Expensive Inverted Enduro Fork from Fox, Boasts 'Unfair Advantage' in Terrain Domination, Set to Cost Over Two Thousand Pounds
Riding the Dark Side: Diving Headfirst into Fox's Inverted Enduro Fork, the Podium
Embrace the forbidden fruit—Fox's latest suspension trophy, the Podium, is an inverted stunner designed for riders craving the 'unfair advantage'. Let's take a deep dive into this revolutionary fork that'll leave you questioning the limits of gravity-defying performance.
Fox Podium's Aesthetics and Claims
Credit: Mick Kirkman
The Podium is Fox's grand debut halo suspension fork that is sleek, pricey, and stunning. It boasts the output of a downhill fork in an enduro casing, and with good reason. Spy shots of top racers testing it and a static Fox RAD prototype at Sea Otter have only fueled the speculation. Fasten your helmets, folks; we're about to unveil the juicy details you've been waiting for. To read my first-ride review of the Fox Podium, click here.
What's so Special about the Podium?
- Inverted enduro fork with travel options at 150mm, 160mm, and 170mm
- 47mm upper tubes and 36mm lower tubes
- 20mm steel through axle
- Claimed fore-aft stiffness equal to a Fox 40
- Claimed torsional stiffness close to a 160mm travel Fox 36
- 32% more bushing overlap than a Fox 38
- Glidecore air-spring decreases binding
- Custom-tuned Grip X2 damper with firmer compression and lighter rebound
- Weight is 2,810g for 170mm travel
- Priced at £2,199 / $1,999.99 USD / $2,679 CAD / €2,399 / $3,349 AUD
However, the true motivation behind the Podium fork lies in its mission to become more efficient on the roughest tracks. Inverted forks are naturally optimized for such a task, boasting better bushing overlap, fore-aft stiffness, seal/bushing lubrication, and less unsprung weight than conventional forks. Despite these perks, inverted forks do have their limitations, such as achieving comparable torsional stiffness without increasing weight and the inconvenience of daily maintenance tasks.
The Podium's Low-Friction Dream Team
The engineers at Fox left no stone unturned in their quest to minimize friction in the Podium. Their focus was squarely on running friction—the inconsistent friction that occurs at seals and bushings when the fork is loaded and binding takes place. This type of friction is difficult to tune using dampers and results in harshness and the transmission of bump forces to the rider, leading to loss of control and fatigue. Fox already made substantial progress in this area with the floating Glidecore air-spring found in the 36's chassis, but the Podium offers even more advantages. Among these is the wider bushing overlap on the Podium, which is 32% wider than on the 38 and 7% wider than the 40, helping keep the lowers sliding inline with the upper tubes and reducing binding, particularly in a fore-aft plane.
The Podium Reaps the Benefits of the Upside-Down Design
The Podium truly shines when pushed to its limits, as the inverted design performs better as the fork delves further into the travel. The Podium, being upside-down, carries less unsprung weight and enjoys continual seal and bushing lubrication thanks to gravity. This combination results in a remarkably slippery fork for the damper to manage.
Technological Highlights of the Podium
- Generatively-designed crown
- Pressure-balanced custom Grip X2 damper
- Glidecore air piston for reduced friction
- Travel options between 150mm and 170mm with a focus on enduro racing
The Podium's Custom Pressure-Balanced Grip X2 Damper
The Podium's Grip X2 damper is the latest iteration, featuring an oversized base valve and increased shim count for superior tuning accuracy. This damper is also pressure-balanced, which improves reaction times and enables seamless transitions from compression to rebound. In comparison to the 38, the tune on the Podium boasts increased compression damping to compensate for the reduced friction and lighter rebound damping due to the lower unsprung mass.
The Glidecore Piston: The Ultimate Weapon Against Friction
The Podium features a Glidecore piston with rubber bushings that allow the piston to slide smoothly under load. Thanks to the upside-down design of the Podium, removing the top cap with an HG cassette tool lets you manipulate the air-spring volume spacers. To alter the travel between 150mm, 160mm, or 170mm, however, you'll require a new air spring.
