[Tree]

I have a new Pike Ultimate, 150mm travel that I have been riding for about a month now and have found that no matter how I adjust it through damping or air pressure I find it to be harsh in the middle of the travel.
I have it set with minimal LSC and zero HSC @78psi. I'm about 180lbs geared up.
Anyone else experience this with a new Pike?
I know there is plenty of discussions but I wanted to narrow it down to the new Pike Ultimate.

So I'm looking for something to help in that regard. Something from Push? (HC97)?or Vorsprung? or Convert to coil?

 

[nikon255]

damping in charger is not position sensitive. So if you feel it only in the middle of stroke its air spring.

 

[jeremy3220]

I've noticed this on my 130mm 2018 Pike after removing a volume spacer and upping the pressure a few psi. It felt almost too linear. If you're under 25% sag now, I'd try adding a spacer and letting out a few psi.

 

[Tree]

I forgot to add that I have no tokens installed.

 

[jeremy3220]

I'd definitely add one or two.

 

[294037]

Most likely slightly tight bushings, so the first thing I would do is have them resized plus you would be greasing the seals and refill foam rings.

Maybe also try less pressure and more HSC, what kind of trails do you ride?

 

[Vespasianus]

I'd definitely add one or two.

Yeah, it sounds like you are most likely ridding too deep into the travel and hence the harsh feel when hitting repeated bumps. Reducing the size of the air spring could give better mid-stroke and improve feel.

 

[minimusprime]

I'd start with an air spring and lower service (even if the fork is brand new) and tuning your air spring using tokens. From there, i'd determine if you need to do more such as an HC97.

 

[coolatt]

I can confirm your findings.

I have an older Pike but with a 2019 debonair spring and an RC2 2.1 cartridge, so internally the same.

I feel that on single big impacts it's pretty good, but when going through multiple high speed hits there's a noticeable jackhammer effect. I've swapped my original RC1 cartridge back in a few times and although there is an initial high speed spike it's smoother on the hi speed hits. I think that the the hi speed rebound might be too fast. Comparing the two in the garage the RC2 2.1 seems like it rebounds way faster, it almost pogo's off the ground when compressed 1/3 way or so, past the low speed rebound velocity.

On another note, this is my second RC2 2.1. The first one broke in the first 10 minutes of downhill use, the service centre (Norco) rebuilt it, but when I complained about the rebound to the shop, and showed them, I eventually got a new one. There doesn't seem to be much difference with the first and second one.

I'd like to know if there was a manufacturing or assembly line problem. It really does not feel like an upgrade.

 

[Dougal]

Is the Pike the RCT3?

 

[Tree]

The trails I ride are in the northeast. Very rocky and rooty.

It is not a RCT3.

 

[Dougal]

The trails I ride are in the northeast. Very rocky and rooty.

It is not a RCT3.

So it's an RC2?

The RC2 Lyrik Charger 2.1 is softer than all previous. For your weight I'd be fixing the mid-valve and adding base-valve compression damping.

 

[eshew]

Plop the psi down 2 psi at a time with 1 volume spacer and report back. Might be your ticket for the low low cost of $10, if you can't find one for free at your shop.

 

[Dougal]

Plop the psi down 2 psi at a time with 1 volume spacer and report back. Might be your ticket for the low low cost of $10, if you can't find one for free at your shop.

Adding volume spacers reduces usable midstroke and makes harshness worse. This is not the solution.

 

[Tree]

Adding volume spacers reduces usable midstroke and makes harshness worse. This is not the solution.

Yes, its a RC2.

I thought the same thing Dougal, (not saying you're wrong eshew) but suppose I could try. Fork came with two spacers in the box, not installed.

 

[jeremy3220]

Normally I agree with Dougal but for whatever reason I prefer slightly more sag and progression on the Pike. Try both, try more then less tokens. Only way to really find out what works best.

 

[Jayem]

The title makes it sound like it has the ultimate mid-stroke harshness.

 

[FactoryMatt]

i had Dougal do the 'Unharsh' mods to a C2.1 Lyrik for me.

brief review here: https://forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/charger-2-damper-modifications-1094321-2.html#post14246013

very satisfied.