Lyriks or Fox 36s or…?

After some slightly burlier forks than my Pikes for my Pitch, what are the best options? Gonna be going for second hand and it won't be a for a few months cos I'm skint, just weighing up options at the mo.

What's best out of the Lyriks and Fox Vanilla 36s? Is it worth having the RC2 as opposed to the R on the Fox's? Seems some people had reliability issues with the Lyriks?

Anything else out there worth looking at?

Recently stuck some VanRC2's on my Enduro, major improvement to the standard forks (E150)

The pikes that come with the Pitch have basic internals, either would be good, but the Fox's better, had Lyriks before and they were OK

My Lyriks are good, very plush and stiff, but leak oil through the Mission Control damper knobs. Common problem apparently and fairly easily fixed – just need to replace the o-ring seals with some fatter ones according to TFTuned. Haven't been able to do mine yet as they won't/can't sell me the o-rings and I can't send my forks in (kind of need them out here…)

I had 2006 Van 36 RC2's and, while they were very nice forks, if you rode them for more than a few hours solid the rebound **** up. The cartridge apparently gets hot under use, expanding the oil inside until it stops working properly. This was acknowledged to me by TFTuned, but not by Mojo. Not tried Lyrics or the basic Van R so can't comment on the comparison.

if the problems have been fixed on the 09 lyriks then i would recommend them.

i have 08 2-step but the 2-step drops 10mm instead of 45mm. hoping it is the oil levels that are wrong but due to the fact it was working fine to start with i'm guessing its a sodding workshop jobbie meaning i wouldn't get them back before we go away. awaiting some oil to arrive but am loath to take them apart only to find i'm unable to put back together due to fecked internals.

sigh.

I got some sh talas 36 and they have been fine.

Hey Grum! Megavalanche looked great. How did you do?

I wouldn't buy secondhand forks… 36s are exactly what you need though, super stiff and very well damped. I don't think you need RC2s. I have two pairs of Rs, a float and a vanilla. Best thing I can say about them is that you don't notice them, they never do anything odd.

Only thing is, they're very expensive now. Give me a ring, we have some pre price increase forks that I could do you a modest deal on…

Hi Adam – Megavalanche was great ta, didn't do too well (414th in the Affinity) but never mind, at least I finished. 🙂

Why not second hand, in case they are ****? Can't really imagine justifiying new prices, hence second hand. Unless you are going to do me a really good deal. 😉

I fitted Coil Lyriks to my Pitch when I got it a few weeks ago.

I had the Pikes on my Dialled Alpine before that so already new what to expect.

Had my Lyriks for a year an no problems whatsoever.

I'd rather have the infinite travel adjustment of U Turn or Talas than a 2 step type adjustment.

I have the Lyriks at 145 ish normally and wind them to full extension for more prolonged descending.

I've got a set of Fox 36 Van R on my Alpine which are lovely and have a set of Coil Lyriks waiting to go on a future build. I've always wanted to try Lyriks as I like the idea of the travel flexibility of the u-turn over the talas system which I have also tried. Some good deals on 09 Lyriks about too/

See the mega thread for my Pitch/36TALAS RC2 combo.

I would say go for the Van R and ignore the air unless you are heavy or ride really rough stuff; it's not very supple.

Also… despite HOURS of fiddling on all sorts of trails the RC2 seems to be full of empty promises so go for the R and save the cash

Fitted some Fox 36r's onto my 2006 S-Works Enduro and its superb compared to how it was with Pikes on, and it was great with Pikes!

I'd recommend them apart from the seal cleaning thing that needs to be done a bit frequently but is straight forwards enough.

The pikes that come with the Pitch have basic internals

Wrong. They have identical internals to every other Pike. The only thing missing is adjustable floodgate, which is pretty much a waste of time anyway unless you have a remote Poploc lever because if you want 'less lock out' you can do this by not turning the knob as far.
🙂

I've been running my Fox Van 36 RC2 for 3 years without issue. I'm thinking about servicing them this weekend just because it's not been done before.

If I was buying again, I'd not bother with the RC2 and just go for the R. Might even consider the Floats.

Wrong. They have identical internals to every other Pike. The only thing missing is adjustable floodgate, which is pretty much a waste of time anyway unless you have a remote Poploc lever because if you want 'less lock out' you can do this by not turning the knob as far.

No, some do not have motion control at all. 🙁

grumm, when I was looking (if you look deep enough) you can unearth some hidden gems. I found a set of TALAS Rs for £560 and my 09 Uturn Lyrik coils for £490. Let me know and I'll do some digging for you.

i have 08 2-step but the 2-step drops 10mm instead of 45mm. hoping it is the oil levels that are wrong but due to the fact it was working fine to start with i'm guessing its a sodding workshop jobbie meaning i wouldn't get them back before we go away. awaiting some oil to arrive but am loath to take them apart only to find i'm unable to put back together due to fecked internals.

sigh.

Alpin – These are not really difficult to sort out. Mine were going the other way – air getting trapped in the neg spring, which pushes them down on both settings. Phone TFT up and they will advise you accordingly (They are headset-ed up and are happy to advise while they work). Basically, dump the air, remove the top, set the oil level, fit the top and pump up again. Or pull out the whole spring and stick in a coil U-Turn one.

Also… despite HOURS of fiddling on all sorts of trails the RC2 seems to be full of empty promises so go for the R and save the cash

The changes you can make with the RC2 do seem to be so subtle that they're difficult to notice, but I do think I managed to make my '08 Talas a bit less divey in the end.

I got the RC2 for the same price as I could have got the R (£480 seems so cheap now!), but I'd also get the R if I was buying again.

I'd go 36, just got a set and have been blown away by their awesomeness. They just eat stuff.

The Lyrics are good too, but I hear more relability issues about them out here in BC where shit takes a beating.

I have 36's on my bikes, but I have had damper problems, but mojo are sorting it out… I doubt yours get the use ours do anyway.

Lyriks are alsonice and I think you get more "toys2 on the lyriks for a cheaper price.

I'm on my second set of '08 36 Van RC2 forks. With the first set I couldn't feel any difference whatsoever with the low and high speed compression however on the later set I'm now running the adjustments are noticeable. Personally, if I was buying another pair of 2nd hand Vanillas I'd just go for the R unless the RC2's were competitively priced.
Reliability wise I've had no probems with my 36's and service them myself every few months. I don't religiously stick to the maintenance schedule but that hasn't appeared to affect them.
I've only had a brief 30 minute demo on a bike with Lyriks so can't really compare the two as they had the wrong spring and were far too soft.

36's Vans are awesome.

Yet to meet anyone who value's the RC2 functions. I have them. After some initial fiddling ('cos it was there) I now leave them alone

I had some issues but fundamentally casued by me (long story). Others I know would definietly say fit and forget.

BTW – Awesome forks at last years Mega 🙂

Anyone have any Lyrik set up tips? The forks spike mid corner and on some technical bits- does this mean Im not running enough compression or the other way?

spiking = too much high speed compression

or……………..
your rebound's too slow and the fork is packing down and eventualy bottoming out.

thanks Dave-aber.

will see how it goes when the oil and such arrives.

i hope it is just a case of trapped air.

it's nice to hear someone contradict my worries.

thanks.

Hora,

Some useful info here: –

Video

Thread

And after all that if anyone fancys a set of as new 36 Van Rs, I have a set for sale in the classifieds for £400 😀

Konastoner, I love you man 8)