I think part of the changes that I appreciated was how much more useable and tune-able the damper in the 2021 versions are. I just never seemed to find a setting I was really happy with using the 2020 version, never-mind being able to adjust the damper to different days/terrain/conditions. I also had the trapped-air-stuck-down issue a couple of times with that fork. The first time, it took me awhile to figure out wtf was going on and it basically ruined a park day for me (so maybe some bitterness creeping in, ha). Don't think I'll own a fork without bleeders in the future. Had the same issue with a Yari and a Lyrik in the past as well. And obviously, not with the Ribbon Not a huge deal to remedy once you know what's going on and figure out how to remedy the situation, but a PIA anyway.
I've found with 2021 version... it was much easier to find a place that I was very happy with while at the same time still retaining the ability to change settings to accommodate different styles of riding, terrain and conditions.
And ya, fully agree... the 38 really is next level. I just have so much more front end composure and confidence with that thing. I'm having so much fun just throwing my front wheel into insane situations with reckless abandon and it seems to just sort everything out. But it's even in the slower and techier sections of trail where I notice a pretty big difference as well where it just tracks and goes where I point it so much easier and it goes about it's job of soaking things up vs deflecting. Something I didn't really seem to notice before the 38. It just makes riding my bike easier... love it.
March 3, 2021, 9:13 a.m. - IslandLife
I think part of the changes that I appreciated was how much more useable and tune-able the damper in the 2021 versions are. I just never seemed to find a setting I was really happy with using the 2020 version, never-mind being able to adjust the damper to different days/terrain/conditions. I also had the trapped-air-stuck-down issue a couple of times with that fork. The first time, it took me awhile to figure out wtf was going on and it basically ruined a park day for me (so maybe some bitterness creeping in, ha). Don't think I'll own a fork without bleeders in the future. Had the same issue with a Yari and a Lyrik in the past as well. And obviously, not with the Ribbon Not a huge deal to remedy once you know what's going on and figure out how to remedy the situation, but a PIA anyway. I've found with 2021 version... it was much easier to find a place that I was very happy with while at the same time still retaining the ability to change settings to accommodate different styles of riding, terrain and conditions. And ya, fully agree... the 38 really is next level. I just have so much more front end composure and confidence with that thing. I'm having so much fun just throwing my front wheel into insane situations with reckless abandon and it seems to just sort everything out. But it's even in the slower and techier sections of trail where I notice a pretty big difference as well where it just tracks and goes where I point it so much easier and it goes about it's job of soaking things up vs deflecting. Something I didn't really seem to notice before the 38. It just makes riding my bike easier... love it.