RockShox Pike Ultimate Review | Lots of small changes for big performance

The 35mm stanchion RockShox Pike looks positively skinny compared to new school forks, but the latest Pike Ultimate is perfect for trail duties. Way w …

By singletrackandi

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The C1 Debonair’s not compatible with the A1-A2 Pike I think, only the later B model Pike. (Rockshox originally said they were all compatible but reversed that, i think because the pressure equalisation doofer ends up in the wrong place)

I think it’s time for more silver on bikes again.
Silver should be the new black.

What we’d like the see ‘Really grasping at straws here’

a flagship fork that is less than £800

matt_outandabout
Full Member

Silver should be the new black.

There are 2 acceptable colours for forks. Black, and matt black.

There are 2 acceptable colours for forks. Black, and matt black.

And Orange, and Judy Yellow, and Chrome and camo and red and… ooh, blue and… 🙂

A guy at Southern Champs last weekend had his Lyrics painted & decaled up as 90s Judy’s…

https://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/5814344/rider/40788

But black on black is best, only Shivers are supposed to be silver

There are 2 acceptable colours for forks. Black, and matt black.

and ultraviolet

but seriously, stanchions should be silver to match your dropper, bars and stem (and spokes and chainset if you really are a classic) and the crown and lowers should match the frame.

Any idea on the maximum tyre size for these? Looking for a new 29+ fork for my Stache.

So… humour me… what difference will I notice if I replace my fox 34 rhythm with a set of these… (on aether 9 with matching rs ultimate rear shock) for general dark peak “enduro-lite” type riding- blacka, ladybower, win hill etc…

@northwind

what’s the issue with the early pikes? Mine seem fine with the updated air shaft

and camo and red and… ooh, blue and… white?

I need some black Pikes, silver would look bad on my Black/Yellow bike

P20
Full Member

what’s the issue with the early pikes? Mine seem fine with the updated air shaft

Just going off what I was told but it’s to do with the positive/negative equalising channel’s position- apparently the C debonair in the A chassis means it doesn’t equalise at the right point. So it physically fits etc but doesn’t operate as it should

I need some black Pikes, silver would look bad on my Black/Yellow bike

I’ve got some black Pikes, so if you buy these fancy new silver ones we can swap. Win-win! 😀

👍 Cool!

It’s a great fork, I’ve just done a travel change on mine, due to a frame change, and they’ve made it easier to work on than the 2016 Pikes on my hardtail.

The new Debonair air spring gives a similar feel of mid-travel support to the older Pike with a Vorsprung Luftkappe fitted. The damper & seal upgrades make quite a difference too.

Can’t say I’ve ever wanted/needed more fork than the Pikes tbh, and that includes running them on chunky Peaks rides, North Wales DH uplifts, sketchy jump landings, etc. Tried the Yari/Lyrik chassis, and it feels less lively to me.

Have they sorted the high speed damping yet? My 2018 with RCT3 charger 2.1 and latest debonair spring are still overdamped for high speed hits; something which was supposed to have been fixed from the earlier Charger 2.0 dampers. I don’t know if it’s a personal preference type thing but Rockshox are always overdamped for my liking. They have tons of adjustment that I will never use – I always have to have all settings virtual wide open.

Is this going to be anywhere near as good as an ohlins?
Am replacing the fox grip1 on my scout and currently have ohlins on order but these are £400 cheaper

@grahamt1980 what about a Grip 2 36? I’ve not tried an Öhlins yet, but Ross has and today were both on the phone singing the praises of the new Fox stuff.

I had got down to either the ohlins or the grip 2.
Basically no difference in price between them though, so if an spending the money i will get the coil ohlins

Is your existing chassis decent? Grip 2 damper retrofits into every 36 from 2015 onwards and costs about £400.

(I didn’t go that way in the end because apparently I’m too light, but for people with actual bones and muscles and suchlike it looks a superb option)

Gotta say I really don’t understand how the Charger dampers are so highly rated, for me they’re decent at best but, people do love ’em.

It is ok, they are the grip1 performance (i think) that came in the scout as oem.
I did think about changing the damper to grip 2 but wasn’t convinced.
Will see how long the ohlins take to come into stock i think but will look some more at the pikes

Gotta say I really don’t understand how the Charger dampers are so highly rated, for me they’re decent at best but, people do love ’em.

This.

I went to this fork from a Bos Deville, and before that Marzocchi 55 rc3ti & Marzocchi NCR 350ti. The Pike is now my only fork & every time I ride it I wonder what I’m missing that seemingly everyone else “gets”.

I know Marzocchi of old & Bos had customer service issues, but performance has to mean something, doesn’t it? (actually as soon as I wrote that I realised that the market pretty much answers that one).

There are 2 acceptable colours for forks. Black, and matt black.

I’m with you, possible exception of red lyriks on the right bike

There are 2 acceptable colours for forks. Black, and matt black.

Actually I think there should be two colours offered for the aftermarket. Black ready to ride and a version with the lowers and seals off that’s primed ready for you to paint.

When will we see the follow-up review of the BFeMax with these forks on it?

I’m in the process of (very slowly) getting parts to build up my BFeMax and deliberating on which fork to get. Probably be a 140mm Pike, or maybe i’ll get a bit carried away and get a 150mm Pike/Lyric!