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Single crown optins

PepperJester

PepperJester

Monkey
Jul 9, 2004
798
19
Wolfville NS
Hello ,

Looking for a bit beefier fork for my trail bike, a 2018 StumpJumper. I have a 34 (not step cast) on it now and it feels it's a bit too flexy and the crown is starting to creak.


Some options I'm considering include the ribbon, lyrik, helm, or maybe a 36.


I've had good luck with the lyrik in the past so it's a safe bet, but the mrp and CC seem like interesting options



Does the 36 get creaky crowns too?


Looking for about 150-160 mm travel, boost in 27.5 for do it all riding, xc, trail and some free riding with the odd 10 ft drop once tossed in once in a while. So what do I need?

(edited as a bunch of unrelated stuff got stuck at the top.. mental note: don't post from flaky phones..)
 
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Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,065
10,630
AK
Well then, not a Lyrik, mine started creaking badly within the last year, it lasted around 2 seasons or so before the creaking got bad. I replaced it with a new Yari (which shares a redesigned chassis with the new Lyrik) and dumped the damper in favor of my Avalanche damper. This is a great setup and far better damping than you'll get from any OEM combination IME. I was previously thinking about getting some new lowers to have fresh bushings, but when the creaking started I realized I needed a CSU, but an entire Yari was only a little bit more $$$, so I started with a fresh fork chassis.
 
StiHacka

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!
SkaredShtles said:
:stupid:

Although, sadly, I haven't been able to put much time on mine yet. :mad:
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I am loving mine. It works great in my local technical chop when pointed down and up (short punchy climbs and descents of southern New England), and worked great on swoopy trails in Vermont as well.
 
FlipSide

FlipSide

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,432
888
I really like my Lyrik RC2.

My previous fork was a 34 with a custom tuned PUSH cartridge. The Lyrik has 30mm more travel, so they are difficult to compare. The quality of the travel and the smoothness of the Lyrik is excellent.
The air spring blew up at the first ride, but nothing was damaged. It was only a sloppy underlubed and undertorqued assembly. I don't know if I've only been unlucky...but it could be a good idea to add lube and check the air spring assembly before the first ride.
 
C

csermonet

Monkey
Mar 5, 2010
942
128
36 grip2 FTW. creaky crown is something that is known to be covered under warranty if your fork is affected. if you're getting a new fork id recommend sending the 34 in to be fixed before selling, and if you end up getting a 36 and it happens again (although uncommon) id do the same.

also if you're riding the long travel stumpy, whatever fork you decide on, id put a 160 on it. that's what I did on my new stumpy, and thats what the Spesh EWS guys are doing. its rated as an acceptable travel level from Spesh right in the manual so it won't void your warranty or anything, and you can get the bike even slacker. so win win IMO
 
PepperJester

PepperJester

Monkey
Jul 9, 2004
798
19
Wolfville NS
Yep, I've warrantied many CSU's over the years for this issue, will be looking into it for my current fork once I do a bit more testing and cleaning to ensure it's not a headset issue first. Fox has always been great at fixing them in the past with no questions asked. Good service in my books.
 
SirChomps-a-Lot

SirChomps-a-Lot

Downer
Feb 13, 2002
1,087
17
Seattle, WA
I don't think fox will fix the CSU, they will replace it. This is an OK option if you're under warranty but it will probably creak again. Blue Liquid Labs claims that due to how "fretting corrosion" works, the best thing do do is let the CSU get hella creaky, then press out the stanctions, loctite, press back in. They claim their fix doesn't really work on a new fork.
 
6thElement

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
17,148
14,624
Need to work out if it's my Pike CSU that's got a creak, new BB and servicing the lower pivots are on the to-do list first to rule them out.

Unless there's a good way to test for CSU creaking I don't know?
 
