TALAS RLC

Installing Your Fork  |  Before You Ride  |  Setting Sag  |  Adjusting Rebound  |  Locking Out the Fork  |  Adjusting Lockout Force  |  Adjusting Low-Speed Compression  |  Changing Travel  |  Service Intervals  |  Important Safety Information

 

weight

3.99 lbs./1.81 kg

travel The total amount the shock or fork compresses. On a shock it is measured using the eye-to-eye distance or shaft travel.

5.5 in. / 140 mm
TALAS 140+120+100 mm

features/adjustments

TALAS II travel system, low-speed compression, lockout, lockout force adjust, air spring pressure, rebound

spring/damper type

air/open bath

intended use

all-mountain A style of bicycle riding that melds the stamina and conditioning required of cross-country with the technical abilities of freeriding., cross-country A style of bicycle riding that is defined by long rides, lightweight bicycles and stamina.

color

TALAS Blue

 

 

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. Clicking on the link above will take you to a new page.

Before You Ride

  1. Check that quick-release levers are properly adjusted and tightened.

  2. Clean the outside of your fork with soap and water and wipe dry with a soft dry rag. Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.

  3. Inspect entire exterior of fork for damage. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Please contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.

  4. Check headset adjustment. If loose, adjust according to manufacturers recommendations.

  5. Check that brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.

  6. Check that the front and rear brakes operate properly on flat land.

Setting Sag

You can also view a Flash video on Setting Sag.

To get the best performance from your fork, it is necessary to set and adjust sag Amount a shock or fork compresses with the rider sitting on the bike in a normal riding position. Best measured with an assistant holding your bike up and with the rider in full riding gear. On a fork, it is helpful to place a ZIP tie around one of the upper tubes.. Generally, sag should be set to 15 25% of total fork travel.

  1. Unscrew the center blue aircap in the middle of the TALAS lever (shown below) on top of the left fork leg to expose the Schrader valve.

Hold the TALAS lever steady with one hand while unscrewing the aircap with the other. This will facilitate removal of the aircap and also protect the TALAS lever from being forced past its stops.

  1. Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.

  2. Using the Air Spring Settings table below, pump your fork to the appropriate setting using the FOX High Pressure Pump, then remove the pump.  

  3. Install a zip tie with light friction on the upper tube and push it down until it contacts the fork seal.

  4. Carefully sit on the bike and assume a normal riding position. The fork should compress slightly.

  5. Being careful not to further compress the fork, dismount the bicycle. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This distance is sag.

  6. Compare your sag measurement to the Sag Setup table below.

    If your sag is lower than on the table
    , screw on the pump fitting, note the current air pressure setting and depress the black bleed-valve to reduce the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat adjustment, if necessary.

    If your sag is higher than on the table
    , screw on the pump fitting, note the current air pressure setting and pump to increase the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat adjustment if necessary.

  7. Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.

 

AIR SPRING SETTING guidelines

Rider Weight

Air Pressure

< 125 lbs.

50 psi

125 - 135 lbs.

55 psi

135 - 145 lbs.

60 psi

145 - 155 lbs.

65 psi

155 - 170 lbs.

70 psi

170 - 185 lbs.

80 psi

185 - 200 lbs.

90 psi

200 - 215 lbs.

100 psi

215 - 230 lbs

115 psi

230 - 250 lbs.

125 psi

 

sag setup

Travel

XC/Race FIRM

All-Mountain PLUSH

100 mm (4")

15mm (1/2")

20mm (3/4")

120 mm (4.75")

18mm (3/4")

30mm (1 1/8")

140 mm (5.5")

21mm (7/8")

35mm (1 3/8")

Sag and spring rate Force required to compress a spring one inch. will self adjust to the proper setting and rate as TALAS is adjusted to shorter travel positions.

sag troubleshooting

Symptom

Remedy

Too much sag

(+) air pressure in 5psi increments

Too little sag

(-) air pressure in 5psi increments

Excessive bottoming

(+) air pressure in 5psi increments

Harsh ride; full travel not utilized

(-) air pressure in 5psi increments

Adjusting Rebound

The rebound knob (shown below) is located on the top of the right fork leg, and has 12 clicks of adjustment. Rebound controls the speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise A motion that proceeds from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top, like the clock's hands. slows down rebound; turning the knob counterclockwise speeds up rebound. As a starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counterclockwise (out) 6 clicks.

