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Lyrik 1.5 or 1 1/8?

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
So I decided on a Lyrik or possibly a Domain for my Vagrant. My Vagrant is an older one with the 1.5 head tube. I already bought a FSA Orbit z 1.5r reducing head set because I was planning to run a 1 1/8in fork. Does the 1.5 steerer tube make a significant difference in stiffness on either of these forks compared to a 1 1/8in one?

Its easier to find a used 1 1/8in one, so I'm just trying to decide is it if the increased stiffness justifies me having to buy another headset and searching longer. Has anyone ridden both?
 

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
Are you running the air or coil version? I was considering the coil version just because it seems like it would be able to take more abuse and be a bit more plush. I was considering a Vanilla 36, but wanted a Talas due to the adjustable travel. This is why the Lyrik appeals to me so much, it is a traditional coil fork with adjustable travel and can be found for much cheaper than the Fox forks. How does the coil compare to the air version?
 

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
Sweet thats what I figured, I'll probably go with coil then because there are more travel settings and it'll probably a bit more durable (I'm a big guy at 200 lbs). So now the question remains...go through the trouble of getting a 1.5 lyric or just get a 1 1/8 one. Rigid hack, is it really significantly stiffer? My other fork on my big bike is an old 2002 Super T pro, how is it going to compare?
 

rigidhack

Turbo Monkey
Aug 16, 2004
1,206
1
In a Van(couver) down by the river
Sweet thats what I figured, I'll probably go with coil then because there are more travel settings and it'll probably a bit more durable (I'm a big guy at 200 lbs). So now the question remains...go through the trouble of getting a 1.5 lyric or just get a 1 1/8 one. Rigid hack, is it really significantly stiffer? My other fork on my big bike is an old 2002 Super T pro, how is it going to compare?
I'm right about 200# myself. I think it is stiffer, but only a bit. I can't scientifically support the company line that it is 20% stiffer, but I think it is a bit anyway. Never spent any time on a Super T, but my guess is that it will feel pretty damn good.
 

Sir_Crackien

Turbo Monkey
Feb 7, 2004
2,051
0
alex. va. usa.
i have a 1.125" lyric on my all-mountain bike. i use this bike when i'm going somewhere in which i don't know what i'm going to find. if there is a drop i take it. if there is a climb it can make it. at first i had a talas and to be honest it was a real let down, then i got the lyric. the fork is light for sure but its no weakling either and seeing that i weight about 270 all geared up i cherish that more than anything. while talking about strength the lyric is NOT a fr fork. it truthfully is an hardcore AM fork. its not replacing my 888 anyday for a dh park like snowshoe. the thing i like about it the most is how incredibly smooth it is. i have used many air forks in the past (mainly rockshox ones) and never really found them to be any more harsh than the coil forks that i have owned (mainly marzocchi and a travis) but for the plushest fork i have ever owned my solo air lyric takes the cake hands down.

to say the least i'm very happy with my fork. the only thing that i'm not too keen on is how you activate the motion control. the push in and turn thing is kinda gimmicky but it does work. also when the motion control is on you will lose clearance in between the frame and the knob. this could end up being a big issue with some frames, luckily the reign i have it on has a ton of clearance in that spot.

also in about a week or so this fork is really going to be put through its paces at a place called Elizabeth's furnace. the place has like a 7 mile climb, that climb is up all 7 miles as well, then it have some rolling terrain, and it finishes up with a dh that is close to 5 miles long and its down most of the way. if you are interested i will post a better more review like post at that time.
 
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syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
You might be able to get both. SRAM makes an e2 steerer Lyrik (1.25 top, 1.5" bottom) - virtually the same strength, minor weight savings, and better stem selection. With the proper headset setup you can run e2 forks in e2 or 1.5 HTs.
 

