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Submitted by
dale mills
a Weekend Warrior
from cardiff
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | great forks, very easy to adjust and very smooth. lockout working perfectly with just a tiny bit of rebound. | | Weaknesses: | a bit squeaky at times. thats about it | | Similar Products Used: | dirt jumper 3's | | Bike Setup: | orange hitman | | Bottom Line: | great all round forks. great product. best forks ive tried so far. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Benson
a
from West Hawk Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | A-Line and Dirt Mirchant | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | -Marzocchi X1 FR 2 | | Bike Setup: | 05 Cove Hustler, Juicy Sevens, Highrollers, RP3 Rear Shock, X9 Shifters and Derailleurs. | | 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. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Benson
a
from West Hawk Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | A-Line and Dirt Mirchant | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | -Marzocchi X1 FR 2 | | Bike Setup: | 05 Cove Hustler, Juicy Sevens, Highrollers, RP3 Rear Shock, X9 Shifters and Derailleurs. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
takethat jump!
a Weekend Warrior
from BC
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | online | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | zoch AM2, '03 box. | | Bike Setup: | older RM = 6" XT/X9 dual guide, 721's | | 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 ) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | N trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Minute 3 | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Teocali Super | | Bottom Line: | Everything that a good all mountain fork should be. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thomas german
a Weekend Warrior
from doylestown, pa
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | doc smith | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | 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 | | Bottom Line: | The PIKE is an awesome fork period!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
braeden oneill
a
from ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | death run | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$270.00 | | Purchased At: | dropmachine | | 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!!! | | Similar Products Used: | i have tried a z1, a dropoff, dirtjam, dropoff4 and none have came close. | | Bike Setup: | Norco sasquatch | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony
a Downhiller
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Wildwood, Hood River | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$290.00 | | Strengths: | *20mm bolt thru
*Stiff
*Easy to adjust
*low maintance
*Asthetically, not over styled
| | Weaknesses: | *Stantions squeak a little | | Similar Products Used: | *Pace
*Marzoochi
*Manitou | | Bike Setup: | *5 Spot,Race Face,Hope,King,XTR,Eastern,Mavic,MAxxis | | 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.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | The one when I'm not at work | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend | | 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! | | Similar Products Used: | Z1; Jr T; Boxxer | | Bike Setup: | Jamis XLT frame; Pike; Float R rear; DH wheels/tires; heavy | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | 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) | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Sherman Fireflys, Rockshox Rebas, Rockshox Dukes, Manitou Blacks, Manitou Skarebs, Marzocchi EXRs etc | | Bike Setup: | SantaCruz Heckler, Pike Teams, Mavic 721s, Hope Bulbs, Thomson, Hone Crankset, Juicy 5's 8" etc | | 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Switchbacks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | evans | | Strengths: | Maxle, build quality, Travel adjustment | | Weaknesses: | None i can think of | | Bike Setup: | Club Roost XC4 | | Bottom Line: | 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William Conner
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | cycle solutions toronto | | 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 | | 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 | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Tamarancho | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | 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. | | 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. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arron Kopp
a
from Saratoga Springs, New York
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Bicycles | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Manitou Minute 3:00, Manitou Sherman Firefly, Rockshox Psylo SL. | | Bike Setup: | Blur 4X, DJ settup with short bars, BMX cranks, etc. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicksands, anywhere in the Alps! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Price
Poploc feature once you have replaced the OEM lever
Versatility - XC, 4X, Jumping, downhilling! | | Weaknesses: | Wish the new version had 10 mm more travel
Original poploc lever is a P O S. Replace it with a thumb shifter though and you can adjust the floodgate | | Similar Products Used: | 'zocchi 88vf, bombers, | | Bike Setup: | 05 Specialzed SX trail, Hayes V8 brakes, original 5th E shock with Ti spring, mostly XT trans with Husselfelt Double cranks w bashring. Running two wheel sets, one hobe bulbs / DT rims for Xc, the other deore hubs, sun rims for bashing! | | Bottom Line: | The price!
