Mountain bikes are too expensive. We hear it all the time. And while that may be true if you’re fixated on the top tier rigs for $10k, below that we’ve seen massive leaps in performance for the entry and mid-level products. The latest fork from RockShox is a perfect example. The new 35 Gold RL offers what looks to be an impressive level of performance, and all for just $499.

Chosen as their preferred fork platform for high end single crown forks, RockShox has previously used the 35mm chassis for forks like the Revelation, Yari, Lyrik, and Pike. Thanks to the aluminum upper tubes and magnesium lowers, these forks have an impressive stiffness to weight ratio which can be felt directly on the trail.

Now, that same 35mm platform is available for $150 less when compared to the RockShox Revelation RC. The new 35 Gold RL manages to drop the price with a step down to Motion Control damping with Rebound and simple Lock Out, but keeps the DebonAir air spring. Not only that, but the fork maintains the ability to change out the travel with All-Travel spacers from 100 to 160mm, and can use 32mm Bottomless Tokens to tune the air spring curve.

Available in 27.5 and 29″ wheel versions, there are also four different fork offsets with 37/44mm for 27.5″ and 44/51mm for 29″. Sold with a Maxxle Stealth, we’re assuming that fork is Boost 110 x 15mm and the weight is not yet provided. Available as an aftermarket option, the 35 Gold RL sells for $499.