Tech Week 2023: Vorsprung Suspension's New Upgrades

Oct 27, 2022
by Seb Stott  
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Whistler-based tuning company, Vorsprung Suspension, has a range of new fork upgrades to offer.

Secus for 2023 Rockshox forks

First up is a version of the Secus for RockShox 2023 forks. We were been impressed by the Secus when we tested it with a 2021 RockShox Zeb. The Secus adds to the fork's negative air spring volume, making the spring softer at the start of the travel, while Vorsprung's Midstroke Support Valve boosts the spring rate in the middle of the travel without making it too much ramp-up towards the end.

The new version includes an adaptor for the new Buttercup air spring shafts in 2023 RockShox forks. The Buttercups - RockShox's vibration-deadening elastomers between the air spring shaft and the fork lower - are removed to fit the Secus.

The Secus for 2023 Rockshox forks costs $460 CAD plus tax and is available immediately.

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Smashpot for Öhlins RXF38 and RockShox Domain

The only way to get a more coil-like feel than you get with a Secus is with an actual coil spring. Vorsprung's Smashpot coil conversion kit is now available for the Ohlins RXF 38 and RockShox Domain.

The Smashpot offers 130mm-180mm of travel, which is set internally during installation. The Smashpot's USPs are its hydraulic bottom control and an impressive array of spring rate options, ranging 30-80 lbs/inch in 5 lbs/inch increments (that makes 11 options by my count). Only the top-caps & foot-studs are specific to the fork, so you don't need to buy a whole new kit to swap between forks. The RXF's self-contained air spring means it should be possible to convert it back to air, which isn't always possible with forks that use the stanchion wall as the air spring.

Smashpot for RXF38 and Domain each cost $490 CAD. Available Dec 15.

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Luftkappe for RockShox Domain

Finally, there is a version of the Luftkappe, one of Vorsprung's classic products, to fit the 2022+ RockShox Domain. The Luftkappe increases negative chamber volume (and slightly reduces the positive chamber volume) to reduce the initial harshness associated with air springs, while increasing the mid and end-stroke spring rate.

$170 CAD, available now.

vorsprungsuspension.com


Tech Week 2023 is a chance to get up to speed on the latest mountain bike components, apparel, and accessories. Click here to view all of the related content.



Author Info:
seb-stott avatar

Member since Dec 29, 2014
295 articles

179 Comments
  • 141 19
 All those engineers at Sram and Ohlins will be sitting there like "Damn, why didn't we just make the suspension better to begin with?"
  • 50 14
 because like apple products, the next batch is always Bigger, Better, Badass-er....engineered obsolecense
  • 448 14
 A couple of points to that - the big OEMs do nearly everything well, to be fair, and they have to hit many targets (like weight and cost) that we don't have to, as well as try to make it suitable for everybody. You could make the same comment the same about WP, KYB, Showa etc in the moto world, but there's no shortage of tuning products out there because invariably at some point the OEM accountants have to say to the engineers "Ok, this is as much as it's allowed to cost, make it as good as you can for that price".

Secondly, if there wasn't room for improvement, we wouldn't see updates to the suspension products from the OEMs themselves all the time. Granted, not every change is an improvement, but clearly nothing has quite achieved perfection yet.
  • 105 30
 @VorsprungSuspension: don't you love the people that come by, read you explain the obvious facts of the situation in plain english, then smash that downvote button because they don't like facts?


