TALAS RLC (OE EDITION)
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 in. / 130 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, or OE-specific paint scheme |
Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. Clicking on the link above will take you to a new page.
Check that quick-release levers are properly adjusted and tightened.
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.
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.
Check headset adjustment. If loose, adjust according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Check that brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
Check that the front and rear brakes operate properly on flat land.
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.
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.
Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
Using the Air Spring Settings table below, pump your fork to the appropriate setting using the FOX High Pressure Pump, then remove the pump.
Install a zip tie with light friction on the upper tube and push it down until it contacts the fork seal.
Carefully sit on the bike and assume a normal riding position. The fork should compress slightly.
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.
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.
Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.
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 |
Travel |
XC/Race FIRM |
All-Mountain PLUSH |
90 mm (3.5") |
13mm (1/2") |
18mm (3/4") |
110 mm (4.25") |
16mm (3/5") |
22mm 7/8") |
130 mm (5") |
19mm (3/4") |
26mm (1") |
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.
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 rider’s 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.
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.
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 |
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 |
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. |
32MM TALAS forks feature three externally adjustable travel choices from 5” (130mm) to 4.25"(110mm) to 3.5” (90mm), 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.
From the 130 or 110 mm position, turn the lever counterclockwise to decrease travel. Travel will be decreased in 20mm increments. Do not force the lever past the 90mm position.
From the 90 or 110 mm position, turn the lever clockwise to increase travel. Travel will be increased in 20mm increments. Do not force the lever past the 130mm position.