RockShox Pike Select [Rider Review]

The RockShox Pike has been through many iterations, and we've found the most recent upgrades that RockShox has done is hands down our favorite. The 35mm chassis and charger damper handles any aggressive trail riding you're wanting to do. See what this customer thinks in this review!

Overview

I discovered mountain biking in my 40s. While I had ridden my bike to friends' houses before I could drive, my experience had never gone beyond cutting through the neighbor's yard. However, during the pandemic, like many others, I felt the need to get outdoors, and I ended up contributing to the supply chain problems by purchasing an entry-level hardtail bike. I live in southern NJ, which is mostly flat terrain, and initially, the fun level was a solid "okay." But my fun level skyrocketed to "holy s&*^, this is awesome" when my boss mentioned that ski areas get transformed into bike parks during the summer.

For downhill riding, I acquired a used bike and started upgrading its components one by one as my skills improved. I exclusively rode downhill from 2022 until the end of the 2023 downhill season. This winter, my bike addiction has taken hold. As those bike parks turned into ski areas, I rediscovered my hardtail. I also developed a taste for gravity riding and decided to transform my old hardtail into a more hardcore version, upgrading its components one at a time.

One of the coolest things about mountain biking is the diversity and modularity of these bikes. However, it can be overwhelming for newcomers. You can end up with a bunch of parts on the floor if you try to put almost any component on any bike. It's a delicate balance between creating a setup that works seamlessly and realizing a dream build.

My journey led me to the decision to upgrade my fork, which was quite bewildering initially. To demystify the process, I turned to resources like The MTB Podcast and the Worldwide Cyclery crew on YouTube. They helped me narrow down my brand choices to Fox or Rockshox. For riders at my skill level, mid-tier forks from either of these brands offer more than enough performance and adjustability at reasonable price points. These brands are well-supported, both in terms of parts availability and local bike shop (LBS) servicing. They also offer helpful online tools to assist with setup.

My next steps were to select the right travel, spring type, and wheel size for my riding goals. I knew I wanted a trail bike primarily focused on descending, which led me to the 130mm+ travel range. However, I also occasionally ride with friends on XC-like trails, so I didn't want to venture into enduro territory at 160mm+. Initially, I considered a coil fork due to its small bump sensitivity, but I ultimately chose an air fork because of the diverse terrain I ride. I opted to stick with my 27.5-inch wheels to avoid altering the bike's geometry too drastically. Lastly, my local bike shop recommended Rockshox as they are somewhat easier to work on compared to Fox. After careful consideration, I narrowed down my options to the Pike or Lyrik and ultimately chose the Pike Select with 140mm of travel and a 44mm offset, thanks to a fantastic Black Friday deal from Worldwide Cyclery. The Pike Select was not only cost-effective but also offered the flexibility to upgrade the spring and damper, a nice bonus.

Since installing the fork, I've hit my local trails, a pump track with some impressive blue and black jump lines, and even managed to keep up with friends riding high-end, full-suspension Yeti, Pivot, and Specialized bikes on a few approximately 15-mile rides. Setting up suspension might seem daunting, but SRAM's online tool helped me get into the ballpark. I started with the initial settings recommended by SRAM, then fine-tuned them through trial and error, much like the method an eye doctor uses when fitting you with new glasses. This approach was straightforward and allowed me to achieve the comfort and performance I desired. With a weight of around 180 lbs., I typically run 110 psi, with compression damping fully open, and the rebound set at about two-thirds of the way to fully fast rebound. I haven't needed to use any tokens. After over 40 miles of XC-like riding, numerous descents, and countless laps on the jump lines, I can confidently say that this fork was a massive upgrade over my old one. It has significantly reduced fatigue, my wrists feel great compared to the old fork, and I experience better traction with less pogo-stick action. Transitioning from an entry-level to a mid-level fork represents a substantial leap in comfort and performance, and it's absolutely worth it as you become more serious about the sport.

Final Thoughts