2007 RockShox Argyle 409 Preview
At the top of the RockShox Argyle line for 2007 is the 409, a burly air sprung 100mm travel fork. Besides the sweet “Punish-Mint” color scheme, the 409 features useful technology to keep you flowing the dirt jumps, street, and park.SRAM calls the air spring system “Solo Air”, and it has two main advantages over traditional coil springs:
-The stiffness of the fork is adjustable to suit rider weight and preferences using only a shock pump. This means no buying extra spring sets or messy disassembly to get the correct setup. By adding air into a single valve, it fills both the positive and negative chambers.
-The fork is light! At 2381g (5.25lbs) the 409 is about 191 grams (0.42 pounds) lighter than the coil sprung 318 Argyle, and about 239g (0.53lbs) than a 2007 Marzocchi DJ1.
Damping for the 409 is handled by SRAM’s Motion Control system. Both rebound and compression are externally adjustable, a rare feature on products aimed at this market segment. The floodgate is also adjustable with a hex key. However, the rebound knob can be popped off to reveal the correct size key, and used to adjust the floodgate when you’re out riding. This is an example of the intelligent design prevalent in the 409.
![photo]()
Even though the 409 is light, it’s designed to handle the rigors of day-to-day riding with a forged 6061 aluminum crown, 32mm diameter 4130 steel uppers, and magnesium lowers.
In the axle area, all Argyles feature the Maxle QR. This 20mm axle requires no tools for disassembly, and once the lever is snugged down it can be rotated to a convenient position to avoid damage. You won’t have to worry about getting snagged on the upholstery in the back of your friend’s cars, or skewering any small animals that may cross you path!
![photo]()
![photo]()
In summary, the Argyle 409 is light, stiff, and strong product with features to allow tuning for performance. In the next several months, I plan to give the Argyle 409 a proper whipping on the jumps and out on the trails, with a more detailed review to follow.
Thanks to Marty’s Mountain Cycle for helping to get the bike running!
- Strahan Loken
-The stiffness of the fork is adjustable to suit rider weight and preferences using only a shock pump. This means no buying extra spring sets or messy disassembly to get the correct setup. By adding air into a single valve, it fills both the positive and negative chambers.
-The fork is light! At 2381g (5.25lbs) the 409 is about 191 grams (0.42 pounds) lighter than the coil sprung 318 Argyle, and about 239g (0.53lbs) than a 2007 Marzocchi DJ1.
Damping for the 409 is handled by SRAM’s Motion Control system. Both rebound and compression are externally adjustable, a rare feature on products aimed at this market segment. The floodgate is also adjustable with a hex key. However, the rebound knob can be popped off to reveal the correct size key, and used to adjust the floodgate when you’re out riding. This is an example of the intelligent design prevalent in the 409.
Compression & Floodgate Adjustment
Even though the 409 is light, it’s designed to handle the rigors of day-to-day riding with a forged 6061 aluminum crown, 32mm diameter 4130 steel uppers, and magnesium lowers.
In the axle area, all Argyles feature the Maxle QR. This 20mm axle requires no tools for disassembly, and once the lever is snugged down it can be rotated to a convenient position to avoid damage. You won’t have to worry about getting snagged on the upholstery in the back of your friend’s cars, or skewering any small animals that may cross you path!
Maxle & Rebound Adjust
(GN)Argyle
In summary, the Argyle 409 is light, stiff, and strong product with features to allow tuning for performance. In the next several months, I plan to give the Argyle 409 a proper whipping on the jumps and out on the trails, with a more detailed review to follow.
Thanks to Marty’s Mountain Cycle for helping to get the bike running!
- Strahan Loken
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9 Comments
- 1 0
d-rocke
(Mar 26, 2007 at 12:56)
I'm a rider of average weight (180lbs), and I have bent two of the argyle 409's so far at the steerer tube-crown junction, both after just a few months of riding normally. I would say they should be a decent fork for anyone weighing under 150-160 pounds, but for heavier people they just don't hold up. My first one had blown seals and top caps that kept coming loose right out of the box.
- 0 1
frjoeydh
(Mar 26, 2007 at 17:15)
I have the PIKE 426 Poploc and it is the sickest on my 2007 Kona Cowan. The fork is way better that the Argyle because you can use the U-Turn 95-140 and that is way nice if you like ridding everything on a hardtail! But hey the Argyle 409 is really sick to but it is mostly prefence. Go BiG!
- 0 0
shrew
(Mar 26, 2007 at 20:21)
The argyle 409 has travel adjustment.. and the UTURN on pikes locks up if you ride them hard...
- 0 0
newacount1234
(Mar 26, 2007 at 11:34)
that looks like a sweet fork...what are some problems people have people had with them..or are they eaven out:S haha well there pretty sweet i like how much ajustabilitie they have
- 0 0
brule
(Mar 26, 2007 at 11:47)
These forks are out and getting ridden hard at your local jumps, parks and trails. Looking forward to seeing the long term beating test.
- 0 0
lionel17
(Mar 26, 2007 at 13:51)
I'm 160lbs and ride pretty rough, i've mostly done hardtail freeride on it and DH. Having had it since october and not had a single problem i'm going to say its one sick fork. I have a 318 BTW.
- 0 0
mr-smashy
(Mar 26, 2007 at 16:30)
Been riding the 318 version for close to 7 months now, not the lightest of people and the fork is holding up great.
- 0 0
nameofbike
(Mar 26, 2007 at 15:30)
everything depends on how smooth you are, not your weight
- 0 0
hoon
(Oct 28, 2007 at 5:00)
very nice looking, but i agree with the posts regarding durability.
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