[Closed] Creaking New Style Rockshox Pikes?

i was thinking of trying some loctite, maybe green(?) around the steerer, assuming it would seep in. someone above tried it. anyone else?

Loctite won't cure a steerer bond that's come away. If it creaks then it could be a problem. Send them back.
Plus, RS should be sorting the problems, not the customer.

It's a real shame but I now seem to spend pretty much every ride monitoring my Pike forks for clicks, clunks, creaks and other general performance issues, and slightly less just enjoying the performance for the best part of £600 I spent...
😐

kayak - Im sure its just bad luck/bad batch ive had, the performance of the damping is great, make no mistake, I just cant be arsed with clicking and creaking on my bike and I certainly cant be bothered sending them back in every month or two just for the same thing to happen again

theres a few reported issues, but im sure the majority of the forks are fine

I tried some penetrating oil just to alleiviate the noise, and it worked for about 30mins then it was back

I was convinced it was headset or something on mine as I just simply couldn't believe id be that unlucky to have the same issue twice especially on another brand new set, but I did so there it goes....

at the minute the fox's are silent (which is nice treat given the clicks and creaks on the pikes have been there pretty much from day 1 on a new bike, so it feels finally like a new bike again!), I went out for a quick testing spin last night and attacked where I know it usually clicks and creaks and it was gone

there will be issues with stuff and sram were great just sending a new pair out, but I don't want the worry of that happening

back to fox for now, and hopefully back to just having them serviced once a year like the good old days of my old reliable 32 floats fit kashima!

construction wise the fox's do seem better/made, thick materials etc, whether that's true not sure, but weight would suggest they have a bit more material

If there was a nodding head smiley I would've clicked on it. I could be wrong but I don't think my Pikes are going to wear as well as my 2 year old 34 Floats have. When I strip them for servicing the 34's definitely look and feel better made. Maybe someone like Loco, who will have stripped quite a few can comment.

well after a year of abuse -a winter of filthy mud and rain spent at swinley, surrey hills, aston and south wales trail centres 5 3x 3day UKGEs , a week of EWS, a week of muddy death at the Megavalanche, 2 (dusty dry:-) QECP enduros, uplifts at antur, bpw and probably some other stuff my Pikes have needed one oil change and dont creak or leak and are still working perfectly.

maybe ive jinxed them and they will explode on my next ride but they seem plenty well made enough to me

I still just put it down to bad luck, but tbh they have now been out long enough for stuff/people to see them going wrong...which is natural...

ive never had this issue with fox's before, I always used to begrudge sending them off for a service (due to riding time affected) and with these pikes ive just had issues from day one, again probably just me being unlucky, who knows

but I do stand by the fact I think the fox's look better/stronger/quality wise on the outside, I cant vouch for the internals, but externally they seem more robust and better built

I hope I was just unlucky and everyone else gets on fine with theres, maybe it was just one of those bad batches I had, I cant fault the damping though, the damper was great when it worked for me, very very smooth and plush, so I have no problems with how they peformed damping wise at all

I wonder if they just have some QC issues, I met a guy at aston whod sent a set back for creaking, the 3 people i ride and race with regularly have had no probs, Pikes seem to be very popular, wonder how many theyve sold compared to 34s?

I guess a major problem *possibly* (no engineer here) is they are very light weight for the travel/chassis size etc, and with them being 150mm upwards (on 650b etc) then maybe just the chassis isn't strong enough, I don't know but somethings obviously loose somewhere to be making creaking noises, im not even sure where it was coming from (csu etc) it may well be something else creaking/clicking in the forks themselves, but SRAM confirmed to me last time it was the CSU and a blown/split charger bladder

fox seem to be heavier, but even just standing them side by side you can see there is more material around the csu /crown area than the pikes

It seems all the manufacturers are having creaking CSU issues, I've had some 2011 Fox's do it, and I definitley haven't been the only one [url= http://forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/2011-fox-forks-creaking-cracking-noise-711911.html ]see here[/url] I started that thread years ago and people still add to it now, I had 3 new uppers on them under warranty before finally giving in and going back to Marzocchi.
Now my 55's have been creaking for the last year and are going back for new uppers under warranty also, both Mojo's and Windwave have said they're replacing a fair few CSU's when I spoke with them, both were quite happy to replace them though without any arguments.

