Rock Shox Lightens, Lengthens 2009 Lineup

Rock Shox will introduce several improvements for 2009, including:

“Maxle” – 20mm thru-axle sheds 50g
Using a thinner aluminum axle body, it will maintain its durability and functionality while going from 134g down to 84g.

Reba – lighter, longer and stiffer and 29er friendly
Reba’s travel has increased to 120mm (with 80mm and 100mm versions available).  The chassis has been completely redesigned, including a hollow aluminum crown, reinforced arch with power bulges, 32mm sliders, post-mount disc brake tabs and an all-new Dual-Air system to improve adjustability.  You can choose between standard QR and the new Maxle.

The 26″ version incorporates all this technology while staying the same weight as the ’08 version.  The 29″ version, though is “significantly lighter”, with the ’09 Maxle model being the same weight as the ’08 skewer model.  A lot of the 29er weight savings comes from hollowing out the bottom of the fork legs, much like the new SIDs.  

More info, pricing and pics after the break…

 

(Reba, cont’) With the 29er, travel is available up to 120mm, but the QR version will be limited to 100mm.

 

The differences across the various models within each range will be limited largely to the damping options.  The SL and Race get trickle down Motion Control tech from previous SIDs, and the Team model gets the newer Black Box Motion Control.  USD MSRP’s below

 

 

• Reba SL 26” – $475
• Reba SL 29er – $504
• Reba Race 26” – $509
• Reba Race 29er w/Pushloc – $607
• Reba Team 26” – $656
• Reba Team 26” w/Maxle Lite & Pushloc – $741
• Reba Team 29er – $686
• Rega Team 29er w/Maxle Lite – $701

 

 

Revelation – More travel, new graphics and options
Travel will increase to 140mm with no loss of stiffness.  Dual Air models will come standard at 140mm, and the U-Turn models will be adjustable from 110mm to 140mm.  The forks will be available with either standard quick release or Maxle, but both versions carry over the IS disc-brake mounting standard from ’08.  The standard axle version will sport the new hollow crown design.  USD MSRP’s below, but expect street prices to be a little lower.

 

• Rev 426 w/Pushloc – $577
• Rev 426 Air U-Turn – $593
• Rev 426 Air U-Turn w/Pushloc – $661
• Rev 426 w/Maxle Lite+Pushloc – $636
• Rev 426 w/Maxle Lite, Air U-Turn+Pushloc – $719

 

 

Dual Air Improvements
Rock Shox has also redesigned their Dual Air system in the quest to make it feel more like a spring with the weight benefits of air.  Specifically, they’ve added two foam rings along the air cartridge, one at the top where the rubber hits the inside of the fork, the other along the negative air spring on the shaft itself.  The negative spring now “floats” along the shaft, and below that, another “valve” allows air to better circulate through the fork to reduce pressure buildup inside the fork legs as the shock compresses.   

MTBR.com has some video coverage of this here.