I'm gathering bits together for a new trailbike build. Still no clearer on what frame/geometry I want, but I've decided on wheels (29er) and front travel (~130mm), so I picked up a 2018 Pike from one of the German sites that seemed a decent deal. Since it could be a while before I get the rest of the bits together I wanted to check it over, so I've just been putting it on the floor and pushing down on the crown. But I'm not really sure how it should feel.
I can't really feel much difference between the open and pedal modes, or much effect of adjusting the LSC. Firm is noticeably firmer, but not as stiff as I remember the previous Pike being. Is that just the changes for 2018, or have I got a duff fork?
OK, nobody thinks they are definitely borked then. That's a relief 🙂
Thinking about it some more; if I'm just pushing down on the fork I'm probably barely reaching the sag point, so am just testing the feel off the top. With the new debonair spring (with its larger negative chamber) maybe it's not surprising that all modes feel a bit softer off the top than the older model Pike. Well, that will do for a theory for now. I guess I wont know for sure until I build up the bike, by which time it will be too late to send them back.
Well, that will do for a theory for now. I guess I wont know for sure until I build up the bike, by which time it will be too late to send them back.
Unless your not going to build it until the warranty is up you have no issues, I'm sure some friendly person could do a 2 month test for you...
It's OK, I'm not that worried 🙂
I just meant I'll miss the distance selling, send them back for a refund option. Obviously, if they are faulty, they'd get fixed under warranty, it's just a bit more of a faff. No big deal in the grand scheme of things though. I was just hoping somebody could confirm that was the way the newer Pikes felt i.e. firm being less damped and pedal feeling more like open than firm. I know they did mess with the pedal setting in an attempt to get people to actually use it !
There’s no way you can tell this stuff without it mounted on a bike. Too much air spring stiction, the forces needed are too high and you’ll never move it fast enough to get the damper doing anything on the compression stroke.
Ah, right, thanks. I thought, since the knobs only seem to affect the low speed compression damping I needed to move it slowly to test those. Guess not.
if I’m just pushing down on the fork I’m probably barely reaching the sag point
Let some air out then? My LSC make them noticeably firmer but doesn't lock them out. The LSC on my Yari is even more firm but again doesn't lock them out.
I would not read at all into how they feel when not attached to a bicycle frame. This is a suboptimal configuration.
It's a bit like worrying the tyre looks a bit floppy when not mounted to a wheel.