looking for best Fox fork for my Spyder. Spyder is on order (grey, size large with Fox AVA shock).
I like the Talas a lot, as the travel & geometry can be set from 85-125mm. I think I will like the additional travel of 100+mm for general riding, but for racing (climbing) the geometry may be more suitable when set at 85mm.
Or I was considering a slightly lighter Float RLC100mm. 100mm will better match the Spyder's rear shock, but I am thinking the 85mm setting of the Talas will be easier to climb with.

Talas? Float? RLC or RL?

any recommendations are appreciated.

jeff

looking for best Fox fork for my Spyder. Spyder is on order (grey, size large with Fox AVA shock).
I like the Talas a lot, as the travel & geometry can be set from 85-125mm. I think I will like the additional travel of 100+mm for general riding, but for racing (climbing) the geometry may be more suitable when set at 85mm.
Or I was considering a slightly lighter Float RLC100mm. 100mm will better match the Spyder's rear shock, but I am thinking the 85mm setting of the Talas will be easier to climb with.

Talas? Float? RLC or RL?

any recommendations are appreciated.

jeff


I am using FOX 100 RLC and I really like it. You can adjust the 100RLC to 80mm if you wish. I was told when I'd purchased my Spider that if I install the FOX Talas 125, my warranty will be void.

Good luck

2wheeler-

who told you about the warranty thing...Intense or the LBS? Did you ask them which fork to run, or did they tell you that you shouldn't run any fork over 100mm?
I'd like the option of changing travel/geometry very often on the TALAS if poss. Changing the Float RLC100 form 80 to 100mm (and vice versa) isn't something that you'd want to do before every ride.

Do you run your RLC100 mostly at 100mm? How does it feel for steep climbs...does the front end wander?

I am using FOX 100 RLC and I really like it. You can adjust the 100RLC to 80mm if you wish. I was told when I'd purchased my Spider that if I install the FOX Talas 125, my warranty will be void.

Good luck

I'll second the 100RLC, I feel the bike is very well balanced with this fork. Climbs very well with out any kind of wandering and it is sooo nice on the downhills. I thought of the TALAS but weight and the fact I would only to change the travel maybe 1 percent of the time.

-Bill

Intense people are the one who told me that do not use the Talas125. I like the 100RLC espeially on a downhill, it climbs really good but not as good as my hardtail with Rox Shox SID.

I contacted the guys at intense. They said that the geometry on their website is was measured using a 80 mm fork.

I'm in same boat you are. I test rode a spider with a 100 mm fork and thought the front end was way too tall. So I decided to go with the 85mm marzocchi marathon sl.

i have seen many responses in the last 2 days. looks like the TALAS is out as Intense won't warranty this scenario (how would they know?!). anyways, I am now between the F100X (TerraLogic) and the 100RLC. Both will jack up the front end of the bike slightly more than an 80mm fork, but why would I want just 80mm up front when I have about 4" in the back. An 80mm fork only makes sense on a 3-3.5" bike, like my Fuel 100 or an NRS air or somethig similar.

I really want to know how the differences in climbing on the Spyder with both the F100X and the 100 RLC.

i have seen many responses in the last 2 days. looks like the TALAS is out as Intense won't warranty this scenario (how would they know?!). anyways, I am now between the F100X (TerraLogic) and the 100RLC. Both will jack up the front end of the bike slightly more than an 80mm fork, but why would I want just 80mm up front when I have about 4" in the back. An 80mm fork only makes sense on a 3-3.5" bike, like my Fuel 100 or an NRS air or somethig similar.

I really want to know how the differences in climbing on the Spyder with both the F100X and the 100 RLC.

I was just simply stating what the spider was designed around.

If you set up sag properly on the rear with an 80 mm fork you should be getting about 3-3.5 inches of travel in the rear. And since you don't set up your front fork for sag, this becomes a balanced bike. I fought the question about 80 vs 100 mm forks for a while but it was not until I rode a spider properly set up that my choice was made.

If the Spider is my only bike, then I would set my Fox 100RLC to 80mm. With 100mm set up it does not climb as good as it supposed to be. I just bought a 2004 NRS AIR and I am going to install the F80X for cross country set up.

I've run a Spider for almost a year and started with an 80mm SID team. The bike handled great but as with any 71d headtube it just isn't too inspiring going down or at high speed. About 6 months ago I moved to a 100mm Manitou Minute and have not looked back. If you set up your bars at the same height as they where with an 80mm fork the bike will climb just the same. The only question is do you want a 71 or 70 degree head angle. I find that 70 is a better all around setting. It sacrifices very little in handling but the extra 20mm and slight bit of stability gained make all the difference in the rough stuff. I've noticed a lot of race type bike are now coming standard with 100mm forks and slightly slacker 70ish head angles.