RockShox’s machine-learning Flight Attendant moves to Charger 3.1 damper and debuts on DH-spec Vivid shock

Latest-generation damper tech meets brand’s electronic on-the-fly adjustment

By Alex Evans

Published: Thursday, 20 June 2024 at 14:00 PM

RockShox has given Flight Attendant, its state-of-the-art automatic electronic suspension adjustment system, a major upgrade.

It’s now paired with the recently launched Charger 3.1 damper, moving away from the bladder design of the discontinued Charger 2.1, which remained available on Flight Attendant Pike, Lyrik and ZEB forks until today.

Moving to Charger 3.1 across the fork range – except the SID, which has its own Flight Attendant Charger Race Day 2 damper – the new forks get access to the re-tuned low-speed compression damping touted to improve performance.

Beyond the reworked compression tune, the latest Charger 3.1 damper tech boasts user-tuneable compression and rebound, with valve kits available to purchase separately.

The top cap of the new Charger 3.1 Flight Attendant damper displays which mode it’s in and gives you the option to adjust settings. – RockShox

RockShox confirmed the Charger 3.1 Flight Attendant dampers can be retuned with either a light, medium or heavy rebound valving – like non-Flight Attendant forks – but only has one compression tune.

The compression tune’s low-speed range is similar to the standard damper, while the high speed is set slightly firmer.

All the MY25 Flight Attendant forks also get the same reworked bushings as their non-electric counterparts.

By working on its tolerances and factory processes, SRAM says these are claimed to reduce friction, which improves comfort and traction.

While the fork’s hydraulic internals have been updated, externally their looks remain unchanged.

Equally, all the new machine-learning tech that was launched when SID got the electronic treatment, such as Adaptive Ride Dynmaics, Bias Adjust, Effort Zones and Override Mode, remain unchanged.

Flight Attendant Settings — RockShox’s latest programming updates are present and correct on this newest iteration of Flight Attendant. – RockShox

As do minimum component requirements, namely a fork, shock and pedalling sensor. Add an AXS rear derailleur, left-hand pod controller and a power meter to open up even more performance.

All Charger-3 equipped forks (Pike, Lyrik and ZEB) can be upgraded to run a Flight Attendant damper, but an accompanying Flight Attendant rear shock must also be fitted.

RockShox Flight Attendant electronic suspension adjustment rear shock — A fork, shock and pedalling sensor are the minimum required components for Flight Attendant to work. – RockShox

Shock-wise, you’ve got a choice between the new Vivids and the Super Deluxe Ultimate.

However the latest tech may remain the subject of your fantasies, given RockShox only officially supports Flight Attendant on a handful of bikes:

2021-2022 Canyon Neuron 29
2019-2022 Canyon Spectral
2023+ Canyon Spectral:ON
2019+ Santa Cruz Hightower
2023+ Santa Cruz Megatower
2020+ Specialzied Enduro
2022+ Specialzied Levo SL S2-S6
2021+ Specialzied Stumpjumper Evo S2-S6
2023+ Trek Fuel EX
2021-2022 Trek Slash
2023+ Trek Slash Gen 6
2020+ Yeti SB140
2022 YT Capra 29
2021-2022 YT Jeffsy 29

While fitment to other bikes is possible, RockShox says it’s not recommended because of shock clearance issues, shock tune incompatibilities and limited Flight Attendant shock lengths.

RockShox Flight Attendant electronic suspension adjustment full bike — Flight Attendant is only officially compatible with certain bikes. – RockShox

To check whether your bike is compatible with Flight Attendant, check RockShox’s website here.

Entirely new to the Flight Attendant range is the gravity-focused Vivid shock, both in its coil and air-sprung variants.

In simple terms, this takes the Vivid and bolts the Flight Attendant module to its piggyback reservoir. However, aftermarket upgrades aren’t possible, so if you’ve just purchased a Vivid Ultimate coil or air, you’re out of luck if you want to bolt Flight Attendant on.

RockShox Vivid Coil Ultimate Flight Attendant — The Vivid is new to the Flight Attendant family. – RockShox

Neither Vivid shock is available aftermarket, either.

This suggests more brands – that haven’t been announced yet – are intending to fit Flight Attendant to their gravity-focused enduro bikes and downhill bikes. Once that list is announced, we suspect the Vivids will become available aftermarket.

We’ve also spotted Flight Attendant fitted to RockShox’s Boxxer fork at World Cup downhill races. Its public release is possible too.