Submitted by
pauljolly65Q
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2009
Strengths: Strong, plush, great adjustability
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
I LOVE THIS FORK! After my old Marz died & I suffered through six months of riding with a 2008 55R, I bought this when the 55R was in for repair & haven't looked back. I've gone on 10+ rides & have a good feel for it. The U-turn is great. Adjusting the travel lets me change the geometry so climbing is more sure. The lockout gate is a killer idea and easy to dial in--it helps with the small bumps and gives much better feel for the trail than when the full suspension is engaged. When engaged, the full travel is plush & has me riding more confidently than I did in the past. I should note that the fork was rebuilt by Jerry at HippieTech so it's not stock. I'll be sending it in to him in the future, too. A great shock.
Submitted by
Chris Benson
a
from West Hawk Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007
Strengths: -Very Plush -Maxel -Looks Awsome -Travel Adjust Works Great
Weaknesses: -A little heavy for the amount of travel -Rebound adjust is on the bottom of the fork(Not a big deel because it is not something you adjust frequently
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect fork for those riders who want to go up and down equally as well. ti is great for upto 2 hr. climbs and can handle 6-8 foot drops. Great fork for the typical all mountain rider.
Bike Setup: 05 Cove Hustler, Juicy Sevens, Highrollers, RP3 Rear Shock, X9 Shifters and Derailleurs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Benson
a
from West Hawk Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007
Strengths: -Very Plush -Maxel -Looks Awsome -Travel Adjust Works Great
Weaknesses: -A little heavy for the amount of travel -Rebound adjust is on the bottom of the fork(Not a big deel because it is not something you adjust frequently
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect fork for those riders who want to go up and down equally as well. ti is great for upto 2 hr. climbs and can handle 6-8 foot drops. Great fork for the typical all mountain rider.
Strengths: large stanchions, maxle, u-turn, lockout(though i hardly use it)
Weaknesses: one guy said the rebound adjust is too big, i rode without it this past year, but i've put it back in and suppose once i get it tuned closer to my rear ill take it back out again.
Bottom Line:
i used to have the box, and loved it but found for AM/FR it was just not the ticket. so i tested a AM which i liked, but didnt like the QR front, so i throw this on. wow. now this bike (save for the weight of my cranks) is like a venerable AM/FR machine. i rode it 100+ days and have no maintainence issues whatsoever. its heavier than its 9mm QR counterparts but i think the maxle is way better anyways [stiffer] i do not think i'll get rid of it. most likey. btw. i got rid of the box cuz i wrecked the stanchion this one while similar,doesnot make me feel as if it needs boots (ie. its stronger )
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2007
Strengths: Stiff, doesn't flex through rock gardens. Controlled, not overly plush, not overly stiff. Light(air version,) only 4.2lbs Great range of rebound, and feelable floodgate and compression adjust.
Weaknesses: 2005 Maxle is not as easy to use as 2006/7 Maxle.
Bottom Line:
Everything that a good all mountain fork should be.
Submitted by
thomas german
a Weekend Warrior
from doylestown, pa
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2006
Strengths: looks awesome, maxle is cool, smoooooth travel, pop-loc adjust is useful.
Weaknesses: spring is very soft(i replaced though with x-firm). lack of color choices(slate blue doesn't match my bike). I will just powdercoat them over the winter. the u-turn knob sucks. it is hard to grip! I will replace with a better designed 2006 model soon. no real issues though
Strengths: This fork is overall the best fork that i have ever used. It performs at a high level for almost any type of riding. It especially excels in dirt jumping, freeride and street. The adjustability on the fork is what impresses me the most. You can adjust the travel from 95-140mm, you can adjust the stiffness and the rebound. Overall a strong fork no problems.
Weaknesses: Nothing so far!!!
Bottom Line:
If you are considering in getting a fork that is strong, extremely adjustable, light weight and not head over heels expensive consider getting a pike!
Similar Products Used: i have tried a z1, a dropoff, dirtjam, dropoff4 and none have came close.
Bike Setup: Norco sasquatch
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Anthony
a Downhiller
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2006
Strengths: *20mm bolt thru *Stiff *Easy to adjust *low maintance *Asthetically, not over styled
Weaknesses: *Stantions squeak a little
Bottom Line:
Solid fork, I never maintain my shocks or forks.Have never given me any problems. Good for climbing, when cranked down. Comes into its own on fast technical decents, never have to touch the brakes..this forks takes it all ...have another pair on my Rail...takes a good beating on 4x,dirt jumps and street ..proper good forks.. industry bench mark in my opionion..
Bike Setup: *5 Spot,Race Face,Hope,King,XTR,Eastern,Mavic,MAxxis
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2006
Strengths: Stiff; Plush; Well made; 20mm hub; light; great adjustments; the motion control works well but is simple; even new, the value is great
Weaknesses: The stock spring is too soft...however, I added an extra firm and it's dialed now!
Bottom Line:
I used to be all Zoki, until I rode the Pike. I'm 6'2" 180lb and I finally got an extra firm black spring. Now the shock behaves, I feel, properly. If you ride aggresively, go with the stiffer spring, it is a night and day difference. The Maxle is sweet, stiff and simple to use; the U-Turn is nice for switching between riding up and the DH or for DJ's and urban stuff; the rebound really helps in getting it all dialed in; the compression and floodgate adjustments are also very useful. With the stock spring (med) I used to run this thing locked out with the gate open because it felt too sloppy open, even on the DH. Now, I can run it wide open (compression and flood gate) with the xtra firm spring, and it just hooks up in the plushest of ways. I've ridden this shock hard for about a year now and the seals are still in good shape. No oil leakage or anyother problems at all. The coil version is also easy to maintain since there are few parts to mess with.
