RockShox Pike – The Benchmark

The Ultimate Guide To Pike & Revelation RC Forks

Since its initial debut in 2013, the RockShox Pike has been the SRAM’s premier fork.

Over the years, the RockShox Pike has seen many upgrades to keep it ahead of its competitors. The latest changes have seen Pike’s 2021 chassis reduce weight by over 160 g while claiming a significant improvement in ride quality.

The RockShox Pike. along with other models in the RockShox fork lineup. have recently benefited from improved air spring, dampers and lighter chassis. 

I recently put the new SID and SID SL through their paces. The all new Debonair air spring and Race Day damper provided a leap in performance for RockShox SID forks. I expected the same from the Pike lineup. 

Both SID and SID SL were at the top of the game for XC forks. The new 35 mm stanchion SID also put in a respectable performance downhill. RockShox limited the capability of SID forks to reduce weight. SID stands for Superlight Integrated Design. I was excited to see if the new 35 mm stanchion, 160 mm travel, RockShox Pike lineup would take the performance one step further.

RockShox focused on weight reduction with the SID and it lacked the travel of a full-blooded trail bike fork. They designed RockShox Pike forks for the trail bike audience, and I hoped Pike forks would carry on where SID forks left off.  

I was eager to find out how well Pike forks would handle the terrain they were designed for. I had high hopes that they would be the perfect all rounders that trail biking requires.

My first impression of the RockShox Pike had me charged. Pike forks aren’t just long travel versions of the SID that I was expecting. Although Pike forks share the enhanced DebonAir air spring, there is far more going on inside with damping.

All Pike models, other than the Pike DJ, are Boost compatible. All models accept Torque Caps and we can adjust fork travel from 120 mm to 160 mm. 

These buzz words are much promoted and the benefits of often hyped and misunderstood. I thought it would be useful to clarify what these features are and why you may want them.

The Boost Standard

As you may notice from my outline specs below, the Pike Ultimate and the Pike Select+ are both Boost forks. RockShox introduced the Boost standard in 2015 to provide more space in front and rear axles.

A wider axle provides a greater spoke bracing angle on wheels. Using a Boost axle allows a stiffer, more controllable wheel to be fitted. The Boost standard provides a useful advancement in wheel stiffness. 

Modern mountain bikes increasingly make use of 29” wheels and wide tyres to provide a smoother ride. Larger wheels introduce more flex. We can reduce flex by spoking the wheel from a wider hub.

Modern mountain bikes increasingly make use of 29” wheels and wide tyres to provide a smoother ride. Larger wheels introduce more flex. We can reduce flex by spoking the wheel from a wider angle.

Modern mountain bikes increasingly make use of 29” wheels and wide tyres to provide a smoother ride. Larger wheels introduce more flex which can be countered by spoking the wheel from a wider angle.

Modern mountain bikes increasingly make use of 29” wheels and wide tyres to provide a smoother ride.  The larger wheels introduce more flex which can be countered by spoking the wheel from a wider angle.

Manufacturers claim that 29” wheels using a 110 mm Boost through axle have comparable stiffness to a 26” wheel with 100 mm though axle.

At the rear, boost axles provide more space for larger cassettes to be fitted.

What are Torque Caps?

RockShox machine Pike forks (excluding the Pike DJ) to accept Torque Caps. So, what are Torque Caps and what are the benefits?

We fit torque Caps to the end of wheel hubs. Torque Caps simply provide a larger face to connect the wheel hub to the fork lowers. The fork lowers have to be machined with a larger flat surface for them to be Torque Caps compatible.

The benefit is that the larger wheel hub end piece (or Torque Cap) holds the wheel hub more firmly against the fork lowers. The idea is to provide rigidity to the wheel to deliver more positive steering.

Any benefit is minor. I cannot tell if a bike is using Torque Caps or not. The caps cost around $30 to upgrade a hub and, as with most advances, a cumulative effect of several components results in a noticeable difference.

There is rarely a significant improvement when you fit one redeveloped component. When you fit several redesigned parts, the combination can have a radical effect on the performance of your bike.

Why use long travel forks?

Long travel forks improve control and shock absorption over bumps. Long travel forks also provide versatility. If you are riding trails that don’t require the full range of the forks, you have the flexibility to reduce travel.

Why use short travel forks?

