Gear Shots #26

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Avid Code disc brakes, Fox 36 Talas RC2 fork, Dakine Defender gloves - all new, all good. Check it out (http://www.nsmb.com/gear/gear_shots26_11_06.php).

[mace2]

Thanks for the article. Great text and great pictures.

I'm curious though, what's the difference between the Talas and the Van? Is the Van for harder riding?

[seand]

stu -

do the codes use the same lever as the juicy? I'm curious if one can just interchange their juicy levers with code levers in the unfortunate breakage from a crash...

[cam@nsmb.com]

Thanks for the article. Great text and great pictures.

I'm curious though, what's the difference between the Talas and the Van? Is the Van for harder riding?

I guess I should have made that more clear.

The Van is coil sprung and has no travel adjustment. It's also slightly heavier - a couple of hundred grams I would suspect. The Talas RC2 is slightly over 5 lbs and the Van RC2 is 5.45 lbs.

It depends on your priorities. If it's all about going down and the performance during that glorious phase then get the Van. If you'd like to drop some weight and have the ability to drop your ride height and travel the Talas is your best bet.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

stu -

do the codes use the same lever as the juicy? I'm curious if one can just interchange their juicy levers with code levers in the unfortunate breakage from a crash...

Sean - are you talking lever blade itself, or entire body? If it's the lever blade, I'd have to say no due to different position for reach adjustment screw, and different design for the lever pivot. I'll find out, though.

I do know that you can run the Code calipers with a Juicy lever body, though. Some of the pros are running Juicy Ultimates lever bodies with Code calipers.

[biggles604]

I guess I should have made that more clear.

The Van is coil sprung and has no travel adjustment. It's also slightly heavier - a couple of hundred grams I would suspect. The Talas RC2 is slightly over 5 lbs and the Van RC2 is 5.45 lbs.

It depends on your priorities. If it's all about going down and the performance during that glorious phase then get the Van. If you'd like to drop some weight and have the ability to drop your ride height and travel the Talas is your best bet.
I've heard many reports of the talas losing travel over time, seems like it loses 11mm, which points to something systematic. It should be fixed for 07.
From my experience on my 07 36RC2, unless you need the travel adjust, the Talas isn't really worth it, you save less than a quarter of a pound and lose the plushness of the coil spring.

Cam, you didn't even mention how amazingly stiff these forks are ;)

[teflon_cock]

Cam,
Did you get the try the 07 Marzocchi All Mountain SL1 during at the Bomber test camp earlier this year? How does it compare with the Fox 36 RC2 Talas?

[seand]

Sean - are you talking lever blade itself, or entire body? If it's the lever blade, I'd have to say no due to different position for reach adjustment screw, and different design for the lever pivot. I'll find out, though.

I do know that you can run the Code calipers with a Juicy lever body, though. Some of the pros are running Juicy Ultimates lever bodies with Code calipers.


I meant levers, but of course they wouldnt work simply for the reason you suggested :) but lever bodies work? Pretty sweet to have ultimate bodies with code calipers...

[cam@nsmb.com]

I'm not sure the regular Juicys push the same volume. I think I remember hearing that you need the ultimates - which will likely be very hard to get.

AM SL1? I think I did. I'll have to check my notes. If it's the fork I'm thinking of I was pleasantly surprised. Before this I haven't liked Marzocchi air forks at all.

Stiff. Yes. It's never a factor with 36s. I never notice any flex even when dropping into things on an angle.