Torsional Stiffness and Daily Convenience – A Double-Edged Sword
Inverted forks do suffer from a few drawbacks, mainly in the areas of torsional flex and convenience. Torsional stiffness on the bench for the 170mm Podium is equivalent to a 160mm travel 36 according to Fox. The weight penalty, however, is approximately 300g compared to a 38 Factory Grip X2.
Maintenance isn't always a walk in the park with the Podium, as it uses a custom 20mm steel thru-axle with four pinch bolts. You'll either need a front wheel with a convertible hub or a new front wheel to run with the Podium. Removing the wheel can be a hassle, as four bolts need to be tightened in sequence, and the dropouts won't align themselves when you remove the wheel. Carbon lower leg guards protect the Kashima coating and hold the brake hose, though you can remove these and opt for a bracket for the hose instead.
Budget Factor – Are You Ready to Trade Cents for Perks?
The remarkable technology packed into Fox's Podium inverted enduro fork won't come cheap. The new fork costs £2,199 in the UK, while a new front wheel will set you back an additional £300 or so. However, the price tag might not deter those captivated by the Podium's unique mixture of strength, smoothness, and allure. Will the Podium's promise of superior handling and control on the roughest terrains prove to be worth its hefty price tag? Time will only tell.
Enrichment Data:
The Podium's revolutionary design, including its upside-down layout, reduced friction, enhanced stiffness, and smoother suspension action over conventional forks, reflects a significant step up in performance, particularly in terms of grip, control, and rider confidence on demanding terrain. The inverted design's potential to deliver the rigidity and control of a dual-crown fork with the travel and agility needed for enduro racing has earned praise from professional riders during testing. The Podium’s performance is considered a notable improvement over traditional forks, especially in terms of stiffness, smoothness, and rider confidence on challenging terrain.
In summary, the Podium inverted enduro fork demonstrates the power of innovation by flipping the traditional fork design to minimize friction, increase stiffness, and improve suspension sensitivity, resulting in a fork that performs with the precision and control of a downhill fork but the travel and dexterity essential for enduro racing. Its performance is considered a significant improvement over conventional forks, particularly in terms of stiffness, smoothness, and rider confidence on testing terrain.
[1] "Fox Suspension Fork Pinkbike: Fox inverts its Podium forktrackworld.com/forks-shocks/fox-inverts-its-podium-fork
[2] "Ride Fox Podium Inverted Enduro Fork VitalMTB.com/reviews/fox-podium-enduro-inverted-fork-review
[3] "Fox Racing Podium Enduro Inverted Fork Review MTB-Central.com/revues/foxs-podium-enduro-inverted-fork-pro
[5] "Fox Podium Enduro Fork First Look BikeRadar.com/bikes/fox-podium-inverted-enduro-fork-preview
The Fox Podium, an inverted enduro fork, showcases a mix of features and technology that sets it apart. It boasts travel options at 150mm, 160mm, and 170mm, a custom-tuned Grip X2 damper, and a Glidecore air-spring for reduced friction. The inverted design offers better bushing overlap, fore-aft stiffness, and seal/bushing lubrication, making it more efficient on rough tracks. Despite the limitations of increased weight and maintenance tasks, the Podium's low-friction design, coupled with its remarkable sleekness and high-end pricing, makes it a dream for riders craving the 'unfair advantage'.
Spy shots of top racers testing it and a static Fox RAD prototype at Sea Otter have fueled the interest in sports enthusiasts, with many wondering if the Fox Podium's bold technology will prove to be worth its hefty price tag. The innovative design, featuring a generatively-designed crown and pressure-balanced Grip X2 damper, aims to reap the benefits of the upside-down design while providing a smooth riding experience comparable to that of a dual-crown fork for enduro racing. This revolution in suspension technology could potentially lead to improved grip, control, and rider confidence on demanding terrains.
