The Rockshox Yari looks like a Lyrik. The casting is also identical. However, instead of the good Charger2 cartridge, the Yari uses the Motion Control unit - and it's more bad than good. Control at high speed? Not a chance. The Yari suffers from so-called "compression pikes". This means that on hard hits, the oil cannot flow through the compression cartridge fast enough; the fork locks up briefly and transmits the shock to the rider. This is not only uncomfortable; it can lead to loss of control. It is also difficult to find a sensible basic setup with the fork. Either it is firm and insensitive, or it is soft. But then it is too low in the stroke and dives away in compressions. Closing the compression damping only helps to a limited extent.
In short: The Yari is overtaxed when ridden in a really sporty manner - a sheep in wolf's clothing, so to speak. What to do? Invest hundreds, if not thousands of euros in a decent fork? Not an option if you've just spent a lot of money on a bike in the shop. And the Yari's chassis is actually great! Stiff, reliable, durable. That's where Stefan Kecht and his tuning company Anyrace come in. The man is a full-time suspension specialist at BMW, so he knows a thing or two about suspension tuning. We have already tried out his Golden Ride tuning for the Boxxer downhill fork and found it effective. For € 200, it turns a very good fork into a top fork. Mr Kecht has an almost cheap alternative for the Yari: "I'll tune it for you for € 79 so that it can do something!"
Can he do it? We gave him the properly used Yari from our long-term test bike, together with the rider's weight and precise details of his riding ability and terrain. Stefan customised the cartridge according to these specifications. To do this, he optimised the oil flow with precisely calculated holes (1) and then checked this with an individually calculated shim stack (2). It is important to note that the motion control cartridge (3) does not actually have any shims. This tuning does not provide for adjustment of the compression damping, so from now on it should always remain fully open. Off-road, the low-cost tuning is a revelation! The customised Yari mutates into a sporty enduro fork with very good feedback and great response on hard hits. With 10 psi less than before, it stands better in the mid-stroke, doesn't dive and no longer has compression pikes.
Price: 79 Euro
Info: anyrace.com
STRENGTHS Inexpensive, custom-made and very effective
WEAKNESSES none
Conclusion: There is no better way to invest just under 80 euros in your suspension - at least as a Yari owner. The result was impressive.
