1. Which would you prefer - a 2016 Yari or a 2019 travel-adjust Lyrik?
2. Is it a really bad idea to run a 160mm fork on a frame designed for 140-150mm? Like am I going to snap the thing in two the first time I land hard, or are these things more a recommendation based upon the intended geometry?
1. Depends on damper
2. Nah you'll be fine, just be a bit chopperee on the ups, this is in comparison to my FIL who's running a 180mm fork on and Aeris 120
Charger RCT3 damper in the Lyrik so nothing special. Unknown but I suspect the same in the Yari.
Can't answer 1. 2, yeah, just makes your bike a bit more slack and wandery when climbing. Still have a TALAS fork on one of my bikes. 140mm on the way up, 160mm on the way down
FIL who’s running a 180mm fork on and Aeris 120
I thought I was pushing it running 150mm on an Aeris 120. I feel much better now!
Having said that, I really like the way that set up feels for me. The fork munches its way through stuff but the back end feels really immediate and wants to push the bike forwards when it compresses. I haven't run out of travel yet, and the BB is so low anyway, it doesn't feel weird.
Absolutely no contest, the Lyrik. The MOCO damper in the Yari is terrible, on repeated hits it just can't cope, might as well be a rigid. I swapped mine for an RCT2 and it was night and day.