Pike Dual Position Air - any change in suspension performance?

I heard the opposite. Dual position air was only suitable as a climb mode and talas was useable in both settings.
I'm interested too.

DPA is functionally pretty similar to TALAS (prior to the current iteration). It works on the same principles and has similar spring characteristics in the long and the short travel modes. As with TALAS forks, the initial spring rate is softer at the very beginning of the stroke when in the short travel position.

I currently have that fork on my Spitfire, and it is the best single crown fork I have ever ridden period. I often forget to adjust the fork back into the 160mm travel mode at the top of climbs, and only realize the fork was in the down position at the bottom of a trail when I go to put it back in the down position for another lap. So, I'd say it works pretty darn well if I don't even notice the travel reduction on the trail...

The only exception to that is on very steep trails. I will notice the change in geometry, but not necessarily any difference in fork performance. As Steve M said above, the initial spring rate is softer in the beginning of the stroke in the 130mm mode, and the fork will sag noticeably further when in the down position. However, the fork is still buttery, and will not plow through the travel despite the fact that it appears that you have only three inches of suspension to use after sag in the low position.

I guess the answer to your question is yes, the fork characteristics do change between the up and down position, but if I was blindfolded, I would only notice my bike not being as slack, not a change in fork performance.

How reliable is the fork in 130mm mode over time? That I cannot answer. Is lowering the 150mm Pike to 130mm not an option?

NAYR said:

... but if I was blindfolded, I would only notice my bike not being as slack, not a change in fork performance.

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I'd echo what he said, but in regards to my DPA Lyrik.

CBJ said:

...same suspension performance unlike the current Fox Talas where the travel reduction is really only for climbing.

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The 2014 Fox Talas changes this. Riding in short travel mode yields very little difference in damping performance or otherwise. It does firm up a touch, though - http://www.vitalmtb.com/features/First-Ride-2014-FOX-Talas-CTD-Fork-and-Float-X-Shock-The-Ultimate-Enduro-Launch,511

FYI guys, travel adjust forks have no change in damping - everything you're feeling is coming from differences in the spring characteristics. Also, they are intended to be completely rideable in both travel settings - you won't damage anything, though typically air pressures are set up for the long travel mode, and due to the lower compression ratio in the short travel mode, it can be easier to bottom out in the short travel modes. The new Talas system does make some compensation for this, although I haven't run the numbers to see whether the compression ratio is kept equivalent in each travel setting.

For those interested, the reason compression ratio (basically volume of positive chamber at topout vs bottom out, with some modifications required for true accuracy) is relevant to what I'm saying is because it is basically what determines how hard the fork is to bottom out at any given air pressure.

The new Talas system is the only system where the initial stiffness doesn't actually change substantially between one travel mode and the other. If it proves to be reliable, it should be a distinctly better system than the older Talas systems, though like all travel-adjust forks, it has quite a number of moving parts.