There's been a lot of focus on bigger, burlier forks for enduro and e-bikes over the past two years, and it seems like every couple of months another option emerges that's supposed to be even stiffer and stronger than anything else. Given all the hubbub surrounding the quest for stanchion superiority, it's easy to overlook a shorter travel fork like the Fox 34, which quietly received several updates at the beginning of this season.
Those updates include revised lowers, a new air spring, and an updated crown shape. It still sits firmly in the downcountry / trail bike category, and is available with either 130 or 140mm of travel, with other travel options attainable by swapping out the air spring. Fox also offers the Stepcast 34, a lighter, more XC-oriented option that has less tire clearance, a maximum rotor size of 180mm, and comes in 100 or 120mm options.
Fox 34 Details• 130, 140mm travel (shorter air springs are available)
• 34mm stanchions
• GRIP 2 damper
• Air sprung
• Wheel size: 29"
• Externally adjustable low-speed rebound, high-speed rebound, low-speed compression, high-speed compression
• 15 x 110mm spacing
• Max rotor size: 203mm
• Offset: 44 or 51mm
• Weight: 1820 grams (actual)
• MSRP: $969 USD
•
foxracingshox.com DetailsThe 34's lowers are the most immediately noticeable difference between the new version and the previous iteration. The arch lost its edges, and it now tips forward slightly in order to ensure there's enough room to clear larger diameter head tubes at full bottom out. Channels have also been added at the back of the lowers in order to increase the amount of lower leg air volume. That extra volume is said to reduce the amount of unwanted end-stroke ramp up, and make it easier to use all the travel when warranted. Volume spacers are still used to adjusted the air volume in the positive chamber.
The leg channels also provide a way for the lower leg bath oil to reach the foam rings and bushings in order to keep everything moving smoothly. The 36 and 38 both have valves installed on the lower legs to let out any trapped air, but the 34 forgoes that feature in order to save some weight.
Inside, the 34 retains the familiar
GRIP 2 damper, which provides externally adjustable high- and low-speed compression and rebound adjustment. The 34 has 8 clicks of high-speed compression and high-speed rebound, and 16 clicks each of low-speed compression and low-speed rebound. In typical fashion, the compression is adjusted by the two dials at the top, and the two rebound dials are accessed by unthreading the aluminum cap on the bottom of the right leg.
On the air spring side of the fork, the negative volume has increased yet again, a step that was done to increase the amount of mid-stroke support. With a larger negative chamber, the spring curve of the fork becomes more linear, with a more consistent ramp up as it goes through its travel. It's worth noting that if you're planning to do any air spring swaps on this fork, you'll need to make sure to purchase the 2022 version – prior models won't work.
SetupI started out with the 34 set at 140mm, and installed it on a Specialized Stumpjumper. After a month or so with that setup, I installed a 120mm air spring and moved it over to a Transition Spur, where it currently resides.
Fox's setup guide providing a good place to start, although the air pressures were a little on the soft side for me – I ended up around 7 psi over the suggested settings. I'm 160 lb, and I ran 87 psi. Counting clicks from closed, my other settings were: HSC: 5, LSC: 12, LSR: 8, and HSR: 5.
PerformanceThe overall feel of the 34 is closer to what you'd expect on something with more travel – this isn't just an XC fork with more adjustments. It does an excellent job of managing its relatively short amount of travel, with a nice smooth, predictable ramp up. In the 120mm configuration, I ran 3 volume spacers out of a possible 6, and was able to use full travel when necessary, while still having plenty of support to keep from sitting too close to the bottom of the stroke.
It's the way the 34 responds to impacts, particularly smaller bumps that really makes it stand out. The Grip2 damper combined with the revised air spring creates a fork with a sensitive beginning portion of the travel, and an uncanny ability to melt away bigger hits without blowing through the travel. There's a suppleness to it that's not always found on forks in this travel bracket - more XC-oriented forks tend to feel a little firmer off the top in order to appease the efficiency-is-everything crowd. For riders who do want that extra beginning stroke support, the StepCast version of this fork does allow some negative air spring tuning that should make that possible.
What about stiffness? For its intended purpose, I'd say the 34 is right on the mark. I didn't experience any distracting flexing or twisting, and I took this fork on plenty of rugged trails. Yes, a 36 is noticeably stiffer, but it's also heavier by nearly .75 lb, a significant weight penalty, especially when you're trying to choose a fork for a lighter, shorter travel bike.
How Does it Compare?The regular Fox 34 sits in its own little niche when compared to what RockShox has to offer, slotting in between the SID and the Pike. The SID is lighter, at 1537 grams, but it also doesn't have nearly the same range of adjustments as the 34 – it has rebound, an on / off lockout lever, and that's it. Realistically, the 34 SC is the SID's direct competitor, and in that match-up the weights are much closer, with a 40 gram difference in the 34's favor between the two.
The standard Fox 34 is approximately 40 grams lighter than a Pike Ultimate, although it also costs $70 more. On the trail, I can't detect a noticeable stiffness difference – the 1mm variation in stanchion size isn't enough to drastically affect the handling, at least not in my case. As far as adjustments go, high speed rebound is the only adjustment the 34 has that the Pike doesn't. Personally, that wouldn't be enough reason for me to choose one over the other, but it's a point worth mentioning.
