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FOX Launches 2021 MTB Product Line

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When motocrossers hear the name Fox, the motocross apparel line launched by Geoff Fox most commonly comes to mind. Those of us who cross-train on mountain bikes also think of FOX, the suspension brand that was founded by his brother Bob and started out under the corporate umbrella of Moto-X Fox but split into its own entity in 1977. 

That said, FOX unveiled its line of 2021 products this morning and the collection includes plenty of new parts that will elevate the heartrates of the pedaling set. Us? We’ve got our eyes on the all-new FOX 38 Fork…


One fork family bound by a common bond of race-ready performance, driven to help you deliver your very best. In 2005, we changed the game with the introduction of the 36, pioneering a new category in mountain bike suspension—and Enduro was born. The very same year, we introduced a big brother into the fold with the 40, forever changing the landscape of downhill racing—defying both gravity and expectations of what dual crown suspension should be. 15 years and countless world cup and EWS wins later, our award-winning suspension family is poised to redefine the game once again with the brand new 38. This rebellious middle child is a hard-hitting, long-travel enduro menace, set to carry on the evolution and winning traditions of its champion pedigree.

SMOOTHEST

FLOATING AXLE

Floating axles might look similar to other axles, but in fact they offer a distinct performance advantage due to their unique ability to match the exact width of the fork’s wheel mounting surface precisely to the front hub flange spacing, thus creating perfect chassis alignment and eliminating unwanted friction between the upper and lower fork legs. Floating axles provide much smoother suspension movement throughout the entire range of the fork’s travel, notably improving sensitivity and overall ride quality.

The all-new 36 and 38 come equipped with a new quick-release lever-operated patent-pending floating axle system, combining the benefit of a floating axle with the ease of a tool-free quick-release. With this system, spacing is locked in via a floating sleeve, allowing repeated front wheel removal and reinstallation while maintaining perfect fork alignment. Floating sleeve positioning comes preset from the factory so if you are unsure of how to operate the floating axle system or simply don’t want to bother with it, you can just install the front wheel and get on with your ride.

Available optionally is the new Kabolt-X, a lightweight bolt-on floating axle exclusively for the all-new 36 and 38 that not only shaves grams but also increases torsional stiffness via its sleeveless, single-sided pinch bolt design. The all-new 40 utilizes a double-pinch bolt floating axle design to provide maximum stiffness for Downhill racing applications. Chassis alignment must be reset each time the front wheel is removed and reinstalled on both the Kabolt-X and 40 floating axles, but the end result is the same – perfect alignment and perfect performance.

LOWER LEG CHANNELS

As a fork compresses, the air volume within the lower legs decreases, increasing air pressure. The more the fork compresses, the more pressure increases. This effect can have the unintended consequence of preventing full travel from being achieved. Our lower leg channels help alleviate this issue by dramatically increasing air volume within the lower legs and thereby reducing the amount of additional unintended pressure ramping.

Another benefit of these channels is that lower leg bath oil is circulated to the upper reaches of the lower legs, continuously lubricating the foam rings and bushings as the fork compresses and extends through its travel.

BLEEDERS

Our lower leg bleeders allow for atmospheric pressure equalization at the simple press of a button. Pressure build-up in the lower legs dramatically decreases fork performance, preventing full travel from being achieved, and diminishing small bump sensitivity and responsiveness.

STIFFEST

LOWER LEG ARCH

Stiffness-to-weight is the ultimate metric for bicycle design. Engineers invest countless hours poring over every ounce of material in an effort to optimize this critical ratio. The all-new 38 pulls out all the stops, shaving every possible gram while making sure not to compromise stiffness or strength requirements of modern, hard-hitting long-travel Enduro riding.

Modern frame designs and geometry trends require modern suspension design solutions. The arch design of the all-new 36, 38, and 40 is designed to pair perfectly with modern Enduro and Downhill bikes. Head tube profiles have grown larger and larger, and fork offsets shorter and shorter. Our new arch shape takes this need into account by jutting forward to provide ample headtube clearance at full compression. State-of-the-art computer modeling techniques helped us to create an organic lower leg shape that optimizes stiffness with the absolute minimal amount of material.