20 mm Maxel super easy quick release. It's as tought as any other 5 -6 inch travle forks out there IMHO The weight isn't too bad either. Just wish the latest version ( 426 ) came out in a 150mm travel version.
I don't use the U turn travel adjust much, I prefer to use the poploc to adjust the floodagte, fully on the fork is almost locked out, off nice n plush. I run it in the middle for jumping / 4X. Replace the poploc on off lever with an old thumb shifter!
The otehr adjustments are easy to get to , spring rate is fine for me ( 165 lbs )
Hate to say it but I might change to get a fox 36 vanilla (160mm), but only because on my 05 SX trail the head angle is a touch steep, if this fork was a bit longer there is no way I would change. But that is only a VERY minor quibble, this fork rocks, it is 1/3 the price of the fox. For the xtra to get a fox I could buy a pretty good 2nd hand hard tail! Hey there is an idea....
If you are on a budget get one, just look at the mags you would be amazed at the number of riders running these! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MTNFiend
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena, CA
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | San Juan | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Adjustable travel, easily adjustable compression, 20mm axle, Maxel makes removing wheel easier than QR. THE PRICE! | | Weaknesses: | It would be nice if it were easier to raise and lower the travel, like on Marzocchi. Metal knobs for travel, compression, and rebound would be nice, though I haven't experienced any issues with the plastic ones on there now. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla RL | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575 | | Bottom Line: | This is a great fork and perfectly matched for my bike. It has totally improved my riding ability. The Pike is an unbeatable fork for the price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jhonny Strait
a Racer
from L.a
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | light weight, looks like a short boxxer.good price | | Weaknesses: | none..til´this moment..mmm maybe the decals, | | Similar Products Used: | psylo, dirt jumper III(sucks) | | Bike Setup: | jackal | | Bottom Line: | good fork if you like urban or dirt or maybe a little xc, works very well, but the best of that fork is the weight is awesome.....conclusion, the best in the market for the price that offer | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kapusta
a Weekend Warrior
from Norden, CA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Purchased At: | The List | | Strengths: | Very adjustable for a wide variety of aplications. Pretty stiff, very smooth. CHEAP! 1/2 as much as anything I would compare it to (Fox 36, Marz AM1) | | Weaknesses: | Knobs are plastic. I already broke the u-turn knob, but Rock Shox sent me a new one super quick. | | Similar Products Used: | `03 Z1 FR (6 months) `05 TALAS (1 year) | | Bike Setup: | Heckler with 5th coil (2.25" stroke), xm321 rims, Kenda BG & Nevegal 2.35 tires, Avid mech discs | | Bottom Line: | After past experiences with such crap as the Psylo, and the Judy I figured I'd be about as likely to buy a bike from Huffy as a fork from Rock Shox. So of course I was wary when I started hearing good things about the Pike. In fact, at first I completely wrote it off because it was from Rock Shox, regardless of the reviews. But eventually the good press from the folks on MTBR and the fact that SRAM took over Rock Shox made me look again at this fork. When I realized it was HALF the price of an AM1 and ONE THIRD the price of a Fox 36, it was a no brainer.
This fork has lived up to all the hype! The floodgate and compression adjustments interact and take some fiddling with, but once you get a feel for it, it is amazingly versatile. I have found two settings that I really like:
One is with the compression cranked almost to the max and the floodgate near minimum. Very stable, well damped ride that soaks of big hits as well as and fork I've felt. In this setting, engaging the poplock does not do much.
The other is just a little heavier (but still light) on the floodgate and with the compression at about 1/3-1/2. Smoother than anythign I have felt, though a bit more prone to diving, sort of like the Z1 FR I had. Engage the poplock, and the fork gets bit more damped. It is not anywhere near locked out, but very efficient pedaling, (even at max travel), NO diving (under heavy braking) and it is perfect for launching jumps and descending super steep, rocky sections where fork dive can mean a trip over the bars.
