Submitted by
singletraksam
a Cross Country Rider
from Modesto, CA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Flume Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
ROCKSHOX PIKE COIL U TURN 454: Plush, adjustable, predictable- hassle free. I am an aggressive veteran rider that demands performance and durability. I appreciate the balance that this product offers in both areas.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
RockShox Psylo Race
Bike Setup:
XC: Marin, Easton, Mavic, Race Face, SRAM
Bottom Line:
Great fork for the money!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Surlybikes13
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Collins, CO Date Reviewed: July 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Devils Backbone
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
Light, Long travel, Adjustable rebound/compression, through axel, air spring
Weaknesses:
none-travel not adjustable
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi z1, Manitou sherman, Marzochi drop off
Bike Setup:
2008 Spank Puff Hayes 9, Race Face cranks, Halo Tornado wheelset, Deity bars
Bottom Line:
Buy this fork- you won't regret it. However you should get the 454 u-turn. There has been a bunch of times when it would be nice to crank the travel down to 100mmm. This a perfect all mountain/light freride fork.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MadMouse
a Weekend Warrior
from Kuching,sarawak,Malaysia Date Reviewed: June 19, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Indian Temple mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$480.00
Purchased At:
Thong Sen Cycle
Strengths:
Light, Enough Travel for most of the trail, easy setup especially the damping less than a full turn. Give me smooth ride ^_^
Weaknesses:
there is a unknow "thing" at the bottom of the steer tube which can take it off... I get use to use the UFO (a DH acc. that to tide up the bottom and the hander stem) I can use it at this fork.
Similar Products Used:
Spinner Ammo, DNM
Bike Setup:
Versus Blitz, Pike 454 (2007), Sram x.9 group set, bb5 brake
Bottom Line:
I like this fork so far ..... love it ...... but why ROCK SHOX web side doesn't provide any way that we can write an email to ask them some question ??? And if any one who know how to take off the "thing" at the bottom of the steer tube ..... please tell me .....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a
from UK Date Reviewed: April 23, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Maxle is simple and reliable Stiff in all direction Fits a fat tyre with plenty of room for UK mud on top Motion control damping Travel adjust
Weaknesses:
Spikes on unexpected fast hits (i.e. a big sharp lump in an otherwise smooth trail while going fast). Fine when damping circuit is already moving. Loses a small amount of travel when set up for how I like to ride (plush). Travel adjust needs too many turns to change anything.
Similar Products Used:
Fox Float 32 and Vanilla 32 RS Revelation
Bike Setup:
2006 Heckler
Bottom Line:
Good, solid trail fork. Total fit and forget. Would happily buy another if need be if they didn't cost so much these days.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hula
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Vegas, NV, USA Date Reviewed: February 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Bootleg Canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$675.00
Purchased At:
friend in business
Strengths:
Maxle is amazing, the damping system is fabulous and simple too. The paint is holding up well and so far no problems with anything falling off. U-Turn is wonderful and this fork has been the most reliable yet in my stable. Tracks really well through the rough stuff and corners like a nascar on the oval.
Weaknesses:
Not enough fun colors!!
Similar Products Used:
Fox Talas RC 36, Float 36 RC.
Bike Setup:
Foes FXR 07(L)black with Curnutt Air shock; Hope hubs laced to Mavic Dee Max rims(rebuild), Gammut chain guide, Sram x.o gearing(07), Hope M4 7" brakes(front and rear), Race Face Diabolus 70mm stem(black), Easton EA70 high rise bar, odi grips, Shimano Saint crankset(double), Kenda small block 8(2.3 on rear) and Nevegal 2.3 on the front, Chris king headset(pink) and the Hope hubs are black!!
Bottom Line:
When set up correctly and I mean correctly the fork and rear suspension work in harmony with one another so people don't be lazy spend the time to set it up the right way. My co-riders all complain that their forks don't work well or the shocks don't ride well. Bahh!! When I get out the sag chart and my pump to set it the right way they say (dude!! how'd you do that!) Duh..............I say. C'mon guys the girls know how to set their steeds up so don't embarass us anymore. Thanks Rock Shox!!
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Submitted by
Red
a Weekend Warrior
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: February 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Strengths:
Lightweight,long travel, great control over technical, roots and rocks,love the u-turn setup,and 20mm Maxle, good park/street/dirt fork(all in One).
