The all-new Öhlins RXF34 m.2 is a very revamped 29er downcountry fork constructed to get probably the most out of the most recent crop of long-travel XC, marathon, and short-travel path bikes. Considerably lighter with simplified single air internals & shorter 120/130m journey, the second technology RXF34 is a very completely different animal, but nonetheless able to make your light-weight, short-travel path bike quicker and extra enjoyable…
Öhlins RXF34 120/130mm mild path fork
Premium Swedish suspension maker Öhlins has been updating & upgrading their mountain bike forks with m.2 (mark two) variations of their 140-170mm RXF36 all-mountain path & 160-180mm RXF38 enduro/freeride forks. Now the smaller 34mm stanchion fork will get its personal overhaul, dialed again to 120-130mm of journey to pair to trendy 100-130mm journey cross-country, downcountry, and light-weight path bikes.
Öhlins says, “Trendy short-travel bike design wants suspension to match. The RXF34 m.2 is designed to maximise enjoyment of the downcountry driving model. Go quick. Hold momentum.”
What’s new?
new OTX18 damper internals
The key to large weight financial savings is a model new 27% lighter OTX18 downcountry damper, optimized for shorter journey, lighter bikes, and less-aggressive driving kinds. An evolution of the dual tube separated oil circuits & 2+1 air chambers of the gravity-ready TTX18, this new one tube OTX18 damper nonetheless will get the identical 18mm inside piston however a simplified 1+1 optimistic & self-adjusting adverse air chamber that Ohlins says is best suited to quick, light-weight path bikes.
The simplified damper nonetheless will get premium fine-tuning adjustability, with 15 clicks of low-speed compression, 15 clicks of rebound modify, plus 3-position high-speed compression for totally open descending, supportive path & locked-out climb mode.
new air quantity spacers
In actual fact, there’s much more adjustability now, as Ohlins has added an easy-to-use air quantity spacer system that permits the rider to easily snap collectively as much as 5-6 quantity spacers to switch the air spring curve to their liking.
Plus, Ohlins gives a big database of setting that they’ve examined, ridden, and may advocate for mountain bikers seeking to additional customise their experience.
Stiffness has all the time been a key goal for Ohlins forks for exact steering and general predictable dealing with, and the brand new RXF34 m.2 is alleged to have acquired a brand new “flex sample tailor-made for light-weight path driving”. The fork’s closed-end lowers assist increase stiffness, enhance air quantity & path sturdiness, letting the fork ship clean small bump sensitivity & plush journey so mountain bikers can tune to their particular person driving model.
Tech particulars
The brand new RXF34 m.2 is a 29er-only mountain bike suspension fork with 44mm offset, and the choice for 120mm or 130mm of journey. Despite the fact that it incorporates a less complicated single air OTX18 damper, journey continues to be not simply adjustable, however it’s now no less than doable. Swapping from one to the opposite appears to require a whole fork service and substitute of a number of the damper’s internals.
The brand new downcountry fork sticks with the identical 34mm stanchions, one-piece crown & steerer, and floating axle design that makes use of a pinch bolt along with the usual 15mm bolt-on axle so as to lower axle friction whereas sustaining excessive stiffness. The brand new fork after all will get up to date to trendy Enhance spacing.
The shorter journey, lighter Öhlins RXF34 m.2 fork is alleged to weigh simply 1698g (with out quantity spacers) and continues to be rated for eMTB use. Designed for 160mm publish mount brakes, you may bolt as much as a 203mm rotor, and match as much as a 29 x 2.6″ tire.
Ohlins RXF34 – Pricing, choices & availability
The all-new Öhlins RXF34 m.2 fork is on the market to order beginning right this moment, changing the authentic, manufacturing facility preset to both 120mm (531mm axle-crown) or 130mm (541mm a-c). Both journey variant of the revamped downcountry fork will set you again the identical $1180 / £1185 / 1294€, as you purpose to improve your brief journey 29er path bike.
First Journey Impressions
We’ve had the brand new RXF34 m.2 fork for only some brief weeks, however have been squeezing quick path rides in between breaks in snow and freezing climate. Swapping out the inventory Fox 34 Step Solid fork on the Canyon Lux Path, the brand new Ohlins fork added a bit of additional weight, however a noticeably increase in stiffness and confidence on technical trails.
Try our detailed First Rides impressions and the precise Öhlins RXF34 m.2 weight.
