RockShox releases new big wheeled Boxxer

The Boxxer is back, as is the classic “Boxxer Red” colour. The biggest change is that latest version of the venerable downhill race fork is designed specifically around 29″ wheels. There is also a 27.5″ option for those that aren’t quite ready for wagon wheels in DH but, after watching 29 take the 2017 World Cup scene by storm, RockShox has been clear that the biggest wheel size was their main consideration when bringing the Boxxer up to date.

It isn’t just the return of the red that’s new for 2018, Rockshox have upgraded the forks internals to make it worthy of the Boxxer name, as well as redesigned the forks uppers and lowers around the new wheel size. The new generation of Boxxer will be available in the top end, Boxxer World Cup and the slightly more budget conscious Boxxer RC option. Gone are any coil sprung or 26” wheel options.

Starting from the forks outside and working inwards, the Boxxer’s lowers have been redesigned around the 29” wheel size. Axles are Boost 20 x 110mm standard, and run a 56mm offset for 29” and 48mm for 27.5”.

Rockshox have lengthened the Boxxers upper tubes, allowing them to use the new, distinctive pewter coloured flat crowns. The change is intended to allow riders to lower the handlebar height to compensate for taller stature of the new wheel size. For taller riders looking to keep a higher handlebar, a drop-crown option will still be offered.

While the external redesign, the first in several years for the Boxxer line, brings the fork into the new era of big-wheel DH racing, Rockshox didn’t stop there. The company have made significant updates to the forks internals as well. The DebonAir air spring has been adapted from the popular Lyrik single crown fork, with the new DH-specific version designed to work with the 200mm travel fork. By going with it’s DebonAir spring, Rockshox enables riders to adjust the forks travel down to 190mm or 180mm.

The Boxxer World Cup also packs in RockShox’s Charger 2 RC2 damper, with independent high and low speed compression adjustment. For the Boxxer RC, the Charger RC damper is used, which doesn’t allow for independent compression adjustmetn. Other than the lacking the red colour scheme option, this is the main difference between the World Cup and RC versions of the fork.

Retail on the Boxxer World Cup and Boxxer RC is expecte to be June 2018.

Rockshox Boxxer World Cup red

Rockshox Boxxer World Cup

Rockshox Boxxer World Cup

Rockshox Boxxer World Cup is also available in black

Rockshox Boxxer RC, only in black

Rockshox Boxxer World Cup:

• New Charger™ 2 RC2 damper with independent high and low speed compression adjustment
• New DH-specific, friction-reducing DebonAir™ air spring
• New flat crown lowers handlebar height, compensating for taller wheel and tire combinations
• New graphics with a BoXXer Red fork color option

Rockshox Boxxer RC

• New Charger™ RC cartridge-style, self-bleeding damper
• New DH-specific, friction-reducing DebonAir™ air spring
• New flat crown lowers handlebar height, compensating for taller wheel and tire combinations
• New graphics

All images courtesy of Adrian Marcoux / SRAM