I like the poplock. I've never seen the need for a lockout, but this is much more versitile. I can use it now as easily as I shift.
The Maxle is super easy to use. This is my first 20mm fork and I will never go back!
I love the travel adjustment. I've used ETA, and I think something like the TALAS sytem or u-turn is far more useful. I tend to run the fork around 125 most of the time, and adjust up or down from there.
The plastic knobs are pretty weak. I cracked my u-turn knob. They sent me a new one very quickly, but I am hoping to get my hands on one of the new metal ones (along with the rebound knob)
This fork is the stiffest I have ridden torsionally, but in terms of fore-aft flex, the Z1 was slightly stiffer. Just one look at the crowns and it is obvious why.
Anyway, this is an amazing fork and cheap to boot! The value rating should be at least a 6! You can buy 2 for the price of an AM1 and 3 for the price of a Fox 36. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
quinten
a Weekend Warrior
from singapore
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | portsdown rd | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$535.00 | | Purchased At: | treknology bikes 3 | | Strengths: | great damping, nvr bottoms but uses all the travel, the handel bar lockout adjuster is great as i can change the compression rates on the move... | | Weaknesses: | the stock springs are very soft and i therefore will soon need to upgrade those, it is easy to overtighten the Qr system. | | Similar Products Used: | rock shox pilot c | | Bike Setup: | trek alpha 6500, pike team, shimano deore hydraulic disc brakes, SIC LL stem and Race bar, da bomb saddle, Primo pedals, maxxis tires, alex rims dm24 rims, shimano deore LX/XT shifting components and a gator hydrahose steel braided front brakeline | | Bottom Line: | awesome fork, i use it for dirt jumping, urban riding and extreme cross country riding, it is an awesome overall fork | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
El Jefe
a Downhiller
from hamilton, ny
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | plattekill jump trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$285.00 | | Purchased At: | Dick Sonne's | | Strengths: | Like everyone else mentioned the fork is plush and stiff with easy adjustments. quick release 20mm thru-axle is very handy looks bad ass | | Weaknesses: | havent found any so far | | Similar Products Used: | sherman, dj 3 & 2, black elite | | Bike Setup: | Specialized P1 with Pike and doublewides, avid 8er's etc etc | | Bottom Line: | This fork truly is an amazing fork for just about anybody i use it for downhilling and dirtjumping mainly but you can still jam out a few xc miles if ya gotta ride to your favorite trail.....Buy It! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$415.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | The 20mm axle makes this fork stiff.
The travel adjustment works well.
The blow off feature is useful.
| | Weaknesses: | Rcokshox could go to 150mm with the Pike. | | Similar Products Used: | Fox Vanilla. | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575. | | Bottom Line: | Coming from a Fox Vanilla, the Pike had a lot to live up to. And it easily holds it own against the Fox. It's as plush as the Fox, and the 20mm axle means it's stiffer too. The adjustment features work well, and the travel adjustment makes climbing a breeze.
