Submitted by
Small Wave Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft. Bragg, CA
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2011
Strengths: Light, and, when working, it has a great feel for XC riding on my older 3 inch travel FSR XC. There are complications....see below.
Weaknesses: The original seal suck...especially for the negative chamber.
Bottom Line:
Rocky Mountain Cyclery somehow got a hold of a bunch of these and is selling them on ebay, now in 2011. For me it was a great and cheap way to keep my old XC bike working.
The down side is although they have not been used, the seals in the negative chamber are made out of some plastic that didn't hold up over time. Every one of them will fail, probably on first inflation.
However, there's a solution on ebay as well: A guy that calls himself ford_focus sells the seal kit for ten bucks - and these are rubber seals, not the weird plastic ones. I replaced mine. It's really easy, and now my bike feels better than new...much lighter than the original coil shock. The ford_focus guy will install the seals for 48 bucks including shipping.
Hope this helps someone that needs and old 3 inch travel shock.
Submitted by
steel_3d
a Weekend Warrior
from LA, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2009
Strengths: Awesome adjustability (positive, negative air spring, rebound), no bob, super light.
Weaknesses: Shock itself makes a bit of scratching noise but is smooth enough and the rebound range still works. After all these years I'm surprised there's oil still in it.
Bottom Line:
Negative side didn't hold pressure when I bought it. But I took it apart and cleaned everything, including the seal on the negative side, put it together with petroleum jelly (vaseline, since they call for oil soluble grease, but any grease should work) on the seal and o-rings, now holds pressure like a champ! Didn't even need a new seal. Don't be afraid to take it apart and clean it. It just twists apart by hand, you don't really need a special spanner wrench like the manual calls for. Here's a service giude: http://manualer.happymtb.org/rock%20shox/2003-2004%20sid%20rear%20service%20guide.pdf
Submitted by
Impaaked
a Cross Country Rider
from Vernon, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2009
Strengths: Very responsive and supple
Weaknesses: Ideal shock for lighter riders, I'm 160lbs. I've heard heavy rock crusher catagory riders complain. Negative chamber lasted 5 years before rebuild.
Bottom Line:
A very responsive and supple shock. Easy routine maintenance. Negative chamber gave up last year and I had the entire shock rebuilt for $67 (Canadian) including shipping from Kyle at The Broken Bike with a 1 week turnaround. Even came back with nice metal Schrader valve caps. Thanks Kyle.
Strengths: It's neat and stylish and it works. Easy to setup and forget.
Weaknesses: None that I have found in over 6yrs of constant use with not a single service yet.
Bottom Line:
Can not really understand all of the issues below. Mine was brought new but at discount price and I have used it on two bikes. Setting up is easy I keep mine at 200psi (pos +) and between 210-190psi (neg-).
It holds pressure all year round and the only time I change it is when I check it each year and there is never more than a 10-15psi change over each 12months..
Bottom line, I am happy and even though there are newer shoxs out there, I have to ask myself why I would change as this one works fine.
If anything happens to it I would probably service it at PUSH and just put it back on again.
Bike Setup: VPP F/S, used for trials and light free-riding.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
bikerted
a Weekend Warrior
from Kualapuu, Hawaii, USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2008
Strengths: Looks well built, Rock Shox brand name, came with bike frame.
Weaknesses: I have had nothing but bad luck with this shock. I understand it is a great product once tuned, but nothing I was able to do seemed to work the way I wanted. Either to stiff, or pogo stick like. After about 6 months, the negative air spring would not hold pressure. I ended up getting the Fox float.
Bottom Line:
I really like the Fox Float. It is lighter, and has something called pro-peddle which seems to work really well against peddle induced bob, even when climbing out of the saddle. I am willing to bet that my Sid shock was a lemon. Rock Shox has a very good reputation, and is still one of the most popular brand out there. Since the Sid rear shock is not at retail model. I am not able to find a rebuild kit for it.
Similar Products Used: Fox Float, Stratos Helix, MC After shock.
Bike Setup: 15 inch Mountain Cycle Slix, XTR, Easton carbon bars and post,SRAM 9.0 SL, ODI Lock ons, Gremecca System 8 disks, Race Face Next cranks, Fox Vanilla R fork, Fox float rear, Hutchinson Spyder lites 2.3 in., Slime, Avocet 02 Air 40 saddle, SRAM 951 chain, Cane Creek headset, Shimano XT/Mavic 223 disk wheels, 858 spds.
Strengths: decent performance, first-time mother they used a high-quality full-suspension bike and going down a bumpy hill was like skiing.
Weaknesses: it depends on how good your pump is. some pumps screw and unscrew from the valve and take ages and are fiddly, in which case you will take two seconds letting all the pressure out every time, it will be impossible to achieve more than 50 PSI...in my case the negative air valve was leaking when I bought it so I can try it out 30mins but I have to buy a new one.
