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I currently have a set of zebs, 2+ years old, need a new csu (creaks, want a longer steerer, some deeper than preferable stanchion scratches), so £300+ right there.
I'm running through 150mm, with a luftkappe, on a new bronson, very happy with how the work and feel.
I guess a better fit for the bronson would be some new lyriks, however slightly concerned over strength, I'm 95kg and do stuff like windhill pro line.
Kind of want rockshox to match my rear shock, though kind of been looking at fox 38. Kind of looking at ohlins too. I'm do think that by the time I'm looking at fox and ohlins, I may aswellgo all the way and buy ext.
I guess the dream would be just being able to buy a brand new zeb at 150mm, but you can't just buy them, I'd need to buy forks then air shaft. Faff.
Reckon lyriks will be enough?
Why more Rockshox?
I've had some problematic Rebas (two pairs) and gave up and got some Manitous, which have been much, much better. If yours are only two years old and already creaking isn't that putting you off?
Lyriks should be fine, Zeb's didn't exist until recently and everyone coped just fine. Quite a few pro riders haven't started using Zeb/38's which says a lot.
^I hadn't had a set of forks until zebs that didn't creak within a year. Sad state of affairs, but do see most mtb parts as pretty disposable, ie don't last more than a couple of years.
A few more ideas for you...
- Considered a coil fork if weight's not a big issue? I bloody love my Cane Creek Helm coil and the firm damping should suit you if you're heavy and going big
- Likewise the Marz Z1 coil is said to be stiffer than a Lyrik/36 (can they go down to 150mm tho?)
- The Manitou Mezzer is probably still cheap at CRC, with stiff 37mm stanchions and travel adjustable
Might be a random and stupid idea but can you run triple clamps on that bike / do any go down to 150mm? If you keep getting creaking csus that might sort your issue?
I’ve heard of multiple Rockshox and Fox forks getting creaking csus.
If you I could buy a manitou mezzer in the configuration I wanted, I think I would give them a go.
I think a decent benchmark for the big hit capability of the Lyrik is to watch the 50to01 boys, a few of those boys go pretty big on the Lyriks on the Bronson. I think you’d more likely notice the change in stiffness in the fast rough stuff over the Zeb as opposed to on the big sends. I have a Zeb on the fs and had a Pike on the hardtail and swapping between the two on dh stuff was noticeable, I blew a couple of dampers on the Pikes in quick succession and ended up on a Domain, which is actually a cracking no frills fork…but it weighs a tonne!
I reckon you’ll be sound on the Lyrik. Also worth a look - Merlin Cycles have the 38’s (and 36’s) on sale, not a mega bargain but around the £700 mark in factory or perf elite (grip 2 minus the kashima)
Ohlins dual crown forks can go to 150mm, but keep in mind the reduced a2c, so you may want to go up 10mm.
Is it definitely your fork that’s creaking, not the lower headset bearing?
If you I could buy a manitou mezzer in the configuration I wanted, I think I would give them a go.
I'm pretty sure you just use internal spacers to adjust the travel, no need for a change of airshaft. So they probably just sell them all at max travel and leave it to the buyer.
Or did you mean wheel size/offset configuration?
You also get to join that exclusive club of weirdly enthusiastic internet commenters who rave about Manitou (and are convinced RS/Fox are paying the MTB media to say they are shit).
27.5 Mezzer is £399 on CRC. Even if it only shims down to 160mm that’s fine on a Bronson, I ran up to 170mm on my V3. I do get your OCD wanting the same suspension on both ends, I still think about putting Zebs on my Megatower just to match the rear shock 🙄
If you I could buy a manitou mezzer in the configuration I wanted, I think I would give them a go.
They come with travel changing "tokens" it's a piece of piss to change travel. I knocked mine down from 180 to 160mm
27.5 Mezzer is £399 on CRC. Even if it only shims down to 160mm
Think they go down to 140mm, see PB review
There's no mezzer pros in 29"/44 offset.
It's 2023 lyrik I'm looking at which are stiffer.
It’s 2023 lyrik I’m looking at which are stiffer.
Hang on you've knackered the CSU on a set of Zeb's on windhill pro-line, which is mostly big gaps and step downs, and you're thinking of "downsizing" to a (35mm) lyrik?
Sort of sounds like you should be doing the opposite and looking for more strength and meatier stanchions. I reckon a Mezzer is probably not quite on parr, it's built to be a bit lighter, pitched against a lyrik or 36...
I reckon you should be looking at 38s maybe even a Domain if you're killing a Zeb inside of 24 months...
If triple clamps won’t work can you just buy the new CSU to keep your existing forks going? If it’s circa £300 surely that’s the most cost effective option?
Shouldn’t be too hard to change - charger dampers are just circlipped in with the Lyrik and pike - and same with the air shaft.
Probably worth putting in new slider seals and foam rings as you do it.
Just a thought OP, if you are after a Lyrik then I have a 29in 44mm offset Ultimate (serviced a few rides ago) I need to offload... because I swapped to the Helm coil mentioned above.
https://www.rsfsus.co.uk/ if your happy with the fork I would get it repaired
I was going to mention RSF up there.^^
Always had trouble with Fox and RS forks creaking so when my 36 developed the dreaded creak of death I sent them to RSF.
That was over two years ago and they have remained creak free since having the stanchions and steerer re bonded in.
Best forks ive ever had are a set of MSR Ribbon Coils. Ive had 2 sets and they are amazing.
Hate air forks with a passion after running coils.
Just to throw another set in the ring!
I went from creaky 36’s at 170mm with a Luftkappe to Formula Nero R’s, the Neros have 2 x 10mm travel reducers (200mm down to 180mm) and the negative is over pressurised so they sit at around 165-170mm with static sag, I’ve found no disadvantages on the flat or climbing, but they are so much plusher, controlled and consistent than the Fox’s when descending.
I had RSF replace the steerer on the 36’s, changed the air spring to 150mm and fitted them to my hardtail.
Great price at Bikester, but OP is after a 29er fork.
And the new Zebs don't reduce to 150mm IIRC?
What did you get in the end OP?
– Likewise the Marz Z1 coil is said to be stiffer than a Lyrik/36 (can they go down to 150mm tho?) They can go down to 140mm IIRC. I have set at 160mm and they are pretty bloody stiff!
I have set at 160mm and they are pretty bloody stiff!
If they went to 180mm, I'd have chanced one on my big bike.
They must be working on a Marz version of the Fox 38 chassis, including a coil option, eh?
Just went 2023 lyrik ultimate
The most common cause of a creak is top caps that have loosened off slightly. Get yourself a good quality cassette tool and check they're tightened to torque. You might find this will cure the creak 🙂
curious to know what part of headset/forks can be tightened with a cassette tool?
ah ok fair enough. i thought it was something around the steerer/crown and was genuinely confused that i'd missed something
Just went 2023 lyrik ultimate
I just went for the previous (2021?) one with the 2.1 damper. 🙂