I’m thinking of building up a 2nd bike, and I’m pretty much decided on everything but the fork.

There are some previous year’s models around here and there, and I’m considering a DVO Diamond D1 or a 2021 Lyrik Ultimate (maybe with a B1). 29er and 150mm.

I’m 80kg and don’t go hugely fast or big, but I don’t particularly rate my 2021 Pike Ultimate on rougher descents (although it’s fine everywhere else) so was looking for something a bit more plush & capable.

The D1 is a bit heavier, has a 140-160mm range, and gets some great comments in forums but not much by ways of reviews.

The Lyrik will do 140-180mm so is maybe a bit more flexible for a later frame change. It’s also the known quantity with a squillion rave reviews.

Thoughts please?

if you don’t like your pike then the lyric isn’t going to be any different. Consider the mezzer pro

£559

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/manitou-mezzer-pro-boost-mountain-bike-fork/rp-prod188906

I thought the Lyrik would work better in those places the Pike doesn’t. Still, that Mezzer at an amazing price. I’ll take another look at it. Cheers.

I’ve got an Onyx, which I’m lead to believe is pretty much a Diamond in a bigger chassis.
I bloody love it, it’s so supple on the smaller stuff, yet holds up really well in the chunk. Feels stiffer laterally than the 36 I used to have (but that was a 2016). The damping adjustment range is really decent, it’s the first fork that I’ve had that I feel i can tune to my satisfaction on the out of the box setup as well.
Worth mentioning that I am sub 70kg, so can’t speak for heavier riders though!
DVO support is ace as well, I’ve had quick responses to all of my daft questions, and there are loads of guides out there for servicing etc.
I wouldn’t buy a Manitou fork due to the stories I’ve heard of support and availability of parts. But I do say that having never had to get any parts for my DVO!

“I wouldn’t buy a Manitou fork due to the stories I’ve heard of support and availability of parts”

replaced my seals last week.

My 150 Pike Ultimates and 160 Lyrik Ultimates feel very different if that is of use. Pikes feel ‘stiffer’ and Lyriks feel ‘softer’. Both set up with Shockwiz. Pikes are due a service though.

I’ve got 2021 lyriks and maybe 2020 pikes – both are ultimate spec.

Pike is 140mm on the hardtail and Lyrik is 160nmm on the full suss – I have run the Lyrik at 140 and 150mm previously on a shorter travel full suss.

I can’t fully put my finger on all the differences but the Lyrik just feels a bit more plush and better at eating roots and rock gardens – even when it was shorter travel. I’d say the pike felt more ‘poppy’ – I also ran that for a few weeks on the same shorter travel full suss bike.

On the Mezzer front they’re always really well reviewed – I think if you get a good one they’re good. If you get problems then their support in the uk isn’t good. At £560 from CRC I might be tempted to give them a go though. Maybe drop the lowers and check they have the relevant oil / grease in them before use though.

I’ve got a Diamond and an Onyx. I’ve found them better than any RS/Fox i’ve had by far. The “off the top” feature makes small bump sensitvity amazing and as said above mid stroke support is spot on – no diving. Diamond is set at 170 and Onyx is 180

PS Due to a 29er purchase the Diamond is for sale 🙂

Those Mezzers must come with a contractual obligation to promote them and defend their reputation online.

The diamond looks lovely in green. Shame I’ve got a red frame…😆

I remember now that early issues and UK CS comments was why I’d discounted the Mezzer before (I’ve been this pondering a while) but that price it could be worth it, if the version is up to date and I service them first. TBF most sale options will need a service before use.

Thanks for the comments!

“early issues”

Dude the fork has been out for almost 3 years. A tiny batch had a bushing issue. Heck mine is an early one with no issues. You’ll have to drop them to change travel anyway which is piss easy. Supply for any of the parts isn’t an issue. RS and fox have had supply issues too just like the rest of the world has.

The Pike and Lyrik share a lot of components but one big difference is the Lyrik has a significantly larger negative air chamber for the same travel. Maybe this helps them feel plusher?

I have both, prefer the Lyrik.

Thanks @honourablegeorge Why do you prefer the Lyrik?

They both look decent but the Diamond D1 seems to get a bit more love in the forums.

What temps me to the Lyrik is a bit less weight, maybe less time to set up, and the possibility to run it at 170mmn if I buy an AM9 or similar frame in future.

I would go Manitou Mezzer light as a 36 & stiff as a 38 & easy to internally adjust travel. I have a set so am biased it’s one of best fork I have owned apart from an Ohlins however don’t need specialist tools for complete service including damper! So for that its best fork out there & at current prices on CRC

I’d echo the mezzer pro thoughts, I’ve got a silver version and it’s been faultless – buttery smooth off the top but still has loads of midstroke support, and it can be set to 140-180mm.

I have a yari I was going to make into a lyrik ultimate or smashpot but the mezzer has really piqued my interest. I’ll have to stay strong though. Looks a great buy.

benos

Thanks @honourablegeorge Why do you prefer the Lyrik?

Hard to say, the DVO is good, but the Lyrik is plusher for me, I think. I’m heavier than you, so might be that I’m at the upper end for the coil negative spring. Had the Lyrik longer too, and more time on that bike, so maybe its just better set up (and simpler to do so), and I prefer having tokens to tune the ramp which the DVO doesn’t allow.

Both good forks, neither is a bad choice, lots of deals on the ’22 Lyrik about though.

Thanks again for all the comments. No wrong choice, really.

I like reading threads that get tied up properly, so I’ll report back when I’m bouncing on one of these.

This thread has got me looking at the Mezzer too. Do we know if they include a full set of travel spacers in the box?

