2006 RockShox Pike 454 Air U-turn

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "2006 RockShox Pike 454 Air U-turn"

Russell Fitzgerald
6 years ago
Views:

a Guest Review by DGC Edited by Chris Streeter FEATURES The Maxle is possibly the best thing to come along on since external adjustable rebound. This is a true quick-release, 20mm thru-axle system.

The Maxle is simple, with none of the normal thru-axle hassles: No broken flaps or pins, no stripped axle pinch bolts. SPECIFICATIONS Weight... 2209 grams* Axle-to-Crown... 518mm (+/- 2mm) Travel.

It sticks up high on the bar, exposed, so if you tend to land rubber-side up, consider getting the fork in the non-pop lock version (with the controls on top of the leg).

1 a Guest Review by DGC Edited by Chris Streeter FEATURES The Maxle is possibly the best thing to come along on since external adjustable rebound. This is a true quick-release, 20mm thru-axle system. 5 seconds and your wheel is off; another 5 seconds and back on--securely on. It has a QR-like nut on one end for tension adjustment, and, once set, you re done with it. The Maxle is simple, with none of the normal thru-axle hassles: No broken flaps or pins, no stripped axle pinch bolts. SPECIFICATIONS Weight grams* Axle-to-Crown mm (+/- 2mm) Travel mm *w/ remote pop lock,cable, and 20mm Maxle The Pop Lock works quite well. It s nice to have for convenience, but is not necessary (personal preference, really). It sticks up high on the bar, exposed, so if you tend to land rubber-side up, consider getting the fork in the non-pop lock version (with the controls on top of the leg). If you get the remote version and decide you don t like it, you have the option of buying the parts to convert to crown-mounted controls. The Compression adjuster dial has 7.5 full turns of adjustment (no clicks, but markings make it easy to count turns). The first 1/3 of the adjustment range does not yeild noticeable results when tested by straddling the top tube and manually compressing the fork. However, it s enough to take the edge of fork dive while actually riding. At 4-6 turns fork dive is noticeably less, but, depending on the specific terrain, you may start to feel a trace of small bump harshness. Experiment here and take some time to see what you like.

The Floodgate has 4 full turns of adjustment, the effects of which are noticeable right away.

lockout system, the Floodgate adjustment is akin to the adjustable Lockout Threshold knob). While 1.

Likewise, heavy or more aggressive riders may want to dial in a little more floodgate resistance. You ll find that a little adjustment goes a long way.

The flip/flop lever allows it to fold down out of the way when not being used. That way, the main air valve can be easily accessed. The U-Turn, Floodgate and all other external parts are metal.

2 The Floodgate has 4 full turns of adjustment, the effects of which are noticeable right away. This small, gold knob is only relevant when the lockout is engaged, and adjusts the amount of force needed to open the floodgate and allow the fork to become active (for those familiar with the Fox lockout system, the Floodgate adjustment is akin to the adjustable Lockout Threshold knob). While turns begins to firm things up quickly, a little more will be required to keep out-of-the-saddle bob at a minimum. Likewise, heavy or more aggressive riders may want to dial in a little more floodgate resistance. You ll find that a little adjustment goes a long way. This is not just a tool for climbing, but can be useful in trail riding situations as well, opening up if you hit something big enough or sharp enough, and soaking up the hit. How about that U-Turn? The flip/flop lever allows it to fold down out of the way when not being used. That way, the main air valve can be easily accessed. The U-Turn, Floodgate and all other external parts are metal. They are easy on the fingers--not too sharp and easy to turn. Many clicks are required to get from one end of the travel range to the other, but the benefit is an ultra-fine adjustment. DUAL AIR pressures are a little tricky on the Pike. For one thing, the manual and the sticker on the outside of the legs don t match each other. For a rider of pounds the manual says to use PSI of positive pressure, while the sticker on the fork leg indicates PSI for the same weight. In fact, neither were suitable. After a few days of experimenting, the fork was found to feel best at about 100 PSI for Dave s riding weight of 178 pounds. The manual recommends matching the negative pressure to the positive pressure as a starting point. On this point, Rock Shox seems to be quite accurate: With equal positve and negative pressures, this fork has a very plush ride and is very active over the small stuff. As with most dual air forks, If you choose to run more negative air pressure than positive air pressure, you will start to loose a little travel as the negative pressure begins to pull the lower legs up further onto the stanchion tubes. Work with your pressures a bit to get your desired ride quality.

