The Fox Podium isn’t the first inverted single-crown fork to hit the market, but it might be the first to stick. Designed for aggressive trail and enduro riders who want downhill fork performance without the constraints of a dual crown, the Podium delivers 160mm or 170mm of travel in a sleek, upside-down package. With massive 47mm upper tubes, a 20mm DH axle, and a purpose-tuned GRIP X2 damper, it’s clear Fox isn’t treating this like a niche experiment. At $1,999, the Podium sits well above the Fox 38 in both price and ambition. I’ve begun putting miles on it to see if that premium buys real-world benefits—or just another exotic take on an old idea.
Fox Podium Highlights:
WHEEL SIZE: 29in
TRAVEL: 170mm and 160mm Options
DAMPER: GRIP X2
DAMPER CONTROLS: HSC - LSC - HSR - LSR
AXLE: 20 x 110mm Boost
RAKE: 44mm
STEERER: 1.5 Tapered
ROTOR SIZE: 200mm direct Post Mount, 230mm max
MUD GUARD MOUNT: FOX Mud Guard available Fall 2025
AIR SPRING: FLOAT EVOL GlideCore
STARTING WEIGHT: 2695g
Available now
MSRP: $1999.99 USD / $2679.00 CAD / 2.399,00 € EUR / $3349 AUD
![Image]()
Why make this?
If you're wondering why Fox made this fork, you're not alone. Outside of the Manitou Dorado and a few boutique efforts from brands like Intend and Push, the format hasn’t stuck. So, why is Fox betting on it?
Traditional forks have stanchions up top and lowers down low. Under hard braking, deep hits, or rapid compressions, the stanchions flex. That misalignment creates friction, making your fork feel sticky.
Fox addressed a lot of that with the 38. They used larger diameter stanchions, increased the amount of bushing overlap, and incorporated a floating axle and an elliptical steerer to help everything stay aligned under load. But there’s only so much you can do before you hit the limits of a right-side-up design.
![Image]()
In an inverted chassis, as the fork compresses, the axle moves upward. That change reduces leverage on the system, which helps cut flex and keeps the fork smoother, deeper into the travel. And instead of pushing the heavy lowers, you're moving the lighter stanchions. That reduces unsprung mass. If you're not familiar with that term, picture swinging a small hammer versus a sledgehammer. Lighter stuff moves faster. This helps the fork react better to trail chatter.
Another bonus? Lubrication. In an inverted fork, gravity keeps the seals coated in oil. Traditional forks rely on splash and movement to distribute lubrication, which feels primitive in comparison.
![Image]()
Modelo for comparison.
Inverted designs have always had great fore-aft stiffness, but lacked torsional stiffness due to the lack of an arch. To solve this problem, Fox went big on hardware. Literally. The Podium runs enormous 47mm upper tubes and a steel 20 x 110mm Boost DH axle instead of the standard 15mm.
They didn’t stop there. The Podium increases bushing overlap by 32% compared to the 38 series. At 175mm, that’s more than the company’s dual crown 40 fork. For context, bushings are the Teflon-lined sleeves that guide the fork’s internals. Each leg has two, and the greater the distance between them, the better the fork can resist flex from hard hits or off-angle impacts.
![Image]()
Fox is also using its new GlideCore airspring, which debuted earlier this year. It utilizes elastomer rings to allow the spring to flex slightly when loaded. That helps everything move freely inside, cutting down friction even further.
![Image]()
Damper Design
With all these changes, Fox couldn’t just drop in an off-the-shelf damper. Fox took the award-winning GRIP2 and tuned it specifically for this platform. Fox increased the compression damping to match the lower-friction chassis, and softened the rebound damping to compensate for the fork’s lower unsprung weight.
![Image]()
On the right-hand side, you’ll find the standard compression and rebound in their normal places. On the air spring side, the air chamber (and volume spacers) are now accessed from the bottom of the fork.
![Image]()
You’ll also notice the air bleeders are now integrated into the top of the fork caps (similar to motorcycle forks and the Manitou Dorado), as opposed to being accessed on the rear of the fork legs, as on most Fox forks.
