Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Strengths:
Plush and stiff
Weaknesses:
Lost an inch of travel. This is horrible for Fox to put out a product that cost this much and can't hold up. I didn't spend this much money for a 5 inch fork and I feel burned by a company I thought made a quality product.
Similar Products Used:
Rock shock pike, Marzoch Z150
Bike Setup:
yeti 575, XO, Mavic.
Bottom Line:
Fork feels good but has lost too much travel. I have lost faith in Fox.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ted
a
from Birmingham, AL Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Strengths:
Tunability
Weaknesses:
Loss of travel!!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
THIS FORK IS RIDICOULOUS! FOX IS BASICALLY GUILTY OF FALSE ADVERTISING BECAUSE MY TALAS 36 RC2 HAS ONLY HAD 5.9 INCHES OF TRAVEL FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 2 MONTHS OUT OF THE 9 THAT I’VE OWNED IT. I JUST SENT IT BACK TO FOX FOR THEM TO FIX IT FOR THE SECOND TIME. NOW, THEY WILL FIX IT, AND IT WILL WORK GREAT FOR ABOUT A MONTH , THEN IT WILL START LOOSING ITS TRAVEL AGAIN AND I’LL EITHER HAVE TO RIDE IT THAT WAY FOR A WHILE OR I’LL HAVE TO BE WITHOUT MY MAIN SQUEEZE FOR 2-3 WEEKS. THAT MY FRIENDS IS A SHI**Y DILEMMA! I WISH FOX WOULD GIVE ME A VAN 36 RC2 OR MY $1000 BACK! BOTTOM LINE: DON’T BUY A FOX FORK
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from Calgary, Alberta Canada Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Calgary Cycle
Strengths:
Plush and stiff
Weaknesses:
Loss of travel, poor customer service, cannot recomend this fork, I would never buy another air sprung fox fork
Bike Setup:
05 Heckler
Bottom Line:
Rode this fork for a year, it lost travel and now gets 5 inches. My shop sent it to fox canada to get warranty servicing, that was 4 weeks ago, no one knows when I will get it back, absolutely brutal customer service. Makes me wonder if fox did enough testing before they brought this fork out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Young
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: March 28, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Laggan / Fort Bill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Stiff, light, plush (for a trail fork), TALAS, strong
Weaknesses:
loss of 5mm travel, but hey, I ride with the fork stiff so not a massive issue. Could do with better note for not overtightening the pinch bolts expensive mistake)
Similar Products Used:
Z1 - to easy to blow through travel, and heavy 36 VAN - put switch to half the travel on these babies and they are mine. VAN 130 - loverly, perfect AM fork TALAS 125 - nice, but stanchions to small for my liking
Bike Setup:
RM Switch, full XTR, MAXM MX-6 carbon bars, thomson seat post, Hope wheels (choice of AM or FR/DH) Hope mono M4 brakes.
Bottom Line:
Great fork, for a trail fork the wind down is the biz, going to get the new 06 version as 13 clicks takes forever when you forget before starting to climb. Only dropped around 12 to 15ft, but felt OK, predictable in rock gardens, have taken down several H courses and OK, not so good on the boulder fields of Pitfichie DH course in Scotland. makes my Switch super responsive on the front end for he tighter stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dylan
a Weekend Warrior
from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: February 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Freeride, 4x, Street
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Pinkbike
Strengths:
Overall look of fork is nice. Lot's of adjustment(HS and LS compression, rebound, travel, air) 36mm stanchions are a nice feature to have too. The fork is very stiff. The colour goes nicely with my bike(rootbeer coloured) Light.
Weaknesses:
Ok.. I bought the fork used, so maybe I had it coming. But to me, I don't see how ANY 1000 dollar fork could just break like this. The travel adjust was stuck. Won't move. Stuck, at 110mm. My lbs couldn't figure it out, so now it's at fox. Seems like a scam, considering service charge is 25 bucks and shipping is 8. So just to get the fork there is over 30 bucks.
Anyways... my man Carl was an honest dude, and said he would pay for the fork to get fixed, since he said it worked(long story. But Carl, props)
Other then that, the fork is nice. It would be better with about 5 click instead though.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing really. Had 2 shermans before this fork. Rode a few zocchi Z1's.
