Fox 36 vs 38 | Which is best for you?
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- For years, the 36 was the burliest single crown fork Fox offered, but as enduro racing keeps getting more popular and long travel bikes continue to become more capable pedaling uphill, the need for super stiff single crown forks for long travel trail bikes has increased. Fox’s solution to this is the 38.
The Fox 38 is noticeably more stiff than the Fox 36 both on paper and on the trail. But don't just totally forget about that 36 quite yet, as it still may be a better fork for you and how you ride. In this video, Mike gives a back to back review on how the 36 and 38 compare on the trail, as well as helps you figure out which fork is best for you.
💥 SHOP Fox 36 and 38 forks @ tinyurl.com/yykqyaly
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The Lost Co.
Bellingham, WA
360-306-8827
www.thelostco.com
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#ridelost
#ridefox
#mountainbike - Sport
Here I am on my 2019 Nomad with a Lyrik on the front. As soon as the 38 and Zeb dropped, my fork's 35mm stanchions turned into wet noodles. Totally unrideable.
no doubt eh. i'm fraid for my life on my next ride on my Lyrik now.
I have 32 mill stanchions.....
@@georgekell2344 May god have mercy on your soul.
I have a lyrik on my hardtail. Does that mean. I need an even bigger fork that will write checks my back wheel already can't cash?
@@s14tat The only logical option is a 190mm Zeb.
we'll soon all be riding enduro bikes on our local flow trails soon
Mp Fjeje same
At least you can take it to the flowtrail, to the bikepark, take it enduro racing, you do everything with an enduro bike, especially when you dont have the money for a cross country bike, a trail bike, an enduro bike, and a downhill bike.
Absolutely true! I have the commencal meta ht am. Dropper post and fox 36 150mm fit4 with lockout. Saddle up + locked out forks = great XC bike. Saddle dropped and forks completely unlocked = great enduro bike. It's like having two bikes in one.
As an enduro racer thats 5 foot 8 and 140 lbs im finding enduro race bikes to large for enduro races now. I was on a ransom bike i got thru sponsorship but i cpuldnt work my way around 170mm front and back with 29ers. Im now racing a jeffsy 27.5 160 up front 150 in the back and my lap times have improved on every lap that i ride regularly except for one thats just a straight line of steep rooty rocky tech
Actually I'm commuting on mine x)
Me when I realize the fox 49 doesn’t have 49 mm stanchions. 😐
Im sure it will pretty soon
@@abccanada6248 the fox 49 doesn't exist in the current fox lineup anymore. The 29" dual crown fork now also goals under the 40 series. Makes sense now 😂
Aprilia made a 51mm fork on the 2000's caponard 😮 they are massive 😅
I can't wait until 2024 when the fox 40 comes out and we realize how flexible and weak the 38 is.
zimmermandk there is already a Fox 40 and 49
Yaish Matheen the 49 is still 40mm legs it’s just for 29 wheels.
@@ryanmacdonald1370 It's also not a thing anymore, both are just called 40 now.
@@yaishmatheen4274 holy shit ur dense
@@user-od8vx2ei9g im sorry
Can confirm the 38 will make your bike feel like a DH rig. It's pretty crazy.
This is the most helpful comparison I've seen yet! Love how you showed us your use purposes and then gave clear recommendations. Thank you
Love your parts tech vids. Changed a Fox damper using your shop vid. Thanks!
Excellent review, the best I have seen comparing the 36 Vs 38.
the chart that wraps and simplifies it all is a real bonus.
THANKS 👍
Wow, so informative! Great job guys. I'm a big fairly aggressive rider riding 180mm on my 2021 Rocky Mountain Slayer and although I don't have any other choice, the added stiffness is so confidence-inspiring. I absolutely love the control it gives you. Again great job guys!!!
Best explanation I’ve heard that actually makes sense. Thank you!
Thanks for the great comparison video. Definitely helped my decision for my next build.
The 38 would fit me the best, except im runnng 130mm at the front...
Yeah get a 130/140mm 36 from them
Get a 34
Excellent video. Really well explained and great chart at the end.
I was just seeing which one I should put on my next build! Thanks lost co.
AHRK ok thanks
Awesome vid as always the lost co is my go to for any bike parts!
170mm 38 Performance Elite here. Loving it.
I have the Fox Factory FLOAT 36 at 160mm. I love it!
