Long-term Review: Fox 34 Talas 160 FIT 2014 with Trail Adjust
As the demands of racers and trail riders increase, the market for enduro forks has become more competitive than ever! While cross-country and downhill forks always had a clear focus when it came to weight or performance, todays enduro forks have to be able to do everything, whilst also offering adjustability and ease of use for the discerning enduro rider.
We have already published our feature on the BOS Deville 160 2013 (german). Now there is a new candidate for the top enduro fork: The Fox 34 Talas 160 FIT 2014 Trail Adjust.
The 2014 model is a completely revised version of the 34 with Talas function. After some criticism of previous versions the new Talas cartridge has been optimized and re-designed, resulting in less friction and dramatically improving the responsiveness of the fork. Also, with a progressive characteristic, tighter CTD damping and a remote lever option, the revised fork should meet all the needs of racers. The detailed presentation of the fork can be found here.
One thing is certain: The engineers at Fox definitely kept their promise of improved responsiveness! The improved sensitivity was noticeable in the few first meters of riding, and didn’t change in the course of the entire season: The 34 Talas is sensitive to the slightest unevenness and is clearly superior to the previous model in terms of responsiveness.
Finding the correct air pressure still requires a bit of skill and patience. The 20% SAG (about 30mm) recommended by FOX works perfectly for the most conditions and when riding normally. While the sensitivity in the first third of the travel is at a high level, the fork generally remains relatively supportive and high in its travel. Even if you ride really aggressively, you’ll never get the fork to bottom out due to its progressive action. The fact that the damping (and not the air spring alone) absorbs most of the energy ensures enough reserves for bigger impacts and keeps the geometry relatively constant. Having the fork set up for fast and aggressive riders results in not using the full travel when riding with a more relaxed style.
After about six months of continuous use and nine races, neither worn out bushings nor decreasing performance were apparent.
The CTD settings (Climb, Trail, Descend) worked perfectly throughout the whole season. The ‘trail’ mode now features greatly increased damping and is now better used in in pedal sections only, the ‘climb’ setting practically locks the fork completely – ideal for long uphills on smooth surfaces. After a tough season the different modes still work just as well as the first day.
Regarding the rebound damping, we’ve found it is sometimes susceptible to temperature changes. When the weather conditions change greatly, it does sometimes require a short time for the fork to warm up – requiring slight adjustments to the rebound settings. However as soon as the fork is up to operating temperature it is very consistent. We never noticed any heat induced issues, and the fork mastered long, rough descents easily and with constant damping.
Conclusion: After a full season of use, the revised Fox 34 Talas 2014 confirmed our positive first impressions: More feedback, increased control and greater responsiveness, delighting the ambitious enduro rider! With the Fox 34 now being available for all wheel sizes (160mm at 26″ and 27.5″, 140mm at 29″), there is an model for everyone. For those who are looking for a good enduro fork with travel adjust feature, the Fox 34 Talas is a solid choice!
A review of the RockShox Pike is coming soon!
More Info: www.ridefox.com
Words: Michael Meister / Aaron Steinke | Fotos: Michael Meister
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