Mild path bikes are getting extra burly, so Öhlins has up to date its light-weight RXF34 m.2 fork with a brand new longer 140mm journey possibility. And since enduro, gravity, and downhill riders are at all times seeking to get extra out of their suspension, Öhlins has extra new improve choices for them too. New coil spring cartridge kits make the swap from air to coil suspension simpler than ever for riders with RXF38 m.2 enduro or DH38 m.1 downhill forks.
Öhlins RXF34 m.2 140mm fork brings extra journey to path bikes
Öhlins Racing calls the longer RXF34 an growth of its “footprint within the short-travel path class”. It’s based mostly on the success of the downcountry 120/130mm RXF34 m.2 that we reviewed two seasons in the past. You get that very same stiffness and plush experience, bringing the identical efficiency improve to short-travel path bikes. Öhlins already referred to as the 2nd-gen RXF34 a trail-ready fork. Now, they’re backing that up with correct trail-ready journey.
What carries over and what’s new within the 140mm RXF34 m.2?
Tech-wise, the longer journey variant is just about the identical as 2022’s RXF34 m.2 that we coated intimately, right here. It will get the identical 34mm stanchions, identical “trail-optimized” OTX18 damper, and straightforward volume-adjustable 2xAir 31 air spring with self-balancing optimistic & unfavourable stress chambers. It retains the floating Enhance axle, 44mm offset, and max 29 x 2.6″ tire clearance.
What’s new is after all the additional journey, bumped as much as 140mm. With that’s an up to date crown and steerer tube combo that’s a bit beefier to deal with the longer journey, and extra aggressive driving that comes with it.
That additionally means you could’t merely improve the earlier forks to 140mm with a easy air cartridge swap – like you can between 120 or 130mm. However it is possible for you to to downsize this new 140mm fork to 120/130mm sooner or later, if wanted.
Weight-wise, the brand new 140mm fork is simply over 50g heavier than its shorter predecessors. Now, the Öhlins RXF34 m.2 140mm hits a brand new claimed 1752g. Pricing is formally the identical because the shorter variants. Nevertheless it has elevated a bit since we final checked, now promoting for 1450€. Whereas it’s formally obtainable now, we haven’t but seen it in inventory in Europe direct from Öhlins.
Öhlins RXF38 enduro & DH38 downhill fork coil kits, and coil forks
The brand new cartridge-based spring kits make upgrading from the inventory RXF38 m.2 & DH38 m.1 air forks a less complicated proposition. Nevertheless it additionally means gravity racers can simply swap backwards and forwards between coil and air springs. So, racers get the suspension experience traits they like for various tracks.
The idea behind going from air to coil springs is usually a smoother, extra linear efficiency from the suspension, with improved small bump sensitivity. Plus, improved sturdiness from the easier coil spring, and constant efficiency in altering temperature and atmospheric stress circumstances. However with the already extensive air spring tuning vary in Öhlins’ 38mm fork platform, that is additionally about simply giving racers less difficult tuning prospects. And serving to riders steadiness fork efficiency with the coil rear shocks they typically have on their huge journey bikes.
“At Öhlins, our mission has at all times been to push the boundaries of suspension efficiency and supply riders with the game-changing expertise they should elevate their driving expertise… With the introduction of those new coil choices, we’re delivering on that promise. We’re providing riders a seamless answer to attain the sleek, constant experience really feel they crave, whether or not they’re tackling lengthy technical descents or having fun with a session on the bike park.”
– Thomas Westfeldt, Öhlins Racing MTB Senior Supervisor
Two new separate coil kits can be found for $180 / 182€ to suit the newest RXF38 m.2 and DH38 m.1 forks. Plus, one other $58 / 59€ to get the springs to match your weight.
The brand new coil kits are additionally now provided as a inventory construct possibility on the 170mm journey RXF38 m.2 Coil TTX18 enduro fork for $1675 / 1689€. Or on the whole 200mm journey DH38 m.1 Coil TTX18 29er downhill fork for $1395 / 1407€. Get all of them now, out of your native Öhlins MTB seller.