Nice Video, thank you for your help to buy now a fox 38😉greetings from Germany🤙
I look at it this way..........I've put my Specialized Enduro with a Pike & 160mm of travel through the ringer in Kamloops, Kelowna and here in Bellingham for the past 6 years, it owes me NOTHING! So, my new Ripmo (if it ever shows it's little head............) equipped with a Fox Factory 36 should be PLENTY for this guy..... great comparison Mike, thanks!
so glad i found this channel. This video is so in the weeds i feel like i work as an engineer at Fox!
Yoir video is very helpful. As the way you talk to explain things. It’s very understandable. Thank you sooo much
Great break down! Thanks again!
upgrading my 36 to 38; great job explaining the f&b's
I think I'll hold out for the 48
Thx for an awesome review! I'm so psyched just having swapped out a 140mm Fox 34 Fit4 to the new 2021 160mm Fox 36 Grip2 on my 2018 Jeffsy 29". I'm looking forward to a more stable bike overall, considering it effectively will slacken it ~1° more to 66°. Also excited about the more tunable damper. Only worry is how big the penalty will be pedaling uphill with a 73,5° seattube...🤔
Nice one, great video thanks👌👍
That was a perfect video for this. Bravo 🎉
The main thing about the 38 for me is that it has a more linear springrate than the 36 because of a clever feature in the air spring assembly that increases lower leg volume, which means its slightly more tunable. And if you reduce the 38 to 160mm, its even more linear and has much more bushing overlap than the 36
I have a SC Megatower. Had the Fox 36 Factory 170m. Just upgraded to the Fox Factory 38 180m. What a difference. So so much better. Plush. The stiffness is unreal. I’m a heavy dude 230lbs plus with gear. Beat upgrade I could have done. I ride it everywhere. Local trails. Bike park. Urban rides. Whatever where ever!!! Yeeewwww!!! 🤘🏻🚵🏽♂️🦍
If you close your eyes and listen it’s Spider-Man giving you a review on the Fox Forks.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAND then there's those of us with a 2019 180mm 36 because we are just that rowdy. Great video guys!
That's exactly me ! Cheers bro 🤟
I too
Pretty much sold me on a Fox 36 for the Canyon Spectral 29 build I have in mind. I'm a similar size as you and won't be sending train jumps or anything with it, so the 36 in 150 or 160 travel should be plenty for me. Great video!
How did the 36 work for you? What do you weigh?
@@lifeafter4092 I haven't built it yet. Seems Canyon doesn't sell just the frame set by itself anymore, so I may be stuck with buying a whole new bike (which also comes with Fox 36).
great review!
Awesome Video, Thank you!
You know what else decreases stickness and load on the bushings? Not having a 63.5 degree head angle.
Holy shit that’s basically dh geo
@@fazza2104 lmao transition spire has 63 deg 😂
depends on how rowdy you're getting.
@@siddhantmishra3598 not convinced. Looking into the Grim Donut, that's a proper HA we need nowadays
Great video, thanks!
Totally clear as always
Really informative and nicely produced video.
Great review.
I've been on the fence between the specialized status 160 with fox 36s, and building out something like a commencal meta sx with fox 38s, and this definitely pushed me over the edge towards the 38s when I saw how smooth that drop was at @4:50 Still a very useful video 2 years later!
Gotta love that cradling feeling of the 38! Glad we could help you make the right call 😎 -Tor
Thanks Mike.
You're so right. 36 grip2 160 is awesome. But...38 170 is just so much more cradling and stiffer; and cooler looking in Orange. I'm 173 kitted aggressive am rider loving drops and gnarly. Such confidence booming here in loose rocky Arizona.
Thank you again for you entertaining and informative reviews.
Currently running a 160mm 36. Have it listed on PB currently as I am trying to get a 38 in 170. Also an Arizona rider frequenting SoMo etc.
Perfect video 👍🏻
So helpful
Thanks! Glad we could help 🤘
After riding the Zeb i will say that stiffness is apparent in the rough at speed. You are able to Straight Line it a lot easier.....crazy
So the 36 is now a trail fork!
You making the cradle would make a perfect meme and sticker
Awesome review mine should be here in few days all sold out
Super helpful thanks!
Heck yea Ty glad we could help out!
I'm thinking if you have a decent E-bike, your bike is probably solidly over 50lbs already. If you are a heavier guy, and most of us that ride those things are, you can pretty easily be getting up to 250-280 total weight including bike, which for a fun comparison is exactly as much or more as your average full sized motorcross bike weighs less rider. The 36 (rhythm) on my Levo is really nice, but when I really start whoopin ass down the trail I start to wonder if I should have gotten the crazy downhill fork version of the Kenevo instead. The 38 would be a nice compromise to keep all of that mass stable over the rough stuff. Thanks for the video, I think we all really needed that!
