4 Affordable Trail Bike Forks Ridden & Rated
The title of this feature could be, "What I learned from three years of riding affordable trail bikes," but it's actually about affordable forks.
This review compares the features of the most popular trail bike forks - the sliders you'd most likely find as original equipment on enthusiast-level machines priced in the neighborhood of $3,000 USD. Manitou and Suntour are conspicuously absent from this group because they rarely show up at these price points and we have yet to crank out long-term reviews of representative models - we'll look to address that in the near future. What you will see are some familiar names from Fox and RockShox, and one new player we recently reviewed from Marzocchi.
What is "Affordable?"
Trail bike forks with wheel travel in the 140 to 160-millimeter range don't come cheap. Expect to pay from $500 to well upwards of $700 USD for aftermarket sliders. Savvy buyers searching for new, unridden take-off forks will fare better, with street pricing averaging around $400 for OEM models. Knowledge is power in this group of forks, however, because suspension makers often mix and match features to meet the desires of OEM bike makers. What's inside counts, which is reason enough for a head to head comparison.
Disclosure: For reasons easily imagined, but not detailed here, some of the forks in this feature are only sold to OEM bike makers and are not intended for retail customers. That said, OEM-only forks can be purchased in new condition online or as take-offs from savvy retailers with minimal searching.
RockShox Yari RC
RockShox dominates the affordable trail bike market with the Yari RC and its derivatives. Based upon the competition-proven Lyrik chassis and sporting sturdy, 35mm aluminum stanchion tubes, the Yari straddles the territory between lightweight trail forks and over-the-top enduro sliders. The main reason for the Yari's overwhelming OEM spec, however, is its inexpensive Motion Control damper. It's been in the RockShox inventory forever and if you pull it out from the right-side fork cap you'll understand why, until recently, nobody has been able to match the Yari RC for performance and value.
![Motion Control damper]()
Forget complicated shim stacks and micro-adjustable fluid pathways. Motion Control is the Barbie Bake With Me Oven of hydraulic compression dampers. It's one dial on top of a tubular, five-inch piece of plastic, with a bunch of slots in it that is plugged at the bottom end. The low-speed compression dial simply rotates a plate that closes off a series of holes until no fluid can pass through the plug under compression. And that's when the magic begins. Impacts that exceed the flow of your chosen low-speed setting cause the serrated tube to compress and at some point, the end-plug momentarily shrinks away from the low-speed disc and allows fluid to rush underneath it. Motion Control's high- and low-speed compression circuit basically has two moving parts.
Performance Notes
The crazy part about Motion Control is that it actually works - in part, because the present crop of aggressive trail riders place a high value on mid-stroke support and big-hit performance, which happen to be the two things that its simplistic compression device does best.
Suspension pros, however, will attest that rebound control is the key to a good fork and here, the Yari's rebound circuit employs a time-proven speed-sensitive shim stack and bypass port. Together with the DebonAir's self-adjusting negative spring, the Yari RC manages to provide an impressive measure
RockShox dominates the affordable trail bike market with the Yari RC and its derivatives. Based upon the competition-proven Lyrik chassis and sporting sturdy, 35mm aluminum stanchion tubes, the Yari straddles the territory between lightweight trail forks and over-the-top enduro sliders. The main reason for the Yari's overwhelming OEM spec, however, is its inexpensive Motion Control damper. It's been in the RockShox inventory forever and if you pull it out from the right-side fork cap you'll understand why, until recently, nobody has been able to match the Yari RC for performance and value.
Forget complicated shim stacks and micro-adjustable fluid pathways. Motion Control is the Barbie Bake With Me Oven of hydraulic compression dampers. It's one dial on top of a tubular, five-inch piece of plastic, with a bunch of slots in it that is plugged at the bottom end. The low-speed compression dial simply rotates a plate that closes off a series of holes until no fluid can pass through the plug under compression. And that's when the magic begins. Impacts that exceed the flow of your chosen low-speed setting cause the serrated tube to compress and at some point, the end-plug momentarily shrinks away from the low-speed disc and allows fluid to rush underneath it. Motion Control's high- and low-speed compression circuit basically has two moving parts.
