2026 Fox 36 Review | Fox introduces the brand new 36 & 36 SL with updated chassis and Glidecore air spring

The not-so-minor details

Product

2026 Fox 36 & Fox 36 SL

Contact

Ride Fox Australia

https://www.ridefoxaustralia.com.au/

Price

From $1,199 AUD ($1,999 - $2,099 AUD as tested)

Weight

1,750g (36 SL GRIP X) - 1,977g (36 GRIP X)

Positives

- Both forks offer improved steering precision
- Smooth & supple suspension performance across the board
- 36 SL is impressively light for its size
- 36 effectively closes the gap on the bigger 38
- GRIP X damper is light, supportive & easy to set up

Negatives

- We'd love to see the 36 offered with 170mm travel
- Less backwards compatibility
- Fiddly plastic brake hose

Mick & Wil review the 2026 Fox 36 & 36 SL

Following on from the 34 SL that launched last week, Fox is unveiling a brand new 36 for this year. Well, to be more specific, it’s actually releasing two new 36 forks.

That’s right folks, for 2026 the Fox 36 will be produced in both a standard and SL version. Each fork has a dedicated range of travel along with a unique chassis and air spring design that has been optimised for its application.

As part of the launch Flow was invited out to the Fox Racing Shox development centre in Scottsdale, Arizona, to meet the engineering team behind the new suspension line. Fox was also keen to show off the technical capabilities from its powersports division, which saw us taking a wild ride in some decked-out UTVs on a desert race track just outside of Phoenix. If anyone comes across our stomachs out there, please let us know!

We travelled over to the launch with our own bikes, which were outfitted with a bunch of new Fox and Race Face components that we rode during the launch and then brought back to Australia to continue testing on home trails. Here we’ll be taking a closer look at the fresh tech behind the new 36 and 36 SL, the differences between them, and our on-trail experience so far.

Watch our video review of the 2026 Fox 36 & 36 SL here:

We’ve had the chance to ride the new Fox 36 and 36 SL on home trails for the past month.

An overview of the 2026 Fox 36 & 36 SL

The 36 and 36 SL are two brand new forks for 2026. Both feature 36mm diameter stanchions, though each has been built around a dedicated chassis, air spring and a specific range of travel.

The Fox 36 SL is an all-new lightweight trail fork that’s offered with 120-140mm of travel and the GRIP X damper. It replaces the outgoing 34 and will compete directly against the RockShox Pike.

The Fox 36 is the All Mountain fork and is an evolution of the existing 36 that we already know. Equipped with 140-160mm of travel and either the GRIP X or GRIP X2 damper, it continues to be the main rival to the RockShox Lyrik.

The new Fox 36 SL (left) and 36 (right).

With the arrival of the new 34 SL and 36 SL, there’s been a bit of a reshuffle of the 2026 Fox fork lineup. We found this a bit confusing to begin with, but when you consider that the regular 34 has been omitted from the range, things start to make a bit more sense. Here’s what the fork lineup will look like moving forward;

Both forks receive big updates to the chassis to improve torsional rigidity and reduce friction.

New generation chassis

Last year was all about the introduction of the GRIP SL, GRIP X and GRIP X2 dampers. These will carry over into 2026 relatively unchanged, save for some minor alterations to reduce noise. This year Fox turning its attention towards updating the fork chassis and air spring, and there are some big changes afoot.

Both the 36 and 36 SL receive new generation magnesium lower legs that feature a thinner and lower profile arch. As with the 34 SL, the arch wraps deeply around the lowers to increase stiffness while incorporating hollowed-out windows that save weight where material isn’t required. Fox says it achieved this by drawing on the same generative design software that helped it to create the incredibly lightweight 32 Step-Cast fork.

Fox utilised generative design to come up with the distinctive hollowed-out arch.

You’ll still find bypass channels moulded into the lower legs, though they’ve been moved inboard with the aim of reducing dynamic friction by shifting them away from the primary fore/aft load path. Their dual purpose otherwise remains the same. As well as increasing the air volume inside the lowers to reduce unintended ramp-up, the channels allow oil to more easily circulate inside the fork to keep the bushings, foam rings and wiper seals properly lubricated.

