Just saw this. I have seen your build. My revelation was an RLT. To be 100% honest, I know this is MTB blasphemy, but so far I kinda like the Revelation better. The problem with the Pike IMO is that it's a 160mm shock setup at 130, and once it's set to start at 20%ish sag, we're sitting at 110ishmm. It rides like a 160mm fork mid stroke. The first 50mm of plush travel just aren't there. I still need time to play with it moving around tokens and pressures. With three "tokens" (air spacers) in it, at the recommended psi I get no sag at all. I have to drop down to around 60psi to get even 20% sag. Possibly I'm not getting any air in the negative chamber? Anyway the RLT damper was the best fork I've ever ridden - but take that with a grain of salt because my comparison on bikes I've owned and ridden a lot are limited to a Pike, a Tower Pro (also very good), a reba SL dual air, and a coil spring Dart 3.
I rode a bunch this weekend including a trail called the bobsled in SLC, UT. It's a long downhill trail with big (in my book) dirt jumps - like over abandoned cars. Pike was just fine - stiffness is exceptional, but even there I felt the dampening of the revelation was better. I hated the brain. Can't wait to get rid of it. Since the monarch plus is now sold for the SJ evo, I'm gonna buy one and see how it is on the normal SJ. The difference in frames leverage is around 3%, so I think it will work just fine. I'll find out. Worst case I'll have to buy an evo link for another $100. Really wish the evo model specs were published for '15 because I probably could have gotten one without the brain for a little less $ and me and my insurance co. would be happier.
Edit: So yesterday I got on my bike to take my dog for a quick ride around the 'hood and I was thinking about the pike dampening and how disspointed I was. Started playing with the settings - I'm not sure if it happened on the downhill or what, but it has no dampening whatsoever anymore. No matter where I adjust it, nothing. just an air pogostick. So I'm thinking I got a bad fork and whatever was wrong is now totally blown - probably just a valve jammed open or something. Anyway I'm going to make a few phone calls later today to figure out whether I send it back to RS, Specialized, or take it to my LBS for a repair/replacement. Maybe when its working properly it's better?
Untitled by renofizz, on Flickr
