They are the RC version but by far the cheapest I’ve seen

http://www.merlincycles.com/rockshox-pike-rc-forks-2014-70895.html

Is the damper the same as the rct3 apart from additional settings?

Only 150mm. Not enough travel 😉

Yeah – as far as I’m aware its the same damper, just doesn’t have the ‘pedal’ setting.

If only you could buy them without a tapered steerer. 👿

Do these have low speed compression adjustment?

Anyone know the A2C measurement for the 26 option?

532mm according to the other thread.

Is the damper the same as the rct3 apart from additional settings?

From what I understand, nope.

The RC is similar to their older RL motion control damper. It doesn’t come with the Changer bladder style damper, only has a low speed compression circuit and I don’t think it has the rapid recovery rebound circuit either.

The Pike RC is basically a stronger version of the Revelation RL. So still a good fork. But not as game changing as the RCT3.

jairaj – thanks for that, very useful. Possibly just saved me wasting £400.

Do you have any links/info to say that the RC doesn’t come with the better charger damper? cheers

I don’t think anyone is sure about the damper. I called merlin and they didn’t know as the forks just arrived. It would be great to get confirmation.

save yr hard earned and get boxxers instead
plush as a owls tits
no regrets

The SRAM website:

http://www.sram.com/rockshox/technologies/charger-damper

At the bottom where it says “products that use this technology” it only states RCT3.

Also think I’ve read it a few articles explaining more about the Pike when it first came out.

I’m pretty sure but not 100% maybe Simon or someone from Loco will pop by and help clear it up.

OK, cheers the sram website doesn’t even mention the existence of the RC model though so I’m not sure how reliable that is.

I’d read on the mtbr forums that the only difference was the trail/pedal setting on the rct3 but again, that is only people saying, I can’t find anything official.

I am in the industry
very close to these products
the T3 is a label
get yourself hooked up with the RC
and mash the trails hard

I think I may be incorrect! I’ve found the Pike service manual and the RC is shown to have a bladder damper, see page 6

Pike service manual

As for whether it is still as sophisticated as the RCT3 but without the threshold settings, I don’t know.

I want to mash!

from here > http://reviews.mtbr.com/rockshox-pike-fork-and-monarch-plus-shock-sea-otter-2013

The RCT3 offers three adjustment modes, open, pedal and lock, and has a adjustable low speed compression in open. The simpler RC has an open mode to one with increasing compression all the way to lock. Both Charger damper versions feature their Rapid Recovery rebound damping technology, which keeps the fork high in its stroke in the softest part of the spring curve, without packing down from multiple successive bumps, letting the fork do the work instead of the rider.

I thought the RC didn’t have rapid recovery but apparently it does

I called them again and the head mechanic says old style damper. They did not sound sure at all though and they have not looked inside a set even though I asked. So I would say it’s still not certain it’s not a simplified condom damper inside.

For what its worth Merlin get a lot of OEM stock. OEM stock can be anything, does not always follow what the online spec says and Merlin don’t always make it clear what exactly they are selling.

I got my set of 2010 Revs from Merlin. Turned out they were an OEM fork and didn’t have the dual flow rebound that the equivalent aftermark fork should have come with. They were still a bargain so I kept them but it was not made clear exactly what you were buying.

Merlin don’t always make it clear what exactly they are selling.

Change the ‘don’t always’ to ‘hardly ever’ and you’ll have hit the nail on the head. 😉

I got some Revs sold as brand new, just the same as you’ll get from anywhere else, that quite clearly were not.

jairaj – That link you posted, bottom of the page…

“Products That Use This Technology

Pike RCT3″

This might help from BikeMag’s review from the launch

The RCT3 version features Open (with an adjustable low speed compression), Pedal and Lock. The RC system features adjustable low speed compression to Lock.

I thought that both RC and RCT3 have the charger damper, its just the RCT3 is more sophisticated or provides more options

More here bikemag RS Pike launch.

Must resist 😕

I had this a few months and could not get to the bottom of what’s in the rc at all. Only a few American websites have any crumbs of info. I saw one somewhere else at a good price and I accepted it would be OEM/grey import so thought ill have that but ask SRAM to clarify whats in them, and they said rc’s are not available in uk/aftermarket or some such almost to the point of refusing they exist. Wouldn’t me what damper it was. Didn’t fancy buying any after that.

I am in the industry
very close to these products

you work in a shop, and are stood next to bikes fitted with Pikes?

I can’t understand why Merlin don’t just open a fork and look inside and put the details on the site. The guy on phone was saying sram don’t give them any info and they always have trouble telling people what they are buying. bla bla bla I guess I won’t buy them then.

I guess SRAM aren’t too fussed about helping Merlin with info as they’ve got hold of the forks through unofficial channels and are cutting out the agreed distribution network.

I love gapjump.

Just seen this.

The fork also debuts with the all-new Charger damper. The new sealed cartridge design uses an extruded bladder filled with 3wt oil that expands to contain the oil displaced by the fork as it moves through its travel. The design helps keep damping consistent by ensuring that no air mixes with the oil, even during rough and rapid descents.

RockShox senior design engineer Damon Gilbert notes that the extruded design of the bladder results in consistent wall thickness, with no seams that could act as weak points. Gilbert said the service interval for the Charger damper is approximately 200 hours and the bleed process can be done in less than five minutes.

The Charger damper is available in RCT3 and RC models. The RCT3 offers Pedal and Lock efficiency settings, with an Open setting working on a separate damping circuit with independent low-speed compression adjustment. The simpler RC damper makes do with low-speed compression adjustment with Lock setting.

Looks like the RC’s are the real deal. Interested now.

Considering I never use the ‘pedal’ setting I’d say the RCs look like a winner! How much to chop a 1 1/8″ headtube off my hardtail and weld on a 44mm can? 😉

Looks like the RC’s are the real deal.

Gee thanks, you just cost me £399…

🙂

Has anyone ordered? Interested to know for sure which damper arrives.

Wow, get these bought. Its akin to the 55 ti forks on wiggle a few years ago. You know the purple ones where people bougth them- rode them for a couple of years then advertised them —-> for basically the same price.

I ordered them, and according to DPD’s gps tracker will be delivered in about 1 hour. I’ll report back soon …

Just got mine through – 650s. Marked as RC2, come with a couple of the red tokens, minimal manual. Sticker on the leg indicates the rapid recovery rebound. I can’t tell if they have the bladder, don’t fancy opening them up incase I return them – bought on a whim, not actually bought a 650 frame yet!

not actually bought a 650 frame yet!

Apart from a smidge higher arch- surely you could run them on a 26’er easily?

My bike is a Hustler, so it’s a bit too old for these new fangled tapered forks!

Go on open it and have a look inside for us. 🙂