First Ride: The Fox 38 Gets a New Chassis, Damper, and Air Spring

Fox Racing Shox has unveiled a significant overhaul of its flagship enduro fork, the 38. The updated model features a completely redesigned chassis, promising enhanced stiffness and control, alongside a new GRIP X2 damper and an evolved air spring system. This marks a substantial refresh for the burly single-crown fork, aimed at improving performance for demanding trail and enduro riders seeking maximum capability from their front suspension.

This latest iteration of the 38 arrives as the enduro segment continues its relentless push for greater component durability and performance. Fox's move reflects an ongoing arms race among suspension manufacturers, where incremental gains in damping sophistication, chassis rigidity, and tunability are paramount. The 38 has long been a benchmark in its category, and this update aims to maintain its competitive edge against rivals like RockShox's ZEB, ensuring riders have the most advanced tools for increasingly aggressive terrain and race courses.

Another fork, another incremental improvement. One can almost hear the collective sigh of wallets everywhere. Still, if it genuinely delivers on its promise of enhanced control, it’s a necessary evolution for the gravity-focused faithful.