seems on brand with western culture at the moment actually....
  • 22 26
flag foggnm (Oct 27, 2022 at 16:36) (Below Threshold)
 @VorsprungSuspension: Improvement is a pretty subjective term in the suspension tweaking world. I've ridden products from people who claim their fork/shock/linkage make things better and my experience is that it doesn't always deliver or there is a trade off. I'm not saying this about Vorsprung as I have no experience with their brand. Just saying that suspension gurus tend to have very strong opinions about thing and put a few graphs up to support those opinions. There's probably a suspension dude at Ohlins, RS, Fox that would disagree with what they think is an improvement.
  • 80 0
 @foggnm: To a large degree I agree with that, which is why we aren't purists about air vs coil for example, and there is always a tradeoff, even if it's cost, or some aspect that you might not care about like aesthetics. Some things though are consistently (dare I say it, objectively) better, such as lower friction, and some things almost everyone agrees could be objectively improved if cost were no object (such as weight). But there is significant variation in people's preferences for sure, and some people prefer setups that most other people would hate. We try to listen to what people complain about, and then address those specific issues.
  • 1 0
 @mininhi: because like *virtually every” product……
  • 12 1
 When margins aren't taken into consideration you can do whatever you want. They're making an add on. Focusing on one thing... the SRAM engineers have to look at every part and hit specific margin targets.

It's like saying why make a custom coil over for an M3? Their engineers are supposed to be the best what is there to improve on? Well they're not focused on the extreme side of things and have to take tons of other factors into consideration that a coil over company doesn't. Of course you can make the car better with a proper coil over.

There will always be a place for products like this. That doesn't mean that out of the box for 98% of users the SRAM products aren't killer. Same goes for FOX or Ohlins.
  • 3 16
flag likeittacky (Oct 27, 2022 at 19:30) (Below Threshold)
 @VorsprungSuspension: Moot point. When the big OEM's accountants say to the engineers (people are spending an additional $340 USD on Vorsprung and removing our (Butter Cups)...so we'll make it better and increase the cost Smile
  • 1 3
 @mininhi: spot on. Its by design.
  • 13 0
 Well, take a look at the latest Debonair+ spring for Zeb from RS - essentially a copy of Luftkappe.
  • 1 0
 @mafflin: funny that you said that as ot is true. But also MSR (german tuner) published a dyno result of Zeb vs Domain which shows those behave nearly the same spring wise. Not sure if it was 2023 or 2022 Zeb tho.
  • 9 2
 @mininhi: You can always find that one anti-apple fanatic in any comment section.
  • 7 1
 @Freddye: I am here too ! Not about the tin foil conspiracy of programmed obsolescence (while it has been shown that they slow down older phones during software updates) but simply because the lack of compatibility and freedom for a product that you pay so much for is absolutely unacceptable. Having to pay to give away your freedom is against everything I believe in. Oh and also their batteries are absolute garbage, I spend a lot of time in the mountains in winter, past the first winter with and Iphone and it dies instantaneously unless you keep it up your arse so the battery stays warm. ridiculous, another strategy to have you change phones every year, great for the environment.
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: Your marketing output does a good job of explaining the trade-offs, to be fair.
Can I ask why you think there are so few coil fork options on the market still? I know it'd be a ballache to get the right spring in OEM forks, but surely RS could make a mint selling aftermarket coil Lyriks & Zebs?
  • 2 3
 Ah yes because working at a big company automatically makes you smarter. This is why me, a 2000IQ person will tell you Steve from Vorsprung knows his stuff and you should trust me, a smart big company person
  • 1 0
 @mininhi: and 20% stiffer
  • 2 0
 @chakaping: because weight weenies ?
  • 2 0
 @Balgaroth: Well that's the other traditional argument against coil, but Vorsprung's coil kits show there's unmet demand from riders.
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: Lowering friction and decreasing bushing bind is something just about every OEM should be constantly trying to do better. I’m surprised how poorly some still do at this.
  • 3 1
 @chakaping: unmet demand in an ultra niche market. Most of my friends use stock suspension and never touch those, despite being good riders who race regularly. So we already are at the fringe of the sport, yet none of them really care, and all of them think weight is an issue. I'd be interested to see the sales volumes of the Smashpot, 36/Z1 Coil and conversion kits and Push coil kit. I bet that's absolutely negligible.
  • 2 0
 @likeittacky: As a counter, what percentage of those OEM buyers are paying for that $340 upgrade. Your argument falls short if 20% or less are buying these aftermarket products.
  • 2 0
 @Freddye: *sent from his cheeto dust encrusted Samsung Galaxy*
  • 7 2
 @Freddye: That's because Apple charge ridiculous prices for mediocre products just because they have a huge fan base...they charge $1000 for some caster wheels for their desktop...that is absolutely absurd. They aren't Rolex or Rolls Royce, they produce average performing products with simple clean aesthetics that everyone seems to obsess about..for pretty much everything Apple makes you can get a more powerful less expensive product elsewhere with better compatability. How many Apples can stand up to windows running rtx3090 or Titan Sli, not to mention their lack of upgradeability and compatability. Again the phones are decent but there is better alternatives elsewhere also.
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: plus a lot of people, similar to in moto no doubt, think they have high performance needs but really they're riding park paths in Flatbuttistan and the gear has to work well in those conditions too.
  • 3 3
 @Danzzz88 @Balgaroth: You guys are just proving my point even further…
  • 14 1
 @chakaping: Well, for starters it has been tried (Lyrik used to be a coil fork, there is a Z1 coil, there used to be 36 coils) and apparently the sales didn't justify it to them. SKU count, weight, cost, potential for noise all play into it. But mostly I think it's the fact that stanchions have gotten too short to fit springs in them (which is why the Smashpot is configured the way it is). That is why every other coil conversion (Push, Ohlins, Cane Creek, Marz) runs into 170mm limits - springs need to get longer at about 2.5-3x the rate the travel does (ie adding 20mm travel means you need 50-60mm more spring). If you try to take shortcuts with that, the springs get damaged, either by physically breaking or by taking a permanent set.

