Rock Shox sends new Boxxer into the ring

The Boxxer technology flagship - the DH fork in the Sram portfolio - is getting a new inner life. The design of the successful Pike enduro fork has been used. Less weight, better response to small impacts and the 27.5 inch size were in the Boxxer's specifications.

Enduro interior
The Boxxer fork now has the so-called Charger damping cartridge, which Rock Shox introduced for the Pike a year ago. Selected World Cup riders were already riding with this damping unit last season, and now Rock Shox is bringing the technology to everyone's DH bikes. This cartridge, which is based on a bladder, i.e. a type of expandable rubber tube, saves around 100 grams.

Simpler operation
Setting up the Charger damper should be easy, as there is only one compression and one "Beginning Stroke" adjustment knob available. These settings are in conjunction with a preset "Rapid Recovery", which is intended to ensure that the fork still works actively when there are a large number of hits in quick succession. The fork can also be further customized with adjustments to the so-called shim stack.

The Charger unit is installed on the World Cup and Team models, while the RC version has to make do with a simpler Motion IS damper unit.

Easily customizable penetration protection
Rock Shox now uses so-called tokens to adjust the progression or the bottom-out protection. These are plastic inserts that are inserted on the air side of the fork, reducing the volume there and thus offering more puncture protection for heavy riders.

Available from June
Visually, all three Boxxer models have been refreshed, the "Upper Tubes" shine in a "Fast Black" with a diameter of 35 millimeters. According to the manufacturer, the new DH forks will be available for the first time in June. Last but not least: The new Boxxer is available in a 26-inch design as well as a 27.5-inch version. For the first time, there is also a 27.5-inch version of the Domain Double Crown double crown fork.

For the Boxxer series from 2010 to 2014, it is possible to retrofit the Charger unit.

Monarch damper shows its soft side
"Debonair" is the name of the version of the Monarch damper just presented alongside the Boxxer news. A larger volume at the positive and negative air chambers is said to require around 30 percent less force to make the shock compress. The result is a rear end that reacts very sensitively, especially to small bumps. Here too, Rock Shox ensures that the larger air chambers can be retrofitted to existing Monarch and Monarch Plus shocks.