SIDLuxe is a 230g metric rear shock

RockShox SIDLuxe
SIDLuxe can be had in either blue or black (Image credit: RochShox)

Rockshox’s new SID forks might be garnering all the attention with their 35mm stanchions, but if you are on a full-suspension mountain bike, there’s also the SIDLuxe to consider.

For the first time since 2003, RockShox is offering a SID-branded rear shock, for those riders who don’t like sacrificing weight for performance.

The new SIDLuxe is a lightweight high-performance shock, engineered to service a broad customer profile, from committed cross-country racers to trail riders.

Lightweight mountain bike suspension bits have often been a compromise in terms of damper performance and thermal endurance. Saving weight means running less oil and smaller mechanical interface surfaces, which negatively influences heat dissipation.

With the SIDLuxe you have a shock that is desperately light, at only 230g, but promises robust damping performance when you are rolling over technical terrain at speed.

Inside the SIDLuxe is RockShox’s latest damper circuit. RockShox has also added Maxima Plush damping fluid to the SIDLuxe, borrowing liquid technology proven in motorsport, to reduce friction and optimise the shock’s small bump sensitivity.

Careful not to limit SIDLuxe riders in their choice of dual-suspension frame, this new RockShox rear damper is compatible with both the standard and trunnion shock mount standards.

Where the SIDLuxe does sacrifice, is the absence of a toolless rebound adjust knob. To set the SIDLuxe’s rebound, you’ll need to open your multitool and use a 2.5mm hex key.

Rockshox is producing the SIDLuxe in a comprehensive range of metric sizes and it should run with frames up to 120mm of rear travel. For riders who desire a firm climbing platform on their dual-suspension mountain bike, whilst retaining some terrain absorption ability on the descents, SIDLuxe is an appealing lightweight option.

Lance Branquinho
Freelance writer

Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born journalist who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his trail running. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. As well as Bike Perfect, Lance has written for MBR.com, Off-Road.cc and Cycling News.

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