Bike Setup:
2005 Manik, MTX rims, single speed, avid bb7, sic stem deity bar, Hozfeller cranks, holy roller tires. Street/Freeride/4x setup. Weighing in at 30.6 pounds.
Bottom Line:
while I did get a chance to ride the fork for a day. It is plush, it is light, and it looks sweet. I am not happy, sending in a fork that costs this much, to have it fixed. Not serviced(which should be able to be done by lbs anyways) but fixed. I will ride the fork for this season, and if I don't like it I'm buying a manitou nixon. Maybe I'll have better luck.
Fox.. please work on this fork, and stop letting people down.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shane
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Oregon Date Reviewed: November 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
This is an update from previous review
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
Nomad
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my previous review. After the comments I made on MTBR. I was immediately contacted via email by Mario Galasso / VP Bicycle Division of Fox Racing Shox, he was in agreement with my assesment. He then told me if we get it by Wednesday, you will have the fork by the weekend so that you do not miss anymore rides.
Fox followed thru on their word and I am once again a very satisfied Fox Shox customer. Fox's customer service and follow thru was A+++++++ and the fork rides better than any other fork ever!!!!
Thanks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shane
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Oregon Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Don't know
Weaknesses:
customer service
Similar Products Used:
any Judy, Z1, Psylo, Float 100 rlc
Bike Setup:
Nomad, Hayes, Chris King, XTR, Thompson
Bottom Line:
I paid a grand for a fork to build up my Nomad frame and got screwed. The TALAS system was broken staight out of the box. I didn't find out til my first test ride around the block. Lbs had to send it back along with one they just got on a Nomad from SC. Lbs says labor is free but I have to pay shipping both ways. WTF. If you pay a thousand dollars for a fork shouldn't it work and or shoulnd't they give you a replacement on the spot? Buyer Beware!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dano
a Racer
from Nashua, NH USA Date Reviewed: August 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
FT Rock
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Rock solid, easily adjustable
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
talas rc, sid,
Bike Setup:
enduro pro 05
Bottom Line:
very nice fork for my needs, I keep it @ 140 mm for general cross country riding, no problem climbing. Of course, if I'm going to climb a really long hill I'll twist the knob all the way down and if I'm going down a long or steep run I'll twist it the other way. I don't know if the complainers are racers or what, but it takes maybe 5 seconds or less to change the height and if you are agile you can do it while riding. and once you find a setting that suits your riding style you don't need to change it very often if at all. And the BROWN color looks great with my brown ano enduro.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adrian
a Weekend Warrior
from Cairns, qld Australia Date Reviewed: July 31, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Glasiers/ Douglas
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$875.00
Purchased At:
Pump n Pedals
Strengths:
Stiff,tracks like a train.Good weight, for 6" travel.Tuneable, good range of adjustment.
Weaknesses:
None so far, expensive but all good things are.
Similar Products Used:
psylo, exvert, vanilla R
Bike Setup:
Craftworks 6" FSR full XT, freeride/ trail
Bottom Line:
I've had no problems with travel adjust yet, I don't use it on the trail as I ride always in 6" mode to keep my bike balanced, when climbing you get more traction with the travel so I just lean more forward or stand for the steep pinches. I cycle it as part of my maintenance procedure, I also always use a GOOD torque wrench on all things. I agree that better user service possibilities would be a good thing. The fork is the only otion when you gotta ride to the top of a steep technical trail, if you don't mind walking you can get something heavier. I find lower psi and more hs compression for general trail use is good and little more ps for qownhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt M
a Weekend Warrior
from DENVER Date Reviewed: July 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
SHOP
Strengths:
FORK IS VERY STIFF AND TRAVEL ADJUST IS NICE WHEN GOING UP A LONG CLIMB. VERY TUNABLE.
Weaknesses:
i HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITHE THE TALAS AND THE DAMPENING SIDE OF THE FORK. THE TALAS HAS BEEN REPLACED AFTER A MONTH OF RIDING KEPT CREEPING DOWN TO 140MM OF TRAVEL. I HAD FOX PUT IN A NEW TALAS SYSTEM AND AFTER ONLY THREE RIDES IT IS BACK DOWN TO 145MM OF TRAVEL. NOT A BIG DEAL BUT THE FULL 150 WOULD BE NICE. I ALSO BLEW THE DAMPENING CARTRIDGE THE FIRST MONTH. IT LOST OIL IN THE CARTRIDGE AND LOST DAMPENING THE FIRST HALF OF THE STROKE. TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET IT BACK BECAUSE THIS FORK IS ALMOST 100 PERCENT NON SERVICABLE. WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IF FOX GAVE MORE INFO ON REBUILDS AS THE OTHER MAJOR SHOCK MANUFACTURERS DO. THIS FORK IS GREAT WHEN EVERYTHING IS WORKING BUT I THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME BUGS TO WORK OUT.
