36 SL – Short Travel. Hard Hitting. All Trail.
The FOX 36 SL is a further development of the 36 chassis and, with its weight of less than 1800g, is the lightest version of the FOX 36 suspension fork to date. This new lightness gives the suspension fork even better steering behavior on the trail. In short, the 36SL is the ultimate suspension fork for the trail.
As a representative of the Factory series, this fork with the proven FLOAT air suspension is of course also packed with functions. On the technical side, the Trail-focused GRIP X damping stands out in particular, which shows its strengths not only on the long haul, but also in Downhill use.
The new design of the fork crown increases the torsional stiffness by 20% compared to the previous trail fork (Fox 34) and thus almost reaches the level of the Fox 38 suspension fork. The dip tubes impress with clever detail solutions. Both the "Bypass" channels and the special bleed valves are dedicated to pressure regulation in order to exploit the maximum travel potential on the one hand and to optimize the fork's response on the other. With the smooth and extremely durable Kashima coating, the 36 is also visually impressive.
Technical details of the FOX 36 SL suspension fork
- Series: Factory
- Suspension: FLOAT EVOL
- Damping: GRIP X
- Low Speed Compression (LSC): 16 clicks
- High Speed Compression (HSC): 15 clicks (with Firm Mode)
- Rebound Low Speed (LSR): 17 clicks
- Steerer tube: 1 1/8" - 1 1/2" diameter (Tapered)
- Stanchions: 36 mm diameter, with Kashima coating
- Installation dimension: 15 x 110 mm Boost (Kabolt X thru axle)
- Weight: approx. 1755 g (36SL, 29", F-S, Grip X, Kabolt SL; manufacturer's specification)
Glidecore Air Spring | The Glidecore Air Spring has a piston rod with elastomer bearings. This allows it to move independently of the air piston, especially when the fork is bent. This helps to reduce the friction of the air piston in such situations. The result? A smoother suspension experience.
GRIP X | Uncompromized All-Mountain Performance. Downhill-oriented or rather light and suitable for long distances? Thanks to GRIP X damping, trail bikers no longer have to choose. The versatile damper combines unparalleled Downhill performance with low weight and easy adjustability, which also offers a fixed mode for efficient pedaling on climbs.
Arch Against | Optimized by FOX engineers, the 36 SL fork crown wraps around the lower part of the fork and contributes to a 20% increase in torsional stiffness over the previous trail fork, the 34. Cut-outs at strategic points help to minimize weight.
Optimized Lower Leg Bypass Channels | Air pressure increases during compression, which can result in the fork not reaching its full travel. Channels in the dip tubes solve this problem by significantly increasing the air volume. This not only reduces the occurrence of unwanted pressure increases, but also allows the oil to circulate to the upper sections of the fork tubes, keeping the inner seals and bushings lubricated at all times. These channels have been redesigned and thus improved on the FOX 36 SL.
Lower Leg Bleeders | To further improve sensitivity and responsiveness to small bumps, the dip tubes feature bleed valves in addition to the "Bypass" channels, which allow the atmospheric pressure to be equalized at the touch of a button.
Kabolt X | This floating Bolt-On thru axle with one-sided Pinch-Axle construction not only saves weight at every conceivable point, but also improves torsional rigidity. In addition, the chassis alignment avoids unwanted friction between the upper and lower fork legs for smoother suspension movement across the entire range of travel.