Go on the Windwave site, search Diamond and look at the spares available.

Go on the Zyro site, search Lyrik and look at the spares available.

Go on the Hotlines site, search Mezzer and look at the spares available.

I won’t spoil the fun here.

This thread has got me looking at the Mezzer too. Do we know if they include a full set of travel spacers in the box?

Yep, spacers and a sachet of grease so you can do the travel change.

Go on the Windwave site, search Diamond and look at the spares available.

Go on the Zyro site, search Lyrik and look at the spares available.

Go on the Hotlines site, search Mezzer and look at the spares available.

I won’t spoil the fun here.

This sort of thing is worth checking. I’ve worked in manufacturing for 25 years and know full well that *every* company has issues, and what matters is how that company puts those issues right. I’ve also always worked for small manufacturers, so I know the part distribution plays in this.

The Mezzer looks really intriguing: highly tunable and highly rated, and it looks like the current ones on CRC/Wiggle are a recent vintage and will likely be as reliable as any other manufacturer (plus the CRC/Wiggle returns policy makes it easy to confirm).

But in the UK you’d need to be that bit more independent and resourceful to maintain it than with other options.

I got my seals from NZ. Took 5 days to arrive.

I got my seals from NZ. Took 5 days to arrive.

Exactly. Good example.
So long as you have your eyes open and don’t mind the searching and work, it’s a decent prospect.

Yep I’ve Ordered a 29er pair.

I’ve been debating whether or not to replace my 140mm forks with 150 or 160 so being able to play with the travel in 10mm increments should be ideal, and the various write-ups seem pretty positive about the dual spring setup and damping options.

I’ve taken a flier, what’s the worst that can happen?

I decided to jump in too. It’s not going to be my only option, so the risk of a wait for parts seems ok considering the base price, tunability and travel options.

Naturally, CRC put the price up by £20 just before I ordered it 😀

I noticed the price jump myself when I looked last night. Quite annoying because I was gradually feeling less responsible and was likely to jump on them too.

Maybe that £20 covers the Manitou Kool-Aid. See you on the other side.

They’ve arrived, been shortened to 160mm (a nice simple task by the way), fitted to the bike, pressures set, dials twiddled to the middle and bounced on in the garage. They seem to be the same weight as the old x fusion Trace they’re replacing (maybe a shade lighter even?)…

I are excited!

But it’s going to be a busy weekend, so not actually sure if/when I’ll get to ride the things…

Thanks for the update @cookeaa. It’s going to be a while before I get to try mine, so it’s good to hear about your experience.

Let’s not pretend Manitou/Hayes didn’t have issues with bushing play with their forks, including Mattocs and Minutes. One of the big magazine review sites actually gave up reviewing the Mattoc Pro, when it came out, because they couldn’t get a working set from Manitou/Hayes! There are if memory serves me correctly three separate published articles which report the same problems.

Just because some customers don’t notice (you can feel the play like the headset is slightly loose and it affects fast small bump sensitivity but the fork still works) or complain about it, doesn’t mean there have not been issues. A known issue they only dealt with a few years back with their latest fork, having been made aware of it by journalists and customers as far back as 2016.

The pro dampers with the twin air chamber and hydraulic bottom out are excellent (for an out of the box product) and amongst the best out there. Be aware they are a little bit fussy to setup, depending on what you are used to! I’ve no doubt if you pick up a fault free fork for the right price, you will be extremely happy, maybe evangelical like MTBR (suspension tuner love in) and Pinkbike corporate defenders.

Lyrics (early dampers leaked) have been through several revisions like Pikes (SRAM have finally got the air chamber volumes about right) are now a well sorted fork and occupy a sweet spot in the market, depending on sale prices of competing products of course!

Make sure the forks are full extended when you remove the pump. Check out the set up page on mtbr suspension forum

Mine arrived today. Jan 2022 build date and current lowers with bleed screws.

I can’t say the horror stories of UK support aren’t a concern (just search this forum!) but at this price I’m willing to take a punt. I still have a hankering for a DVO tho 🙂

Noted on setup advice. These are an RTFM fork.

Set up guide calculator

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KPnh-oYncla19GutzWF5NkgZRzZCsmjhLGlpCLnO0eU/edit?usp=sharing

Just in regards to DVO, did anyone see the Paul Aston comment on one of their sponsored riders posts?

I think the rider in question was highlighting how supple the forks were “out of the box” and Paul called bullshit (which DVO confirmed in a response – the forks had had some love!) – seems like DVO have had the same QC issues as Fox/Rockshox, too much grease, too little grease, binding in bushings etc! Paul was highlighting the virtue of buying a fork from a suspension tuning company rather than the usual German/French websites!

Next time i buy a fork it will be through TF tuned/J-Tech etc to get the full strip down and work up!

I spoke to TF about Lyriks (& a Pike spring change option) before taking a chance on the Manitou. Joff (an absolute star) told me they strip, check & prep all the forks they sell. It also means £0 labour cost on a travel change.

TF’s MY21 products are looking good right now, and it’s fair to say I passed on the safe option 😀

Next time i buy a fork it will be through TF tuned/J-Tech etc to get the full strip down and work up!

pretty expensive way to do it when you can easily do it at home.

It’s a good start. After a quick rudimentary setup to achieve 25-26% sag, it’s a bit more supple than my Pike was at 30% yet significantly more supportive. It’s nice to lean on. The extra weight doesn’t feel like too much when getting the front up either (I forgot to weight it before fitting tho).

I only did 20 min shake down ride for the build, but already I think if I bought another RS I’d look at a Secus or Runt.

It’s also quite nice not having to hit it with a hammer to remove the lowers 😂 and a travel change is a doddle.