2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork (with TwistLoc remote) review

Due to the growing technicality of cross-country race tracks and the demands of the riders tackling them, the latest SID from RockShox is intended to be the brand's smoothest and most capable XC-focused fork yet.

Thanks to some substantial changes to the air spring and the new three-position damper, it seems RockShox has indeed hit the nail on the head with the new SID Ultimate fork.

While there are certainly similarities to the previous SID Ultimate, the 2024 version improves upon performance, upping composure, control and confidence when things get technical.

Sure, the new fork shaves a few grams off compared to the previous iteration, but the headline here is just how capable the new SID Ultimate is, and how far it can be pushed on the trail.

2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork specifications and details

Although, visually at least, the new 2024 SID Ultimate fork looks very much like the outgoing model (aside from the different paint scheme), there have been a number of internal and external updates that translate to improvements on the trail.

First up, the new Charger Race Day 2 damper now features three positions to choose from.

Like the RockShox Flight Attendant (the brand's automated, wireless damping control system), the new Race Day 2 damper can be switched between ‘open’, ‘pedal’ and ‘lock’ modes.

This can be done using a crown top lever or, as seen here, the new, slimmed down TwistLoc remote, essentially increasing the level of low-speed compression damping on the fork.

• TwistLoc remote price: £119/$117/€133

Upping the air spring

The next big thing of note is the totally revamped DebonAir air spring. RockShox claims to have upped the air spring volumes considerably in the latest SID.

Those changes equate to a 16 per cent increase in positive air volume, while the negative air volume increases by a substantial 50 per cent to help keep things supple and smooth.

RockShox has also added a coil top-out bumper, which is said to help with the fork fluttering in and out of its initial part of travel, as well as preventing any unpleasant top-out knocks when really pulling up on the bars.

There's also the addition of a revised bottom-out bumper for more control once full travel is achieved.

A 110mm SID fork has been added to the line-up too, though I tested the longer-travel 120mm option here.

Elsewhere, RockShox has removed some material from the lower legs, which helps to reduce weight but also achieves the revised air spring volumes.

To maintain steering accuracy, the SID's upper tubes have been lengthened and the bushings spaced further apart, increasing overlap. This should help to reduce friction further.

There’s also a new fork crown, which is lighter than the older model but, according to RockShox, just as strong and stiff.

Finally, to keep things moving smoothly, RockShox has worked closely with Maxima Racing Oils to produce a new Maxima Plush Dynamic Suspension Lube, which features in just about every fork in the line-up.

My 120mm-travel, 44mm-offset SID Ultimate 3P fork weighed in at 1,600g, lighter than the 2021 SID Ultimate I tested by just 10g.

2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork performance

I tested the SID Ultimate 3P on a wide variety of trails, ranging from battered trail centre loops through to natural, technical singletrack.

During testing, I also raced a regional cross-country event, just to see how much I’d use the various damping positions in the heat of the moment.

2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork setup

I set up the SID Ultimate with 80psi, no volume spacers and the rebound dialled in to my tastes.

I paired the fork with the new TwistLoc bar-mounted remote. Setup was easy, though you need to be mindful of cable tension to ensure you can properly toggle and engage with each of the three modes.

2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork ride impressions

I’ll get this out of the way quickly because it’s my only real gripe and, strictly speaking, isn’t fork related. My single moan here is to do with the TwistLoc remote and, more specifically, the grips that come with it.

Push-on grips can be great, and it’s nice to see RockShox offering a smooth and textured option. But why no lock-on alternatives for those who don’t want to mess about with hairspray or grip glue?

It’s easy to throw around buzzwords, but as promised, the new SID Ultimate 3P is supple through the initial part of its travel. It’s keen to sink into those first few millimetres without hesitation.

That was also true of the previous SID Ultimate. However, the difference is just how smoothly the new fork flutters in and out of that early bit of travel, keeping the tyre in contact with all the imperfections in the trail beneath it.

Push a bit harder and, thankfully, there’s more than enough support through the mid-stroke of the fork.

Enter into a loose, unsupported turn and you can hang over the front of your bike, weighting the front tyre without feeling as though you’re plunging through the travel too quickly and about to exit over the bars.

Through repetitive impacts, the SID Ultimate 3P feels more capable and full-bodied than its predecessor.

Its ability to recover so quickly between impacts means I found myself venturing further afield and into off-piste territory to really push the fork to its limit.

Even in really chunky terrain, it’s impressive just what this 120mm-travel XC fork can handle.

As you get deeper into the stroke, progression builds, but the ramp-up as you get closer to full travel isn’t as pronounced or as dramatic as it was on the older fork.

Instead, it’s easier to get full travel and use all 120mm on offer more regularly, but when you do, you’re not bouncing off the bump stops, saving your wrists in the process.

I was consistently impressed when tackling fast, technical descents usually reserved for enduro bikes by just how much the SID Ultimate 3P could handle.

Okay, get too carried away and you’ll feel some flex when sliding into steeper turns with catch berms at speed (as was the case on the longest descent of the XC track I raced on). However, at no point did I feel I lost steering precision or accuracy.

Almost everywhere else, when hammering along singletrack or blasting beaten-up trail centre laps, the SID Ultimate 3P fork feels well within its comfort zone.

And what of the TwistLoc remote, I hear you cry? Well, I ended up using this way more than expected, especially when racing. Mine was set up to alter the fork and shock low-speed compression settings simultaneously.

I found myself toggling frequently between ‘open’ and ‘pedal’ modes, just to try to make life a little easier (especially during racing). It worked.

Off-road, I rarely used ‘lock’, so it’s clearly a wise move on the part of RockShox to include this firmer mid-setting. While I was sceptical initially, I've come around to being a bit of a fan now.

How does the 2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork compare to the previous SID?

Having spent a serious amount of time on the previous SID Ultimate fork, I wanted to compare it to the latest-generation, 2024 version.

Because both forks are very similar in terms of their chassis, it’s hard to discern any real difference in terms of stiffness on the trail.

Both are very capable and feel as though they can handle more than just XC riding or racing.

During the early part of the travel, the difference between the two forks is subtle yet still discernible. Although both are very sensitive, it’s the 2024 fork that feels a little more free and easy to get moving. It also seems to recover more quickly.

Towards the end of the travel, while the 2021 SID ramps up quite quickly, making it tough to achieve full travel, the transition through the final few millimetres of the 2024 SID is smoother and less progressive. This meant I found it easier to use all 120mm of travel when I needed to.

One thing I noted with the previous SID Ultimate fork when reviewing it was if you gave the bars a good yank to loft the wheel quickly up and over something, if you were running the rebound damping relatively quickly, the fork could top out with a soft ‘thunk’.

This isn’t something I’ve experienced to the same extent with the 2024 fork. I have, on just one or two occasions, felt the fork do something similar but it's certainly not as pronounced.

Finally, during the years I’ve ridden the 2021 SID Ultimate, I don’t think I've once locked it out when riding off-road. The lockout was just too firm to be comfortable, even on relatively smooth fire roads.

With the three-position damping, I’ve found myself in the pedal mode at some point on every single ride.

Yes, having the TwistLoc remote helps (most 2021 SID Ultimate forks I rode had a crown-top lever to adjust the damping), but it’s the fact that the fork continues to move and absorb bumps without feeling totally rigid that I like.

It’s certainly a move in the right direction in my eyes.

2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork bottom line

The new 2024 RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork delivers a more refined, even more capable ride feel than the previous-generation SID.

It’s smoother, tracks the trail better and feels more competent than you'd expect from an XC fork.

The move to the three-position damper makes a lot of sense and works well in practice, too.