Weaknesses:
Dust and mud behind the arch hard to be clean(just like other fork),not good in extreme weather, rebound knob loose after crash, dust entering u-turn knob, others is good.
Similar Products Used:
SR suntour XCR,SR suntour Epicon, RockShox Judy.
Bike Setup:
Tank Ds.1 Frame, RS Pike454coil, SS 22-14, Shimano Deore Crank, MRP bashguard, Hayes HFX 9DH, Avids 180mm Rotor, Syncros DS28 wheels, Panaracer Rampage2.35,Syncros and Azonic Cocpit, Chris King Headset.
Bottom Line:
RS Pike 454 is the best I have(hard to get a good/value fork for money in my country). My first preception about the aluminium steerer is negative, but after a month it prooved me wrong, the U-turn travel is awesome and helpfull. The Maxle is great and easy to use. Hope to see a fork that can handle rainy/wet/extreme weather here, hope to see it from RockShox. The world is not flat, so do the weather. (MUST BUY PRODUCT FROM ROCKSHOX)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from HI Date Reviewed: February 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
I don't play favorites, they're all great!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Strengths:
STIFF! Keeps the wheel connected to the ground. The Maxle is awesome!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Minute, Zoke Bomber
Bike Setup:
Chumba XCL!
Bottom Line:
This is a great fork! I have the coil version and weigh 205 w/o gear. I had to upgrade to the X-Firm spring. Once I did that, the fork came to life. It tracks the ground extremely well and has that nice plushness you get from a coil. The Maxle can't be beat for a thru axle design. I can get my front wheel off quicker than my buds with QRs.
Run, don't walk and go buy one!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from State College, PA, USA Date Reviewed: January 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
(If I had to choose) Beautiful Trail, Rothrock State Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
From local guy, was ridden 10 times previously
Strengths:
Very Plush, Good range of adjustment. No tools needed to remove wheel or make adjustments. Very stiff and confidence inspiring due to 20 mm axle and 32 mm stantions. By making the steerer tube aluminum, they save precious weight and fork is light for what it does. Best RS I've ever ridden.
Weaknesses:
Honestly, I am usually very critical, but this fork...as yet...has no flaws to speak of. I have steered away from Rockshox in the past b/c of a bad experience with Judy's, but these F'ing Rock so far!
Similar Products Used:
RS Judy, Manitou Minute 2 (130mm), Fox RLS (100mm), Marzocchi MX Comp (105mm), Marzocchi DJ 2 Long Travel (150mm)
I ride mostly urban/street during the week and weekends when I can, with a long ride through the mountains every few weeks. I have been looking for a fork that can accommodate both of these styles...and I finally found it. My criteria when searching for a fork were 32 mm stantions, 20 mm axle, reasonably light, and adjustable rebound and compression. The ability to change amount of travel was a bonus, but really worth it I feel now. I went with the coil version b/c I thought maintanance would be easier.
First off it is plush in both 140mm and 95mm positions, and all in between. The rebound really ramps up at the end of the travel, and I have yet to bottom it out on the stock springs. I have heard through many reviews disappointment that they are too soft. I am 5'7" and 150 lbs, and it feels perfect for me. I have taken 5 foot drops off loading docks onto concrete in the 95 mm position, and no bottoming. With the bike in this lowered position, manuals, hops, and pretty much everything becomes easier.
When going XC, I usually set it at full travel. The fork works like a dream! Rebound is adjustable on the bottom of fork leg. The flood gate and compression adjustments work together to control rate of compression. If you know trail conditions before hand, you can fine tune the fork very nicely. Lock out is only good for long road rides.
Great Job on this one RockShox! I highly recommend this product to moderately serious xc riders to light freeriders and trials folks. Very versatile ride.
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Submitted by
Kg
a
from corvallis oregon Date Reviewed: October 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
fullcycles.com
Strengths:
plush and stiff, reasonably priced
Weaknesses:
Travel adjust kind of a hassle - I think it took 8 full rotations to go from 95-140mm. Weight.
