After a few (maybe more than a few) offs today trying to pin it down Dollywagon, Birk and Grizedale Forest from H - I've realised my pike doesn't feel right.
It's beautifully plush and the small-bump is great.
But:
I'm getting caught up a lot with the fork bottoming out or diving over technical rocky stuff where I'm having to work the bike - and getting thrown over the bars or close to it.
140mm 29er - set up for just under 30% sag when in attack, wearing kit and 3 tokens, which is about 67psi with me at 80kg naked. I'm running like 7 clicks from open LSC.
Am I just allowing too much weight to come forwards? Is there something wrong with my LSC damping circuit? I can't really feel the difference in a car park test between open and anything up to about 8-9 clicks.
Sounds like a bit too much sag / low pressure
You could try running a bit less sag, I find that 23.3% suits me.
How many tokens fitted?
If it's blowing through its travel (linear) you could add a token/s to make it more progressive.
I find that I use more tokens and no LSC on mine to get it how I like it.
Reducing rebound damping can make the front end sit higher, but it's not an ideal way to achieve it.
My advice would be add a bit of pressure and add a token or two.
Had this issue too. Could be either great on small bumps or have mid stroke support, not both. Used to run lots of lsc to compensate which compromised it on small bump chatter.
Fitting a luftkappe solves it for me. Plush but supportive on steep stuff. Only bottom out on big hits now, even running only one token.
Same situation as Clubby, I went for a coil kit instead though (after much much faffing trying to get the air working for me)
What kind of sag would you aim to ride for 2-3 tokens at 80kg +kit?
Surely the fork is designed to run at 30 percent? If I shove a load more in I'll lose the traction from the front wheel no?
I think 30% is too much, a fork diving too much without enough support feels terrible down anything steep. Try between 20 to 25 over the same stuff.
20-25 percent sag, rebound set as quick as you can before the fork feels like it's bucking and leave the LSC dial fairly open.
Traction doesn't just come from sag, it comes from the fork tracking the ground properly. A fork with a good rebound setup and 25 percent sag will track the ground better than one with 30 percent sag and a rebound setting that is too slow.
If you are losing traction with a Pike set to 25 percent sag, you either need to adjust the rebound or move up in tyre widths/compound/tread pattern. If you really must get as much grip out of a fork as possible, get a coil fork or something that is plusher than a Pike - eg a 2019 Fox 36.
I concur regarding the 20-25% sag but be careful winding in that LSC as it will only take your small bump compliance away. Rather use the tokens to dial in some support and bottom out.
What you also could potentially do is drill a 1.5mm hole in your airshaft 40mm from the top hence opening this void up to your negative chamber. I did it and can confirm there is a decrease in breakaway force/improved small bump compliance.
yup, definitely raise the air pressure, I run around 15% on forks, but it's much more about feel than a rear end, where a certain sag is often needed to match the frame kinematics. Drop a token if needed if it feels harsh on medium sized stuff. I'd say around 75-80 psi is more in the ballpark for your fork/weight.
Is it the 2014-2017 pike? If so the lsc damping is way off, the first 10 clicks do nothing then it ramps up between 10 and 15. Try around 11-12 clicks and you should see some more stability under braking.
Finally make sure your rebound is fast enough and not packing down.
Surely the fork is designed to run at 30 percent?
Nope. That is just a vague starting point. I don't think I've ever run that much sag. It's pretty daft to persist with a saggy fork because of that number, if you think about it. Too soft is defined by the symptoms you describe.
Stick more air in!
I'm 90 kg and run my 29er 140mm pike at 95 to 110 depending on whether I'm riding natural or bike centre/park.
Your pressure is too low because you've chased feel over function.
That said, you're also hitting up against the fact that the pike compression damping is generally regarded as being excessively stiff so that People can have a lockout.
Like missions has said above, I also modified my fork so it has a larger negative air spring that helps give some of the plushness back to compensate for the higher pressures.
Any more info / links / nerdyness on the 1.5mm airshaft hole mod? Mine are due a lowers service soon & I could add this. Ta
I also found the Pike a compromise between small bump sensitivity, mid stroke support and bottoming out until I got a Luftkappe installed. It is really good I felt like I didn't need to compromise either end anymore. I run more pressure with it in, so more mid stroke support and I went from 3 tokens to 1 in the end. I have since put in a longer air shaft which has made the fork even better and took out the final token (the longer the travel the more progressive the fork is with the Luftkappe installed)
You could get the new 2019 air shaft which does a similar job to the Luftkappe but is half the price.
Luftkappe.
Get a lower leg service done and while you are at it fit a luftkappe. Gives you more bump sensitivity, so you can run a bit more pressure, thus better mid stroke support, it ramps up nicely.
My 140mm pike 29er runs a luftkappe, no tokens, 100psi (i'm 100kg), its a very good fork.
another vote for the luftkappe, made a massive differance to my 160mm fork.
qwerty I got the idea off some Dutch cycling thread and for the life of me can't find it now. Basically what you do is pull the airshaft and then slide the black plastic bottom out spacer down. Measure 30mm from the bottom of the airpiston down. Drill a 1.5mm hole. Thoroughly clean the airshaft inside and out for any metal bits that might be caught somewhere. Reassemble in the same order as what you took apart. The only difference here is now you want to seal the bolt that holds the airshaft down on the fork legs. I used a bit of plumbers tape on the bolt itself. I recall someone doing a volumetric calculation on the gains made in expanding the negative chamber this way. According to them the gains are minimum. My take on it is basically a 5 minute job and gains were made that cost nothing. Do I feel a difference? I do believe so or it might just be the fresh lower leg service...........
Just put some more bloody air in it!