Spy Shot: A Subsequent-gen Prototype RockShox SID SL Final XC MTB Fork for Nino Schurter?
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Is Nino Schurter racing a prototype of what’s going to quickly grow to be the longer 120mm journey model of RockShox’s light-weight SID SL Final cross-country mountain bike fork? We first actually noticed the unlabeled BlackBox fork on the 10-time XC World Champion’s bike on the Nove Mesto World Cup, then seen it on a number of different present and former professionals’ bikes. Then, wanting again we seen it was hidden in plain sight earlier this spring on the celebratory custom-finished Spark RC bike that Scott ready for him to race this season.
Let’s take a better look and see what we are able to deduce…
Prototype 120mm RockShox SID SL Final XC fork
I obtained a primary sneak peek on the presumed prototype RockShox SID cross-country fork when Nino was warming in Nové Město na Moravě. Exterior of the non-standard decals and a QR monitoring code on the again of the correct leg, the lowers appear like the identical as when the benchmark light-weight XC fork obtained its final full overhaul again in 2019 – right down to the identical forged ribs behind its arch.
The basic old-school RockShox logos are a telltale signal of a BlackBox prototype, changing the usual SID graphics this fork would often be completed with.
It’s not an enormous shock to see Nino Schurter racing on prototype equipment for his sponsors. An undeniably proficient and distinctive athlete – Nino is understood to be closely invested in R&D along with his sponsors, routinely testing, racing, and profitable on next-gen tech. He additionally appears to have totally adopted the extra aggressive geometry, wider tires & longer journey of recent XC bikes. And he’s a weight-weenie at coronary heart, so all the time seeking to shed some grams.
That final bit is vital, as a result of when RockShox launched their ultralight 32mm stanchion SID SL Final fork for the 2021 season it was restricted to only 100mm max journey. They revamped the internals on the common SIDs, however Nino was already racing 120mm forks as he helped dial within the geometry for the forthcoming 2022 Spark, and there was no going again.
So, Nino received 2019 Worlds on a 115mm SID, then 2021 & 2022 Worlds on the newer 120mm SID. So, RockShox apparently determined it was time to lighten him up as soon as extra for the 2023 season. Is that this then a 2024 RockShox SID SL Final fork with 35mm stanchions and 120mm of journey?
It’s up high on the relieved crown that we actually discover one thing new on this prototype RockShox SID fork. At first, it appeared like the usual cast alloy crown had been merely machined out to cut back weight.
However a better look reveals that it’s possible the alternative.
A clean end on the broader shoulder sections and a matte mottled end in between, suggests an all-new extra complicated alloy forged crown that’s then machined down externally for these crisp edges and weight financial savings.
We weren’t allowed to get a better look, however it seems that the prototype fork additionally has a brand new distant lockout for no matter new Charger damper iteration is in proper fork leg. The brand new lockout seems to be pulled counterclockwise (the wrong way of the present Charger 2 & Charger Race Day dampers), which makes for extra direct routing to Nino’s TwinLoc distant.
And naturally, that means one thing additionally new is occurring inside.
Not solely Nino was on the brand new fork. In what would be the most tricked-out crew pit bike of all time, crew director and ex-World Champ himself, Thomas Frischknecht’s bike was outfitted with lightened-up, long-travel SID.
Frischi’s bike offers a bit higher have a look at that new Charger distant cap with a brand new blue ring, right here routed to a GripShift-style TwistLoc distant shock lockout.
Not only a crew supervisor although, Frischi additionally occurred to have raced this bike with the BlackBox fork alongside Urs Gerig at this 12 months’s Cape Epic within the “Grand Masters” class underneath the crew identify Scott-SRAM Outdated Dudes.
However Nino & Frischi aren’t the one ones on a brand new fork…
At first, I assumed it was really a bit unusual that SRAM who’s a title sponsor of Nino’s Scott-SRAM Racing Crew didn’t simply keep on with the common RockShox SID decals to maintain this underneath wraps, suggesting they might really be making an attempt to subtly name consideration to one thing new being hidden right here.
However it additionally seems that this new longer, light-weight prototype RockShox SID fork is everywhere in the World Cup XC scene in the meanwhile. I shot this photograph above of Schurter chasing Luca Schwarzbauer of the Canyon CLLCTV crew within the short-track race. And I additionally noticed that Luca Braidot of Santa Cruz RockShox Professional Crew additionally was racing the BlackBox prototype forks.
However couldn’t RockShox have simply saved the previous SID graphics and stayed underneath the radar?
In actual fact, we obtained these concrete park storage studio PR pictures from Scott-SRAM MTB Racing again in April to showcase the {custom} ending they did for Nino this season, and what seems to be this identical BlackBox prototype fork does get the usual chrome SID Final decals.
Professional Bike Test: Nino’s 10x World Champ Scott Spark RC
Nino Schurter’s race bikes are actually the most typical to get a Professional Bike Test, even when we ignore all of the prototypes revealed on no matter he rides. However now that we’ve speculated about that BlackBox fork – hidden right here underneath normal SID decals – let’s admire the personalized bike Scott put collectively to have fun the 10x World Champion & Olympic Champion.
Every of the ten World Championship titles are particular for me and all of them collectively on such a phenomenal bike make me extraordinarily proud. However the World Cup title at house in Lenzerheide in 2018 nonetheless outshines all of the others. I can hardly wait to chase the bike over the World Cup tracks.
– Nino Schurter
What actually makes a {custom} construct like that is the eye to particulars.
Positive, these are a pleasant set of the newest SRAM Degree Final Stealth brakes controlling 4-piston calipers, with carbon levers and a reshaped design to angle the brake traces nearer to the bar for a clear cockpit and improved compatibility with inside cable routing via the headset.
However it’s that {custom} AXS Blip wired right into a cutout within the grip to actuate the wi-fi RockShox Reverb AXS dropper put up with out an additional cumbersome distant cluttering the cockpit. It’s a nifty trick we first noticed on Kate Courtney’s bikes, due to her mechanic Brad Copeland.
And what’s cooler, extra {custom} than a SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission Flattop chain along with your identify and dates of all 10 of your World Championship titles laser-etched into the hollowed-out aspect plates?
Nothing. Nothing is extra {custom} than that.
Nino Schurter’s personalized Scott Spark RC HMX SL carbon bike is constructed up with the newest direct mount SRAM XX SL Transmission (which he gave us loads of sneak peeks at earlier than it was launched). It’s SRAM’s newest 12-speed MTB drivetrain with a 38T chainring on a Quarq energy meter with 170mm lengthy XX SL crankarms related to a 10-52T cassette out again.
Rounding out his construct equipment are the next:
Rear Shock: RockShox DeLuxe Nude
Distant: Scott TwinLoc 2 with 3-modes
Handlebar: Syncros Fraser iC SL WC -40° x 80mm lengthy x simply 700mm vast
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb AXS 100mm wi-fi dropper upgraded with titanium bolts
Saddle: Syncros Tofino SL with channel
Grip: Syncros Silicon
Pedals: HT Parts M2 Titanium
Wheels: Syncros Silverton SL 30mm inside
Tires: tubeless Maxxis Aspen 29×2.4″ WT 170tpi EXO (entrance) & Aspen ST 29×2.4″ WT 170tpi EXO (rear)
Bottle Cage: Topeak Feza carbon cage
Pc: Garmin Edge 840
Tire-Sealant: OKO Magic Milk Excessive Fibre inside
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