![Image]()
Installation
You’ll know Fox wants you to read the manual when you see the forest of yellow caution stickers. And honestly, you probably should. Proper cable routing is critical because it could snag if improperly installed.
![Image]()
Installing the axle is a little fiddly. Because the fork legs are independent, they don’t always stay aligned. Which means you’re juggling leg height and rotation while trying to thread the axle through. It’s not overly difficult, but perhaps keyed legs or a slightly (more) tapered axle might have helped ease installation.
![Image]()
The axle also calls for 120 inch-pounds of torque. That maxed out my 9-inch Park Tool wrench. Removing it with a small trailside multitool would be tough.
Oh, and one more thing, you’ll need a new front wheel before getting started. The Podium uses a 20x110mm Boost DH axle. Unless you're coming off a DH fork, you’ll probably need a new front wheel. The vast majority of enduro bikes use a 15mm axle. Don’t forget to add that to your budget.
![Image]()
Ride Impressions
I’ve only logged one proper ride on the FOX Podium, so think of this as a first take—not the gospel. But even early on, a few things stood out right away.
I set the fork up using the air chart printed on the leg. It’s broken into 30-pound weight brackets, and at 160 pounds, I landed in the middle of the 150-180 range. Fox’ charts tend to skew firm, so I started soft.
![Image]()
After a quick sag check and a couple of driveway hops, I ended up at 84 PSI, the high end of the recommended range. Rebound was set on the quicker side: 12 clicks of LSR, 6 of HSR. Fox doesn’t offer compression guidelines, so I went with my standard baseline, 3 clicks from fully open.
On the trail, I used full travel without any harsh bottoming. That’s usually a good sign you’re in the tuning ballpark.
So how’s it ride? In short, buttery.
Compared to the 38, the Podium is smoother through repeated hits and rough compressions. It tracks better through chatter and holds a line with an eerie calm. It’s incredibly supple off the top, and I didn’t notice any weird torsional flex issues.
![Image]()
But here’s the thing: the jump from a Fox 38 (or my 40) to this Podium didn’t blow my mind the way the 36-to-38 jump did. And that might be because I’ve had a Fox 40 on my e-bike for the last 2,700 miles. The leap to the 38 felt like a generational shift.
That fork changed the way I rode. It let me break later, ride faster, and hold lines I used to hesitate on. I didn’t realize how much my 36 was binding until it wasn’t. The 38 made me faster, and the extra half-pound? It felt like a small price to pay for the massive performance gains.
![Image]()
The Podium feels more like a high-end refinement. The improvement is real, especially in repeated hits and nasty terrain. But it’s more subtle. The fork hasn’t fully broken in yet, but I’ll need more saddle time before I call it a game-changer.
One thing I did notice is the weight. It’s less obvious on an e-bike, but other industry professionals evaluating the fork for OE spec or other publications on analog setups say you definitely feel it up front.
So far, it’s not magic. But it is seriously good. Fox has something undeniably special here. It’s hard not to wonder what this platform could look like scaled up to something like an inverted Fox 40.
![Image]()
Should You Buy it?
At $2,000, the Fox Podium costs more than a hardtail. That price doesn’t include a new front wheel, since the Podium uses a 20x110mm Boost DH axle. Factor that in, and the total spend starts looking even steeper.
However, the performance benefits means there’s a real chance this will be first inverted fork to see considerable OEM spec. We're told a OE only Performance Elite version is forthcoming, which should be popular in the long travel eMTB segment, where price is less of a concern. A crown mounted moto style fender is also slated to land by Fall 2025.
![Image]()
And while it’s a single crown fork, don’t expect it to be dramatically lighter than its dual crown cousin, the Fox 40. The difference on the scale is minimal. In fact, if you’re already running a 40, you might be giving up travel and saving only a few grams.
The radical design promises big improvements but it comes with quirks. Installing the front wheel is more involved, since the legs aren’t connected by a traditional arch. And if a seal fails, oil will travel down and can easily soak into your brake pads. That kind of failure can cut a ride short and take your weekend with it.