Bottom Line:
I can only tell you about the performance which really impressed me but I purchased an old bike and I had to buy a new shock...you're never be able to get the exact pressure with this shock unless you have some kind of double vowels expensive pump, almost any pump you will ever find will only be within about 20 of your payment pressure.
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Easton
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2007
Strengths: low maintenance, light, plush, easy to setup
Weaknesses: none. jsut user error trying to get the right air pressure. but then that isnt a product weakness. read one of the posts below about how to set up an air shock.
Bottom Line:
I got it rebuilt when I first bought it due to a 275lb rider blowing it out by dropping off stupidly high things. Since the rebuild in 04, its been a great shock. Holds air all thru the season and even during the offseason. I set it up once at the beginning of the season and can forget about it if I dont want to change the damping. Negative chamber holds too. Nice and light. No bob on climbs, technical or smooth, but I think thats more a result of the superior iDrive and not the shock so much. No problems with agressive xc use. I weigh 200lbs and ride hard.
Submitted by
steve holcomb
a Weekend Warrior
from tampa, florida
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2007
Strengths: This rockshox sid xc rear came with the purchase of a litespeed tasli. The purchase/delivery date was Mar. 2002. It has held up very well, but I might add, I only do city riding and never go off road.
Weaknesses: So, the rear shock is now 5 yrs old. About two weeks ago The negative air champer started loosing pressure. I checked the pressure, there was none. I pumped in 160 psi and checked it again the next morning, zero pressure. I then checked the valve, it was loose, I tightened it. Now it will still loose pressure: from 140 to about 90 psi in one week...........so most of the pressure was being lost via the value, but there must be a leak in the seal also. The positive chamber still holds air very very well.
Bottom Line:
I have heard so many negative things on this site about the rockshox sid xc rear. This shock has held up very well for me. But again, I don't go off road and only ride the city streets of tampa, florida. So, I really have never put this shock to a "real" test.
Bike Setup: litespeed tsali/xtr/easton bar,stem, seat tube/chris king hubs/mavic517 rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Suva Crew
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette,CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2007
Strengths: It's lite weight...easy to set-up and responsive, no need for a lock out on the right frame.
Weaknesses: Negative side leaks
Bottom Line:
Not a fan of Rock Shox Cust Service...negative side started to leak early on and Cst Svc...said I needed to service it!!! Total BS. I have used an AD10 for 4 plus years with no service other than a wipe down.
Similar Products Used: AD Cane Creeks...the 10 was and is still the best
Bike Setup: Sugar 1 XT, Duke XC, Avid BB7s, X717 wheels
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Rainier, OR
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2007
Strengths: Lightweight, reliable, adjustable negative spring
Weaknesses: Rock Shox's reputation (in 2003)
Bottom Line:
I used this shock for two years on two Hollowpoint models with absolutely no issues. I love the adjustable negative air spring. I could set up this shock plus by having equal pressure in the positive and negative chambers. Or I could set up a "platform" by putting less pressure in the negative chamber. I think Rock Shox's reputation (at least in 2003) is what has given this shock its low rating. In my opinion, this is a superior shock to the Fox Float R
Bike Setup: 2002 Iron Horse Hollowpoint (broke), 2003 Hollowpoint Team
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from Clarkston, MI. USA
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2007
Strengths: Hasn't completely failed..yet!
Weaknesses: Won't hold air. Rebound ajustment is either too fast or too slow with only one "click" between the extremes.
Bottom Line:
Not impressed at all. Ever since day one I fill both chambers to 200psi and within 24-48 hours the negative chamber drops to 50psi. It never drops below 50psi but also never holds 200psi for more than 24-48 hours (even when not ridden). Also the ride feel even though the bike bobs during climbs (could be suspension design?). And in the past few months it has developed a problem where I can push down on the seat with one hand and cause the shock to compress about 1/4" with very little pressure. I'm ready to change to something else. Heck my original Fox Alps-4 on my old semi-retired TREK Y-33 still works better than this thing!
This is a great shock, and if someone says otherwise, it's because they aren't using it right. It's a low maintenance, high performance racing shock that ISN"T MEANT TO TAKE BIG DROPS AND JUMPS. I ride aggressive XC, and I'm no lightweight. It has held up to everything I've thrown at it.
Bike Setup: rocky mountain carve, XT/XTR w a 2003 psylo race up front
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
brian cates
a Cross Country Rider
from Greensboring
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2005
Strengths: when it works, it is plush
Weaknesses: wears out quickly. Neg air chamber wont hold pressure, making the rear wheel a pogo stick.
Bottom Line:
it was nice when it worked. Rockshox does not offer any service manuals on line, so fixing this thing is sketchy. the do not like to deal directly with customers.
Bike Setup: 2003 Giant NRS 3. Upgraded everything, except this
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Amarillo TX
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2005
Strengths: lightweight, reliable, plush, tuneable
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
i have no beef with the sid, set it up and forget about it. ive ridden without adding air pressure for hundreds of miles at a time, and have been doing so for several years now, maintenance free. it has stood up to 5 ft flat landing concrete drops withought any problems
