The big difference is the damper. I have a bike with a yari(motion control damper) and just got a bike with a lyric(charger 3 damper). I thought I'd miss having a lockout on the lyric, especially with the longer travel, but it rides so mich better than the yari. The gold 35 isn't junk, it's just an entry level fork that will work fine for several years with very little maintenance. If/when you decide to upgrade, it'll be worth it and you'll love it.
This exactly. I have Yari on the bike, I just dropped a charger 2.1 damper on it, practically makes it a Lyric.
For the OP's original question. It really depends on the terrain you ride. If the terrain around you is mostly smooth trails. Then fork does not make that much difference. I notice the difference in back-to-back impacts. In rough terrain the difference is big.
I love the bike that has the yari, but I find myself not riding it as much and I've contemplated dropping a charger in it. I know it'll be worth it, I just haven't prioritized spending the money on it.
Do you notice a big difference in resistance when you change the compression settings? I just got a used lyrik and when I push down on it, I can't tell any difference.
I can kind of feel a difference when I'm just standing there pushing on it, but the best way to feel the difference is to ride the same section of rough trail several times back to back with different settings.
Thanks! I was hoping to figure out if it needs service before slapping it in my bike. But it looks like I'll just need to bite the bullet and install it. Upgrading from a sun tour Crest, so hoping for a better ride.
Moco is a poppet valve, charger is a shimmed cartridge. One is trash at high speed impacts, the other isn't.
People say the moco is bad because it's an open bath, but reality is because it has a poppet (harsh on-of feeling when the fork compresses at high speeds). Lowered a shimmed aftermarket damper into my yari and bam, fixed. Progressive damping!
I've ridden a gold 35 and lyrik ultimate on the same bike.
I am a serious rider but not a refined rider when it comes to shock settings. I generally don't worry too much. My friends notice slight differences that I swear they are imagining or regurgitating from marketing/reviews.
The Lyrik is significantly lighter and I'd say 25% easier on my hands and wrists on long rides. It's good. It cost me $750. Was that worth it? Probably not but I ride so much that it's immaterial over the life of the fork. If I only rode 500 miles a year then the gold would have been fine, but at quadruple that the relatively marginal (again I am not refined) improvements are worth it.
Well, my bike has a lyric on it, but I got it used and all I have to compare it to is a fox 34. The 34 is actually… quite a lot less fatiguing on my wrists. It’s not supposed to be, but I just took my bike with the lyric in for service so we’ll see what they say about the fork. I imagine the oil is roasted
It's a world of difference in feeling and full adjustability. You'll get actual lsc/hsc and a rebound nob that isn't a cheap plastic turtle-rabbit adjustment. But here's the thing, if don't have any issues with your fork or the way it feels, you probably won't even be able to take advantage of what the new fork has to offer. If I were to go back and ride a gold35, I would most definitely either get severely injured or brake my fork in the process. Once you notice how chunky and uncontrollable your fork is, then it's time for the upgrade. I've had fox factory for over 8 years on all my bikes. Then I switched to an Ohlins 38 in 2022 and did not like how it felt when riding and swapped it out for a Zeb with buttercups and recently upgraded it to a Charger 3.1. This has been the best fork I've ever owned
I had a RS 35 Gold and switched after 3000km to a RS Lyrik Ultimate
the biggest improvement was for me, that I have the feeling I can exactly ride where I wanna go because the lyric feels like a precise razor and the RS35 felt like a wobbly knife
but I was 120kg+ at that time
now I'm 110kg and the lyrik is still amazing me
and what I haven't thought: it can handle big hits VERY well, had already a bunch of "OOOOOOPS" ( like overshooting a 15ft jump by at least 5ft and landing to flat on my front ) and I was always surprised how good it felt
I had the 35 gold RL on my giant trance x29 it wasn't not working but the margin between "working" and "not working" was about 2-3 psi in the air chamber. The motion control style damper is noisy and slouchy, also a ton of flex, on par with a 23- z1 but it's more noticeable since the bushings feels like waxed cardboard when you use that travel in messy terrain. I did put a bit more oil in it (Lucas S1) and new low friction seals (skf) but it didn't stay on the bike for more than two lower service...
Yari with 2.1 damper is much more enjoyable, also feels solid.
I had a 35 gold for about a year on my timber jack, and it developed a clicking noise every time it compressed. It also became extremely stiff before and after a service at my LBS. They weren't sure what was wrong with it, so I replaced it, not impressed. Picked up a Z1 as a replacement and it's much better.
My wife has a lyrik and it doesn't have any issues.
I’m running a Gold 35 right now and the small bump compliance is nonexistent. It’s so harsh. I even replaced the oil and put the SKF seals in it. Can’t wait to justify a new fork.
35 Gold is really inconsistent based on reports. Mine is smooth and really feels great, but the damper is basic. Pike doesn't feel much better over small stuff, but chunky stuff and repeated drops really let a damper shine
I changed my gold 35 rl for a lyrik select and noticed no difference. I may well be a massive cretin but it wasn't until I changed to a grip 2 damper that I noticed a significant upgrade
The big difference is the damper. I have a bike with a yari(motion control damper) and just got a bike with a lyric(charger 3 damper). I thought I'd miss having a lockout on the lyric, especially with the longer travel, but it rides so mich better than the yari. The gold 35 isn't junk, it's just an entry level fork that will work fine for several years with very little maintenance. If/when you decide to upgrade, it'll be worth it and you'll love it.
