This generation with the debonair+ https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox/models/fs-zeb-ult-a3
Pretty much the bike shop sold him in just ordering a new damper. But arent the buttercups in both sides of the fork on the Ultimate?
Any other differences? I know with fox, its just a damper cartridge, but it feels like $200 or whatever is alittle too good to be true on the RS.
by Chole_Wunt
8 Comments
Hi, I did the upgrade years ago on my Lyrik, select to ultimate. Only changing the oil cartridge (right part of the fork, ≈250$).
My shop did it, you’ll need tools, O ring, grease and oil.
Air damper was cheaper, around 80$, and you choose how many token you add or remove (depends on the travel and the weight)
The air spring in the select+ should already have buttercups. And I believe the new damper should have them as well.
Depends, buttercups are not technically required on both sides.
Pre 2023 Zeb will not have buttercups but this fork if it has debonair+ it probably will. Either way, you can drop in a charger 3.0 damper as long as it’s not the brand new 2026 (if that’s the case why would you want to) This requires some tools and ability, but not much. You can find the charger 3.1 dampers as well and do this process.
[https://www.fanatikbike.com/collections/rockshox-charger-3-1-rc2-fork-damper-upgrade-kits?srsltid=AfmBOooDUrKhbgRdQSRx69euWdcxEmEsu8WtFFAq26i_83T7vHBwOwWK](https://www.fanatikbike.com/collections/rockshox-charger-3-1-rc2-fork-damper-upgrade-kits?srsltid=AfmBOooDUrKhbgRdQSRx69euWdcxEmEsu8WtFFAq26i_83T7vHBwOwWK)
There’s actually a kit out there that upgrades the 2023 damper (charger 3.0) to the new one (charger 3.1)
[https://www.fanatikbike.com/products/rockshox-damper-upgrade-kit-charger-3-1-rc2-piston-upgrade-kit-upgrades-charger-3-0-to-3-1](https://www.fanatikbike.com/products/rockshox-damper-upgrade-kit-charger-3-1-rc2-piston-upgrade-kit-upgrades-charger-3-0-to-3-1)
This kit requires significant labor, knowledge, and tools as it involves taking apart the damper.
On the current generation the lowers need to be verified because SRAM is being a bunch of pieces of shit and now making different lowers between the Ultimate and Select models with different bushing placements and sizing and it’s sketchy as fuck. This is at least the case on the Lyrik now and considering how people have been mixing and matching for two decades now, this is going to cause lots of problems.
I did the whole lot, you will need to upgrade to 3.0 then to 3.1. Make sure yr shop knows how to install it correctly. 3.0 to 3.1 is whole lot of difference in terms of feel and handling. Hope this helps 👍
I agree with the shop. Just upgrading the damper is an excellent value for money upgrade. It will be a big difference.
I once upgraded the stock damper in a Yari fork to an charger. I found someone who had upgraded their charger 2 to a 3. Paid $100 and it remains the best value upgrade I have ever done to the bike.
The shop is correct.
Now that’s a shop that I want to be supporting 🍻