Loader 3.1 Damper
Perhaps the biggest news is the Charger 3.1 shock absorber. Well, that and the fact that the Zeb is now available in an apple red paint job… If you’ve been following along, RockShox usually gives a whole number (Charger 2, Charger 3) when there’s a really big difference in a damper, and goes with a decimal when it is a less drastic revision. Charger 3.1 is the latter, and its main feature is an extended adjustment range. This means riders will have a wider range of low and high speed compression to choose from. The number of clicks is the same, but it is now possible to have less compression at low speeds or more damping at high speeds than before.
Along with increased oil flow, the new damper has a larger high-speed compression pyramid. This increased size allows more restriction of oil flow when high-speed compression is fully closed, which increased the amount of damping.
To further help riders who typically find themselves needing more or less shock than the stock tune, RockShox now offers a $30 shock cover kit that comes with the necessary straps for a standard compression tune or heavy, as well as a light, medium / standard tune. or Heavy Reversal Melody. Rebound bar tuning is also available for the Charger 3 shocks, which is good news for riders who were unable to achieve a quick rebound setting.
The final two design changes to the Charger 3.1 worth noting are a stiffer coil spring on the floating internal piston to handle the increased oil flow and a new mid-valve control spring that also allows for reduced damping. compression.
Taking lessons learned from the Boxxer, RockShox has updated their bushing manufacturing process and applied it to the Zeb, Lyrik and Pike 2025. The changes to the manufacturing process were intended to improve consistency and ensure that there is as much some rubbing on all models. After all, it doesn’t matter how wide the compression range is on a fork if there are locking frictions or bushings opposing it.
The new shock absorber is available individually for $358 USD and is compatible with the Pike C1+ (2023+), Lyrik D1+ (2023+) and ZEB A1+ (2021+). Alternatively, it is possible to purchase only the Charger 3.1 piston kit, which includes the piston assembly, IFP spring, tuning bars and the Charger 3.1 High Flow Piston Tool. These parts retail for $75 and can easily be replaced during a 200 hour service.
New Pike air spring
For 2025, the Pike gets an updated air intake that has a larger negative air chamber thanks to a hollowed-out air cap. The increased negative air volume should help ease the fork’s initial travel, giving it a more supple feel from the top. That air spring is compatible with all C1 (2022+) Pike forks.
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For me, Pike is the winner More improved price in this series of updates. While I was a big fan of the previous Charger 2.1 Pike, especially the B1 air spring era, the first pass of the Charger 3 never felt quite right. While the level of support was impressive, the ride height was harsh compared to the previous generation. This updated air source along with the more effective damping range in the 3.1 damper restores the Pike to its former glory. |
New Vivid coil, updated SuperDeluxe
Moving on to the RockShox rear shock models, once again the story is more about upgrades and revisions than dramatic upgrades, although there is a new Vivid Coil shock that will replace the SuperDeluxe coil.
The Vivid coilover features the same ‘TouchDown technology’ feature found on the air-sprung Vivid, where the main compression damping of the piston is bypassed for the first 10% of its travel. The idea is to make the kick start as supple and responsive as possible for increased grip and a smoother feel when the rear wheel hits the ground.
At the bottom of the stroke, the Vivid Coil has an adjustable bottom end hydraulic feature that affects the last 20% of travel. There’s also a shock-specific rear bumper that complements the hydraulic undercarriage to make things as smooth as possible. The Vivid Coil Ultimate is priced at $619 – $649 USD depending on configuration.
The SuperDeluxe air shock features a new high-flow piston that produces less high-speed damping than the previous piston model to prevent the rear wheel from feeling like it’s hanging on hard bumps. There’s also a lighter rebound control plate, another step in making the change from compression to rebound as smooth as possible.
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I’ve used the Vivid Coil on two different bikes with drastically different features and purposes and have enjoyed it on both platforms. One is the Frameworks Trail Bike, which is a more traditional pairing for a kicker like this – and surprisingly feels pretty good. Top end traction is excellent and damping adjustment is distinct and meaningful, just like the Vivid Air released last year.
On the other bike, a 135mm travel trail bike with a fairly progressive kinematic, I’ve found a happy place in the Vivid with little fuss. HBO’s suspension matches the bike’s character well, and I’ve found that adjusting the shock can change the shock from bouncy and tight to firmer and sportier within the same spring rate. |
The final change to the SuperDeluxe is the addition of a new air box called the ‘Linear XL’. It is said to give the SuperDeluxe a feel closer to that of the Vivid, with a softer initial kick and the potential for more progression thanks to the ability to fit eight volume dividers. This air can costs $97.