When RockShox unveiled their
new Lyrik fork last summer, they didn't make any efforts to downplay the fact that it was, in essence, a beefed up version of their much-lauded Pike. After all, when you've already created one of the best performing suspension forks on the market, it only makes sense to build off that platform rather than starting from scratch.
There are internal and external differences between the two, but both forks are air-sprung and rely on RockShox's Charger damper, a closed system that uses an expanding rubber bladder to deal with the fluid that's displaced when the fork compresses.
Lyrik RCT3 Details• Intended use: all-mountain, enduro
• Travel: 160 (tested), 170, 180mm
• Air-sprung, Charger damper
• Damper adjustments: low-speed compression, rebound
• Low-speed compression tuneable in open mode
• Stanchions: 35mm
• Axle size: 15 x 100mm or 15 x 110mm
• Weight: 2005 grams (4.42 lb)
• RCT3 Solo Air MSRP: $1030 USD
•
www.rockshox.com,
@SramMedia
The Lyrik is available for 27.5" and 29" wheels with up to 180mm of travel. Other options include the ability to choose between RockShox's Solo Air or Dual Position Air spring, and either 15x100mm or 15x110mm Boost spacing.
How is the Lyrik Different Than the Pike?More travel options: The longest travel 27.5” Pike has 160mm of travel while the Lyrik is available with up to 180mm of travel.
Thicker stanchion walls: Both forks share the same 35mm stanchion diameter, but thicker tubing is used for the Lyrik to add additional stiffness.
More negative spring volume: In order to create a more supple initial stroke, RockShox increased the negative air spring volume.
Thicker arch: The arch that connects the two legs is 3.5mm thicker than the Pike's, another measure that was taken to increase stiffness.
Torque Cap compatible: All versions of the Lyrik are compatible with hubs using SRAM's Torque Caps, the oversized end caps designed to increase the amount of contact between the hub and the fork legs. There are Torque Cap compatible models of the Pike, but only on models with 15x110mm Boost spacing.
Weight: The Lyrik weighs approximately 150 grams (.33 lb) more than the Pike when comparing the 27.5” versions with 160mm of travel.
SetupIf you're familiar with setting up a Pike, getting the Lyrik dialed in will feel extremely familiar. The air pressure guide is located on the left leg for easy reference, and sag gradients are printed on the fork leg. Once the air pressure is set, it's simply a matter of dialing in the amount of rebound and low-speed compression damping to suit your personal preferences. The larger low-speed compression dial has three positions: open, pedal, and lock (lock isn't a full lock out, but it does make the fork very firm for long fire road approaches), and the smaller dial on top has 15 clicks that are used to fine tune the amount of low-speed compression damping in the fully open position.
It's also possible to add or subtract Bottomless Tokens to adjust the amount of end stroke ramp up, a simple procedure that only requires removing the air spring-side top cap (make sure to let the air out first) and then threading on or unscrewing a token as needed. The 160mm Lyrik comes stock with two tokens, which worked well for my needs.
Internally, it's possible to alter the configuration of the rebound damper's shim stack if a softer or firmer rebound tune is needed. RockShox suggests doing this if riders find themselves at the far end of the range of adjustments, either a click or two from fully open or fully closed.
PerformanceI've never had any complaints about the stiffness of the Pike (and I still don't), but the extra solidity of the Lyrik is noticeable out on the trail, especially on rougher sections where the terrain is constantly pushing and pulling on the fork, trying to knock it off line. The extra stiffness doesn't smack you over the head, but in a back-to-back comparison, it's immediately apparent, even when the fork is run on a non-Torque Cap equipped wheel, which is how I had it set up for most of the test period. Now, it is possible to create a fork that's
too stiff, creating unwanted harshness that leads to sore hands and arm pump, but that's not the case with the Lyrik. Even on long descents full of holes and jarring roots sections it never felt like there was any unwanted feedback being transmitted through the chassis.
The Lyrik does feel plusher than the Pike at the beginning of its travel, likely due to that increased negative spring volume, and it takes noticeably less effort to move the fork through the first 20mm or so of its stroke. The extra suppleness helps filter out the high-speed chatter and creates a fork that has very, very good small bump sensitivity.
The rest of the fork's travel is well managed, with the excellent mid-stroke support that put the Charger damper on the map in the first place, and the easily-tuned ramp-up before bottom out. When the Lyrik does reach the end of the travel there's a subtle 'thwunk;' just enough to let you know that you used every last millimeter, but without ever being harsh or jarring.
