Rockshox Pike, Lyrik, ZEB, Super Deluxe & Vivid Coil: Rockshox forks & shocks | Yr. 2025
Jan Timmermann
· 13.06.2024
For 2025, Rockshox is relaunching almost all forks and shocks from Trail to Enduro to Freeride. Anyone who has taken a look in a bike shop or visited a bike park should realise that this is big news. The Rockshox Pike, Lyrik and ZEB suspension forks are found in the head tubes of countless mountain bikes. The American shocks SuperDeluxe and Vivid Coil now also dominate the market at the rear of downhill bikes. Hardly any biker can avoid Rockshox. Now the suspension brand of component giant Sram is presenting its new products for the 2025 model year. With Eurobike just around the corner, it's clear that we'll be seeing a lot of these suspension forks and shocks in the near future. Rockshox is also presenting some innovations in the Trailhead app, which should make suspension settings child's play. Here's all the information on the 2025 innovations from Rockshox.
Rockshox suspension 2025 at a glance
New suspension forks
- New model year 2025 for the Pike, Lyrik and ZEB series
- New Charger 3.1 damping in all forks
- New plain bearings and optimised manufacturing processes for all forks
- Optimised air spring for Rockshox Pike
- New colour "Electric Red" for Rockshox ZEB
New dampers
- New model year 2025 for the SuperDeluxe and Vivid Coil series
- New damping and optimised transition for Rockshox SuperDeluxe
- New touchdown technology and hydraulic bottom out on Rockshox Vivid Coil
New Charger 3.1 damping for all Rockshox suspension forks 2025
The declared aim of the revision of the Pike, Lyrik and ZEB was to offer more control off-road, combat friction and improve the general riding experience with Rockshox suspension forks. To achieve this, the suspension engineers took a close look at the Charger 3 damping unit and optimised it after intensive development work. The result: Rockshox Charger 3.1 damping for Pike, Lyrik and ZEB. Bikes with these suspension forks are generally designed for demanding trails and can be ridden downhill at high speeds. For more riding control in such situations, forks with Charger 3.1 should allow more compression damping without an insensitive feeling that causes premature hand fatigue.
The Rockshox Charger 3 damping already boasted a very consistent, noiseless behaviour thanks to the "Internal-Floating-Piston" (IFP) design. A steel spring on the opposite side of the piston has a positive influence on the response behaviour and smooth operation of the fork. A special feature of Charger 3 technology is the absolute independence of high-speed and low-speed compression damping. Unlike many other suspension forks, the adjustment of the individual compression stage ranges has no influence on other settings. The 2024-generation suspension forks were already familiar with the setup via a starting position in the centre position. Rockshox has carried over the ratchet dial into the 2025 model year and promises to optimise comfort, traction and control by allowing you to choose between more or less damping. The compression adjustment should be particularly easy and precise to customise.
Less damping, more options
Rockshox claims to have optimised the Charger 3 damping through extensive testing and feedback from the team riders. To this end, the damping in the overall system has been reduced and the adjustment range for high-speed (HSC) and low-speed compression (LSC) has been increased. The flow of oil in the LSC circuit has been adjusted, which should now flow 68 per cent more easily in the "Open" position. Rockshox promises that bumps and vibrations with a low frequency will be better absorbed by the reduced compression damping in this area, resulting in greater comfort on the trail. On the other hand, the team riders of the MTB World Cup asked for an increase in HSC damping for more support on fast courses. The corresponding shim stack pyramid was therefore enlarged to increase damping with the HSC control closed.
Rockshox did not leave the other components of the damping unit untouched when changing from Charger 3 to Charger 3.1. The IFP steel spring with internal floating piston is now stiffer for more control. An optimised design of the Mid Valve Check Spring should ensure an even lower compression damping and more traction. Rockshox is also introducing new shim tune kits that allow the compression stage to be customised in two steps and the rebound stage in three steps. Overall, Rockshox Charger 3.1 allows a significantly wider range of settings compared to its predecessor. Knurled adjustment knobs with clear markings are designed to simplify fork settings.
