Rock Shox
RockShox Inc. is an American company founded by Paul Turner and Steve Simons in 1989, that develops and manufactures bicycle suspensions. The company led in the development of mountain bikes. It is part of SRAM Corporation.
Contents
History
Start
RockShox was founded by Paul Turner and Steve Simons in 1989 in North Carolina, USA. It moved to California three years later.
Turner raced motorcycles in his teens. In 1977, aged 18 he established a company that sold motorcycle components. He later worked for the Honda Motor Company as factory mechanic for their professional motocross team. This put him in contact with designers of suspension systems for motorcycles and other motocross industry people.
Simons was a former professional motocross rider and entrepreneur. In 1974 he designed a shock absorber for the company that became Fox Racing Shox, and then established his own company Simons Inc. to develop suspension forks. He had two patents on suspension forks, one which he licensed to motorcycle and suspension manufacturers.
In 1989, Turner approached Simons to develop a suspension fork for mountain bikes. Turner had in 1987, with the help of Keith Bontrager, presented a full bike with front and rear suspension at the bicycle industry trade show in Long Beach. The industry was not impressed. Two years later Turner and his wife Christi were manufacturing suspension forks in their garage with parts bought from Simons, who soon partnered Turner in the newly formed company.
Simons became CEO of RockShox. Turner brought in Greg Herbold as a test rider and company spokesman. Herbold became the first world champion in downhill mountain biking on one of the first suspension forks for mountain bikes made. In August that year the company manufactured its first 100 suspension forks, the RS-1. The start-up was financed by the Asian bike component manufacturer Dia-Compe, the founders, and other investors. Dia Compe manufactured the next series of forks but later withdrew from manufacturing and disposed of its shares. From then the forks were primarily manufactured at Rock Shox. Read more at Wikipedia
Alternatives
Rock Shox was one of many brands that marketed suspension forks for bicycles, others were Answer Manitou, Marzocchi and RST.
Product chronology and common specifications
Links Museum of Mountain Bike Art & Technology:Suspension Timeline Bikepro Fork Table [1] See External Links too For more modern product see the SRAM website or Wikipedia
| Product | Year introduced | Year discontinued | Stanchion Diameter | Travel Lengths | Spring Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS-1 | 1991 | 1991 | 25.4mm (1") | Air, oil return | |
| Mag 20 | 1992 | 1992 | 25.4mm | 45mm | Air, oil return |
| Mag 30 | 1992 | 1992 | 25.4mm | 45mm | Air, oil return |
| Mag 21 | 1993 | 1997 | 25.4mm | 46mm (60mm long travel) | Air, oil return |
| Mag 10 | 1993 | 1995 | 25.4mm | 46mm | Air, oil return |
| Mag 21 SL | 1994 | 1994 | 25.4mm | 46mm (60mm long travel) | Air, oil return |
| Quadra | 1993 | 25.4mm | 43mm | Elastomer | |
| Quadra 5 | 1994 | 25.4mm | 48mm | Elastomer | |
| Quadra 21 R | 1994 | 25.4mm | 60mm | Elastomer | |
| Judy XC | 1995 | 2001 | 28mm | 50mm, 63mm | MCU spring (elastomer), oil return |
| Judy SL | 1995 | 2001 | 28mm | 50mm, 63mm | MCU spring (elastomer), oil return |
| Judy DH | 1995 | 1998 | 28mm | 80mm | MCU spring (elastomer), oil return |
| Indy | 1995 | MCU spring (elastomer) | |||
| SID | 1998 | Present | 32mm (as of 2009; previously, 28mm) | 80/100mm or 120mm | Dual Air |
| DHO | 1998 | 28mm | 100mm | MCU spring (elastomer) | |
| Jett | 1999 | 2001 | |||
| BoXXer | 2000 | Present | 35mm | 150mm (early), 180mm, 200mm (present) | Coil |
| Ruby (road/700cc) | 2000 | 2000 | |||
| Metro (road/700cc) | 2001 | 2005 | |||
| Psylo | 2001 | 2005 | |||
| Duke | 2002 | 2005 | 30mm | ||
| Pilot | 2003 | 2005 |
Other features:
There are usually several versions of each product, typically distinguished by the presence or absence of certain features, such as material type, preload, rebound damping, compression damping, lockout, remote lockout and replaceable bushings. This article does not attempt to list all specifications for all versions.
