I’ve tested two 150mm-travel, trail-focused suspension forks from the biggest names in the market to see which comes out on top.
In the line-up are RockShox’s latest Charger 3.1 damper Lyrik Ultimate and Fox’s 36 Factory, fitted with the all-new GRIP X damper.
I bolted the two forks to the front of my Marin Rift Zone XR long-termer to test them back-to-back on the same trails in the same conditions.
RockShox Lyrik Ultimate MY25 performance
The latest model year 2025 RockShox Lyrik – while visually identical to the MY23 fork, colour and all – has had some important internal updates.
These see a reduction in damper forces (the amount of resistance created by oil flowing through the valves) across the board.
High- and low-speed compression and low-speed rebound damping have all been lowered in a bid to improve comfort and traction.
This is done by increasing oil flow within the damper’s low-speed circuit, fitting a reconfigured high-speed tune and installing a stronger internal floating piston spring.
Bushing tolerances have been improved significantly in this latest iteration.
Specifically, the bushing-reaming process and size specifications have been updated, along with increased quality control at the manufacturing stage.
Retailing for £1,079 / $1,099 / €1,199, this Lyrik weighs a respectable 2,044g.
Out on the trail, RockShox’s latest updates have worked wonders for the Lyrik’s performance. They’re hyper-responsive at the start of their travel, providing exceptional grip and comfort no matter how hard you’re hitting the harshest bumps.
Deeper into their stroke, there’s bucket loads of support and damper control; you can confidently weight the front wheel for grip and control, no matter how rowdy the trail is, and there’s seemingly no penance for pushing up to and beyond your limits.
The travel is used generously but not excessively, which feels nothing short of inspiring.
Deep-stroke hits are managed beautifully; predictable soft-touch, full-travel moments are the rule not the exception, helping the Lyrik punch in a class well above its relatively light weight.
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Fox 36 Podium Gold GRIP X performance
Bar the 50th anniversary gold colour, externally the Fox 36 is identical to the previous iteration. Also, like the RockShox fork, it’s internally where all the advancements have taken place.
An all-new GRIP X damper is claimed to offer more traction and control thanks to an increase in overall damping, while having a broader adjustment range.
A larger 24mm base valve increases oil flow within the fork by creating more ‘leverage’ on the shims. This should equate to a smoother, suppler feel.
The GRIP X is designed to be lighter than the also recently launched, gravity-focused GRIP X2, be easier to set up and have more usable adjustments.
On the adjuster front, atop the right-hand leg are high- and low-speed compression adjusters and at the bottom is a single low-speed rebound adjuster. Forgoing the high-speed adjuster on the X2 saves a claimed 70g.
Internally, the lowers have been fitted with uninterrupted bushings claimed to reduce friction, resulting in a smoother action.
Previously, Fox’s bushings had a groove running their length to enable oil to move past them, but this has been removed thanks to the oil-flow channel in the rear of the lower castings.
With a hefty £1,259 / $1,199 / €1,449 asking price, this Fox 36 weighs an impressive 2,015g.
The new 36 GRIP X’s feel is dominated by an abundance of mid-stroke support.
It’s almost impossible to overwhelm, even when you’re riding at your limits or pushing hard into the deepest compressions, highest-load turns or fastest hits.
There’s plenty of smoothness on tap, whether you’re rolling along a fire road or pounding into rocks and roots, but it lacks the outright plushness of some of its competitors.
Being picky, it could use more of its travel more effectively to neutralise the trail without impacting performance elsewhere.
Active rather than neutral riders will get the most from Fox’s latest damper tech; pushing into the terrain to make the most of the support on offer feels most rewarding.
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How do the two forks compare out on the trails?
Both the RockShox and Fox forks are easy to set up, but the Fox’s air spring feels better when run closer to its recommended settings than the Lyrik, which performed best when set much softer.
In terms of damping, I was nearly fully open on all the GRIP X’s adjustments, while the Lyrik’s Charger 3.1 was midway through the settings.
This gives it a much broader adjustment range when you want to alter feel; you're not prohibited by needing to run the adjusters fully open because of the damper tune.
The Lyrik is happier sitting much deeper into its travel compared to the 36. Its softer feel helps it track the ground impeccably.
And while there’s not a lack of support from the Lyrik, the 36 has more, even with the damper’s compression adjusters set to fully open.
This is most noticeable on undulations and small compressions. The Lyrik works harder to keep the bar level with the horizon, while the 36 pushes feedback from the terrain into your hands, causing the bar to trace the ground’s shape.
Surprisingly, however, neither fork feels better than the other on deep-stroke hits.
The Lyrik is smoother on high-speed hits. While the 36 doesn’t compression spike or pack down, the Lyrik moves out of the way of those square-edged bumps quicker and returns to full travel more freely. This keeps the wheel tracking the ground better.
While the Lyrik will suit a neutral riding style, the 36 favours riders who like to work their bike into the terrain.
Is the Fox 36 or RockShox Lyrik best?
Of the two forks, the Lyrik is the better all-rounder.
It’s the most intuitive to set up, balances its asking price and weight better, and seems to offer the best bits of the Fox out on the trails.
Plus, it can be adjusted to feel like the Fox 36, but the 36 can’t be adjusted to feel like the Lyrik.