![Image]()
Bottom line, this fork isn’t built for the casual rider. It’s for people who know what they want, ride hard, and are willing to deal with a few extra complications to get every last drop of performance. If that’s not you, a Fox 38 or a well-tuned RockShox Zeb will still take you a long way and might be the smarter call.
![Image]()
Our test platform for this review has been the 170mm Santa Cruz Bullit 4.
Early Verdict
The Podium is not a must-have upgrade from a Fox 38 or a RockShox Zeb, but if you’re looking for the closest thing to a downhill fork without giving up a single crown? This is it. It’s not magic, but it’s damn close.
And if you're curious how much this fork actually weights, and how it compares to other Fox forks, we have a full thread here.
For more info, visit Fox.
Fox Podium Highlights:
WHEEL SIZE: 29in
TRAVEL: 170mm and 160mm Options
DAMPER: GRIP X2
DAMPER CONTROLS: HSC - LSC - HSR - LSR
AXLE: 20 x 110mm Boost
RAKE: 44mm
STEERER: 1.5 Tapered
ROTOR SIZE: 200mm direct Post Mount, 230mm max
MUD GUARD MOUNT: FOX Mud Guard available Fall 2025
AIR SPRING: FLOAT EVOL GlideCore
STARTING WEIGHT: 2695g
Available now
MSRP: $1999.99 USD / $2679.00 CAD / 2.399,00 € EUR / $3349 AUD
| Pros | Cons |
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Why make this?
If you're wondering why Fox made this fork, you're not alone. Outside of the Manitou Dorado and a few boutique efforts from brands like Intend and Push, the format hasn’t stuck. So, why is Fox betting on it?
Traditional forks have stanchions up top and lowers down low. Under hard braking, deep hits, or rapid compressions, the stanchions flex. That misalignment creates friction, making your fork feel sticky.
Fox addressed a lot of that with the 38. They used larger diameter stanchions, increased the amount of bushing overlap, and incorporated a floating axle and an elliptical steerer to help everything stay aligned under load. But there’s only so much you can do before you hit the limits of a right-side-up design.
In an inverted chassis, as the fork compresses, the axle moves upward. That change reduces leverage on the system, which helps cut flex and keeps the fork smoother, deeper into the travel. And instead of pushing the heavy lowers, you're moving the lighter stanchions. That reduces unsprung mass. If you're not familiar with that term, picture swinging a small hammer versus a sledgehammer. Lighter stuff moves faster. This helps the fork react better to trail chatter.
Another bonus? Lubrication. In an inverted fork, gravity keeps the seals coated in oil. Traditional forks rely on splash and movement to distribute lubrication, which feels primitive in comparison.
Modelo for comparison.
Inverted designs have always had great fore-aft stiffness, but lacked torsional stiffness due to the lack of an arch. To solve this problem, Fox went big on hardware. Literally. The Podium runs enormous 47mm upper tubes and a steel 20 x 110mm Boost DH axle instead of the standard 15mm.
They didn’t stop there. The Podium increases bushing overlap by 32% compared to the 38 series. At 175mm, that’s more than the company’s dual crown 40 fork. For context, bushings are the Teflon-lined sleeves that guide the fork’s internals. Each leg has two, and the greater the distance between them, the better the fork can resist flex from hard hits or off-angle impacts.
Fox is also using its new GlideCore airspring, which debuted earlier this year. It utilizes elastomer rings to allow the spring to flex slightly when loaded. That helps everything move freely inside, cutting down friction even further.
Damper Design
With all these changes, Fox couldn’t just drop in an off-the-shelf damper. Fox took the award-winning GRIP2 and tuned it specifically for this platform. Fox increased the compression damping to match the lower-friction chassis, and softened the rebound damping to compensate for the fork’s lower unsprung weight.
On the right-hand side, you’ll find the standard compression and rebound in their normal places. On the air spring side, the air chamber (and volume spacers) are now accessed from the bottom of the fork.
You’ll also notice the air bleeders are now integrated into the top of the fork caps (similar to motorcycle forks and the Manitou Dorado), as opposed to being accessed on the rear of the fork legs, as on most Fox forks.
