RockShox Pike

hitchen92

I just can't seem to get the setup right with my RS Pike 454 Dual-Airs. I've tried messing with the air pressures in both positive and negative to achieve a plush ride but I'm struggling. I'm about 11stone, so what do you guys with Pikes run pressure wise? And what pressures in each chambers (neg and pos)

Any help greatly appreciated

Cheers

Horton

How long have you had them and how many rides have you been out on? Mine work a treat and to be honest, I run pretty much the recommended pressure as per the chart on the left leg. I can't remember off hand exactly what pressure I'm running but then again I weigh about a stone more than you so not hugely relevant to you. If they're new, I'd suggest running each chamber at the recommend rate for a good few hours riding, then muck about from there. Make sure you pay attention to compression damping as well, one of my mates messed about with air pressures for weeks before he realised he'd got a bit too much compression dialled in. If all else fails, give Tim Flooks at TF Tuned a call.

dave_hill

Start from scratch -

Empty both positive and negative springs, and back the compression damping right off.

Now, refill the positive spring to set the sag - depending upon the type of riding that you do, set the sag to between 25 and 30mm. This usually means a pressure of about 75% your body weight. So, given that you are 11 stone (154lbs), set the pressure in the positive spring to about 115psi.

You now need to set the negative spring to a similar or slightly higher pressure (say 120psi). This will start to draw the fork down into its travel and increase small-bump sensitivity. The higher the pressure in the negative spring, the further into the travel the fork will ride.

Now set your compression damping (the blue dial on the right leg). I normally leaave mine fully open for most riding conditions, shutting it completely on tarmac or setting it about half-way for fireroad condtions. I have the floodgate set two clicks from fully closed.

All that remains is to set the rebound damping and fine-tune the springs to suit.

Bear in mind that if you have been used to riding a decent coil-sprung fork, air-sprung forks will NEVER feel as supple.

breezer

Having trouble setting mine up as well despite being ok with some Revelations I had before

Why do you recommend emptying both chambers first and I have measured the sag after putting air in both, not just +ve

Ive tried all sorts from the (+ve/-ve) 110/130 that tftuned recommended (just had them pushed and to be honest feel no different) to things like 130/130 125/110 and all sorts so a big variety and whatever I do they either sit too deep in their initial travel and blow through or they have no small bump sensitivity at all. Bit more tinkering needed I guess. A friend has identical air 454's set to 125/125 and they feel great hence I was presuming mine just needed a service which I had done and pushed at the same time

edit: Using your 75% idea suggests around 145psi for my muscular (fatty) body so perhaps with those sort of figures they will be better although I then question why tftuned suggested as low as 110 in the +ve when I told them my weight heh

Anonymous

i thought you were supposed to put less into the -ve than the +ve?

topsey_turvey

I had my Pikes "pushed" at TF. I had set them at 135 +ve and 130 -ve. When they came back they had 140 +ve and 150 -ve. That was against all I'd been told, but I left them on the basis that nice Mr Flooks knows his stuff. They really are super with those sttings.

dave_hill

sheepsteeth wrote:

i thought you were supposed to put less into the -ve than the +ve?

Quite the opposite.

Think about it. The positive spring props the fork up. The negative pulls it back down again. If you have 150psi in the positive chamber and 140psi in the negative, the fork is going to sit fully extended (and if you don't set it right, the forks top out with a really annoying CLUNK)

If you increase the pressure in the negative spring (or reduce it in the positive), eventually the negative will overtake the positive and the fork will start to move down. This is the Dual Air system and is Rock Shox way of adjusting bump sensitivity in air forks - it's very easy to watch in action - just try increasing the pressure in the negative chamber and watch the forks move down as it increases.

The figures that Rock Shox quote for basic settings are renowned for being way off the mark, usually too low. From what people have been saying it sounds like TFT are just spouting RS own figures.

FWIW, the complete step-by-step setup procedure is laid out in the owners manual and is very easy to follow... :roll: