TESTED: Ohlins RX34 M2 Suspension Fork

Words and photos: Mike Blewitt

Ohlins are well-known for their high performance suspension components for trail, all-mountain, enduro, eMTB and downhill use. The Swedes have a fine touch for top-shelf suspension, and their products are known for high levels of adjustability, precision manufacturing and plush trail feel. This all harks from over 40 years of experience gained in the world of motorsports.

In early 2022, Ohlins released an additional model to the RX34 range. While the RX34 was a 34mm legged trail fork, the new RX34 M2 was aimed at the downcountry market. That means the weight was cut back and the 29” only fork would be available in 120 and 130mm travel variants.

The original RX34 hit the scales well over 2kg, which isn't a big deal for those chasing a fork with upto 160mm of travel for a trail bike. But a downcountry bike has very specific needs, and to be honest it's a pretty narrow niche. Riders want stiffness, adjustability, and less weight. It's an interesting time, as with the Fox 34 SC and RockShox SID Ultimate 120mm forks, you'd think there are models there ready to go for downcountry use. While both forks will work fine, they do have limits. Be that in the tyre width they accept, race-specific tunes, maximum rotor sizes, chassis stiffness, or just travel limits. Both options from Fox or RockShox have 120mm as the maximum travel.

Up close with the Ohlins RX34 M2

The RX34 M2 has had a huge overhaul from the original M2. My test fork weighed 1.73kg before I cut the steerer, so it went on a serious diet from the chonker that was about 2.2kg. A lot of saving made was with the chassis, which is built around 120-130mm travel. It cannot support going up to 140mm, let alone 160mm like the OG RX34. 

The damper is another big change, with Ohlins' switch to a single chamber air damper. The new OTX18 damper has a positive air chamber which you can adjust via a shock pump and volume spacers. The negative air chamber reduces initial stiction and is auto-adjusted, which is the norm. The use of volume spacers is a change for Ohlins, and does away with the adjustable ramp up chamber of the bigger forks. The black spacers clip together like Fox's volume spacers. 4 come stock in a 120mm fork, and two more are provided for a maximum of 6.

The Ohlins OTX18 has 15 clicks of low speed compression damping and rebound damping, accessible from the top and bottom of the left leg respectively. The metal dials have a precise feel, and they are coloured for easy recognition. Ohlins also have high speed compression damping, and that dial sits beneath the low-speed compression. It is easy to move from the 9 o'clock open position through to 6 o'clock to engage the climb mode. It's not a rock solid lock out like you'd find on a Fox XC fork with a FIT4 cartridge. And as the Ohlins RX34 M2 is designed as a downcountry fork, that shouldn't be a big surprise.

The lowers have a post-mount brake for 160mm rotors, and they can take upto 203mm rotors. The 15mm axle has a 5mm pinch bolt on the floating axle for a tight front end.

I was sent a 29” 120mm travel fork with 44mm offset. Ohlins have a basic setup guide on the right hand fork leg. I weigh about 73kg with my riding kit on, and set it up at 74.5psi, with the recommended 4 volume spacers (as fitted) for a 120mm travel fork. I had the low-speed compression at 12 clicks out, and the rebound at 12 clicks out. The RX34 M2 was mounted to a downcountry hardtail, mixing a 120mm fork with a light and long frame with some mid-size tyres. It's a super fun bike for a lot of my local trails, but I expected the RX34 M2 would be a plusher and potentially stiffer fork than my usual Fox 34 SC 120mm would be. 

For comparison on weight and price, the Fox 34 SC ($1639) weighs 1.43kg, while the Ohlins weighs 1.69kg once cut to length. The performance window of the Ohlins RX34 M2 would align more with the new Fox 34 than the Fox 34 SC however. A Fox 34 has as claimed weight of 1738g with the Kabolt axle and FIT4 damper ($1565), while the GRIP2 model weighs closer to 1800g and sells for $1689, which is about the same price as the Ohlins, which sells for $1695.

On the trail

My first rides on the Ohlin's RX34 M2 reminded me of the original Fox 34 SC. That fork had a similar weight, and felt stiffer than the updated Fox 34 SC. Part of this is because visually, the Ohlins fork is a bigger fork when looking down, unlike the new 34 SC which I replaced. This plays a role in tyre clearance, and the options for rotors as well. Looks aside – it is a stiffer fork on the trail as well.

The RX34 M2 tracked well on the slightly rooty and rocky loose over hardpack trails that make up the majority of my local riding. Combined with a trail bar and stem and wheel set, it set off a very secure front end, which is exactly what you want for downcountry riding. If you need a refresher on what downcountry actually is, well, it's open for interpretation. But I think it's about having as much bike as you can climb with, and as little as you can descend with – to make it as fast as possible for riding/racing from point A to B with plenty of technical terrain, climbs and descents thrown in. We don't really have downcountry races in Australia, so overall it is about getting as much descending performance as possible in an agile bike that can launch it up climbs. It's a bike that you want to ride fast, everywhere.

And in that regards, I really enjoyed the Ohlins fork. The climb switch is useful, with it's second setting firming things up and all the way closed being quite firm as it closes off any damping for the compression. It's still a climb mode more than a lock out, and if you were to thrash around over the front of the bike going full XC – it'll still get moving. I found it suitable for some out of the saddle climbing, but really I ran it open mostly, and looked to the air spring for my main tuning.

After a few rides I did find I was pushing a little too much into the travel in faster corners and compressions. I much prefer the front of my bike to sit higher in its travel, so I popped another volume spacer in (5 total, out of 6 maximum) and dropped the pressure to 70 psi. I had already backed off the rebound to 2 clicks in, and kept the compression the same at 3 clicks in. For me, I found this set up was perfect. Your spring rate is your number one setting to get right for any suspension item, and 70 psi put me on the lower side for the 66-81psi recommended for 70-75kg riders (I'm 73kg in riding gear). I liked the plusher feel and comfort for chattery terrain, but found that at higher speeds I had plenty of support, which helped the fork feel like it was never getting overwhelmed. I'd likely change this if I ran 130mm and ran it on a full-suspension bike. But this really worked on a DC hardtail.

I experienced no binding, no brake rub sounds or anything untowards while testing the Ohlins fork. My only question really was who it truly suited.

Our take

Being available in 120 or 130mm travel in 29” only, the Ohlins RX34 M2 has a pretty narrow market – and they identify that by stating that it's a downcountry fork. The Ohlins will face stiff competition from the latest Fox 34, given that fork can be bought with either a FIT4 damper for those chasing a lighter option, or with GRIP2 for those who want low and high speed compression and rebound damping. Better yet, the Fox 34 can cater to riders who want 140mm travel, which is what many riders are seeking for light trail bikes. 

However, Ohlins have the perfect fork for those who want to modify a good bike to make it better. Take a bike like the Trek Top Fuel we tested. It can take a 130mm travel fork, but the SID Ultimates and Fox 34 SC models that come on the bikes top out at 120mm. An Ohlins RX34 M2 will provide a solid chassis with plenty of tuning options, without much weight penalty, helping riders eek more performance from their downcountry or light trail bike. So while the Ohlins RX34 M2 isn't setting a new benchmark for a category, it does offer a very refined option for those looking for a well-finished product in a small but important market segment.

RRP: $1649
From: Nsdynamics.com.au

Hits:

• Lots of tuning options
• Great trail performance
• High quality finish
• Very stiff for the weight

Misses:

• Narrow market segment. No 140mm?