Similar Products Used:
MONSTER T, PIKE TEAM, MARZOCCHI Z1, ROCK SHOX BOXXER
Bike Setup:
ENDURO PRO 2005, 5TH ELEMENT DUAL AIR CAN, CROSSMAX XL
Bottom Line:
I FEEL THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FORK ONCE THEY GET THE BUGS OUT, IT RIDES GREAT BUT THE FAILURE OF SOME OF THE FEATURES IS A REAL BUMMER. FOX NEEDS TO MAKE A MORE RIDER MAINTAINABLE FORK SUCH AS ALL THE OTHER FORK MANUFACTURERS. I THINK THE OVERSIZED STANTIONS AND ADJUSTABLE HIGH AND LOW COMPRESSION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. i HOPE TO SEE A MORE BOMBPROOF PRODUCT IN THE FUTURE.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dugo
a Weekend Warrior
from Albuquerque, NM Date Reviewed: June 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Otero until they butchered it.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
Someplace on the Net
Strengths:
Well...stiff is a good start. Tracks true and it really does absorb well. Pretty Light for what it is.
Weaknesses:
The SH*T BROWN Color....give me a break Fox... Brown is not complimentary to any other color but maybe Tan. How many Tan bikes are out there??? And yes the cost, but $1000 for a Maverick makes this fork a bargin.
Similar Products Used:
Zoch Z1 & Z150 FR Coil, Manitou Minute 1
Bike Setup:
Titus Super-moto with Mavic EX823 UST on Conti Verts...yada, yada, yada
Bottom Line:
Ok...I replaced a Zoch Z150 with the Fox. I have to admit that the LAS part of TALAS is pretty damn good. The Linear Air Spring really does feel like a coil. I haven't had any issues of losing travel, but I'm not sure I'm getting a full 6". Then again they all play this game. The fork shaved a pound off my bike so it is lighter than the Zoch and it is stiffer. I noticed off the bat that the ride was plusher and that the front end was more stable. I've flogged the bike down some pretty knarly terrain and the FOX does perform well.
Ok so what don't I like...the TA part of TALAS is a bunch of crap. I'm sorry but if I have to reach down and turn the travel adjust 7-8 rotations to go from Max to Min, I ain't using it. Oh, I guess I'm suppose to get off the bike right before long climb and adjust it...NOT!!! Give me the Zoch ETA any day...Fox and SRAM (Rox) would be wise to license the technology from Zoch. ETA is the greatest feature Zoch ever came up with...1/4 turn and you close of the rebound circuit and the fork settles down to the travel necessary for the climb. Yea, it ramps up the dampening, but when I'm climbing (especially out of the saddle), I don't want a lot of dampening...I want as close to locked as I can get and still have a little compliance. 5 chilis to Zoch for ETA....zip to Fox for TA...
And the color....well, I've rambled enough....basically I don't need to tell you that the Fox Sh*t Brown is the worst I have ever seen on a fork.
So how do I rate this....2 Chilis for Value. The freakin' thing is really expensive and it does perform well, but the color and the Travel Adjust really knock it in my book.
Performance wise I'll give it a 4, because it does rail and it will eat up anything you throw at it. Would I buy it again??? Not until they change the color and make an on the fly climbing travel adjust...1/4 turn guys, 1/4 turn!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara Date Reviewed: June 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Wissahickon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
supergo
Strengths:
Superstiff in all directions; Anything stiffer won't make much difference. light and airy, easy to huck. Color looks great once the light brown superfine dirt has coated it nicely. Fat tubes look good.
Weaknesses:
Way too expensive. TALAS system has lost 11mm of travel after some riding, so far it hasn't returned. That's a major problem.
Similar Products Used:
888RC, Z1
Bike Setup:
American Beryllium, 36RC2, sprinkled with Gold.