New paint, new bearings, optimised air spring
Even during the development phase of the latest Rockshox Boxxer the Americans worked on improving their test protocols and manufacturing processes. These findings are now also being incorporated into the production of Pike, Lyrik and ZEB. Higher quality standards are intended to guarantee the performance of the 2025 products during the manufacturing process. Rockshox speaks of an optimisation in the area of tolerances and thus hints at the previous problem of series dispersion. The new suspension forks should provide every customer with maximum performance "out of the box". A completely new bearing package for the Pike, Lyrik and ZEB series should play a decisive role in this. New specifications for the bearings and the milling of the dip tube units promise minimised friction in the suspension forks.
With the Pike in particular, Rockshox has also reworked the air spring curve. A hollow-milled top cap in the negative spring is now designed to maximise its air volume. Especially at the beginning of the spring travel, this promises better response behaviour and more traction on small bumps. Many bikers have probably already looked enviously at the red ZEB forks of the enduro athletes from Rockshox. Now the wait is finally over and Rockshox is launching the ZEB Ultimate in the colour "Electric Red".
Rockshox suspension forks 2025: models and prices
As usual, the new Rockshox suspension forks will be available in four different quality classes. The categorisation ranges from the top models in the Ultimate series to Select+ and Select and the most affordable models without a name suffix. The latter and the Select+ variant are not offered to end customers for individual purchase, but are reserved for bike manufacturers. All forks use the proven DebonAir+ air spring, regardless of the price tag. The cheapest suspension forks come with the simple Rush RC damping unit and the Select models with the Charger RC unit in the basic version. The new Charger 3.1 RC2 damping unit is only available from the Select+ grade upwards. In the Ultimate version, the Rockshox ButterCups are designed to absorb an additional 20 per cent of trail vibrations. All forks and versions are available for both 27.5 and 29 inch front wheels. We already have all the new Rockshox forks in the editorial office and show their details in individual photo galleries.
Rockshox Pike 2025
- Standpipe diameter: 35 mm
- Spring travel: 120 / 130 / 140 mm
- Weight: 1778 - 1887 g
- Price: 855 - 1169 Euro
Rockshox Lyrik 2025
- Standpipe diameter: 35 mm
- Spring travel: 140 / 150 / 160 mm
- Weight: 1928 - 2028 g
- Price: 912 - 1199 Euro
Rockshox ZEB 2025
- Standpipe diameter: 38 mm
- Spring travel150 / 160 / 170 / 180 / 190 mm
- Weight: 2295 - 2341 g
- Price: 968 - 1249 Euro
Retrofitting and tuning
As with the previous updates from Rockshox, the Charger 3.1 damping unit can also be retrofitted to older forks. Forks from the Pike C1+ (from 2023), Lyrik D1+ (from 2023) and ZEB A1+ (from 2021) series can be updated with the new damping. Including ButterCups, the retrofit part costs 386 euros. Another option would be to convert an existing Charger 3 damper to the 3.1 version. The upgrade kit including new IFP spring, tuning shims and Charger 3.1 High Flow Piston Tool costs 80 euros. Rockshox offers the Shim-Tune-Kit for 32 euros to fine-tune the compression and rebound individually. More detailed information on compatibility and benefits can be found on the Rockshox website.
New inner workings for Rockshox Super Deluxe shock 2025
RockShox has also found potential for optimisation in the shocks for 2025. For example, both the high-speed and low-speed compression damping of the Super Deluxe air shock with reservoir have been revised. Similar to the updates to the suspension forks, the oil flow in the LSC circuit of the Super Deluxe has also been adjusted. The system, which can be adjusted in five stages, should now allow settings from "very soft" to "lots of support" without compromising grip. The shim function has been optimised with a lighter rebound control plate and a new high-flow piston. In practice, this combination should lead to an easier transition between the damping circuits and prevent the rear wheel from getting stuck in the damping. Overall, RockShox promises a larger adjustment range for the Super Deluxe 2025 and better support for the bike's line stability.