SirChomps-a-Lot

SirChomps-a-Lot

Downer
Feb 13, 2002
1,087
17
Seattle, WA
6thElement said:
Unless there's a good way to test for CSU creaking I don't know?
Click to expand...
Yep, you flip the bike upside down. Sit on the rear wheel. Put one hand around each fork leg. Slowly and firmly push away from you, then slowly and firmly pull back toward you. You should hear the CSU creaking. Totally serious.
 
6thElement

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
17,148
14,624
SirChomps-a-Lot said:
Yep, you flip the bike upside down. Sit on the rear wheel. Put one hand around each fork leg. Slowly and firmly push away from you, then slowly and firmly pull back toward you. You should hear the CSU creaking. Totally serious.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

SkaredShtles said:
Could I interest you in a 150mm Fox 34, my good man?

Kashima coated stanchions. KASHIMA!!

:D
Click to expand...
I changed from a 2013 Fox 34 to the Pike, I'm not looking to regress.​
 
Bikael Molton

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,088
1,235
El Lay
It’s cool that Marz is kinda back, I suppose.

Literally can’t remember what year I last rode one... maybe 09.

My buddy had a 66 Air on his first gen SX Trail this year at Whistler. Yes, that setup tried to kill him a few times.
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,065
10,630
AK
SirChomps-a-Lot said:
Yep, it sure does make you hate all things with wheels. What do you mean it destroys the suspension action, though?
Click to expand...
When I was hitting significant bumps with my creaky lyrik, there would be a "ping" as the thing settled and creaked. That was felt through the bars and destroyed the suspension action. Felt like I had a broken bearing in the headset or some other wild problem. Basically the connection from my handlebars to the tire was not solid and that made the suspension feel like crap. When I got the new chassis and there was no more creaking, suspension action was back to being smooth and great.
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,065
10,630
AK
jackalope said:
RM, I don't even know you anymore...



I am so disappoint. I mean shit, it's even got thick (B)ig (B)lack (C)ashima shafts.

Hopefully Jm_ will crack open the bomber bitchez vault and remind this forum about the glorious history of Marzocchi
Click to expand...
M3.jpg
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,779
7,044
borcester rhymes
favorite was to check for CSU play - Grab front brake, push bike horizontally forward and then back. I usually get a bit of rotor play, and sometimes there is flex, but if your crown is going to creak, it'll do it here.
 
StiHacka

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!
I have an XFusion fork where the CSU clicks during the smallest hits. It is a passion killer, so annoying, and I don't suffer from OCD. I could replicate the click by bouncing the bike on rear wheel while vertical.
 
Udi

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,918
1,213
In fairness, I don't think any SC is completely immune to the creaky CSU nonsense, the only reason you hear about it more in the Pike/Lyrik/36/34 because there's more out there. It's ridiculous this still happens, but no brand guarantees immunity. Sometimes you get lucky, though it's good to pick a brand which you know you'll have good local warranty support for.

I've ridden a bunch of the 2018 Evol 36s now and they feel quite good in terms of sliding performance, solid improvement over 2015-2017 versions. Air spring curve is still average but no worse than RS or any other air spring. Would probably be my pick of the current bunch, especially if stiffness is the goal.

I think a ribbon coil would be an interesting option too. If I were choosing the Lyrik I'd get the latest, it saw a lot of updates. Don't think you'll go hugely wrong either way.
 
Bikael Molton

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,088
1,235
El Lay
The 19 Lyrik Debonair 2 air spring “feels better”.

Whether that means it’s actually faster/better, or simply softer in the initial stroke, I’m not sure. I was faster at my local on it.
 
StiHacka

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,508
In hell. Welcome!
Quick Q for @Udi: how does air spring hysteresis compare to coil? I ride the Ribbon coil now, previously the Stage. The damper is the same yet the Ribbon feels like it reacts / recovers faster, as if the coil was able to react to changes in load much faster.
 
SirChomps-a-Lot

SirChomps-a-Lot

Downer
Feb 13, 2002
1,087
17
Seattle, WA
Do you guys remember a thread I started in like 2004 about running a 6" dual crown on a trail bike? I ran a Sherman slider on my trail bike for 6 years with no creaks

 
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