The latest Fox 34 SL features several key updates, including the lightweight Grip SL damper and geometry adjustments to suit modern XC and trail bikes. It delivers exceptional performance with impressively low weight, rivalling dedicated race forks, but that performance comes with a premium four-figure price tag.
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FOX 34 SL Float Factory GRIP SL – Technical details
The new 34 SL draws on technology from across Fox’s suspension range while also introducing some entirely new features. Gone is the Step-Cast construction that previously kept weight impressively low. In its place is a more conventional 34mm chassis without the stepped lower. Fox claims the updated design improves torsional stiffness and uses longer stanchions to handle increased travel, now up to a maximum of 130mm.
With modern XC race bikes moving towards more travel, weight, or the lack thereof, remains a key focus. The 34 SL is slightly heavier than its Step-Cast predecessor, which had up to 120mm and used the previous FIT4 damper, but the extra capability and claimed stiffness will be a worthwhile trade-off for many.
Visually, the most obvious change is the arch. It’s now wider and lower, and Fox lists tyre clearance at 2.5 inches. In testing, clearance with a 2.4-inch tyre was generous in both height and width, so that figure may be conservative.
The 34 SL with the GRIP SL damper is available in fixed travel options of 110mm, 120mm (as tested), and 130mm. Adjusting travel requires replacing the air shaft. The three-position (3-POS) fork-mounted lever will likely be the most popular setup, although a two-position PSH-LK version, designed to be used with a bar-mounted lever (not included).
Other updates include moving to a 180mm post-mount brake standard, a 7000-series alloy crown with visible external machining, and a revised arch with a direct mudguard mount. However, the bolt spacing is different from previous designs, so old-style direct mount mudguards will not be compatible.
Fox claims a starting weight of 1503g. Our test fork weighed 1510g with the Kabolt SL axle, and trimming the steerer dropped 39g. Compared to the latest Fox 32 Step-Cast Factory at 1355g, the difference is small, especially if Fox’s claims of improved stiffness hold true.
The Factory model is available in signature Shiny Orange or Shiny Black finishes and retails for £1,259. Also in the lineup are Performance Elite models priced at £750, which share the same GRIP SL damper but forgo the Kashima coating.
FOX 34 SL Float Factory GRIP SL – Performance
Before hitting the trails, one early frustration with the updated chassis was the change to the mudguard direct-mount system. Fox has altered the bolt spacing—also now used on the latest 36—which means no currently available mudguard is compatible, not even from Fox. Some manufacturers are working on updated designs, but until they’re available, riders are limited to strapping a guard onto the fork legs and crown. For many British riders, a solid mudguard isn’t a luxury but a necessity, and direct-mount options make for a much neater setup. Still, at least the 34 SL includes some form of mount, unlike the new 32 Step-Cast, which lacks one entirely due to its reverse arch design.
On the trail, performance is nothing short of outstanding. The damper offers more support than any other XC or trail fork I’ve ridden. Fox’s recommended air pressure settings were a great starting point, with very little adjustment needed to personalise the performance, delivering plenty of support on descents without feeling harsh or overly firm.
The fork comes with three volume spacers, two pre-installed. For most of the test, I stuck with the stock setup, which struck a good balance, with ample mid-stroke plushness, solid support, and enough ramp-up to handle harder hits without blowing through the travel. Of course, tuning will come down to rider preference. Fox gives recommended pressure and setup guidelines to suit riders from 54kg to 113kg, but there is no official minimum or maximum weight provided.
While shorter-travel forks have made significant gains in stiffness over recent years, the 34 SL still stands out. Compared to the 32 Step-Cast or RockShox SID SL, there’s a very noticeable increase in precision and control. On rougher descents, it tracks exactly where you point it, and paired with the damper support, it’s saved me from a few sketchy situations. Under heavy braking, traction remains impressively consistent, and that’s where the increased stiffness really makes itself felt. Compared to the older FIT4 damper, the new GRIP SL feels more reactive and supportive, even with similar setup parameters.
Coming from an XC race background, I’m a fan of remote lockouts, and while the three-position lever gives mid-setting support, which can be helpful on flatter, rough sections, I did miss the convenience of a bar-mounted lockout. Fox does offer this option, without the bar remote, the lever on the fork leg is my main gripe. It has very little friction or resistance, making it easy to bump accidentally, and the vague indexing and short throw make it difficult to operate quickly in technical terrain. It works, but it's fiddly—and it's the only real slight negative point in an otherwise excellent package.
In use, the firm/locked-out mode is ideal for climbing, whether seated or out of the saddle. The middle position offers enough support for flatter singletrack and rolling terrain, although it does feel a bit too soft if you stay in it for steep climbing efforts out of the saddle.
While the adjustment range on the GRIP SL is limited compared to the GRIP X damper, it still offers all the essentials. There’s a rebound adjustment over a broad range, plus three distinct compression settings. With the included volume spacers, most riders after a lightweight XC or trail fork will find more than enough adjustability, and it is possible to fit up to five volume spacers, if the three provided are not enough. For those after more precise compression control, Fox also offers the 34 SL with the GRIP X damper, though only in the 130mm travel option.
FOX 34 SL Float Factory GRIP SL - Verdict
High-end forks priced over £1,000 are becoming increasingly common. Some recent models, like the inverted Fox Podium Factory, are now selling for more than £2,000. While the Podium isn't a direct comparison, it highlights the direction suspension development is moving.
RockShox has also updated its SID fork, with the 35mm SID Ultimate offering the closest comparison on paper. It features a new chassis, damper, crown, and bushings—details that sound very familiar. It’s also more affordable, priced just under £1,000 at £959. Here's my review of the old spec SID Ultimate.
Despite the higher cost, the updated Fox 34 SL Factory moves ahead of the pack. It offers impressive stiffness, strong damping support, and excellent control in a package that is almost as light as 100mm travel XC-race specialist fork models. Fox forks have always commanded a premium, and the 34 SL continues that trend. It may be a bold claim, but right now, this is the best cross-country fork available.
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