Product Review: 2018 Fox 36 w/Orange Lowers

Product Review:

• Model: 2018 Fox 36 (With orange lowers of course!)
• Travel: 170mm
• Wheel size: 29"
• Float EVOL air spring
• 15x100, 15x110, or 15/20mm convertible thru axle
• 26", 27.5", and 29" options
• Also available in these travel options: 26” - 100 mm (831), 160, 180 mm, 27.5” – 150, 160, 170 mm, 29” - 150, 160 mm

There are no major changes to the new 2018 Fox 36 fork but often it’s the small refinements that make products noticeably better. In all fairness to Fox, I think it's safe to say that the fork did not need any major overhauls since the 2017 model proved to be such a solid product. The new changes have, however, made the 36 even smoother and more tunable than before. Arguably, the largest update is to the air spring. Fox increased the negative spring volume, eliminated a seal, and made it much simpler to add volume reducing tokens. Fox really covered the bases with all of the configurations of this fork by offering everything from a 26” 100mm with thru axle compatibility option all the way up to a 29" 170mm travel boost option. They have practically every wheel size, stroke, and axle option you might want.

The stock color of the lowers is matte black, but Fox is offering a limited edition run of this fork with the signature Fox Racing Orange lowers. This color is usually reserved for sponsored athletes, so if you want one of these stunning forks, you will need to move fast. There is no doubt they will fly off the shelves. Needless to say, if you get a black version of the fork you will still be more than happy as the internals are identical and performance doesn’t change at all.

My ride impressions out of the gate on the 2018 Fox 36 fork have been remarkably positive. With only a little bit of tweaking, you can get it feeling really good and have it suit your riding style perfectly. There are some basic setup recommendations from Fox listed on the back of the left leg near the bottom that give you a good starting point. I settled around 94psi and added 2 volume spacers to my fork. My high and low speed compression settings are only 5-6 clicks in from fully open but I occasionally mess with these a bit depending on the trail I’m riding. As a large and aggressive rider who weighs at least 200 pounds, I run the rebound damping only about 4-6 clicks from closed, which actually translates to a pretty slow fork when you consider my size.

No matter how rough the terrain got, the 36 remained smooth through every inch of its travel. Mid-stroke support is better than previous iterations, and with a little tweaking, it does well to resist brake dive. My only gripe is that it can start to make the fork seem a bit harsh depending on how much support you like in the middle of the stroke. To me it feels like a race bred fork at its core and some riders might find those characteristics a little more fatiguing on their hands. Compared to a Rockshox Lyrik that I previously tested, the Fox will rattle your hands more through the rough stuff.

It feels like Fox subscribed to the “stiffer equals faster” mantra on this one and it may take someone who prefers plushness to get the 36 setup to his or her liking. You will however, be able to get some serious plushness out of this fork if you’re willing to sacrifice a hair of mid-stroke support. All in all, the 2018 Fox 36 fork is an incredibly solid fork that is ready to take the worst you can throw at it without missing a beat and delivering the confidence you need to go your absolute fastest.