Submitted by
Horacek
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, UK
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2010
Strengths: Looks good, light. A great idea without the tedious wind up and down if you know you like 160 as your travel preference.
Weaknesses: I'm amazed there aren't more negative reviews (and soo few in general). Have mtbr culled a few due to excessive bad language.
See the bottom line
Bottom Line:
First ride- the 2step was playing up. I found I had to overweight the bars a few times then manual before I could get the 2step to adjust from 115 to 160 travel. RS said this was normal. Not great though when you are approaching something technical and sometimes have to stop and pull the forks apart.
Eventually (the third ride) the forks stuck. Running high air volumes cured this to an extent but then the forks were too firm.
Then on circa the 4th ride the forks became very linear. Just basically squatted right down into the travel (yet the psi still read right).
I didnt want to return the forks for a secondtime in a month so I agreed to replacement/new forks.
Now I ride a set of Fox36 Float R's set to 140mm (with internal spacer). The damping is like night and day compared to what the Lyriks can offer. It just feels right. I'm no where near a half decent rider however I studied and worked out how to run the mission control/floodgate etc and even with this dialled properly the Lyriks were nowhere near the stock Float's (not talking about FIT either).
Crackers. So when Sram took over Rockshox, what happened dudes?
Similar Products Used: Pike (hydrolocked/seals blew), Lyrik coil (Moco failed) and other brands.
Bike Setup: Blur4x.
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Submitted by
hurtinunit
a Weekend Warrior
from Alberta / BC
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2009
Strengths: When it works...it is nice and stiff and plush when needed.
Weaknesses: 3 MAJOR WARRANTYS
1) Was XC riding -115mm option stopped working -2 weeks
2) At SilverStar -lost 2 inches of travel -3 weeks
3) At Whistler -lost all travel - 1 month
Bottom Line:
Many documented problems so look at the 2008 Lyrik review page as well. Warranty service was ok; however, length of time without the fork made me nearly snap. All of the service came within the 1 year warranty time frame so I am almost scared to ride anything hard on this fork because I don't want it to break again and pay huge fees. Even the shipping back and forth is rediculous.
Submitted by
TonyC
a Weekend Warrior
from Darlington, UK
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2009
Strengths: Very plush with loads of adjustment. 1.5" steerer and 20mm Maxle keep it really stiff. Straight line most things with confidence.
Weaknesses: Finish on legs nowhere near as good as that on Fox Forx. Looks hand painted to me. After 6 rides they lost an inch of travel. Still worked fine, but worrying and disappointing all the same. Just had the air can replaced under warranty, so we'll see what happens over the next few rides.
Bottom Line:
First impressions were good, but the loss of travel concerns me. I'm thinking I should've gone with 36 TALAS. I'll have to mark it down until I've done more rides since the fix..
Strengths: This fork has improved on Rock Shox' product strengths in every way. This is truly the best fork they have ever made.
Weaknesses: The paint on the magnesium lowers chip real easily... very thin.
Bottom Line:
This fork ROOLZ. The small bump compliance is absolutely awesome with only 1 or 2 clicks in of high and low speed compression.
Like a reviewer below said, I thought that maybe the adjustments weren't very useful to me because with everything dialed out, it is pretty much spot on... can't complain about it though! ;)
If you can afford it for your custom-build or are trying to decide which Nomad or Remedy to get, don't hesitate to get the 2-step Lyrik. It is the best-performing single-crown I've ever ridden, light and stiff with big hit compliance of nearly a Marzocchi 66 (but WAY lighter and more agile). The 1.5" tapered version of the fork I got with my bike offers the most precise steering of any single crown I've ridden in any class/category.
Similar Products Used: Rock Shox motion-control forks: Reba, Revelation, Boxxer
Bike Setup: stock Remedy 8 with IRC Trailbear tires
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Submitted by
namakemono6698
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Oz
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2008
Strengths: Stiff, Smooth, easy to use, amazing range of adjustments, Maxle is super easy, METAL adjuster knobs!
Weaknesses: Takes some time to dial in (not really a weakness), price if bought by itself.
Bottom Line:
There seem to be a lot of complaints about really minor details here. Sure, if it's a default out of the factory send it back. But complaining about minor oil leaks (that can be solved in servicing), having to adjust the fork and colour??? Seriously...