I'm a bit bummed out to hear Rockshox now creak also, I was considering a set of pikes but think I'll stick with the 55's now

I had heard of the 2011 CSU issues I believe on 36's, though I think that had been rectified by later models, you are gonna get the odd one that debonds etc

I probably tbh wouldn't have swapped them out had the 2nd set been fine, and probably not even having a thread on here about getting rid of them, but that's life sometimes and sometimes things go wrong

I have never ever ever had a set of 32's floats creak on me and ive owned at least 5 pairs I can think of, straight to pikes and the 1st 2 sets I have done it in the first month of use

hopefully the 34's will be ok, if they are not at least I know what noise to look out for next time and not keep thinking its a bloody headset (brand new at that!)

plus mojo are truly great to deal with and have you back on the bike in a few days max, I think mojos service is up there with the best of them (hope etc)

just to update this, i sent my 2013 sektors back to bike24, definately a creaking csu, and they sent them off to sram, who replaced csu, no questions asked. it did take about a month in all.
was hoping for a new set of forks but hey, never mind. that little scratch on the stantions'll be gone anyways : )

I've got a Canyon Spectral 2 months old and my RC3 forks have just started creaking 🙁 May have to put up with it while the weather is so good. Anyone recommend any good ear plugs!

Damn this thread. I'm after pikes for my 27.5 trance to replace the 32 floats but this doesn't fill me with confidence.

Just sent my [b]1 month old[/b] Pike RCT3 160mm 27.5" off to Fishers/SRAM Tech for a creaking/cracking problem.

After removing them and clamping the steerer in a workstand then twisting the lowers slightly you could actually feel the stantions flexing and cracking where they are bonded into the crown... not good!

Hopefully they will get sorted or replaced asap

danny wouldn't hold your breath, and the reason I went back to fox is turnaround, fair enough they creak/break etc, but I waited 8 weeks for a replacement for the pikes last time

not good at all, yet if Ive had issues with fox they have been sorted in 2 days max

therefore sram/rockshox im out

8 weeks bloody hell.

Hope not 🙁

Mmmm, im waiting for the 2016 model to come out, hope they've sorted this.

This is just me pumping the front shock. Took bike to my LBS and they doubled checked headset and no problems there. They phoned either Rockshox or their distributor and they said that they were not aware on any issues!! Fork is being sent back to Canyon on Monday.

^^^ That noise would boil my piss after paying over five hundred pounds for a fork.

Is it fair to assume rockshox are telling a wee fib about not being aware of any issues, going by this thread alone that simply cannot be true.

That noise is different from the creaking that's a common and known problem on the new Pikes. My fork was replaced for the creaking without any issues. I went through Merlin (place of purchase) who recieved the fork and confirmed the issue and forwarded it to Fisher who instantly sent me a new one. I live in Sweden and I think I was without forks for a total of two weeks.

It's just too bad the new one developed the same noise almost instantly...

I can kind of sympathise with RS over this issue.

Consumers make unrealistic demands....in the case of the new Pike people seem to want a sub 2kg weight from the fork and yet the robustness required to clatter down a hillside all day long on an uplift day!

If the fork with its larger 35mm stanchions had been released heavier than the 32mm Revelation i dont think that would've been unreasonable, yet you can almost predict the wailing and gnashing of teeth that would have ensued if that would've happened!....at what point does a manufacturer turn around and say [i]'sorry, if you want this on your AM rig and fit for purpose then it'll weigh a fair bit and your precious steed might not slip under the magical 30lb barrier you idiots pontificate about on forums!'[/i]....

It'll never happen of course but are we reaching the point where trying to get a 1.8kg fork to support a 32lb bike plus a 90kg rider and work faultlessly is now very difficult without said fork costing upwards of £1000 and using all manner of exotic materials?

Consumers make unrealistic demands....in the case of the new Pike people seem to want a sub 2kg weight from the fork and yet the robustness required to clatter down a hillside all day long on an uplift day!

