34 FLOAT 160 Series - 26, 27.5 (650b)

Installing Your Fork | Before You Ride | Setting Sag | Adjusting Rebound | Climb. Trail. Descend. | Adjusting Trail Mode |  Service Intervals | Important Safety Information

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. If your fork came pre-installed on your bicycle, continue to the next section.

Before You Ride

1. Check that your 15QR axle pinch bolts and crown pinch bolts are properly adjusted and tightened.
2. Clean the outside of your fork with only mild soap and water, and wipe dry with a soft dry rag.

   NOTE:  Do not use any solvents or de-greasers, as these products can cause serious damage to paint and anodized parts (upper tubes, knobs, steerers).

   Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.

3. Inspect the entire exterior of your fork. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.
4. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.

Setting Sag

To get the best performance from your fork, it is necessary to set the proper air spring pressure by adjusting sag. Generally, sag should be set to 15 – 25% of total fork travel.

1. Unscrew the blue aircap on top of the left fork leg to expose the Schrader valve.
   
2. Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
3. Pump your fork to the appropriate setting from the Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings table below, then remove the pump.
4. Unless your fork already has a sag setting o-ring on an upper tube, install a zip tie to an upper tube. Slide the o-ring or the zip tie down against the scraper lip of the fork dust seal.
5. Make sure your fork lockout is not engaged.
6. Dressed to ride, position your bike next to a wall or table to support yourself. Without bouncing, mount your bicycle. Assume a normal riding position for at least 30 seconds, allowing the suspension to fully settle.
7. Dismount your bike without bouncing downward, without further moving the o-ring or zip tie. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This measurement is your sag value.
8. Compare your actual sag value to your target sag value in the Sag Setup table below.
   
   If your sag measurement value is less than the Sag Setup table value, screw on the pump fitting, note the current air pressure setting and depress the black bleed-valve to reduce the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat this adjustment, if necessary.
   
   If your sag measurement value is greater than the Sag Setup table value, screw on the pump fitting, note the current air pressure setting and pump to increase the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat this adjustment if necessary.
9. Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.
   
   

   Rider Weight lbs.	Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings PSI
   	160 mm - 26"	160 mm - 27.5"
   ≤125	45	45
   125 - 135	50	50
   135 - 145	55	55
   145 - 155	65	65
   155 - 170	70	70
   170 - 185	75	75
   185 - 200	80	80
   200 - 215	90	90
   215 - 230	100	100
   230 - ≥250	110	110

   
   

   Sag Setup
   Travel	XC	All-Mountain
   160 mm (6.30")	24 mm (0.94")	40 mm (1.57")

   
   

   Sag Troubleshooting
   Symptom	Remedy
   Too much sag	(+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
   Too little sag	(-) air pressure in 5 psi increments
   Excessive bottoming	(+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
   Harsh ride; full travel not utilized	(-) air pressure in 5 psi increments

Adjusting Rebound

The rebound adjuster knob is located at the bottom of the right fork leg, as shown in the above figure.

Rebound controls the rate of speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise slows down rebound; turning the knob counter-clockwise speeds up rebound. As a starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counter-clockwise (out) 12 clicks.

Climb. Trail. Descend.

The blue CTD lever lets you to switch between the Climb, Trail, and Descend ride modes. Each mode is most suitable for each specific type of terrain, providing best performance and riding enjoyment with your fork. With some experience, you can experiment with using Trail mode when descending, or Descend mode for flat or undulating trails.

NOTE:  With full CTD suspension, front to rear suspension balance is best achieved by running the fork in the same ride mode as the rear shock (Climb with Climb, Trail with Trail, Descend with Descend).

Climb Mode

Rotate the CTD lever fully clockwise to set the fork in Climb mode, which is most useful for climbing and sprinting. In Climb mode, the fork will "blow off" in the event that a big hit is encountered. This setting was formerly known as “lockout.”

Climb Mode Factory Settings

There are two pre-set Climb mode settings offered for Factory and Performance model forks: medium and firm.

Refer to the crown decal to determine which factory pre-set climb mode your fork has.

	Medium factory settings will be found on longer travel forks (130 mm travel and above for 26" and 27.5" forks, and 120 mm travel and above, for 29" forks)
	Firm factory settings will be found on shorter travel XC-type forks

Climb mode factory settings can only be altered through complete disassembly and re-bleeding of the CTD damper system. Contact your local dealer or FOX at 1-800-FOX-SHOX for more information. Additional service information can be viewed at http://service.ridefox.com.

NOTE:  The fork may cycle a couple of times after you engage Climb mode. Once complete Climb mode is achieved, the fork may continue to move 3 - 5 mm. This is normal, and does not affect performance.

Trail Mode

Rotate the lever to the middle setting of the blue CTD lever to engage Trail mode. Trail mode offers significantly less compression damping than climb mode, which is good for a light pedaling platform when pumping undulating terrain, and for preventing excessive travel in technical riding situations (such as low-speed drops).

Descend Mode

Rotate the lever fully counter-clockwise to set the fork in Descend mode, which is similar to Trail mode but with significantly less low-speed compression damping, for the softest ride when descending.

Adjusting Trail Mode (FIT CTD Trail Adjust Only)

Factory FIT CTD Trail Adjust model forks feature a three-position Trail Adjust control that regulates low-speed compression damping only while you are riding in Trail mode.

NOTE:  While it is possible to readjust FIT CTD Trail Adjust when you are in either Climb or Descend mode, Trail Adjust changes will only be felt in Trail mode.

For a firmer low-speed compression setting in Trail mode, turn the black Trail Adjust dial clockwise. For a lighter setting, turn the Trail Adjust dial counter-clockwise. The Trail Adjust is designed to work in conjunction with the rear shock.

TIP: Front to rear suspension balance is best when the CTD fork and rear shock are set in the same ride mode.

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FOX Factory Inc.