Speaking of the bushings, Fox has also put a lot of focus on spacing them as far apart as possible to improve fore-aft rigidity and reduce overall friction. In the regular 36 the bushing overlap has increased by 30mm over the previous version, while the 36 SL spaces the bushings 20mm further apart compared to the old 34.

Combined with the new arch design, the new forks are said to be 20% stiffer torsionally than their predecessors, which is a significant improvement.

The FLOAT Glidecore Air Spring

Another tool that Fox has developed in the battle against friction is its new FLOAT Glidecore air spring.

The concept here is to decouple the air shaft from the stanchion to allow for smoother sliding even when the fork is being bent under load. Fox’s engineers achieved this by creating a floating core between the air shaft and the main seal heads. These rubber bumpers allow for some lateral wiggle, which in theory should lead to less binding of the air spring during big impacts.

The black rubber bumper between the red alloy seal head and the air shaft allows for some lateral wiggle.

It’s worth noting that the regular 36 incorporates those rubber bumpers for both the main seal head at the top, and the negative plate at the bottom. The 36 SL only gets rubber bumpers at the top, since it’s a shorter travel fork and doesn’t exhibit the same degree of flex overall.

Tech-savvy readers will know that Fox isn’t the first brand to do this, with Formula having produced a floating seal head design for its air-sprung forks for a number of years now. Regardless, it’s good to see more solutions focussed on improving compliance.

Fox 36 & 36 SL weight

Despite its larger stanchions and the claimed improvement in torsional rigidity, the Fox 36 SL manages to come in at almost an identical weight to the previous 34 GRIP X (1,750g vs 1,743g). Impressive!

The Fox 36 SL comes in at the same weight as the 34 GRIP X before it, which is impressive given its bigger chassis.

It’s a similar story with the bigger 36, which boasts stiffness gains while maintaining pretty much the same weight as its predecessor. Confirmed weight for our 36 GRIP X test fork is 1,977g.

For those wondering, here’s how the confirmed weights of the 36 SL and 36 AM stack up against some of the other forks we’ve tested over the past year;

Fox 36 price & specifications

Both the Fox 36 and 36 SL will be available in three spec levels. The cheapest Performance Series forks will come with the more basic GRIP damper. They miss out on the bleeders on the back of the fork legs, but otherwise share the same updated chassis and FLOAT Glidecore air spring.

Moving up to Performance Elite will get you the higher-end GRIP X and GRIP X2 damper options, and the Factory Series forks then add the iconic Kashima Coat stanchions on top of that.

The prices are slightly different between the two platforms, with the 36 AM costing an extra hundred bucks;

Read on for the detailed specs on the two forks that we’ve been testing, followed by our riding impressions.

Mick has been testing a Fox 36 SL on the front of his Santa Cruz Tallboy.

2026 Fox 36 SL Factory Series GRIP X

And we’ve got a 160mm travel Fox 36 on a Specialized Levo SL.

2026 Fox 36 Factory Series GRIP X

Both forks are Factory Series models with flashy gold Kashima Coat upper tubes.

Testing the 2026 Fox 36 & 36 SL

We’ve had two different Fox 36 fork models on test over the past month. Wil’s had a black 140mm travel 36 SL on his Trek Top Fuel and Mick has an orange 130mm travel version on his Santa Cruz Tallboy. We also just received an orange 160mm travel 36 AM that has been fitted to a Specialized Levo SL test bike.

Fitment of the two different 36 forks is much the same, albeit with a couple of notable caveats. The 36 SL uses a 180mm rotor mount and it comes with a simpler and lighter Kabolt SL thru-axle.

The regular 36 is built with a 200mm direct rotor mount and features the more substantial Kabolt X axle with a floating sleeve and a secondary pinch bolt to lock everything down. This adds weight and complexity to front wheel installation, but the floating axle is said to offer better alignment of the lower legs to deliver smoother sliding.

