Upside-down principle
With the new RS-1, Rock Shox is turning the suspension fork world on its head and reviving an unusual technology. Although the principle of reversing the arrangement of stanchions and lower tubes has already been used in the bike industry (Maverick, Manitou Dorado, German Answer), it has not really been able to gain widespread acceptance due to the lack of convincing stiffness and therefore steering precision.
What are the advantages?
So why of all things upside-down, some of you may have asked yourself at the presentation of the new cross-country flagship RS-1? According to Rock Shox, this system offers functional advantages that a conventional fork cannot match. The RS-1 is said to be clearly superior to conventional forks in terms of riding performance. To give the upside-down fork the necessary stiffness, Rock Shock relies on Predictive Steering. A system consisting of a 15 millimetre thru axle, a special hub with a 27 millimetre thick aluminium sleeve and at the same time a wider hub flange spacing for a stiffer spoke frame. In addition, the one-piece carbon upper section of the fork offers extremely high flexural rigidity. At 1666 grams, the RS-1 weighs 60 grams more than the lightest SID, but should also be functionally superior.
The most important key data of the RS-1:
- 1666 grammes
- 1658 Euro
- 80, 100 or 120 mm
- 32 mm stanchions
- only for 29 inch
- Hydraulic X-Loc with very strong lockout
- Can only be ridden with special torque tube front hub
- Available from June 2014
What the Rock Shox RS-1 is all about in detail and what it can actually do is explained in the Innovation check in BIKE 9/2014 - from 5 August at the kiosk, in the DK-Onlineshop and as a digital edition for all end devices.
Sram Rise XX wheels
The Rise XX high-end carbon wheels are also only 29 inches and are the perfect complement to the RS-1. The wheelset, which is only suitable for tubular tyres, should only weigh 1285 grams and primarily accelerate racers. With 320 grams per rim and ceramic bearings, the set costs from 2507 euros. At the front and rear, 24 Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes are used, while power is transmitted via four pawls. Naturally, there is an RS-1 compatible front hub with a 27 millimetre thick aluminium sleeve to stiffen the fork.
The wheels should be available from May.
All further information will be available in BIKE 6/14 from 6 May at newsagents!
