Michael reviews the 2024 Fox Float X2

The first-generation Fox Float X2 (2016-2020 model) was known to be one of the most robust and reliable shocks for downhill and enduro bikes, with many regarding it as the best gravity-oriented air shock available. It won countless Downhill World Cups and stops on the Enduro World Series.

Then in 2021, Fox released a new more adjustable version of the shock. The new design featured high and low-speed rebound adjustment on separate circuits, allowing them to be tuned independently. The optional climb switch was repositioned to an easier-to-reach location, also on its own circuit. This resulted in a firmer compression and lockout, helping many enduro racers winch up long liaison climbs. 

With all of these changes, it should come as no surprise that on the bike, the difference was night and day. The shock was much more responsive and progressive than the last version. I had one on my bike for about a year and loved how sensitive it was and the way it would eat impact after impact on long descents without fading.

Unfortunately, the shock developed a reputation for being unreliable, as air could sneak past the main seal and aerate the oil. Many folks had to send shocks back to Fox multiple times for warranty repairs, and my own shock made the trip three times. 

Late 2022 saw an updated design for the shock’s eyelet; it moved the bleed port on the trunnion models from on top of the eyelet between the mounts to the back of the eyelet. The trunnion mounts received a once over too, with some new machining and a thicker lip where it threads onto the shock body. Despite these changes, it seems Fox still didn’t have an answer for the aeration.  

Then, in April 2023, Fox quietly released an updated MY2024 model of the Float X2 along with their new Float DPS and Float SL shocks. While the new Float DPS and SL featured in promo videos and social media posts, the new X2 barely garnered a mention. This new design carried over the updated eyelet in addition to the following features:

• New base valve piston design and compression tune said to increase damping performance and improve sensitivity 
• New bearing housing seal package claimed to virtually eliminate the possibility of aeration
• New scraper seal for improved durability
• New 7000 series shock body on all models
• New hard chrome damper shaft finish for increased durability 

From the outside, the 2024 shock doesn’t look all that different to the previous version except for the minor changes to the eyelet. But looks can be deceiving, and it is essentially a whole new shock inside. 

What is the Float X2 designed for?

The Float X2 sits at the top Fox’s line of gravity oriented air shocks. It is ideally suited to trail and enduro bikes with 150mm of travel all the way up to full-blown downhill rigs with 200mm of rear wheel squish. The shock is available for both trunnion and standard eyelets, and depending on the size, there is an optional climb switch version. Here’s how it all breaks down.

Sitting just underneath the X2 is the Float X. Both these shocks can be fitted to a number of bikes around the 150mm travel range, but the X2 offers more adjustability and a larger volume air can. The Float X is available with low-speed rebound and low-speed compression adjustments, while the X2 adds high-speed compression and rebound. These additions help fine-tune the shock to a broader range of applications, rider styles and terrain.

The previous version of the X2 came in three spec levels, with the Performance and Performance Elite variants only available on complete bikes. These shocks missed out on the fancy Kashima coating, and in the case of the Performance series shock, it didn’t get high-speed rebound or compression. The Performance Elite got the full suite of adjustments with both high and low-speed rebound and compression but maintained the stealthy black anodized stanchion. At this stage, only the Factory series 2024 Float X2 is available for purchase, however we can assume the two lower-spec variants will be making their way onto many OEM builds soon. 

Setting up the Fox Float X2

With high-speed and low-speed compression and rebound, air pressure and volume spacers, there are a lot of dials and doohickeys to contend with to get the X2 to perform its best.

As I’m running the shock on my Norco Sight, I used the handy Ride Aligned set-up tool to find the baseline. While it’s not perfect, it got me to a solid starting point.

Once I had the recommended settings on the shock, I started my own bracketing set-up process to fine-tune the settings. I settled on 201psi in the shock with no volume spacers for my 65kg riding weight. Compression settings were 12 out from closed for low-speed and five out for high-speed. Rebound was seven out from closed for high-speed and 14 for low-speed.

It’s worth noting that the Ride Aligned tool is based around the previous 2021 Float X2 for its settings calculation. Fox has said that with the new updates for 2024, riders will need to experiment with their settings if they are coming from the previous version. 

So, how does it ride? 

I have been riding the 2024 Float X2 for over five months, in a 185×52.5 Trunnion Factory configuration with a climb lever. The first thing I noticed was how much faster the shock recovered from high-speed compressions. It also felt like it generated more “pop” off jumps. The knock-on from this was that I needed to speed up the low-speed rebound on my fork by two clicks just to keep the bike feeling balanced.

But now, my Sight feels even more composed in the rough stuff, and it eats up rock gardens, consecutive drops and large compressions with ease. 

I have noticed that the shock uses the first 60% of its travel more regularly but still ramps up quickly enough to avoid bottoming out. The new revisions allow the shock to sit deeper in its travel, helping it soak up the smaller hit on rough tracks and rock gardens while still recovering fast enough not to get bogged down too low in the travel and pack up. Even without any volume spacers, it ramps up enough to not bottom out too frequently, and I have found it to be herculean to completely bottom the shock out, and it’s hard to use the last 3% of its travel.

From a performance perspective, the 2024 version is another step up from the previous one. All the elements that riders loved about the 2021 version are still there, and Fox has managed to improve upon its strong points. The shock is exceptionally soft off the top and requires even less force to initiate its travel. Balancing off-the-top suppleness and progression is a tough ask, but the new 2024 Float X2 does a fantastic job of this. With the tunability of the air spring and its volume spacers, the rationale for choosing a coil shock over an air shock is becoming harder for riders.

2024 Fox Float X2 Reliability 

In the past, five months had been more than enough time for the previous issues to develop and another warranty form from Fox needing to be filled out. Since having the 2024 Float X2, I have experienced a predictable and consistent feel on the trail, without the dreaded squelching sound of air mixing with oil. Five months is not enough to confirm that all the previous issues are truly dead and gone, but things are looking good. I should note that three riders from my local race team are also on the new 2024 Float X2, and so far nobody has experienced reliability issues and noticed an uptick in performance.

The new bearing housing seal package is doing its job of keeping the air and oil separate so far, and this is probably one of the most important refinements of the new version.

The other changes are a bit more nuanced. Take the new scraper seal, 7000 series shock body and hard chrome damper shaft; these will only come into their own as more riders clock up hours of use and the new shocks start to reach their 125-hour service intervals. This is when the durability and reliability of these other changes should become more apparent. The updated base valve piston design and compression tune have definitely improved the damping performance and increased suppleness and sensitivity of the top. 

Flow’s Verdict

The ride characteristics are fantastic, and it’s surprisingly lively for such a large volume air shock. While the new Float X2 is quick to take advantage of some of the available squish, it manages to rally after consecutive hits and stay extraordinarily composed through rock gardens and jank.

I have been impressed with how active the shock is and the way it livens up the ride quality of my Sight. It is much more playful than the previous version, without spitting chips when the tracks get rough. 

It seems the X2 has returned to its former self, however, there is a new kid (well, old new kid) knocking at the door in the updated RockShox Vivid Ultimate. Will the X2 be able to fend off RockShox’s latest answer to the big burly air shock? Only time will tell. We currently have one on test, so stay tuned folks.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Michael Cooper

Hometown

Gold Coast, QLD

Height

173cm

Weight65kg

RIDING STYLE

Over calculated yet imprecise