ELLIPTICAL STEERER (38 ONLY)

The 38’s elliptical steer tube is one of many ways we’ve further optimized stiffness-to-weight, placing more material only where it is needed, and eliminating every ounce of it where it’s not.

MOST TUNEABLE

GRIP2

Our GRIP2 damper is the benchmark for unparalleled ride quality and ultra-precise on-the-fly adjustability. For 2021, we’ve taken GRIP2 to the next level by adding our patented VVC technology to the compression circuit. VVC is a proprietary variable valve control system that allows for external fine-tuning of suspension performance. GRIP2 achieves with the twist of a knob what typically requires the time consuming and complicated task of completely disassembling and reassembling the fork.

FLOAT EVOL

EVOL technology increases negative air spring volume, optimizing small bump sensitivity. EVOL’s linear spring curve delivers plushness off the top, extra mid-stroke support, and more tunable bottom-out progression.

The benefits of EVOL are further enhanced by our new Lower Leg channels and Bleeders, which both function to reduce air pressure captured in the lower legs, allowing the EVOL air spring to operate freely without unintended interference.

HERITAGE COLLECTION

The limited-edition 2021 Heritage Collection draws inspiration from the original 36 and 40 – the iconic forks that shaped modern enduro and downhill riding 15 years ago. The all-new 38 ushers in a new era of hard-hitting, long-travel enduro riding and comes adorned in a unique pistachio hue, commemorating this historic moment and keeping the tradition of launching category-defining forks in a very special limited edition colorway. All Heritage Collection forks feature special black adjuster knobs, a Kabolt-X axle, and include a matching graphics kit, compatible with all 2021 and 2020 models of FOX rear shocks.

Heritage Collection forks are available in extremely limited numbers at the time of launch only. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

THE ALL-NEW 36

THE NEW ENDURO FORK STANDARD IS ANYTHING BUT STANDARD. WITH ALL NEW DESIGN INSIDE-AND-OUT, PLUS AN UNMATCHED COMBINATION OF RIDE QUALITY, TUNABILITY, STIFFNESS, WEIGHT, AND ALIGNMENT–WE TOOK THE AWARD-WINNING, EWS FAVORITE AND MADE IT EVEN BETTER.

SPECS:

  • ALL-NEW chassis
  • NEW lower leg bleeders
  • NEW air/oil channels
  • NEW floating axle
  • NEW arch shape offers improved head tubeclearance with shorter rakes
  • Matching 8-click HSC and HSR adjustment onGRIP2 forks and X2 shocks
  • Damper option(s): GRIP2 with VVC,FIT4, Live Valve, GRIP
  • Updated EVOL air spring
  • Travel option(s): 150mm-160mm
  • Increased crown diameter to match modernframe shape profiles
  • Wheel size(s): 27.5″ and 29″
  • Offset(s): 37mm, 44mm and 51mm
  • Optional mud guard
  • Factory Series models feature Genuine Kashima Coat
  • Available in Factory, Performance Elite, and E-Bike models
  • Starting weight: 1965 g
  • MSRP USD $849 – $1099 

THE ALL-NEW 38

ALL THE REVOLUTIONARY FEATURES OF THE BRAND-NEW 36 PACKAGED IN A SUPER-STOUT CHASSIS ENGINEERED SPECIFICALLY FOR MODERN HARD-HITTING, LONG TRAVEL ENDURO-STYLE RIDING. THE ALL-NEW 38 IS HUNGRY TO DEVOUR ALL YOU CAN THROW AT IT AND ASK FOR MORE.

SPECS:

  • NEW elliptical steerer tube maximizing stiffness to weight
  • NEW lower leg bleeders
  • NEW air/oil channels
  • NEW floating axle
  • NEW arch shape offers improved head tube clearance with shorter rakes
  • Matching 8-click HSC and HSR adjustment on GRIP2 forks and X2 shocks
  • Damper option(s): GRIP2 with VVC FIT4, GRIP
  • Updated EVOL air spring
  • Travel option(s): 160mm-180mm
  • 31% stiffer transverse shear, 17% stiffer fore/aft and38% torsionally stiffer than 36
  • Wheel size(s): 27.5″ and 29″
  • Offset(s): 37mm, 44mm and 51mm
  • 58mm crown diameter to match modern frame shape profiles
  • Optional mud guard
  • Factory Series models feature Genuine Kashima Coat
  • Available in Factory, Performance Elite, Performance,and E-Bike models
  • Starting weight: 2180 g
  • MSRP USD $949 – $1199 