Keeping fork travel short minimizes brake dive while reduced damping increasing power transmission from the pedals. 

If you know the type of trail you like to ride, then shorter fork stanchions can reduce the weight of the bike.

RockShox Pike Lineup

As with all other forks in the RockShox lineup, Pike forks are available in many varieties.

There are 4 primary options. The Pike Ultimate, Pike DJ, the Pike Select+ and the Pike Select. 

I have also included the Revelation RC, as it exploits the RockShox Pike chassis. The Revelation RC is an entry level RockShox Pike with a unique name.

While the Revelation RC is an entry level Pike, the Pike DJ is a distant cousin of other forks in the Pike range. It would have been more logical to rename the Pike DJ.

I have singled the Pike DJ out to provide a platform for dirt jump enthusiasts with a specific setup and tune.

Similarities

All Pike forks have 35mm stanchion diameter with a 1.5″ tapered steerer tube. Note that RockShox Pike forks have a maximum of 160 mm for 27.5” wheels, which reduces to 140 mm travel if you run 29’ers.

If you run large rubber, the Pike can take a plus size 2.8” wide tire .

A 15 x 110 mm, Boost Maxle holds the wheel in place, while Torque Cap compatible forks secure and stiffen the front wheel for stability in difficult terrain. 

The forks accept a minimum rotor size of 180mm and a maximum rotor size of 220mm.

Differences in the RockShox Pike lineup

The mainstream Pike models accept both 27.5” and 29” wheels, with the DJ designed solely for 26” wheels.  The Pike DJ has a 40 mm offset. The Pike DJ continues with a Solo Air™ system, which was introduced in 2012.

Revelation vs Pike

As the Revelation RC carries a unique name, it may seem odd to include this fork with my review of Pike forks. The Revelation RC, however, uses the same Pike chassis, stanchions and DebonAir air spring as other models.

All Pike forks, and the Revelation RC, have a choice of 4 offsets. The 37 mm and 46 mm for 27.5” wheels and 42 mm and 51 mm offsets to suit 29” wheels. 

Pike forks, and the Revelation RC, are fitted with the smooth, light and capable DebonAir air spring. 

We can increase the air volume in these air springs by simply inserting bottomless tokens into the unit. Using more tokens ramps up spring progression to prevent the forks bottoming out when crashing down after a drop.

The major difference between Pike vs Revelation is the damper. The more expensive Pike Ultra provides a choice of 3 variants of the Charger 2.1 damper. RockShox provided other Pike forks with Charger, or Charger 2.1 RC. By contrast, the older Motion Control damper is provided on the Revelation RC.

Let’s clarify the different model options in the RockShox Pike lineup:

We can set suspension travel on Pike forks between 120 and 160 mm (Maximum travel reduces to 140 mm if you run a 29’r). The Pike DJ is again the odd one out in this list with travel of 100 to 140 mm.

The Pike ultimate offers the choice of 3 different Charger 2.1 dampers. Of the three damper options, the versatile Charger 2.1 RC2 suited me most. These forks provide enduro control and ride quality with straight forward but advanced tuning options, which is simple to set up.

The RC2 has adjustable slow speed and high-speed rebound circuits, and low speed and high-speed compression adjustment. 

The fork outers are available in gloss black or gloss silver. There are also 2 RockShox decal options for the Pike Ultimate.

Flight Attendant for Pike forks

RockShox Flight Attendant is available for Pike Ultimate forks.  Introduced to Pike forks in the 2022 line up, the Next GEN Flight Attendant is now available.

Flight Attendant is an industry leading electronic suspension system. A predictive algorithm adjusts the suspension settings in microseconds to keep your suspension tuned for the track ahead.

Follow this link for more details on RockShocks Filght Attendant.

Fitting the System

Flight Attendant is wireless, with the system comprising three units plus an optional override switch. The override switch fits to the left side of the handlebars to give the rider more control over system behavior. 

The most visible component of the system is the control module that sits on top of the fork which sports the system controls.

The wireless system requires no cable porting to hide ugly connector wires. RockShox design is fantastic, neatly integrating the compact, rechargeable batteries into the fork and shock modules. There is no bulky central power source or controller. This makes fitting neat, straightforward, and convenient.

The Pike DJ is the odd one out in this range. It is not built as a trail bike fork as is intended for 26” wheel, dirt jumping, bikers.