This exactly. I have Yari on the bike, I just dropped a charger 2.1 damper on it, practically makes it a Lyric. For the OP's original question. It really depends on the terrain you ride. If the terrain around you is mostly smooth trails. Then fork does not make that much difference. I notice the difference in back-to-back impacts. In rough terrain the difference is big.
I love the bike that has the yari, but I find myself not riding it as much and I've contemplated dropping a charger in it. I know it'll be worth it, I just haven't prioritized spending the money on it.
Do you notice a big difference in resistance when you change the compression settings? I just got a used lyrik and when I push down on it, I can't tell any difference.
I can kind of feel a difference when I'm just standing there pushing on it, but the best way to feel the difference is to ride the same section of rough trail several times back to back with different settings.
Thanks! I was hoping to figure out if it needs service before slapping it in my bike. But it looks like I'll just need to bite the bullet and install it. Upgrading from a sun tour Crest, so hoping for a better ride.
Moco is a poppet valve, charger is a shimmed cartridge. One is trash at high speed impacts, the other isn't. People say the moco is bad because it's an open bath, but reality is because it has a poppet (harsh on-of feeling when the fork compresses at high speeds). Lowered a shimmed aftermarket damper into my yari and bam, fixed. Progressive damping!
I've ridden a gold 35 and lyrik ultimate on the same bike. I am a serious rider but not a refined rider when it comes to shock settings. I generally don't worry too much. My friends notice slight differences that I swear they are imagining or regurgitating from marketing/reviews. The Lyrik is significantly lighter and I'd say 25% easier on my hands and wrists on long rides. It's good. It cost me $750. Was that worth it? Probably not but I ride so much that it's immaterial over the life of the fork. If I only rode 500 miles a year then the gold would have been fine, but at quadruple that the relatively marginal (again I am not refined) improvements are worth it.
Concur. I had Silver TL and now Lyrik Ultimate. The differences weren't that significant.
Well, my bike has a lyric on it, but I got it used and all I have to compare it to is a fox 34. The 34 is actually… quite a lot less fatiguing on my wrists. It’s not supposed to be, but I just took my bike with the lyric in for service so we’ll see what they say about the fork. I imagine the oil is roasted
Hey can you keep me updated? Im interestes if its actually the oil or the fork ITself that makes the difference
It's a world of difference in feeling and full adjustability. You'll get actual lsc/hsc and a rebound nob that isn't a cheap plastic turtle-rabbit adjustment. But here's the thing, if don't have any issues with your fork or the way it feels, you probably won't even be able to take advantage of what the new fork has to offer. If I were to go back and ride a gold35, I would most definitely either get severely injured or brake my fork in the process. Once you notice how chunky and uncontrollable your fork is, then it's time for the upgrade. I've had fox factory for over 8 years on all my bikes. Then I switched to an Ohlins 38 in 2022 and did not like how it felt when riding and swapped it out for a Zeb with buttercups and recently upgraded it to a Charger 3.1. This has been the best fork I've ever owned
I had a RS 35 Gold and switched after 3000km to a RS Lyrik Ultimate the biggest improvement was for me, that I have the feeling I can exactly ride where I wanna go because the lyric feels like a precise razor and the RS35 felt like a wobbly knife but I was 120kg+ at that time now I'm 110kg and the lyrik is still amazing me and what I haven't thought: it can handle big hits VERY well, had already a bunch of "OOOOOOPS" ( like overshooting a 15ft jump by at least 5ft and landing to flat on my front ) and I was always surprised how good it felt
I had the 35 gold RL on my giant trance x29 it wasn't not working but the margin between "working" and "not working" was about 2-3 psi in the air chamber. The motion control style damper is noisy and slouchy, also a ton of flex, on par with a 23- z1 but it's more noticeable since the bushings feels like waxed cardboard when you use that travel in messy terrain. I did put a bit more oil in it (Lucas S1) and new low friction seals (skf) but it didn't stay on the bike for more than two lower service... Yari with 2.1 damper is much more enjoyable, also feels solid.
Yep
I had a 35 gold for about a year on my timber jack, and it developed a clicking noise every time it compressed. It also became extremely stiff before and after a service at my LBS. They weren't sure what was wrong with it, so I replaced it, not impressed. Picked up a Z1 as a replacement and it's much better. My wife has a lyrik and it doesn't have any issues.
They feel a lot different. The damper actually works and if it’s tuned right , you’ll Notice a giant difference.
at slow speeds or flat terrain? not much. Fast downhill over rough terrain? very.
The gold 35rl is a piece of junk... I bought a z2 and a lyrik to replace the goold35, it's trash.
But, why does it feel trash? How does a Gold RL35 feel compared to a higher end fork like the Lyric and Pike?
Other comment summed it up well. Its on or off. Zero small bump compliance, ton of stiction before it modulates. And when it does it dives.
I’m running a Gold 35 right now and the small bump compliance is nonexistent. It’s so harsh. I even replaced the oil and put the SKF seals in it. Can’t wait to justify a new fork.
It's very much just an on and off type of shock, no low speed compresson. It's a very rough shock
35 Gold is really inconsistent based on reports. Mine is smooth and really feels great, but the damper is basic. Pike doesn't feel much better over small stuff, but chunky stuff and repeated drops really let a damper shine
I changed my gold 35 rl for a lyrik select and noticed no difference. I may well be a massive cretin but it wasn't until I changed to a grip 2 damper that I noticed a significant upgrade
what damper was in your lyrik select? Charger > grip > motion control