SR Suntour's updated for 2020 Durolux 36mm stanchion enduro fork continues the brand's reputation for offering more affordable alternatives to the big hitters – that's Fox's 36 and RockShox's Lyrik, Yari and Pike.
The new fork is available at three price points: €639 for the cheapest RC PCS, €739 for the RC2 PCS and €759 for the R2C2 PCS model.
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But what do all those acronyms mean?
SR Suntour's Piston Compensator System – PCS for short – claims to reduce oil cavitation (when the damping oil gets gas in it, reducing the effectiveness of the damper) inside the fork damper to help increase performance. All of the new Durolux fork models have PCS tech.
The PCS dampers have varying levels of external compression and rebound adjustment, denoted by the RC portion of the moniker.
The RC model has simple low-speed rebound and compression adjustment, while the RC2 has high- and low-speed compression adjustment and low-speed rebound control.
The high-flying R2C2 model features both high- and l0w-speed rebound, and compression adjusters.
All of the Durolux forks have a brand-new Equalizer negative air spring – dubbed EQ in this acronym heavy world.
Although details of how this works are sparse in the press release, SR Suntour is claiming that it "perfectly equal[ises] the rider's weight to the spring curve resulting in exact positioning and support."
That sounds great, but I'd hedge my bets on this just being a standard self-equalising air spring as seen on pretty much all forks from the big brands.
The spring curve is modifiable with volume reducer spacers, a bit of tech also seen on a lot of brand's offerings.
Next up in SR Suntour's world of acronyms is QSP. That's short for Quick Service Products and is attributed to anything in its range that has external grease and pressure ports that, it claims, helps increase maintenance intervals.
The Durolux comes with an integrated fender that is available in three colours – matt black, gloss black and gloss white – and in both 27.5in and 29in wheel versions.
Every version of the fork has a 180mm rotor direct-mount caliper fitment, comes with boost axle spacing and a tapered 1.5in to 1 1/8in steerer.
The 29in version is available with 150mm, 160mm and 170mm of travel and 44mm or 51mm offsets.
The 27.5in fork comes with 160mm, 170mm or 180mm of travel but only a 44mm offset.
SR Suntour claims the Durolux weighs 2,120g.
Whether the new Durolux will be able to compete against the competitively priced and seriously-good Yari remains to be seen.
It's obvious for all to see that RockShox' budget offerings – including the Lyrik and Pike Select forks – are directly in the Durolux's firing line and could be specced to a whole host of manufacturers cheaper bikes as OE parts in the not too distant future.
In the meantime, we're going to get our hands on a set and work on a review to find out whether they can compete with the top dogs.
2020 SR Suntour Durolux models and specifications
SR Suntour Durolux RC PCS
- Wheel size: 29in, 27.5in
- Travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm (29in) / 160mm, 170mm, 180mm (27.5in)
- Axle: Boost
- Cartridge: RC PCS
- Brake mount: 180mm post
- Spring: Air EQ
- Stanchions: 36mm, aluminium alloy black anodised
- Steerer: Tapered 1.5in to 1 1/8in
- Crown: Solid magnesium
- Offset: 44m, 51mm (29in) / 44mm (27.5in)
- Price: €639
SR Suntour Durolux RC2 PCS
- Wheel size: 29in, 27.5in
- Travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm (29in) / 160mm, 170mm, 180mm (27.5in)
- Axle: Boost
- Cartridge: RC2 PCS
- Brake mount: 180mm post
- Spring: Air EQ
- Stanchions: 36mm, aluminium alloy black anodised
- Steerer: Tapered 1.5in to 1 1/8in
- Crown: Hollow Tech magnesium
- Offset: 44m, 51mm (29in) / 44mm (27.5in)
- Price: €739
SR Suntour Durolux R2C2 PCS
- Wheel size: 29in, 27.5in
- Travel: 150mm, 160mm, 170mm (29in) / 160mm, 170mm, 180mm (27.5in)
- Axle: Boost
- Cartridge: R2C2 PCS
- Brake mount: 180mm post
- Spring: Air EQ
- Stanchions: 36mm, aluminium alloy black anodised
- Steerer: Tapered 1.5in to 1 1/8in
- Crown: Hollow Tech magnesium
- Offset: 44m, 51mm (29in) / 44mm (27.5in)
- Price: €759
