RockShox Adds LinearXL Air Spring to Rear Shocks on New Super Deluxe & Vivid Air

RockShox has announced a significant update to its rear shock lineup, introducing the LinearXL air spring to both the Super Deluxe and Vivid Air models. This enhancement aims to provide a more linear spring curve, improving suspension performance. Crucially, the Super Deluxe also gains an adjustable volume spacer system, allowing riders to fine-tune progression without disassembling the shock. These changes represent a targeted effort by SRAM's suspension arm to refine their high-end offerings for the 2025 model year.

This move by RockShox is a direct response to the increasing sophistication of modern mountain bike suspension design and rider demands for greater tunability. With competitors like Fox continually pushing boundaries in air spring technology and adjustability, RockShox's integration of LinearXL and the user-friendly adjustable token system is a necessary evolution. It reflects an industry trend towards more linear initial travel for improved small bump compliance, followed by a progressive ramp-up to prevent harsh bottom-outs, all while empowering riders to dial in their preferred feel.

Ultimately, RockShox's latest iteration demonstrates a commitment to keeping pace in the fiercely competitive high-performance suspension market. Riders, as ever, will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this arms race for incremental gains.