RockShox Flight Attendant Review! (Specialized Epic vs Evil Following)

[@brianstewart2446]

SRAM has stated that the AXS Reverb dropper is currently not used in the calculations for FA. Or at least they did when it was originally released. I don’t think I’ve seen it formally confirmed but many people have said the plan is to take it into account at some point. I find Transmission to be far superior to any drivetrain I’ve used and it seems to shift well enough for the best XC riders in the world so I don’t think it is holding any of us mortals back. It is interesting that you said it was more difficult to setup as that is potentially the biggest benefit to most people. It is basically idiot proof to install but you also noted that it needs to be torqued correctly which is true. I torque everything to spec because it would drive me insane if I didn’t. If that isn’t true for the user then it isn’t a great choice. Great review and great series. I have both a Mach 4SL (upgraded to FA) and an S-Works Epic 8 and agree with pretty much everything you said in the reviews. Both are outstanding bikes and I’m fairly certain that is true for all of the ones you reviewed.

[@samharris82]

I just tested FA upgrade kit on both Mach 4 SL and Epic Evo 7 over two weeks back-to-back same day same tires same everything. It is so noisy on the Epic Evo, I hated it. But it is much quieter on the Mach 4 SL. I think it knows from compression readings it doesn’t have to lock out as much. The better pedaling platform of the Mach 4 SL leads to fewer electronic interventions. Also learned the Bias setting has a big impact on how frequently it intervenes. Best to think of it not as -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 but rather open +1, +2, +3, +4, +5. The higher the bias, the more it tries to squeeze out every last bit of efficiency at the cost of more adjustments (every one of which is noisy).

[@IthacaDon]

Sam, I am interested in a new XC bike for 35 mile and greater endurance races for 2025. Is FA worth the money? And it sounds like you recommend to Mach 4 SL?

[@samharris82]

@ I like mine but I don’t do long races. Only 60-90 min XC races. I still love FA and still love my Pivot Mach 4 SL!

[@Shoeless_DA]

ANOTHER VIDEO!!! You guys are on 🔥

[@IthacaDon]

RockShox/SRAM probably won't allow you to run this test but I would love to see some real world data before I spend money on FA and power meter. The test is: A hilly ~6 mile loop with tech sections and some long steep fire road climbs and short grunt tech climbs as well as rough down hill sections. Turn off FA, do the loop. Turn on FA do the loop. Rest in between. What is the difference in time and power? Have Hannah do the same. Maybe a 3rd person too. If you have Strava or some other program you could get a TSS score and see the FA show less stress. Showing this data is real proof that FA is worth the money and effort, IMHO.

[@johndef5075]

The cable management looks nicer but not really an advantage.

[@tolitsdterrible4785]

Never had an experience with flight attendant yet but one the first questions in mind is that how would you know if it's really working? Then you said you can hear the electronics working. Well, that's good I guess. 😊

[@matthewandelin1984]

Can you share what shock settings you liked on both the epic 8 and the evil? Meaning air pressure and rebound?

[@devincook3278]

It's a hella-good system when one of your complaints is a half a second "zizzz" noise.

[@samharris82]

@@devincook3278 except it will do that zizzz noise 1,000 times per hour randomly not in your control!!! 😡 I hated it on my Epic Evo… spoiled the tranquility of being in the woods. Strangely enough though, I put it on my Mach 4 SL and it calmed down making way fewer adjustments and now I love it.

[@pandatactical4530]

Transmission didn’t solve a problem? No hanger or adjustments?

[@jd0132]

I have to agree with your thoughts on Transmission. Coming from GX AXS and moving to X0 Transmission was a complete downgrade for me.

[@XCRiders]

Transmission made the new bikes with it gain weight too.

[@Paganiproductions84]

I prefur my simple setup on my xc hardtai's whit simple lockout that just works

[@TomCollins-c4h]

I had the Fox live Valve 1.5 on my Giant Trance Advanced, It kind of works the opposite way of Flight Attendant where it is firm at first and then opens up at bumps, needless to say I didn't really like it and converted my bike to acoustic shocks. It was just too firm and progressive all around and was based on the Fit4 which doesn't have very good small bump sensitivity. Having said that I'm no engineer or expert, I did lose a little efficiency and climbing ability and lots of cash lol.

[@RookYZRM1]

I’m counting 7 batteries to manage on those bikes, again hard pass on that noise for me.

[@notpablo8369]

wished the brain suspension is available for purchase

[@wescot]

Nice videos and awesome bikes but unaffordable for most enthusiasts

[@TomCollins-c4h]

Yeah, bikes are getting astronomical in price like most things, it sucks.

[@jldickerson3]

This comment is so ubiquitous, basic, and useless. He never said any of these bikes are what you need. Sure, the top end spec of almost everything in life is expensive and unnecessary. There are aluminum versions for many bikes that are fantastic, they just don't have the whiz bang pop. The pointy end of stuff is never a balanced cost benefit ratio. If you can't afford this, get a different bike. Ride it, love it. If you need a free bike, there are programs for that too. Make comments/observations that are a value-add.

[@samharris82]

@@wescot these are the bikes pro racers ride. Are you mad that Porsche 911 Cup cars aren’t affordable to most enthusiasts?

[@kevinburke1325]

Imagine complaining about bike prices. Get a job.

[@topchoice1621]

I think FA and live valve are the dumbest things for your MTB

[@brianstewart2446]

You are obviously entitled to your opinion but as someone who has put a lot of miles on both I’d say FA is absolutely outstanding and a joy to use. LiveValve is not noticeably useful or harmful. I also wouldn’t recommend FA for non XC bikes as it wouldn’t seem nearly as effective or useful. The logic behind LiveValve should make it more useful on Enduro bikes but I didn’t find that to be true in testing my Firebird with vs one without. Simply wasn’t significant enough to perceive a difference vs a correctly setup suspension.

[@mfa81]

you probably have hidden both to think that!

[@IthacaDon]

@@brianstewart2446 Brian can you share some power and lap time data that FA improved your ability to ride? Thanks!