Which fork?

[Flat Broke]

So, I've been enjoying the change from my DJ2 to the Vanilla RL on my Vagrant, but when I bought the fork, I knew it was a stopgap as I'm not 100% comfy riding a std QR fork at my weight. After initially saving $$ to buy a Pike, I've been hearing some issues about them creaking at the stanchions. RS seems to be handling the replacements fine, but I don't want to lay out $$ for something that is going to need to go back in for warranty/repair work. That issue got me looking at my options again, and I'm pretty much at the point of deciding between 3 options. The pike 454 coil, an 05 Z1 FR w/ETA, and a Vanilla36.

The Z1 is lightly used, the other two would be new. Of course, the Z1 is also substantially cheaper than the other two options. I don't want $$ to be the ultimate factor, as long as whatever I buy works for me, whatever I spent (within reason) is worth it. I've been on both a std QR z1, and a revleation (same guts as a pike). Both were slightly undersprung for my weight so it was hard to get a good idea of their true capabilities, and since they were QR chassis I couldn't really evaluate their rigidity.

Knowing the fork will be going on my Vagrant under a 250lb rider, what would your recommendations be based upon personal experiences with each fork?

Thanks,
Chris

[Kid A]

I had only ridden the pike once and loved it. rigid and absorded a bunch. I have revelation and while not gripping about it not in love with it either (although I am sure it could benefit dihnificantly from some dialing in that I just cannot get right)...do not think rev is an option for you.

so while prob minimal value to you via lack of comp- in my opinion Pike is a solid fork

[TURNERob]

I've owned all 3 of those forks, and currently still have the 36 Vanilla on my 6 Pack. Obviously the 36 is quite a bit more expensive, but imo is the best feeling fork I've ever owned. It is very stiff, ultra plush and light at the same time. The '05 Z1 was a good fork but since I'm a lightweight (155lbs) I could never get all of the travel out of it even with 0 air preload and lowering the oil levels. At your weight that would be a nice fork, and if having travel adjust is important the ETA is nice. It is a plush and stiff fork, but it just ramped up to quickly for me and I couldn't use much of the travel. The Pike is also a great fork, once again a very plush and well damped fork. The Maxle is certainly much easier than having to dick with all the allen bolts on the 36 and Z1. Really they are all very nice performing forks. I think as far as ease to work on the Z1 and Pike are much more user friendly compared to the 36. I've heard of reliability issues with the 36 dampener bladder but I've had mine for almost a year and it has no problems and I haven't done anything to it yet.

You really need to decide if you want/need a travel adjust and go from there. The 36 is by far the tallest of the 3 forks and with no travel adjust that could be an issue for you. They are all great forks, but if I had to list them in order I'd say the 36 is #1, Pike 2nd and Z1 3rd.

[Flat Broke]

Rob,

To answer the "whether or not I need travel adjust" question, I'd need to know how mushy the 36 gets when you get out of the saddle. Right now I'm having to do a lot of that to get up hills and I can tell you that I typiclaly use the lockout on the Vanilla when I know I'm going to have to come out of the saddle. So if the 36 gets mushy when you're climbing out of the saddle, then it would probably have to come off the list.

Thanks,
Chris

[dstepper]

I have owned three Fox Forks, a Maverick DUC, and my current fork Zoke Z1 Light w/ETA & TAS. I am 220 lbs and every one of those forks turned to mush when I got out of the saddle and hammered.

Due to my weight, I only buy forks with lockouts and better yet if they drop down and lockout. I think it is asking to much for a fork to be compliant and not mushy when you are out of the saddle. As you buy longer travel forks, the mushier they get out of the saddle.

These day I only use ETA on long climbs, because I usually sit and spin on my geared bike. If I want to stand and hammer i use my full rigid One-9.

It is hard to have a one bike does all, you need to figure out what you want out of a bike.

Dean

[spookydave]

Chris, you KNOW what I'm gonna say.

Keep the Vanilla RL on there and just ride it!
Ride it baby ride it. lol

Oh btw, I got my lights working farily well so I'm down for what ever when ever now.

One last thing, when you do upgrade let me know. I might be intrested in the Vanilla RL for the Tracer I'm building up. Right now it's sporting a 1999 ManOPoo.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by spookydave

Keep the Vanilla RL on there and just ride it!
Ride it baby ride it.

I agree!

[Pain Freak]

My next fork purchase will more then likely be the RS Pike 454.

[roadkillross]

888 rc2x world cup is my next fork

[Flat Broke]

Thanks for all the input. The ETA on my brother's Z1 doesn't work anywhere near as well as the lockout on the Vanilla or the floodgate when tightend way up on my friend's Revelation, so I think I'm going to go ahead and grab a Pike 454 coil in a couple of weeks. Anyone at 220+ have spring recomendations?

Dave, You are more than welcome to use the RL for your CC effort bike once I get the Pike. I don't want to let it go as it's a good fork and will probably find a home on something as the stable will inevitably grow.

Thanks again for the input,
Chris

[dstepper]

ETA is not a lockout. I reduces travel but still alows for limited travel.

[spookydave]

Originally Posted by dstepper

ETA is not a lockout. I reduces travel but still alows for limited travel.

I reduce travel with a dog collar around the crown and brake arch on an old boxxer.

And you guys spend good money to do that. lol

[Flat Broke]

Originally Posted by dstepper

ETA is not a lockout. I reduces travel but still alows for limited travel.

I know, and it doesn't feel as nice for hammering on the cranks as the Vanilla does locked out or the Revelation does with the floodate adjusted really firm. I think I see what you're saying in terms of it's not the ETA that's not working, but rather the ETA doesn't work for my application. No worries, and I wasn't bashing on Zoke stuff. The main reason I posted this thread was to get some input from people who have used what I was looking at, and because in the back of my mind I was second guessing my decision on the pike, partially because of my confidence in Zoke forks.

Dave, it's tricky enough for me to swing the lockout lever on the fly without slowing down. I can't imagine how you lasso the clamp and brake arch with the dog collar, cinch it down, and keep on trucking without eating shizzle

Chris