Mountain Biking - QR15 Vanilla vs. PIKE

Okay so this is just a theoretisism but the new '09 PIKE 454 Coil U-Turn is 4.3lbs.
The '09 Vanilla RLC QR15 is 4.45lbs.

The PIKE is lighter (.15lbs), most likely stiffer (20mm), more versatile (U-turn), either one can be sent to PUSH Industries when they get tired...why would one consider a Vanilla over PIKE for '09?

I can see TALAS over PIKE Air U-Turn b/c you can get the TALAS 150 QR15 with more travel, but is the PIKE going to be the 5.5" coil fork to beat?


What say you?

I have almost (almost) no real world experience with these forks (I rode a bike with a Pike down a flight of stairs but I have never ridden the Fox) but, it might be the same as name brand vs. generic (yes I do know that Rock Shox is a main stream company, but bear with me). Usually the generic is just as good and you usually you get more for the money, but a bunch of people want the name brand just because it's the name brand (ex Apple I-pod vs. Sandisk Sansa, or Kroger brand Mac'n cheese vs. Easy Mac). Might be wrong and sorry if what I said makes no sense (little sleep) but it did at the time.

IMO, Pike. Slightly taller a2c, and sure there is some inkling of support for this new 15mm stuff...

20mm is very tested and supported fairly industry wide. Easy to get fairly anywhere. You'll like the Pike, IMO. As well, since you've said the budget isn't overflowing, you can find some good pricing on new/used Pike forks for much better deals than you're likely to find a new Fox fork coming out with a new "standard" axle setup.

Travel adjust is a "meh" feature for me at this point. I'd bet you'd get used to riding the Pike at 140mm and not mess with dropping the travel down much.

I'm not saying that I am personally actively looking for a new fork anymore. This was just a random question. I know that I'd personally prefer the PIKE b/c it seems like a better fit for me. I was just kinda wondering what others would consider when choosing between the two.

As far as 140mm...sure, I totally got used to running my Vanilla at 130 for the last couple yrs and loved how aggressive it felt on the downhill sections and gnarlier stuff but I'm sure enjoying how quick it feels on the trails right now that I've switched it to 100mm. I'd probably run the PIKE at 100mm most of the time at my local spot. Prob kick it up to 140 occasionally.


I just think it's funny that Fox came out with the QR15 Vanilla in competition with the PIKE...yet there doesn't seem to be much competition there b/c the PIKE seems like it'd be lighter, stronger, cheaper, AND more versatile.

I know that the Vanilla is plush, but how much worse could the Motion Control damper be?

I know that the Vanilla is plush, but how much worse could the Motion Control damper be?

Worse or better is open to interpretation. MoCo can be just as plush - all depends on what spring you're using and how you like the damper set. MoCo forks are stupid simple to adjust, and they are very easy to work on internally as well, should you want to mess with your own forks.

Worse or better is open to interpretation. MoCo can be just as plush - all depends on what spring you're using and how you like the damper set. MoCo forks are stupid simple to adjust, and they are very easy to work on internally as well, should you want to mess with your own forks.

My first encounter was a Tora with external floodgate adj...I thought it was pretty brainless. (actually, I think setting up any fork is brainless as long as I don't need to take the damper side apart and alter shim-stacks or anything like that)

Freakin' PP has last yrs PIKE 454 coil U-turn for $499 too. Crap...I wish I had watered that money tree this spring.

On the weight side of things, shouldn't the 15mm axle and hub be lighter than the equivalent for a 20mm TA. I don't know how much lighter that will be or if it would make up for the weight difference between the forks. But it's something to consider.

Sounds like the pike is the way to go, though, unless the vanilla performs considerably better.

On the weight side of things, shouldn't the 15mm axle and hub be lighter than the equivalent for a 20mm TA. I don't know how much lighter that will be or if it would make up for the weight difference between the forks. But it's something to consider.

Sounds like the pike is the way to go, though, unless the vanilla performs considerably better.

Weight includes axle.