RockShox Argyle 409 fork review

Based around the Pike chassis, the Argyle is its bigger, burlier brother designed for dirt jumping, street riding and freeriding.

There are three versions of the fork: the base model, the 302, feature coils springs and an external rebound adjuster.

Next up is the 318, again with coil springs and rebound, but also with external compression and lockout adjustment. The 409 heads the range with the same damping features as the 318 plus internal Floodgate adjustment and Solo Air instead of coil springs.

All models have 100mm (4in) travel.

The fork feels good run with lots of compression and lockout for jumping – it won’t use its travel when pumping bombholes, but it will take the sting out of landings. Set up with less lockout and compression, the Argyle feels just like the Pike fork.

The build is where the Argyle jumps ahead though – both the steerer tube and the stanchions are steel for brute strength and the crown is a burly 6061 T6 aluminium number – simple and strong.

We’ve tested the Argyle on a couple of bikes and it’s fantastic – it’s tough, plush, torsionally stiff, super adjustable, reliable… Are you getting the picture? We love it.