Similar Products Used:
130mm Marzo Z1 (through axle), 140mm Fox talas, 130 Manitou minute coil
Bike Setup:
Pike 454 coil was on a 6" travel all mountain frame
Bottom Line:
Super plush, super stiff and very adjustable fork. However I think its overkill for an average weight trail rider. If your a big'un or if you really punish your equipment this would be a great piece of kit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
toby
a Cross Country Rider
from stirling Date Reviewed: October 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
innerleithen
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Strengths:
steering response, stiffness and low weight
Similar Products Used:
marzochi drop off 4
Bike Setup:
gary fisher GED built as light as possible for aggressive cross country riding. bontrager rythem elite wheels, sram x9 transmission, bontrager carbon bars and sat post, hayes 9 brakes and xt chainset with bash guard.
Bottom Line:
lovin'em! to be fair i don't really pound them to thier limit but they are super good for all that i do! the u-turn is great and the bolt thru hub is super responsive.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Or Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
20mm hub, stiff, U-Turn
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Various Zokes, RS
Bike Setup:
Turner 5 Spot
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 454 coil. The 20mm hub is what I wanted the fork for. The fork is stiff and takes you where you point it. The U-Turn is a nice add but I run mine at 140 most of the time. I wanted to put ths fork to the test so it's maiden voyage was at Whistler. I found that I was able to get all of the desired travel and it asked for more. At speed I noticed that the fork felt like it was locking out, this may be due to how I had the return set. Over all it was able to take Whistler with no issues. I enjoyed the 5" bike but I did get rattled a bit. On the fast groomed run "easy does it" the pike just ate it up. I was able to out ride other riders on bigger 8" bikes. I think that the Pike had a big play in this. On the rocky sections the Pike kept the bike in line and rolled over most of the section without problems. whistler can be hard on parts, a couple of dings and scratches, nothing to worry about.
Over all a great buy. I have also rode the 426 coil. Great buy if the 454 is too much $$$, they are identical except for Stear tube and crown, another great buy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Newtown Date Reviewed: August 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Maxle, platform damping and weight
Weaknesses:
Lockout dial is too light
Similar Products Used:
'Zocchi FR SL
Bike Setup:
Mountain Cycle San An with RockShox Pearl 3.3
Bottom Line:
Lovely buttery travel and light weight. It feels stiff and inspires confidence. On tight single track, the lockout dial keeps getting pushed around by brush and locking out the fork. This is due to the lockout dial being much too light to rotate. The pop-lock would cure this but seems it a real design problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wayne Michaelian
a Weekend Warrior
from Chatsworth, GA USA Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Racoon Mtn.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Trail Head Bicycle Co.
Strengths:
Good Solid Fork. The 20mm thru axle (maxle) is easier to use than a reg. skewer. one of the lighter all mtn forks out there. Lots of adjustments.
Weaknesses:
The negative air pressure can not be greater than the possitive or it will suck the fork down. That being said, I followed the set-up manual for a 180lb rider, and backed off the neg. pressure by 15psi. and this thing soaks up the small little roots and rocks but can still handle large jumps and 3-5 foot drops with ease!
Similar Products Used:
fox float rl and rlc
Bike Setup:
2007 santa cruz heckler, fox dhx 5.0, custom built mavic 321 wheels with hope hubs(thanks charles!)kenda nevagal dtc 2.35 tires, truvativ hussefelt cranks w/ e-thirteen bash, crank bro. mallets, azonic strip bars w/ fsa stem
Bottom Line:
If you are an agressive trail rider that likes to wander off the beaten path and bomb the rock gardens,this fork is for you. On the other side, if you are a weekend warrior just looking for a smooth ride, this fork will deliver, and take you to the next level as you improve.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dick Justice
a Downhiller
from A Rainy Little Island Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Edale, Derbyshire
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Good action and a short axle-crown distance for a nice low front end are great but the Maxle is the best thing ever. I like bolt through forks and have used QR bolt through systems before but this is the only one thats any good. Really helps when I get a puncture or want to put my bike in a car.
Weaknesses:
Came with a very soft spring so I had to buy a new spring for £30. Some oil is present on the top of the lockout lever...
...I might have broken them. They still work mind you.
U-turn is pretty rubbish compared to other systems like ETA, 2-step and whatever the manitou ones called. Its slow, can't be done easily on the fly and means you have to stop to use it. I won't bother looking for this feature again.