3 RIDING IMPRESSIONS A couple of years ago, RockShox single crown forks were not on the short list of the typical hardcore trail rider. Well, SRAM has been busy the last two years, and there s a change in the air... The first thing that gets your attention is stiffness. From the crown to the Maxle, the Pike has lots of stiffness for precise steering--a very welcome thing, especially when bashing rocks at speed. (Note: this observation is especially impressive in light of the fact that Dave has been running a Fox Vanilla RLC!) While the Pike is not a full-time platform fork, if desired, it can be set up to act as one with the use of the lockout and properly adjusted floodgate. The compression adjustment is also very effective. The many combiniations that these versatile controls provide negate any need for a full-time platform system. For those sensitive to strange noises coming from your fork, the Pike runs very quietly (no sqeaking or squealing) even with the compression damping cranked up. The rebound adjustment has a good range to it--enough to cover anything you will encounter. What all of these tuning options add up to is the ability to custom tune the fork to suit your weight, riding style, and personal preference. Other than perhaps carrying a shock pump with you, all of these adjustments can be made in the backcountry without any special tools! Small bump compliance? The Pike is plush. As the hits get bigger, you will appreciate this fork even more. In a word, the Pike compression stroke is controlled. It ramps up at the end of the stroke like an air fork, but you can still get full travel or close to it depending on your agressiveness. Hitting rough sections at speed seemed to be easier, more confidence-inspiring and just flat out fun. Even if you are a coil spring die-hard, before you know it, you will forget that you are on an air fork. Dave putting the PIKE through its paces.

RIDING IMPRESSIONS (continued) The testing of the Pike 454 was conducted aboard a 2005 Turner 5-Spot. The DHX-Air by Fox Racing Shox handled the rear suspension duties.

Climbing with the Pike fully extended is generally not a problem, although on the steepest of climbs, the front wheel may wander a little and lift.

4 RIDING IMPRESSIONS (continued) The testing of the Pike 454 was conducted aboard a 2005 Turner 5-Spot. The DHX-Air by Fox Racing Shox handled the rear suspension duties. While the fork and shock have some different characteristics, this was a good air/air matchup. Climbing with the Pike fully extended is generally not a problem, although on the steepest of climbs, the front wheel may wander a little and lift. For such situations and for extended climbs, the U-Turn adjuster can be used to bring the Pike down to a travel setting as low as 110mm. Initially, this makes a real difference in the feel of the bike, but, as you continue to climb, you will likely forget about the lower front end until things level out. Of course results will vary depending upon bicycle frames and riding styles. The compression adjuster can also be very helpful on rocky climbs, allowing the fork to stay active, yet not dive too easily when encountering large obstacles. TURNER 5-SPOT with the FOX DHX-AIR and the ROCKSHOX PIKE 454 AIR U-TURN. A match made in Heaven?

turns, whatever. This is a welldamped fork with a very controlled compression stroke.

5 BOTTOM LINE This fork flat out rocks! Steering stiffness is such that it inspired confidence in every technical situation it was thrown into--rocks, high-speed turns, whatever. This is a welldamped fork with a very controlled compression stroke. You will find yourself going faster and playing downhill racer at times. Whether you like your fork quite plush or want to feel more trail feedback beneath you, the super adjustable Pike 454 Air U-Turn will accomodate and surprise you with what it can deliver.

Fork Set-Up Guide DVOSUSPENSION.COM

Fork Set-Up Guide DVOSUSPENSION.COM Fork Set-Up Guide for Other Languages Pre-Ride Check DOWNLOAD FRANÇAIS ITALIANO DEUTSCH ESPAÑOL Guide d ajustement Guida di sintonia Tuning guide Guía de ajuste 6. Compress