Skip to main content

RockShox Pike RCT3 Dual Position Air fork


ROCKSHOX’S PIKE IS a genuine game changer across all wheel sizes and versions. The 35mm stanchion chassis is accurate even in long-travel 29er formats and absolutely nailed in 26in and 650b guise. The new Maxle Lite screw-through 15mm axle is excellent, and accurate air pressure guides and sag markers make set-up easy.

The slippery Fast Black stanchions, Charger damper and progressive air spring offer super-supple small bump response for outstanding traction that seems to physically reach out and grab grip just when you think the front wheel is sliding away from you. Push your weight forward though and you rail around corners on a well supported mid stroke that still reacts in a balanced and consistent way to ripples and rocks. The already excellent bottomout control can be user tuned with optional Bottomless Tokens progression change spacers and the position sensitive Rapid Recovery rebound damping handles big hits and braking bumps better than most full-on downhill forks.

The Dual Position Air spring lets you switch between 130mm and 160mm of travel (5.1/6.3in) using a leg-top dial. It’s no less controlled and consistent than the Solo Air version, though the fixed-travel fork is 100g lighter and cheaper.

The Pike is slightly heavy and some of our testers would happily trade the three-position (open/pedal platform/lockout) RCT3 compression lever for separate high- and low-speed adjustments but overall performance is still sensational. You even get first-service spares and a shock pump in the box, making this the undisputed enduro racing champion.

Travel 130/160mm
Weight 1,935g
Length 555mm
Wheel sizes 26in, 650b (tested), 29in (140mm Solo Air only)

PRICE: 1329$








Labels

Popular posts from this blog

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

READ MORE >>

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>