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2017 Fox 32 SC XC fork – Test rides and first impressions

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review
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2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

The all-new 2017 Fox 32 SC landed in our office a couple weeks before it’s formal introduction, giving us a chance to log some miles on our local XC trails. Initially, I was simultaneously excited by the claimed weights, intrigued by the design and curious how stiff it would be.

The Step Cast design uses the same narrow crown for both standard (100mm) and Boost (110mm) axles, with only the lowers getting more or less of a stepped design to accommodate the different axle widths. We received the 29er Boost model, and it uses Boost’s benefits in a clever way to both save weight and provide a stiff overall wheel-and-fork package. With virtually every other fork brand using Boost’s extra 10mm of space from bottom to top to increase the size of tire that’ll fit, Fox did the opposite to decrease weight without giving up stiffness.

On top of that, the internals work wonders to tame the typical roots, rocks and moderate berms, dips and other features typically found on cross country race courses. As luck would have it, Niner’s Boost-spaced RKT9 arrived just about the same time…

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

First impressions would lead one to think the fork is going to be flexy. As we’ve gotten used to the visual heft of 34, 35 and 36 millimeter stanchions, these 32mm ones look anemic. And their skinny appearance is amplified by the narrow leg spacing. The fork just looks small.

Fortunately, you can’t completely judge the book by its cover. I eyeballed about a centimeter of aft flex at the axle under hard front braking, but that’s not abnormal for the category. The rest of the fork felt adequately stiff for its intended use. I could confidently dive into corners and berms, and it held its line around sweepers. The wheel went where I pointed it and I didn’t hear any brake rotor rub, suggesting minimal torsional or lateral flex. It’s hard to tell where the fork trails off and the Boost wheel’s wider spoke triangulation picks up, but the overall package is tight. (Fox sent an Easton wheel with the fork, but I’ve been testing it with the stock Stan’s Arch Boost wheel that came on the Niner)

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

The suspension performance felt dialed for XC. For the pros that like a stiffer fork, they’ll likely be running the iRD electronic remote version that eschews the additional 22 clicks of Open adjustment. For them, the lockout kept suspension bob to just a few millimeters when standing and sprinting. It would still compress smoothly (but very firmly) upon impact or if I bounced it hard, but for practical purposes it should be stiff enough for most racers.

For someone like me, however, who wants their suspension to soak up every little bump, the 32 SC also accommodated. I ran it wide open most of the time, and with the micro adjustment between half and full open. This way, I could ram into root sections at full speed and let the fork do the work. And work it did, surprisingly well for such a short travel item. I didn’t feel like I lost any speed, and very little of the impacts made their way to my hands. Setting it on Medium firmed it up enough to lose some tiny bump sensitivity, but it still worked its way through the roots/rocks without getting bouncy. I preferred the Open setting for most riding, though.

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

2017-Fox-32-SC-lightweight-xc-suspension-fork-sag-settings01

The 32 SC comes stock with two volume spacers installed and will hold up to four. I left the two starter spacers in place, set sag at about 27% and let her rip. That’s 75psi and I’m 190lb before getting dressed. Adding spacers (reducing air volume) typically increases a fork’s ramp rate. For a larger rider like me, that allows me to run lower air pressure so the fork remains supple over the small stuff, then have proper mid- and end-of-stroke support to prevent bottoming.

We have a few small drops and several g-out dips and this combination provided excellent small bump performance, mid-stroke support and kept me from bottoming out. The image on the left shows how close I got to ringing the fun-o-meter’s bell, which means there was a little safety cushion still in the bank.

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

There are about 12 clicks that provide a range from acceptably quick to uselessly slow. At the slightly slower than its halfway point, I felt the fork getting skipping a bit after a large hit leading into some roots, which created a slight loss of traction. After playing with a range of settings, I ended up at setting rebound damping three clicks from full open so it could recover from the rapid fire hits. It was fine at full open, too, but I liked it a bit better three clicks in. The knob itself is recessed far enough to make it difficult to turn with full finger gloves.

2017 Fox 32 SC step cast fork first ride review

The Niner RKT9 came stock with a 180mm front rotor, so a 200mm rotor would likely get really close to the step’s upper edge.

