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<\/a><\/p>\nRFX 36 Trail\u00a0Fork<\/h3>\n
While inheriting the name from the previous model, the fork has been redesigned in every detail, from the lowers to the uppers, from the hydraulic cartridge to the spring, both for the air version and the coil sprung version.\u00a0In addition, the new RXF 36 Trail is decorated with the same graphics introduced by the\u00a0TTX DH presented in June<\/a>, which marks the new course of \u00d6hlins products.<\/p>\n Anyways,\u00a0about that lower leg assembly – it is equipped with massive ribs to increase the torsional rigidity and a new\u00a0arch that accepts tires up to 2.8″ both on 27.5″ and 29″, or 3.2″ for those who use the 29″ version with 27.5″ Plus wheels.<\/p>\n The RXF 36 Trail with air cartridge is available in a range of travel, ranging from 120 to 180mm while the spring version options range from 130 to 170mm, regardless of preload.<\/p>\n The\u00a0steerer tube\/crown has been redesigned to ensure greater stiffness, thanks to increased purchase between the crown and steerer. According to \u00d6hlins, it has the same rigidity as the first version of the RXF series, where the steerer tube and\u00a0crown were made of one piece.<\/p>\n The crown\/steerer\u00a0offers different offset options, to meet current market demands including the Speed \u200b\u200bBalanced Geometry introduced by Transition.\u00a0The 27.5 “version is available with an offset of 38 and 46mm while for the 29” version, the choice for offset is between 51 or 44mm.<\/p>\n Within the\u00a0lower leg assembly, we find some measures aimed at improving performance in terms of smoothness.\u00a0SKF seals provide less friction and improve performance in wet conditions.\u00a0The stanchions have a new surface treatment that reduces friction and wear.\u00a0The bushings are internally polished to optimize smoothness and have had a fine tuning following numerous tests by Enduro and DH athletes.<\/p>\n Now for\u00a0the heart of the RXF 36 Trail fork, the new TTX 18 hydraulic cartridge comes from the new DH fork and replaces the previous TTX 22 cartridge. As the name implies, the new cartridge has a piston diameter of 18mm combined with a shaft\u00a0that remains the same diameter as the previous cartridge, so the different proportion determines a more progressive behavior, with a greater initial sensitivity and a greater support.<\/p>\n The piston is also equipped with a new band ring, which ensures better operation of the cartridge,\u00a0 improving sensitivity and responsiveness of the fork.\u00a0The operation of the TTX 18 cartridge is customizable both in compression and in extension by setting the reed valve at the authorized \u00d6hlins centers, or local service centers.<\/p>\n The RXF 36 Trail has three means\u00a0of external hydraulic adjustment: 15\u00a0clicks of rebound,\u00a015 clicks of\u00a0low speed compression, and at high speed compression, five positions – by way of an easy access lever that offers four positions dedicated to\u00a0descending and the fifth, and firmest, dedicated to climbing.\u00a0The range of each\u00a0click\u00a0is calibrated according to the actual needs of use so it is fully\u00a0usable without “extreme” positions that would remain untouched.<\/p>\n The air spring cartridge retains the three-chamber system of the previous model, with the positive chamber and the negative chamber inflating from the same valve and automatically equalizing, while the chamber dedicated to the bottom out inflates by means of a special valve positioned below the right leg and allows you to adjust the progressiveness of the bottom of the stroke.\u00a0Compared to the previous cartridge, the volume of the negative chamber has been increased.<\/p>\n The new RXF 36 Trail in the Coil version is equipped with high-strength steel springs that offer a 10% lower weight compared to the same\u00a0rates of the previous version.\u00a0The range of springs available has also been increased so that each rider can find the right one for his weight and riding style.\u00a0Thanks to an external adjuster, it is possible to fine tune the spring’s preload.<\/p>\n There is some big news also in the realm of shock absorbers for the Swedish brand with the TTX Air – an entirely new high performance unit that replaces the current STX22.\u00a0The TTX Air inherits the proven Twin Tube hydraulic system from the prestigious TTX-22M spring-loaded “big brother”, a detail that already shows a clear evolution compared to the STX22.<\/p>\n \u00d6hlins technicians have worked hard to offer a performance\u00a0air shock adapted to the TTX hydraulics.\u00a0Based on the experience gained from the STX22 and taking advantage of the greater space available thanks to the metric sizing, they worked together on four key points closely related to each other: smoothness, performance, durability and lateral stiffness.\u00a0The result is a shock absorber with a wide range of use, from trail to DH.<\/p>\n To satisfy these four points, a lot of work has focused on the choice of the best dynamic seals produced by Swedish brand, Trelleborg, with improved tolerances,\u00a0and a special grease that maintains a high level of performance for a long time, leaving a lasting lubrication film on the moving parts.\u00a0Another important aspect on which engineers have improved\u00a0concerns the volume of air chambers, both positive and negative, and their reciprocal proportions.<\/p>\n As for the positive chamber, \u00d6hlins offers volume spacers to manage the compression curve.\u00a0In the TTX Air there are five of them installed and can be reduced or increased with those supplied in the package, up to a maximum of nine spacers, for a total of ten different configurations.