RockShox’s Deluxe and Super Deluxe rear shock absorbers have received a complete overhaul for 2023, with a brand new chassis, the RC2T shock absorber with a wide fit, two air springs and a hydraulic bottom on certain models.
The latest RC2T shock absorber, which means ‘bounce; compression with two settings (high and low speed compression) and threshold (lock)’: aims to eliminate the ‘conversation’ between high and low speed compression settings.
This means that pilots should be able to adjust individual compression circuits without affecting each other.
In addition to the lack of “conversation,” RockShox says the adjustment range of the new RC2T shock is wide enough for each base melody to overlap with the following firmer, lighter melodies.
Next up is the bottom hydraulic system, a whole new feature for RockShox shock absorbers. This uses a separate piston to “trap” the oil in order to provide background resistance towards the end of the shock stroke.
Five things to know about RockShox 2023 shock absorbers
- The Deluxe and Super Deluxe shock absorbers, both in their coil and air versions, are new for 2023
- Super Deluxe air dampers have a non-adjustable hydraulic damping system, while Super Deluxe coil dampers have an adjustable hydraulic bottom.
- The new RC2T shock absorber includes a wide range of low and high speed compression adjustments
- SRAM claims to have eliminated the “conversation” between low and high speed compression circuits, allowing them to operate individually from each other.
- The Deluxe and Super Deluxe air spring versions feature RockShox’s new DebonAir + spring with two spring types
The Super Deluxe air spring is available with two air springs, a progressive version and a linear version to offer more tuning options.
Upgrading to a Super Deluxe Ultimate 2023 starts at £ 482 / $ 499 / € 539 for the Ultimate DH coil and goes up to £ 578 / $ 599 / € 648 for the Super Deluxe Ultimate air, which makes them more affordable than Fox’s Float X2 Factory and DHX2. Factory rear shock absorbers.
2023 shock absorbers are available in standard stub and eyelet mounting options. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
RockShox Super Deluxe RC2T 2023 shock absorber
Low and high speed compression settings are said not to interfere with each other. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
The new RC2T shock absorber includes a lot of external adjustments, based on the offerings of the previous Super Deluxe version.
The Super Deluxe Ultimate, in both coil and air versions, has an external low- and high-speed compression adjustment and a low-speed bounce adjustment of the RC2T shock absorber.
More RockShox 2023 release stories
RockShox claims the new shock has no “conversation” between settings. This means that increasing the compression damping at low speed will not affect the damping at high speed or vice versa.
The brand says it has done so with a new valve system, where oil flows first through the high-speed compression circuit and then through the low-speed circuit.
The high-speed compression adjuster has five positions. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
For starters, the cushioning adjustments of the new shock absorber are so wide that at the fully closed or fully open ends of its adjustment range, it is in the middle of the next tune up or down.
This exceptionally wide adjustment range should mean that each adjustment of the high or low speed compression dials has a pronounced effect on how the shock feels. Each adjustment should make a significant change in the performance of the shock absorber.
And the breadth means that a base shock tune is now even more suitable for multiple bikes, where a full re-valve would be required before.
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Hydraulic Bottom Out
The HBO adjuster has five positions. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
A Hydraulic Bottom Out (HBO) system is the first for the RockShox suspension brand, but has already been used in Push and Storia ElevenSix shock absorbers.
RockShox’s HBO system uses a secondary piston that, as the shock approaches the bottom, slides into the HBO cylinder, “trapping” the oil inside the cylinder and increasing the pressure to generate resistance at the bottom.
Super Deluxe air spring dampers have HBO, but they are not adjustable. RockShox
In the new Super Deluxe shock absorbers, the HBO system is used in conjunction with a traditional rubber bottom bumper.
The Super Deluxe Ultimate, Select + and Select with air suspension feature a non-adjustable HBO system that begins to activate once the shock enters the last 25 percent of your career. Super Deluxe is also available without the HBO system.
In the Ultimate, Select + and Select coil spring versions of the Super Deluxe, HBO has five adjustment positions, where the pilot can adjust the amount of HBO the shock provides. Unlike air shock, the coil version provides HBO in 20 percent of the shock stroke.
