall.
DebonAir + spring
Equipped with all Pike, Lyrik and ZEB 2023 forks, the all-aluminum DebonAir + spring has more volume than its predecessor, the DebonAir C1 air spring, with an emphasis on improved low-shock absorption and higher ride height. The new spring is loaded with ButterCup bumper and can be mounted on 2021+ ZEB.
Pressure relief valves
These trick small buttons release any unwanted pressure accumulated in the fork during lifting or temperature changes to keep things as sensitive as possible. Do you think your fork needs belching because it feels harder? Just clean the valves with a rag to absorb the residual oil and things will feel normal again. They are located above the upper sleeve and are durable in the sense that they will not absorb dirt or water, plus the 2023 Select and Base forks (Pike, Lyrik and ZEB) can be upgraded to accommodate pressure relief valves.
Ultimate package of bushings and amplifiers on the hub
At the Ultimate level, the length of the sleeve in the lower legs of the fork is increased by 53%. This is said to provide better support for the stands, reduce friction and distribute the load where the foot and bushing meet. With this in mind, the Ulitmate level bushings are sized and pre-installed for 2023 forks only, so you will need new Select level fork bottoms to achieve this upgrade.
Torque caps are still in play with a larger, specific standard RockShox surface, but for smaller diameters, common hub end caps already have bolt options to mimic this idea.
Shock review
The RockShox family of rear shock absorbers has four Deluxe Ultimate rear shock absorbers, two air and two rear shock absorbers with coil springs. Ultimate basically means “available on the secondary market” or is considered an upgrade to the current bike, although some high-end bikes may even be equipped with them. Three of them are Super Deluxe, which include additional features such as a high-speed compression regulator, and both versions of the coil have optional hydraulic bottom controls with five-click adjustment to smooth out the last 20% of traffic. Other attributes of the Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil shock absorbers use a 21% stronger body with increased overlap of the bushings.
Deluxe Ultimate Details
• Independent low speed and rebound adjustments • DebonAir + air spring with adjustable negative and positive air volume • Wider rebound adjustment range than before • Bumper with curved underside • Increased bushing overlap • Lever switches between compression pistons open and threshold • Maximum plush dynamic suspension Lubricant reduces friction • MSRP: $ 399, € 431 *, £ 385 * (* incl. VAT)
Super Deluxe Ultimate Details
• RC2T Shock absorber with independent high and low speeds • DebonAir + air spring with adjustable negative and positive air volume • Optional hydraulic bottom • 15 clicks to adjust the rebound • Bumper with curved bottom out • Increased overlap of the bushings pistons • Maxima Plush Dynamic Suspension Lube reduces friction • MSRP: $ 599, € 648 *, £ 578 * (* including VAT)
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate Details
• RC2T shock absorber with independent high and low speeds • Optionally adjustable hydraulic bottom with five different compression settings • Redesigned chassis is 21% stronger • Increased overlap of the bushings • 20 clicks of rebound adjustment Separate and independent open and threshold External settings allow for seamless adjustment on the go • BoXXer Red and Signature color matching options • Maximum plush shock absorber reduces friction and dampens shock absorbers • MSRP: $ 549, € 594 *, £ 530 * (* incl. VAT )
Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH Details
• RC2 shock absorber with independent high and low speeds • Optional hydraulic bottom out with five different settings • Redesigned chassis is 21% stronger • Increased overlap of the bushings • 20 clicks of rebound adjustment • External settings allow seamless adjustment of …
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