The RockShox Lyrik is better than the Fox 36 (and here’s why)

[@kingflynxi9420]

I think the grip x2 damper might be a more fair comparison to the charger 3.1

[@jeroenhoeks5271]

I have fox 36 grip 2 , and rear fox float evol on a stumpie rides real nice

[@PatBK]

I'm sorry, but that wasn't a great review. If you're testing modern forks with capaple dampers it would maybe be a good idea to not set them up like old 1990 forks, just ramping up the pressures and opening up the compression... Doing that will obviously lead to the conclusion that the fork with less damping (aka the Lyrik) is the better fork. Just looking at it from a technical standpoint, the Fox offers way more usable damping range, which allows you to gow lower in pressure, which in return generates more grip and comfort while still having enough support thanks to the damping. This is not to say, that the Lyrik is a bad fork, it's just designed to rely more on the airspring than on the damping. So if you set both of them up in a way, that they almost solely rely on the damping, of course it's going to feel better...

[@malintous1]

I got the 3.1 and it's amazing really is.

[@Fleijah]

While it's true you need to effectively use the damper in order to judge performance, the current generation Fox dampers definitely lose to the RS dampers. Pretty sure even Fox knows given how their latest developments were pretty much just an attempt to match RS current typical highlights

[@PatBK]

@@Fleijah I don't think I would agree with you on that one. (Sorry, this is gonna be long, but maybe it helps to clear up some misconceptions about MTB suspension.) So here goes: The new RS stuff tends to feel better out of the box, because it is way easier to setup right respectively way harder to setup wrong than almost anything else, but it also can't match the performance potential of the competition (not just Fox) given proper setup. From Charger 2.1 to Charger 3 and 3.1 Rockshox has mainly worked on making setup easier and not on upping the pure performance (they even state that in some of the developement content). That's why they removed the ability to change the preload on the HSC shimstack (that's what the HSC adjustment on the Charger 2.1 did and what the HSC adjuster still does in pretty much every competitor damper not only in MTB but also on Motorcycles) and added a second orifice which is controlled by the HSC dial. This means that the "actual" hsc is set from the factory (like on older Select models), and you get to choose the LSC and add some super high speed Compression through the new HSC adjuster. Super high speed, because orifice style dampers don't tend to work at high velocities and small openings, therefore the HSC orifice is kept pretty big even in the closed position. What does that mean in practice? It is pretty hard to f up the compression setup, because the "actual" HSC is set, which is the most important part of a compression circuit. So all great? For most average riders yes, but if you actually want or need more or less "actual" HSC, you're out of luck, unless you know how to change the shimstack inside the damper. Long story short: the RS damper is not "better" than the Fox damper, from a technical standpoint it is actually quite a bite worse, but it's harder to setup badly. And that's why this review is so bad. Because all it says is: "If you don't know how to setup a damper, the damper with less options for setup is better." That would be an interesting takeaway as well, and should be part of a well rounded review. But there should also be the part saying: "If you know how to properly setup a damper and are trying to get the best pure performance out of said damper, the Fox offers more usable range."

[@TAZMON20]

​@@PatBKbravo, an excellent summation.

[@MTBstuart]

@@PatBK same reason most people dont get on with ohlins from my understanding, because they are really really hard to get right but when you do its somthing else (so i hear)

[@Taylor5084]

I’ve had previous Lyrics and really liked how supple they were and the kind of fit and forget. They just didn’t match Fox when things get rowdy as the Fox felt much more composed. Both are great like you say but I guess they will come to personal preference

[@Fleijah]

Current gen RS allegedly completely turned that around. I'm curious

[@TAZMON20]

You're either in one camp or the other on a great many bike related products, Fox v Rockshox, Sram V Shimano, Maxxis v Schwalbe, it's all subjective as the variables involved in such a basic test are too many to conclude definitively

[@TheMTBRider96]

comparing the grip X is not fair, although a simple grip 2 is way better than the 3.1 lyric ultimate, i've never found anything with a 3 or 3.1 damper feeling somehow decent, the 2.1 was so much better

[@louie_lou9698]

I had zebs which kept going back under warranty. While they where away the third time I bought some 3.1 lyriks and never looked back they feel mega

[@RefRMart10]

Got my Lyrik select last week. Absolutely love it! I thought the exact same thing. I’m not a a pro so I really didn’t need the ultimate. The select was perfect and I got it for under 500! What a steal lol

[@craigmellin6217]

Zeb vs 38 @ 180mm please 🙏

[@lonewanderer2287]

Answer: “best”.

[@alexanderwald2046]

using the outdated damper on the 36 are you?

[@MasterChronometer]

I’ve bought a zeb and pike select plus. Both unused in the box for about £400 a piece. Best value for money forks I’ve ever had. The new rockshox stuff is awesome. My experience with fox has been creaking CSUs and horrible topout noises.

[@xdroidvince]

Lyrik here as well from Zeb from 36. Lyrik 3.1 hand down.