The effect was a decidedly firm ride that did not take away from our leg power when we powered up climbs with the shock unlocked and active. ![]() Our shock tune was fairly linear in compression, but the smallish air can gave the shock a rising spring rate. After spending some long days in the saddle, however, the easy-to-use XLoc remote encouraged us to go suspensionless on long road sections, and we used this power to 'gift' fellow riders with leg-bending sprints near the tops of rolling climbs. Our initial feeling was that a short-travel suspension bike really doesn't need lockout to feel firm on the climbs or hammer smooth forest roads. We tested the Monarch XX shock on a 2012 Rocky Mountain Element, which was designed for Marathon Racing and XC-oriented trail riding. Options: High volume air-can and custom tunes based on suspension leverage ratios Mounting options: Standard clamp or Matchmaker direct-mount Damper Body: 28mm diameter, hard-Anodized, forged aluminum with sag gradients Damper Shaft: 7075 Aluminum (9mm diameter) Solo Air Spring with self-adjusting negative spring Damping: Hydraulic with IFP, External rebound and XLoc hydraulic remote lockout Weight: 305 grams, based on a 165x38mm standard-volume air can with 950mm hose and no hardware That said, the task of bleeding the Xloc lines could prove to be bothersome for those who opt for through-the-frame hose routing. Also, a hose can be mutilated and still pass fluid, so in theory, a hydraulic system can withstand a crash much better than a cable-and-housing system. The swivel system is also a hydraulic plus, and hydraulic systems are sealed, so dirt and water can't bind up the mech. Why use a hydraulic lockout system where a conventional cable could suffice? For starters, hydraulic fluid in a plastic hose is much lighter weight than a wound steel housing and a seven-strand steel cable. Outside, the forged-aluminum damper body is marked with sag gradients to make setup a simple process, and a 360-degree swiveling hydraulic interface that lets you route the XLoc hose from any direction. Inside the Monarch XX, you'll find a two-stage high- and low-speed damper piston, an aluminum damper shaft and a self-adjusting negative air-spring. Monarch XX shocks come in every eye-to-eye length that could be imagined and there are a variety of air can volumes available. ![]() Before you start crying for more dials and doodads, know that RockShox can custom-tune the Monarch XX to match your bike's suspension - and probably your riding style if you say please. The Monarch XX's lockout has a preset blow-off threshold and an external low-speed rebound dial - and that's all you get. (Clockwise) We first rode the Monarch XX damper on a Rocky Mountain Carbon Element, which was a perfect match for its firm-feeling progressive spring curve - The Monarch XX damper features an aluminum shaft to save weight - The hydraulic XLoc lockout hose connection swivels 360 degrees to enable perfect hose routing - RockShox Reverb seatpost users should be familiar with the XLoc lever - push once to lock it out and push again to unlock the shock.ĭesigned for cross-country and trail riders, RockShox pared down the various damping and rate-control adjustments of its technical-terrain shocks to offer a more XC oriented rider the lightest possible remote-locking shock.
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