Fox Launches Step-Cast
Fox Racing Shox has a number of new products in the works and the first to surface is a new XC race fork — the Fox 32 Step-Cast.
The main goal in designing this fork was to get the weight right down without compromising the suspension performance. To do this the Step-Cast design employs a number of tricks; the crown is 10mm narrower than the existing 32 models and the stanchions are only as long as required for a 100mm travel fork (there’s no 120mm travel upgrade for this model). With its narrower stance, the hollow lower portion of the slider steps in to provide clearance for the spokes and brake rotor.
Mimicking the Fox 34 and 36 models, an automatically adjusting negative air spring also sheds a few grams. Factory level forks will come with a lighter bolt-through axle and the end result is a 1,360g fork (29-inch with thru-axle).
Here are a few stats to provide some perspective:
- Fox 32 Step-Cast 1,360g
- Fox Float 32, 100mm travel 1,735g
- RockShox RS1 1,708g (includes the remote lockout)
- RockShox SID World Cup 1,570g (includes the remote lockout)
Note: All weights are for 29er forks and include the thru-axle.
A 200-400g weight saving when compared to most other forks is substantial in the XC world, but there’s more going on here than just gram counting. At Factory level, the new fork employs the Fit 4 damper cartridge; just like the new Fox 34. Based on our experience with the 34, we can only imagine that the fork will offer good mid-stroke support and admirable control. The air spring also uses an adjustable volume spacer system that let’s you tune how progressive the for is — a handy thing if you want to increase the bottom out resistance for hard riding without compromising suppleness.
The FIT 4 damper provides three on-the-fly adjustable settings; fully open (with tunable low speed compression), a pre-set middle platform and a locked setting. Options for remote lockouts will also be offered; both via a mechanical lever or their electronic iRD system.
For their lower cost ‘Performance Series’ models, Fox has introduced a new damper called GRIP; like the FIT system it’s a fully sealed cartridge damper with a floating piston. It retains three damper modes like the FIT 4 setup but lacks the tuneable low speed compression and there’s no option for a bar mounted remote.
The 32 Step-Cast should be available in Australia by May/June 2016 and the Factory level product is expected to retail for $1,450.
For all the info and spec variations check the Fox site: ridefox.com/32sc