New technology package for the Rockshox Vivid Coil 2025
Rockshox already introduced the so-called Touchdown technology and an adjustable hydraulic bottom out with the latest air version of the Vivid shock. The former technology is based on a position-dependent damping system that promises high sensitivity at the beginning of the spring travel and maximum control in the middle and at the end of the stroke. The suspension phases should merge seamlessly into one another. In the first ten per cent of the spring travel, the compression damping of the main piston is bypassed in order to dampen vibrations more sensitively. In the following 70 per cent of the stroke, Rockshox promises particularly stable and controlled compression damping.
The new Vivid Coil can be fine-tuned for the really hard hits in the last 20 per cent of the suspension travel thanks to the hydraulic bottom out. How much damping the compression stage offers in this limit range can be set using a five-position control. This allows a wide rebound range and the optimum setting for the respective rear suspension kinematics to be realised. If bottoming out does occur, a new buffer is designed to soften it and ensure that no valuable suspension travel is wasted. The dimensions of the bump stops are matched to the different shock strokes.
Rockshox shocks 2025: models & prices
Rockshox also divides the shocks into four quality classes, from Ultimate to Select+ and Select to a model without a name suffix. Unlike the suspension forks, however, only the top models of the MTB shocks are available for retrofitting. All Rockshox Super Deluxe 2025 shocks come with DebonAir+ air springs, but with different damping units depending on the grade. The same applies to the new Rockshox Vivid Coil. The new hydraulic bottom out is on board regardless of the price tag. With the Vivid Coil DH, the suspension specialists also have a steel spring damper explicitly for downhill use in their programme. This comes without a switchable threshold.
Rockshox Super Deluxe 2025
- Weight: 445 - 458 g
- Price: 649 - 679 Euro
Retrofitting & tuning
Rockshox offers a new DebonAir Linear XL air chamber for shocks in the Super Deluxe C1 (from 2023) and Deluxe C1+ (from 2023) series. Its larger air volume in the positive chamber should lead to a smoother response behaviour at the beginning of the spring travel. The option complements the existing linear and progressive air chambers and costs 111 euros. Existing shocks from the Super Deluxe, Super Deluxe Coil, Vivid and Vivid Coil series can be brought into the new era with the RC2T Reservoir Upgrade for 245 euros. Rockshox Super Deluxe shocks can be fine-tuned with the separately available and also backwards-compatible High Flow Piston Upgrade for 43 euros.
Rockshox Vivid Coil 2025
- Weight: 887 - 902 g
- Price: 699 - 729 EUR
Retrofitting & tuning
As usual, the Rockshox Vivid Coil steel spring shock can be fine-tuned using springs of different hardness. The spring stiffnesses cover the range from 350 to 900 pounds (lb) and are available for 44 euros in either black or "Electric Red".
Rockshox Trailhead 2025: Optimised suspension setup via app
To coincide with the launch of the new 2025 suspension generation, Rockshox is launching an update for the existing Trailhead software. The new suspension forks and shocks offer a wide range of setting options. The free Rockshox Trailhead app is designed to help you get the best out of your MTB suspension so that these don't become a challenge. It is designed to find a quick way to the right basic setup and from there offer all kinds of options to delve deeper into the matter. From 2018 to 2025, recommendations and information are provided for all Rockshox products.
The new Rockshox Trailhead "Support" and "Kit" pages are designed to provide app users with an improved overview of service and upgrade options. The app's database and algorithms have been expanded to make the software the central point of contact for Rockshox riders when it comes to suspension information. For example, favourite settings can be saved in a personal profile for later use. The Rockshox Trailhead app is available web-based as well as for Android and iOS.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