Performance Notes
The crazy part about Motion Control is that it actually works - in part, because the present crop of aggressive trail riders place a high value on mid-stroke support and big-hit performance, which happen to be the two things that its simplistic compression device does best.
Suspension pros, however, will attest that rebound control is the key to a good fork and here, the Yari's rebound circuit employs a time-proven speed-sensitive shim stack and bypass port. Together with the DebonAir's self-adjusting negative spring, the Yari RC manages to provide an impressive measure
Yari RC Details
MSRP: $699 USD
Travel: 150, 160, 170, 180mm
Spring: DebonAir - air spring
Damper: Motion Control cartridge
Stanchions: Aluminum, 35mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 37mm/46mm (27.5"), 42mm/51mm (29")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.47 lbs/2030g (29" 140mm)
More information
MSRP: $699 USD
Travel: 150, 160, 170, 180mm
Spring: DebonAir - air spring
Damper: Motion Control cartridge
Stanchions: Aluminum, 35mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 37mm/46mm (27.5"), 42mm/51mm (29")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.47 lbs/2030g (29" 140mm)
More information
This simple rotating disc valve is czar of the Yari's compression damping system.
The downside of the Yari RC is that you can't have lots of mid-stroke support and a supple feel in the first 50 millimeters of its stroke. It helps that you can adjust the spring rate using air-volume tokens, but you'll still feel some chatter through the handlebar grips.
 | I've become a fan of the RockShox Yari fork. I like the support it provides, both under power and when I press the bike in a corner - and it does this without feeling like someone replaced the air spring with a stack of air volume spacers when I'm pounding over a series of big ruts and rocks. |
Pros
+ Built on RockShox's stiff 35mm Lyrik chassis
+ Support and big-hit performance most riders want.
+ Built on RockShox's stiff 35mm Lyrik chassis
+ Support and big-hit performance most riders want.
Cons
- Limited to "either/or" tuning options
- Pre-set compression threshold may not suit your needs.
- Limited to "either/or" tuning options
- Pre-set compression threshold may not suit your needs.
Marzocchi Bomber Z2
"Your fancy fork may have five dials, each with 20 clicks, but 19 of them are going to be wrong. The Z2's "less is more" design strategy distills the body of knowledge suspension experts have learned from the recent enduro/all-mountain epoch, then hard-wires those improvements into the fork's internals. Fewer parts, spot-on damping, and simplified adjustments that provide clear feedback are Marzocchi's formula for success. That, and the Bomber Z2's refreshing, $499 USD sticker price are poised to shake up the performance suspension marketplace."
![Marzocchi Bomber Z2 2020]()
That's what the new Marzocchi is all about, and the Bomber Z2 was appearing as an OEM fork only weeks after its debut this year. PB recently reviewed the Bomber Z2 and it fits well in this group. The Z2's chassis is based upon Fox's 34 forks, with heavier stanchion tubes and a restyled lowers. The air spring is interchangeable with Fox's Float 34 as well and it also shares Fox's smooth acting seals and bushing system. The damper, however, is Marzocchi's jewel.
The Rail damper operates directly inside the right-side stanchion tube, which eliminates the need for a cartridge and makes room for more fluid. Rebound and compression dampers use shim stacks, or versions thereof, that make for one of the smoothest
"Your fancy fork may have five dials, each with 20 clicks, but 19 of them are going to be wrong. The Z2's "less is more" design strategy distills the body of knowledge suspension experts have learned from the recent enduro/all-mountain epoch, then hard-wires those improvements into the fork's internals. Fewer parts, spot-on damping, and simplified adjustments that provide clear feedback are Marzocchi's formula for success. That, and the Bomber Z2's refreshing, $499 USD sticker price are poised to shake up the performance suspension marketplace."
Marzocchi's air-volume spacers may be green, but they, and the Z-2's air spring are identical to those found in Fox 34 forks.
That's what the new Marzocchi is all about, and the Bomber Z2 was appearing as an OEM fork only weeks after its debut this year. PB recently reviewed the Bomber Z2 and it fits well in this group. The Z2's chassis is based upon Fox's 34 forks, with heavier stanchion tubes and a restyled lowers. The air spring is interchangeable with Fox's Float 34 as well and it also shares Fox's smooth acting seals and bushing system. The damper, however, is Marzocchi's jewel.