 

Knob Setting
(clicks out from full in)

Setting Description

Tuning Tips

Setup Tips

1

Slow Rebound

Too slow and your fork will pack down and ride harsh.

If you increase your spring rate or air pressure, you will need to slow down your rebound.

6

(Factory setting)

Average Rebound

12

Fast Rebound

Too fast and you will experience poor traction and wheel hop.

If you decrease your spring rate or air pressure, you will need to speed up your rebound setting.

Locking Out the Fork

The blue compression lockout lever is located below the red rebound adjuster knob. It allows the rider to close the compression damping circuit in the fork. This keeps the fork at the top of its travel, making it harder to compress.

Rotate the lever fully clockwise to lockout the fork. This position is useful in climbing and sprinting situations, but will sag with the riders weight. The fork will "blowoff" in the event that a big hit is encountered with the fork locked out.

To unlock the fork, simply rotate the lever fully counterclockwise.  

The fork may cycle a couple of times after enabling lockout. Once complete lockout is achieved, the fork may continue to move 3 - 5 mm. This is normal and does not affect performance.

Adjusting Lockout Force

Even when your fork is fully locked out, there are instances when you still want your fork to be active. To protect your fork's internal parts, your FOX fork will "blowoff" when it encounters an intense hit. You can adjust when the fork blows off—lockout force—by adjusting the blue knob on the bottom of the right leg.

A convenient tuning feature of the lockout force knob is that it allows you to leave your fork in the locked out position—no more fiddling with fork controls when the trail requires your undivided attention. Although you might need to adjust the knob a few times to find the sweet spot, once it is found you can simply leave your fork locked out. Your fork will then respond to hits in the trail (greater lockout force), for example, but will be locked out (lower lockout force) when you are out of your saddle on a climb.

Turn the knob clockwise to increase lockout force and counterclockwise to decrease lockout force.

There are 12 clicks of adjustment. As a starting point, turn the knob all the way clockwise until it stops, then back off one click counterclockwise.

Adjusting Low-Speed Compression

Low-speed compression damping is adjusted with the blue bezel ring (shown below) below the blue lockout lever, and has 8 clicks of adjustment. Compression damping controls the speed at which the fork compresses. Adjust low-speed compression with lockout disabled (lockout lever fully counterclockwise). As a starting point, turn the low-speed compression dial all the way counterclockwise (full out) until it stops, then turn clockwise (in) 5 clicks.    

Knob Setting
(clicks in from full OUT)

Setting Description

Tuning Tips

Setup Tips

1

Soft Compression

Too soft and your fork will pack down and ride harsh.

Maximum wheel traction and bump compliance. Too soft and you maybe have excessive brake dive and wallowy feel.

5
(Factory setting)

Average Compression

9

Firm Compression

Too firm and you will experience poor traction and wheel hop.

Resists brake dive and keeps the fork up in the travel. Too firm and you may have poor traction in loose conditions.  

Changing Travel

32MM TALAS forks feature three externally adjustable travel choices from 5.5 (140mm) to 4.75"(120mm) to 4 (100mm), which are easily selected using the TALAS lever (shown below) on top of the left fork leg. Travel options and direction settings are printed directly on the lever.

When changing travel, the TALAS II system automatically adjusts to provide you with the appropriate linear air spring rate for each travel setting. There is no need to re-adjust the air pressure in the TALAS air chamber after changing travel.

For safety reasons, it is recommended that travel adjustment be done while off the bike. If necessary, travel can be adjusted on-the-fly (be careful when using this "extreme" travel adjusting method), which can be handy right before a grueling climb or steep descent.

Decreasing Travel

From the 140 or 120 mm position, turn the lever counterclockwise to decrease travel. Travel will be decreased in 20mm increments. Do not force the lever past the 100mm position.

Increasing Travel

From the 100 or 120 mm position, turn the lever clockwise to increase travel. Travel will be increased in 20mm increments. Do not force the lever past the 140mm position.

eng035