That's not the unrealistic demand! The unrealism is expecting Pikes to be built with such close tolerance and such amazing QC that not a single pair ever creaks (or fails to perform as designed in any other way). I have no idea how many pairs of Pikes have been sold but just judging by everyone I ride with it's a hell of a lot. It's therefore not unreasonable to expect a LOT of faulty ones even if the percentage of warranty claims is tiny.

Sorry to drag this up again but is [url=

what people have been experiencing?

The forks are a warranty replacement as the damper shaft broke on the first pair and these will no doubt be going back too but would like to carry on using them over the bank holiday as this is my only bike but am concerened that they might be unsafe. Has there actually been any recognition from SRAM or Fishers that this is a problem and/or a safety concern?

that sounds like the dual creak I had on mine - I had a CSU creak which was like a click, but that noise in your video sounds exactly like the noise I had when the damper had blown in mine!

so if its not the CSU creak you've got im pretty damned sure it will be the blown bladder/damper like mine had, very obvious when descending

@ bgd That's the exact same noise I get from my Rebas. They've been back to Fishers once already who said it was the bushings / lowers and replaced them, but a few rides in and it started up again.

Its fairly intermittent on mine though. Some rides its not an issue while other rides they click like mad.

Mine is more of a click than a creak....just like a headset loose which it most definitely isn't. I too would like to know if it's a safety thing as heading to the Alps this summer and running out of time to get them turned around if it's and eight week job

pedlad - Member

Mine is more of a click than a creak....just like a headset loose which it most definitely isn't. I too would like to know if it's a safety thing as heading to the Alps this summer and running out of time to get them turned around if it's and eight week job

that was exactly my issue, could replicate it just bumping up a curb, which had me changing the headset (waste of money!), they may be quicker now, not sure I was really lucky I got a great deal at the time for some 34 (with newer 2014 internals) and haven't looked back

although my fox did the same some months on, mojo informed me its likely the glue debodonding where the stanchions meet the CSU, caused by......cleaning it with muc off etc

now I was sceptical about this at first but since ive not used any cleaning products around the forks at all and its not happened again since (touches wood!)

the cleaning products (muc off or similar) left to penetrate, especially if you have the bike upside down to clean which I did sometimes gives it time to soak in the glue and debond it, sounded stupid and a lame excuse but since not doing it they seem to be fine!

Never really used any quantity of cleaner on the forks and certainly not upside down leaving it in to soak.....surely ensuring that stantions don't de-bond from crown is pretty basic in tnhe ABC of making forks?!

although my fox did the same some months on, mojo informed me its likely the glue debodonding where the stanchions meet the CSU, caused by......cleaning it with muc off etc
now I was sceptical about this at first but since ive not used any cleaning products around the forks at all and its not happened again since (touches wood!)

Did they replace the CSU or has the CSU managed to rebond itself?

they replaced the whole CSU unit, as Ive said ive not had it since and ive totally avoided washing the forks now

will see how it goes, if it happens again ill know its not that story they fed me, though I can see some truth in it as some cleaners (muc off) are quite strong, so although you'd not expect it to debond the glue in the stanchions, you cant rule it out

Just to update on my issue this was the update I had from SRAM

"The fork has been replaced due to a creaking CSU. The fork and crown race will have been shipped to Canyon"

Hopefully I'll get it back before the weekend.

Another creaky Pike to add to the list...
Must be all that chemical cleaner I never use.

This is currently stopping me from buying pikes for my trance. Seems like a massive ballache and not one I can be bothered with.

Looks like I might need to dig down the back of the sofa a bit more for fox 36.

Just to add.
I've also had the same problem with plenty of fox forks too.

Interesting about the use of Muc-Off etc. Must admit I would spray my forks with Muc-Off and generally leave it for 5 minutes before washing off. I don't invert my bike though as have a stand. Think I'll just use water and soft brush on new set when I get them. If I get them back before next Wednesday turnaround time will be less than two weeks so not too bad.

Mine were replaced by SRAM within a week for a new fork.

Can't fault the speed of service but am a little wary that this is an issue to begin with on a 1 month old fork!

