RockShox has given a major upgrade to Flight Attendant, its state-of-the-art automatic electronic suspension adjustment system.
It is now paired with the recently launched Charger 3.1 damper, a departure from the bladder design of the discontinued Charger 2.1, which remained available on Flight Attendant Pike, Lyrik and ZEB forks to this day.
Moving to Charger 3.1 across the entire fork range – except the SID, which has its own Flight Attendant Charger Race Day 2 damper – the new forks gain access to the retuned low-speed compression damping touted to improve performance.
In addition to the reworked compression tune, the latest Charger 3.1 damper technology features user-tunable compression and rebound, with valve sets available separately.
RockShox confirmed that the Charger 3.1 Flight Attendant dampers can be retuned with a light, medium or heavy rebound valving – like non-Flight Attendant forks – but they only have one compression tune.
The low speed range of the compression tune is similar to the standard damper, while the high speed is set slightly firmer.
All MY25 Flight Attendant forks also get the same reworked bushings as their non-electric counterparts.
By working on the tolerances and factory processes, SRAM says these reduce friction, which improves comfort and traction.
Although the hydraulic internals of the fork have been updated, the appearance remains unchanged.
Likewise, all the new machine learning technologies that were launched when SID got the electronic treatment, such as Adaptive Ride Dynmaics, Bias Adjust, Effort Zones and Override Mode, remain unchanged.
As do the minimum component requirements, namely a fork, shock and pedal sensor. Add an AXS rear derailleur, left pod controller and a power meter for even more performance.
All Charger-3 equipped forks (Pike, Lyrik and ZEB) can be upgraded to use a Flight Attendant damper, but a corresponding Flight Attendant rear shock must also be installed.
As far as shocks go, you have a choice between the new Vivids and the Super Deluxe Ultimate.
However, the latest technology may remain the subject of your fantasies, as RockShox only officially supports Flight Attendant on a handful of bikes:
- Canyon Neuron 29 2021-2022
- Canyon Spectral 2019-2022
- 2023+ Canyon Spectral: ON
- 2019+ Santa Cruz High Tower
- 2023+ Santa Cruz Mega Tower
- 2020+ Specialized Enduro
- 2022+ Special Levo SL S2-S6
- 2021+ Specialized Stumpjumper Evo S2-S6
- 2023+ Trek Fuel EX
- Trek Slash 2021-2022
- 2023+ Trek Slash Gen 6
- 2020+ Yeti SB140
- 2022 YT Capra 29
- 2021-2022 YT Jeffsy 29
While mounting on other bikes is possible, RockShox says it is not recommended due to shock damping issues, shock adjustment incompatibility, and flight attendant’s limited shock length.
To check if your bike is compatible with Flight Attendant, please visit the RockShox website here.
Completely new to the Flight Attendant range is the gravity-biased Vivid shock absorber, in both coil and air-sprung variants.
In simple terms, this takes the Vivid and bolts the Flight Attendant module to the piggyback reservoir. Aftermarket upgrades aren’t possible, though, so if you just bought a Vivid Ultimate coil or air, you’re out of luck if you want to enable Flight Attendant.
Neither Vivid Shock is available aftermarket either.
This suggests that more brands – which have not yet been announced – plan to equip Flight Attendant with their gravity-oriented enduro and downhill bikes. Once that list is announced, we suspect the Vivids will become available on the aftermarket.
We’ve also seen Flight Attendant on RockShox’s Boxxer fork during World Cup downhill races. Its public release is also possible.
RockShox Flight Attendant Awards
If you’re lucky enough to have a compatible bike, upgrading to Flight Attendant will set you back some serious cash.
RockShox Flight Attendant Charger 3.1 damper
- Compatible with Pike C1+, Lyrik D1+, ZEB A1+
- £/$/€ no price stated
RockShox ZEB ultimate flight attendant
- 170 mm travel, 29 inch wheel
- £1,609 / $1,599 / €1,799
RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Flight Attendant
- 160 mm travel, 29 inch wheel
- £1,569 / $1,549 / €1,749
RockShox Pike ultimate flight attendant
- 140 mm travel, 29 inch wheel
- £1,519 / $1,499 / €1,699
RockShox Super Deluxe ultimate flight attendant
- Eye-to-eye and stroke lengths not specified
- £939 / $949 / €1,049
RockShox Vivid and Vivid Coil ultimate flight attendant
- Eye-to-eye and stroke lengths not specified
- £/$/€ not available as aftermarket