Do I need a Zeb?

[Brawler]

Need? No. 

Want? Hell yes.

A Lyrik is plenty especially if you aren't hitting the hectic stuff (The Lyrik can handle the hectic stuff too). 

IMO the whole noodle thing comes from the 30mm and 32mm days. Guys calling 35mm and 36mm forks noodles have watched too many marketing videos. Perhaps it's valid if you are well over 100KG.

If money is not tight and it will make you happy get the Zeb! But it will not make you faster or more capable than the more skilled guy with the cheaper fork.

[thebob]

Charlie Murray and Greg Callaghan competing at the sharp end of the EDR regularly on Lyriks 🤷‍♂️

[MORNE]

46 minutes ago, thebob said:

Charlie Murray and Greg Callaghan competing at the sharp end of the EDR regularly on Lyriks 🤷‍♂️

Yes, New ones?

the chassis stiffness improved greatly between the 2.1 and the new ones.
 

Nobody is saying a lyrik is bad…juat that a charger 3.0 Zeb is going to be stiffer than a rc2 2.1 lyrik, just like a charger 3 lyrik will be. I’d go as far as to say the old lyriks are about as stiff (fore/aft) as the new pike.

ive owned lyrik ultimate 2.1, Pike ultimate 3.0, Zeb ultimate 3.0 at the same time across bikes. Again…the Lyrik 2.1 was a great fork. I think I actually preferred that damper to the 3.0. Mine was 160mm, the only thing i hated about it was that it was not the red one lol. 
 

my next bike will have a lyrik or 36mm fork on it. For what its worth…i currently run an 38mm Ohlins. Not as stiff as the zeb either…but superior damper.

 

Edited July 7, 2025 by MORNE

[thebob]

Sam Hill dominated EWS on the old Lyrik 🤷‍♂️

Don't deny that a new fork would be a nice upgrade, but using stiffness as a basis for an upgrade for a weekend wobbler is really reaching. By all means, if funds are available and you want it, go for it. If the Lyrik still feels lekker, put money into a full strip down and service of the bike so it feels lekker.

[MORNE]

13 minutes ago, thebob said:

Sam Hill dominated EWS on the old Lyrik 🤷‍♂️

Don't deny that a new fork would be a nice upgrade, but using stiffness as a basis for an upgrade for a weekend wobbler is really reaching. By all means, if funds are available and you want it, go for it. If the Lyrik still feels lekker, put money into a full strip down and service of the bike so it feels lekker.

Also on flats, riding a bike brand that doesn't exist anymore 

go away with your voice of reason, only room for moar betterer here😅

[thebob]

It is the pot calling the kettle black. I am guilty of upgrading to a 38 for my Levo. I've convinced myself it is much better than the 36 the bike came with

[Pieter1]

1 hour ago, MORNE said:

Also on flats, riding a bike brand that doesn't exist anymore 

go away with your voice of reason, only room for moar betterer here😅

I don’t want to be like Sam Hill so a Zeb makes even more sense now. 

[Pieter1]

1 hour ago, thebob said:

Sam Hill dominated EWS on the old Lyrik 🤷‍♂️

Don't deny that a new fork would be a nice upgrade, but using stiffness as a basis for an upgrade for a weekend wobbler is really reaching. By all means, if funds are available and you want it, go for it. If the Lyrik still feels lekker, put money into a full strip down and service of the bike so it feels lekker.

I hear you. Never really liked how this Lyrik felt. Put in a new dampener a while back feels better but still not mad about it.
only reason I’m thinking about this Zeb is cause it is literally the only 27.5” fork any bike shop here has and it is half off.   

[thebob]

Zeb won't fix that your issues then IMO. the 2.1 will be the same damper, with a different spring to your Lyrik. If it is a Charger 3.0 Zeb, then budget for Physio as they are widely reported as being quite harsh

[MORNE]

58 minutes ago, Pieter1 said:

I hear you. Never really liked how this Lyrik felt. Put in a new dampener a while back feels better but still not mad about it.
only reason I’m thinking about this Zeb is cause it is literally the only 27.5” fork any bike shop here has and it is half off.   

