A good suspension fork will transform your mountain bike by giving you more traction, comfort, and control, so you can ride faster and have more fun. If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate fork upgrade, RockShox should be high on your list. It has been a leader in the suspension game for over 30 years and some of the best mountain bikers in the world choose RockShox. You can get that same world-beating performance on your bike at home, but what fork should you choose? We’ll explain RockShox’s current fork line-up and break down the key differences between its top models, so you can pick the perfect fork for you and your bike.
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RockShox fork hierarchy explained
There are four fork models that make up the core of the RockShox mountain bike fork line-up:
- SID
- Pike
- Lyrik
- Zeb
These forks represent RockShox’s primary offerings for XC, trail, and enduro riding, and will be the main focus of this guide. Most riders shopping for a fork upgrade will be looking at these four models.
RockShox also has an extensive fork line-up outside of these four models. For downhill bikes, RockShox makes the dual-crown BoXXer fork. For fat bikes, RockShox makes the Bluto fat bike fork. For gravel bikes, RockShox makes the Rudy gravel fork.
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Other popular models include the Reba, Recon, Judy, Revelation, Yari, Domain, and 35. These forks are mainly budget alternatives to the four core models. They generally cost less (in the $250-500 range) because they use older technology. These budget forks are often found on entry-level bikes, and generally, riders will want to upgrade from these models as they become more advanced.
RockShox Select vs. Select+ vs. Ultimate
RockShox SID, Pike, Lyrik, and Zeb forks are available in four different trim levels. In order from entry-level to top-of-the-line, they are:
- Base
- Select
- Select+
- Ultimate
For example, a RockShox Pike will be available as a Pike, Pike Select, Pike Select+, and Pike Ultimate. This naming convention is used to describe the damper and other features the fork will come with.
If you’re shopping for a new aftermarket fork, you will mostly be comparing Select and Ultimate level forks. Base and Select+ forks are “OE-only,” so they are only available on complete bikes from the manufacturer, or in the used market.
If you want to ride the best of the best, look no further than RockShox’s Ultimate line-up. These are the same forks used by the pros. They will have the highest performance, the best feel, and the lowest weight. If you’re on a budget, Select forks provide a lot of bang for your buck. You mainly sacrifice some bells and whistles, but most regular riders likely won’t miss them.
Pike, Lyrik, and Zeb models
|
Model |
Base |
Select |
Select+ |
Ultimate |
|
Damper |
Rush RC |
Charger RC |
Charger 3 RC2 |
Charger 3 RC2 |
|
Spring |
DebonAir+ |
DebonAir+ |
DebonAir+ |
DebonAir+ with ButterCups |
|
Bushings |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Ultimate Bushing Package |
|
Pressure-relief valves |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Color options |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
SID and SID SL models
|
Model |
Base |
Select |
Select+ |
Ultimate |
|
Damper |
Rush RC |
Charger RL |
Charger RL |
Charger Race Day |
|
Spring |
DebonAir |
DebonAir |
DebonAir |
DebonAir |
|
Color options |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
RockShox Dampers
A damper (on the left) with adjustable high- and low-speed compression damping.
The damper is the part of the fork that controls how quickly and smoothly the fork compresses and rebounds. Better dampers will feel plusher, stay more consistent and settled in rough terrain, and offer more tuning options. The more basic Rush RC and Charger RC/RL dampers will be enough to satisfy the majority of mountain bikers. They allow riders to adjust rebound and firm up the compression when needed.
Advanced riders who want maximum control and adjustability will prefer the latest and greatest Charger 3 damper. It features adjustable high- and low-speed compression damping, and redesigned internals that makes it feel smoother and stay more consistent when the trail gets wild. XC racers will like the Charger Race Day damper which reduces the size and fluid volume of the damper to save as much weight as possible without sacrificing the supple feel.
ButterCups
Ultimate-level Pike, Lyrik, and Zeb forks have something called “ButterCups” added to the air spring. ButterCups are an assembly found inside the fork legs at the base of the air spring and damper shafts. Inside these ButterCups are rubber bumpers, which provide an extra 4mm of vertical compliance to absorb high-frequency buzz and “trail chatter” to reduce hand and arm fatigue.
Ultimate Bushing Package
Ultimate-level Pike, Lyrik, and Zeb forks also have the “Ultimate Bushing Package” which uses bushings in the lower legs that are 53 percent longer than standard. This provides better support for the upper tubes and distributes the load over a larger area to reduce friction and bushing bind, making Ultimate forks feel a bit plusher.