Installation
You’ll know Fox wants you to read the manual when you see the forest of yellow caution stickers. And honestly, you probably should. Proper cable routing is critical because it could snag if improperly installed.
Installing the axle is a little fiddly. Because the fork legs are independent, they don’t always stay aligned. Which means you’re juggling leg height and rotation while trying to thread the axle through. It’s not overly difficult, but perhaps keyed legs or a slightly (more) tapered axle might have helped ease installation.
The axle also calls for 120 inch-pounds of torque. That maxed out my 9-inch Park Tool wrench. Removing it with a small trailside multitool would be tough.
Oh, and one more thing, you’ll need a new front wheel before getting started. The Podium uses a 20x110mm Boost DH axle. Unless you're coming off a DH fork, you’ll probably need a new front wheel. The vast majority of enduro bikes use a 15mm axle. Don’t forget to add that to your budget.
Ride Impressions
I’ve only logged one proper ride on the FOX Podium, so think of this as a first take—not the gospel. But even early on, a few things stood out right away.
I set the fork up using the air chart printed on the leg. It’s broken into 30-pound weight brackets, and at 160 pounds, I landed in the middle of the 150-180 range. Fox’ charts tend to skew firm, so I started soft.
After a quick sag check and a couple of driveway hops, I ended up at 84 PSI, the high end of the recommended range. Rebound was set on the quicker side: 12 clicks of LSR, 6 of HSR. Fox doesn’t offer compression guidelines, so I went with my standard baseline, 3 clicks from fully open.
On the trail, I used full travel without any harsh bottoming. That’s usually a good sign you’re in the tuning ballpark.
So how’s it ride? In short, buttery.
Compared to the 38, the Podium is smoother through repeated hits and rough compressions. It tracks better through chatter and holds a line with an eerie calm. It’s incredibly supple off the top, and I didn’t notice any weird torsional flex issues.
That fork changed the way I rode. It let me break later, ride faster, and hold lines I used to hesitate on. I didn’t realize how much my 36 was binding until it wasn’t. The 38 made me faster, and the extra half-pound? It felt like a small price to pay for the massive performance gains.
The Podium feels more like a high-end refinement. The improvement is real, especially in repeated hits and nasty terrain. But it’s more subtle. The fork hasn’t fully broken in yet, but I’ll need more saddle time before I call it a game-changer.
One thing I did notice is the weight. It’s less obvious on an e-bike, but other industry professionals evaluating the fork for OE spec or other publications on analog setups say you definitely feel it up front.
So far, it’s not magic. But it is seriously good. Fox has something undeniably special here. It’s hard not to wonder what this platform could look like scaled up to something like an inverted Fox 40.
Should You Buy it?
At $2,000, the Fox Podium costs more than a hardtail. That price doesn’t include a new front wheel, since the Podium uses a 20x110mm Boost DH axle. Factor that in, and the total spend starts looking even steeper.
However, the performance benefits means there’s a real chance this will be first inverted fork to see considerable OEM spec. We're told a OE only Performance Elite version is forthcoming, which should be popular in the long travel eMTB segment, where price is less of a concern. A crown mounted moto style fender is also slated to land by Fall 2025.
And while it’s a single crown fork, don’t expect it to be dramatically lighter than its dual crown cousin, the Fox 40. The difference on the scale is minimal. In fact, if you’re already running a 40, you might be giving up travel and saving only a few grams.
The radical design promises big improvements but it comes with quirks. Installing the front wheel is more involved, since the legs aren’t connected by a traditional arch. And if a seal fails, oil will travel down and can easily soak into your brake pads. That kind of failure can cut a ride short and take your weekend with it.
Our test platform for this review has been the 170mm Santa Cruz Bullit 4.
Early Verdict
The Podium is not a must-have upgrade from a Fox 38 or a RockShox Zeb, but if you’re looking for the closest thing to a downhill fork without giving up a single crown? This is it. It’s not magic, but it’s damn close.
And if you're curious how much this fork actually weights, and how it compares to other Fox forks, we have a full thread here.
For more info, visit Fox.