The Rail damper operates directly inside the right-side stanchion tube, which eliminates the need for a cartridge and makes room for more fluid. Rebound and compression dampers use shim stacks, or versions thereof, that make for one of the smoothest
Bomber Z2 Details
MSRP: $499 USD
Travel: 100, 120, 130, 140, 150mm
Spring: Fox Float - air spring
Damper: Rail semi open bath design
Stanchions: Aluminum, 34mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 44mm/51mm (29"), 44mm (27.5")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, Red / W black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.4 lbs/2000 grams (150mm, 29")
More information
MSRP: $499 USD
Travel: 100, 120, 130, 140, 150mm
Spring: Fox Float - air spring
Damper: Rail semi open bath design
Stanchions: Aluminum, 34mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 44mm/51mm (29"), 44mm (27.5")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, Red / W black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.4 lbs/2000 grams (150mm, 29")
More information
Performance Notes
Marzocchi's affiliation with Fox assures reliability and consistency - equally as important s the Z2's pro-feeling damping performance for riders on a budget. The Marzocchi name allows the design team to deliver a busload of control and traction at a price point that its parent company has been reluctant to deliver - presumably because such heresy would erode Fox's prestigious position as the sport's ultimate racing suspension.
That is, however, exactly what the Bomber Z2 does. After riding it for much of the summer season, I'd need a lot of convincing to spend more than this fork's $500 asking price. It's smooth over the
Marzocchi's affiliation with Fox assures reliability and consistency - equally as important s the Z2's pro-feeling damping performance for riders on a budget. The Marzocchi name allows the design team to deliver a busload of control and traction at a price point that its parent company has been reluctant to deliver - presumably because such heresy would erode Fox's prestigious position as the sport's ultimate racing suspension.
That is, however, exactly what the Bomber Z2 does. After riding it for much of the summer season, I'd need a lot of convincing to spend more than this fork's $500 asking price. It's smooth over the
The Rail damper's low-speed compression dial provides precise control over the fork's ride height and mid-stroke support.
| I gave the Z2 the chance to fail on a 9-mile local descent which features prolonged boulder fields. I emerged at the bottom end with a fully functional fork. If it did fade, I didn't notice - the Marzocchi had enough performance left in the bank to keep the rubber side down and my confidence in the green. |
Pros
+ Pro feeling damping and support
+ Best performance value in its class
+ Worldwide support through Fox
+ Pro feeling damping and support
+ Best performance value in its class
+ Worldwide support through Fox
Cons
- Some may wish it had adjustable HS compression
- Has not been out long enough to assess its longevity
- Some may wish it had adjustable HS compression
- Has not been out long enough to assess its longevity
RockShox Revelation Charger RC
RockShox's Pike has earned many fans for its sturdy, precise steering chassis and sophisticated feel, but its performance comes at a tall sticker price. The new Revelation Charger RC is the poor man's Pike. If you haven't already guessed, it shares the same uppers and lowers, but with its internal features pared down in order to hit a more agreeable price point for OEM bike makers.
On the left side, the Revelation Charger RC shares the Pike's DebonAir spring and air-volume token system. The cost savings are all on the damper side, where the Revelation uses a simpler version of the Charger 2 damper, with a spring-loaded internal piston instead of a friction free bladder to isolate suspension fluid from air bubbles, and it also lacks the Charger 2's external high-speed compression dial.
![Charger 2 damper]()
The good news is that if you can live with air-volume tokens and standard low-speed rebound and compression clickers, this fork will show you a good time on any trail you have the seeds to hit.
RockShox's Pike has earned many fans for its sturdy, precise steering chassis and sophisticated feel, but its performance comes at a tall sticker price. The new Revelation Charger RC is the poor man's Pike. If you haven't already guessed, it shares the same uppers and lowers, but with its internal features pared down in order to hit a more agreeable price point for OEM bike makers.
On the left side, the Revelation Charger RC shares the Pike's DebonAir spring and air-volume token system. The cost savings are all on the damper side, where the Revelation uses a simpler version of the Charger 2 damper, with a spring-loaded internal piston instead of a friction free bladder to isolate suspension fluid from air bubbles, and it also lacks the Charger 2's external high-speed compression dial.