On the trail, the Pike seems to sit a little higher in its travel initially, while the 34 settles a little further into the mid-stroke – I think it'd be fair to call the Pike 'sporty', and the 34 more 'supple'. Which one would I pick if I was building up a 120mm downcountry machine? It'd be easy to sit on the fence for this one, since I'm able to find a very usable setup for both forks, but if forced to choose I'd go with the 34. It smooths out the faster, rougher hits a touch better than the Pike, and that makes a difference when you're doing long days on a little bike.
Pros
+ Extremely smooth and silent operation
+ Very usable range of adjustments
Cons
- More expensive than closest competition
- 27.5" fans will need to look elsewhere
Pinkbike's Take ![bigquotes](https://es.pinkbike.org/246/sprt/i/bigquotes-left.svg) | The regular 34 sort of flies under the radar, sandwiched between its racier StepCast sibling and the stouter 36. It shouldn't be overlooked, though, especially considering how well suited it is to the latest crop of modern, shorter travel fun machines. It punches well above its relatively light weight out on the trail, and is a standout option in the 140mm-and-under travel bracket. — Mike Kazimer |
@Theysayivebeentheone: I plan on it. It’s a great fork. I just meant I wouldn’t be unhappy if I was stuck with a 34.
I have a 2020 Fox Factory 34 FiT4 collecting dust in my garage because nothing could make it ride nicely for me. Swapped it for the DVO Sapphire and I was blown away by how much better the DVO rode.
I’m assuming this new air spring does not fit the older model 34’s?
With a Fox or RS fork, I will get it serviced and tuned after break in. The mattock, hasn’t needed any attention to unlock performance. I change the oil and lube it a couple of times a year, but it’s been faultless over the past two years and approximately 5500km. I’ve had bushing reaming tools made for all of my forks. I am just waiting on new bushings to arrive in case I mess up the process. I will give it a go in a few months when I next change the oil.
If it doesn't equalize at all the negative port is blocked. You can try pumping it up to 150 psi and then trying to equalize it which may blow the grease out of the port.
1. The appropriate number of bikes is n+1.
2. Riders buy light bikes until the average weight of their collection reaches about 27-30 lbs.
3. Riders, on average, add components to make their bikes heavier until they violate law 2.
This fork fulfills the third law.
I don't see fox making a 35mm fork any time soon. It would push up against the 36 too much. The 34 is built for a specific segment and I think Americans and pinkbike users forget that a huge part of the world is still on XC and light trail bikes. Huge.
This new 34 is perfect for those bikes.
Take a look at Eliot's riding recently on it. He's got it on his tallboy. I'd run a 36 on that bike because I weigh like 80 pounds more than he does. Hell, I have a 36 on my chameleon. But for him that fork is perfect. He's smashes the hell out of it.
So you'll see 34's on lighter trail bikes and burlier XC forks.
Your trail/AM bike begins to be a slow tanker when you say, I have to have a 36 fork, DD casings, Cush core, blah, blah blah and then you wonder why your slow on climbs with a 33-38 lb short travel bike...
I think Rock Shox hit it on the sweet spot with the 35mm Pike and the 40mm Totem. All they need to do now is put a better damper in SID 120mm fork.
Want a practical example? How many 30mm fox forks have you seen with broken stanchions? I have seen many in my life. Those stanchions are thick as balls, the forks were still flexy as hell, and they still broke. Stanchions aren't the reason your fork flexes these days, its overall chassis design.
Haven't ridden the bike yet, darn parts shortages, so I can't yet give a ride report.
I think lots of people would be very well served with the 34 in spite of the current trend for big single crown forks.
If i get the Fox website right only 32 Step Cast 27.5in forks have a maximum rotor diameter of 180mm.
“Maximum brake rotor diameter for all 32mm and 34mm FOX forks except 32 Step Cast 27.5in is 203mm. 32 Step Cast 27.5in forks have a maximum rotor diameter of 180mm.”
www.ridefox.com/fox17/help.php?m=bike&id=689
Then I bought my current Cube Stereo 160 (yes, go laugh about it
Maybe the new GRIP2 models are finally actually as good as the reviews say. With all my previous experiences, I'd rather trust another brand with my hard earned money though...
PB: "New Fox 34...short travel standout!"
RockShox: **hold my beer**
Mine started creaking pretty soon after i got it but I got a replacement crown under warranty.
Would love to get the '22 version but I'll just keep the '21 fork in the '21 frame, haha!!
I'm still on an old 26 34 with 150mm travel and still like it a lot. Although I have a 2021 36 factory on another bike.
Agreed, its Legit.
New SiD is not to be confused with the previous versions or the SiD SL.
No, just lockout. But its so dialled out of the box I haven’t felt the want for a compression adjust...
If you like the FIT4 you might as well save some dollars and hassle and get a GRIP 1 fork.
It's an added bonus that Grip 1 remote works really, really well with the TwinLock remote on my Spark.
It suits my 110mm trail bike very well, but then that has a very poppy & responsive suspension set-up as well.
The same damping would be infuriating on my enduro bike, but horses for courses innit.
120 - 34 SC, SID, PIke or 34.
I think this leans towards regular 34?
The fox website states the 2022 fox 34 stepcast supports up to 203mm rotors.
www.ridefox.com/family.php?m=bike&family=34
I blame fox for their failure to have the correct information on the website until they are specifically called out on it. Glad we could help them with that.
Manitou & Suntour still have my name on them.
Must be an E-BIKER
I have a mullet. Slays corners like nothing else I have ever owned