Pike DJ forks are designed to take a pounding on landing big jumps. RockShox tune the air spring and damper to improve rebound in the stroke, helping the rider take more air in their jump.  

The Pike DJs are short travel forks fitted with a Solo Air spring (Rockshox introduced the Solo Air spring in 2012). The Solo Air spring in the Pike DJ is robust when compared to the lighter DebonAir system. 

The robust Solo Air spring and the early model Charger damper used in the DJ are both specifically tuned for jumping.

Color options are diffusion black, gloss black, and gloss silver.

The Select+ is not available for direct sale as a stand-alone unit. The Pike Select+ is, however, provided on many mountain bike packages. It is possible to buy used Select+ forks.

 Pike Select+ are available in diffusion black or gloss black.   

These trail forks have the same spec as Pike Ultimate forks, although there are no damper options. This fork is supplied with the Charger 2.1 RC only.

The Revelation RC are the entry level Pike forks for those seeking a reliable trail fork without breaking the bank.

The major compromise is that RockShox fits these forks with older air/oil, Motion Control damper. This damper provides low-speed compression adjustment.

Revelation forks also use standard oil seals, have a slightly heavier crown, and do not have tapered wall uppers. The forks use Maxima damping oil and are compatible with Torque Cap.

Available in diffusion black and gloss black, these forks can be found on mid-cost Enduro e-bikes, such as the Yamaha YDX Moro.

Rockshox Dampers

Charger 2 dampers are sealed oil dampers using an expanding bladder to prevent air mixing with oil. Sealed oil bladder dampers provide better sensitivity and consistency. 

With the earlier RockShox Motion Control damper, air in the damper could mix with the oil to emulsify the damper fluid under harsh conditions. Emulsified oil changes the dampers performance, leading to inconsistency on long trail rides.

The RockShox Revelation RC could be classed as an entry level Pike fork. Revelation RC forks uses the Pike chassis with a slightly heavier crown and Motion Control Damper.

The lockout position may be handy if you venture into cross-country riding. For my style of riding, I selected the stiffer compression setting and leaving it. I got little use out of the RCT3’s setting dial.

Maxima Plush fluid in this fork reduces friction. Lower friction provides a smoother ride while reducing suspension wear and damper noise.

Motion Control Damper

The Motion Control damper on the Revelation RC is showing its age. This damper struggled to stay obedient on extreme downhill trails. I felt the fork roaming while ripping over fast, chattery tracks. 

The Motion Control damper wasn’t bad. The damper compromised a little in comfort, smoothness, and capability, but when considering the price compared to its newer competition, it is a bargain.

Maxima Plush fluid in this fork reduces friction. Lower friction provides a smoother ride while reducing suspension wear and damper noise.

Testing RockShox Revelation vs Pike

When testing these forks, I rode everything from fast tarmac to steep downhill runs and jumps. I wanted to know how versatile the Pike lineup was. 

All forks have a guide marker on the stanchions with settings for the DebonAir air pressure to suit riders of various weight. I checked pressures and set the forks to the recommended damper settings using the free Trailhead tool provided by RockShox.

If you like big drops.,or like me, you weigh more than 200lb; I recommend adding some volume reducers. I bottomed out a few times on big drops, although not as often as I expected. The forks coped well and, other than the odd silly drop, I never felt them bottom out hard, even without reducers.

The fork adapted to the task, whether I was on a paved road, ascending fire trails, or leaping off large drops.

The RockShox Pike’s were silent and rigid while hammering down tricky and hazardous terrain at speed. 

Maxima Plush oil in the Ultimate lived up to its billing by keeping the forks creamy smooth. Forks without Plush fluid didn’t seem noisy or sticky, but they were not as slick.

CONCLUSION

Pike forks weigh around 1,837 grams, so they are mid-range weight for a fork with 160 mm travel.

The RockShox Pike Ultimate, Select and Revelation RC were incredible in all test situations and gave no mechanical problems. I raced this fork on paved tracks, dirt jumps, and blasted through some rough downhill trails. All the Pike range held up well and were never over extended. 

Pike forks perform admirably, and adding a few tokens will enable them to handle just about anything you throw at them.

For my money, I’d choose either of the two extremes. The Revelation RC presents incredible value at $767. It was however noticeably heavier than other Pike models. The revelation RC also transmitted more vibration when hammering over minor bumps.