Grip SL Damper
Adjustments: Three-position compression w/ lockout; rebound
Forks Available w/ Grip SL: 32 Taper Cast, 32 Step Cast, 34 Step Cast
Grip X Damper
Adjustments: Low-speed compression; high-speed compression w/ lockout; rebound
Forks Available w/ Grip X: 34, 36, 38
Grip X2 Damper
Adjustments: Low-speed compression; high-speed compression; low-speed rebound; high-speed rebound
Forks Available w/ Grip X2: 34 (OE only), 36, 38, 40
32 Step Cast Fork
Travel: 100 mm
Wheel Size Option: 29’’
Available Offset: 44 mm
Stanchion Diameter: 32 mm
Stated Weight: 1,297 g / 3.06 lbs
MSRP: TBD
Intro
Fox has been making suspension components for 50 years now, and to celebrate their anniversary, they’re launching a new line of three fork dampers, adding a limited-edition gold paint option, and making a few other tweaks — including a wild-looking new 32 Step Cast chassis.
Apart from that new 32 Step Cast (more on that in a minute), the chassis and air springs mostly carry over from their existing fork lineup. Fox has developed new bushings that are meant to improve oil flow throughout the lowers, and in doing so reduce friction. Other than that, the changes are just to the damper lineup — so we’ll focus on those.
Those three new dampers — the Grip SL, Grip X, and Grip X2 — replace the Fit4 and Grip2 as the higher-end options in Fox’s Factory and Performance Elite series forks, depending on the model (more on that below, too).
The base Grip damper sticks around in Fox’s less expensive offerings, though it apparently gets some tuning tweaks based on what Fox learned in the development of the new dampers. The exact details of what they tweaked are sparse; we’re also waiting for an update on pricing for the new models.
All three of the new dampers use somewhat similar-looking architecture with a spring-backed IFP and broadly similar layouts, but there are substantial differences in their features, size, and weights to cover a wide range of use cases from Gravel to DH.
Here, we’ll dive into the details of the new dampers, the forks that feature them, and what sets each apart. We’ve also started testing the new Grip X2 in the new Fox 38, and if you’re a BLISTER+ member or get our Digital Access Pass, you can check out our initial on-trail impressions in our Flash Review of the Fox 38 Grip X2.
Fox Grip X2 Damper
We’ll start with the most descending-oriented of Fox’s new dampers and work our way to the XC end of the spectrum.
The Grip X2 damper replaces the longstanding Grip2 as the most adjustable option in Fox’s lineup. The Grip X2 gets the same adjustable high- and low-speed compression and high- and low-speed rebound as the Grip2, but Fox says that they’ve reduced the amount of cross-talk between the adjusters (i.e., how much the low-speed adjuster impacts the high-speed range and vice-versa). They’ve also made the base valve substantially larger (24 mm diameter, up from 20 mm) and the Grip X2 base valve uses a much larger shim stack (now with 23 shims, up from 7).
The VVC-generation Grip2 damper had a pretty light high-speed compression tune for most of its run (see our review of the 40 for more on that), though Fox quietly firmed up the stock tune a bit for the 2024 model year. If nothing else, the more elaborate shim stack on the Grip X2 base valve should open up a wider range of custom tuning options by way of altering the stock valving, but it’ll be very interesting to see how the stock tune and adjustment range compares to that of both the new 2024 Grip2 tune and the one that came before it.
Fox says that the Grip X2 damper offers more support to keep the fork riding higher in the travel than the Grip2 did, and they call it “the most tunable, supportive, and smoothest descent-focused fork damper ever created by Fox.”
The Grip X2 damper is offered in Fox’s 36, 38, and 40 forks; it’s also available in the Fox 34, but that’s an OE-option only, at least for now.
Fox Grip X Damper
The Grip X damper is something like a pared-down, simplified version of the Grip X2. It gets adjustable high- and low-speed compression and a single rebound adjuster, and Fox says that it’s 120 grams lighter than the Grip X2 “while maintaining similar traction and predictability.”
The final click on the Grip X’s high-speed compression knob also activates a firmer climbing mode that closes off both the high- and low-speed compression circuits to give a more efficient pedaling platform.
The Grip X damper is available in Fox’s 34, 36, and 38 forks.
Fox Grip SL Damper
Finally, the Grip SL is Fox’s new damper for their lightest-weight forks.
The Grip SL gets a single three-position compression adjuster with a lockout; there’s an optional remote or a standard knob on the crown. The Grip SL’s rebound adjuster uses an Allen key rather than a knob to save weight. Fox says that the Grip SL damper is 60 grams lighter than the outgoing Fit4 damper in a 100mm-travel configuration.
The Grip SL damper is offered in Fox’s 32 Taper Cast Gravel fork, and their 32 Step Cast and 34 Step Cast XC forks. The 32 Step Cast gets a new chassis, but the other forks all carry over structurally unchanged.
Fox 32 Step Cast Fork
While most of the forks retain their same chassis from the previous model year, the 32 Step Cast, is all new and looks very, very different from the outgoing version.
It now features a reverse arch casting — Fox’s first mountain bike fork to do so — and that arch has some very elaborate cutouts and shaping going on. The brake mount is for a 160 mm rotor; 180 mm ones are cleared for use with an adapter.
Fox says that the new fork is a drastic 40% stiffer than the outgoing 32 Step Cast while also being slightly lighter. The 32 Step Cast is only available for 29’’ wheels, with 100 mm of travel and a 44 mm offset, and weighs a claimed 1,297 grams.
Fox has tweaked a ton of the details to get there, including a lighter steerer tube, pared-down stanchions, a new crown and Kabolt SL axle, and even a lightweight clamp for the brake hose.
A lot of modern XC race bikes are built around 120 mm forks these days, and Fox says that their 34 Step Cast fork is still the option for folks on those bikes; the 32 Step Cast is meant for marathon XC race applications first and foremost. Pricing for the new 32 Step Cast isn’t yet available as of publishing this.
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) First and foremost, how does the performance of the new dampers stack up against that of the Fit4 and Grip2 ones that they replace, as well as the rest of the market at large?
(2) Do the new dampers — especially the Grip X2 — better cater to folks who’d prefer a firmer, more supportive high-speed compression tune than the Grip2 VVC damper generally offered in stock guise?
(3) And what’s up with the wild-looking reverse-arch version of the 32 Step Cast? Will we see similar chassis updates to Fox’s burlier offerings down the line?
Bottom Line (For Now)
Fox hadn’t made a major change to their fork dampers for several years now, so it’s not a huge surprise to see a new generation of dampers rolling out, and we’re quite excited to see how they perform on the trail. We’ve got a 38 Grip X2 in for review and should be getting on some more variants soon, so stay tuned for much more info to come.
Flash Review: Our Initial On-Trail Impressions
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Flash Review below to read our initial on-trail impressions. Get our Digital Access Pass to view all our Flash Reviews and Deep Dives, or become a BLISTER+ member today to get access to that and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Flash Review — 2025 Fox 38 Grip X2
Fox says that their new Grip X2 damper offers substantially more support and composure than the Grip2 one that it replaces — and that sounds like the change that our Bike Editor was looking for. Check out his early impressions of the Grip-X2-equipped Fox 38 Fork.
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Oh goody, more new toys for analysis-paralysis! :-)
Quick question: Does the Grip X still have a lever of sorts on the compression adjustment knob, like the Grip damper did?
It has a little bit of one. It’s less pronounced than the Grip or Grip SL one though. Sort of a vestigial tail, if you will.
I just added a photo.