How does the Lyrik compare to the Fox 36, its most obvious competitor? The performance offered by both forks is remarkably similar, and while they each have their own unique feel, the end result is the same - they offer reliable, predictable, and smooth bump absorption. If you'd asked me a few months ago, I would have given the Lyrik the edge as far as small bump sensitivity goes, but after spending time on Fox's updated 2017 FIT 4 damper that's no longer the case, and the two competitors are neck-and-neck once again. Fox does have the advantage when it comes to external features - the 36 is available with a damper that allows for both high-speed and low-speed compression to be adjusted independently, and they also offer a version with convertible dropouts that allow riders to run either a 15mm or 20mm thru-axle. At the end of the day, choosing one over the other will come down to what features you value the most, since both forks leave little to be desired out on the trail.
IssuesAfter six months of regular usage, a good portion of it in cold, muddy conditions, the Lyrik is still ticking right along without any creaks or leaks. Pulling the lowers for a quick clean and fluid change (a procedure that takes less than 30 minutes) revealed that everything was in good working condition, without any undue wear. When it comes to their suspension forks, simplicity is one of RockShox's strong suits – from setup to maintenance they've done a good job of making products that flat-out work, and don't need a degree in mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics to understand.
The Lyrik's performance and durability have been completely trouble free, and I have no complaints in that department. I do have one feature that's on my wishlist, and that's an air bleed valve that would allow the air that builds up in the lowers to be released with the push of a button, something similar to what's found on the Fox 40. After repeated long runs the fork can begin to feel overinflated, and it becomes harder to get through the last portion of its travel. Currently, the easiest thing to do is carefully slide a zip tie between the stanchion and the dust wiper to let out that trapped air. It's a simple procedure, and this issue occurs with forks from other companies as well, but a little valve would be a much more refined solution than a plastic zip tie.
Pinkbike's Take | When the new Lyrik was first unveiled there were some riders who bemoaned the fact that it wasn't radically different than the Pike. Where was the Totem 2.0? I'd say those concerns are unfounded - the Lyrik handily fills the space in RockShox's lineup between the Pike and the BoXXer, a tough yet versatile fork that works well on everything from all-mountain rigs to mini-DH bikes.
After my initial time on the Lyrik the only unanswered questions were related to durability, and after months of hard usage it's passed that test with flying colors. A plush-yet-supportive on trail feel, plenty of stiffness, and a hassle-free setup all add up to a fork that's ideally suited for today's hard-charging riders. - Mike Kazimer |
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All I can say right now... It was an awesome decision so far.
I'll update you in 6 weeks when my broken foot heals. (The Break unrelated to the forks performance)
I currently have one but I only have a 140mm Pike to compare to and it's on a hardtail..
Did the same in germany. 400 Euro special price for new yari and got from m suspensiontech his lyrik open bath cartridge without stupid bladder.
Now i ve got a robust reliable even better working lyrik with 180mm for My Summer days in leogang and so on for less than 700 bucks :-D
Also, this was a boxed build kit from the factory, so it was probably sitting on the shelf for a while, so it would seem gray only has been going on for a while.
E13 wheels and tires
Just give us three sentences that acknowledges the competitions specs and help us decide. More reviews like this will drive more traffic to pinkbike.
Unless RS has a revised charger coming, but I don't think that's happening.
I spoke to Mojo yesterday, no 2016 forks left, the 17's are coming next month, so my 15's are like obsolete
But if i'm not mistaken the fox (kashima ones) are built in the USA and not China/Taiwan like the rockshox, and if you desassemble a pike/lyrik or a 36/34 you see the diference in material quality, even if they both feel good on the trail
me personaly i have a pike, but only because when i was building my bike i didn't have the extra 400 and something for a 36, otherwise that's what i would have instead
I'd fkng want to know how it works in bike industry. Probably better than in cothing, but I'm eager to know. Because if getting a 200$ alu rim leaves everyone happy, then I am happy to pay that than fkng up millions of people for carbon rim at 80$.
Rant over. I am just fkd up. Believe me or not but the boss has 666 in his telephone number. It's so much bigger than me.
Back to subject. The only thing that wonders me with Fox 36 is that it costs on par with Öhlins which is made in Sweden where wages ate double than US
The reason is because they want to maintain exclusivity and rockshox are going for the flooding approach.