Sir_Crackien

Turbo Monkey
Feb 7, 2004
2,051
0
alex. va. usa.
they don't list the e2 anywhere of their website nor does bti-usa have it on theirs


also i have update/lengthened my above post
 
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syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
they don't list the e2 anywhere of their website nor does bti-usa have it on theirs
Right now probably only Trek dealers sell e2 forks. Supposedly you can upgrade to a different e2 fork. Fox and SRAM currently make e2 forks.

Various makers besides Trek will have e2 frames for 2009 so there should definitely be greater availability as fall approaches.
 

Boxxer

Monkey
Jul 18, 2005
856
2
Dirty South
Right now probably only Trek dealers sell e2 forks. Supposedly you can upgrade to a different e2 fork. Fox and SRAM currently make e2 forks.

Various makers besides Trek will have e2 frames for 2009 so there should definitely be greater availability as fall approaches.
Will head tube lengths have to be standardized to accept the tapers in the correct sections? I dont see any way around having just one head tube length shared among different frame sizes.....
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
Will head tube lengths have to be standardized to accept the tapers in the correct sections? I dont see any way around having just one head tube length shared among different frame sizes.....
I would assume the taper is standardized and fits the smallest size. Specialized Trek, Yeti, and a few others have e2 MTB frames. I know both Trek and Yeti are speccing e2 Fox 36 forks.

Yeti Seven

 

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
Ok, so I guess now it pretty much comes down to which fork I can get the best deal on. I found a pretty killer deal on a used 2008 Talas RC2 ($600), and that is cheaper than I have found any Lyriks for, so I might actually go with that. Aah, decisions decisions....

^So later last night I happend to PM someone on MTBR that had a thread about buying a Talas to replace his Lyrik saying that I'd take the Lyrik off of his hands. So $530 later, I have a lightly used 2007 Lyrik u-turn heading my way instead of the Talas. Wooo! Its 1 1/8th by the way which I should be fine with, I'm thinking the coil will suit me a lot more. I just hope it's not under sprung for my 215 lb frame but I'm guessing it probably will be.
 
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DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
they don't list the e2 anywhere of their website nor does bti-usa have it on theirs


also i have update/lengthened my above post
Right now probably only Trek dealers sell e2 forks. Supposedly you can upgrade to a different e2 fork. Fox and SRAM currently make e2 forks.

Various makers besides Trek will have e2 frames for 2009 so there should definitely be greater availability as fall approaches.


Some Info on E2 forks, first off as of now, they are OEM only, so your seeing them on Treks only. Yes other manf. are already making E2 frames, and E2 is what Trek calls this headtube design. No, there will not be any standardization on steerer lengths, the lower 1.5 portion of the fork, is just long enough to put a bearing on, then it tapers down to the 1.125 rather fast.


Hope this clears it up a bit
 

Sir_Crackien

Turbo Monkey
Feb 7, 2004
2,051
0
alex. va. usa.
Some Info on E2 forks, first off as of now, they are OEM only, so your seeing them on Treks only. Yes other manf. are already making E2 frames, and E2 is what Trek calls this headtube design. No, there will not be any standardization on steerer lengths, the lower 1.5 portion of the fork, is just long enough to put a bearing on, then it tapers down to the 1.125 rather fast.


Hope this clears it up a bit
outda

hence making the hope 1.125 to 1.5 standard a little more meaningless than perviously thought
 

Sir_Crackien

Turbo Monkey
Feb 7, 2004
2,051
0
alex. va. usa.
yes the largest stress do lie in that area. i will not argue that one bit. the problem is when you taper the tube that abruptly you are not able to transfer the stresses that effectively. if you had a long taper, one that ended right near the upper cup, i would see the standard much more note worthly. also one ofther thing to remember is that when ever you are manipulating the tube to such an extreme extent you are always risking upping undue stress into it.

note: i'm not a mech. eng. i'm using logic, reason, and experience. often times that is 90% of the eng. battle and i know that because i am an ele. eng.
 

Boxxer

Monkey
Jul 18, 2005
856
2
Dirty South
Is the E2 significantly lighter than just running a 1.5? Seems like an expensive solution to a 'problem'. Im not sure I like the aesthetics of it either...