Beyond that, I think the demand is way smaller than you think - the people you see commenting on PB aren't necessarily representative of the average MTBer. I don't think Fox or RS are particularly interested in the effort required if it isn't actually selling them more forks - and the relatively low popularity of the Z1 coil indicates that it isn't much of a sales pitch to most people.
  • 23 0
 @cougar797: I think they are trying very hard actually. From chatting to the Ohlins techs a while ago, they said that the minimum fork bushing clearance that was required to prevent binding was 50 microns, but that at over 80 microns, people complained about noticeable play, whereas their moto stuff ran about 150 microns typically (I could be wrong on the exact numbers but they are in that vicinity). Those are hard numbers to hit when you've also got to keep the lower leg spacing and crown spacing super precise, and if you spend the time and effort (in other words, the money) to make sure everything is bang on, many people will also get on PB and comment "wtf I can't believe this fork costs $1500USD, that's insane, it should cost half that" while being unaware that high end moto forks with sliding tolerances 2-3x looser still cost 2-3x as much (and still wear out all the time).

Again, the big guys do an incredibly good job, all things considered, at nailing the performance-per-dollar ratio.
  • 2 0
 @Balgaroth: sounds like what you need is a Motorola StarTac, my friend!
  • 2 3
 @SkarTisu: nope, android phones are leaving you tue freedom to connect to anything, load music or files on it and so on. Then get one with a high capacity battery and/or replaceable one and you are sorted. Unfortunately works provide us with garbage apple stuff so I have to live with that until I change job and will once again stay away like the plague from anything apple.
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: I think the on average larger bushing / slider size and far better overlap on moto makes that a different world. That and not everyone is obsessed with stiffness in the same way mtb is. USD is common in forks, rider weight is a far smaller percentage of the whole, way more useable travel to work with etc etc. I hope that someday mtb stuff gets as comfortable and controllable on average as dirt bikes. Probably not financially feasible to occur though.
  • 1 0
 @Freddye: fear not another is here also! That makes 3!
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: i had a dmashpot in my 36 after getting arm pump in the Alps the year before. I got their with the coil conversion, and thought 'this doesn't make any difference' then I spotted my friends shaking their arms out half way down the tracks. That bike was stolen and I bought a second hand fox 36 whixh happend to come with a Push ACS3. I can honestly say their is very little difference between the two, however I think the hydrolic anti-bottom out is more effective than the air on the Push. Save £100 and get the Vorsprung.
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: Great points. (Accidentally downvoted when I meant to upvote- tiny buttons on a tiny screen…)
  • 3 0
 @cougar797: MX forks have far better bushing overlap AND that overlap increase as you go in the travel as one is fixed to the stanchions while the other one is fixed to the housing. I still don't understand why Mtb forks have fixed bushings.
  • 1 0
 @Balgaroth: Just one thought.... how much does a MX fork weigh?
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: Oh im sure, with oil and clamps a mx fork weighs as much as many trail bikes. It really is a different world.
  • 1 0
 @cougar797: exactly.
  • 2 2
 @Freddye: Coomsoomer Sven shilling for his favorite, subpar performing product with software that's made to be used by infants
  • 2 2
 @dreamscometrue: ohhhhhhhh there it is! the sense of superiority from using a product with substandard UI.