I like the 36 and it is a bit better quality than any rockshox fork I've seen. Not twice as good though. To be honest, it's the gold colour i like. I was planning to get a marzocchi 350 with brown legs until they went tits up.
but even if they are all made in taiwan the quality is inforced by who ever is there to quality control them , and the matirials used.
i've had problems with a fox 34 but only neer the end of it's warranty, wich probably to a person who only rides at the weekend would never had that(i ride a lot) , my 40 , dhxrc4 and float x never had problems, as for my pike and monarch plus debonair i had problem's way to many times, the fork was replaced 6 rides old for a blown damper, them a few months later the crown sterring became loose making noises and feeling wrong, the monarch had a blown rebound damper and leaked oil for 2 times. theyr product work's good, but it's to be replaced not that many rides after, as fox will last longer,and maybe that's what you pay extra for.
and at leat in Portugal , Fox warranty service is way bether than rock shox
rockshox wan'ts to sell to everybody, even if they are compromising a bit the quality
ohlins is proving them self on the market, they can charge premium price to a certain point, but at some price the offer and demande does not match
Most unreliable fork I've had was a marzo 55, but it also had the best action when working.
Only started doing something with the pike
I ride a lot on my bikr as i do a full national enduro season and some other races. As 2 to 3 times a week and on holidays more,so i had a lot of time only riding my road bike because i had my bike with the suspension on warranty or servicing,and i am valuing more and more about the relaibility. This was my first rs product (had a tora on a hardtail but even that had problems) and even liking the performance the qualoty leaves something to desier.
I Am planing to trade bike on end of the year,and if the budget lets will be fox 36 rc2 and float x2 air on the back. More ajustments and quality has to be more expensive
So I would not say that prices are indicative in terms of quality. Also, as much as I would prefer 36 or even Öhlins over my Lyrik, I am fully aware 24/7 that it is a first world problem. I'd be probably happy with Durolux if they gave me one for free. Unlike Bos Deville where I would not fancy waiting for a few seals for 4 months.
@MX298 - I have small kids, effectively I don't ride at all. Durolux would be just fine. Let's talk in 4 years.
Also, if not for the significantly lower price, you wouldn't see me with a Rockshox ANYTHING. At the prices they charge, they are competitive. But they just would not be able to survive at Fox price levels.
If you go to the fox website you can find manufacturing positions all in Cali.
Besides, it's irrelevant. I'm currently riding a Pike that has been a maintenance nightmare, and previously had a Lyrik that was almost as bad. So would you venture to say that i'm riding the RS forks hard but being nice to the Fox forks?
Maybe it's condition dependent or something, but the general consensus around my riding circles has been that fox can feel great (point of contention), but in general they require more maintenance than a RS. I will say that I have ridden old fox forks that felt pretty "meh", had wear on the stanchions, and beat on them harder than they should have been, and they held up fine. If they sold for the same price as their competitors, I would probably think more of them. I have just never, ever walked away from a fox thinking, "wow you definitely get what you pay for". Same with Magura brakes (except hs33s of course)
Different experiences for sure.
I'm no RS fan or anything; when I was younger, I always took the Fox when I could. RS have consistently proven themselves to me, (and Fox has let me down) which is why I am so surprised by your comments.
It just always seems like Fox makes finicky air forks and shocks. Not saying they are like Marzocchi or anything (nightmares with those forks), just that they need constant tuning and attention.
If I could buy any fork though, it would be the MRP stage. I can't justify replacing my Pike, but the Stage I have ridden was fantastic and the owner (a pro DHer who notoriously destroys parts; self labeled "fat kid" riding style, over the front, plowing) loves it.
Wanna buy my 150mm 34? It's a 29er, needs a rebuild, but I'll give you a great deal hahaha.
Just as for me, Fox has more than proven it's worth to me, and RS has proven consistently to be high maintenance.
About your 34 - what year? Factory? I have a 2014 29er Pike RCT3 i'd love to give up!
www.ridefox.com/help.php?m=bike&id=576
just lower a boxxer 2.0
do you really want one? 2.0
www.sram.com/rockshox/products/lyrik-26-charger-damper-upgrade-kit
Or do you have to fit a completely different spring and damper cartridge?
With the Charger damper in the RC2DH 170mm Lyrik, it feels like MONEY.
Boom - immediate 26" option.
You might have no need for 20mm, but after operating both axles on the Pike and the Lyrik RC2DH - I have no idea why they didn't stay 20mm. The 20mm just feels more solid and connected when done up tight.
I think the bike industry has gone terribly wrong and this 'obsolete' bike every year where you cannot find any parts will bite them in their backsides. People will just lose trust completely. I have! I will not spend $$$$ on a bike that will be deemed good for scrap the year after by different axle sizes, fork heights and other constantly changing 'standards'
Pike = same damper as a Lyrik but with a different air spring and chassis.