Fork dilemma – X-fusion McQueen or Pike Select?

I’ve bought a bike which comes with the McQueen, but there’s potentially the option to switch to the Pike. I’m not familiar with X-fusion forks, so was hoping for some guidance.

It looks like the X-fusion McQueen has more adjustment options but the Pike looks lighter.

Although it’ll be on a trail bike, it’s unlikely to see much in the way of excessively gnarly terrain.

If it’s useful info, I’m coming from an XC background and am more of a fit-and-forget person than an eternal fiddler.

Cheers for any thoughts. Ultimately, I’m sure either will be fine, but thought I’d see what’s what 👍

McQueen is a good fork, but I’d go for the Pike for better availability of spares in the UK. When I had a couple of X Fusion forks a couple of years ago I was having trouble even buying a seal kit from their UK distributor.

Is it the Roughcut HLR McQueen?

I’m not 100% certain whether it’s the HLT or RCP

I have a roughcut McQueen, I’ve had a pike with the charger 1 damper. The McQueen is fine, but I found the pike to be easier to set up and more suited to my more xc, natural trails, riding. It’s easier to get parts for servicing the pike, and there’s more flexibility for places to get it serviced if that’s what you do. Xfusion only have servicing at the importer.

I’ve been running the 36 Trace for a few years and have been happy. Fork seals for a McQueen will just be the same as Fox34 I believe. Really easy to service and adjustable travel.

Yeah if you’re just changing the foam rings same as fox 34, but Im sure the seals are different? (I could well be wrong though).

And easily adjustable travel as reeksy says.

I purchased a rough cut air fork recently for my mini freeride style bike and first ride was sublime.

I had a velvet rl2 once which was sturdyish, simple and held it’s travel nicely supported considering.

I had a RV1 Dual Crown on an impulse buy carbon DH rig. That was roughcut too though could and felt great even though undersprung for my heft.

Upgrade bikes UK are great guys & gals. Turn around time to get them lowered and sent to me was what like 24hrs insane! Would highly recommend them both for products and dusty service though not longer term use mind.

Would genuinely say go X-Fusion for less potential faff with setting up.

Though it’s a toughy as not been on newer pikes than the ’16 MY ones.

Giveem a go though, might pleasantly surprise you

Also check the warranty period offered by both in the UK. I’m pretty sure it’s 2 years for Rockshox, but I recall a thread way back when in which X Fusion had tried to backpedal on their commitments in the UK by changing it to one year.

Is it Cotic? I know they used to spec X Fusion suspension anyway.

If so, see if you could get the Pike Select+ for just a little more, that is a really good fork.

McQueen owner here. Skf Seals+foam rings can be had off eBay for not much. Easy to service the lowers and change travel. Mine have been faultless for 5 years

If it’s the Pike Select with the RC (MoCo) damper I’d avoid it because it doesn’t work very well.

If its the Select Plus, and it was me… I’d probably still avoid it because I dont like Rockshox. But, I’ll admit that it’s a fairly good damper though.

No longer have them but did have roughcut mcqueens and they were absolutely brilliant. So much better on small or mid sized hits than the Rockshox I had (revs). I really like lyrik ultimates I have now but always feel x fusion are overlooked given how well thought out they are. I do take the point on spares but upgrade are good to deal with.

Who does the spares for Xfusion now..? If you have to deal with the importers Upgrade bikes.. good luck.

In my experience they are slightly below useless.

Rockshox everytime for spares and service availability

Thanks for all the comments.  It looks as though, other than spares, there isn’t a major reason to pick one over the other so I think I’ll stick with the X-fusion’s.