Rockshox launch a raft of new updates to their damper to create Charger 3.1, as well as a new Super Deluxe and a coil version of the Vivid.
A new damper across the range in the form of Rockshox’s Charger 3.1 gets a broader range of adjustment and more oil flow, the Super Deluxe shock gets a refresh with damping and air can changes, the Vivid Air gets a Coil stablemate and the Trailhead app gets a major update.
Forks
A year after they released their Charger 3, the Rockshox Charger 3.1 has dropped and hot on the heels of Fox’s own damper upgrade to the Grip family. The famous Rockshox fork chassis get the new damper, that being the Pike, Lyrik and Zeb. The Pike also gets a new air spring too.
Charger 3.1 RC2 was essentially rider feedback-driven, whether it be Rockshox employees, ambassadors or athletes, it all got poured into the pot and the updated requirements built into the 3.1.
The new damper offers a broader compression range and 68% more oil flow. High and low speed compression circuits have seen a total overhaul and there’s a stiffer spring in the Internal Floating Piston. The updated damper also comes with shim kits, 3 rebound tunes and one heavy compression tune kit. A new, lower friction bush also decreases chassis-based losses and are present on all the new forks.
Pikes get a new, larger negative air spring to increase opening stroke suppleness, making them feel more like the Lyrik and Zeb on the trail. The Zeb Ultimate will also be available in Electric Red. Rockshox Zeb Ultimate cost £1,119.00, Lyrik Ultimates £1,079.00 and Pike Ultimates £1,049.00.
Charger 3.1 is reverse compatible to all 2023 forks, the kit coming in at £345.00 and a piston upgrade is available to take your Charger 3 damper and make it a Charger 3.1 for just £75.00. Shim tune kits cost £29.00.
Shocks
In the middle of the bike, the venerable Super Deluxe gets a new air can and damper, whilst the Vivid gains a coil to its lineup. The Super Deluxe gains a new main piston and reservoir, updated compression damping and a new high flow piston offering double the oil flow. There’s also a lighter rebound shim and a revalved low speed compression circuit that offers a greater range of adjustment. High speed compression has been reduced to improve trail feel. Elsewhere, there’s a smoother transition between compression and rebound, adding to traction and reducing feedback.
Another addition is the XL air can. A larger positive air chamber makes for lower breakaway forces at the start of the stroke and is designed to be more linear, aimed at mimicking the Vivid spring curve. The Ultimate RC2T Super Deluxe will also be available with optional Hydraulic Bottom Out, like on the Vivid, and will be the only model available aftermarket.
The new reservoir is, like the forks, backwards compatible to 2023 model Super Deluxe shocks. The new high flow piston will work similarly but needs the shim kit to work. One kit contains all the necessary shims to do so. This air can is compatible with both Deluxe and Super Deluxe. The can costs £99.00, the reservoir upgrade is £220.00 and the high flow piston is £39.00.
Vivid Air has a coil brother, you guessed it, the Vivid Coil. All the features of the Vivid Air like the Touchdown damper’s position sensitive damping, adjustable hydraulic bottom out and a new bottom out bumper that’s stroke dependent. As above, Ultimate Vivids are the only aftermarket option but come with red or black springs to match the red Zebs. The Vivid Coil DH does not come with a Threshold lever.
The Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate costs between £579.00-609.00, whilst the Vivid Coil Ultimate and DH cost between £629.00-659.00.
With all the focus on high speed compression and compression, and low speed rebound, why no high speed rebound adjuster? We understand that Fox have the rights to separate rebound circuits, hence why you see so few of them on competitor dampers, but adding to this, the Rockshox team found that high speed rebound was usually set by riders just one or two clicks apart. That way, it was quite easy to come to a “sweet spot” to get to a point where the low speed rebound adjuster did the job required from there.
Trailhead App
The Rockshox Trailhead app has seen a major update, with all resources and products now in-app with a more refined feel throughout. The algorithms have been updated and your SRAM ID links through too. The new app version works better to track the changes you make and gives insights on those changes. All the relevant videos can now be found in the support zone.
