FOX Racing Shox

32 Float SC 27.5 100 3Pos-Adj FIT4 Fork - 2017

While 2016 saw a major overhauling of FOX Racing Shox's line of forks, 2017 sees those changes extended without any additional updates—with the exception of the 32 Float 100mm family. The 2017 32 Float SC 27.5 100 3Pos-Adj FIT4 Fork arrives on the scene with a completely revamped chassis. It features FOX's all-new Step-Cast lower leg design and a narrowed steerer, along with claims that it's one of the lightest suspension forks on the market.

Step-Cast manifests as small cutouts in the lowers of the fork that open up extra clearance for rotors and spokes while simultaneously allowing the fork's stance to narrow by a whopping 10mm. This means less overall material and lowered weight, which, when paired with the hollow, stepped lowers, results in claims that this fork clocks in as one of the lightest on the market. Whether you're out for a social spin or revving up on the start line, this featherweight construction paired with a stiff Boost axle makes for precise, responsive handling and flat out fun on almost any trail.

The FIT4 damper returns unchanged from last year save a few minor tweaks and additional machining to fit within the new stepped lowers. This includes the puffed out, 10mm shaft, which increases oil flow to the base valve, allowing the fork to ride high for quick, controlled recovery during everything from big, square hits to successive, small impacts. The 3-position Fit4 system also takes the reins from the old CTD system, changing the names from the overly-prescriptive categories of Climb, Trail, and Descend to a graduating scale covering Firm, Medium, and Open. While this change may read like an exercise in semantics, it entails a radical realignment of the 32 Float's capabilities that addresses virtually every issue we've had with CTD's damper in the past.

FIT4 also migrates the adjustable sub settings from CTD's median Trail mode to the new Open setting. Open encompasses both Descend and Trail in order to take full advantage of the fork's high ride by handling most compression duties. This makes the fork that much more relevant to five-inch situations, combining better small-bump compliance with more confident tracking across root lattices and rocky moonscapes. It doesn't wallow and handling stays on point.

The Medium setting migrates much deeper into the firm side of compression than the Trail setting did, so it'll suffice in most conditions that don't require use of the big-bottomed Open setting. The Firm setting remains self-explanatory: an XC lock-out for turning on the afterburners when terrain allows. It'll likely see much less use in the new system, but we still appreciate Firm while riding to the trailhead or transitioning on logging roads.

FOX's tinkering wasn't just confined to the damper, though, as the Float air spring now omits the negative coil in favor of a self-equalizing air assembly. This is similar to the air spring chamber system that made the re-worked 36 and 34 series so successful, and its omission of a steel coil is a key contributor to the overall weight loss. Finally, its system of spacers lets you easily temper the air shock's volume for dialing the mid stroke.