Bike Build Story: In the second part of our Bike Build Story about the Giant XTC Advanced 29 frame, we introduce you to the suspension fork. Here we chose the super-light FOX 32 Float Factory Stepcast - of course in orange to match the body.
For many years, Fox has been almost synonymous with high-quality suspension elements on mountain bikes. The US manufacturer has worked hard to earn this reputation and is the ultimate for many drivers, especially in the gravity sector. For a long time, however, forks and dampers have also been produced for more moderate areas of use, for example in cross-country. While it was unsurprisingly easy to keep up with the competition in terms of performance, the Fox forks with little travel in the past always had a disadvantage compared to the competition that should not be underestimated: they were significantly heavier.
In 2016, however, FOX introduced its new Stepcast forks: The completely newly developed and innovative casting pushed the weight down properly and catapulted the FOX forks to the top of the competition in terms of weight as well.
FOX 32 Float Factory SC 29: Record weight thanks to Stepcast chassis
But what is Stepcast, what makes it so special and how was it possible to reduce the weight by around 250g compared to the previous forks? Well, the basic idea behind it couldn't be simpler - material was simply saved during casting - less material also means less weight. But wait a minute; Doesn't that have a negative effect on stability? Now, here we come to the peculiarity of Stepcast.
While one almost automatically thinks of thinner walls, windy constructions and less stability when it comes to material savings in this area, FOX has taken a completely different approach. The dip tubes were simply moved closer together, saving a lot of material, especially in the area of the bridge and the fork crown. However, this trick was not that easy, because if you simply narrowed the fork without making any other changes, neither the hub nor the brake disc nor between the dropouts would fit.
It is precisely for this reason that the FOX Stepcast forks have a cut-out at the level of the dropout that takes some getting used to at first glance, which creates space for the hub and brake disc. This is particularly important because the Stepcast forks should also be home to hubs with the new Boost standard, which at 110mm are even 10mm wider than their predecessors. Anyone who still owns wheels with a conventional 15×100 thru axle will also find a corresponding FOX 32 Float Stepcast model.
In order to save even more weight, the stanchions are also shorter than on other forks. They are still long enough to ensure the necessary torsional rigidity, but 100mm of travel is definitely the end of it.
However, this new construction has a small disadvantage: While you create space in the critical area at the hub through the step cast stage, it remains quite cramped at the top. The result: Unfortunately, a tire width of 2,3″ is the end here – so the 29er model is not compatible with the plus tires that are so common in the meantime, for example.
FOX 32 Float Factory SC 29: FIT4 cushioning
The FOX 32 Float with Stepcast chassis is offered both in the somewhat cheaper performance version with black stanchions and Grip damping and as a factory top version with the recently presented FIT4 damper, which replaces the predecessor CTD. At first glance, not too much seems to have changed here: There is still a rotary switch on the fork crown with which you can set the damping in three different basic setups. If you want, you can also use a handlebar remote control.
While the CTD and FIT4 are at least the same on the outside, a lot, if not everything, has changed on the inside. Particularly noteworthy, especially for the racers who the factory version is supposed to appeal to, is the lockout that is now available. Although there used to be a fixed damping option with FOX suspension elements, these were not a real lockout and, depending on riding style and surface, continued to swallow a few watts of propulsion. The new lockout really closes here and only opens with strong, big hits, for example when you hit a bigger rock. This serves both driver safety and protects the sensitive interior of the damper.
Apart from the lockout, there is of course still a medium setting, which ensures tighter handling and should cut a fine figure as an all-rounder. Ideal as a middle ground between propulsion and comfort. The open setting also allows fine-tuning of the low-speed compression in 22 (!) clicks, with which you can approach the optimal setup step by step.
FOX 32 Float Factory SC 29: Float air spring
The Float air spring, which is used in all FOX air forks, has been tried and tested for a long time. A light and technically quite simple construction saves weight, is low-maintenance and thanks to a few clever ideas you don't have to make any compromises in terms of function. As with almost all air forks, there are two mostly separate chambers inside the Float: a positive chamber and a negative chamber. As the names suggest, they work against each other to a certain extent. The significantly larger positive chamber pushes the fork apart, while the negative chamber creates counter-pressure, especially in the first few millimeters of travel. This reduces the resistance until the fork breaks loose and improves the response behavior with gentle vibrations and small bumps.
The filling takes place via a single valve – both chambers are always automatically filled with the same pressure through an internal air passage. This simplifies the setup and always creates the right back pressure in the negative chamber, depending on the rider's weight and the set air pressure.
Volume spacers included in the scope of delivery allow the driver to additionally adapt the response of the fork to preferences and needs. Installing these plastic blocks inside the fork will reduce the overall volume of the positive chamber. The result is a higher final progression - that is, the fork becomes harder and harder with increasing travel. This prevents bottoming out on the one hand and also gives a little more support in the critical middle spring travel, where air forks tend to sag a little. Incidentally, installing the spacers is extremely easy: you only have to unscrew the top cap on the float side and attach the spacers to the underside. Even inexperienced screwdrivers can do this in a few minutes. Very important, however: Always let all the air out first!
FOX 32 Float Factory SC 29: The hard facts
For our setup, we chose the FOX 32 Float Factory SC 29 with Boost Standard, in matching orange and without a remote for the handlebars. Without the Kabolt axle, the suspension fork in this version with an unshortened shaft only brings 1355g on the scales – an absolute top value. With an RRP of 1.159€ the fork also tears a decent hole in the budget.
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