Last spring RockShox revamped their air shock lineup with the newly designed Deluxe & Super Deluxe. Now they are bring the same improvements to coil over shocks for more aggressive riding with the new Super Deluxe Coil shocks. With new standards like metric sizing and updated mounts, RockShox was able to drop the constraints of their prior designs and build higher-volume, smoother acting air shocks. So they figured, why not apply the same logic to their coil shock line-up too, and expand their application beyond the limits of just downhill and enduro? Thus, the new Super Deluxe Coil family was born that offers coil shock descending and platform air shock pedaling performance. Oh, and don’t forget that RockShox is rolling out some simple, but key updates on the air shocks too…
Super Deluxe Coil
RockShox’s new mantra is Coil for All. The idea is that the completely new shock design combines the progressive & all-day-reliable feel of a coil shock with improved pedaling, and now even a remote lockout than will match the efficiency of their air shocks.
That means there are options suitable for trail and all-mountain riding, just like there are for enduro and downhill.They also all get a design centered around metric sizing, and are available in trunnion & bearing mounts, as well as standard eyeleted version.
The new coil family will top out with a Super Deluxe Coil RCT version with a two position pedaling threshold platform (open/pedal), paired with low-speed compression adjustment in the open mode that will let riders tune bump compliance. At its core the Super Deluxe has independently tunable compression circuits and check rebound damping. It also gets external rebound damping adjustment, and will have springs available in 50lb increments from 250-650lbs (depending on shock length) to get the right feel for riders of all sizes.
Next up will also be a new Super Deluxe Coil RT Remote version, the same shock that Cecile Ravanel rode to the 2016 EWS title. Conserve energy on extended pedaling sections by flipping to the threshold platform mode (open/pedal) on the fly with a OneLoc trigger release. They’ll even be available with cable routing either up or down to work with any frame design layout. It drops the low-speed control of the RLC, but still gets external rebound damping control.
Then there’s the Super Deluxe Coil RC World Cup to replace the Vivid for metric. Designed for the next generation of downhill bikes, it gets all of the tunability control without the need for platforms or remote control. It gets the external rebound and low-speed compression dials.
Lastly the Super Deluxe Coil R gets the basics as a metric replacement for the Kage, with just external rebound control.
Super Deluxe updates
While the Super Deluxe air shock family is just a year old, RockShox has some tweaks for the next batch of model year 2018 bikes. The next generation of Deluxe & Super Deluxe shocks all get full stroke indicators printed on their damper bodies to go with the sag measurements. That will help riders know what they are working with and better see that they are taking full advantage of their suspension’s travel.
Just like the new configuration options for the coil-overs, the air Super Deluxe family also will get new RCT, RT Remote & RC World Cup versions. They follow the same naming scheme of rebound/compression/threshold, rebound/threshold/remote control & rebound/compression and lighter weight, respectively.
The updated Super Deluxe RC3 will also get new stealth black-on-black graphics, as will the more basic Super Deluxe R.
Deluxe updates
The Deluxe air shocks get updates too, with a new Deluxe RL Remote model with open/lock modes, plus stealth graphics for the RT3, RT, RL & R.
Pretty much all of the news is OEM-only for this season, so don’t march down to your local bike shop to try to order a new shock for your bike. But on the other hand, if you are looking to buy a new bike this year, you might see these pop up on bikes later this summer.
