Here's a Motion Control explanation guide. Even the rockshox representatives don't know this stuff. I think RS should be giving people more info about it, then they might be more inclined to consider it when they realize how great it really is...
I rode the stock spring for a week and was able to get it to not use full travel on jumps by adjusting the floodgate, it makes a huge difference. I weigh 180.
BTW, anyone who buys the PIKE should break it in good before switching to a harder spring.
Here's why the fork goes through it travel so easy even with the right spring:
The floodgate control is exactly like Marzocchi's HSCV (high speed compression valve). It remains closed until there's enough pressure to make it flip open and allow more fluid to flow. The floodgate adjuster on the PIKE allows you to change how much pressure is required to move the valve open. When you have the floodgate totally loose it requires ZERO effort to open it up so adjusting the compression knob to full closed still doesn't do anything to slow down the fork because the floodgate is overiding it and letting too much fluid through, thus no compression damping.
The floodgate valve is always working whether you have the compresion knob open or closed or anywhere in between. This is why it is considered a high speed comression valve. When you put the fork in lockout mode the compression damper is completely closed, so you are pushing entirely on the floodgate spring valve. This is why the fork maintains the ability to adjust it's SPV type lockout and the pressure reuired to move on bumpb but stay locked for no bobing. YOu have to adjust the floodgate in order to get the desired amount of lockout when the compression knob is closed.
If you are dirt jumping I would put the floodgate valve completely closed tight, that way the compression damping does it's job in slowing down the fork on hits. You then want to put the compression knob wherever you want, usually halfway.
When you hit the trails, you want to put the floodgate knob full open and the compression full open if you're not doing any drops. This will make the fork respond incredibly fast no matter what high speed you're riding at.
Pretty cool huh? The PIKE's motion control is pretty much like a fully adjustable HSCV cartrdige AND a SPV chamber in one unit, but is still more adjustable than both! I also think Motion Control feels and works better than SPV, plus it requires no air.
The idea behind that red swiss cheese thing in the PIKE's damper is this:
The compression unit and the floodgate sit at the bottom of that red thingy. The red swisscheese thing is actually a rubber spring that allows for 20mm of plush movement. This make it so that when you lock out the compression attached to the bottom of it, it still is allowed to move 20mm by compressing the rubber piece. This helps give the lockout a better transition from locked to the floodgate valve being forced open on a hit and allowing for fork movement. Very cool idea! Very simple too and light weight!
The rubber tube does a second task even when the fork isn't locked out. It allows for the compression unit to react quicker to super fast and square edged hits by allowing 20mm of movement without oil being forced through the compression/floodgate unit. This allows for the compression/floodgate enough time to open without any delay in fork compliance. It takes a micro second for the floodgate to open, but the rubber piece reacts instantly thus making it smother on REALLY fast hard square edged hits. This is similar to having a shimmed damping system like TPC. It is also why most people say it feels just as smooth or smoother at high speeds than TPC, HSCV, AND FOX's damping system.
IMO, the MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM is a very revolutionary concept to biking. You can really tell they thought outside of the box on this one. Not only did they create the most versatile damping system, it;s also lighter, more simple, and cheaper to build than any other comperable system.
VERY COOL!
I rode the stock spring for a week and was able to get it to not use full travel on jumps by adjusting the floodgate, it makes a huge difference. I weigh 180.
BTW, anyone who buys the PIKE should break it in good before switching to a harder spring.
Here's why the fork goes through it travel so easy even with the right spring:
The floodgate control is exactly like Marzocchi's HSCV (high speed compression valve). It remains closed until there's enough pressure to make it flip open and allow more fluid to flow. The floodgate adjuster on the PIKE allows you to change how much pressure is required to move the valve open. When you have the floodgate totally loose it requires ZERO effort to open it up so adjusting the compression knob to full closed still doesn't do anything to slow down the fork because the floodgate is overiding it and letting too much fluid through, thus no compression damping.
The floodgate valve is always working whether you have the compresion knob open or closed or anywhere in between. This is why it is considered a high speed comression valve. When you put the fork in lockout mode the compression damper is completely closed, so you are pushing entirely on the floodgate spring valve. This is why the fork maintains the ability to adjust it's SPV type lockout and the pressure reuired to move on bumpb but stay locked for no bobing. YOu have to adjust the floodgate in order to get the desired amount of lockout when the compression knob is closed.
If you are dirt jumping I would put the floodgate valve completely closed tight, that way the compression damping does it's job in slowing down the fork on hits. You then want to put the compression knob wherever you want, usually halfway.
When you hit the trails, you want to put the floodgate knob full open and the compression full open if you're not doing any drops. This will make the fork respond incredibly fast no matter what high speed you're riding at.
Pretty cool huh? The PIKE's motion control is pretty much like a fully adjustable HSCV cartrdige AND a SPV chamber in one unit, but is still more adjustable than both! I also think Motion Control feels and works better than SPV, plus it requires no air.
The idea behind that red swiss cheese thing in the PIKE's damper is this:
The compression unit and the floodgate sit at the bottom of that red thingy. The red swisscheese thing is actually a rubber spring that allows for 20mm of plush movement. This make it so that when you lock out the compression attached to the bottom of it, it still is allowed to move 20mm by compressing the rubber piece. This helps give the lockout a better transition from locked to the floodgate valve being forced open on a hit and allowing for fork movement. Very cool idea! Very simple too and light weight!
The rubber tube does a second task even when the fork isn't locked out. It allows for the compression unit to react quicker to super fast and square edged hits by allowing 20mm of movement without oil being forced through the compression/floodgate unit. This allows for the compression/floodgate enough time to open without any delay in fork compliance. It takes a micro second for the floodgate to open, but the rubber piece reacts instantly thus making it smother on REALLY fast hard square edged hits. This is similar to having a shimmed damping system like TPC. It is also why most people say it feels just as smooth or smoother at high speeds than TPC, HSCV, AND FOX's damping system.
IMO, the MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM is a very revolutionary concept to biking. You can really tell they thought outside of the box on this one. Not only did they create the most versatile damping system, it;s also lighter, more simple, and cheaper to build than any other comperable system.
VERY COOL!