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Culture Shock | Russell and Chris | RockShox RS-1

Written by Zach Overholt
23 Comments
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Yes, another video highlighting the RockShox RS-1 and still no details. Hopefully this is all leading up to a release at Sea Otter.

Different dudes. Same agenda. At least sort of, anyway. Bring XC champ Russell Finsterwald and weekend-warrior champ Chris Dewar together to some posh digs in Palm Spring, California, and some stuff is going to happen. Late-morning shuttle or pre-dawn pedal, it doesn’t really matter—although the dawn-patrol, uphill, asphalt commute to the Idyllwild trails deserves a nod—when two like-minded mountain bikers come to check out some exciting new trails, limits are pushed and some dirt is sure to fly.
Zach Overholt
5,727 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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23 Comments
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edge
edge
10 years ago

Looks sweet but what is the advantage of an inverted fork? Center of gravity seems to be higher. Is it lighter(looks like more hardware for the disc brake)? The only advantage I can see is improved small bump reaction since the mass is in the crown and sliders.

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BT
BT
10 years ago

The main adavantage is parking lot cred…you’ll get tons of it when you roll up to your trails with that fork on your bike.

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Brad
Brad
10 years ago

The advantage is less unsprung weight. AKA faster acting suspension.

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Ad
Ad
10 years ago

What bike is Dewar riding? Anthem 29 or Felt Edict FRD?

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Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

What Brad said. Newton’s Second Law of Motion still rules.

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Pete
Pete
10 years ago

@edge You are getting the weight off the part of your bike that is moving constantly. This not only provides better small bump compliance and ‘feel’, but also connects the stronger part of your fork directly to the frame for more stiffness and rigidity. The only real downside is the fork oil sitting above the seal, i.e. if the seal leaks or fails, all damping is out the window. I would guess the RS1 will require shorter service intervals to ensure no loss of oil/damping.

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logic
logic
10 years ago

“Bring XC champ Russell Finsterwald and weekend-warrior champ Chris Dewar together to some posh digs in Palm Spring, California, and some stuff is going to happen.”

haha

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Anders
Anders
10 years ago

The fork probably still use a cartridge damper so the amount of oil that could leak will be limited. When did RS last use an open bath damper?

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edge
edge
10 years ago

Quicker bump reaction and feel…I can agree with, but stiffer? I would have to see the numbers. Flex at the axel has not been released or compared yet.

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scentofreason
scentofreason
10 years ago

2 videos and still no real ‘footage’ of the fork. This thing must really suck, but after investing in all that R&D they’ve committed to selling us an ’emotion’…

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groghunter
groghunter
10 years ago

On the seals: No. seals fail due to drying out, when the oil is constantly sitting against them, they last forever. My Marzocchi Shiver has gotten one new set of seals in the last DECADE.

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groghunter
groghunter
10 years ago

As For rockshox using open bath, pretty sure they do on almost everything that isn’t charger. The Lyrik, for example, is open bath.

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MaLóL
MaLóL
10 years ago

I bet the bushings are gonna suffer much more in an inverted fork. I would use a 30mm hollow aluminium front axle to solve this. Weight penalty would be minimal and the legs would move together. The seals will be ok, as they will be always wet of oil.

I think this fork will be a very lightweight and with a good performace, but needing service and new bushing as often as a lefty, for example… No problem for the rich people it is targeted at, or pro racers with decent mechanics.

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Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

Golly. Motocrossers seem to be doing just fine with the durability and servicing of their inverted forks. This is nothing new, despite what the commenting pundits here would like people to think. If there’s a durability and maintenance issue, it will be because RockShox didn’t do their due diligence, not because the fork is inverted. Besides, it’s easy enough to add protection, something that has also been known for a long time.

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Large D
Large D
10 years ago

No doubt Psi Squared, the lack of general knowledge from where mountain bike suspension comes from (all derived from people with MX backgrounds and from MX tested concepts). An inverted fork is not new, and for the naysayers Mike Larocco complained about the lack of rigidity on his conventional forked Suzuki RM250 in 1996/1997. When Jeremy McGrath joined the team, he too complained so much that Suzuki finally relented and allowed both to revert back to Showa USD forks despite the newly released conventional setup having been a marketing tool for Suzuki since the other manufacturers still relied on USD forks.

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someslowguy
someslowguy
10 years ago

@maLol – I’m pretty sure Lefty’s use needle bearings not bushings – unlike other front suspension – and that (among other things) was why they needed often service, parts, etc.

@Psi Squared, @groghunter, @brad – good job keeping this thread on track and logical.

And lastly, @Ad – this troll sees a Giant, the Felt shock looks ‘inverted’ from ‘normal’…

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Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

This fork is not needed, and does not work any better. There is a reason MTB fork do not use inverted design, they are nothing like motocross forks as far as weight and stiffness.

Strictly for poseurs.

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K11
K11
10 years ago

@mindless. you’re right. its been tried before, other brands have developed and r&d the sh#t out of it, but never manufactured it. the numbers say that inverted forks for a mountain bike platform just isn’t there over a non inverted design. this is just a case study in “different for difference sake” (trying to be another “different” style …like the lefty with no real advantage)

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Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

Since K11 and mindless haven’t used the forks in question, there statements will have to be qualified as internet opinions. Objective people will likely rather rely on the performance reports and personal use of these forks once they are in use. Objective analysis is sorely lacking.

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Large D
Large D
10 years ago

K11 and mindless-ever hear of Maverick? That was in production. USD will allow for continuous strand carbon layup for the crown and uppers and less unsprung weight. I would not be surpised if this fork is under 2.5lbs. But you guys already have it figured out.

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Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

“their” not “there” in my post above.

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Ad
Ad
10 years ago

Haha, @someslowguy, pretty attentive for a troll! Thanks mate.

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badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
10 years ago

I am buying one. I never cared for the lefty for the 29er. It looks like a bean pole. I am glad rock shox will be offering an alternative in the same weight target.

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