[raceface9465]

I just replaced my 07' 32 TALAS RLC with an 07' 36 TALAS RC2 with the assumption that they would feel the same, just the 36 would be a little bigger. The 36 actually feels really nice, it just seems to feel a little sticky at the beginning of the stroke, like it takes more effort to get it moving than i think it should, so this causes it to be relatively ineffective on small bumps. My 32 talas did not feel sticky at all. Last night i replaced the seals on the 36 and changed the oil. It still feels a little sticky. I noticed when the fork was apart that it felt a little sticky with just the uppers and lowers together, hence it felt like the seals were the cause of the problem, but i had just put brand new ones on! I was at a bike shop yesterday and i felt a 36 Vanilla, and it had no stiction what so ever, it felt just like my old 32 talas only bigger. Whats the deal with this? Anyone know how to fix this?

 

[Jesse Hill]

Most likely break in time and also don't forget you have more surface area on the o-rings in the 36 talas vs. the 32. More surface area creates more friction and harder to get it to initially move, one inherent issue with going big stanchions.

 

[Znarf]

If you don´t like the stickyness (it gets better, but never completely)
you can easily convert your Talas to a Float.
I did that and the Float has NO stiction at all. Incredible small bump sensitivity.

Greetings Znarf

 

[flipnidaho]

Play with your high speed and low speed compressions a bit also (open up the low speed a bit). The 36 has a bigger seal area so it may take a bit longer to break in (assuming you put in the proper amount of oil in the lowers for lubrication).
Your Talas unit may also need to be rebuilt if the fork has seen a season or two of use...

 

[monkeyfist23]

Couple things, I had my talas 36 for about a year before I checked the oil in it, low and behold there was very little oil in the open bath. I would check that for sure, it pretty easy to do and there are directions, just follow the links from this tread. Next try turning the bike upsided down the night before you ride, so that the foam rings near the seals get lubed with the open bath oil (if you're low on oil this won't help). I've found that changes in psi as little as 3-5 psi makes a noticable difference in the ride. Also try some finishline stanchion lube, seem to work pretty well with the initial stiction.

 

[CharacterZero]

A guy I know says that his 36 TALAS is notchy and sticky in 160mm, but rides much better and the travel is more fluid in 130mm.
Are you seeing the same thing?

 

[Vespasianus]

A guy I know says that his 36 TALAS is notchy and sticky in 160mm, but rides much better and the travel is more fluid in 130mm.
Are you seeing the same thing?

Funny my 32 Talas is notchy and sticky at 140mm but feels smooth and soft at 120. Same problem?

 

[krolik]

If you don´t like the stickyness (it gets better, but never completely)
you can easily convert your Talas to a Float.
I did that and the Float has NO stiction at all. Incredible small bump sensitivity.

Greetings Znarf

can you give more info on that conversion?
tia

 

[krolik]

A guy I know says that his 36 TALAS is notchy and sticky in 160mm, but rides much better and the travel is more fluid in 130mm.
Are you seeing the same thing?

I do. My 36 is a little more harsh in the top part of travel when in 160 mode but that can also be because the geo is different in this mode and your bodyweight is shifted little back, leaving less weight over the front wheel.

 

[Vespasianus]

I do. My 36 is a little more harsh in the top part of travel when in 160 mode but that can also be because the geo is different in this mode and your bodyweight is shifted little back, leaving less weight over the front wheel.

Don't even have to be sitting on the bike to feel a difference. I wonder if the TALAS air system just need to be checked?

 

[krolik]

Don't even have to be sitting on the bike to feel a difference. I wonder if the TALAS air system just need to be checked?

Might be.
But on the other hand, if you don't sit on the bike, you don't sag it, right? So if you say it feels harsh when riding in 140mode too, you do mean quite a lot of travel,right? Not just the initial bit.
i switched from 32talas to 36talas two months ago and i did notice quite a lot of stickiness at first. but it's smooth now. I checked oil and it all seemed ok from the factory.
never had that harshness on the 32 - I used it for 18months and it felt very smooth over little stuff. smoother than the 36imo. but when things get rough you can tell the difference right away. at 205w/o gear I felt the 32 reached its limits quite quickly. A great fork for its intended use nonetheless. plus 480g lighter