Suspension: ROCKSHOX PIKE 454 COIL U-TURN

When Pikes first came out people seemed a bit confused about what they were for, but we reckon that’s probably because they’re about the most versatile forks you can buy. The Coil U–Turns are our favourite version not just because of their reliability, but also because with 95–140mm of travel adjustment they have a wider range than the air version. This amount of adjustment, combined with the sturdy build means that you can fit them on anything from a dirt jump hardtail right through to a bike like the Orange 5, and still have room to play about with geometry tweaks depending on what you’re doing that day. The Motion Control damping is also one of the best in the business, and with just the occasional clean and lube of the legs these forks are as smooth as they come. Finally the reason why we’ve chosen the top 454 model is purely down to the weight savings provided by the aluminium steerer and the hollow crown, but if you’re short of funds the two cheaper models perform just as well.

Price: £429.99
Fisher Outdoor Leisure 01727 798 345
www.sram.com
www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk