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Home | Product Reviews | 2008 Forks | Fox Racing Shox 36 Talas RC2 | ||||
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Submitted by
Jimmy Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: 4/12/2008 4:11:16 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | Stiff, Plush, Adjustable travel works seemlessly. |
| Weaknesses: | Lighter, cheaper, blah blah blah |
| Similar Products Tried: | Various Zochi's, Rock Shox, and Fox |
| Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Nomad blah blah blah |
| Bottom Line: | First of all, anyone who thinks Fox makes junk has lost credibility right there. I guess the reviewer has more refined tastes in bike components than the pros that put their lives on the line using them. Second, this fork has saved my talentless butt more times than it deserves. Miscalculated landings where I thought for sure that I would lose a collarbone turned out safe because of how well built this fork is. Third, rock gardens? My bike rides more true and plush than any fork I've tried. Last, I continue to ride Fox forx from previous generations on my other bikes with no complaints of quality. If there are problems, they are the few exceptions and not the rule. At this point, I don't even consider other makes. |
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Submitted by
Georgiy Romanov
from Solnechnogorsk
Date Reviewed: 3/28/2008 11:39:46 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Bottom Line: | Well, i want to write my third review. I rode on this fork about 5 month and want to sell it because the TALAS system is a very unreliable. Guys if you want RIDE your bike (not repairing them) don't buy fox with TALAS. In the market we have only one good changeable travel system - U-Turn coil! ATA and TALAS is a piece of crap! |
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Submitted by
Luis Miguel Torres
a Weekend Warrior
from MEXICO
Date Reviewed: 3/10/2008 9:10:03 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $1000 |
| Purchased At: | Mexico |
| Strengths: | Travel settings, strenght and looks cool |
| Weaknesses: | The Talas system did not work |
| Similar Products Tried: | Pike Race |
| Bike Setup: | Santacruz Nomad, XT drivetrain, Mavic wheels with Chris King hubs, Thompson seat tube and stem |
| Bottom Line: | I have used a Pike fork for nearly two years, I bought this fork Octuber last year, from that date I have used just for 2 months because the rest it spend it in the bike shop,the Talas system did not work as it should be, it did not change from 100 to 130 nor 130 to 160, they try to fix it but the next weekend happened the same, right now is there again, I´m very dissapointed with this thing I spend a lot of dough and all it has given me is troubles, I´m really thinking asking my money back and buy a similar like a Marzocchi or a Rock Shock (with whom I was very happy) |
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Submitted by
Tony Gorilla
a Weekend Warrior
from Bergen, Norway, Europa
Date Reviewed: 2/24/2008 4:47:09 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Arnanipa |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $1000 |
| Purchased At: | ebeij |
| Strengths: | Adjustability, easy travel change, plush |
| Weaknesses: | Expensive, takes a little tinkering to get it perfect, but after that, none. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Mars 80mm, 03 Talas 32 90-120mm RLC, RS Revelation 426 130mm |
| Bike Setup: | Marin Wolf Ridge `06/ Whyte frame with RP3 shock, 185fr + 160rr Juicys, Hope PRo II hubs laced on Mavic 719`s, RF LP isis cranks, 2x9 x.7 drivetrain. Schwalbe big jim 2.3 tyres. |
| Bottom Line: | Takes a little tinkering to get it working right for your weight, style, and local trails, but it is really worthwhile. Once tuned in with the frame/shock I don`t miss a lockout, no bob going uphill, superplush downhill, and no brakedive! For starters I`d recommend setting the compression 3-5 clicks from anticlockwise, the slow compression at 5-6clicks from anticlockwise, and the rebound in the middle or 1-2clicks towards fast, set the air according to weight. Tune in your rear shock at the same time so that both yer front and rear react in a similar fashion. If your regular ride involves steep 1500ft+ climbs and evolve into steep descents with rockgardens and drops (aka. "all-mountain") this is the fork of choice. Probably OK for light freeriding and downhilling too, you have a darn big range of adjustability here... If you do normal trailriding this fork is at tad on the heavy side, I`d go for the Talas 32mm 100+120+140mm or RS revelation 426 130mm / Pike 140mm just for the weight benefits. In the end, this fork is so expensive that you really have to use it several times a week to justify the investment and really appreciate the adjustability. For occasional, non-tinkering/set&forget riders look at RS`cheaper alternatives. |