have you ever considered that people like using things that are intuitive and just work....all the time? Not everyone knows how to code, and in fact, even people that do sometimes just like things simple and seamless.

I have a number of people around me that work in tech, are very smart and could build their own phone and program it if they wanted.....most, if not all, have apple products. why? well, it's the same reason a Master auto mechanic drives a brand new, automatic transmission, auto-everthing car, for his personal vehicle. It. Just. Works.
  • 2 2
 @conoat: found the npc droid that spends $2000 on his new iphone each launch... I MUST COOMSOOM. soyface.jpg
  • 2 0
 @conoat: it isn't substandard, it's more capable hence why 'occasionally' it might be less stable than Apple, same with Windows. Sure I get some people like Apple for the way it looks and it's ease of use..bit as stated above most people that buy Apple are just fans that buy the new generation every release. If they really just wanted simplicity they would stick with what they already have.
  • 3 0
 @dreamscometrue: I just find it funny and pathetic how some people need to ventilate their oppinion about a phone manifacturer on a bike forum, discussing suspension.
But you´re right. My samsung phone is probably made by kids.
  • 1 0
 @Freddye: So are iPhones...
  • 1 0
 @Freddye: kids need jobs, and a nine year old asian girl has tiny fingers and it makes the assembly easier!
  • 1 1
 @dreamscometrue: I am sorry you are broke.....
  • 1 0
 @conoat: they're called snowflakes
  • 84 9
 Vorsprung products are amazing
  • 22 11
 Second that
  • 13 5
 Third that
  • 11 4
 4th that
  • 7 4
 Fifth that
  • 32 5
 sex that
  • 22 10
 Fuck that
  • 10 4
 @phil-e-b: Vorsprung Not Pornsprung
  • 4 4
 Seventhed!
  • 43 20
 Two smashpots installed one each on a Fox 36 and 38.. Two full seasons and have felt no need for a service yet! Buttery smooth and consistent every day, regardless of temperature. I never once noticed the extra weight, but i did notice way less brake dive and better overall cornering traction. Recommend to anyone, especially bigger guys.
  • 9 63
flag abzillah (Oct 27, 2022 at 14:08) (Below Threshold)
 What about a full ridgit bike? No brake dive at all and cheaper than full suspension bike.
  • 14 9
 Ditto. Possibly the best bang for buck upgrade I've made to any bike.
  • 9 5
 If lack of midstroke support is one's main complaint on a Fox or RS (it is for me) I think the DSD Runt goes a long way to remedy that and keep the front end riding higher in the travel. It will not match a coil for small bump compliance or traction (it's still an air fork) but it's less expensive, reversible, doesn't add much weight. Compared to a Secus it's less expensive, easier to install and less vulnerable to damage, but again I don't think it will match the small bump compliance.
  • 11 0
 Probably time to get a service going though.