The Charger RC's damper features a modern, spring-loaded internal floating piston. Compression damping, however, is controlled by an upgraded version of the plastic Motion Control device.
The good news is that if you can live with air-volume tokens and standard low-speed rebound and compression clickers, this fork will show you a good time on any trail you have the seeds to hit.
Revelation Charger RC Details
MSRP: OEM only, Street price: $400+ USD
Travel: 120, 130, 140, 150, 160mm
Spring: DebonAir - air spring
Damper: Charger cartridge
Stanchions: Aluminum, 35mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 37mm/46mm (27.5"), 42mm/51mm (29")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.3 lbs/1948g (29" 150mm)
More information
MSRP: OEM only, Street price: $400+ USD
Travel: 120, 130, 140, 150, 160mm
Spring: DebonAir - air spring
Damper: Charger cartridge
Stanchions: Aluminum, 35mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 37mm/46mm (27.5"), 42mm/51mm (29")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.3 lbs/1948g (29" 150mm)
More information
The bad news is that RockShox doesn't offer the Charger version as an aftermarket option. You can buy the Revelation RC with the less sophisticated Motion Control damper at any retailer, but if you want the Charger damper's more seamless feel, you'll have to purchase the Revelation charger model as a take-off fork from a bike shop or a private party. They are running $400 USD and up on the street.
Performance Notes
We've reviewed a number of trail bikes equipped with Revelation RC and Charger RC forks and the one thing they all have in common is that they provide a lot of confidence on the downs. Rebound is smooth and consistent, while compression damping is on the firm side of comfortable. Compared to the Motion Control option, the Charger damper adds a measure of sensitivity under braking and cornering that one would expect from its improved valving and IFP type cartridge design. That, and the sharp steering it inherits from the Pike's 35-millimeter stanchions and rigid chassis make it a bargaining point, should you be on the hunt for a value-priced trail bike or a fork upgrade.
Another angle is that RockShox's Charger and Charger 2 dampers can be retrofitted into Revelation forks. Installation is straight forward, but be prepared to pay anywhere from $180 to $280 USD for the damper cartridge. That's good to know should you own a Revelation with a Motion Control damper and discover that you are not satisfied with its performance.
The downsides to the Revelation Charger RC are nitpicks, but worthy of mention. There are only five clicks in the Charger's low-speed compression dial, but each makes a noticeable change in the fork's ride height and small bump compliance. Nobody at PB complained they needed more adjustment range, but you'll have to make that decision for yourself. The other peeve was that the Charger's compression dial felt like a cheap toy screwed onto an otherwise durably constructed suspension fork.
| You can hit anything as hard as you want. It's got lots of support for pedaling and cornering, and it never goes all the way to the O-ring unless you make a huge mistake. |
Pros
+ Pike chassis and performance
+ Charger cartridge damper
+ Pike chassis and performance
+ Charger cartridge damper
Cons
- OEM only, so you'll have to fish for one
- Just five clicks of compression adjustment
- OEM only, so you'll have to fish for one
- Just five clicks of compression adjustment
Fox Rhythm Grip 34
Fox debuted the Grip damper around 2016 to offer OEM customers a lower cost cartridge system packed with the key features of its racing forks. High-speed rebound and compression are controlled by shim-stack pistons, and the oil is separated from air contamination by a spring-loaded IFP. Low-speed rebound damping uses a standard needle valve, while low-speed compression was limited to three settings: open, "trail" and near lockout. (*Update: As noted, Rhythm Grip dampers use the "Sweep" compression dial without the three detents described in PB's Original Grip damper review.)
The reason I begin with the Grip damper is that without it, Fox's Rhythm would be merely a good fork. By intention or accident, the Grip cartridge nearly outperforms Fox's more expensive FIT4 system. The only real sacrifice is there is no high-speed compression feature on the base-model Grip dampers (the Grip cartridge found in the Fox 36 has this feature.)
![Fox 34 Grip]()
Fox doesn't sell Rhythm forks in the aftermarket - it's an OEM only slider. The closest you can get is their "Performance Series” 34, which starts at $749 USD with the Grip damper. Rhythm Charger forks, however, can be found in new condition for hundreds less and are built on a similar, if not the same, 34-millimeter-stanchion chassis.