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Submitted by
Georgiy Romanov
a Downhiller
from Solnechnogorsk
Date Reviewed: 11/27/2007 4:54:43 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Sunhill MTB Park |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $1000 |
| Purchased At: | Veloimperia |
| Weaknesses: | Special tools for repair fork |
| Bottom Line: | After a two weeks of riding my TALAS system doesn't working anymore. Official dealer of Fox Shox in Russia can't fix the problem because they are don't have a specific IFP Charging Tool for pumping the negative air chamber. Why Fox Shox don't put this tool in to each fork, like Marzocchi guys? Fortunately i don't sell my Marzocchi Z.1 Light ETA and can ride my bike -1 for Fox Shox. -1 for russian dealer |
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Submitted by
Georgiy Romanov
a Downhiller
from Solnechnogorsk, Russia
Date Reviewed: 11/2/2007 8:57:31 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Sunnhill MTB park |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $1100 |
| Purchased At: | Veloimperia |
| Strengths: | can change travel on the fly, best QR system of front wheel, very stiff design, very good work of damper |
| Weaknesses: | Non so far, at this point is price. High price for a fork and high price on a space parts (seals for a 45$) |
| Similar Products Tried: | Marzo Z.1 Light ETA 2006 |
| Bike Setup: | Yeti AS-X in 36lbs AM setup |
| Bottom Line: | My weight is 240lbs and heigt is 5'10 I was choosing my new fork from RockShox Lyrik, Marzo 55ETA and Manitou Nixon. I chose FOX because: This fork have changing-on-the-fly travel system. Only one click and you can change geometry of your bike on 1 degree! It very important for me, because i have many steep ups and downs. Best 20QR System, very stiff and easy to setup. Damper working is great! Minimal bobbing when you pedaling on the climb, very plush on the downhill. This fork have one of the stiffest construction on the market! Roots, rocks, fast corners - no problem. FOX can do what you want from her. Big range of adjustments. You can tune your fork as you wish. I'll write another review after four or six month |
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Submitted by
mtbiker-s
a Weekend Warrior
from Altadena, CA
Date Reviewed: 9/26/2007 4:28:45 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | El Prieto |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $875 |
| Purchased At: | The All Mountain Co - Web |
| Strengths: | 100, 130, 160mm travel at your fingertips, you can't beat that. The perfect all mountain fork. Super plush eats boulders for breakfast, lunch and dinner. |
| Weaknesses: | My bottom disc brake caliper mount got jacked up, middle of threads got fused with caliper bolt. I'm nice to my fork so I know when it was installed it was not over torqued. Also did some adjustments and it was nice until I hit my first ride. Also the right fork leg started to leak oil into paint. Only after initial ride. |
| Similar Products Tried: | None Like This. My old Marzocchi DJ1 does not even come close to this fork. |
| Bike Setup: | 2003 Cove G Spot, All Race Face Comps, XTR, 08 Fox Racing TALAS RC2, 07 FOX Racing Shox RP23, Sun Ringle SUVs with Panaracer FR 2.4s |
| Bottom Line: | This fork was awesome from the get go. To test it out I did I nice ride from the top of RedBox to JPL in Angeles Crest National Forest (SoCal). This trail offers a pretty good variety of terrain to test it out on. It totally kicked butt. I was riding over some really rocky sections and notice nothing but only how buttery smooth this fork worked. Hit some nice jumps and felt nothing. Climbed with out any problems. Please note that I did not notice any of the issues till I inspected the fork prior to my next outing. Too bad mine got jacked up on the first ride. I got on the phone with Fox Racing and got Return Authorization number from them and they took care of the rest. Got my fork and it is installed, and configed to my liking, I and can't wait till my next outing. Can't say anything bad so far except for my initial problem. I can't wait to ride it again. I'm giving it 4 Flamin' Chillis because I had to send mine back. |
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Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Calera, Alabama, USA
Date Reviewed: 9/24/2007 4:49:43 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | All of them |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $1225 |
| Purchased At: | Beyond Bikes |