Edit: @jdejace I think you are right on with that assessment of the Runt. If you are looking for midstroke support it definitely has it.
  • 4 0
 Agreed. Made my Pike and Zeb finally get the feel and performance I was searching for.
  • 2 0
 @jdejace: dsd runt is such a great value!
  • 3 0
 I love my coil 36 for performance as well, but I was also very surprised how much I enjoy not pfaffing around with a shock pump. Modern air springs don't leak much, but it seems like I would always be checking my fork (and it would be fine) but then there would be that one ride where I realized my fork was mush and low 20 minutes from the parking lot or desperately running around trying to find the shock pump. Also not worrying about altitude or cold affecting spring rate.
  • 1 0
 @preston67: parking lot equals vehicle which equals tool kit which should equal easily available shock pump.
  • 31 7
 What is with all these negative comments with no context?
  • 23 6
 Confusing! These are top quality upgrades with first level support, I can't imagine why anyone would have beef with them.
  • 29 2
 Because this is Pinkbike! In here we don't read the articles, we go straight to the comment section and drink the Hatorade!
  • 18 2
 someone has an axe to grind. weird down votes. My smashpot is excellent, steve is easy to work with, enjoy his suspensions videos.
  • 13 2
 The MTB technical content I value the most on the internet comes from @SebScott @DanRoberts Paul Aston and Steve from Vorsprung. These guys really know their stuff!
  • 7 1
 @rojo-1: I agree, though I'd personally put David Golay from Blister up there with them too.
  • 5 1
 @cgreaseman Hello, welcome to the internet. You must be new here.
  • 2 0
 @rojo-1: 3 out of 4 for sure, but I don’t understand how you can listen to that PAston whinging constantly.
I enjoyed his written material, and the in-depth stuff he did. Tried to watch a couple of his videos, and couldn’t make it past the first couple minutes
  • 28 9
 The only question I had, is who can afford a brand new fork, and a $500 upgrade on top?
  • 16 1
 Not me, but I'm constantly amazed by how many people come to the defence of pricing in this sport. And apparently people are paying it because companies seem to continue growing in size and price. (Not hating on vorsprung. My one and only experience with them was a positive one when they pointed out it probably wasn't worth it for them to rebuild my fork in its and my money would be better spent trying to find a used one. Lots companies would have just rebuilt it and charged me anyways.
  • 6 14
flag genericmk (Oct 27, 2022 at 15:34) (Below Threshold)
 Better apply for that Dentistry School asap.
  • 4 4
 I'd probably do a lot of basic things before throwing down more money and maximize the potential of the OEM product. I feel like if the fastest people in the world can ride a well maintained OE fork...it is good enough for me. That said, I'm glad people experiment with these products. I just don't need more complexity in a product that already has 5 different adjustments.
  • 14 0
 @foggnm: you think wc riders are on OEM suspension?
  • 12 2
 Not me, but it's not hard to see how people can. Plenty of people own boats that cost near $500 to run for a weekend, plenty of people own track cars or motos that wear out $500 tyres faster than you can rip the knobs off a Hans Dampf. Plenty of people spend $500 a month eating out.
  • 6 0
 @genericmk: at the rate things are going, even dentists soon won't be able to afford this sport
  • 13 0
 I think for many people it's more like: do i spend a 1000€ on a new fork or improve the current one with a 400€ Vorsprung magic.

Hint, go with the latter, it's worth it!
  • 5 0
 The forks in question are often OEM forks. Some people buy complete bikes so if they're unhappy with the stock suspension they have a few options to change that. One would be to replace the complete suspension units, get what they really want and try to sell the OEM suspension that was already spec'd on most bikes. Or they could tune it with an add-on like this. The latter is not necessarily more expensive. The other reason could be that most people care for high end suspension but higher end gearing or carbon handlebars aren't going to improve the ride all that much. So instead of getting the higher end build just for the suspension but also paying for the fancy gearing, one could get the lower spec and then upgrade de suspension units afterwards. Not sure whether this is still possible, but it seems to me that if you're going to upgrade both spring and damper, I thought it doesn't really matter whether you started out with a Yari or a Lyrik.
  • 6 1
 Who can afford $70-$120k pickups and SUVs that are flying off the dealer lots?
  • 6 0
 @foggnm: the fastest people on earth do not ride OEM anything. More mid-stroke support prolly does more for us slow punters than anyone else. Most of these products don’t add any complexity at all, in many cases making it easier to get your stuff set up so you’ll enjoy your riding experience more.
  • 7 2
 I have ridden on Honda Groms with $1000 Ohlins suspension under them. Groms that were bought brand new for ONLY riding on go kart tracks. Other friends spends about $2000 to build up an engines for custom built XR100's, usually gets blown ever time we do a 24 hour race.