Fox debuted the Grip damper around 2016 to offer OEM customers a lower cost cartridge system packed with the key features of its racing forks. High-speed rebound and compression are controlled by shim-stack pistons, and the oil is separated from air contamination by a spring-loaded IFP. Low-speed rebound damping uses a standard needle valve, while low-speed compression was limited to three settings: open, "trail" and near lockout. (*Update: As noted, Rhythm Grip dampers use the "Sweep" compression dial without the three detents described in PB's Original Grip damper review.)
The reason I begin with the Grip damper is that without it, Fox's Rhythm would be merely a good fork. By intention or accident, the Grip cartridge nearly outperforms Fox's more expensive FIT4 system. The only real sacrifice is there is no high-speed compression feature on the base-model Grip dampers (the Grip cartridge found in the Fox 36 has this feature.)
Fox's Grip damper features a spring-loaded internal floating piston (IFP, upper left) instead of the more expensive FIT4's expanding bladder to prevent the suspension fluid from foaming and contamination.
Fox doesn't sell Rhythm forks in the aftermarket - it's an OEM only slider. The closest you can get is their "Performance Series” 34, which starts at $749 USD with the Grip damper. Rhythm Charger forks, however, can be found in new condition for hundreds less and are built on a similar, if not the same, 34-millimeter-stanchion chassis.
Rhythm Grip 34 Details
MSRP: OEM only, Street price: $400+ USD
Travel: 120, 130, 140, 150mm
Spring: Float - air spring
Damper: Grip cartridge
Stanchions: Aluminum, 34mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 44mm/51mm (29"), 44mm (27.5")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.18 lbs/1901g (27,5"), 4.26 lbs/1933g (29")
More information
MSRP: OEM only, Street price: $400+ USD
Travel: 120, 130, 140, 150mm
Spring: Float - air spring
Damper: Grip cartridge
Stanchions: Aluminum, 34mm
Wheels: 29" or 27.5"
Offsets: 44mm/51mm (29"), 44mm (27.5")
Adjustments: Low-speed compression, low-speed rebound
Colors: Black, black anodized stanchions
Weight: 4.18 lbs/1901g (27,5"), 4.26 lbs/1933g (29")
More information
Performance Notes
I'll steal a paragraph from Levy's 2016 Grip damper review, to begin this ride report:
"With the *three-position compression dial turned all the way to the left and fully open, the Grip damper still offers more than adequate low-speed compression control. The front wheel tracks the ground exceptionally well, and this was my go-to setting when it was wet, loose, or I simply needed a more forgiving feel at the front of my bike. The damper's middle setting is comparable to the middle setting on the three-position FIT4 damper, with maybe a bit more support, and the closed setting is also firmer than the closed setting that the FIT4 damper offers."
"With the *three-position compression dial turned all the way to the left and fully open, the Grip damper still offers more than adequate low-speed compression control. The front wheel tracks the ground exceptionally well, and this was my go-to setting when it was wet, loose, or I simply needed a more forgiving feel at the front of my bike. The damper's middle setting is comparable to the middle setting on the three-position FIT4 damper, with maybe a bit more support, and the closed setting is also firmer than the closed setting that the FIT4 damper offers."
Set in the middle compression position, Grip dampers deliver the level of mid-stroke support that many gravity-oriented riders crave.
Should you buy a trail bike with a Fox Rhythm Grip 34 fork, you won't have to worry about an upgrade. Those searching for a performance fork, who may be too cash strapped to afford Fox's more impressive aftermarket options, the more humble Grip-damped Rhythm offers a convincing argument.