If it had an extra 10mm it could be a great alternative to the Fox 36. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon
a Downhiller
from Chico, CA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$460.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Plush feel and the quick release 20mm axle | | Weaknesses: | Travel adjustment knob is much harder to turn compared to Fox. Pop lock adjust only between two settings and nothing in between. Crown is weak mine is in the process of being sent in right now. I snaped it right in half on simple trail. | | Similar Products Used: | Marzocchi ZR1 FR 04, Fox Talas 04 | | Bike Setup: | Kona Coiler Primo 05, Sram X9 shifters, Shimano XT Brakes, Pike Team | | Bottom Line: | I believe that if you're into fun on the weekends and don't plan on going to extremes then this is for you. If you're a bigger guy 190+ and want to go big or a regular size guy and want more perfomance and durability out of your shock then think twice. I'm about 200lbs and like to do very tech trail and quite frequently step into the freeride arena. I'm going to upgrade to a 66 which gives me more strength and just a little more travel. But as I said before if you have a 4-6 inch trail bike and love the cool rides on weekends go for it. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Warrenton, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Burke Farm | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | Plush and stiff, with adjustments that actually work (imagine that!). Travel adjustment is easy, especially with the 5mm marks on the left stanchion. The Maxle rocks! | | Weaknesses: | No real weaknesses so far. Travel knob is rubber/soft plastic, which seems a bit chintzy on an "all-mountain" fork. Paint is pretty soft. Rebound adjuster knob at base of right leg seems long, and could attract rocks! ;) | | Similar Products Used: | Marz Z1 FR SL, Fox Talas RLC, etc. | | Bike Setup: | '05 Yeti 575, Pike Team, Abbah & Hugi hubs, XM321 rims, Atlas cranks, X.0 rear der, XT front der, X.0 shifters, blah blah. | | Bottom Line: | First off, after ordering my new frame, I decided to jump up a tad in travel from my Talas RLC 130, and was open to any of the current stock of long travel trail forks (Marz AM-1, Fox 36, Maverick DUC, etc). In the end, other 575 owners' positive statements about the Pike/575 combo, together with the crazy cheap price, led me to choose the 575. After budgeting for a 36, I had major pocket change left over to satisfy some other upgrade-itis urgings!
I've ridden this combo roughly 20 times now, and am exceedingly happy with my purchase. The Pike is stiff & plush, and its ATC measurement nicely compliments my frame's geometry.
Damping is nice & plush, and the compression/waste gate dials actually work. You can set it extremely soft for nasty rock gardens, or extremely hard for fire road climbs.
I'm 210#, and have experimented with the firm and x-firm springs. While I prefer the firm springs for typical trail rides, I've settled on the x-firm after bottoming out a couple times on the firms.
Bottom Line: A strong, plush, and mega-adjustable fork that should compliment a wide variety of trail frames. (I'm thinking specifically of the 5-Spot, 575, FXR, and others.) Other than a couple minor complaints about knobs, I'm stoked. It's a great value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
luke
a Weekend Warrior
from whitehorse, yukon, canada
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | downtown,my trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$381.00 | | Purchased At: | downtube bike shop | | Strengths: | this is the sti8ffest fork I have ever ridden, plush and I love the poplock ajustment. realy stiff lots of travel. | | Weaknesses: | The only weakness is the springs I bottomed them out on a 3 foot drop and can almost bottom them out on the trails. | | Similar Products Used: | DJ 3 | | Bike Setup: | 2004 norco sasquatch frame, pike teams, mavic XM 325 disk wheels, snafu jumping saddle, odi lock ion grips, nokian Gazzaloddi tires, FSA pig DH pro headset. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best fork out there I use it for urban, DJ, trail riding, DH, north shore and cross country. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a Racer
from Vacaville
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Rays Cycle | | Strengths: | Easy to adjust
Super Plush
The blow off adjustment on the lockout is cool because it can be set up fairly light.
| | Weaknesses: | Broke the first pair after about an hour of riding. If you hava a pair check the U brace if it has waffling that goes all the way to the lowers be careful mine broke there. | | Similar Products Used: | I have a tried them all | | Bike Setup: | Blur 4X | | Bottom Line: | Rock Shock was great about replacing the broken fork. The new pair I recieved has a beefed up U brace. The frok rides great, it is stiff and the 20mm axle helps the fork track though the deepest ruts. I am 180 pounds and the stock springs were to soft, I went to extra heavy spring which seems to be prefect for the type of riding I do. The fork is perfect for the Blur 4X because I use a different setup for MTN X and Slalom. For 4X racing I run about 95mm of travel with the fork almost in the lockout and the blow off set at about med. That way I can snap out of the gate without loosing power. For slalom I run about 110mm of travel and soften the fork up so I have about 25mm if sag.
If RockShok had not been so fast to take care of the broken fork I would be really hard on them, but they were cool so I figued I would give them an honest rating. After the first pair broken I was not feeling warm and fuzzy about putting another pair on my bike. So far I am really happy with how the fork performs. | </
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$ 440.00
