Speaking at the Sea Otter with Fox Racing Shox's Mark Jordan, we learned that from now onward, all Float 34 CTD forks with strokes over 120 millimeters, and all Float CTD shocks will have new, more aggressive compression tunes. It seems that the folks at Fox finally heeded rider feedback about the 34 fork riding low in its travel and diving under braking. The new tune ads both low and high-speed compression damping forces to the stock tunes and a reconfigured air-spring provides slightly more rising rate. Mark says that the result is a smoother feeling fork that requires about five PSI less air pressure to attain a stable ride height - and far less dive in the fork under all riding conditions. Playing with the fork reveals that there may be truth in Fox's claims. We will report back soon after some proper testing, but from the small feel we got at the Otter, the 34 will be back on the must-have list this season.
A look at the 2014 Fox 34 TALAS CTD fork - Standard travel options are 160/130mm or 140/110mm, and all wheel sizes are supported.
CTD Settings Boosted Changes in the damping include stronger tunes for the three low-speed compression options afforded by the black dial beneath the CT lever, which are engaged only when the 'Trail' position has been selected. The 'Climb' position has been boosted considerably as well to deliver a more cross-country feel under power. The original CTD forks had a tendency to blow through their travel and mush around under braking would solve the problem by switching to the firmer 'Trail' option and use its adjustable low-speed compression feature to address the fork's deficiency. The resulting fix returned the favor with a harsher-than-optimal ride. The new tunes return the fork's mid-speed smoothness and more importantly, provides much-needed ride height stability under braking and descending situations.
With all three options tuned to useful values, the 34 Float CTD system should become the versatile tool that Fox intended it to be. Turn the new TALAS dial and you get quick, well-defined travel changes on the fly.
Improved TALAS SystemAs reported earlier, Float TALAS forks have been redesigned, but now we have the hard info about exactly how and why the changes have been made. Earlier TALAS travel adjustments mechs used air transfer to alter the fork stroke. The new system employs a more simple and far more precise-feeling hydraulic mechanism to change travel lengths. Fox says that the new TALAS system has fewer seals and thus a smoother feel throughout its stroke. The simple bypass-valve design also can be easily configured to provide almost any travel variation that an OEM customer would need. On the damping side, TALAS forks now share the same damping system that standard Float forks use - a step up from the less-sensitive cartridge that was built around the original TALAS system. The new damper and travel-adjust cartridge will retrofit into forks using last year's design.
Inside the New Float X CTD Reservoir Shock Fox expanded upon the information it released earlier on its new Float X CTD reservoir shock, saying that its damping and spring rates are specifically intended for enduro competition and went further, indicating that certain teams are testing the air-sprung damper to provide a potential pedaling advantage at select World Cup DH venues. The Float X CTD shock has a remote CTD option, and with the Worlds being held at South Africa, we should expect to see some additional trickery in the bikes beyond last year's dropper posts.
Those in search of a performance boost over the venerable Float CTD shock can buy up to the new Float X CTD reservoir damper. Fox says that it is almost a DH shock, but much nearer to XC weight.
Damping on the new shock is tuned in the reverse of the changes made on the DHX damper this year. The DHX now has a smaller-diameter shock shaft to pump less fluid through the reservoir's control valves and to transfer more of the mid-stroke damping through the shock's more-sensitive main damping pistons. Float X CTD shocks pump a slightly greater percentage of fluid into the reservoir under compression to enhance the action of the CTD valve.
Good: a rider's view from the cockpit shows how much more accessible the CTD controls are on the new Float X CTD shock. Not so good: To keep the Float X lightweight and reliable, Fox chose to tuck the rebound dial into a crevice in the sealhead. Slots are provided so you can use a small Allen key to turn the dial.
Why All the Changes? What is all of this about? Well, it is no secret that the 34 has replaced the larger-stanchion 36 as the slider of choice for pro enduro racers and we expect that those boys and girls are riding custom tunes that led to the revamping of production Float 34 CTD forks. That Fox moved the CTD controls to the side of the shock, where they are readily accessible on the fly and boosted the pedaling platform. That, and and the addition of the remote option, pretty much shouts that the new shock is specifically targeted at enduro racing and the enduro riding style.