Similar Products Used:
'06 Fox float RL, '05 Marzocchi Z1 freeride SL, '07 Marzocchi AM1, Fox 36 Talas RC2
Bike Setup:
454 coil U-turn, with the extra firm ride spring. Specialized Enduro Elite '06 with DHX 4 Air. Triple ring freeride/cross-country setup.
Bottom Line:
These forks are pretty good but I'm not too sure on reliability as I'm pretty worried about that bit of oil on the top of the lockout lever! The action is really good once you get them set up although they came really soft as stock (I weigh 85kg and like suspension pretty hard so it pedals well) and I'd like to see them come with a harder spring so I don't have to blow more cash on them.
All in: Pretty cheap, light enough, Good features, damping feels REALLY good but not too sure on reliability. A really decent fork at the price but not perfect.
The stickers/paint job on it look rubbish though. They need to do them in holographic colours if they're gonna sell me a set next year too (as I guess these will be dead by then).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gez Mason
a Cross Country Rider
from Hampshire, UK Date Reviewed: April 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Chocolate Pudding
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Rutland Cycles
Strengths:
Looks, stifness, features, plushness and grin factor.
I've only used these for about 3hrs today in the Surrey Hills and can honastly say that these forks are astonishing!! Strong words but having used Fox's Talas RL for the past 3yrs they are like night and day compared. The Talas's i felt always let my old Spes Enduro down and it was worse when i bought my dream new Turner 5 Spot, they've always felt like they were damped with saw-dust!! These though for an air fork straight outa the box feel so plush( not bedded in yet) and i can now at last have sag, this and ive only set up the positive and negative air chamber to the recomended preasure and they just feel so plush. The Talas's never ever felt plush, how ever you set them up! The Maxle is fabulous, so easy to use and gives amazing stiffness which means fast turn-ins are now an absolute joy. Blasting down fast rough/rooty trails on the Talsas's always gave me a sense of impending doom, sorta 50/50 make it/crash feeling, but the same trails at the same speed with the pikes and all you get is a huge grin on ya face blasting through lines i'd have never gone through before. Then there's the motion control/floodgate/pop-loc adjust, very clever but really i'll probably leave them in the open position maybe using some lock out on the climbs. Bottom line, if your an aggressive XC rider(not downhiller) this is an amazing fork that feels like a coil Marzocchi but weighs hardly anything, buy it!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dja Think
a Cross Country Rider
from Bollocks, Tibet Date Reviewed: April 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
dirty, dirty, dirty
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$498.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycles
Strengths:
Nice for an air fork. Has just the right a2c for my ride.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't come with a butler to install and maintain for those who can't read instructions, don't understand simple mechanicals, or are just plain stupid. I suppose the whole dual air concept is a bit much for some people.
Similar Products Used:
Lots, I prefer to alway have a fork and front wheel on my bikes. It just rolls so much better, done cha think?
Bottom Line:
It really sucks when one or two twits skew the results due to their inability to read. Such is life.
I have to say that if you search the forums a bit you'll find some really great advice on setups and minor mods to take that little bit of stiction out of these pups and get the air pressures dialed in a bit more quickly.
I love the buttery feel of coils springs but these are oh so nice for an air fork. And I have to admit the progressiveness of an air fork is sublime. I'm looking forward to tweaking these this summer to get just the right balance out of them. Someday, I'll find the MB version of my old road racing motorcyle's air assisted coil spring fork. High volume, low pressure, and so sweet you didn't even know it was there.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve brown
a Weekend Warrior
from bristol Date Reviewed: March 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
home
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
stif
Strengths:
functionality, action is sweet and strong
Weaknesses:
travel adjustment has stuck on 3rd ride!! Managed to wind back out to 140mm but is now stuck there.
Similar Products Used:
the usuals suspects
Bike Setup:
Heckler, Fox DHX 5.0 Air,
Bottom Line:
Nice fork but dissapointed it's failed so soon. Guess we'll see what after service is like
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Cosgrove
a Weekend Warrior
from Alta Loma , Ca. Date Reviewed: March 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Jensens
Strengths:
This is follow up on my previous post. After talking with the Rock shox crew found out you cannot put a higher psi in the neg chamber than the pos chamber. This sucks the fork down. Unfortunate because I would use this to get a plusher feel . Exchanged for the coil version. no problems yet. Went to the firm spring though.