38 fork 180mm is just THE option in 2021. very nice ride in the swiss alps!
Great Vid, But my understanding is the new Fox 36 can only be tuned to 160mm as per Fox website. 160-180mm fox 38?
Was the stiffness of the 36 ever a concern before the 38 came out?
I remember Richie Rude winning several EWS races on it.
If there were not a 38 option, I believe the 36 would be fine and nobody would say anything.
All that being said, this is the best comparison/guide I have seen to date re: the 36 & 38...good job @The Lost Co.
In the EWS, pro racers were asking for it
I'm surprised we haven't seen more 170-180mm dual crowns
I completely agree with you, but man is the added stiffness and control nice!!!
just wait, in 2024 we will hear how the new fox 40 is so much stiffer/better than the 38. Gotta keep the masses feeling like they need to upgrade. And yes, I'm one of the masses that upgrade haha
Jody Wiebe nobody wanted an iPhone before they existed. That’s just how things work. A new better alternative that no one thought of before comes out and people like it better
@@lfsiuvagacwoi This is an incremental increase in size that's not even as large as other options that have existed before. Not exactly comparable to what is possibly the most influential piece of tech released in the last 30 years. lol
Well explained!
That was a great video
I just got the fox 38s on my new 2024 Cube embt waw all i can say just now! Massive difference over my 36s and at 225lbs they work as should for the bigger rider soaking up everything in the rock garden they are alot stiffer really nice and it's that first impressions when you see them just how chunky these bad boys are don't get me wrong not a bad thing to say about fox 36 love them it these 38s are a game changer for me there definitely a bigger heavier aggressive rider should go for!
38,I have the 34 it great on the trails and climbing but I'm 200lb and Curious about The 38. I really think they should start manufacturing bikes that suits Medium to heavier riders, The size thing I think down Pat, But nothing for heavier riders I think that's fork is a good addition A little bit more options to play around with Which is great. Don't call anybody might tip off the kiljoys out there and might make another fork in downgraded.
*laughs in 150mm 34*
*Laughs in 140mm 32*
Laughs in 120mm travel 30mm stanchion
Laughts in 80mm travel 28.6 stanchion
Laughs in 203mm travel 40mm stanchions
Laughs in 150 36
Thanks for this video, the chart at the end of this video has been needed since the 38 was announced. I'm a 100 kilo Big Chungus so this really helps steer my decision :)
Do it!
Big chunguses unite, I put a 36 on a 140mm travel bike
Yeah big chungus go for the 38! And rip down the big chungus descends
Another big chungas here. Got a 38 performance elite!
I'm still ahead in terms of marketing, still riding my 2010 Rockshox Totem DH Solo (40mm & 180mm travel, 2.6kg) :-) :-) :-)
Dada Apo I was looking for the comments waiting for someone to comment on the totem, it’s a special fork and feel like most people don’t know how awesome it was. They need to bring back that single crown beast.
...Mike you 're the best for all explanations...except how that works with the baby swings....
I’m still running a 08 khs lucky 7 with 38mm 2012 marzocchi 38 single crown 180mm. Sounds like marzocchi was doing it right back in the day
Dude...You rock!
Is there a 38 / Zeb back to back test yet?
I’d also like to see a review of the Zeb in 190mm travel option 👍
Yes there is. It’s on World Wide Cyclery channel
@4:40 i knew that was coming LOL
Hey Mike,
My new Devinci Spartan 29" frame will be arriving soon and I was wondering whether you put in an angleset to get the 63.5 degree headangle? or is that only due to your mullet setup? I was thinking about building the frame into a mullet setup anyway... Do you think the 29 Spartan would be able to be converted to a mullet bike as good or as simply as the 27.5 frame?
Love the channel guys!!
Keep it up!
Yes, there is a 1 degree Works angleset in there!
In short, making a 29in frame into a mullet is generally not recommended since you have to put a smaller wheel in the back. This does a couple of things including, lowering bottom bracket height. Give us a call or email and we are happy to discuss this in more detail with you!
