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After last week'ssomewhat cryptic press releaseabout metric shock sizing from RockShox that didn't do much other than stir up a storm of comments, we’re now finally able to talk about what the announcement means and why RockShox has decided to change things up. Tied to this news is the release of two new air-sprung shocks, the Super Deluxe and the Deluxe, that have been made possible by the shift in shock sizing.

The Super Deluxe and Deluxe names might sound familiar to anyone who's been around for more than a decade, but much like how the new Pike has basically nothing in common with its original namesake, both the Super Deluxe and Deluxe are entirely new from the ground up. They are also an evolution of several years worth of work that involved stripping away the current rear shock sizing constraints, a step the RockShox says was required in order to develop an entirely new product.

The major difference between older designs and the Super Deluxe and Deluxe is a new set of metric eye-to-eye lengths, new metric stroke lengths, and reformed metric hardware options. More than that, though, there’s the claim of improved performance, with RockShox saying that both new shocks have ''drastically reduced friction'' thanks to increased bushing overlap, bearing-equipped eyelets, and new seals. We were told that all that adds up to unparalleled traction, increased durability, and that the new metric sizing will make everyone's lives easier, from suspension companies to the frame designer, right down to the end user.

All that sounds promising, but is it true? We spent three days with RockShox in North Vancouver to find out what the new shocks are all about and, more importantly, to see if they are actually any better than what's currently out there.

Super Deluxe Details