\u00a0Inserting or removing the spacers, or performing maintenance on the air spring, is\u00a0very simple and does not involve any intervention of the hydraulic parts.<\/p>\n The compression\u00a0adjusters at low speed and rebound are located on the opposite side of the STX22 and require an Allen key for adjustment.\u00a0The LSC register allows a range of 10 positions.\u00a0The register in rebound instead offers 12 positions.\u00a0On the other side of the piggy back you’ll find the lever that allows you to adjust the high speed compression\u00a0between 3 preset positions.<\/p>\n Position 2 is the configuration recommended by \u00d6hlins for maximum support and the best reactivity from the shock, especially in the racing arena or wherever you want to squeeze out the best performance on mixed terrain.\u00a0Position 1, on the other hand, reduces\u00a0damping and is recommended for very rough and fast terrain, to improve shock absorption and wheel grip on the ground.\u00a0The third position is called P and offers the\u00a0most\u00a0damping of the shock absorber for climbing.\u00a0This is not a lockout,\u00a0but instead a stabilization that\u00a0still allows for the shock to open up when you encounter rough terrain on the climbs.<\/p>\n The TTX is available in eight different lengths, four of them in the trunnion version.\u00a0For each\u00a0length version, thanks to special spacers, there are four stroke options with a 2.5mm difference between each option.\u00a0The hydraulics offer the possibility\u00a0of being calibrated specifically, both in compression and in extension, according to the suspension system on which the TTX Air will be used as well as according to the rider’s weight\/style.<\/p>\n As anticipated, the J\u00e4rvs\u00f6 bike park, in spite of\u00a0lacking elevation\u00a0compared to the bike parks we are used to in the Alps, offers numerous tracks with different characteristics and difficulties, from jumps and\u00a0berms\u00a0to technical DH full of rock gardens.\u00a0The compact, sandy soil perfectly drained the rain that fell during the test day, allowing us to\u00a0get some solid time testing\u00a0the new \u00d6hlins suspension.\u00a0The Specialized Enduro 29 I used was fitted with a TTX Air shock absorber and a RXF 36 Trail 29 Coil fork,\u00a0set up\u00a0with the most suitable possible spring for my weight.<\/p>\n To be more precise, my weight falls between two springs, then, recommended by \u00d6hlins technicians, I opted for the harder of the two without any preload, to have my fork sit up in its travel a bit better.\u00a0However, I was able to appreciate excellent initial sensitivity and\u00a0perfect\u00a0fluidity throughout the\u00a0travel, with a very balanced compression curve, supported at the center and slightly progressive in the final part.\u00a0I tried to dabble with low speed\u00a0compression,\u00a0and deviate from the\u00a07 clicks from full open that was recommended by \u00d6hlins technicians. As it would turn out, their setting was perfect for the bike park in J\u00e4rvs\u00f6,\u00a0but\u00a0I noticed the slight changes\u00a0were\u00a0effective at every click.\u00a0Regarding the speed of the return I preferred to reduce the damping\u00a0by two clicks compared to the initial setting to get a more lively suspension that was better balanced with the behavior of the shock, noticing an improvement of the front end grip, especially in the corners with braking bumps and in\u00a0jank.\u00a0For high-speed compression I instead mainly used the first three positions according to the type of\u00a0trails, while the last two positions with\u00a0heavier damping\u00a0are more suitable for climbing.\u00a0The structural rigidity of the fork is remarkable its handling is precise and intuitive, making me further appreciate the lively and full-bodied behavior of the hydraulics, noticing an improvement in the grip of the front axle, especially in the\u00a0rough turns.\u00a0For high-speed compression I have instead mainly used the first three positions according to the type of routes, while the last two positions with greater braking are more suitable for climbing.<\/p>\n The TTX Air shock absorber was sensitive and\u00a0lively, with performance attributes comparable to those of an excellent coil sprung shock absorber.\u00a0The liveliness was also appreciated in the transition from the compression phase\u00a0into the extension, absolutely immediate and imperceptible, devoid of any stall.\u00a0Effective hydraulics allow you to keep a very low\u00a0damping in rebound and enjoy maximum responsiveness without the bike getting tired or nervous.\u00a0I mainly used position 2 of the high speed compression\u00a0adjuster, moving the lever to position 1 exclusively for very rough tracks.\u00a0In position 2 the shock absorber was pleasantly supportive and felt most effective at providing mid travel support while still having plenty of sensitivity\u00a0and absorption capacity. That gave a balanced mix that helped keep the geometry of the bike neutral in every riding situation.\u00a0In position 1 the absorption capacity increases both on the important impacts and on the bumps in rapid succession, slightly to the detriment of the stability and the balancing of the geometries, so I compensated with an extra click at low speed with good results.\u00a0The few hundred meters in altitude of the J\u00e4rvs\u00f6 bike park are certainly not the best yardstick for this factor, but it should be emphasized that at the end of the descent the shock had never shown signs of overheating.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nTTX Air shock absorber<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nOn the trail<\/h3>\n
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