Why the new RockShox Lyrik is more important than you think

RockShox has overhauled its Lyrik suspension fork, updating the air spring, damper and chassis, and adding new rider-focused features.

Why the headline, though? Why is it so important? Well, in short, it’s because RockShox is bringing back its longer-travel, 170mm version of the Lyrik, killed off when it introduced the ZEB in 2020.

Why do I care so much? I’m not a big guy, at 172cm and 68kg. With a body that’s probably better suited to hill climbs and grand tours, I’ve never needed the stiffest, chunkiest forks on my long-travel enduro bikes. That's why I liked the previous 170mm-travel Lyrik so much.

As someone who craves comfort over pin-point precision, the Lyrik always delivered, especially on longer, rougher trails. So, I’m glad I can get my hands on a 170mm Lyrik once more.

Read more: The radically redesigned RockShox ZEB is so good I'd buy it

Confidently comfortable

Two riders descending an open trail down towards a forest. — With skinnier legs than the burlier ZEB, the new Lyrik could be a great long-travel fork for lighter or smaller riders. SRAM

RockShox refers to the Lyrik as “the ZEB’s little brother”. That’s because it offers a little less travel and a skinnier 35mm chassis, compared to the 38mm legs you’ll find on the ZEB.

However, for the 2027 model year, RockShox has decided to up the Lyrik’s travel, with this latest iteration topping out at 170mm. That’s great news if you’re a smaller or lighter rider.

Adding more travel means RockShox had to boost fork stiffness slightly, but it says it has still managed to reduce chassis weight slightly.

The travel range now spans from 140mm up to 170mm. I've missed the longer-travel option, ditched in 2020.

Rider sliding through a turn with their inside foot off, dragging through the dirt. — The last time Rob rode a 170mm-travel Lyrik, he loved it. Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media

That’s because I always found the old Lyrik to be stiff enough for my needs. While both the RockShox ZEB and Fox 38 – the two mainstream enduro forks you’re likely to find matched to appropriately intentioned bikes – have become suppler and more forgiving over the last few years, I’m eager to see how the new long-travel Lyrik stacks up.

Could it offer a little more compliance and comfort like the old one did? I hope so.

If running the Lyrik rather than the same-travel ZEB offers me fresher hands and arms after a long downhill trail, I’m all for it.

Let’s not forget, it was the fork of choice for Charlie Murray, Specialized’s enduro specialist, for many races for a reason. He only swapped to a ZEB when he deemed it necessary.

For those, like me, who are built more like a jockey than a heavyweight boxer, the new Lyrik – in its longer-travel iteration – could be the fork we've been waiting for.

Total overhaul

Close-up showing the RockShox Air Annex on the lower legs of a RockShox Lyrik suspension fork. — The new LinearXL air spring promises a smoother ramp-up towards the end of the travel for improved comfort and predictability. SRAM

I've yet to ride the new Lyrik, but my hopes are high, simply because of how well I’ve got on with the new ZEB. The updated 2027 Lyrik shares the same tech as that fork.

That means it’s running the new twin-tube LinearXL air spring and features the LinearXL AirAnnex – the lump in front of the brake caliper on the lower-leg casting.

This is to add volume to the lower leg and prevent an abrupt pressure build-up, which can make the end of the travel feel a little harsh. This should help smooth out that final portion of the stroke, boosting comfort and predictability.

If you want to tweak that final 7-17mm of travel, there’s now the Adjustable Bottom Out feature. This enables you to alter the last part of the fork’s stroke externally by shifting the bumper up or down by 10mm. This can be tweaked with a 5mm hex key at the base of the spring side of the fork.

Then, of course, there’s the ButterWagonTech – a series of dimples in the fork stanchions that fill with oil as the fork compresses and drag it back over the bushings to help keep them lubricated.

Updated wiper seals and a change in fork oil and grease (still from Maxima) help to reduce friction further.

RockShox has also updated the damper. The new Charger 3.2 offers a wider range of high- and low-speed compression and rebound-damping adjustment, but now has numbered dials to help you keep track of your settings.

RockShox Lyrik compression adjuster dials — Numbered adjuster dials help keep track of settings. SRAM

Look closely and you’ll see cutouts close to the new lower-leg arch. These help to reduce pressure on the upper bushings, boosting sensitivity further.

That’s not all, though. The arch also features an integrated fender cap. This can be swapped out and two different fender options can be screwed into place.

A new crown should help keep the Lyrik nice and precise.

Once I’ve tested the new Lyrik thoroughly, I’ll let you know if it lives up to my expectations or if I’d opt for the stiffer ZEB.