Despite the updated chassis designs, unfortunately both forks still feature the same fiddly plastic brake hose clip and tiny hex bolt. It works, sure. But when Fox updated the lowers, it seemed like the perfect time to rethink this. Having to completely remove the bolt just to free the hose feels unnecessarily finicky, especially when compared to the neat alloy hose clamp found on a modern RockShox fork.

Wil’s got his Trek Top Fuel set up in long travel mode with a 140mm Fox 36 SL and a Float X Live Valve Neo shock.

Wil’s Trek Top Fuel | The Fox 36 SL

Lately I’ve been running my Trek Top Fuel in its long travel configuration with an up-stroked Float X Live Valve Neo shock and a 140mm travel 34 GRIP X fork. I also used the Top Fuel as the platform for a recent head-to-head fork review with the latest RockShox Pike, which saw the 34 just edging ahead thanks to its lower weight, firm climbing platform and cheaper price.

When I heard that Fox would be launching the 36 SL to replace the outgoing 34, I was curious to see what the bigger fork would have to offer. I took the Top Fuel with me over to the launch in Arizona to have the 36 SL fitted to it, and spent a few days riding the sandy and rocky desert trails around Phoenix. Upon my return I’ve been putting the 36 SL through its paces on more familiar home trails, which has included some back-to-back testing with the 34.

While installation and set up is much the same between these two forks, the main difference boils down to the larger volume air spring in the 36 SL. This resulted in a lower pressure (68psi vs 74psi) to support my 68kg riding weight. While this got the sag to the right point, I did end up removing the single volume spacer to help free up the end of the travel. Otherwise I’ve been running similar settings for high-speed compression (10/14 clicks), low-speed compression (9/14 clicks) and rebound (11/16 clicks). On the note of the adjusters, I like that the rebound dial sticks further out with the 36 SL, making it easier to grab a hold of compared to the partially hidden dial on the 34.

Back-to-back testing the Fox 36 SL against the 34 GRIP X.

Fox 36 SL vs Fox 34

Cruising along the trail for the first time, the 36 SL admittedly didn’t feel worlds apart from the 34. Given they share the same GRIP X damper, both forks offer a nice level of compliance and traction with minimal force required to engage the early part of the travel.

As I encountered more rocks and roots, the increased rigidity of the 36 SL chassis came to the fore. The downside is that there is more feedback across smaller rubble, with the stiffer chassis resulting in some tugging at the bars if you’re not riding assertively. It’s not quite as rigid as the full-size 36, but being on the lighter side I typically find myself preferring the more compliant ride quality of the skinnier 34.

On faster and rowdier trails however, the scales begin to tip in favour of the 36 SL. It deals with bigger hits in a calmer manner, and there is less squirm when slapping down the fork all the way through its travel. The heavier and more aggressive the pilot, the more noticeable this will be.

During back-to-back testing, it was on these kinds of hard-hitting sections where the smoother sliding of the 36 SL became evident. Not only does it track more confidently than the 34, it also produces less feedback across repeat impacts. Indeed the combination of the burlier chassis, increased bushing overlap and Glidecore air spring helps to deliver more traction and better impact absorption when you’re pushing at speed on long, chunky descents.

The added rigidity of the 36 SL chassis comes to the fore when rumbling through bigger rocks and hitting heavier landings.

Steering accuracy is also excellent when slinging the bike in and out of berms. While I’ve never found the 34 to be overly flexy, it’s true that the 36 SL allows you to cut a more precise line through high-load corners. There’s less deflection and a more direct line of communication between your grips and the front tyre, which is particularly appreciated on rapid machine-built flow trails.

A smaller detail I’d like to point out is the reduced noise from the GRIP X damper. Fox tells us it carried out a small machining update to mitigate some of the turbulence that occurs as oil moves through the ports in the high-speed rebound assembly. While it certainly isn’t silent like the RockShox Charger 3.1 damper, and it’s still noisier than the GRIP X2, the latest GRIP X damper is notably improved compared to last year’s 34 and 36 forks. It also maintains the handy Firm mode when cranking the HSC dial all the way to its stop, which is useful on longer climbs and for commuting to and from the trailhead.

The scenery in Arizona was epic!