I've been following this thread with interest. My rebas are clicking away....again. Had the CSU replaced under warranty last year at the end of the warranty period as the stanchion crown join was creaking. This was obvious when the wheel was out and the legs pulled gently. However, this latest creak doesn't happen under the same circumstances but I can get the bike to do it by standing up when going up a hill or by turning the bike upside down and applying a slight sideways pressure on the wheel so the force is through one side of the bars (if that makes any sense). The question is how do you know if it's the steerer crown that's breaking down? Or could it be something else? The headset is greased and preloaded correctly.

Is this also a problem on revelations? Another chasing a creaking noise for a month or so!

So today received replacement forks but the saga continues. Mine were off a 5 week old Canyon Spectral & came with the bike. Fisher / SRAM have sent me a standard retail pair which to me is not a like for like replacement for forks that obviously had a fault from day one. Mine were sent back for investigation with my star nut in them, the ones sent to me have no star nut installed or with them. The forks on my bike had obviously had the steerer tube cut to size to fit my head tube and headset on my bike. The forks sent to me need cutting to size. A miner thing but just as annoying my forks had gold decal stickers to match the colour scheme of the bike the ones I've been sent have the standard silver. A few phone calls to be made tomorrow! They knew my forks were practically brand new were not retail but came with a bike & they send me a pair that are not suitable. I don't know why they didn't contact Canyon and get them to send me a direct replacement? I will not be excepting the pair they have sent me. The most frustrating thing is that just down to incompetency I will be waiting even longer with a brand new bike I can't ride 🙁

Safe to say I am forked off!

They did replace mine no questions asked first time, they admitted to the creaking CSU too, but on closer examination the bladder had blown too so whether that's why the noise was even worse last time I don't know

I believe the issues with blown bladders is why Avalanche adds a nitrogen sleeve around the bladder, like they have on just about every moto fork available and for some reason bike manufacturers feel the need to omit.

Anyway....

Bring on Enduro dual crowns, more travel for the same axle to crown height (160mm fork is roughly the same length as a 180mm boxxer), no CSU creak and stiffer integrated stems.

Tom_W1987 - Member
Bring on Enduro dual crowns, more travel for the same axle to crown height (160mm fork is roughly the same length as a 180mm boxxer), no CSU creak and stiffer integrated stems.

It's a complete myth that dual crowns make tight corners harder, a myth pedaled by people who mostly haven't ridden them.

160mm+ should have gone to dual crowns years ago.

I've warrantied a lot of forks for customer over the years including a good number of my own Fox and Rockshox

My last pair of Fox 32's had the CSU replaced FOC under warranty by Mojo after developing the 'CSU creak'. Then it happened again, and it cheaper to replace the fork with a Manitou bought cheap off CRC than pay Mojo for a CSU and their labour to rebuild the fork.

Mojo have always been super helpful and professional, but warranty is warranty and once out of warranty it was at my cost.

I've had a couple of detailed discussions about the CSU creak with their technicians over the years, and they said its much more common in the UK because we

-ride all year round, in all weather
-which means more regular cleaning, especially with products like Muc-Off

they've said to me that the use of these products causes the 'assembly grease' to leach away over time, causing a metal-on-metal clicking/creaking. He said its typically the stanchions, rather than the crown.

This assembly grease is used when they press fit the stanchions (and steerer) into the crown during factory assembly. Its a precise fitment with a narrow tolerance range, and a machine measures the expansion of the crown during this process, if it falls out of the tolerance the CSU is rejected and scrapped.

he said that they could make the crown heavier which would help this situation, but the market wants lighter forks. he said this noise is never structural / safety related but agreed very annoying!

my Manitou is heavier than my 32 despite being same stanchion size and travel length, but the crown is much more substantial with a long overlap between stanchions and crown. so far, so good...

Not sure why anyone would ever want much off to go near their forks? Wouldn't that stip away the lubricant on the stanchions? Daft buggers.

What happened to just using a wet cloth for the delicate parts of the bike? Or even waiting for the mud to dry and dry cleaning the bike.

How do you rate the modern Manitous reliability? Seriously considering going for one at some point as they seem really well built.