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If you judge by success on the race track, Rockshox is clearly ahead. After all, the Sid won every Cross-Country World Cup last year on Nino Schurter's bike. In the BIKE test, however, it's not World Cup points that count, but facts determined in the laboratory and the riding impression of the test team. Although the steerer tube and crown of the Rockshox Sid are made of carbon, the fork is 114 grams heavier than the orange Fox 32. With the slim Step-Cast design, the Fox only weighs 1393 grams without the lockout lever. An absolute top value, but not without side effects. This is because the steering precision suffers from the significantly lower torsional rigidity. In contrast to the rather bulky all-mountain forks, this can also be felt in practice this time. You also need an Allen key for the Kobolt thru-axle. With Rockshox, a grip on the quick-release axle is sufficient in the event of a flat front tyre (a lightweight Allen key axle can be retrofitted). The Fox filters out small impacts better than its competitor, making it slightly more comfortable. The Rockshox is slightly less responsive, but then releases the travel more quickly. Nevertheless, the character remains sportier than the Fox.
Conclusion: The Fox 32 Float Step Cast wins the duel mainly because of its better damping. But the decision was close. Riders over 75kg will be happier with the SID due to its greater stiffness.
Commentary by Ludwig Döhl, BIKE editor:
End of the line monoculture! The market power of Rockshox and Fox is now so great that there is hardly any other suspension to be found, at least on high-quality complete bikes. On the following page we show alternatives to the market leaders' forks, but I've never seen most of them on the trail. You could shrug your shoulders and say "so what?", but suspension forks are already one of the most expensive components on a mountain bike. With less competition, prices will continue to rise and the end consumer will have to dig deeper into their pockets. It's time for real diversity to return to the market and for other brands to emerge from the shadows.
THE TEST RESULTS
It's worth taking a closer look at the test cases, because the test victory in this duel was fiercely contested. Both forks work at the highest level.
FOX 32 FLOAT FACTORY SERIES FIT 4 SC 29"
Price / weight¹ 1289 Euro / 1461 gram*
Suspension travel¹ / factory specification 99 mm / 100 mm
Manufacturer information
Setting options Spring stiffness via air pressure, rebound, compression, progression
Lowering / handlebar lockout no / yes
Max. Ø disc / weight limit 205 mm / no
Available shafts Taper
Available dropouts 15x110 mm; 15x100 mm
Measured values¹
Installation length 500 mm
Torsional rigidity 14 Nm/°
Brake rigidity 168 Nm/°
Sensitivity (15 %) 11 out of 12 points
Uphill (20 %) 12 out of 12 points
Downhill (25%) 11 out of 12 points
Handling (10 %) 8 out of 12 points
Stiffness (15 %) 6 out of 12 points
Weight (15 %) 11 out of 12 points
CONCLUSION Fox has made its handlebar lockout significantly more ergonomic for 2018 and also offers the option of using it to control the shock. The fork responds sensitively off-road. It utilises the suspension travel effectively and impresses with a high level of comfort. The low torsional rigidity is particularly noticeable for heavy riders.
BIKE judgement² SUPER
ROCKSHOX SID WORLDCUP 29"
Price / weight¹ 1110 Euro / 1507 gram
Suspension travel¹ / factory specification 101 mm / 100 mm
Manufacturer information
Setting options Spring stiffness via air pressure, rebound, compression, progression
Lowering / handlebar lockout no / no
Max. Ø disc / weight limit 203 mm / no
Available shafts Taper
Available dropouts 15x110 mm; 15x100 mm
Measured values¹
Installation length 505 mm
Torsional rigidity 25 Nm/°
Brake rigidity 153 Nm/°
Sensitivity (15 %) 10 out of 12 points
Uphill (20 %) 10 out of 12 points
Downhill (25%) 10 out of 12 points
Handling (10 %) 10 out of 12 points
Stiffness (15 %) 8 out of 12 points
Weight (15 %) 10 out of 12 points
CONCLUSION Rockshox sends a fork without a handlebar lockout into the test. Despite the carbon steerer tube and crown, it weighs more than the Fox. We had to run the separate compression setting almost open to elicit a little more comfort from the Sid. When riding hard downhill, the suspension travel is quickly used up.
BIKE judgement² SUPER
*Weight with lockout lever and cable. ¹Measured values from the BIKE laboratory ²The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measured values and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price.
BIKE judgements: super, very good, good, satisfactory, with weaknesses, unsatisfactory. Exact price not yet available at the time of going to press.
THE ALTERNATIVES
In addition to the top dogs, there are also other interesting forks. We have already tested the CC shock absorbers from Formula or Marzocchi in the past. Manitou and German Answer didn't want to send us a test fork. The SR Suntour is currently not available in the Boost standard.
MANITOU MARKHOR
Spring travel 100 to 120 millimetres
Weight* 1875 grammes
Price 359 Euro (e.g. at Rosebikes for 269 Euro)
Conclusion: With the Markhor, Manitou offers an affordable alternative, but it is considerably heavier.
ROCKSHOX RS 1
Spring travel 100 to 120 millimetres
Weight* 1573 grammes
Price 1945 Euro
Conclusion: The upside-down fork is exotic. It is more comfortable than the Sid, but also significantly more expensive.
FORMULA 33
Spring travel 100 to 120 millimetres
Weight* 1508 grammes
Price 889 Euro
Conclusion: Result of our last test in 2016: comfortable fork with plenty of reserves for downhill riding.
GERMAN ANSWER XCITE
Spring travel 100 to 120 millimetres
Weight* 998 grammes
Price 1699 Euro
Conclusion: Absolute lightweight with carbon shaft and stanchions. Made in Germany.
MARZOCCHI 320 LR 29
Spring travel 80 to 120 millimetres
Weight* 1695 grammes
Price 819 Euro
Conclusion: Affordable alternative from Italy. Not one of the lightweights among CC forks.
SR SUNTOUR AXON
Spring travel 80 to 100 millimetres
Weight* 1488 grammes
Price 815 Euro
Conclusion: Lightweight suspension fork with carbon crown and casting. Fast thru-axle system.
*Weight with lockout lever and cable. ¹Measured values from the BIKE laboratory ²The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measured values and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price.
BIKE judgements: super, very good, good, satisfactory, with weaknesses, unsatisfactory. Exact price not yet available at the time of going to press.
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