Bottom Line:
OK. I like this fork because I own it. Seriously though I feel like I have to rationalize my purchase of the RC2. I'm actually not very happy with it. Sure, it's way stiff, way light, easy to adjust, supersweet to look at, but ummm LOSING 11MM OF TRAVEL JUST IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Kinda makes me ill just thinking about it. $850 / 150mm = $5.66 per mm of travel, therefore, 11mm = $62.33. But that's misleading; i feel like i've lost more than that!
On the plus side, after several rides it's damn buttery smooth. Fox plush is not the same as the well known Marzocchi plush(which I think is generally way too spongy plush) and I prefer Fox's plushness.
I'm a fox fan, and love their stuff, but they need to fix the travel loss issue. I own this fork, and I like it, but I'd love it if i got the 11mm back. I hate to say this about a product I just bought and intend to keep, but don't get it unless you can live with travel loss.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
serhij
a Weekend Warrior
from Poland Date Reviewed: June 13, 2005
Favorite Trail:
TPK
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1050.00
Purchased At:
7Anna
Strengths:
stiff, plush (well set up works almost like coil), adjustable travel, great job with comperssion adjustments
Weaknesses:
price, after few rides travel packs up by ~5mm and needs to be restored by pumping up some extra PSI
Santa Cruz Heckler L, Swinger Coil 4-way, Fox 36 RC2, Hope brakes, DT Hugi hubs, XTR drivetrain
Bottom Line:
Great fork, still I belive "packing up" is unacceptable in this expensive stuff. But I can recomend it to any trail/FR rider. If You want good fork - buy Fox but remember it's just a fork. It'll never be legend like Marzocchi Z1BAM.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
El Chingon
a Downhiller
from St. George Date Reviewed: June 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Followup: Very Stiff
Weaknesses:
Small bump sensitivity. Bottom out resistance. Fork only has 5 5/8th's inches of travel. You have to stop riding to dial down the Talas adjustment. Price
Bottom Line:
My initial impression of this fork, was that it was great. But the more I have ridden it, the more it's weaknesses have manifest themselves. The fork has lost some of it's travel, and to avoid bottoming the fork out on drops over 3 feet, one has to add pressure to the fork, thus killing the small bump sensitivity. The travel is much to linear. It would be nice if the high speed compression adjustment only affected the last 3 inches of travel, to help with bottom out. I just sold mine, and ordered a Z-1 FR1. Zoke all the way for me. My advice is to wait until the coil version of the 36 is available this fall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Downhiller
from Santa Clarita Date Reviewed: May 28, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$995.00
Purchased At:
shhhhh secret
Strengths:
excellent excellent fork, very tunable, very responsive, all around fork
Weaknesses:
the travel adjustmebt kinda stinks
Similar Products Used:
888rc, basicly all downhill and freeride forks
Bike Setup:
turner sixpack, fox 36rc2
Bottom Line:
this is the fork to buy for every type of extreme, it downhills like a champ and goes up like and elevator.this is the best investment ive made in a vary long time. five mexican food sh*ts all around
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Novatt
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara california Date Reviewed: May 22, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$995.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
z1 freeride, junior T
Bike Setup:
colier deluxe 04 stock with an MRP and Kona flat pedals with chric king headset
Bottom Line:
get this for i havn't had one problem with it it can do every thing drops jumps and downhill, everythig seven inches of travel can do but more with all the adjustments and it handels the rockgardens well
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alan
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Canada Date Reviewed: May 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Kanata Lakes
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
So after about 5 rides I'm ready to give my initial review:
This fork is a trail rider's wet dream. Not too heavy, really stiff, doesn't bob much even when you're hammering out of the saddle. So far I've done a few 2-3 footers to flat and fork feels noticably more solid than a Vanilla 125 with a nice squishing sound to let you know you're blowing through the travel. Response is also linear even when close to bottoming out and I have not felt any kick back. The other thing I've tried is blasting thru rock gardens with speed, and there too the fork is very predictable and I felt very much in control (with that satisfying squish-squish as it soaks up the rocks).
Rebound setting has great range. I like to run my rebound fairly slow so its nice to know I have alot of range to play with.
Weaknesses:
One the cons are the stanchions are a little sticky. They are not buttery smooth like my vanilla. However on the trail the forks feels every much as smooth as my old vanilla. So it's kind of a moot point.
