Rock Shox & Shimano Hierarchy

[Paul_T]

I wanted my first ever thread on here to be one that (a) hasn't already been asked and (b) the answer isn't easily available on the web, and I've researched both, and haven't found the answers so here's the question:

Does anyone know the Hierarchy order for Rock Shox forks and Shimano group sets?

 

[Cubist]

Rock shox forks all have different jobs to do depending on which sort of bike they're fitted to, whether they are coil or air sprung, and what sort of riding they are intended for, but basically Judy, Dart, Dart 2 Dart 3 Tora, then it gets too complicated to list due to different configurations and intended purposes.

Shimano groupsets: Do you mean on MTBs? Acera, Alivio, Deore, Deore LX (older versions) Deore SLX Deore XT Deore XTR , and again, watch the subsequent numbers because they change as the groupsets update.

 

[Paul_T]

Thanks for the reply Cubist. With the groupsets I didn't even realise that there were different sets for road/mtb etc...shows what knowledge I have on bikes
As for the forks, I thought they were just graded from the top one to the bottom, I had a feeling that the dart was near the bottom obviously as it's on cheaper standard mtbs, but believe I am right in thinking that the jewel in the Rock Shox crown is the SID?

Thanks again.
Paul

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

As for the forks, I thought they were just graded from the top one to the bottom, I had a feeling that the dart was near the bottom obviously as it's on cheaper standard mtbs, but believe I am right in thinking that the jewel in the Rock Shox crown is the SID?

As Cubist said forks are very application specific, far more so than e.g. mtb groupsets. Current top Rockshox fork models are Boxxer, Revelation and SID but they are designed for downhill, freeride and XC ranges of travel respectively. Each model in terms has variants, and over time models get updated and superseded. Judy's have not been made for some years, e.g., and while they were top of the range coil sprung forks in Rockshox's range before 2002, subsequent vintages of Judy were deliberately handicapped (heavier with steerer made out of steel rather than alloy, damping adjustability eliminated etc.) to make way for other models' ascendancy.

The chart entitled "Which fork is right for you?" charmingly tabulating how you ride and the depth of your pocket half day down this RS 1998 document would probably help explain why it is not meaningful to grade forks in one list from top to bottom.

 

[Paul_T]

Thanks RAFN for the pdf file, great read & of much interest, and thanks for commenting.

 

[Cubist]

Thanks for the reply Cubist. With the groupsets I didn't even realise that there were different sets for road/mtb etc...shows what knowledge I have on bikes
As for the forks, I thought they were just graded from the top one to the bottom, I had a feeling that the dart was near the bottom obviously as it's on cheaper standard mtbs, but believe I am right in thinking that the jewel in the Rock Shox crown is the SID?

Thanks again.
Paul

The SID is a short travel XC fork in its most basic form, but there are SID race, SID World Cup, SID Titanium, SID Carbon, etc etc etc. Don't forget Reba. I have a Reba Race fork, 100mm dual air and it's absolutely superb.