Hey everyone welcome or welcome back!
I've been using this FOX 34, not any FOX 34 but the Step Cast 34 ever since it was introduced in 2019
but right now in 2022 we have a lot more options for Downcountry bikes like my Yeti
including this new 2022 FOX 34 Step Cast.
This is a lighter offering than before so let's take a closer look at it next to some other options in the market!
The first generation FOX Step Cast 34 was revolutionary
because it introduced 34 mm stanchions, so beefier stanchions and 120 mm travel on a lightweight fork
something that was directly derived from the original step cast that was the 32 mm Step Cast
intensively used in UCI racing because of its light weight
This is a 100 mm, 32 mm stanchions and those that rode it know that it was quite noodly, not as stiff.
In comparison the new Step Cast it's an evolution.
it reduces weight and it's supposed to be as stiff as the old design.
And I'm lucky to have access to this RockShox SID Ultimate, the direct competition of the new Step Cast
so I'm gonna look at them, design wise, side by side.
And one of the things that is not mentioned as part of the changes
is the different color of the Kashima coating.
You see here the glossy paint which is welcome, it looks a bit more premium,
and major changes are on this new fork in the lowers.
Pretty much the lowers have been redesigned to shed weight
they used a lot of computer modeling as they say, just to design this lower arch
that is supposed to be pushed forward.
I don't see that compared to the old fork, if anything it sits a bit closer to the stanchions.
However the shape is definitely a bit more modeled.
FOX says that it is like this so it won't hit the frame in case you were turning your handlebars 180 degrees.
On the lowers you now have what's called bypass channels
that are supposed to help lubricate the bushings inside.
That doesn't exist on the older fork.
They're also mentioning that these bypass channels are increasing the lower volume, internal volume a little bit.
That should help the fork use more of its travel than before.
But the bigger difference is here at the bottom of the lowers where you're going to see this cutout .
This is the original design of the Step Cast, the 32 mm Step Cast,
but this also means that the maximum disc or rotor that you can install over here is 180 mm.
The Step Cast on the old fork was here on the outside of the leg
and also you didn't have a limitation for the maximum rotor size.
Like in the past, post caliper mounts, 160 mm disc as the minimal,
and you would need a spacer here for the 180 mm disc.
Moving the Step Cast to the inside was needed because the lowers are now closer together
compared to the old fork but still allow for 2.4 tire in here.
You see this is a 29 x 2.35, there's plenty of room around the tire
you can probably even squeeze in a 29 x 2.5.
How close together are the legs right now? I'm looking at 8 cm here in between
as opposed to 10 cm on the old fork and that is pretty obvious when you see the two forks from the top.
SID ultimate has 9.5 cm between the legs and it uses a more traditional design compared to the other two Fox forks.
The SID 120mm also has redesigned lowers, nicely sculpted, new arch to save weight
but it has a 180 mm disc post mount.
It would work just fine with a 29 x 2.6 tire if you're interested in that
and the RockShox mud guard available for the SID is much nicer
than the Syncros available for the Fox, both of this connecting with screws here at the back of the arch.
Fox continues to use the FIT4 damper on these forks it was used with the old 32 SC,
it was used with the first generation Fox 34 SC and is also used in this 2022 fork.
OPEN position with a fine-tuned adjustment here in the middle, Pedal and Lockout.
I'm convinced that the damper and the new fork has been fine-tuned compared to what we had in the old one
but Fox is not giving out much details about that.
For the new generation SID, RockShox is giving us the Charger Race Day
a damper that's super light but it only provides two adjustments: Open and Lockout
Both dampers are tuned more for cross-country racing giving you a firmer ride higher in the travel type of ride.
Both RockShox and Fox provide us with a cheaper damper.
For FOX is called Grip, for RockShox is called Charger RL.
These dampers are available with their cheaper offerings as opposed to something like Factory for FOX
but don't run away from them, they are pretty good dampers
and they might provide you a more linear feel throughout the suspension
or that's what the FOX customer support would recommend if you feel that FIT4 it's a bit too harsh for your liking.
People that tried both dampers report similar performance
but you could argue that Fox is giving you more options here to fine-tune the damper to your liking.
And talking about fine tuning, if we move to the spring side
I would argue again that Fox is giving you more options as opposed to the DebonAir
the DebonAir that was redesigned for the RockShox Ultimate
however it doesn't really give you much in terms of adjustability aside from volume spacers.
The new Fox EVOL spring provides us with more negative volume.
That should make this plusher off the top.
However if you want a racier feel of this fork
you can include volume spacers even in the negative chamber not only on the positive
So again, from a flexibility standpoint
Fox 34 SC seems to be more feature rich compared to the SID Ultimate.
Also, the Fox 34 SC comes in 100, 110, 120 mm travel
as opposed to the SID Ultimate, I'm talking about the 35 mm stanchion SID
that only comes in 110 and 120 mm.
So if you want 100 mm with beefier stanchions, FOX 34 SC is your only option
again this only comes in 110 mm.
And you would have to go to SID SL, similar to this old discontinued Fox 32 SC
to get that 100 mm travel.
Even last year racers were going for this Fox 32 SC fork, 100 mm for its weight
and you can see it here next to the new Fox 34 SC with the redesigned arch,
very different than the other two forks, and finally the SID Ultimate.
Which one do you think is the lightest in this lineup?
And if you said Fox 32 SC you were correct
1422 grams, 6 inch steer plus the thru axle.
Incredibly the new FOX 34 SC is 1503 grams
This is a 120 mm fork, 34 mm stanchions, longer steer
and it has this Cane Creek crown race which is about 15 grams.
So I would say this Fox 34 SC it's only about 65-70 grams heavier than that
and I think I would pick the Fox 34 SC any day.
Compared to the old 34 SC we have 1649 grams
so 150 grams saved from the old generation Fox 34 SC
to the new generation Fox 34 SC which is quite amazing.
And in between the two Step Cast forks we would have the SID Ultimate
you see it here 1553 grams, again with the axle and a similar length steerer
so this is about 50 grams heavier than the new Fox 34 SC.
with these two forks being the flagship offerings from RockShox and Fox for the Downcountry type of bikes
that is either Cross Country racing or or light trail bike configurations.
So what do I think about the new Fox 34 Step Cast?
Well, while this is not as revolutionary as the first generation was
it is definitely a good competition for the SID Ultimate.
I definitely appreciate the reduced weight that, as per Fox shouldn't compromise stiffness,
and to be honest I can't wait to ride this outside!
What about you guys? Have you ever tried the new Step Cast, the FOX 34?
Let me know in the comments below.
Hope you found this useful and if you did don't forget to like, subscribe, and comment.
And until next time hope to see you folks on the trails.
Cheers guys, cheers!