{"id":34013,"date":"2022-03-09T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=667262"},"modified":"2022-03-09T09:17:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T08:17:22","slug":"ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00d6hlins releases RXF34 m.2 downcountry fork"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Luke Marshall\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The new \u00d6hlins\u00a0 RXF34 m.2 is a new 34mm stanchion fork designed to replace the existing RXF34<\/a> trail\/all-mountain fork. For this new model, \u00d6hlins has dropped the 140mm and 160mm-travel<\/a> options by offering a 120mm and 130mm-travel fork dedicated to the growing aggro cross-country<\/a> \u2013 or, if you prefer, downcountry<\/a> \u2013 trend.<\/p>\n

As well as a new travel range, the RXF34 m.2 sports a new chassis, air spring and updated damper. Prices come in at \u00a31,185 \/ $1,180 USD \/ \u20ac1,294<\/p>\n

While there isn\u2019t a specific race market for this type of riding, \u00d6hlins claims to have developed it with the same high-end performance as its race products, including its highly successful \u00d6hlins DH38 m.1<\/a> fork, used by Lo\u00efc Bruni, and the newly released RXF38 m.2 enduro fork.<\/p>\n

\u00d6hlins RXF34 m.2 specification and details<\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The chassis is all new and has been designed to maximise stiffness for a competitive weight.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00d6hlins<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The new fork RXF34 m.2 is designed around a new chassis, and \u00d6hlins claims to have tailored the flex pattern for short-travel trail riding. The fork is designed to combine stiffness for point-and-shoot steering precision with lightweight construction to make it competitive against its rivals.<\/p>\n

Our 130mm test fork, with a 185mm steerer length, star nut and axle, weighed in at a competitive 1.74kg. For reference, the RockShox SID Ultimate<\/a>, which sports 35mm upper tubes, weighs in at 1,610g (120mm travel), while Fox\u2019s 34 SC<\/a> weighs 1,650g (though the non-Step Cast version of the 34 will weigh a little more).<\/p>\n

\u00d6hlins has used closed-end lower legs, which it says improve impact resistance and stiffness to provide better handling. Also, this design increases the air volume in the lower legs. That means the air in the lower legs doesn\u2019t affect the progression of the fork deep in the travel as much, and you can control the support more from just the air spring.<\/p>\n

The fork is available for 29in wheels<\/a> only, and has a 44mm offset and a 160mm post-mount brake mount. The maximum rotor size is 203mm.<\/p>\n

It also features the same floating-axle design as the RXF36 m.2 and RXF38 m.2. That aims to reduce friction by ensuring the lower legs are correctly aligned with the stanchions regardless of different manufacturing tolerances in hub widths.<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The floating-axle design on the RXF34 m.2 is intended to align the lower legs with the stanchions for minimum friction regardless of subtle changes in hub widths.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00d6hlins<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

OTX18 damper<\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The external compression adjustment on the RXF34 m.2 features 15 clicks of low-speed compression, a two-position high-speed compression setting and a climb mode.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00d6hlins<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

With weight savings playing a bigger role in the fork design and because it doesn\u2019t need to handle such hard impacts and high shaft speeds, \u00d6hlins decided a one-tube damper could manage the damping needs rather than the twin-tube dampers it uses in its gravity-focused forks. Hence the \u2018OT\u2019 naming convention for \u2018one-tube\u2019 rather than the \u2018TT\u2019 for \u2018twin-tube\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u00d6hlins claims with this new damper, it was able to achieve a weight saving of 27 per cent over the TTX18 damper.<\/p>\n

It still features external high- and low-speed compression and rebound damping. There are 15 low-speed compression and rebound clicks, two high-speed settings and a climb mode. \u00d6hlins states all of these settings are usable, and the range of adjustment isn\u2019t so extreme that the fork becomes dangerous or unrideable.<\/p>\n

The damper for the RXF34 m.2 is claimed to provide a better pedalling platform than its longer-travel cousins. Still, \u00d6hlins tells us it has spent a lot of time trying to achieve the best balance of traction, control and weight.<\/p>\n