After my first few rides, I’m impressed by Fox’s new XC fork. They pack a lot of performance into a small package that doesn’t give up practical performance in its quest to be one of the lightest damped suspension forks on the market. It’s not quite in the 988g German:A realm, but it has a proper oil-damped cartridge keeping it under control. Long term testing will take it to some more aggressive trails and see how it holds up over time.

RideFox.com

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Mike D
Mike D
7 years ago

Don’t bother commenting. The folks at BR have things covered and don’t need your readership or for you to express your impressions of products, or lend feedback to developers of said products. The industry makes it, BR runs a story, you shut up and take it. Hand over your money.
#AprilFoolsWasHilarious

C
C
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike D

BR doesn’t need our readership. It needs our clicks, for which advertisers/industry are willing to pay, both in cold hard ecash and demo product. Even if you never buy a bike-related item, your interest can be monetized. The email address required to comment–saleable. Dot COMmerce. If you don’t like it…

Phil Jones
Phil Jones
7 years ago

Is it just me or is 27% sag a LOTTTT for a Fork… a shock maybe, but a fork should usually sit around 10% no?

sad
sad
7 years ago
Reply to  Phil Jones

not, avg is 25% then depends on fork, weight, etc.

greg
greg
7 years ago

For xc racing, I’d have thought 15-20%.

Anthony Gall
Anthony Gall
7 years ago

25-30% is pretty common.

Luis Raventós - Biomecanica 3D

Nice job from FOX!

Darryl Duck
7 years ago

I run 10% on a cross country rig, otherwise 100mm travel just gets blown through and the bike runs rougher. Smaller types may get away with that 20% sag though.
Really the fork lengths should be size specific, with XL bikes getting 120mm minimum, but that’s too hard for the industry to deal with at the moment, one fork for all is normal.

Sam
Sam
7 years ago
Reply to  Darryl Duck

Sounds like you could benefit from some volume spacers. I had a similar set up for a long time. Very little sag (10-15), almost never ran with any dampening. A couple volume spacers, lower pressure, and sag is now around 25%, and now I don’t fatigue in the upper body nearly as much as I used to, am faster, and still use the same amount of travel. I do occasionally dial in some compression dampening (like fire road climbs), so I’m a bit more engaged, but the set up is WAY better now.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago
Reply to  Sam

This.
One can compensate for a poorly matched spring curve by decrease sag (increasing pressure) but it compromises suspension action. One can also dial in more compression damping to help as well but this compromises action when the real problem is a poor spring rate for your weight/terrain/style. Ideally one would want to minimize compression damping to prevent wheel inertia from overshooting and that’s it (fairly low on a bike), but low speed platforms are needed and useful tool.
Suspension is needed for both dips and bumps if one wants to maximize traction and proper sag allows this. Rider preference is the ultimate but most testing shows 20-30% achieves the best results. 10% is too low.

Dicky
7 years ago

Can you stick a 27.5+ in the 29er fork and report back?

Sam
Sam
7 years ago
Reply to  Dicky

Max tire width is 2.3 (which is plenty for most weight-conscience X-C racers).

Dicky
7 years ago
Reply to  Sam

I get that… but I’m asking if the 27.5+ tire will fit in the 29″ fork. Most/many 29″ forks can accommodate plus size 27.5 tires.

I’m not the typical weight-conscience weenie.

Paul S.
Paul S.
7 years ago
Reply to  Dicky

Based on the front-on photo, I wouldn’t guess you can get away with anything bigger than 2.3″, no matter what the diameter…

Dicky
7 years ago
Reply to  Dicky

I get that… but I’m asking if you can fit a 2.8 27.5+ tire in the 29er fork. Many/most 29″ forks can accommodate the larger tire.

I’m not the typical weight-conscience weenie.

shafty
shafty
7 years ago

@Dicky Then why even look at this fork? There are already options designed for that tire size. It probably won’t fit, judging by it’s XC oriented design.

Dicky
7 years ago
Reply to  shafty

Why look? Lightweight 100mm fork at a “reasonable price.” Also, since I’m running 27.5+ on a 29er, the fork can’t be too short and also needs to have a non-boost option.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago
Reply to  Dicky

It looks like the 2.3 could just make it. It’s not much of an arch. Give it up. If you’re lucky, you’ll have clearance for a 27.5 that’s 2.4-2.5 wide. It’s not what you want. Move on…

Joe
Joe
7 years ago

Dicky – No

Phil
Phil
5 years ago

Fox suggests to go with 15-20% sag. No?

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