The difficulty, however, is that you'll have to search the interwebs to find one - and you'll have to live with the Grip damper's simplistic low-speed adjustments.
| Sweet performing fork with simple, effective adjustments. The Grip damper surprised me with its wide-range of damping and support. |
Pros
+ Fox's best kept performance/value secret
+ Grip damper continues to impress
+ Fox's best kept performance/value secret
+ Grip damper continues to impress
Cons
- OEM only. Fox's nearest offering costs twice its street value
- OEM only. Fox's nearest offering costs twice its street value
Picking a Winner
Marzocchi wins this group of four. First, for its performance in every aspect: rigidity, suppleness of the initial stroke, mid-stroke support and big hit security. Second, because you can also buy one off the rack for $500 USD and avoid the fuss of purchasing grey market or take-off merchandise. Runners up would have to be either the RockShox Revelation Charger RC or Fox's Rhythm Grip 34. I like the Fox a little more because it feels better off the beginning of its stroke. The Revelation, however, beats the Rhythm, with equal suppleness everywhere else and a lower asking price (if you can manage to find one on the interweb). All four are proven contenders, but the fact that two of them are not technically for sale illustrates the depth of the void in this essential market.
There's a new sheriff in Affordable Suspension Town.
Lessons Learned: The importance of fielding a top-performing suspension fork that can outfit a trail bike in the range of $3,000 to $3,500 USD has finally percolated into the minds of the big three suspension makers. In response, RockShox has launched their 35 Gold series, Fox has secretly been stuffing features into its Performance range, and we have yet to throw Manitou and SR Suntour into the ring for long-term reviews to see how they measure up. At present, however, it's the Bomber Z2 that takes the leadership role. Well done.
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This review is the icing on the cake. You can’t get much more real world than reviewing OEM stuff only available on eBay. Even though probably half of riders do that, I’ve never really heard of any other publication doing that in a front page review.
Two thumbs up. Thanks PB!
But it's no longer listed amount the fork models on DVO website. Maybe discontinued.
One can find a used mrp ribbon in great condition for $450-600 all day long.
Same can be said for most of the top fork models.
I'll take a lightly used top of the line over a new budget fork all day long.
What was broken on the shafts that you received? I got a shaft that was mislabeled, but after talking with this guy at the number above, it turned out that it was the correct shaft and I am back on the road again
Right now I have a Yari that I bought on a used bike and it is not even in the same ballpark as the 36, and my 36 was a 2015 model. The Yari is a decent fork and it doesn't creak. It beats my hands up a bit though. There is definitely merit to both arguments.
And before selling it he put new dust wipes and resized the bushings to make it perfect.
Still on same fork 1.5 years later. Not bad for $600 here on pb.
- 2 Rockshox
- 1 Fox
- 1 rebadged Fox
Where are the X-Fusion, Suntour, Manitou etc. forks?
There are a fair number of lower-priced trail bikes that still come spec'd with 32mm forks (Recon, XCR-Air, etc). Something like a 35 Gold (which seems pretty much the same as a MoCo Revelation), Rhythm 34, Z2, Aion, etc is a great affordable upgrade from something like that if you're getting into the sport and starting to push the bike harder.
Absolutely agree that this sort of article should present a much wider range of options. Far too much focus on the big 2. This in turn impacts the market (buyer buy what they know) and results in less choice for those of us willing to consider other options.
That said, there's not been a better time in recent history if you want something that isn't Fox / Rockshox so maybe I'm wrong.
Manitou?
I read on another site that the 38 is likely to be a 2021 model based on Fox’s usual first appearance and then release schedules.
I was kind of hoping the 38 would show up on bikes in January.
Well Fox seems like they release their stuff earlier all the time so we may see their 2021 lineup in April of next year.
After reading the artivlcle I do not see why fox really have to make 38 besides showing off against Manitou, I have bigger stanchions than you :-P
The 36 is their Enduro Freeride fork travel- and stiffnesswise. Manitou only had a 34mm fork leaving a wide gap intravel and stiffness to a dh fork, especially in the 29er department.
They could only trump the mezzer with similar irt feature and hydraulic bottom out. Just bigger stanchions with grip 2 will not be any buying reason.
I already have the mezzer waiting to be installed after having two mattocs and riding several other forks with awk/runt even vs a custom solo Airspring metric that easily holds its own next to a Lyrik rc2. But never will I again use an solo Airspring like evol or debonair with shitty air tokens, as the two positive air chamber systems deliver so much better linear supportive travel which is still completely usable instead of absurd high progression with 2 3 or 4 tokens to prevent from diving
Regarding the reason for the 38mm legs though, I think it’s because they currently have a stop gap which is the 36 with beefier tube thicknesses for e bikes. That was never meant as a long term solution to the strength and flexibility problem. I would hazard a guess that they were developing the 38 before they heard anything about the Mezzer. I could be wrong.
