Well, i pulled the trigger
Flight attendant is totally awesome!
but i will say coming from a brain where i didnt have to do anything, I am really looking forward to when the update allowing auto comes out
Flight attendant is totally awesome!
but i will say coming from a brain where i didnt have to do anything, I am really looking forward to when the update allowing auto comes out
1 Like
I thought it was already “auto”. What do you mean?
Full Suspension, yes, but there is no auto mode on hardtails or the World Cup yet, but they’re rumored to be working on it.
I’d guess that’s an Epic HT?
2 Likes
Yes, im on a World Cup, so theres not a compatible FA rear shock
I realize the picture was taken at the perfect angle that you cant tell which bike it is 
1 Like
How is the FA with only using the front fork working out for you? I thought that was an update rumored to be coming in 2025…
That’s an expensive way to eliminate a cable for now, but I’m sure they will be addressing this soon. Seems like it would be an easy bit of programming to make it work just like the front shock on a FS bike. I don’t believe FA is getting any information from the rear shock while riding and I’m not sure that having a rear shock would change the appropriate settings on the fork. Maybe some slight tweaking, but seems like the current behavior would be good enough (certainly a lot better than pure manual mode).
Beyond the requirement for a rear shock, you could also make the argument that the system should be able to work OK without pedal/PM data. I’ve did a race in 2023 (before I had FA) where my PM broke mid race and that would suck to loose all the suspension automation for a dead PM. I understand that it can’t work as well without PM or pedal sensor data, but the bike still knows whether it’s going uphill or down and how rough the terrain is. It makes sense that they would focus on optimizing the system for “ideal” inputs to start, but hopefully they will eventually implement some automated fallback modes in the case of dead batteries or equipment failures.
Maybe a dumb question, but is there away to turn off the Flight Attendant when driving to the trail to save on the battery life? Will it go to sleep if there is no pedal/power input for a period of time? I guess I could just remove the battery. Or maybe just put it in lockout mode.
I’d just take the battery out. Mine wakes up on the slightest movement, so it would definitely be active the entire drive.
1 Like
Yeah, remove battery is what I do on long drives. It does not go to sleep, it will constantly roll the lights in search mode when there is movement (it will never find the powermeter since the pedals aren’t turning). All the AXS RD’s do the same thing (stay awake based on motion), but I assume the FA fork module is burning more battery with the lights going and looking for the other components. But I don’t worry about it unless I’ve driving over an hour and have never had battery issues with FA. And I have driven for multiple hours with it searching and then ridden for multiple hours with no issue, so no big deal if you forget. The FA fork and shock modules seem to consume less battery power when riding compared to the RD, so i doubt they would run low before the RD.
Thanks for sharing that information.
Well, its been a minute. Still on the WC with FA fork, still loving it, but still wondering if the auto mode update will ever come out…
Anyone heard anything?
After quite a few hours on FA, one feature I’d like to see is the ability to configure the cycle time on suspension adjustments. I find that FA does a good job of making the right choices, but there are times I wish it would make them quicker. I assume that is mostly about conserving battery and reducing the number of times it’s switching back and forth between different modes. Good functionality for a ultra marathon race where the batteries might have to last 10+ hours, but I’d love to have the option for the system to adjust quicker and more frequently for shorter rides/races.
Another comment on battery life - if you are travelling with your bike, everything will stay active due to the motion. The lights on the fork module will constantly cycle as it looks for the powermeter (it doesn’t wake up based on motion). AXS RD’s do this as well, just not as obvious since there isn’t a light show. If I’m travelling to a race far away, I make a habit of removing all batteries to avoid drain. But I did a race last Saturday (just a couple hours), then travelled to another spot (a couple more hours), then did 3 more rides (~5 hours), then drove home 9+ hours (fork searching the entire time). Batteries still green and didn’t take much charge to top off. Just FYI if you are worried about leaving batteries on the bike while driving, the searching and light show don’t appear to use much battery.
2 Likes
The wait is over! The update came out this morning. All i had to do was update software through the app, then calibrate the system like you would normal flight attendant. Only difference is it doesnt ask you for tilt calibration, presumably from the lack of shock data.
good to know that you don’t necessarily have to remove the batteries as suggested by SRAM. Just one less headache when packing for a daytrip. I’d keep a spare battery somewhere rather than fiddle with those blockers that eventually get lost at some point.
1 Like
Updated the Epic 8 SW fork with the AXS app, firmware updated just fine, but in the app itself i see no option for launch control, or disable pedal mode etc etc, so nothing from the “new” stuff 
Even before the update had this issue, and this has just did not improved with the new firmware:
The Epic 8 fork does not switch into manual lock mode, initiated from pod controller usually after a 3-4 hour ride… The led changes to orange, and the shock’s lock works fine, but the fork damper remain open or pedal mode and very easy to compress. Removing the battery (fully charged, so its not a low battery issue) and install it right back solves the issue… but during a race it is not something i would like to do 
Anybody has similar problem?
Is there anyone who regrets buying Flight Attendant and would be happier with a remote lockout?
All the reviews are positive so I’m wondering if it’s really that good or just those who are unhappy with it are silent 
It’s a good system and works well. Is it worth the $2500 upgrade? Not sure. Knowing what I know now I wouldn’t feel left out if I didn’t have it.
That said, I have no regrets. Personally I don’t like manual lockouts and rarely used them. So for racing FA is great. It is also a nice clean look on the cockpit and ultimately one less thing to think about, which is huge deep in a race. FA does hang out on lock a lot more than I would manually so it is a less plush ride. For that reason I race with FA but don’t like it for daily riding.
1 Like
Yes, it’s really that good. I echo most of what @Jolyzara said above. I never liked the look of manual lockouts and the mental load on a technical XC loop. It’s one less thing to think about while riding, which is always nice.
If you do get it, I recommend to RTFM as the adjustments go beyond of just leaving it in auto. With the bias adjustments you can have it more open or more firm - depending on what you ride. In the app you can tell the shock and fork to cycle between pedal and open and never close, so it’s more plush for trailriding for example. I’d buy it again in a heart beat and feel like it’s much more of an upgrade compared to electronic shifting on the MTB or an electronic dropperpost.
2 Likes
+1. Totally agree with this! Though the AXS dropper is pretty great outside of how heavy it is.