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Wife’s bike which is occasionally used has a 2006 (I think)Fox TALAS RLC.
Tried to top up the air but managed to release all the contents and now cant get any air in. Tried two shock pumps and managed to check and top up the DHX air on the rear ok. So dont think its the pump. The travel adjust seems to have a bit of play and a bit of a gap between the movable bit and the the fork.
Pay for a Service/fix or bin and buy cheap Suntour or similar fork.
Its on an old Whyte 46.
Unscrewed the possible sticky schraeder valve core from the fork?
This question interests me - but only because I'd love to know if there was an objective difference in 'quality' between an old fork like this and a new one! Intuitively I'd get it serviced with some new stickers.
I’d love to know if there was an objective difference in ‘quality’ between an old fork like this and a new one! Intuitively I’d get it serviced with some new stickers.
Newer forks have some combination of being lighter/stiffer/longer travel. Dampers have improved and old forks have straight steerers and are limited to 26". I'm still riding some old U-Turn Rebas and Revelations with 9 mm QRs. They're fine for what I do, but I have no doubt that some modern forks would be a clear improvement, especially on the stiffness front.
The other problem with old forks is that service kits might not be available. I have some old TALAS forks on my daughter's bike. The travel adjust is stuck at 80mm. Not really a problem at the moment, but they won't be worth spending money on to get fixed, even if parts are available.
Assuming any replacement would need to be 26" wheel, 1 1/8" straight steerer, QR, and you'd want it air sprung rather than coil, your options might be limited. I agree that newer forks are almost certainly better, but that assumes a like for like comparison.
A "new" air sprung Recon looks like it'll cost you between £150 and £200, which is about what it'll probably cost to get the TALAS reconditioned at somewhere like TFTuned. Given that choice I'd probably stick with the TALAS.
You could of course go for a cheaper coil sprung fork for £100 or thereabouts. I've always thought that coil sprung forks are a bit rubbish, but that's a totally uneducated opinion so should be disregarded entirely.
Unscrewed the possible sticky schraeder valve core from the fork?
Yes, tried that and shocked at how normal it felt and worked.
A new recon seems like a better deal than a refurb of a fork 6 years older than my son 😃 can you say why it would be worthwhile refurbing?
The wheels will only ever be of the ground when being lifted from the van at the start of a ride.
can you say why it would be worthwhile refurbing?
Just personal preference really. I've no idea what a new recon would ride like but I know that a well maintained TALAS is lovely.
Ok 😃 wife wont notice the difference
Interested in this as my Tapas forks of a similar vintage really need servicing and probably bushings replacing. I was wondering if Tftuned would still service them, probably should ask them really.