(360) 306-8827 // sales@thelostco.com
thanks from the sf bay area homeboy!!
i run a 36 on my 2014 spec. enduro, i know ikeep things a long time,and im probably to light for it, 60 and a bit kg. but what about my yet to arrive levo with all that wieght. i might be 60+ in age but i still ride as fast as i can downhill. well explained vid cheers
AHRK more like you can’t afford shit. Why do you care what other people do with their money? The video explained who this Fork was for and who it wasn’t. Some people buy new cars every few years because the are able to and they want to. That’s how a capitalist free market society works. Just like new cel phones. Many people also buy them new more than they need. So let’s just put all the bike companies and there employees outta business cause you figure we should all be riding 10 year old rigid bikes and DH tracks. Still waiting for your credentials and experience. Really curious how old you are and what you do for a living ?
Nice, next vid 38 vs zeb please.
38 is like a 36 for us heavier riders. Glade you pointed that out
Or bikes. My Levo is 54 pounds, and I'm 200, that's a lot to ask of any bike fork when you are beating the snot out of it.
@@growlith6969 A lot of ephasis is put on eMTB ready parts but let's be real, the 20lbs difference between a Kenevo and Status 160 is nothing compared to the difference between two riders. The typical range across riders is somewhere around 100lbs I'd say.
@@bradley3549 To a degree yes, however there is a bit of "float" when it comes to the rider. If you imagine a bike going through whoops, and the bike is seesawing through them with a more or less still rider on top, the bike itself is the hammer on the suspension/tires/wheels because it is fixed stiff and ungiving mass directly attached to those bits. Big jump hits, that's rider weight all the way and those slow-mo bottom outs on youtube show how crazy the stresses are. Very cool.
Fox 36 831 26". Install a longer air spring if you want. I have a 130mm spring in mine. 831 is the best.
Well to be honest. I prefer the 36. And the reason is because 36 is more progressive. And foster. And is softer. And I don't have any problems downhill or jumping or going over rocks and roots 36. 170 to me is 100% better. 38. 170. Is more heavy and it feels more stiff. And is super slow. Progressive is not that good. And it feels little bit saggy. Other then that video is great thanks
Fox warranty service is great I dented my X2 on the body and stanchion and they replaced both at no charge
Omg i looked how much the 36 was...did yall hear that thud sound of me fainting?!?!
Wish Rock Shox would do a new Totem. That thing had 40mm stanchions in single crown!
Great videos with helpful content.
When I visit you in your shop, expect you to have your helmet on!
Currently, 230lb riding as aggressively as i can. i notice the difference between my 2019 36 and 2022 38 both in 170mm.
I will be reducing the 36 to 140mm and fitting it to an aggressive xc bike.
I’m 63 pounds and I want to eventually upgrade from a lyric to 36, 38 or zeb so a reply from the lost co will help
I bought a 180 na2 36 air spring from you guys? What do you mean the 36 maxes out at 170? Are you referring to 2021+?
What a guy I found this for video very Educational I am definitely in the market for a 38 fox 170mm 😍🤘 I got a yeti SB6 in a medium just wondering how it will affect the geometric s tho as my preferred riding would be Lake District up fell down , My local Lancashire UK 🇬🇧 on the doorstep of Pendle hill 🤘
When are you going to do some more riding videos?
Good job
mmmm. creaking fox 38 csu's. AWESOME
I may be wrong but can you please make a video how to maintain a fox fork or fork in general please
I'm a heavier rider on a levo, I'm caught between a zeb and 38. Would I know a difference? Why do you like fox over rockshox? Keep vids coming your doing a hell of a job.
rockshox is much cheaper here in Europe compared to FOX. also, I like my Charger oj PIKE ultimate
Fox stuff is better, Go on forums and see the complaints about rockshox forks.
Zeb will ha e better small bump sensitivity and 38 will have better bottom out support id rather have the zeb it's cheaper and needs less servicing
I’d like to try the aggressor! Mostly ride city streets but do ride some trails
I want to hear more about the Spartan setup as a mullet.
I bought the 38 pistachios before i went to morzine for a season (3 months). I just got home and the forks were sooo good on big mountain trails. But the CSU is fucked. Gotta send them back for warranty for creaking CSU. Other than that there the best forks ive rode on my enduro bike. Santa cruz nomad 4.
Hello Mike! Thank´s, your videos and reviews are amazing!!, I have a Salta Cruz Hightower 2021, can I put the a Fox 38 in 170mm, do you think I lose much power when I go climbing?
Thanks for the kind words! As far as climbing, a 170 Fox 38 should crush it for the Hightower!
@@TheLostCo Thank´s very much! Best,
The 170mm max travel you mentioned for Fox 36 is for 29" only right? Because I have 180mm travel on my Capra 27.5 on Factory 36.
