Morning all.
MY boy has these in his bike
RockShox Pike RCT3 650b, Solo Air spring, 160mm travel, 2-stage compression adjust, rebound adjust, tapered steerer, 42mm offset, 15mm Maxle Ultimate thru-axle
2015 model.
What's his options for improvement when it comes to servicing time ? I cant afford a set of Fox36/38s etc so i was purely thinking of internals when getting them serviced over winter... But what should we be going for.
Latest (or indeed any of) Debonair springs made a big difference to my Pikes which are the same model as you. Could also look at low friction seals too (SKF or Rockshox). That and a lower leg service made a big difference to mine.
If you want to also tinker with ramp up a MRP Ramp Control is worth a go. Put one on mine as well, works well. In fact I think I might be moving my Pikes on so I’ll put the Ramp Control in the classifieds if I do.
One other point, he's only 50kg... so bear that in mind with any thoughts.
Is that the charger 1 or charger 2? Zyro Fisher had some cheap charger 2 pike dampers on their eBay shop (£70) last week
Type the serial number (stamped on the crown) into the Rockshox Trailhead website and it'll tell you the current spec of the fork and the suitable upgrades. Charger 2.1 and air shaft upgrade is probably the way to go.. (although there is debate as to whether the very latest air shaft is an improvement over the penultimate one).
I have those forks and 2016's - biggest change is to put (as mentioned) a Debonair air shaft in - the B1 version.
A lower service always makes them feel better and maybe use the latest 'ultra low friction' dust wiper seals.
The 2.1 damper isn't worth it unless the current one is shot (in my experience of course...!)
Also, Miss4real is same weight and has a 2015 pike 130mm although a 29" and she always notices the difference after a lower leg service AND the Debonair air shaft made them feel even plusher.
It depends on how he rides and how the current spring and damper are working for him. I’ve got a Luftkappe in my 150mm Pikes of the same era but that might ramp up too much at 160mm with a 50kg rider. The RCT3 damper is pretty decent if it suits your weight/speed.
Agree with steel4reel.
Air shaft if more important than the damper, especially at his weight.
TBH I think the Vorsprung luftkappe on his existing air shaft will be better than the C1 debonair. Chances of getting the B1 now are slim to none. It might ramp a bit, depending on whether he's a hard charger and how many tokens are installed already.
2.1 damper is better, but not by much IMO.
Get the existing one serviced and re-shimmed for his weight - this is something that's easier on the older chargers which by design have more options.
If you're not sure which air shaft to go for, the TFTuned website will give you the correct serial number, I guess that the SRAM site would too, their Trailhead app will advise you of spare parts for your specific model.
I’d avoid the mrp ramp control at 50kgs - you probably don’t need any / many tokens at that weight at 160mm travel. The lowest ramp was too much for me at about 80kgs I found.
You could do the debonair air spring change - could make it a bit more plush off the top. Doubt you’d then need any tokens at all in the fork as it’ll ramp up enough. Luftkappe on the existing shaft does a similar thing - but I think it makes the negative air spring even bigger than the B1 / C1 air shafts - so perhaps more ramp up as you’ll be running a higher pressure.
Other than that I’d leave the damper alone unless you want to get it serviced / custom tuned for weight - it’s probably not worth the money to move from charger 1 to charger 2 / 2.1.
Maybe get the better quality / sloppier seals. Not much else to do / needed really. Spend the money on more racing / uplift days / coaching.
Spend the money on more racing / uplift days / coaching.
There isn't time for 'more' in some ways. We're doing quite a lot of all 3.
GF had the Debonair (B1) airshaft fitted with a recent service by TF Tuned to the same fork/year and says difference is very noticeable (plusher).
I’d avoid the mrp ramp control at 50kgs – you probably don’t need any / many tokens at that weight at 160mm travel.
Agree. I posted that before I knew he only weighed 50kgs.
I've those forks and when they had their service last year (I do the lowers 2-3 per year myself) the advice was not to bother with any of the various upgrades as they make bu99er all difference.
So I didn't.
I had my A2 pikes serviced and the guys at Pedals changed some kind of seal or something for a newer version they said improved reliability or feel or something. Wasn't any more expensive I don't think. I just can't remember what they did and what it was for!
Sorry, was a couple of years ago and I don't pay too much attention to suspension other than setting the sag
Other than that I’d leave the damper alone unless you want to get it serviced / custom tuned for weight – it’s probably not worth the money to move from charger 1 to charger 2 / 2.1.
Maybe get the better quality / sloppier seals. Not much else to do / needed really. Spend the money on more racing / uplift days / coaching.
Just had my 2016 Pikes done at TFT. Vorsprung luftkappe, low stiction seals, and the original Damper with a new seal or two. They recommended not going the Charger 2 Damper route as they said it was no better than a serviced original.
Not sure if the 2.1 damper will fit a 2015 fork TBH
Luftkappe made a big difference to my Pikes of the same age. Damper is already really nice. Prefer it to the Charger 2 in my newer Lyriks, although they are just the RC version.
Upgraded damper and a full service would be my first port of call. Speak to someone at TF Tuned to see what they recommend taking into account his weight, they have always been good with advice for lighter riders when we have spoken to them.
Push most likely have the ACS3 conversions on sale for none boost pikes 😉 possibly a bit more than you're looking to spend, but ive done two none boost pikes now with charger 2 dampers and absolutely adore this setup, im assuming they do spring rates that would go down that low..
Alternative is to get these, or something similar, have them fully serviced and a 170mm damper and sell the Pikes on. Should be able to get at least the same on the Pikes.
That way you can beef up the front with a bit longer travel at little or no cost extra in doing the Pikes
He frequents on here and is a good guy to deal with
Push most likely have the ACS3 conversions on sale for none boost pikes 😉 possibly a bit more than you’re looking to spend, but ive done two none boost pikes now with charger 2 dampers and absolutely adore this setup, im assuming they do spring rates that would go down that low..
Don't forget here, the bike is only going to last another 12 months before he has to move to something bigger in frame size potentially. So whilst i'm happy to throw say £200 in there for this plan and getting it serviced too, there's a limit to what i want to throw in.
2016 Pike here. I got a debonair spring and Charger 2.1 damper from bikediscount for £170 delivered back in April, dodged the Brexit tax.
Night and day difference once fitted
Don’t forget here, the bike is only going to last another 12 months before he has to move to something bigger in frame size potentially. So whilst i’m happy to throw say £200 in there for this plan and getting it serviced too, there’s a limit to what i want to throw in.
Then just service it and Chuck in a debonair shaft and have done with it. When he gets a bigger bike you can look at something burlier. At 50kgs a Pike is more than sturdy enough for now I’d say. Maybe look at something with a Lyrik / 36 next bike time - he may end up going 29er or mullet so it’s probably not worth spending out loads on either an upgrade to a non boost Pike or buying a 27.5” Lyrik.
Luftkappe and a damper tune.
With the limited time-line, I'd be tempted just to do a lower leg service, swop seals for the SKF low friction and put the debonair spring in. That's what I did on my '17 pike and it was much plusher, I don't know which part had the most effect but as a whole, it was definitely plusher.
They new debonair, the one that looks like a tiny little red bucket, isn't compatible with that year. Seemingly, there is a little air balance port that the seal doesn't align to.