Mountain biking is a cheap sport. If you want to get cheaper, take up running.

If you really want to cry, I spend $250 every 6 weeks for horse shoes. Just his shoes.

@foggnm: "the fastest people in the world can ride a well maintained OE fork"

None of them are riding OEM forks. All of them are going to be at least custom tuned.
  • 1 0
 @JSTootell: But can't a custom tune be part of the regular service? I thought Mojo (back when Chris Porter used to service Fox suspension) would offer that and it wasn't that much extra. Still makes it an OEM fork.
  • 2 0
 Obviously enough people to keep Vorsprung in business. Also try getting a service at less than two weeks notice at Melius and you will see that there is the demand
  • 2 0
 @JSTootell: pimped out grom on a go kart track sounds so fun
  • 14 0
 the biggest letdown is the Smashpot and Secus no longer being priced at 420.69 CAD
  • 17 0
 If inflation keeps going the way it is, in a year or two it'll just be $42069.
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: can we get them for 420.69 USD at least?
  • 14 1
 Has Vorsprung thought about just making their own damn forks?
  • 100 1
 We would love to, but the major players have set the bars incredibly high for certain things that we currently aren't in any position to compete with. You seen how crazily well optimized and manufactured the thin walled cast magnesium in fork lower legs? They have a near-zero failure rate, are super light and stiff, the tolerances they hold are actually extremely impressive (even when there are occasional issues like bushing sizing). We aren't going to go and improve on that any time soon, and certainly not at any reasonably competitive price if we did. I mean, to give you some idea of how much things have improved, a long travel singlecrown fork like the Marz 66 from about 15 years ago is about 50% heavier than a current Lyrik of the same travel. That kind of structural optimization is extremely difficult to match let alone exceed. Maybe if we come up with some unconventional idea that somehow circumvents that, it'd be possible, but we're a tiny company with very limited resources compared to the big dogs.
  • 9 1
 @VorsprungSuspension: how about lower castings with an integrated secus! That’s be out of the box and make the big guys jealous.
  • 13 1
 @Jesse221: you just blew my mind.
  • 11 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: thank you. I’ll go patent it now.
  • 9 2
 @VorsprungSuspension: Thank you for your honesty. I was about to comment essentially the same thing.


The cost in engineering/testing and producing your own CSU's, your own lowers, etc. It's massive. Molds. Dynos. Engineers. Paint/powder testing. Decal testing. It's a MASSIVE expenditure of money and resources that would be very difficult to do at all let alone at a level that people would expect when attached to Vorsprung.