It takes a while to dial in, especially if you're not use to separate high and low speed compression damping. The two lengths are amazing - for dh riding it's super smooth, stiff and responsive. The lower setting changes your HA just enough that climbing is observably easier. Sure, it is kinda expensive, but that's how technology works.
Similar Products Used: None similar, but lots of forks
Bike Setup: Spech Enduro frame w 2 step and dhx5
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2008
Strengths: I have found this an amazing fork, It feels like it has more travel than 160mm,I have just gotten rid of my tripple clamp Mazzochi forks and the Lyrik seems just as stiff with way better damping, and a fantastic range of adustment, I have had them converted to coil, and have the extra heavy spring installed and they are perfect for me.
Mission control is fantasic.
Weaknesses: None found so far, But I have heard DO NOT over tighten the maxle they can be difficult to remove if you do this.
Bottom Line:
These are a truely great fit for my bike, The Mission control works well when clinbing, the preload and rebound have great adjustment, best of all I think they have given me more confidence to push the bike that little bit harder and thats what has counted the most for me,
The kind of person that should consider any of the Lyrik models ... Any one who likes a good single fork that is well rounded in its abilities and gives great feed back to the rider
Similar Products Used: Mazzochi Z1, Jnr T, Boxxer 170mm,
Bike Setup: Foes Inferno, X9, Hope mono M4, and some more Hope bling. Curnett rear Shock.
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Submitted by
Marco Gallina
a Weekend Warrior
from Guelph, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2007
Strengths: Durability, two length settings, many adjustments, 20mm maxle. Excellent looks.
Weaknesses: Found none so far
Bottom Line:
Probably the best fork I have owned. I purchased the Lyrik 2-step because I wanted a true all mountain bike. With the fork set at 115mm I found my Banzai worked well on most xc trails. With the fork set at the 160mm travel the bike was capable of light duty DH riding. I was a bit sceptical about air forks that had travel adjust because I ran into numerous problems with my Nixon fork. I must say that the Lyrik has been stellar. There are many adjustment options on this fork and one really needs to understand the terminology (ie. what each adjustments function is) as well as having patience setting up the fork. It took me about 4 rides on xc trails to dial in the fork and about 2 rides to dial in on the DH and rough trails. I have the settings recorded so it takes me about 1 minute to re-tune. It is a very rigid fork (flex free) and I have found it to be an excellent all around performer. This fork has allowed me to build a bike around a Devinci Banzai frame that truly is the "one" bike. I gave a 4 chili value rating because I thought she was a pretty pricey fork, otherwise, awesome product.
Similar Products Used: Manitou Nixon Platinum and Minute with infinite travel adjust.
Bike Setup: 2004 Devinci Banzai with Fox Talas rear shock, Mavic Crossmax XL wheels, SRAM X7/X9 drivetrain, RaceFace Evolve XC x type cranks etc, etc.
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Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2007
Strengths: Very stiff. soft, plush air system.
Weaknesses: 2 step system is being retooled due to numerious problems. On my fork, i lost 13mm of travel in the first 20 minutes on it. Sram repaired the problem under warranty but i had to cover the $30 shipping to Chicago. 6 weeks later the 2 step had another problem, in the low setting the fork gradually raised up to the high setting. Another $30 and back to Sram in Chicago. This time they swapped out the 2 step for a U Turn spring. This is with the promise to put the new 2 step in when they get it dialed in. The slow speed compresion dial doesn't seem to do much.
Bottom Line:
Wait for the redesigned 2 step. When it was working it was great. Very plush, great feel.
I'm thinking about the 2008 Talus 36 or the 08 55 ATA.
The weekend warrior guy below is a knucklehead for throwing out negative energy because the fork is not in the (NOW) 2007 white color. Rock Shox has made many strides this year with the Lyrik and the Totem. The have done their homework with all the abilities set the fork exactly how you like it. Giving negative rating because of adjustments is weak. Great all mountain fork -
Bike Setup: Turner RFX, Formula Brakes, Mavic rims, Sram
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Submitted by
david
a Weekend Warrior
from tucson, arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2007
Strengths: This has so many adjustments you could really dial in the fork. The 2-step is really nice allowing you to adjust with a flick of a knob. The fork is stout and stiff. Maxle is amazing product, easier than a standard QR.