Wil’s Take

Overall the 36 SL has impressed with its supple action, low weight and surefooted handling. Its chassis feel sees it slotting right in between the 34 and 36, which will suit some riders more than others.

If you already own a 34 GRIP X or an older 34 GRIP2 and haven’t found yourself lacking in front-end confidence, there’ll be less value in upgrading to the new 36 SL. Indeed for those with a lightweight trail bike in the 120-130mm travel zone, the new 34 SL may actually be a more tempting proposition.

The faster and rougher the terrain however, the better the 36 SL gets. This is an ideal fork for riders who found the standard 34 to be too twangy and have typically resorted to running a down-stroked 36 to get the steering precision they need. If you enjoy pushing your trail bike to its limits on burlier enduro-type terrain, the 36 SL is a stout-riding fork that offers a significant 200g weight advantage over the bigger 36.

Despite coming in under the 2kg barrier, the new Fox 36 GRIP X isn’t that far off the 38 in terms of torsional rigidity.

Mick’s Specialized Levo SL | The Fox 36 GRIP X

Fitted to the front of my Specialized Levo SL is a 160mm travel Fox 36 GRIP X. We’d originally requested the GRIP X2 version for some back-to-back testing with the 2025 equivalent, but unfortunately Fox didn’t have any available at the time. The fork also arrived quite late so I’ve only had a week of riding on it. As such, this is very much just my first impressions so far.

There’s still plenty to draw from though, especially in comparison with the 36 GRIP2 fork that originally came on the Levo SL.

As well as being lighter by around 100g, the new 36 GRIP X is also simpler to setup with its single rebound dial. While I enjoy being able to tweak both high and low-speed damping, for most riders it adds complexity and means you can end up with a less than ideal setup if you don’t know what you’re doing.

As for the two compression dials, we tend to put these in the middle of their range to begin with before adjusting to suit from there. This differs to the old GRIP2 damper, where I’d typically have both dials wound off all the way to their lightest setting. In comparison I’ve found the latest GRIP X and GRIP X2 dampers allow you to run a higher level of compression damping to improve dynamic stability, without suffering from too much harshness.

In terms of setup, I’ve started out with Fox’s recommendations with 75psi to match my 75kg riding weight. It’s worth noting that the new 36 does have a larger volume air spring, which is due to the base of the lower legs extending further down towards the axle. As such, the settings aren’t directly transferrable from previous forks.

The recommended pressure and rebound setting (10/16 clicks) has worked well, though I did remove one of the two stock volume spacers to make it easier to use the last portion of the travel. Both the high and low-speed compression dials are set one click lighter than halfway (8/14 clicks).

While the GRIP X damper doesn’t offer the same level of adjustability as the GRIP X2, Mick hasn’t found himself wishing for more dials.

Closing the gap on the 38

On the trail, the 36 has impressed me with its precise steering and planted feel under load. Shooting the GoPro clips for this review, I rode behind a pal on some unfamiliar off-piste singletrack that was littered with blind drops and rutted descents. Despite being very much outside of my comfort zone and hitting things in an awkward fashion, the 36 kept me propped up and felt very composed on deep travel hits.

Having ridden quite a few variations of the 36 over the past few years, I’m inclined to agree with Fox’s claim that the new 36 is 20% stiffer than its predecessor. It brings it much closer to the 38, though I’ve still found the 36 to be the more comfortable and forgiving fork on rocky off-camber sections. With that in mind, I’d suggest that anyone who is currently running a 160mm travel 38 and is finding it a bit too harsh will be well served by the new 36. It offers a near-300g weight advantage, which is significant.

Mick’s Take

As to the impact of the new Glidecore air spring and increased bushing overlap, it’s hard to verify without back-to-back testing the 36 with an exact match. I’ve requested a GRIP X2 damper to drop into this fork so I can do that, and we’ll have some review content coming in the future for a deeper dive into all the performance differences.

The Fox 36 has been a solid performer on the front of the Levo SL.

What I can say for now is that the 36 GRIP X is a thoroughly impressive fork with fantastic sensitivity and support. In terms of its features and adjustment range, it’s an ideal match for bikes that come with a Float X shock. According to Fox the GRIP X2 damper has been designed to match up with the Float X2 and DHX2 shocks, so bear that in mind if you’re weighing up your options.

