4-23-07 // Online Exclusive: Fox Shox 2008 Preview

The new F-Series fork

Following the 2007 Sea Otter Classic we were invited to see and ride some of Fox Shox’s new 2008 hardware. We met at Laguna Seca racetrack Monday morning after Sea Otter to watch the infield get dismantled and ride some sweet new product. The riding covered a half-singletrack five-mile loop that consisted of the start of last year’s cross-country course. First we rode ’07 suspension parts, then we did a lap with ’08 forks added and then we did a lap with ’08 shocks added.

But first, what’s new for 2008?

The 32 F-Series is all new. The new chassis includes 80, 100 and 120mm forks (120mm was not available in ’07). The forks have specific optimized steerer, crown and stanchion combinations to provide the lightest combinations possible. By specific, Fox means they have the 80mm model outfitted with a certain crown-steerer-stanchion design that differs from the 100 and 120mm models and so on. If some of the new F-Series forks look different from each other, this is why.

The forks feature a new lockout lever that is easier to turn without also turning the low speed compression knob. The lowers feature post-mount disc caliper mounts and a new integrated disc brake cable guide. Bushing overlap has been optimized inside the lowers for reduced friction.

These forks are lighter, faster, and stiffer than previous models. Weights range from 3.28lbs for the 32 F80 R to 3.56lbs for the 32 F120 RLC.

The new lockout lever is easier to turn independent of the other damping controls

All 2008 Fox Forks, except the 32 R models, receive damper modifications for improved performance and ride quality. This is why we were test riding all the new suspension bits. The new forks run at about 10psi less air pressure, which means less stiction and more small bump sensitivity. Fox increased the low speed damping in the ’08 models to work the damper more and the spring less. It’s not unusual for dampers to experience harsh transitions when they go from compression to rebound and back again. The new Fox dampers reduce the harshness of this transition maintaining traction and control for longer periods of time. It sounds complicated, but basically the fork is becoming less reliant on the spring for shock absorption and more reliant on the damper so it doesn’t bounce around as much. It should be noted that although the damping is increased it doesn’t feel over damped the way some platform-damped suspensions feel.

32 Float, TALAS and Vanilla models all receive the ergonomic lockout lever on RLC and RL models, post mount disc tabs, integrated disc brake cable guides on disc lowers, and updated graphics.

The 36 Chassis goes on a bit of a diet in ’08 with all models loosing .2 lbs (91g) compared to previous. The new 20QR system is a tool-free quick release system that Fox claims is the stiffest 20mm QR axle available. The new axle is 10% lighter with 35% higher shear strength and 60% higher torsional strength than previous. The 36 also receives post mount caliper mounts and simpler integrated cable guides.

The 40 receives the same damping updates as the other forks in the Fox line as well as updated graphics.

29-Inch Models – The only 29-inch Fox forks at Sea Otter were at the Trek and Fisher booths and they were unrideable. Fox made no mention of these forks at the ’08 preview, but did later tell us they would be released later when functioning models were available.

The new QR20 axle on all '08 36 forks

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