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RockShox Rudy Ultimate v2 Gravel Fork Goes Lightweight with Charger Race Day 2 Upgrade

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade, sunset
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The new model year 2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR gravel fork gets boosted off-road control in its lighter gen 2 upgrade with a new Charger Race Day 2 damper. Debuted just 2.5 years back, the short-travel Rudy gravel fork has become a go-to pick for ultra-distance racers and adventurous gravel riders alike. Now, packed with RockShox’s “lightest performance-driven damper ever“, this next-gen Rudy is ready for more big off-road rides.

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade, photo by Rupert Fowler
(Ride photos by Rupert Fowler/RockShox)

RockShox says the Rudy brings more of the off-road fun of mountain bikers to gravel riding. “Gravel riders who want to get wild choose Rudy.” And now the top-spec MY25 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR brings the same lightweight race-ready damping cartridge that powers their SID Ultimate cross-country racing mountain bike forks.

What’s new?

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade, new Charger Race Day 2 damper detail

The new Charger Race Day 2 damper is said to be RockShox’s lightest ever. It gets the same with a 2-position compression adjustment lever as in gen 1. Either fully Open, or full Lock – a “rock-solid, sprint-ready” lockout.

In theory, this should have meant that the new 2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork would be lighter than v1. But RockShox are vague with the numbers. And it looks like it may be a few grams heavier, actually.

Now RockShox quote the new fork as weighing 1344g, with its Maxle Stealth thru-axle and an uncut 320mm long aluminum steerer. The first-generation weight claims always mentioned a much lighter weight with a 230mm cut steerer and no Maxle. We’ve not weighed it ourselves, but seen an uncut v1 fork with an axle on a scale at 1323g. So don’t expect any real weight savings with the new damper.

Tech Details & Pricing

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade

Otherwise, the rest of the 30mm stanchion 700c Rudy platform looks unchanged. You still get 30mm or 40mm travel options, with a Solo Air spring. Max 700 x 50mm tire clearance. And a standard 45mm offset or OEM-only 51mm. It’s also still short or long fender compatible.

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade, black or Kwiqsand gold

The newly updated gravel fork is a bit more expensive than when it first launched (especially in Euro-land), but is technically now cheaper than v1 forks on SRAM’s website. The 2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR retails for $839 / 1010€, and comes in gloss black or Kwiqsand gold.

Upgrade your existing Rudy to Charger Race Day 2, too!

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade, new Charger Race Day 2 damper

Good news for existing Rudy riders, you can get the same updated performance as the latest MY25 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR by swapping in the new damper. The new Rudy Charger Race Day 2 damper is also available on its own for $269 / 308€ so you can upgrade your original generation Rudy Ultimate XPLR or Rudy XPLR fork, as well (with or without remote lockout).

It’s a direct drop-in damper cartridge that appears to be simply shared with the SID platform, which likely means you could possibly do a 3-position remote (Open, Pedal, or a rock-solid Lock) Charger Race Day 2 3P damper upgrade as well, if you wanted to.

2025 RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR v2 gravel suspension fork damper upgrade, singletrack

Next-level gravel suspension tuning maybe?

SRAM.com/RockShox

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Exodux
Exodux
7 months ago

Not really sure you’re going to “get wild” with this forks 30-40mm travel, but I used one on my gravel bike, until this bike got stolen. I liked it a lot and it was a game changer for me on the roads and trails that I mostly rode.

ismo
ismo
7 months ago

I find the Rockshox Rudy quite heavy: the weight is the same as the weight for Sid SL Ultimate.

Sevo
Sevo
7 months ago

The new Cane Creek is looking better and better everyday….until SRAM makes that linkage fork from the patent leak we saw that is. That’s going to be interesting.

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