New castings, new air springs, new fork models. After updating their dampers last year, FOX are now giving their forks a complete overhaul. Many of the innovations aim to ensure more precise steering while providing an overall smoother ride. But does this make the new 2026 FOX 36 fork an even better overall package?
After introducing the brand-new GRIP X2, GRIP X and GRIP SL dampers, FOX redesigned the chassis components of their forks from the ground up – or at least a large part of them. Among the updates is the new FOX 36 fork, which remains positioned in the trail bike sector with its 36 mm stanchions. Alongside the obvious chassis changes, the American manufacturer also has redesigned the bushings. Both modifications are intended to increase the torsional stiffness of the new FOX 36 fork, which aims to improve the fork’s resistance to twisting without adding weight. On top of that, there’s a new FLOAT air spring with its own clever refinements and newly positioned bypass channels.
What’s new on the 2026 FOX 36 fork
The most obvious innovation is the redesigned fork crown and the slightly modified casting. These changes are intended to increase torsional stiffness by 20% without increasing the fork’s system weight. As a result, the new FOX 36 fork is expected to deliver steering precision similar to that of the 38 fork without directly competing in its category. Inside the new FOX 36 fork, bushing overlap has been increased by 30 mm, which significantly reduces leverage and thus chassis friction. As a result, the stanchions are less likely to flex against the casting under heavy impacts, providing a smoother overall ride.
Curious about the fork’s latest updates and how it performed in our test? You’ll find the full review over at our sister magazine ENDURO.
Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker
