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Until now, the Fox Grip 2 cartridge was the first choice when it came to pure downhill performance and maximum adjustability. The Grip 2 cartridge was available in the Fox 34, 36, 38 and 40. For the 2025 model year, the successor is called Grip X2 and will be available for the aftermarket from the 36 series upwards. Some original equipment manufacturers will probably also specify the Grip X2 cartridge in the Fox 34.
Fox Grip X2: the new one for the rough stuff
Compared to the Grip 2, the Grip X2 should have even better adjustability and cover a larger damping range. Work has also been done on the damping support. According to Fox, the fork should be higher in its travel and still offer more comfort. According to Fox, the traction has also been raised to a higher level. In order to achieve this goal, the piston in the Grip X2 has been enlarged from 20 to 24 millimetres, which results in an improved oil flow. Instead of the previous seven shims, a shim stack consisting of 23 individual shims is now used. The maximum adjustability has been retained. The rebound and compression damping for the high and low speed range can therefore also be adjusted on the new Grip X2. This means that four independent damping adjustment options are available.
Laboratory and practical tests
All suspension forks have to show their colours in our own test laboratory. Objective and reproducible values in terms of stiffness and weight create a clear categorisation and debunk marketing claims.
To test how well the Fox works in practice, we took three identical bikes and three riders to the Bikepark Bischofsmais for a day. The 38 Factory had to prove itself against the established competition (Fox Podium and Rockshox Zeb) in a direct comparison.
Still in the last fork test in BIKE 11/23 the Fox 38 and the Rockshox Zeb were in a neck-and-neck race, which the Zeb won by a hair's breadth. Now the difference is much clearer in favour of the Zeb. With the cartridge update, in which the low-speed compression stage was reduced and the high-speed compression stage increased, the Rockshox offers noticeably more comfort and absorption capacity than the Fox 38.
Fox 38 Factory
| Category | details |
| Price | 1,669 € >> available here |
| Setting options | Air pressure, high and low speed rebound/compression stage, volume spacer |
| Max. Disc Ø / weight limit | 230 mm / 169 kg |
| Standpipe diameter | 38 mm |
| Available spring travel | 160, 170, 180 mm |
| Weight | 2.461 g |
| Installation length | 588 mm |
| Stiffness | Twist: 34.6 Nm/° / Brakes: 275 Nm/° |
| Test values | |
| - Sensitivity (15 %) | 1,0 |
| - Downhill (45 %) | 2,0 |
| - Handling (10 %) | 3,0 |
| - Brake rigidity (7.5 %) | 2,0 |
| - Torsional rigidity (7.5 %) | 1,0 |
| - Weight (15 %) | 2,5 |
| Overall grade | 1,95 |
Our review of the Fox 38 Factory
In the shootout of the best suspension forks (Fox Podium and Rockshox Zeb), the Fox 38 Factory comes out on top. Although it is extremely high in its travel and provides maximum feedback from the ground, it cannot be trimmed for ultimate sensitivity and absorption capacity. Even with open compression and low air pressure, the 38 is stingy with comfort, which costs traction and tires the arms unnecessarily. With this performance, it also has to let the much more sensitive Rockshox Zeb Ultimate go. The air pressure recommendation was too high for our taste.
Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
The Fox 38 Factory suspension fork feels over-damped and offers little travel even on hard hits. There is a lot of feedback from the ground on the hands. Traction also suffers as a result. Under these conditions, the 38 loses out to the in-house competition from Fox Podium and the Rockshox Zeb.
