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:

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.

RockShox Flight Attendant prices

If you’re lucky enough to have a compatible bike, upgrading to Flight Attendant is going to set you back a fair chunk of cash.

RockShox Flight Attendant Charger 3.1 Damper

RockShox ZEB Ultimate Flight Attendant

RockShox ZEB Ultimate Flight Attendant
RockShox ZEB Ultimate Flight Attendant. – RockShox

RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Flight Attendant

RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Flight Attendant
RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Flight Attendant. – RockShox

RockShox Pike Ultimate Flight Attendant

RockShox Pike Ultimate Flight Attendant
RockShox Pike Ultimate Flight Attendant. – RockShox

RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant

RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant. – RockShox

RockShox Vivid and Vivid Coil Ultimate Flight Attendant

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