Didnt pick up on the 27.5….yea then get it before soneone else does lol. Those are as rare locally as that unicorn bike of yours😊

[Pieter1]

9 hours ago, MORNE said:

Didnt pick up on the 27.5….yea then get it before soneone else does lol. Those are as rare locally as that unicorn bike of yours😊

Ja I sometimes wish I went for a 29” option. Finding  things here are difficult enough and not everything ships here either… 

[Pieter1]

On 7/7/2025 at 8:00 PM, thebob said:

Zeb won't fix that your issues then IMO. the 2.1 will be the same damper, with a different spring to your Lyrik. If it is a Charger 3.0 Zeb, then budget for Physio as they are widely reported as being quite harsh

It has the 3 with buttercups. Not sure if they help but time will tell. 
Found a physio here the other day, I swear I think it might be the only one so I know where to go knocking now. 
Thanks for being so reasonable but I have decided to give it a go and see how I get on with it. 
“Wie nie waag nie, saag nie”

[vanniri]

On 7/5/2025 at 8:57 PM, MORNE said:

The rc2 lyrik was a nice fork…but a noodle if you’re heavier or went faster than the average weekend warrior.. You will absolutely feel the stiffness of the zeb coming from a lyrik….for better or worse.
38mm forks are for hard charging lightweights or heavier guys imo. They aren't that much heavier than a 36 either…So don't listen to the people going on about weight…my coil rxf38 weighs nearly 2.5kg and it’s fine. If you want a light fork…ride a xc bike. 
Then, make sure its not a first gen charger 2.1 zeb though…those are basically your lyrik in 38mm. I wouldn't bother then. You want charger 3.0 or up if you want to satisfy your upgrade itch.
The 3.0 is/was notoriously harsh off the top while breaking in…mine took a few weeks too. They also take stupid low pressures due to their huge negative air chambers. Thats also why they dont work great for lighties. Im talking 65psi for a 80-90kg rider low. 

They were over damped. People basically ran them open on all the dails…(why they work better olif you are heavier) The 3.1 fixed this. 

You obviously own a Zeb!

I would add:

When inflating the air chamber, stop a 1/3 of the way and cycle the fork through its suspension a few times (to charge the negative air), do this 1 x more before reaching your target pressure.

For the first ride, ride wirh the shock pump, if you're not getting full travel deflate 5 psi at a time. 

[MORNE]

1 hour ago, vanniri said:

You obviously own a Zeb!

I would add:

When inflating the air chamber, stop a 1/3 of the way and cycle the fork through its suspension a few times (to charge the negative air), do this 1 x more before reaching your target pressure.

For the first ride, ride wirh the shock pump, if you're not getting full travel deflate 5 psi at a time. 

Not anymore. But yes thats actually something you learn from being an unfortunate owner a fox x2 more than anything else i’d say…spending your evenings inflating that POS 25psi at a time, balancing the chambers, rinse repeat until you get to 240psi…just to realise it sounds like a fist doing questionable things to a jar of vaseline…

You hit the nail there though, the amount of people that don't know how to properly inflate modern air forks or shocks is scary. Or don't care to know. But then how would they? Most people push bikes off the showroom and just ride and don't care to know how their things work. Then moan about it not being ‘plush’. 

And then you even get 3 chamber forks (ohlins, mezzer, dvo etc)….and thats when the tor properly falls off 😅. 

Edited July 9, 2025 by MORNE

[Pieter1]

3 hours ago, MORNE said:

Not anymore. But yes thats actually something you learn from being an unfortunate owner a fox x2 more than anything else i’d say…spending your evenings inflating that POS 25psi at a time, balancing the chambers, rinse repeat until you get to 240psi…just to realise it sounds like a fist doing questionable things to a jar of vaseline…

You hit the nail there though, the amount of people that don't know how to properly inflate modern air forks or shocks is scary. Or don't care to know. But then how would they? Most people push bikes off the showroom and just ride and don't care to know how their things work. Then moan about it not being ‘plush’. 

And then you even get 3 chamber forks (ohlins, mezzer, dvo etc)….and thats when the tor properly falls off 😅. 

I had to re inflate my x2 the other day after measuring my chain. It is such a ball ache. I do like the shock tho. 
thanks for the tips on inflating the Zeb. 

[Pieter1]

Well there she is. Super excited to give it a go.