There is a strong wind blowing that we will see an air-sprung 36 lineup this year that shares the negative titanium coil-spring technology of the recently released 40 DH fork. Until then, the 34 will continue to rule the 160-millimeter-travel Enduro class. Prepare for a conclusive tests of the improved and redesigned Fox 34 Float CTD forks and the new Float X CTD shock in the very near future. Now, it's back to the Sea Otter Classic.
- RC
more experienced riders' preferences will go to a higher level shock that has lsc/hsc, hsr/lsr or at the very least a custom tune. The float x is gonna try doing what the rs monarch plus has been doing with vivid-like damping. Fox will most likely change the size/volume of the float's air can for more compression by next sea-otter! so wait 2yrs bfore you ooh and ahh
You know it's more than just lil kids whining...Fox is an amazing brand and definitely one of the better more mainstream shock brands out there. Most of the other brands are fairly cheapy-like (rough comparison) or brought over their crappy "moto technology" cause they knew in the MTB industry it would pass off as new lol. Simply brand loyalty and not wanting to see a good company go down a line/road that won't be good for consumer and company. Voicing opinion is just as valid as not choosing to buy as well. No one wants to be put in that position where no one spoke up and Fox ended up putting CTD ON EVERYTHING lol..then you'd lose a good company and be forced to move to another brand..
1) Confirms that I'm not crazy, and the fork either is too harsh, or sags too much, no matter how many mini-pssssst's (Technical term) of air I adjust
2) Pisses me off that I spent all of this money on my 34 with Crap Tuning Disaster. Fox should implement an upgrade program for those of us that feel like we got stiffed with failed tuning.
When is Cane Creek going to make a fork, so I can even my bike out?
For the record, I am very stoked on my new CC shock and Zoke fork.
Now it's only my first bike, so I really don't know if it's something I'll notice right away. I try to stay in the mindset where I don't want to care too much about the bike/components. I just want to get out and ride and have fun. But what exactly is the problem that people are finding? Is there anything I can do early on to help at least a little bit? I'm still trying to figure out exactly how to set up my suspension. I'm 200lbs and I'm not sure what PSI I should be at, and what sag I'm looking for. The AutoSag doesnt seem do to do shit. I pump it up to like 250psi and sit on it and use the autosag, and then I get a sag closer to 40%. I'm thinking about getting the Air Volume Reducer but I'm not sure if that will help. I've been looking for a good post or guide to setting up CTD suspension and I can find one. Anyone have any recommendations? I'd appreciate it a lot.
I think it's great that you've recognized that the compression tuning is flawed. But, you really owe it to the current CTD owners to allow them to upgrade at a relatively low (or no) cost.
I say, if you're spending quite a bit of coin on a bike, then you should damn learn how to set it up properly.
-"Oh wait... we're charging a lot for the name, while removing their ability to properly tune their own equipment? Oh well... we still have their money!"
A smart way to double the sales.
"After accepting they released a sub par product for 2013, Fox are offering all CTD owners complementary upgrades to 2014 spec"
Oh no wait I'm dreaming. I'm sure they will have another fancy new system for 2015 anyway.
It is unreasonable, since every reputable reviewer -- including here on Pikebike -- was panning CTD from the beginning that it took Fox this long to fix it. (If it is fixed now.) IMO, of course.
I will be waiting a bit this time to see if the float X lives up to the promise.
160 mode option, narly will go 160/170, on my bike I'll be running an XFusion HLR air front and HLR air rear, for 140/150 mode is 13 Float CTD front n rear for most Enduro, if 14 tunes not available and if XFusion is as good as many say, maybe a Slant 34 and Microlite will replace ctd, otherwise option 3 is Pike and Monarch plus.
Crap, broken first ride. WTF?
Should have come here first.
Damn you Fox, I had a pike on my old pitch and thought I was getting a worthy upgrade.