Weaknesses: This has so many adjustments you could really dial out the fork. Adjustments went from normal to ridiculous. I used one click of rebound and 2 clicks of high and low speed compression which left about 11 clicks of rebound and 14 clicks of compression unused.
Adjustments seemed to be overdialed for the intended purpose of the fork. ADjustment knobs should have a realistic range of adjustments on them.
Bottom Line:
This fork is not worth this much money.
The finish is cheesy. Gray...really original. White would be nice or black. Make a decision RockShox.
When i bled out some of the air in the chamber to soften the fork some oil came out and actually plugged my shock pump and this was on a new fork.
I don't need a rebound adjust that will lock the fork down. I would be more happy with a with finer range across a smaller range than coarser range across a larger range of adjustment. Ditto for the high and low speed compression.
When you can get a comparable fork for $100's less there needs to be something really special about this fork and I don't think it is there...except the maxle but that ain't worth $100's more for me.
The performance is there but I still could never justify the cost of this fork over a Fox 36VAN, or a Marzocchi 66SL or Z1 FR SL.
Similar Products Used: Marzocchi Z150FR SL with 20mm QR20 dropouts
Bike Setup: on a BMC Superstroke
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Submitted by
Clark
from Squamish
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2007
Strengths: awesome damping 2-step is brilliant easy, effective external adjustments intuitive set-up (especially for air spring) great stiffness-to-weight ratio maxle is smart
Weaknesses: more stiction than coil or solo-air version (more o-rings) very expensive
Bottom Line:
rock shox finally got their sh$t together last year with motion control. now they've done one better with the new mission control damping. very effective high and low speed adjustment, plus separate floodgate. pedals very well, yet remains compliant when it gets rough. far stiffer that marz z1 or fox 36. 2-step is revolutionary: one quick twist and you've lowered your front end by a couple degrees for noticable better climbing, while still maintaining great damping characteristics. if you're debating between the z1, 36, or lyric, then look no furthur - if you can afford it.
Submitted by
josh east
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2007
Strengths: Wow what a great fork. The lyric amazes me every time I ride it. Has crash saving abilities.
Weaknesses: none to date
Bottom Line:
Get one. The two step is the shizzle, flick of the swich lowers the front of the bike/head angle becomes more climbing freindly, also nice to have less travel for slow tech riding. Then release it raises back up and hold on. Very flatering fork does everything. love it
Bike Setup: nomad, xo, chris king, mavic 819, speedball, fox dhx coil
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Submitted by
James Holmstrom
from Tasmania
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2007
Strengths: Super: Stiff, plush, responsive and smooth
Weaknesses: Nuffin' yet!
Bottom Line:
These forks are a exspensive trail freeride fork yet they are worth there weight in gold. Dont buy this fork if you free-ride, but deffinetly buy it if you love to hammer those harsh trails.
Strengths: Stiff, and extremely tunable. Flick of a switch travel adjustment, with automaticaally adjusting damping settings.
Weaknesses: None so far!
Bottom Line:
These forks are real performers!
The damping adjustments are extremely adjustable, and allow perfect setup to individual preferences. High and Slow Speed rebound damping, compression damping, and Floodgate adjustment.
The Floodgate technology is amazing. With the press of a button your fork becomes a hardened platform fork with a huge range of platform adjustment. Then just press it again and you have the plushness of a DH fork that can take anything you've got the guts to throw at it!
I cannot rate these highly enough! They have tajken everything i've thrown at them (drops, stair gaps, rock gardens), and come back asking for more! Get a set you'll be able to feel where the money has gone, and it's worth it!
Strengths: sooooo plush straight out the box, 2 travel settings, weight, build
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Straight out the box these forks are so plush, they rival fox and i am sure they will give them a run for their money next year. Build quality is superb with all adjusters made of metal. the 2 step air works fantastic with no loss of plushness when set at 115 mm of travel. flick a knob and unweight the fork and it raises up. high and low speed compression adjustment, 35mm stanchions, 360 maxle make this fork an awsome piece of kit. cant give a durability review due to only having them a couple of weeks but so far i am very happy. They are expensive but you get so much for your money. If you want a fork that can cover most riding, this is it, medium freeride to all mountain, it is an air fork so is quite light 5.5lb and being air i wouldn't like to use it for anything too extreme, but if you like a little of everything this could be the fork for you.