Which fork Pike/Sid/Gold 35?

lemonenema
lemonenema Posts: 216
in MTB buying advice
Hi all I'm looking for a fork in the 120-130mm range for a 29 HT on 2.6". Likely to be mostly trail, natural stuff, peak district bit of lake district and occasional trail centre, I'm fairly light and don't go in for jumps or big drops.

I was initially thinking of a RS Pike but am wondering if that's going to be 'too much' fork for me if such a thing exists. How much better is one than the other, ive never had a good fork before mostly been on older Rs Reba or Recon

Any advice please

Comments

  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    edited June 2021
    I can recommend a 130mm travel Rockshox Revelation for your needs. The great thing about the Rev is that if you discover that you need "more fork", then the Rev is easily upgradable to a Pike by changing some of the internals. In addition to the damping adjustment on the right hand leg, the air spring is tuneable in the Rev and the Pike by adding or removing spacers called tokens to/from the left leg.

    If you get a Rev, then buy the one with more letters on it (RLC vs RL for example) Get one with a Debonair air spring if you can.

    If you were into rougher trails and bigger jumps, I would be recommending you start with a Yari, with a potential for upgrade to a Lyric. (Both in the RS range). They are burlier and heavier than their Rev and Pike counterparts.

    PS: You can convert a Rev to a Pike for less than the cost of selling your Rev and buying a new Pike. (I've done it on my own bike),
  • reaperactual
    reaperactual Posts: 1,185
    edited June 2021
    steve_sordy said:

    I can recommend a 130mm travel Rockshox Revelation for your needs. The great thing about the Rev is that if you discover that you need "more fork", then the Rev is easily upgradable to a Pike by changing some of the internals. In addition to the damping adjustment on the right hand leg, the air spring is tuneable in the Rev and the Pike by adding or removing spacers called tokens to/from the left leg.

    If you get a Rev, then buy the one with more letters on it (RLC vs RL for example) Get one with a Debonair air spring if you can.

    If you were into rougher trails and bigger jumps, I would be recommending you start with a Yari, with a potential for upgrade to a Lyric. (Both in the RS range). They are burlier and heavier than their Rev and Pike counterparts.

    PS: You can convert a Rev to a Pike for less than the cost of selling your Rev and buying a new Pike. (I've done it on my own bike),

    +1 for the Revelation's. 😎 I've got 130mm travel RC with a Debonair air spring and it's been perfectly adequate for the similar riding style and terrain you're describing.

    I guess it's not at the top of the Rockshox range but couldn't be happier with the Revelations personally.
  • lemonenema
    lemonenema Posts: 216
    edited June 2021
    Steve, great to see youre still around, ive been user Bechdan on another forum previously, and once again thanks for your wisdom

    Why would I choose a Revelation over the Gold 35?
    Its a bit harder to get hold of a Rev now than a Pike, not sure if theyre phasing them out.

    edit - just phoned TFTuned and they say the Rev is available but only with the motion control damper, whereas theyd recommend the Charger, so looks more like Ill be going for a Pike
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    Hi, I remember the name Bechdan.
    Yes, I'm still around. I don't use this forum as much as I used the MBR one, I now use the EMTB forum because I have a electric MTB.

    I have no experience or knowledge of the Gold 35, which is why I was silent on it. If I couldn't tune the air spring on the Gold35, I would not buy it. I would have to review it on the internet and compare specs and reviews - but you could do that. I do have experience of the Rev.

    I suspect the Rev is hard to get hold of for the same reason that much bike kit is hard to get hold of - unprecedented demand coupled to unprecedented supply chain problems.

    I have no idea if the Rev is being phased out or not. I doubt it because it and the Pike were positioned as a pair, one below the other in the Trail category, with the Rev upgradable to the Pike. Similarly the Yari and the Lyric were positioned in the Enduro category. The Yari can also be upgraded to the Lyric in a similar manner.

    I had several Pike forks before the Rev that came on my emtb. The Motion Control damper is good and it worked for me for a year, but eventually I removed it and fitted the Charger damper 2.1. The Charger is much better, and it ought to be at ca. £200!

    You pays your money and you takes your choice! :)

    You will not be disappointed with the Pike.

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