Maybe if you're building a mainly downhill bike, have the skills to ride at that speed and such tough terrain and dont feel the 36 is sufficient then think about it but i think a personal comparison is a good idea. I have a 2019 RM Instinct BC with 160 front and 155 rear and to be honest i am sure i could get away with 140 front like the standard Instinct as i ride Blue trails with a few rock gardens here and there and my skills and not wanting to get hurt keep me on the blue trails, having said that it doesnt mean i wont try a Black trail but on average i really dont need 160, i got an AMAZING deal on the bike as a leftover so i bought it and LOVE it with NO regrets so i can deal with a bit of extra weight. Mike gives a good example as why some people have 2 bikes especially depending on your local trails so you dont need to drive 3 + hours for a double black if you're at that skill level?
hoy fui a mi tienda de confianza y tienen la nueva fox 36 naranja , la quiero para mi megatower, creo que es suficiente con 160 o ver si la puedo pasar a 170 o al final el cambio no sera necesario, yo atualmente tengo la kashima 160 y va muy bien
More travel, more fun :)
I had a 180mm Fox Performance 36 on my Haibike, and it worked ok, but when the trail got really rough it transmitted a lot of bumps and vibration into the bike, which made it difficult to handle a day of riding at Snow Summit because of hand and arm fatigue. The braking bumps going into a turn were almost unbearable after a few hours. I changed to a Fox Factory 38 with 170mm travel, and it felt sooo much more plush in the rough stuff, and the effective travel felt like it increased, even though it actually decreased. I am 275lbs, plus gear, and the bike is 60lbs, so the 38 made a massive improvement for me. I can see how a much lighter rider with lower air pressure and lower dampening settings would probably be fine on a Fox 36. If you are a big dude you gotta get the 38!
Are the pressures and the settings the same on both forks as far as rebound and the others? Thanks
Hello! many thanks for video. I am going to order new front fork but still not decided which one. Today, I found many videos in those guys were complaining about "fox 38 - is creaking".
Do you have any info about this issue? Is it chance if I will be using 180 front rotor instead of 203mm, I can eliminate chance to create this issue? My weight is 65kilos.
Many thanks for answer :)
Nice job! Really clear. How about this question for you: My wife rides a Ripley with a Fox 34 140mm up front. She weighs 135lbs and rides aggressively on mostly (but not only) blue trails at Port Gamble. She likes to pedal, but we ride stuff like Magnificent 7 in Moab and the Palm Canyon Epic in SoCal on road trips. She prefers the Ripley to the Ripmo because it's more "zoomy." But I have an extra Fox 36 140mm I could put on for her--would that make sense to try? Or is the 34 a better fit for her size and the Ripley frame?
Hey Ryan!
At her weight, she might not be heavy enough to notice the difference in stiffness between the two, but it's worth a shot! Either fork will work great for her and I recommend switching it out and letting her make the call. If she prefers one over the other, then that's the fork for her! Or if the differences are more subtle I'd switch back to the 34 to save a bit of weight.
-Tor
I love you guys, but I beg you - don't stoop to the "cut to but don't address camera 2" technique. Your vids are informative enough to hold the viewers attention!
Dear Mike, can you suggest me one of your video that treat about how to do service for a Fox Float RP23 rear shox? Thank you. Greetings from Europe
Any tips on how each one climbs uphill?
I’d like to purchase the fork from Lost Co, but can’t be shipped to Canada.
I love going downhill und getting gnarly but I have an 160 mm enduro bike with an 2017 rockshox Yari, is that a good fork? Please answer I would love to hear someone else’s opinion
The Yari Is an amazing fork! I LOVE Rockshox! So rockshox top of the line forks are the Pike (A trail/all mtn fork) and the Lyric (an enduro fork) the rockshox Yari is built in the same chassis as the lyric (so just as stiff) but doesn’t have rockshox nice air spring and damper. If you have the money, I would go with a pike ultimate or a fox 36 performance elite/factory. (I personally love my fox 34 performance elite with the fit 4. I’m not a fan of the kashima coating on factory because I think it’s going to be out of style in like 2 years and I want to have my bike for a while so... but anyways the Yari is great, it’s their mid end/entry level enduro fork but if you wanted top of the line I would go with the lyric or 36.
It's an amazing fork
it's horrific, you should spend 3x that and get a fancier one, orange preferably
Martin Ďurčanský first, not everyone can afford top of the line forks. Second, the Yari is great. Why do you say it’s horrific. Additionally, it only comes in red and black I don’t know what your talking about orange unless you are talking about a fox fork.
Martin you can put Charger into your Yari... as a 200h service for example. You'd just switch the cartridge