\u00d6hlins has also produced a \u2018settings bank\u2019, which it distributes to its service partners. If you need to re-tune the damper, \u00d6hlins has a bank of shim stacks pre-determined that should work for riders who lie outside of the stock configuration or want something different.<\/p>\n

New air spring<\/h2>\n

For the RXF34 m.2, \u00d6hlins developed a new air spring, which forgoes its three-chamber design for a simpler two-chamber version and spring volume spacers to increase progression. This means the system is more like other forks on the market.<\/p>\n

You add air to the positive chamber to increase the spring rate, which self-equalises the negative chamber. That makes for a lightweight spring ideal for an aggro XC fork.<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The new air spring in the RXF34 m.2 uses a positive and self-equalising negative air chamber, plus spring spacers to tune progression.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00d6hlins<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00d6hlins says it designed the negative chamber for fast trail riding, where it wanted to keep good small-bump sensitivity for the beginning stroke. End-stroke ramp-up can be tailored with spring spacers, where it\u2019s possible to install up to five or six spacers depending on travel.<\/p>\n

Reducing friction was a crucial factor in the new spring. \u00d6hlins was keen to point out it worked hard on the spring\u2019s surface and the seals to minimise breakaway force and friction as much as possible.<\/p>\n

Initial ride impressions<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ll have a review of the fork soon, but here are a few of my thoughts after some initial rides.<\/p>\n

In testing, I\u2019ve found the fork drops into its travel easily, and that initial sensitivity through the first third of its travel helps to generate plenty of traction. Despite that suppleness, it won\u2019t use up the middle part of its travel too easily, and manages to still feel supportive when loading the bike through a turn or up the face of a jump.<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The mid-stroke support is good on the RXF34 m.2 and still offers a plush feeling for on-trail comfort.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00d6hlins<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The RX34 m.2 remains high enough in its travel to keep the front end feeling confident on rougher and downhill trails. Still, it dramatically softens the square-edge hits from roots, rocks and holes on the trail. Rugged bike park red runs and natural off-piste tracks are dispatched with control and composure.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t expect it to ride like a 150mm fork, but it\u2019s still impressive in chunky terrain for its travel. I used three tokens in the 130mm-travel fork, and progression was close to spot-on, where I managed to get almost full travel without any harsh bottom-outs.<\/p>\n

When riding flowing trails, that support enables you to help pump the bike to maintain and generate speed. The range of low-speed compression damping was very usable, and turning the dial made for useful adjustments.<\/p>\n

For high-speed flow trails and easy jump lines, I wound the low-speed compression on around 10 of the 15 clicks, which allowed me to feel committed to hitting turns at speed.<\/p>\n

\""There's\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s a smooth ramp-up through the end-stroke that avoids harsh spikes. The progression can be tailored with spring spacers if needed.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00d6hlins<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

I never found the chassis limited the fork\u2019s performance, or that it was overly flexible for its use. I\u2019ve been impressed with RXF34 m.2 so far and look forward to putting it through its paces more to discover its limits and how it compares to similar offerings.<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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By Luke Marshall Published: Wednesday, 09 March 2022 at 12:00 am The new \u00d6hlins\u00a0 RXF34 m.2 is a new 34mm stanchion fork designed to replace the existing RXF34 trail\/all-mountain fork. For this new model, \u00d6hlins has dropped the 140mm and 160mm-travel options by offering a 120mm and 130mm-travel fork dedicated to the growing aggro cross-country […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":34014,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork.jpg",2500,1667,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/03\/ohlins-releases-rxf34-m-2-downcountry-fork-2048x1366.jpg",2048,1366,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Luke Marshall Published: Wednesday, 09 March 2022 at 12:00 am The new \u00d6hlins\u00a0 RXF34 m.2 is a new 34mm stanchion fork designed to replace the existing RXF34 trail\/all-mountain fork. For this new model, \u00d6hlins has dropped the 140mm and 160mm-travel options by offering a 120mm and 130mm-travel fork dedicated to the growing aggro cross-country…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/34013"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}