It's a lot easier to focus on doing one thing very well.
  • 3 3
 @onemanarmy: Not if they offer color choices @ no extra cost. People will go nuts customizing their lowers and sale profit will blow the roof off. Why settle for an ugly Orange fork
  • 2 2
 @onemanarmy: so...what he already said.
  • 2 0
 @onemanarmy: Doesnt EXT uses X-Fusion lowers for their forks and then they install their custom bushings, seals etc?
  • 3 0
 @winko: first gen ERA was on X-Fusion lowers, like you said.
I think now they are on their own lowers (far east manufacture anyway, i guess)
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: do that in carbon mate
  • 1 0
 @Jesse221: The lower castings are probably the most complex and highest investment part of the fork. You really have to sell a huge lot of them to make any profit. Plus it would make for a pretty complex part to cast. Either you make the drum parallel to the leg and it would be pretty hard to control the flow and avoid weak weld lines in this area. The other one could be to extend the leg and have the Secus in line with the leg, but then doing a simple lower leg service will be more complex. But yeah, maybe there is a way I haven't thought of. It could be easier on an USD fork and people would buy it, but it won't necessarily make for a better fork than what you get by modifying your forks now.
  • 10 1
 Funny thing is that the RXF36 has a coil option. The RXF38 would benefit greatly as a coil. I’m glad the homies at Vorsprung stepped up and did what Öhlins should have done from the get go.
  • 19 0
 Ohlins apparently stopped producing the coil version of the RXF36 due to supply chain issues, which is why we released the Smashpot for that fork as we had a lot of people asking for it.
  • 4 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: This! As it was either have an air sprung option or No fork. Being able to jump on a niche quickly is a great thing, good for your guys capitalizing on their supply chain (no coil CSU woes)nice work!
  • 9 1
 Best suspension upgrade I’ve done to a fork, the smash pot is probably better but I didn’t want to deal with switching coils, even though I run a coil in the rear. It fixes everything I didn’t like about my 38.