The 2nd con it the travel adjuster. It clicks in 3mm increments. I see very little point in this. It means you have approx 15 settings between 100 and 150mm. I think 3 would be enough. 100-125-150.
And yeah, the price is way too high.
Similar Products Used:
Vanilla 125RLC
Bike Setup:
Heckler w/ 5th element coil.
Bottom Line:
Maybe it's just me but the bike feels livelier with this fork. It really compliments the Heckler. I thought I might lose some nimbleness with the longer fork and extra weight but if anything I think I've gained because of the stiffness and the fact that it doesn't dive as much as my Vanilla. It seems to have a lot more low speed compression damping than a vanilla, almost SPV like even though I have the dial on the lowest setting.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
El Chingon
a Downhiller
from St. George, UT Date Reviewed: May 2, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Cannot Divulge
Strengths:
Very stiff. Does not brake dive. Pedal bob is minimal even with out of saddle sprints. Travel Adjust works as advertised. Very adjustable.
Weaknesses:
Color! I would prefer an all black fork, with black Stanchions.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z-1.
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler, with 5th Element coil, and 36 fork.
Bottom Line:
I've got 50 miles on the fork now. Depending on the type of riding I am doing, I have to adjust the air pressure. I weigh 240 all suited up, and run the fork at 90 lbs of pressure, and 7 clicks of HS Compression for doing drops over 4 feet. For regular trail riding, I run the fork at 80 lbs, and 5 clicks of HS compression, to make the fork more compliant to small bumps. I haven't found a need to run any LS compression yet, because the fork does not bob or dive, even in steep technical sections. This fork is awesome! Retail is for suckers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Iñigo
a Downhiller
from Bilbao Date Reviewed: April 11, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$995.00
Purchased At:
Zubero Bikes
Strengths:
Stiff,weight and adjustments,HS and LS compresion.
Weaknesses:
Oh!! My god, What hell are they doing? Why do FOX Paint with this color? Ah!! and of course, price.
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi 888r and Z150. Manitou Sherman and X-vert DC
Bike Setup:
Intense Uzzy SLX
Bottom Line:
It´s great ,feeling unbeliavable and stiff ,I haven´t any words.Simply, amazing.Confidence down to dead.If you can pay,don´t think more and buy it.You don´t repent or maybe yes for only one thing,it´s chocolate color.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scubapro
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna Beach, CA USA Date Reviewed: April 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Aliso Woods
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$995.00
Purchased At:
The PATH
Strengths:
Tracks like crazy, plush, HS & LS compression adjustments, stiff, weight.
Weaknesses:
Color
Similar Products Used:
Marzocchi Z1 FR and Z150 FR, Fox Vanilla RLC, PUSH'd Fox TALAS RLC
Bike Setup:
Uzzi SLX, PUSH'd Vanilla RC
Bottom Line:
Hands down, the best single crown fork in the market. Soaks up rockgardens like no tomorrow. Inspires confidence. I highly recommend this fork to any aggressive trail rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Demo Force
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: April 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very stiff, plush, and light, TALAS adjustability, brake hose guide, steel inserts for axle pinch bolts (so holes wont strip out like a Boxxer), brake hose guide.
Excellent mud clearance
Tracks very straight
Brown color looks great on blue, brown, and green bikes
The cover for the RC2 adjustment knobs makes an excellent mini shot glass.
Weaknesses:
EXPENSIVE
Threads in cable guide strip easily.
Brown color looks terrible on black, yellow, red, and polished silver bikes.
'04 VT2, Fox 36 RC2, Mavic EX823 rims + Ti spokes, King front & rear blue hubs, Hopey, SRAM X.9 shifter and rear derailleur (Shimano front), Hayes HFX Mag 8", Nokian Gazzaloddi G 2.3" w/Stan's sealant, Eason MG60 stem, ODI grips, Crank Bros Mallet M, FSA bar and post,
Bottom Line:
Out of the box, the fork weighed 5 lbs, 3 oz.
I have ridden the fork ~60 miles so far. The first 30 miles was at way to high an air pressure. I originally followed the air pressure table in the manual based on my weight and ended up with 10 mm of sag. Fox recommends 38 mm sag for freeride application. For my weight (165 lbs), I have to run 1/2 of the recommend air pressure.
