FOX 34 Factory Suspension Fork [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

With out a doubt, XC bikes are becoming more capable. Because of this, some components have to keep up. That is exactly what the FOX 34 fork is for. It keeps up with the demanding tracks while keeping the weight down to stay fast. Our friend, Han, has been trying out the fork. See what they think! 

Overview

Here is my story with Fox 34 Factory 130mm Grip2. Approximately two weeks before ordering this fork, I received a notification email from Specalized.com telling me the Epic EVO S-works frame had limited stock for my color and size. I placed an order on the frame just because YOLO. Soon after that, I started shopping for other parts and components. Despite the supply chain issue, I was able to order most of the stuff except for the fork I wanted at the time, which was the Fox 34 120mm FIT4 44mm offset. It was out of stock literally everywhere. Frustrated and helpless, I started researching a different fork which happened to be this Fox 34 Factory 130mm Grip2. Fast forward to today, I can’t be happier that I made the decision I made, and I will tell you why.

So I wanted to get a 120mm travel fork and why did I end up being happy with a 130mm? It comes down to what I really wanted for my bike. My primary goal for this bike is recreational XC and trail riding. Do I want better climb efficiency or downhill adjustability? I chose the latter. Next, I will talk about the pros and cons of this fork.

First of all, this fork has unlimited adjustability. The GRIP 2 damper has 8 clicks of high-speed compression, 16 for low-speed compression, 8 clicks of high-speed rebound, and 16 clicks for the low-speed rebound. Don’t let the numbers scare you, common question people would ask for this kind of fork would be, “How do I tune the fork? Do I even do what it offers?” I certainly had the same question, so I went on and watched a lot of YouTube reviews. Long story short, it definitely takes a bit more time and effort to tune the fork to your liking, but it’s not rocket science. There is no absolute right or wrong in terms of fork tuning, you are provided with a sheet of manual to start with based on your weight and after that, it all depends on your ‘Feeling’ of the ride. You also have the ability to fine-tune it depending on the trail you ride, making it the ultimate fork to ride all terrains. This does come at a price, in contrast to the FIT4 damper, you can’t easily lock out the fork for sprint or serious climb, it is also a bit heavier. This is the choice you would have to make. This is the choice that I made, I’m fine with sacrificing some climb speed in exchange for better and smooth cornering, descending, and a more comfortable ride. If you know this type of riding is what you want, this fork is for you.

Final Thoughts

Other than that, this fork has all the other great properties you would want from a FOX fork: aesthetic, durability, great compatibility, awesome customer service, and ease of service. At the end of the day, I want a fork that I can have a smile on my face every time I ride with. This Fox 34 130mm GRIP2 delivered just that.