RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Charger 2.1 RC2 Suspension Fork: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

The RockShox Lyrik has been a favorite fork for enduro/trail riders for years now due to its versatility and great quality. Some riders love them so much they just keep upgrading. In this review, our customer swaps out an again Lyrik for a brand new version with the Charger 2.1 damper. Check out what he had to say!

Overview

I'm writing to review the RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Charger 2.1 RC2 Suspension Fork, in 27.5", 160 mm, Boost spacing, with 46 mm Offset. I replaced an aging Lyrik of the previous version with this fork and didn't expect there to be a significant difference. I was extremely surprised by how much better this new one is.

First Impressions

All the hype you may have read in other reviews is true. Compared to the old Lyrik, this stays higher in the travel at slightly lower pressures. High-speed compression setting allows you to back it even further off than the previous one, as I was running no clicks before, and I think lots of folks ended up there as well.
This fork has ruined the feel of other forks for me, and I really liked my old Lyrik, but I would not go back. It spoils you with the small bump compliance and the superb traction, and then still somehow doesn't bottom on the big hits. It's noticeably better than any other fork I've ridden to date, and that includes previous offerings of the Pike and Lyrik, as well as the latest Fox 36.

Performance

I ride loose, rocky, steep terrain, and this fork pairs very well with the PUSH Elevensix on my Evil Insurgent LB. Plush and planted, but not wallow or mushy. Worth noting that when I sent the PUSH shock out for service and swapped back to the stock air shock for a bit, the difference in traction was noticeable. While the fork felt great still, it really highlighted the lack of a coil shock in the rear. Everyone says "feels like a coil shock" and that gets overused, but this new Lyrik is planted and stuck to the trail in that same way, and it's actually a good descriptive benchmark. The fork is stiff laterally and plush but somehow still efficient under pedaling. RockShox nailed this one.

Installation

Install was no different from any other modern fork, but I did feel less need to mess with settings before I felt comfortable. I did know what pressures, compression settings, and rebound settings I liked from the previous Lyrik, but over the first few rides I did end up lowering spring pressure and backing off the high-speed compression away from what I had run previously. The fork came with a fender and rebuild kit, which is a nice touch.

Final Thoughts

I opted for the gloss red colorway, and I'm very happy with it. I used the stealth black decals from my previous Lyrik, as there isn't any chrome on my bike and the stock decals didn't match well. I initially wasn't sure I liked the red color, as it's VERY glossy, and most of my bike is matte black and off-white, but it has grown on me and the pop of color definitely gets noticed. Regardless of the color, the fork is incredible, and I highly recommend it to anyone in the market for a burly trail fork.