First Look: The New RockShox Lyrik
The latest Lyrik has arrived and its been completely redesigned.
Built for everything from light trail duty to aggressive riding – and equally at home on eMTBs – the new Lyrik introduces several updates aimed at improving sensitivity, consistency and control on the trail.
What’s new?
One of the most noticeable changes is the shape of the chassis. RockShox says it has made significant revisions to better isolate impact vibrations without muting terrain feedback or the rider’s connection to the bike.
At the centre of the new fork is the LinearXL air spring. This ‘speed-sensitive air spring’ is designed to deliver a more predictable feel with consistent sensitivity throughout the fork’s travel. The philosophy is straightforward: they wanted a fork that feels supple off the top, remains supportive through the mid-stroke and finishes with adjustable bottom-out control for personalized end-stroke performance.
Riders can fine-tune the fork’s end-stroke behaviour with the Adjustable Bottom Out (ABO) system. This feature allows riders to dial in exactly how much bottom-out support they want, while keeping the rest of the stroke consistent and predictable.
Another new feature is AirAnnex, located on the lower leg. It increases lower-leg air volume, reducing the progressivity and speed sensitivity typically found in traditional lower-leg designs. The result is a fork that maintains a more linear feel throughout its travel. Further contributing to this consistency are breather holes in the stanchions. These allow the lower-leg air volume to increase as the fork moves through its travel, helping maintain that linear performance.
Also new, the Charger 3.2 damper has been re-tuned to work in harmony with the new air spring and now offers fully independent High-Speed and Low-Speed Compression damping adjustments. The new Lyrik also features ButterCup vibration-damping technology, which RockShox says can reduce high-frequency vibrations by up to 20 percent, helping reduce rider fatigue on long or rough descents.
Directional stiffness has also been improved. Larger torque caps now interface with a standard 15mm Maxle, while a wider crown – machined after the forging process to reduce weight – adds further rigidity to the chassis.
Models and Options
The new Lyrik will be available in two colours and four models, including a Flight Attendant option. Riders can choose between 27.5-inch and 29-inch wheel compatibility, with travel options of 140, 150, 160 and 170mm.
With its redesigned chassis, new air spring, and updated damping system, the latest Lyrik aims to deliver a more predictable, tunable and refined ride across a wide range of trail conditions. Ode to it’s versatility, it should be a popular option for many Trail Riders. //
sram.com
[ RockShox is distributed in South Africa by Cape Cycle Systems ]