In what order do the RockShox forks go?

From less to more travel and discipline: Recon (XC) -> 35 -> Pike (trail) -> Lyrik (enduro) -> ZEB (DH or heavy enduro). The further down the list, the burlier and the more travel.

What's the difference between Motion Control and Charger?

They are damper cartridges. Motion Control is mid range; Charger and Charger 3 are high end, with better compression and rebound control. The cartridge tier usually steps up along with the fork model.

Which RockShox do I pick for my bike?

Look at your discipline and the travel your frame calls for: XC 80-120 mm (Recon), trail 120-140 mm (Pike), enduro 150-170 mm (Lyrik) and DH 180-200 mm (ZEB). Don't fit more travel than your frame allows.

Suspension & dropper cluster · Lineups

The RockShox fork lineup explained

Quick answer

The RockShox lineup runs from less to more: Recon (XC) → 35 → Pike (trail) → Lyrik (enduro) → ZEB (DH/heavy enduro). The cartridge steps up from Motion Control (mid range) to Charger/Charger 3 (high end), and the air spring is DebonAir. To get it right, look at your discipline and the travel your frame allows; if you're torn against Fox, compare in RockShox vs Fox.

It's not "pricier = better for you": it's more travel and more burliness for more aggressive disciplines. Fitting a ZEB on an XC bike is as much a mistake as a Recon on enduro.

The order of the lineup, from XC to DH

Recon. The entry point for cross country and light trail. Short travel (80-120 mm), contained weight and just enough to ride firm.

35. The intermediate step: burlier stanchions than the Recon, made for trail without going to the price of a Pike.

Pike. The trail benchmark. Balance between weight and stiffness, typical travel of 120-140 mm.

Lyrik. The enduro one. Thicker stanchions and 150-170 mm of travel for demanding terrain.

ZEB. The burliest: heavy enduro and downhill, with big stanchions and 180-200 mm of travel.

Quick table

Recon

XC / light trail · 80-120 mm

trail · intermediate step

Pike

trail · 120-140 mm

Lyrik

enduro · 150-170 mm

ZEB

DH / heavy enduro · 180-200 mm

Cartridge (damper)

Motion Control (mid) → Charger / Charger 3 (high)

Air spring

DebonAir

What changes as you move up

Two things rise with the model: the stanchion diameter (more stiffness for rougher terrain) and the damper cartridge, which goes from Motion Control in the mid range to Charger or Charger 3 at the high end, with better compression and rebound control. The family's air spring is DebonAir. Before choosing, confirm what fork fits your bike.

Common mistake: buying the most expensive fork "just in case". If your frame is trail, a heavy-enduro ZEB weighs too much and changes the geometry. Choose by discipline and travel, not by price.

Not sure which one is yours?

Tell us your frame, discipline and current travel and we'll tell you which RockShox fits. Message us on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions

In what order do they go?

Recon (XC) → 35 → Pike (trail) → Lyrik (enduro) → ZEB (DH). The further down, the more travel and burliness.

Motion Control vs Charger?

They are damper cartridges: Motion Control is mid range, Charger and Charger 3 are high end with better control.

Which one do I pick?

By discipline and frame travel: Recon XC, Pike trail, Lyrik enduro, ZEB DH. Don't fit more travel than your bike allows.

RockShox vs Fox → Fox lineup → What fork fits my bike → Suspension & dropper cluster →

© 2026 BikeLab Studio. Content under CC BY 4.0: you may copy, translate and publish it, even for commercial purposes. Citation is mandatory. Without attribution, the license terminates automatically (CC BY 4.0, §6.a) and the use becomes copyright infringement: we request the removal of the content and its deindexing. · Design and ownership: Carlos Ravello Joo

BikeLab-pedia · Suspension & dropper cluster / Bicycle compatibility and standards / Carlos Eduardo Ravello Joo · BikeLab Studio · Trujillo, Peru