The coil version of the Super Deluxe has an adjustable hydraulic bottom. RockShox
Compared to adjusting the bottom resistance with volume reducer separators in air shocks, HBO does not affect the speed of the shock spring as much as the reduction in the volume of the air spring. HBO essentially increases compression depreciation during the last part of the trip.
Motorists performing an air spring shock may find that they are able to reduce the number of volume-reducing spacers on their bike, because the HBO system is able to compensate for the reduction in the spring rate.
RockShox Super Deluxe DebonAir + 2023 air spring
The RockShox 2023 Super Deluxe has two different air springs to offer a lot of fit. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
The DebonAir + air spring is added to the tuning of the Super Deluxe. The latest RockShox air spring has two different types: a progressive version and a linear version.
The progressive version is like the MegNeg spring which has a larger volume of negative air than the linear one, claiming that it creates a “more playful and dynamic air spring”. It is more suitable for frames with linear or less progressive leverage rates.
Frames with more progressive leverage rates are more suited to the linear air spring because the kinematics create a background resistance, so the spring does not need it.
This Super Deluxe has the linear air spring installed. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
Both types of springs are interchangeable on all RockShox 2023 air dampers, but are not compatible with previous models. It’s the same story for volume reduction tabs, which are brand new for the 2023 line and are not compatible with previous versions.
But now there are negative and positive air spring separators, further expanding the possibilities of adjustment.
RockShox Super Deluxe 2023 models, specifications and prices
The coil version of the Super Deluxe includes an adjustable hydraulic bottom. Mick Kirkman / RockShox
Both the air spring versions and the coil versions of the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate 2023 and the coil spring version of the Super Deluxe Ultimate DH are the only models available as upgrades to the replacement market. However, other versions will be installed on full construction bikes.
The Super Deluxe Ultimate DH air, which uses the same RC2 shock as the Ultimate version but has no locking lever or threshold, is among the shock absorbers that are only available as original equipment.
Other models include the Select +, which only has bounce and threshold adjustment (RT), and the Select model, which only includes bounce adjustment (R).
According to RockShox, the RC and R rear shocks can be upgraded to the RC2T version, but the upgrade involves replacing the tank and will require bleeding and service.
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RC2T
- Hydraulic bottom: fixed position, optional
- Pneumatic spring: DebonAir + linear or progressive
- Price: £ 578 / $ 599 / € 648
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RC2T
- Hydraulic bottom: adjustable, optional
- Price: £ 530 / $ 549 / € 594
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RC2
- Hydraulic bottom: fixed position, optional
- Pneumatic spring: DebonAir + linear or progressive
- Price: OE only
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RC2
- Hydraulic bottom: adjustable, optional
- Price: £ 482 / $ 499 / € 539
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Select +
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Select +. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RT
- Hydraulic bottom: fixed position, optional
- Pneumatic spring: DebonAir + linear or progressive
- Price: OE only
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select +
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select +. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RT
- Hydraulic bottom: adjustable, optional
- Price: OE only
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Select
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Select. RockShox
- Shock absorber: R
- Hydraulic bottom: fixed position, optional
- Pneumatic spring: DebonAir + linear or progressive
- Price: OE only
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select
2023 RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select. RockShox
- Shock absorber: RT
- Hydraulic bottom: adjustable, optional
- Price: OE only
RockShox Deluxe 2023 models, specifications and prices
The lightest, road-focused, online Shock Deluxe has also received a review for 2023.
Changes to the previous model include DebonAir + linear and progressive air springs, shared with Super Deluxe. RockShox has also increased the nozzle overlap by 25% to improve the performance of small bumps.
However, none of the Deluxe Shocks support HBO.
The brand has also introduced a Deluxe Coil shock absorber, which also uses an in-line design, without the back of the Super Deluxe. This model is only available as original equipment.
The only Deluxe Shock from the aftermarket, the Ultimate version, sells for £ 385 / $ 399 / € 431.
2023 RockShox Deluxe Ultimate
2023 RockShox Deluxe …