That aside, there are some nice finishing details on the 36 worth mentioning. The low-profile top cap for the air spring looks neater and being able to use a cassette tool to open it up is a welcome improvement. The updated bleeders on the back of the fork are significantly easier to depress, so you no longer need to squeeze your fingernail to remove built-up air pressure from inside the lower legs. I also like the new mudguard design, which uses four bolts to attach to the back of the fork crown rather than integrating into the bleeders, which was always a bit cumbersome.

From an aesthetic standpoint, it’s nice to see Fox doing something fresh with the fork graphics. These new designs are apparently inspired by the limited-edition kits they made for the Olympic bikes in Paris. Clean, minimal, and a big step away from the ‘NASCAR’ font vibes of older Fox designs. While RockShox might currently hold the ‘cool’ crown with their subtle branding and colour-segmented models, it’s good to see Fox shaking things up in a tasteful, modern direction.

Fox offers a lot of different damper options across its trail fork lineup, making things a bit confusing when trying to pick the right one.

Any downsides so far?

We’ve yet to encounter any issues with our test forks, and indeed the on-trail experience so far has overwhelmingly been positive.

One downside that did pop up during our discussions was the lack of a 170mm travel option for the Fox 36. If you want that amount of travel you have to step up to the 38, which comes with an increase in weight and stiffness that not every rider will appreciate. That’s been the case for a few years now, and it’s a similar story with RockShox, which forces you up to the Zeb if you’re after a 170mm travel fork. Given the structural improvements with the 36 however, it’s a shame that Fox isn’t offering a 170mm travel option.

Another potential downside is the lack of backwards compatibility. Whereas Fox has been pretty good in this regard over the past few years, the new Glidecore air spring isn’t designed to be retrofitted to older forks. And while the GRIP X and GRIP X2 dampers are largely unchanged from last year, the fitment points and overall lengths are different to suit the new chassis. Even the mudguard is specific to the new forks.

Lastly, when writing this article we found ourselves continually being tripped up by the bamboozling array of options. There is considerable crossover in travel between the 34 SL, 36 SL and 36, and things get even murkier when you factor in all the different dampers on offer. That’s great for the discerning rider that knows exactly what they’re after, and we suspect it’s appreciated by bike company brand managers who can opt the best price-to-performance configuration. However, if you’re not totally fluent in Fox-speak, the sheer amount of choice can be overwhelming.

We’ve been impressed with the 2026 Fox 36 and 36 SL, and look forward to diving into some more comparative testing throughout the year.

Flow’s Early Verdict

Following on from the introduction of the GRIP X and GRIP X2 dampers last year, Fox is rounding out the picture with significant updates to the chassis and air spring of its flagship trail and All Mountain forks.

The hollowed-out arch gives the 36 and 36 SL a distinctive aesthetic to help them stand out from the pack, though the shapely profile also brings structural advantages in terms of weight and stiffness. Along with the increased bushing overlap and new Glidecore air spring, there’s a lot of attention being paid to creating a smoother sliding fork.

The arrival of the 36 SL is particularly exciting for those with aggressive mid-travel trail bikes. Replacing the outgoing 34, the 36 SL manages to come in at the same weight while offering improved steering precision and better stability when riding gnarly terrain.

The bigger travel 36 also boasts significant stiffness gains that see it closing the gap on the 38. For that reason, we’d love to see Fox offer a 170mm travel option for enduro racers and riders who appreciate the lower weight of the 36. If you only need 150-160mm travel however, the Fox 36 continues to be one of the highest performing forks currently on the market.

We’re looking forward to spending a lot more time on both forks over the coming year, and we’re also keen to try out the 36 with the GRIP X2 damper. If you’d like to dive a bit deeper with us, stay tuned for our comparative GRIP X vs GRIP X2 review.

#ArchArt

Action photos – Olly Crew

ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Wil Barrett

Hometown

Bendigo, Victoria

Height

175cm

Weight65kg

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