TALAS X

Installing Your Fork  |  Before You Ride  |  Setting Sag  |  Adjusting Rebound  |  Adjusting Bump Threshold  |  Changing Travel  |  Service Intervals  |  Important Safety Information

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 manufacturer’s 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.

2. Set the lever in the long travel position and cycle the fork a few times.

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

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

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

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

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.

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.

Adjusting Bump Threshold

Bump threshold is adjusted with the blue knob located on the bottom of the right fork leg. This gives the rider the ability to adjust the force required to cause the BrassMass valve to open, depending on the bump input from the trail. Turn the knob clockwise to make it harder for the BrassMass valve to open (higher bump threshold), counterclockwise to make it easier for the BrassMass valve to open (lower bump threshold).

There are 22 clicks of adjustment. The factory setting is full out (counterclockwise), then 6 clicks in (clockwise).

TrailTune

When FOX Racing Shox began to investigate using the patented TerraLogic technology on a longer travel, more trail-oriented fork, the conclusion was reached that what works for the racer does not necessarily work for the trail rider. FOX massaged the compression damping circuitry to allow for a little more low-speed compliance than the full-race oriented lockout on the FX line of forks. With TrailTune, when the Brass Mass is closed and the fork stiffens up, there is still some oil-flow, allowing the fork to move over small impacts, but there is still plenty of low-speed compression damping to filter out rider induced “bob." And, once the going gets rough, the BrassMass valve reacts instantly and the fork works with all the plush, smooth, bump eating precision that FOX forks are famous for.

Changing Travel

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.

Decreasing Travel

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.

Increasing Travel

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.

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