I had a totem before and while I loved that fork for looks and big hits, it was always shit on small bumps unless it had been serviced the week before. It went sticky very, very soon after a service. I wonder if the 38 will suffer in the same way. I’m hoping not because I want to buy one and I think the seal tech has come a long way in ten years. At least I hope it has.
The closest you can get is their "Performance Series” 34, which starts at $749 USD with the Grip 2 damper.
There is no 34 GRIP2. Rhythm and Performance 34s both use the simple GRIP. Performance just has detents on the compression adjuster.
This is wrong too:
while low-speed compression is limited to three settings: open, "trail" and near lockout.
both the Rhythm and Performance GRIP compression adjusters have basically infinite positions between their open and lock limits. Rhythm doesn't even have detents, you just put it where you want it.
I don't know much about the other forks but when you get some stuff so badly wrong I don't feel like I can trust the rest of your info.
I got the 36 Performance and I was wondering if I should use Fox‘s upgrade option to Grip2 when I send it in for big service this winter.
It's so easy with the Grip damper to make adjustments on the fly.
Flowtrail: close it a bit more
Wet day: open it bit a more
DH track with big compressions and jumps: close it quite a lot
"however, can be found in new condition for hundreds less and are built on a similar, if not the same, 34-millimeter-stanchion chassis."
the chassis of the rythm fork is much more bulky and ugly..
The main thing was just to set it up well. For me I removed 1 of the 2 tokens so as to get better travel usage and small bump sensitivity. 2 token stock setup was just too rough on me. Some folk run em with no tokens. Millage may vary.
Charger - £160 if you shop around
Avalanche - £365 + tax
As much as I love Avalanche it removes a big part of the "affordable" title
Check out the CoMo, cheapest damper upgrade option for 120€!
Website is only available in German though, but Google Translate might help:
www.chickadeehill.de/como
I had been eyeing up some Manitou Mattocs on CRC for my next build but the $60 worth of tools needed to adjust travel is pushing me to Suntour.
I am watching the M37ZER though. Comp will be out soon and maybe there will be some deals. In the meantime, I'll keep saving.
I would also note that they left out the most affordable fork in the RS lineup too (35 Gold) - 35mm stanchions, MoCo damper, $500. Seems pretty much the same as the Revelation, probably just a bit heavier. It's been great on my wife's bike.
They offer the Auron in both 44 and 51mm offsets.
It is faster. Do you ever even clean your bike ?
forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/new-2019-rockshox-charger-rc-cartridge-style-self-bleeding-damper-1089874.html
Comparing the 2019 and 2020 specification documentation, one stark difference stands out between the Charger RC in the 2019 Yari/Rev and the Charger RC in the 2020 Pike/Lyrik.
On the upper tube oil volume, the Yari/Rev have fixed volumes, while the Pike/Lyrik Select are listed as "bleed". This matches the forks with 2020 charger 2.1 dampers and 2019 Charger 2.0 dampers. This to me suggests that the new Charger RC is actually last year's Charger 2. As someone who recently swapped from a 2019 Pike with Charger 2, to a 2020 Lyrik with Charger RC, the forks feel incredibly similar. When purchasing the 2020 Lyrik, I asked the techs at competitive cyclist how the Charger RC compared, and they also told me it was last years Charger 2.
The service manuals for the Lyrik and Yari show that the Yari Charger RC and the Lyrik Select are identical, and the oil volume has been updated for the Yari Charger RC to match the "bleed" designation of the other charger dampers.
Select = 2019s Charger RC spring backed IFP damper
Select+ = revised 2019 Charger 2 RC bladder damper
Ultimate = revised 2019 Charger 2 RCT3 or RC2 bladder damper
Suntour, Manitou and Xfusion out the game just becase they are not what we usually see as OEM option?
We don´t, but we can buy them new with warranty and thats it!
I know Fox also calls it "3-position lever", but it does sweep between the 3 postions, they call it "micro-adjust":
"Performance Series forks provide Open, Medium, and Firm modes with additional micro-adjust between settings."
Tough for "only 3 position" to stay in the cons column when it's not "only 3 position"...
