Performance – Ohlins RXF Fork

Base settings as recommended on the fork lower and based on a size XL Enduro 29 are good to their word for rider weight offering a supportive ride that never bottoms. This combined with a chassis which dished out very, very good stiffness was a great start. What the fork was not delivering was the sensitivity we expected based on the recommended pressures.

Increasing the lower bottom out pressure a touch whilst lowering the top pressure by about twenty psi had a positive effect on the grip whilst still maintaining the support, although we could still feel some vibration through the bars at full extension. The rebound also had a slight hesitation in its nature when going deep down into the stroke.

The smaller 34mm stanchions were interesting. Now it’s easy to make assumptions on a fork based on chassis size when in reality we still have a very, very good feeling on other smaller sized products such as the Fox 34, Bos Deville and the Manitou Mattoc at 34mm which are never far off the best in class – but larger – 36mm Fox 36. So we couldn’t help but bolt on the Fox 36 (and Ohlins coil TTX damper) to compare how the RXF performed.

The bottom line here is that the Fox 36 is still slightly ahead for a hard charging bike like the S Works Enduro. The 36 has a slightly smoother first third of travel. Having said that for most occasions the RXF is a great fork with easy to use adjusters and a quality ride characteristic. Its certainly not wanting in anything, apart from that rebound speed when fully loaded and it simply didn’t have the pitter patter of eager damping over flat root. We simply expected it to be better than the 36 but still, a very, very good unit and really supportive amongst the big hits, and so far utterly reliable.

Detail – Ohlins STX Damper

At 380g the STX damper is considerably lighter than the big hitting TTX coil which is 450g without the spring fitted. It’s a far less complex damper however than the TTX and has been designed more for trail and enduro applications although its downhill performance is said not to have been compromised. The damper features a large piston diameter balanced by a large compression valve ensuring internal pressures are kept in control.

Adjustment is similar to the TTX. The external rebound adjustment high speed, external compression damping adjustment low and high speed are a dawdle to use and tune into and although the damper also utilises Specialized’s Autosag feature we prefer to simply work out the optimum sag via the one air valve.

VERDICT

Whilst the pairing were not the all-conquering units we kind of expected they undoubtedly play the game at a high level. You’d have to be super picky to turn your nose up this stuff. It’s true they can be improved slightly but this is bloody good kit with really low service intervals and a reliability which we have found has yet to have any questions over. The acid test is that we certainly wont be rushing to take the RXF/STX off the S Works Enduro.

RXF Fork: £849

STX Damper: £499

Contact: specialized.com