Bottom Line:
I will post soon on the coil version.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a
from San Jose Date Reviewed: March 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
stiff but light for a thru axel fork
Weaknesses:
it isn't cheap
Similar Products Used:
fox 36
Bike Setup:
Commencal 5.5
Bottom Line:
My 2006 Pike has over 600 miles on it and I couldn't be happier with it...no problems. The 36 wasn't durable for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chuck
a Downhiller
from Denver, Colorado Date Reviewed: February 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
stiff, smooth and adjustable
Weaknesses:
pricey
Similar Products Used:
talas
Bike Setup:
intense
Bottom Line:
Clearly the best fork for the money
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adam joanisse
a Racer
from fredericton Date Reviewed: February 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
singletrack
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
radical edge
Strengths:
It's 07 stiff fork, looks good, easy set up,
Weaknesses:
none yet but this is my replacment from my 05 pike sl the stanction was letting go of the crown on right side so i hope this one holds lol
Similar Products Used:
pike sl,
Bottom Line:
its a great fork comin from a company who was known for having bad forks but i guess take overs are what we need thank you sram you mave have turned the worse into the best
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Cosgrove
a Weekend Warrior
from Alta Loma, ca. Date Reviewed: January 20, 2007
Damn thing will not return to full travel after winddown!!!! After my first ride I had to send it back!!! Heard that there are issues with the air cartridge and seals. This fork cost to much $$$ to have air seal and air cartridge issues on and air fork!! I thought sram had straightened out rock shox. I was assured by the tech the issue would be resolved. We shall seeeeeeee!
Similar Products Used:
Foxtalas 32, good fork, Fox van 36 rlc- blew out rebound, 05 minutes and nixons sent back 5 times to many issues to list, 06 intrinsic platinum nixon 3 rides blown out, 07 fox talas 36 2 rides good so far.
Bike Setup:
5 spot 28 lbs, 06 enduro 150 all the goodies
Bottom Line:
Haven't owned a rock shox fork for a long time because of dependability issues, heard sram was all about quality. The parts are much better, hope they fix my fork correctly or it is going back to jensons. You have to expect hard riding on a fork like this, so it should be built to hold up, not bread down after 1 ride!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Col
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: December 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great performance. Top model has all the bells and whistles you could wish, and all the features are usable. The Maxtal is just so easy to use.
Weaknesses:
It’s always nice if things were lighter! None so far, though lever on Maxtal did get so clogged with mud that some of the alloy wore/broke away when undoing it during a puncture repair...I was being a bit heavy handed!
Similar Products Used:
Fox Vanilla R 125, RS Revelations, Fox Float
Bike Setup:
Turner 5 Spot, xt and Hope
Bottom Line:
Had Fox Vanilla's before this, and had some premature wear issues with these. So time to look else where for new forks.
Originally I was going for the RS Revelations without the remote pop-lock, but LBS was unable to get any stock for weeks... so gave me a deal on some top model Pikes instead.
My initially reservations about the usefulness of the remote pop-lock feature have been ill founded. The combination of adjustable floodgate, bar mounted lockout, and compression damper are excellent. Take some time to set it up right, and you'll have suspension that’s plush when you want it, doesn't bob on the climbs, and won’t blowing through all its travel down steep drop-off strewn descents.... and all without taking your hands off the bars.
I tend to run them in 125-mode; only winding them out to 145 for steep DH's with lots of rocks and drops. 6 months on and I feel these forks are probably a bit too HD for 80% of my regular trail riding, and the Revelations may have been more suitable.... and lighter...may be...may be not! Either that or I need to drive out and find some real mountains more often i.e. Wales, Scotland or the Alps The Pike is about 1/2 lb up on the revelations but it is more rigid; its most noticeable entering and exiting fast tight turns and traversing 3-inch plus roots and rocks at speed, you’ll only notice this in a back-to-back comparison, like I did on my bros Revelation equipped Moto-lite. Performance wise the Pike or Revelation is equal to any equivalent Fox product for less money. Can’t see long-term ownership being an issue.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Knoxville Date Reviewed: November 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Came with bike
Strengths:
This fork performs very well in all situations, it soaks up evrything the trail dishes out without any surprises. The Maxel just flat works and provides a very stiff front end that tracks without regard to the trail conditions, speed load etc. Build quality appears to be first rate and the entire package plainly stated looks and performs great.
$
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