RockShox Pike Fork Review

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RockShox Pike Spring Firm Blue New    US $39.00

RockShox 32mm seal kitfits Reba Pike Boxxer New    US $31.68

2010 ROCKSHOX PIKE 454 COIL U TURN 95 140MM OF TRAVEL    US $499.99

RockShox PopLoc Adjust remote upgrade Reba Pike New    US $84.50

RockShox Pike U Turn Spring Medium Red    US $19.99

Rockshox Rock Shox Pike Freeride Fork Lower U Turn PUSH    US $88.95

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RockShox Pike Review

If you are familiar with RockShox Mountain Bike forks and the history of this company then you know that at one time, their product line was not held in the highest regard but that reputation has completely turned around in the last few years. RockShox has reinvented itself an is really pumping out some extremely high quality bicycle components. The RockShox Pike Suspension Fork is a great example of what I am talking about. RockShox is on fire and here to stay.

RockShox Pike Lineup:
The RockShox Pike lineup can be a bit confusing as there are a total of 9 choices to choose from....wow. What these 9 choices consist of are 3 different actual RockShox Pike models that each have 3 different spring choices. All of the RockShox Pike models feature the famoun "Motion Control" damping system which has built a solid reputation for working very well.

The base RockShox Pike model is the 409 while the 426 adds an external adjustment for the floodgate control. The mac daddy of the lineup is the RockShox 454 Pike that features a hollow crown and an aluminum steering tube to boot. In addition to these basic models, you can then customize the spring style that you prefer. You can choose from either the coil-sprung U-turn fork, the Dual Air fork, or the U-Turn Air fork. For our taste, the U-Turn Air model is the best and offers a higher level of adjustability.

RockShox Pike Construction
As we mentioned above, RockShox has really made a comeback ever since being acquired by SRAM and the Pike construction reflects the quality and well designed construction. The upper legs are crafted from 7000 aluminum and are 32mm in diameter and sport an annodized finish that just looks and feels "cool." The U-Turn models are a bit dressier with some cool travel gradients on the legs as well.

The Crowns are carved out of 6061 t-6 aluminum and the 454 sheds a little bit of weight by featuring a hollow crown with a hollow one on the 454. The lowers are magnesium and feature 20mm dropouts and IS disc brake mounts. In addition to all of this, the RockShox Pike forks feature the legendary new RockShox Maxle system which has quickly become the standard by which all other axle systems are being judged.

RockShox is even tuned in enough to include a small cable guide, a zip tie and an alcohol wipe to make installation neat, tidy and clean. A nice touch.

RockShox Pike Motion Control
If you aren't familiar with the RockShox Motion Control damping system then you should be. It does a great job at smoothing out the ride and bringing it all together. It consists of a basic rebound control at the bottom of the fork and you use the blue "motion control" knob to adjust how the compression feels. Set it to full open and the ride is very plush and soft, adjust the knob up a bit and the compression and ride firms up quickly. Adjust it all the way and you can essentially lockout your fork at least as much as the floodgate will allow.

The floodgate is designed to save the fork internals in case you take a big hit while the fork is locked out. Without it you could bust the internals out of the fork. If you set it firm, then it takes a big hit before breaking loose. Soften it up and it takes less of an impact before activating the release. The entire system is very simple and you can even get an optional cable control with a handlebar mounted lever called a "poploc" that will allow you to control the system remotely.

RockShox Pike Summary

The RockShox Pike is an excellent trail fork that will serve you well for a long time and we recommend that you spend some time getting the adjustments right for it to serve you the best. You won't hurt it so adjust the pressure settings, experiment and try different settings to find what works for you. RockShox includes a decent chart on the back of the leg to get you started but then fine tuning has to be done to your personal taste. The dual air system allows an incredible amount of tuneability and performance so take advantage of it.

The RockShox Pike is a great fork on the trail and provides a very nice, smooth strok through it's entire travel range. If you've ever ridden the RockShox bomber, it approaches that ride quality.....so you know it's good. Each of the Pike's and spring combinations will have a slightly different personality but that is to be expected. The Rockshox Pike Dual Air has a nice curve to it and ramps up smoothly and evenly all the way to the end of the stroke. It gets extremely firm towards the end of the stroke to prevent bottoming.

If you climb much or are a grinder, then we'd recommend the U-Turn as it feels the best and is the easiest to go locked out with. The 5 1/2 inches of travel don't make this your typical "climbing" fork but it does make a great all around performer for those who encounter all types of terrain where they ride.

Overall given this level of performance, the RockShox Pike is an absolute STEAL in our opinion. I don't know of another fork in this price range that can go head to head with the RockShox Pike. It's a solid mountain bike fork that offers excellent quality, superb craftsmanship and the backing of a world class company. While it isn't cheap, it should cost a lot more than it does.

Video Reviews

Check out these cool video reviews of the RockShox Pike suspension forks. A superb all around choice in Mountain Bike forks that will serve you well for a long time.