It’s one of those products that works as advertised.
  • 7 2
 I've got a zeb ultimate with a secus installed and I'm quite happy with it. I also have a sd ultimate with a tractive tune on it and between the two, I no longer fuss with the compression settings and just change rebound -1 to +1 depending on the terrain. I use to be an endless clicker turner and was always hunting, now I don't even think about my suspension. Exellente!
  • 10 0
 Good shit Steve.
  • 11 8
 Fox 36 and Lyrik with smashpot... So much better. No longer have to choose two of small bump compliance, mid stroke and bottom out resistance - can have all three. Thanks Steve!
  • 9 4
 The Luftkappe for the Domain is a great idea! I have had several Vorsprung products and they are big upgrades...
  • 2 0
 I have a Luftkappe ony 2014 Pike and its just the best fork. Want to get one for my 22 Pike. Or maybe try the Secus. That might be rad. I also have a Smash pot for a 36. Super cool but wish l realized how it worked better and got lighter springs before selling the fork. The Smashpot is available btw. If interested hit me up. we can maybe work something out
  • 9 7
 I love everything I’ve had or ridden from Vorsprung, but I’m still patiently waiting for a Luftkappe for Fox Rhythm forks…
  • 6 41
flag nimajneb (Oct 27, 2022 at 14:48) (Below Threshold)
 Just get the 34 luftkappe, dumbass.
  • 15 4
 @nimajneb: The 34 Luftkappe doesn't work with the Rhythm forks unfortunately. The Rhythm forks have slightly different inner diameters (thicker stanchions) than their Performance/Factory series compatriots.
  • 16 1
 @nimajneb:
As Steve mentioned below, it doesn’t work. I’ve learned this from installing roughly two dozen luftkappes over the past few years. Thanks for your educated input, though.
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension:
Any chance of this ever being a thing?I know the Secus is an option, but I like the simplicity and cost/performance ratio of the luftkappe.
  • 4 0
 @Tayrob: I won't say no.
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension So I have a Fox 38 with the Vorsprung conversion. Stock, it has 170mm of travel, it it only using about 155mm of that travel with the conversion. Is that the way it is supposed to work?
  • 2 0
 Smashpot in fox 38 is GAME-CHANGING for small bump compliance. It's a different fork. Whistler brake bumps hurting your hands? No more........
  • 1 0
 I’m pretty happy with my stock 160mm Pike that I’ve been riding since 2015. I’ve changed the oil and seals once in that time and it just Keeps working.
  • 1 3
 I'd love Vorsprung to find an in-house solution for the Lyrik Luftkappe that doesn't include having to go out and find an old solo air spring shaft - they're like hens teeth to find (used or new) and add to the cost in comparison to the simple replacement required on the Zeb.
  • 14 2
 We would have loved to as well, but the pistons on the Lyrik Debonair air shafts from 2019-22 were riveted on. It wasn't really safe to remove those.
  • 2 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: Fair enough, you're kinda stuck with that I agree. Curious though, do the new 2023 Lyriks have bolted on pistons, or still rivetted?
  • 16 1
 @samty: New ones are threaded on. To answer your next question, at some point yes Smile
  • 2 1
 Just get a DVO Onyx in the first place and you won't need to fix your Fox or RockShox. OTT adjustment is real.
  • 8 0
 Ha, sorted, thanks!
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: fwiw I still see "Coming soon" for Rockshox Lyrik / Yari (2023) on the page above
  • 3 3
 Loved the Luftkappe on my 36. It was only $99 installed at the time. Considering adding to my 38 when it goes in for service.
  • 1 1
 So the Secus makes an air spring act more like a coil spring? I mean if your at vorsprung why not just get yourself a coil spring?
  • 2 0
 Weight and flexibility. Steve has a video where he outlines exactly why someone might choose one over the other.
  • 1 0
 How cool is that to have so much Domain tinkering available. Awesome fork for the price.
  • 1 1
 move to the air release valve to anywhere but at the bottom where oil pools up due to gravity.
  • 1 0
 The Secus actually has an IFP inside it that pumps the oil back into the lowers with each cycle. It has to be located where it is in order to connect to the negative spring chamber.
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: I repeatedly serviced mine. The air release valve keep clogging after a ride or two and went back to making this obnoxious metallic squeak every time.
  • 1 0
 @moroj82: with the Secus? There isn’t anything to clog with the gold button if that’s what you’re referring to - if there’s a squeak it won’t be coming from that. The lower leg oil doesn’t connect into there. Shoot us an email with more details and we’ll get you sorted out - support@vorsprungsuspension.com
  • 1 0
 Ah, no update for Fractive to fit Fox 34 SC 2022?
  • 1 0
 Waiting for the EXT Era Smashpot!
  • 2 0
 When they first revealed the Era, EXT said there was a coil version on the way.
Wonder if it's been abandoned?
  • 1 0
 @chakaping: Wondering the same!
  • 2 0
 @Crossmaxx: We've had a few requests, it's not out of the question.
  • 1 0
 Another yes please
  • 1 1
 I just want a boxxer team fork with 36 or 37mm stanchions packaged into a single crown with a titanium spring.
  • 5 4
 Vorsprung Durch technik
  • 4 4
 still no Luftkappe for Debonair-sprung forks? why?!
  • 3 2
 Edit - they've got plenty of options for Debonair forks? You mean dual-air?
  • 4 0
 The reason is simply that the 2019-22 air shafts had the pistons riveted on, and in our eyes it isn't safe to remove those.
  • 1 0
 wahoo !
  • 1 2
 Ive said it before and i'll say it again. That green Lyrik is disgusting. #bringbackred
  • 3 4
 "We were been impressed..."
How do you miss THAT edit????
  • 6 9
 RS Domain is about 400€ on discount, + 490$ CAD + Shipping and taxes....I think I rather buy a ZEB or Lyrik Ultimate.....
  • 6 9
 Take out the buttercups? Great way to downgrade
  • 1 0
 Just wait until you can’t buy new ones when it’s time to service the fork LOL
  • 18 0
 The Buttercups help reduce air spring static friction somewhat (no effect on dynamic friction, and much lower effect once the buttercups themselves are compressed very much). The force required to get the fork moving at the beginning of the travel is the sum of the spring forces + friction forces, and our assessment was that there was a bigger benefit to be had by improving the spring rate (in particular, reducing the initial stroke spring rate) and enabling easier initial motion that way, particularly given the improvements in linearity and the support that gives through the middle of the stroke.
  • 1 0
 @VorsprungSuspension: am I missing where to buy the 2023 Lyrik footstud only (is that possible) on the site?
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