Cross country MTBs have to face increasingly demanding trails. In order to cut a good figure despite little suspension travel, XC bikes need Well-functioning running gear. They have to be lightweight, highly efficient and perform well under racing conditions. Not an easy task on mountain bikes with 100 to 120 millimetres of suspension travel. Rockshox has reissued its Sid Luxe cross country shock for this purpose. While the cheaper Sid Luxe Deluxe+ shock is only available on complete bikes, XC racers can retrofit the 246 gram Rockshox Sid Luxe Ultimate for between 539 and 609 euros. Is it worth spending so much money on the new softener? We tested the new Rockshox shock.
Setup of the Rockshox Sid Luxe damper
The Sid Luxe is the smallest shock in the Rockshox line-up. Compared to the recently introduced Rockshox Vivid 2024 For enduro and downhill use, it looks downright slender. Thanks to the SAG scale on the shock, the correct air pressure can be found quickly. The only other option is to adjust the rebound. On the Sid Luxe, this is not possible without tools, but requires a 2.5 millimetre hex key. This visually minimalist solution saves weight and works smoothly on a clean bike. Before an extensive muddy ride, however, the rebound setup should be set up, because fiddling with a small Allen key on a muddy screw on the trail is no fun. The new three-stage compression damping called 3P is controlled by the new Rockshox Twistlock Ultimate twist grip, which can also tighten the suspension fork at the same time via a cable.
How the Rockshox Sid Luxe Ultimate 3P damper rides in practice
The Rockhox Sid Luxe Ultimate shock had to complete its test in a Canyon Lux Trail. The 120 millimetre racefully falls exactly into the target group of the new Rockshox Cross Country shock. As befits the shock of a race bike, the first impression is firm and drive-neutral. On the cycle path out of the city and when climbing asphalt climbs, a twist of the wrist is enough to tighten the rear triangle with the help of the Rockshox Twistlock. The "Close" position of the 3P compression damping is a real lockout and ensures that even the smallest grain of energy is converted into propulsion when pedalling. So far, so good, but the old Rockshox Sid Luxe could do all that too.
One of the biggest innovations is the "pedal" centre position of the compression damping. This firms up the shock a little, but allows it to work a little more in the first travel range, for example to provide the necessary mix of efficiency and traction on trail climbs. In practice, this works well and gives the Sid Luxe Ultimate the right amount of sportiness. On flat sections and ramps with gravel, you can also use the middle setting to generate a little more comfort and traction without wasting any power.
On the descent, the Rockshox Sid Luxe Ultimate performs as you would expect from a top cross-country shock. It would be wrong to say that the Sid Luxe is stingy with travel, as it makes skilful use of its short stroke. Nevertheless, it remains a race shock and offers more support than reserves. If you are looking for a good-natured shock absorber for trail use, it is better to choose the more versatile Rockshox Deluxe for your 120 millimetre bike. However, as an uncompromising athlete, the Sid Luxe does everything right and gives its rider a feeling of control at all times. Without the shock bottoming out, the rider can Cross-country riders always concentrate fully on racing. The new instant blow-off function also contributes to this. The revised high-speed compression stage reacts confidently to hard hits without fear of bottoming out. This means that the new Rockshox Sid Luxe Ultimate shock copes better with drops and big bumps than its predecessor.
Conclusion
The new Rockshox Sid Luxe Ultimate 3P is a pure race shock. On fast cross-country courses, it benefits noticeably from the new compression damping. Its strength lies more in sportiness than in comfort. Racers will appreciate the high feeling of control, but the small shock might be too racy for downcountry bikers and touring riders. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE Editor
Jan Timmermann
Editor