THE ALL-NEW 40

COMPLETELY REDESIGNED FOR 2021, THIS WORLD CUP WEAPON HAS ITS SIGHTS SET ON THE TOP STEP. EQUIPPED WITH AN UPDATED VERSION OF OUR AWARD-WINNING GRIP2 DAMPER, AN UPDATED EVOL AIR SPRING, AND A HOST OF OTHER RADICAL NEW PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN FEATURES, THE ALL-NEW 40 IS READY TO ATTACK THE TRACK WITH FEROCITY.

SPECS:

  • ALL-NEW chassis
  • NEW lower leg bleeders
  • NEW air/oil channels
  • NEW arch shape offers improved head tubeclearance with shorter rakes
  • Matching 8-click HSC and HSR adjustment onGRIP2 forks and X2 shocks
  • Damper option(s): GRIP2 damper now with VVC(Variable Valve Control), GRIP
  • Updated EVOL air spring
  • Pinch-bolt 20mm x 110mm floating axle
  • Travel option(s): 203mm
  • Offset(s): 48mm, 52mm and 56mm
  • Wheel size(s): 27.5″ and 29″
  • Optional mud guard
  • Factory Series models feature Genuine Kashima Coat
  • Available in Factory Series
  • Starting weight: 2816 g
  • MSRP USD $1749

ALL NEW FLOAT X2

THE ALL-NEW X2 CHANGES EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE GAME. THIS AWARD-WINNING, GRAVITY-DEFYING AIR SHOCK HOLDS NOTHING BACK, ESPECIALLY NOT YOU. BOASTING A LAUNDRY LIST OF ADVANCED FEATURES, THE FLOAT X2 IS READY TO CLEAN HOUSE.

SPECS:

  • ALL-NEW chassis
  • NEW damper
  • NEW high-flow main piston
  • NEW progressive MCU bottom-out bumper
  • Matching 8-click HSC and HSR adjustment on GRIP2 forksand X2 shocks
  • NEW HSR with VVC (Variable Valve Control)
  • Independent firm mode circuit – firmer lockout thanprevious Float X2
  • Ultra-low-friction, highly durable damper shaft finish
  • Improved bearing ratio for metric sizes
  • Reduced length reservoir for better fit on more frames
  • Finned inner body for improved structural rigidity andreduced hysteresis
  • NEW lower friction air seal
  • Updated compression ratios, 300psi max
  • MSRP USD $639 – $669

ALL NEW DHX2

FEATURING AN ENTIRELY NEW CHASSIS AND DAMPER, ENHANCED TUNABILITY, SMOOTHER ACTION, AND A NEW MCU BUMPER FOR PROGRESSIVITY AND END-STROKE CONTROL – THE ALL-NEW DHX2 IS READY TO RACE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

SPECS:

  • ALL-NEW chassis
  • NEW damper
  • NEW high-flow main piston
  • NEW progressive MCU bottom-out bumper
  • Matching 8-click HSC and HSR adjustment onGrip2 forks and X2 shocks
  • NEW HSR with VVC (Variable Valve Control)
  • Independent firm mode circuit – firmer lockout thanprevious DHX2
  • Ultra-low friction, highly durable damper shaft finish
  • Improved bearing ratio for metric sizes
  • Reduced length reservoir for better fit on more frames
  • Steel outer body and finned inner body for improvedstructural rigidity and reduced hysteresis
  • NEW detents on spring collar to prevent looseningunder light preload conditions
  • MSRP USD $619-$649
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Donn Maeda

Donn Maeda is a 30-year veteran in moto-journalism, having worked at Cycle News and Dirt Rider before launching MXracer Magazine and TransWorld Motocross Magazine. Maeda is the Editor-In-Chief at Swapmoto Live and you can catch him on a dirt bike or in the saddle of a mountain bike on most days.

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1 Comment

  1. Clintonic April 9, 2020

    So cool to see more and more MTB influence. Wondering if FOX was looking to replicate the old Rock Shox Argyle mint-colored dirt jump fork with that colorway…