RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 150 Fork 27.5in

Six inch travel bikes have become the golden standard in enduro racing, tempering race worthy speed with enough travel to tackle whatever rock gardens, gutters, and drops a given mountain might have in store. Almost as soon as it hit the market, the RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 150 Fork proved that it was the standard fork for the golden standard enduro bike, the level against which all other six inch forks would be measured. While other manufacturers scramble to re engineer their entire lines, the Pike continues to focus on scrambling across trail furniture and finish lines. The Solo Air fork ditches the adjustability of the Dual Position Air version in favor of a single 150mm travel position. You lose the ability to drop the front end of your bike by a couple of centimeters to make it more aggressive on the climbs, but for some, the extra weight saved about 50 grams and the complexity saved is worth it. While still a comfortable climber, thanks to the Charger damper's adjustability, the Solo Air really shines on the steepest and most technical downhills you can stomach. Of course, the Pike wouldn't be in the pole position of the six inch travel game if it were rigidly un adjustable. Depending on the terrain you're climbing up or dropping in to, the fork's settings can be dialed by the three position RCT3 switch, which lets you choose discreet amounts of lockout for bigger hits, trail terrain, or cross country speed. RockShox's Rapid Recovery feature indulges the Pike's terrain gobbling tendencies by keeping recovery between hits short, so you'll always have that cushion, even during multiple successive bumps. The Maxle Lite axle is a lighter and stiffer version or RockShox's standard model. This means it requires fewer watts to move it, and the watts you do send its way transfer more efficiently. The questionably named Power Bulge feature also contributes to stiffness with a reinforced lower leg and oversized bushing that, contrary to the name, don't involv...