Bottomline: Kudos to RockShox, I usually don't give 5 stars for anything, but for the price and performance, you simply can't beat the Pike, just make sure so upgrade the spring to bring out it's full potential.
Bike Setup: Jamis XLT frame; Pike; Float R rear; DH wheels/tires; heavy
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Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006
Strengths: Forks are very plush, they soak up all bumps. Floodgate is very useful allowing the forks to be set up for different situations and allows them to be locked out. Forks pedal very well uphills. U-turn 95-140mm travel, set at 95mm for riding up and then wind out to 140mm for the downhills.
Weaknesses: Stock spring is rated for riders weighing 60-70kgs and is too soft for me at 80kg, Flood gate sits a bit too high and can be a problem on for the downtube on some frames (so you need tall headset - Canecreek make one). U-turn adjuster knob rubber brakes off (this is fixed on the 06 model Pikes)
Bottom Line:
Nicest forks I have used, better than the Shermans, Motion control works really well soaking up bumps and hits. Forks are easily adjustable to your riding style. Highly Recomended
I am a heavy weight rider 235ib and run this with the medium spring as i like plush travel. this fork is a revalation stiff and durable it does get some proper grief. i have it set at 125mm and use all of it only ever bottomed out once (which was my fault!) this is a value for money product watch out Fox!! the pop loc leaver is handy too! would recomend all round
Submitted by
William Conner
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2006
Strengths: These forks are amazing, I built up my Heckler as a free ride bike and was dubious about going for Rock Shox - but these have eradicated all doubt; smoove, stiff, zero maintenance (after a year) and with the lock out set at 90mm they ride as well as cross country forks - behold the bar has moved (and the price has fallen) why pay more.
Weaknesses: None - although Pike sounds a little like Pikey
Bottom Line:
If you want a free ride fork that is versatile enough for all your riding needs and doesn't cost the earth join the revolution. Anything else is a compromise and a waste of cash.
Similar Products Used: Fox RLC onn my Kona, Manitou Mars (crap), Rock Shox Judy (ages ago)
Bike Setup: Its a beaut: SC Heckler, King Headset, Fox DHX5.0 (also amazing), SRAM X9 front and back, Race Face stem / post, XT cranks
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Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2006
Strengths: Stiff, plush, extremely tuneable, travel adjust, 20mm Maxle system and extremely light for what the fork delivers
Weaknesses: I wish it had 150mm of travel instead of only 140mm but Rockshox is coming out with a longer travel, larger diameter stanchion single crown fork over the next year. It will be a Pike on steroids. This will be the Fox 36 and Zoke 66 killing fork.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up review to my previous 2/20/05 review. I raved about the Pike Team then and I continue to love this fork today. My main concern back in February was the durability of the fork. Well, I am no light weight and ride the bike hard and this fork is just as tight as the first time I took it out on the trail. I have had absolutely no issues at all. Period! I have to say that this is probably one of the best mountain biking purchases that I have ever made. Sram really has done an amazing job with the Rockshox transformation. I also have Juicy Five brakes that I added recently. Another Sram product and they also are amazing. Mix all this with a Santa Cruz Heckler and you are assured of having a smile on your face before, during and after the ride.
The only thing that I am picking up from reading the few negatives in reviews is that you have to make sure to have the correct spring assemble for your weight to get the full potential of the Pike. I read the spec sheet and installed the extra heavy springs before I ever took the fork out on the first ride. Don't complain about soft springs if you do not have the correct springs installed in the first place.
Similar Products Used: Not many single crown forks other than a Fox Talas 125 and a Marzocchi Z1. The Pike blows both of these away by leaps and bounds.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Heckler with Fox DHX 5.0 Coil shock built up as a heavy all mountain freeride bike. Avid Juicy's, Hadley hubs with Mavic D521 rims, Thomson stem and seatpost, WTB Rocket V saddle, EA70 bars, lockon grips, 2.3 Nevegal/Blue Groove tires, XT deraileurs, LX shifters and a Raceface Atlas X-Type crankset. All this was previously mounted on a Foes FXR frame.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Arron Kopp
a
from Saratoga Springs, New York
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2005
Strengths: Very smooth. This is one of the best forks that i have owned. Great for most types of riding (trail, light freeride, DJ,). I am mainly dirt jump so the floodgate adjustment is really helpful. It allows me to fine tune the fork depending on the types of jumps. Mine is set at either 95mm or 120mm.
Weaknesses: The plastic knobs. I broke the U-TURN knob after 4 months and it was only like the tenth time i had actually used it. I haven't experienced the crack lowers that other owners have commented on, but i'm keeping my eye out. Spring a little soft for more agressive freeriding, but then again its not a DH fork. Even though it has floodgate adjustment,and your into that type of riding, this is probably not the fork for you. Not quite enough travel.
Bottom Line:
Great fork. I would recommend it to anyone that does a lot of trail riding, a little freeride and even DJ. The Travel indicator on the stanction tube is really helpful if you like to set your travel at an exact spot.