After I lowered the pressure, the fork performs awesome. This is my first air fork, and I really like the TALAS system. I rarely used the u-turn on my Psylo, but the TALAS is much nicer. It is still plush when in the 4" mode, allowing you to enjoy short downhills in the middle of a long uphill climb. The fork doesn't seem to extend to full travel after adjusting the TALAS unless I pull on the lowers. I am hoping this goes away as the fork is broken in.
After my first ride, I went to adjust the brake hose guide and the threads stripped out. Fox suggested I either CAREFULLY install a heli-coil or use a zip tie. I installed a heli-coil and now the fork is better than original.
The axle is the same as used on my 40 RC2, which had an early failure (for details, see my follow-up review on the 40 RC2). No axle failure on the 36, but I am keeping an eye on it. (Note: The axle failure on my 40 only prevented me from removing my wheel due to the end cap coming off--not safety related)
If you are using Hayes brakes, the 36 uses a Psylo adapter, not the 20mm ISO adapter (I confirmed this with Hayes).
Bottom line: If you're looking for a light weight 6" fork that can take some abuse, there aren't many choices, and the 36 met all of my criteria the best. Hop on down to your LBS and check it out.
Value at 4 since it's pricey; overall at 4 due to the thread failure, the TALAS not fully extending without assistance, and the potential for axle failure. Fix these things and it gets a 5!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mick
a Racer
from Duluth, MN USA Date Reviewed: March 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim Moab
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Ski Hut
Strengths:
Purchased on 2005 Specialized Enduro Pro. STIFF, Predictable and plush. Adjustable travel is nice and the fork is relatively easy to adjust. 20 mm set-up is cool.
Weaknesses:
Prohibitively priced. I got the fork on an 05 Enduro Pro and noticed the fork was $1K at Cambria!!
Similar Products Used:
666, Lefty, (F100X, SIDs)
Bike Setup:
2005 Specialized Enduro Pro.
Bottom Line:
One of the reasons that I bought the bike was for the fork. I have not been disappointed. It has been rock-solid! I don't know if I could personally shell out $1000 for a single crown fork prior to having this one; now that I have been biased, I would recommend this fork to all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Chaney
a Weekend Warrior
from Gaithersburg, MD Date Reviewed: February 9, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Specialized
Strengths:
TALAS system, stiffness, linear feel
Weaknesses:
retail price, cable guide hole isn't threaded for guide that came with the fork.
Similar Products Used:
'05 TALAS RLC
Bike Setup:
'05 Specialized Enduro Pro
Bottom Line:
This fork feels like a much stiffer TALAS RLC, which is a good thing. At 5.3lb, it came in above the advertized weight, but that's not too surprising.
I'll update this review as I get more time on the fork. For now, I've only been out a few times and have been able to do an additional few shuttle type runs with it.
Initially, it had some stiction, but after a few hours worth of riding, it has resolved itself. For an air spring fork, it's very plush. While the TALAS feature is nice in theory, raising or lowing the travel can't be done very quickly while riding. It would be nice to have a remote switch to either extend or dump travel all at once instead of trying to make adjustments while climbing a technical hill.
As can be expected, the difference in stiffness when you campare this to a TALAS RLC is extremely noticeable...surprising actually (at least to me as I've never previously owned a 20mm fork.) It's a very welcome feature and the fork tracks wonderfully. Impressive.
I was fortunate in that the fork came on my bike, which I bought through the Employee Purchase program at Specialized. I undoubtedly would shy away from buying one at full retail given my income. For someone with money to burn, I'm sure this fork will be worth every cent. For those of us who count pennies, it will be a tough consideration.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DaDude!
a Downhiller
from USA!!!!! Date Reviewed: January 6, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Strengths:
The fact that you can adjust the travel with the TALAS system, you can set it on 110mm for climbs and 150mm for the way down ;). The color is great to!!!
Weaknesses:
It's godamn expensive
Similar Products Used:
Fox Talas RLC (the second best Foxx fork but only because the travel is lower than the 36) Marzocchi 888 (sucks buy a Fox 40) Marzocchi Bomber (sucks buy a Fox Vanilla) Manitou Minute (sucks buy a Fox Float) Manitou Black (sucks buy something made from steel)
Bike Setup:
B1 Woodbumble which i put 10000 dollars in.
Bottom Line:
This is the absolute best single crown fork ever made, forget about the rest this is the one for sure! It might be expensive, but it's worth all your money seriously!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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