SRAM’s rolling out four big updates all at once, covering the brand’s DH line from levers to a new AXS derailleur (a first for DH) along with the official release of the often-spotted new Boxxer.
While new top end bits can be exciting it’s the smallest release that could be a big change for the most riders. That’s SRAM’s Maven lever tuning kit. More on that below.
RockShox Boxxer Ultimate LinearXL is official
The updated Boxxer lowers are not new news. The “LinearXL” bump near the brake mount was widely noted on pro bikes over the last while. It was even labeled on many. Now, that new tech is publicly available.
So, what is it? Well, there’s a whole lot that’s changed beyond that little box on the fork lowers. Most of those changes are hiding inside the fork.
That box is part of RockShox’s new LinearXL spring, which the brand says aims to reduce speed sensitivity of the air spring. The official name for that little box is the “AirAnnex,” and it increases the lower leg air volume, reducing air-spring progessivity. To match that change in feel, RockShox adds a Charger 3.2 damper tuned specifically to work with the LinearXL spring.
There’s more cleverness hiding inside the fork, though. Breather holes and ButterWagon Tech are both new to the Boxxer’s 38mm chassis. Breather holes, according to RockShox, allow fork lower leg air volume to increase as the fork goes through its travel. ButterWagonTech are a “proprietary matrix of divots” on the stanchions that help keep the bushings lubricated by bringing bits of the Maxima oil up to the bushings as the fork moves through its travel. Both are designed to increase fork sensitivity and lower breakaway forces to give more control.
RockShox returns the Boxxer’s 38mm chassis, claiming the smaller diameter tubes provide confident steering without, in a direct shot across the bow of the brand’s primary competitor, “the energy-robbing vibration typical of forks with excessively large stanchions.” Buttercups are also back, helping further reduce vibration and the associated fatigue.
SRAM takes downhill electric
Why does downhill need to go electric? SRAM claims XX DH AXS can get riders 15m into the course 1/20th of a second faster. That tiny margin can be huge in DH. The claimed gain is entirely from allowing riders to continue applying power as they shift gears out of the start gate, via XX DH’S…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…