As with everything else, the technology trickle down continues to make budget items better each year. We’ve seen a rash of drivetrain upgrades lately, with SRAM’s NX and Apex groups taking on a lot of the high end features, and now it’s suspension’s turn.
The new Recon Silver gets Rockshox Reba’s magnesium lowers and forged, hollow aluminum crown, plus internal upgrades like now-standard Motion Control damping. The new chassis parts mean they can run shorter steel stanchions, which saves weight, and moves the Recon up to Economy Comfort on a cheap seats budget.
The Recon Silver RL gets external rebound, low speed compression and lockout controls and will come in three travel lengths and various axle standards. Full tech list and all the other models below…
Recon Silver RL Specs include:
- 80/100/120 mm travel
- Axle / Wheel size options:
- 27.5 (100mm)
- 27.5 Boost (110mm)
- 29er (100mm)
- 29er / 27.5+ Boost (110mm)
- 32mm straight wall stanchions (steel)
- Solo Air
- 200mm max rotor
- 1-1/8″ and 1.5″ tapered steerers
- 1,960g (27.5, tapered steerer, QR)
- $235-295 / €256-322 / £197-248
For trail and enduro riding on the cheap, the 2017 Sektor Silver RL also gets upgraded to standard Motion Control damping with rebound and low speed compression adjustments on the outside. Graphics get upgraded, too, making it look even more like the upper end forks. It also gets the Boost and 27.5+ (aka 29er Boost) axle options. Specs include:
- 130/140/150 mm travel
- Axle / Wheel size options:
- 27.5 (100mm)
- 27.5 Boost (110mm)
- 29er (100mm)
- 29er / 27.5+ Boost (110mm)
- 32mm straight wall stanchions (steel)
- Solo Air
- 200mm max rotor
- 1-1/8″ and 1.5″ tapered steerers
- 2,190g (29er, tapered steerer, 15 x 100 Maxle Lite)
- OEM Only
The Rockshox 30 Gold RL, which skews more toward XC and light trail duty, also gets the Motion Control damping and external adjustments, and will fit standard 26″, 27.5″ and 29er wheels (no Boost options). It’s running narrower 30mm steel stanchions and travel options are 80, 100 or 120 millimeters. it’s available with a straight or steerer and handles up to a 180mm rotor. Weight is claimed at 1,841g for a 27.5″ with tapered steerer. Prices are $345-425 / €376-464 / £289-357.
The Paragon gets a new, purpose-built 700c trekking design with disc or rim brake specific models. Like the mountain bike forks, it gets the Solo Air and Motion Control spring and damping, which means an adjustable low-speed compression and lockout knob up top. Where it differentiates itself is with all-but-invisible light and fender mounts and a covered channel for wiring to a dynamo hub.
Specs include straight and tapered alloy steerers, 30mm stanchions, light mount on the fork’s arch and a top cap that uses an internal cassette tool interface. Travel options are 50mm and 65mm. Weight is 1,827g, quick release only. Retail is $255 / €278 / £214.
All four forks start shipping in May 2016 and come in Diffusion Black, Gloss Black or Gloss White and are compatible with their new OneLoc remote lockout.