| Strengths: | Plush as one would ever want, but stiff when the going gets rough. This is the do it all fork in my opinion. Adjustments to suit the serious beginner to the pro level. Easy quick release remove of front tire. |
| Weaknesses: | Cost allot, but worth every cent. You get what you pay for. |
| Similar Products Tried: | None to mention like this one. |
| Bike Setup: | 2007 Yeti ASX with this fork and the Fox DHX 5.0 rear shock. |
| Bottom Line: | This fork cost allot, but it is so smooth and worth the dough. Get it if you can afford it and it will adapt to your abilities with all the adjustment options. Setup is not difficult at all but the fork still has the range to compensate as you progress in your ability. Fork is just perfect and I whole heartedly commend Fox on this stellar fork. |
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Submitted by
D-Unit
from Orange County, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: 9/17/2007 11:25:51 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $825 |
| Purchased At: | Used via MTBR classifieds |
| Strengths: | Light for 6 inches, adjustable travel, both high and low speed compression adjustments, plush, stiff, quick release, great looking. |
| Weaknesses: | None so far....could maybe have a lockout feature? Pretty dang pricey! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Pike 454 |
| Bike Setup: | RFX w/ 2008 36 TALAS RC2 up front and DHX Air in the rear...X9, Avid, DT Swiss, Atlas cranks, etc |
| Bottom Line: | I really like this fork and am quite impressed so far. I am coming off a Pike 454 which I would consider a good fork that is both light, yet can take abuse and has the 20mm quick release through axle. Then comes the Fox 36!!!! I've have bombed down several of the same trails that that would rattle me and shake my hands pretty hard on the Pike. I have taken much less of a beating on the Fox and am less fatigued on rough trails on my way down. I can't believe how much more plush it is and buttery smooth, yet can take bigger hits that I haven't even began to push it's limits yets. My compression is only 2 in from the softest setting and is pretty stiff for my 190 lb butt. I also like how I can set at 100 or 130mm for climbing which makes it an excellent all around fork. This thing is expensive, but I got it from a guy who rode it twice and I paid $825 so I could justify the cost. Plus the fact that it has quick release now sold me...I wouldn't have bought it before as I have to take off my front tire to transport. Pretty dang expensive new, but worth it if you want the shiznit! |
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Submitted by
Ryan Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainsville, FL
Date Reviewed: 9/5/2007 12:48:41 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $999 |
| Purchased At: | Fox Factory |
| Strengths: | Everything. Super smooth, super stiff, looks super sexy. |
| Weaknesses: | None that I have found. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Fox Vanilla 32, Various other forks. |
| Bike Setup: | Transition Covert with some stuff. |
| Bottom Line: | This thing is amazing. It's really expensive, good thing I work at a bike shop or I wouldn't have one. I Love It! |
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey, B.C.
Date Reviewed: 8/31/2007 9:38:24 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Crank It Up - Whistler |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $890 |
| Strengths: | Amazing dampening which increases traction over my old 2006 36 Talas. Super stiff, much more so than the Lyrik that it replaced. Super easy to remove the wheel compared to the old 36 but not quite as easy as the Maxle. Talas works great. I pretty much only use the 160mm & 130mm settings on my Nomad but the fork is a natural match for the frame. All of the adjustments work really well and make a big difference in the ride of the fork. |
| Weaknesses: | The 20mm axle QR system is a little outdated. You'd think Fox could have come up with some sort of Maxle type system. |
| Similar Products Tried: | 2006 Fox 36 Talas 2007 Rock Shox Lyrik 2-step 2007 Rock Shox Totem 2-step 2006 Marzocchi 66 RC2X (170mm) |
| Bike Setup: | 2006 Santa Cruz Nomad c/w Fox DHX Air, Crossmax XL's, Race Face Atlas cranks, Atlas stem, Atlas bars, Thomson post, Nevegals |
| Bottom Line: | Amazing changes to the fork since the last couple of years. The dampening is soooo much better, it allows you to blast through rough terrain at scary speeds! The weight is also lower but it's not all that noticeable. Basically, this is my dream fork and matches my riding style and the feel of the Nomad very well. The fork is expensive but well worth it if you ride a lot and need a super stiff, super smooth fork. |
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