Review: BikeRadar - Fox 36 Podium Gold GRIP X fork

BikeRadar has reviewed the Fox 36 Podium Gold GRIP X Fork. Here is what they had to say:

Upgraded with a slimmed-down damper, the all-mountain 36 promises a wide performance band.

Fox’s recently re-launched 36 fork has undergone an internal refresh, getting the option of two new dampers and reworked bushings inside the lower legs.

Identical to the orange or black-coloured Factory GRIP X fork, this 36 Podium Gold model stands out with Fox’s limited-edition 50th anniversary paintjob.

The latest 36 is available with both the new trail-focused GRIP X (tested) and the gravity GRIP X2 damper, giving riders the option to choose the fork best suited to their needs.

All of Fox’s new dampers – the GRIP X included – are claimed to offer more traction and control thanks to an increase in overall damping, while having a broader adjustment range.

Fox’s latest GRIP-X damped 36 feels supple and smooth at the start of its travel, tracking the ground impressively.

Very little breakaway force is needed before it starts moving into its travel. The imperfections of a rough fire road or worn trail-centre surface are ironed out accurately and smoothly.

In terms of comfort, this latest GRIP X fork feels very similar to the free-moving GRIP damper of old, which has never been described as harsh.

Increase trail speed and hit small to medium high-frequency bumps, such as smoother root or rock sections, and the 36 works impressively. It freely and smoothly dips deeper into its travel reserves to insulate you from buzz and keep the bike rolling.

Not only does it reduce hand and arm fatigue, it also has a control-rich, grippy ride. Sticking lines across cambers or ploughing into roots and rock gardens becomes a formality rather than a puzzle.

On deep-travel, high-speed compressions – such as hammering around a bermed turn littered with braking bumps, or at the bottom of a g-out covered with square-edged bumps – the fork is noisy.

The 2025 GRIP-X damped Fox 36 is a fantastic fork, no matter the terrain type.

It prioritises damper control and support over all else; pummel and pound into high-load situations and the bars barely dip or dive, with the impressive damper keeping your bike’s geometry awesomely stable.

There’s plenty of smoothness on harsher, square-edged hits to boot, but compared to the RockShox Lyrik it doesn’t use its travel quite as effectively as it could.

Active riders will get the most from the latest 36, while more passive ones could be left looking for a silkier feel.