You must ride a lot of bikes and forks and it's totally understandable that you don't remember every detail about all of them. But fact-checking could have been better on this one. Literally the first google result for "fox 34 rhythm" is a youtube video that shows the "sweep adjust" dial and mentions the infinite adjustment.
Anyway, no big deal, you are human after all and it's only a mountain bike fork. Thanks for taking the time to reply and have a great weekend!
www.srsuntour.us/collections/enduro-all-mountain
Let's see...all the Enduro-All Mountain line forks range from $400 to $750 USD, They also offer an upgrade program for people to move to a suntour fork at a discounted price in north america.
www.srsuntour.us/pages/upgrade-program
They also have a fall discount code for 20-25% off any fork currently.
The PB reviews of their forks haven't been so hot but I'm not really sure what to say there. I've never had a single issue with any of the Suntour products I've ridden (or that I've recommended to friends). Auron, Durolux, and Aion were good enough for Vital to give them 4 stars...
300-400€ for a new Enduro fork with LSC/HSC.
It even has green internals ;-)
3 years+ now on a 2016 Raidon Boost 27.5+, the only thing i've changed is I added some fork oil into the air chamber to act as a volume reducer (instead of ordering the $20 plastic air chamber spacer and the $20 socket). Took like 2 mins using a valve core tool, a syringer and some fork oil. I found the air chamber volume too big such that it didn't ramp up fast enough if I set the air pressure to sag at 30% for my weight. With the chamber volume reduced I now can run my sag optimally and NOT just blow through the travel on every small jump.
And the rebound damping wasnt that great and needed to be reshimmed.
But you can also get the Topaz for cheap on sale
I'll say I'm very impressed by my Performance 34 on Trance Advanced 1 29er. The fork is much better than my 2017 Factory 36 Fit4 with Luftkappe upgrade, far smoother and more sensitive.
Then why review it? FWIW, Mattoc Pro's are retailing for under $500, Id take that over any of these jenky options any day.
Waaaaay better progression curve. The RC2DH I found was soooo plush in the start of travel that it sat about mid travel most of the time and made my 65° head angle (then on rocky slayer) far steeper. Then when there came a big it it never used all its travel and would buck back like crazy, even with the rebound slowed down! The super easy engagement of the fork also made technical riding really challenging as it would dive and then buck...
Reg. the settings, I haven't missed them at all and feel much more comfortable with the new fork than the old one.
SR Suntour, X-Fusion, Manitou, and DVO all make forks that are better than anything in this article and cost less. There's no reason to overlook them.
And don’t think this is some kind of all options shoot out article. It’s just a.... hey here’s 4 reasonably priced forks reviewed.
Also... plenty of brand new rhythm take offs online.
Why? Most trail riders would have the HSC turned all the way out/off if they had the adjustment (RC2 or R2C2 type dampers). They're not hitting things fast enough or big enough to need more than whatever is preset. Maybe bigger rider could use some HSC, but unfortunately we usually just accept we'll need the top-end damper to get the adjustment range needed for hucking 100 kilos.
Racers might also want some HCS to keep the front high on repeated fast hits, but racers aren't budget shopping for forks, or the very least will do the damper upgrade ASAP, because "one size fits all" is never true when you're trying to shave seconds.
Also Suntour has a trade-in program where you can send them your crap fork and get a discount on a new one. Makes the Auron RC2 PCS $500 which pretty much destroys every fork in this article.
Sr Suntour production of Aion is superior of the total fork production of fox in number but yeah, rarely show...
Could be good to actually fact check your article before saying this kind of things.
I am considering upgrading the Pike to a Charger 2.1 and was wondering whether the stick the Charger in the Revelation, so this is useful info.
I liked the Mattoc Pro a lot, but sloppy bushings, fiddly Hexlock and sinking in when cold were quite a nuisance. It performed really well in summer though.
For the untrained, you hold the bike and tool with the hands, stand on one leg and press the axle in with a foot until the thread catches.
Lyrik chassis, 35mm Stanchions and Charger cartridge!! I think is best affodable choice
Look at the Fox internals. All metal parts.
Marfoxy fork the same.
Pogo stick bias....
I just recently bought the Onxy SC, Im nervously waiting its arrival