Pressure-relief valves
The latest Select+ and Ultimate-level Pike, Lyrik, and Zeb forks have pressure-relief valves (PRVs) on the fork lowers. Riders can push the PRV button on the fork lowers to bleed out the excess air that builds up in the lower legs of the fork when riding at altitude or in hot climates. This helps keep the fork feeling plush for longer.
Color options
Most RockShox forks will come with black lowers but Ultimate-level forks offer unique signature colors so riders can personalize the look of their bikes. RockShox currently offers SID Blue for the SID Ultimate, Gloss Silver for the Pike Ultimate, Heavy Meadow for the Lyrik Ultimate, and Slab Grey for the Zeb Ultimate. Older models may have slightly different color options (e.g., BoXXer Red for older Lyrik and SID models).
[newsletter]
RockShox MTB fork model guide
Notes:
- The listed travel specs are for current model year forks only. Older models may have different travel options.
- For comparison purposes, the claimed weights are for top-of-the-line 29” Ultimate models.
- The retail prices are for current model year forks.
- Many RockShox forks come in different offset options which will affect your bike’s handling. If you’d like to learn more about fork offset, check out our article: “What is fork offset?”
RockShox SID SL
Available travel: 100mm
Stanchion diameter: 32mm
Claimed weight: 1,326g (SID SL Ultimate)
Wheel size: 29”
Offset: 44mm
Retail price: $685-759 (Select), $896-970 (Ultimate)
Who it’s for: XC racers and riders who want the lightest fork for cross-country terrain and ultra-endurance riding.
The SID name has been in RockShox’s line-up since the early days of mountain biking and it has won countless cross-country races over the last two decades. It’s currently split into two models, the SID and SID SL. The SID SL is a pure XC race fork and it is also RockShox’s lightest fork (“SL” stands for “super light”).
RockShox SID
Stanchion diameter: 35mm
Claimed weight: 1,537g (29” - SID Ultimate)
Wheel size: 29”
Offset: 44mm
Retail price: $790-864 (Select), $1,001-1,075 (Ultimate)
Who it’s for: Riders looking to set up their XC or “downcountry” bike to handle technical terrain without adding too much weight.
The SID is a beefed-up, more trail-focused version of the SID. It offers more travel and uses thicker 35mm stanchions, similar to the Pike, so it will track better and stay more composed on tough descents. It’s ideal for riders who want improved downhill performance without the extra heft of a more trail-oriented fork.
RockShox Pike
Available travel: 120mm, 130mm, 140mm
Stanchion diameter: 35mm
Claimed weight: 1,887g (29” - Pike Ultimate)
Wheel size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 37mm (27.5"), 44mm (27.5"), 44mm (29")
Retail price: $790 (Select), $1,054 (Ultimate)
Who it’s for: Riders who want a versatile, mid-weight and mid-travel fork all-around trail riding.
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The Pike is RockShox’s most popular trail fork, sitting between its lightweight cross-country forks and heavier-duty enduro forks. It balances weight, stiffness, and travel to suit the largest range of riders and terrain. The Pike is ideal for short- to mid-travel trail bikes that are designed to climb and descend equally well.
RockShox Lyrik
Available travel: 140mm, 150mm, 160mm
Stanchion diameter: 35mm
Claimed weight: 2,028g (29” - Lyrik Ultimate)
Wheel size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 37mm (27.5"), 44mm (27.5"), 44mm (29")
Retail price: $843 (Select), $1,107 (Ultimate)
Who it’s for: Riders who frequently ride steep and gnarly terrain but still need to earn their turns.
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The Lyrik uses 35mm stanchions like the Pike, but the stanchion walls are thicker to provide greater stiffness for longer travel applications. It weighs more than the Pike, but the increase in stiffness improves the Lyrik’s precision, traction, and comfort in gnarly downhill terrain. It’s ideal for bikes that straddle the edge between trail and enduro.
RockShox Zeb
Available travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm, 180mm, 190mm
Stanchion diameter: 38mm
Claimed weight: 2,341g (29”)
Wheel size: 27.5”, 29”
Offset: 38mm (27.5"), 44mm (27.5"), 44mm (29"), 51mm (29")
Retail price: $896 (Select), $1,159 (Ultimate)
Who it’s for: Enduro racers, freeriders, and park riders who prioritize downhill performance above all else.
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The Zeb is RockShox's burliest long-travel single crown fork for freeride, downhill, and enduro applications. With massive 38mm thick stanchions, it’s 21% stiffer torsionally than the Lyrik to maximize control and big-hit absorption. Fore-aft stiffness, however, is only increased 2% to keep handlebar feedback low to maintain comfort.
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