RockShox Flight Attendant debuted in 2021 as a high-end, fully automated electronic suspension system. Incorporating a fork module, a shock module and a pedal sensor, Flight Attendant is a fully wireless system that utilises a variety of sensors to read the terrain and the rider’s input, before automatically adjusting the suspension between Open, Pedal and Lock settings.
As we discovered in our RockShox Flight Attendant review, the way it works on the trail is mighty impressive. It improves your bike’s efficiency and responsiveness on the climbs, while offering a beautifully plush and controlled ride on the way back down, all without you ever having to take your hands off the grips.
Previously Flight Attendant had only been available on complete bikes. That’s made it an expensive proposition for anyone who was eager to try out the technology, with the cheapest complete bike being the Canyon Neuron CF SLX LTD that sells for $11,749 AUD. The most expensive option is the Specialized S-Works Enduro LTD, which sells for a wallet-smashing $19,000 AUD.
That all changes today however, with the introduction of the new Flight Attendant Upgrade Kit.
What’s in the RockShox Flight Attendant Upgrade Kit?
The RockShox Flight Attendant Upgrade Kit comes in several varieties in order to fit trail bikes with 130mm of travel, all the way up to enduro race bikes with 170mm of travel.
The Upgrade Kit is comprised of a fork (Pike, Lyrik or Zeb), a shock (Super Deluxe Air), and a wireless pedal sensor. Two SRAM AXS batteries and a charger are included in the box, along with a bolt-on mudguard.
The left hand controller isn’t included with the Upgrade Kit, since it isn’t essential to the function of the Flight Attendant system. If you do decide to buy one of those separately for $370 AUD, the controller will allow you to change suspension modes manually, engage the override mode, and operate a Reverb AXS dropper post.
What bikes will it be available for?
Here’s the catch; currently the RockShox Flight Attendant Upgrade Kit is only available to fit bikes that are already offered with a Flight Attendant spec. That list of bikes includes;
- Canyon Neuron
- Canyon Spectral
- Canyon Spectral:ON
- Specialized Enduro
- Trek Slash
- YT Jeffsy
- YT Capra
Now, that’s not to say that the Upgrade Kits won’t fit other bikes on the market. It wouldn’t be too difficult to find other full suspension bikes out there that use the same fork travel and shock dimensions as those options in the above list. However, it may be harder to find another bike that has the same rear suspension kinematics.
This is important because the Super Deluxe shock is tuned specifically for the bike it’s going on. Aside from having the right shock stroke and length, aspects like the compression and rebound tune, the Firm mode tune, the optional Hydraulic Bottom Out feature, and whether it has a Progressive or Linear air can are all determined by the manufacturer. That’s why Flight Attendant has been somewhat limited up until now.
How much does it cost?
While the RockShox Flight Attendant Upgrade Kit is significantly cheaper than buying a complete bike, it’s still not an inexpensive purchase. Prices range from $4,811 AUD to $4,983 AUD, depending on the specific kit;
- Trail Upgrade Kit (Neuron): $4,811 AUD
- All Mountain Upgrade Kit (Spectral, Spectral:ON, Jeffsy): $4,897 AUD
- Enduro Upgrade Kit (Slash, Enduro, Capra): $4,983 AUD
Now that does seem like a lot of cash for a suspension ‘upgrade kit’, though it’s worth putting those figures into context.
If you were looking at a regular RockShox Zeb Ultimate ($1,747 AUD) and a Super Deluxe Ultimate air shock ($903 AUD), you’d be spending a total $2,650 AUD. The Flight Attendant Enduro Upgrade Kit is still more expensive, and you’re looking at a $2,333 AUD increase over the non-electronic equivalents.
Is the automated suspension worth the $2,333 AUD premium? That’ll be entirely up to the rider, and how much they value the improved efficiency that the system brings to the trail.
RockShox Flight Attendant review
Curious about what RockShox Flight Attendant is actually like to ride? We’ve been testing two different Flight Attendant bikes over the past year, and we’ve put together a juicy feature to discuss what we like and don’t like about it, and how compares to the latest version of Fox Live Valve. Get the lowdown in our RockShox Flight Attendant vs Fox Live Valve 1.5 review.
