Tested
ROCKSHOX SID ULTIMATE FORK £869
SPECIFICATION Weight: 1,508g Travel: 120mm Offset: 44mm Wheel size: 29in Contact: zyrofisher.co.uk
Updated last year, RockShox’s new SID fork still has its eye on the prize with regards to World Cup podiums and Olympic gold medals, but it has also been allowed to stretch its legs into the trail-riding arena, or what’s lately become known as ‘down-country’. As such there are two versions of the fork; the SL built for racing, and the SID, for low-fat shredding.
The model tested here is the latter, in Ultimate damper spec, and it’s built burlier than the average XC fork with 35mm diameter upper tubes – just like the Pike and Lyrik – to keep it tracking precisely during aggressive cornering and other X-rated XC antics. Binding the lower legs together is a 15mm thru-axle bolstered by RockShox’s oversized Torque Cap hub/dropout interface. For comparison, the SL fork uses 32mm upper tubes, gets 10mm less travel and weighs a claimed 1,326g.
Material has been carved, scooped and milled from every nook, cranny and crevice to keep the weight down to an impressive 1,508g on our test fork. That’s 150g less than an equivalent Fox 34 Step Cast that we weighed. And that’s despite RockShox moving away from the carbon crown and steerer found on the previous generation SID. However, some of the weight saving measures are much harder to spot. One of the most significant reductions comes from the new Charger Race Day damper. The new bladder unit is incredibly slim, with a much smaller oil volume, and is the best part of 90g lighter than its predecessor. All these weight savings mean I didn’t feel too bad about adding 38g back with the surprisingly effective integrated mudguard that comes with it.
HOW IT RIDES
I’ve now spent the best part of a year riding the SID Ultimate fitted to a Mondraker F-Podium, as well as other test bikes including the Transition Spur and Merida Ninety-Six 8000. On every occasion it has impressed. The RockShox SID lets you get away with riding stuff that you wouldn’t dream of tackling on any previous XC fork – at least not without the other-worldly skills of Nino Schurter.
At the forefront of its category-straddling performance is the super supple response. A light touch to the damping
