The 2013 Monarch RT3 shock does not reinvent the design of the current model, but the suspension engineers have significantly revised the shock in terms of tuning options for OEMs and reactivity to fast impacts.

The range of the shock absorber between open and locked is five times larger. The open setting is really "plush" and the lockout feels as if the shock is really locked out completely. In the middle setting, the shock still offers an intermediate position that provides bob suppression at the rear end. The extended damping range of the Monarch RT3 offers manufacturers the opportunity to precisely and finely tune the shock to the characteristics of the rear triangle. Especially in the middle setting - the platform - the original equipment manufacturer can optimally adjust the shock to the transmission ratio of the rear triangle in order to achieve an optimal balance between rear wheel traction and pedaling efficiency.

Rock Shox calls a newly integrated system in the revised Monarch RT3 shock "Rapid Recovery". This is intended to ensure that the shock does not run out of breath at high speeds and very fast successive obstacles and accurately executes the stroke sequence. This allows the rear triangle to use more suspension travel and the rider can ride their bike in the softer area of the suspension curve.

According to Simon Citatti, Marketing Manager at Sram, the Monarch RT3 damper will be available for the first time at the beginning of June 2012. In a 165-38 millimeter version, the damper weighs 215 grams. The color variants black and white will be available, as well as a version with an enlarged body, the "High Volume" model, in addition to the standard version.

Easy adjustment for forks
Rock Shox introduces "Solo Air" on the 2013 models of the SID and Reba forks and offers this feature as an option on the Revelation, Boxxer, Lyrik, Argyle, Totem, Sektor, Recon and XC 32 forks. This system is user-friendly, as only one air chamber needs to be filled in order to adjust the fork to the rider's weight. With this system, the air pumped in between the negative and positive air chambers of the fork is balanced automatically. The suspension pioneer will soon be sending the new forks onto the trails with a slightly modified look: the "Lowers" will be adorned with a simple brand logo and the characteristic logo will slide up to the base of the triple clamp.

Mechanical remote lockout
Operating the fork lockout function on the handlebars with a remote control is a great thing. Rock Shox had previously relied heavily on a hydraulically activated lockout in this area. Now, for the 2013 model year, it will be possible to open and close the fork using a cable. The 2013 SID, Reba, Revelation, Sektor and Recon Gold forks are available with a mechanical lockout for first-time fitters and the aftermarket. Just 10 millimetres of cable tension is enough to send the fork into open or closed mode. In addition to the cable pull, a "PushLoc" lever is responsible for this, which activates the two modes by pressing it.

The lever comes in a left and right-hand version and integrates seamlessly into the Sram cockpit, as it can be mounted on the handlebars with a clamp together with Avid brake levers and Sram shift levers. Without the cable, the lockout weighs 48 grams, is black in color and will be available for the first time in mid-May 2012.

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www.sram.com/rockshox