The new Rockshox Boxxer suspension fork was developed on a very large and old foundation that goes back to the days of Nicolas Vouilloz and Steve Peat in the early 90s. From the World Cup downhill courses to secret test tracks - top athletes such as Vali Höll and Loris Vergier have once again helped with the new edition of the downhill classic.
The result: a new 38 mm chassis, a new air spring and revised damping. And as Rockshox itself announces: "The aim was not to develop the stiffest suspension fork, but to make it stiff enough to absorb the steering angle without straining the hands. As the saying goes:
This way, you are the one steering the suspension fork and not the other way round. - Rockshox on the new edition of the Boxxer
Rockshox Boxxer: With Debonair+ to the steel spring feeling?
The new DebonAir+ twin-tube design of the Boxxer suspension fork is said to differ from all previously manufactured Rockshox air springs and offer a ride behaviour that comes very close to a steel spring. In addition, the new Boxxer air spring will be infinitely adjustable with both air pressure and bottomless tokens.
The new design of the twin-tube air spring allows different spring volumes to be set precisely: Positive, negative and casting (trapped air in the dip tube unit). The positive air chamber volume for a linear characteristic curve is thus optimised - every millimetre of spring travel should be usable. At the upper end of the travel, Rockshox has increased the volume of the negative air chamber in the new Boxxer in order to better dampen small bumps. At the lower end of the stroke, a new bump stop is responsible for a soft, rattle-free landing on the biggest drops.
Buttercups and Charger 3 RC2 damping - now also in the Boxxer suspension fork
The Buttercups, which are already used in the current Pike, Lyrik and ZEB suspension forks, can now also be found in the Boxxer. These small, golden rubber pucks sit at the end of the damper and air spring steerer tubes and fit into the fork's dip tube unit. They dampen high-frequency vibrations - and are designed to protect hands and arms from premature fatigue.
It's the same with the Charger 3 RC2 damping, which has now also found its way into the DH suspension fork with the longest suspension travel. The Charger 3 damping decouples the high-speed and low-speed compression. The result should be: More damping no longer means a harsh ride feel.
Boxxer Ultimate for retrofitting
Rockshox offers two versions of its new edition of the Boxxer suspension fork: one without butter cups, with Charger 3 RC damping and in black, but which is only allowed on the trails already installed on mountain bikes (OEM). It is said to weigh 2688 grams. The second version will also be available at dealers and bike shops. It will initially be available in Electric Red and black. Inside there is the Charger 3 RC2 upgrade, butter cups and it weighs 2840 grams at a price of 2279 euros.
Details on both Rockshox Boxxer suspension forks
- Spring: BoXXer Debonair+ (Boxxer Ultimate with Buttercups)
- Damping: Charger 3 RC (Boxxer Ultimate with Charger 3 RC2)
- Suspension travel: 200 mm (a suspension travel change kit is available for 180 and 190 mm)
- Chassis: 38 mm stanchions
- Fork offset: 44 mm (27.5"), 48 mm (27.5", 29"), 52 mm (29")
- Wheel size: 27.5" and 29"
- Brake disc size: 200 to 220 mm
- SKF wiper seals with extremely low friction
- Maxima Plush damper oil reduces friction and damper noise
- Height markings to simplify set-up
Charger 3 RC2 Upgrade can be retrofitted in the OEM Boxxer for 399 euros. Debonair+ Upgrade with Buttercups is available for 113 euros.
Marc Strucken
Editor
