After the electronic lockout from Fox (ICD), Rock Shox is now also entering the market with an electronic suspension system. The three Accell companies Ghost, Haibike and Lapierre have jointly developed the automatic and intelligent E:i-Shock system. It is based on a Monarch RT3 damper, on which a servomotor automatically switches between five different damper modes. It receives its signals from the control centre. This in turn receives input from three sensors:
- a sensor on the bottom bracket indicates whether pedalling is taking place or not
- An acceleration sensor is located under the headset cap...
- ...another in the lower section of the suspension fork. These two control the intensity and frequency of the impacts and transmit the signals to the damper 10 times per second.
5 years of development and plenty of potential for the future
The bike companies of the Accell Group worked with Rock Shox and Trelock on the battery-powered system for almost five years. The initial idea and a lot of input came from the "Ecole Centrale Lyon". The Monarch RT3 damper was also completely reworked by Rock Shox. In addition, the servomotor, which adjusts the various modes of the shock absorber, was integrated into the shock head. As a result, the E:i-Shock system weighs only 350 grams more than a normal Monarch shock without a lockout lever.
Battery and computer
Depending on the bike model, the battery is mounted on the down tube or in the bottle cage eyelets. It should last 25 riding hours and takes three hours to charge. If it is empty on tour, the shock remains in the last selected shock mode. In an emergency, a small Allen key (2.5 mm) can also be used to manually switch back and forth between the setting options.
21 bike models with E:i-Shock technology
There will be a total of 21 mountain bikes with the new technology from Ghost, Haibike and Lapierre. From Ghost, for example, this will include the new Lector 29er fully, the AMR, the AMR+ and the new Cagua with 650B wheels. Haibike will offer five models: Two on the Sleek 26, two bikes from the new Sleek 29er fullys and the Heet RX. The manufacturers have not yet revealed the prices. But they did say: it should remain affordable.
First ride review of the E:i-Shock system: hands stay on the handlebars
After I have adjusted the shock and fork on the RT Lector 2990 from Ghost - the new 100-millimetre fully - I briefly click through the computer menu until I reach the "Sensitivity" setting. I set this to level 1 of 5, which means that the EI-Shock system reacts very sensitively to impacts in automatic mode and opens the shock sooner than in level 5.
I pedal hard for the first few metres on the asphalt road. The system immediately acknowledges this with a low whirring noise and locks the shock. The noise sounds like Shimano's Di2 changing the chainring at the front. As soon as we turn into the trail and I stop pedalling, the empty damper symbol on the computer signals to me that it is now in the open position. When pedalling after roots or rocks, the sensor system needs about one turn of the cranks before the Monarch shock locks out. If you're pedalling in rough terrain, you don't have to do so with a locked-out shock. The fork registers the impacts and, together with the signal that you are pedalling, decides to only half lock the shock.
Especially on undulating, very varied terrain, the EI-Shock system ensures that you always ride extremely efficiently. If you prefer to select a fixed mode, you can do so with a few clicks of the thumb lever on the handlebar.
