36 SL – Short Travel. Hard Hitting. All Trail.
The FOX 36 SL is a further evolution of the 36 chassis and, at under 1800g, is the lightest version of the FOX 36 fork to date. This new lightness gives the fork even better ride characteristics on the trail. In short, the 36SL is the ultimate trail fork.
As a representative of the Factory series, this fork with the proven FLOAT air suspension is, of course, feature-rich. Technically, the Trail-tuned GRIP X damper stands out in particular, showing its strengths not only over long distances but also in Downhill use.
The new fork crown design increases torsional stiffness by 20% compared to the previous trail fork (Fox 34), thus reaching nearly the level of the Fox 38 fork. The fork legs impress with intelligent detail solutions. Both the "Bypass" channels and the special bleed valves are dedicated to pressure management to exploit the maximum travel potential on one hand and optimize the fork's response behavior on the other. With the smooth and extremely durable Kashima coating, the 36 is also visually impressive.
 
Technical details of the FOX 36 SL suspension fork
Series: Factory
Suspension: FLOAT EVOL
Damper: GRIP X
Low-Speed Compression (LSC): 16 clicks
High-Speed Compression (HSC): 15 clicks (with Firm Mode)
Low-Speed Rebound (LSR): 17 clicks
Steerer Tube: 1 1/8" - 1 1/2" diameter (Tapered)
Legs: 36 mm diameter, with Kashima coating
Mounting dimensions: 15 x 110 mm Boost (Kabolt X thru-axle)
Weight: approx. 1755 g (36SL, 29", F-S, Grip X; manufacturer specs Kabolt SL)
Glidecore Air Spring The Glidecore Air Spring features a stanchion with elastomer bumpers. This allows it to move independently of the air piston, especially when the fork is deep in its travel. This helps reduce air piston friction in these situations. The result? A smoother suspension feel.
GRIP X Uncompromised All-Mountain Performance. Downhill-oriented or rather light and suited for long distances? Thanks to the GRIP X damper, trail bikers no longer have to choose. The versatile damper combines unmatched Downhill performance with reduced weight and easy adjustability, also offering a firm mode for efficient climbing.
Arch Against The FOX-engineered 36 SL fork crown wraps around the fork lowers and contributes to a 20% increase in torsional stiffness compared to the previous trail fork, the 34. Strategic cutouts help minimize weight.
Optimized Lower Leg Bypass Channels Air pressure increases during compression, which can prevent the fork from reaching its full travel. The channels in the lowers solve this problem by significantly increasing the air volume. This not only reduces the occurrence of unwanted pressure spikes but also allows oil to circulate into the upper sections of the fork legs, keeping the internal seals and bushings constantly lubricated. These channels have been redesigned and thus improved on the FOX 36 SL.
Lower Leg Bleeders To further improve sensitivity and response to small bumps, in addition to the "Bypass" channels, the lowers are equipped with bleed valves that allow equalizing atmospheric pressure with the simple press of a button.
Kabolt X The floating Bolt-On thru-axle with a one-sided Pinch-Axle design not only saves weight wherever possible but also improves torsional stiffness. Furthermore, the axle alignment prevents unwanted friction between the upper and lower fork legs, for smoother suspension movement throughout the entire travel.