Fox Podium Inverted Fork – Elite Performance, With Soaring Weight (and Price)

Podium is our first ever production inverted fork, designed to ride like a downhill fork—no barriers, no hesitation, just complete confidence that your front wheel will hold the line, no matter how fast or how big you push it. All this while keeping your bike in a familiar range of travel and geometry in a single crown package.

FOX never stops innovating. We continue to push the potential of mountain‑bike suspension to give gravity riders and racers the edge on World Cup tracks, the steepest local descents, and everything in between.

Watch as Brendan Fairclough takes the Podium for a rip down his local lines on DYFI bike park. Massive jumps, hooking corners and with the legendary Brendog style we all know and love.

Fox Podium Fork Review: Moto-Tech for Elite MTB Performance

Inverted forks have had a checkered past in mountain biking—often seen on dual-crown setups but rarely gaining traction in single-crown form. Fox, however, is betting on their engineering prowess to change that narrative with the release of the Fox Podium, an inverted single-crown enduro fork aimed at delivering ultra-low friction and unmatched downhill performance.

The most striking feature of the Podium is its inverted architecture. With large 47mm 7000-series aluminum upper tubes and 36mm stanchions, the fork's fore-aft rigidity is bolstered by its oversized crown and upper assembly. Axle-to-crown height mirrors the Fox 38, making it geometry-compatible as a direct swap.

The Kashima-coated Factory version is the only model available aftermarket, while the Performance Series Elite with black stanchions is OE-only. Carbon stanchion guards come standard on Factory spec; thermoplastic guards for the PSE model.

Fox limited the travel to 170mm max to avoid an even heavier build—at nearly 2.7kg, it already challenges dual-crown weights.

Key Specs

1. Travel: 160mm or 170mm (150mm for OEM builds only)

2. Wheel Size: 29"

3. Damper: Grip X2 (custom-tuned)

4. Spring: Glidecore air spring

5. Axle: 20x110mm Boost (steel)

6. Weight: 2695g (170mm)

7. MSRP: $2,000 USD // $2,700 CAD

Going upside-down has advantages: reduced unsprung mass, constant oil immersion, and less need for bypass channels. Air bleed valves are found at the crown’s adjusters, and while no dedicated fender is ready yet, Fox has one in development.

To address the common issue of torsional flex in inverted designs, the Podium uses a 20mm DH-standard steel axle. Fox found this spec gave the best ride feel—balancing stiffness and compliance. Adapting your hub is required unless you already run a DH-style setup. Race Face has compatible end caps for select hubs.

The internal structure boasts 32% more bushing overlap than the 38, and even 7% more than the 40, leading to more stable and precise tracking under heavy loads.

Glidecore Air Spring

The Glidecore air spring uses elastomers to isolate the spring from chassis flex, while offering tool-free pressure and volume tuning from the bottom of the fork. Volume spacers are small 5cc stackable donuts, giving more granular control over progression.

The Grip X2 damper is specifically tuned for the Podium’s low-friction internals. Testers are generally running heavier-than-usual compression settings and slightly slower rebound to balance the fork’s quick response.

Ride Impressions

In rough terrain and under hard braking, the Podium delivers standout performance. The traction and small-bump compliance are excellent—especially useful in bike park or shuttle-access enduro terrain. Compared to the Fox 38, the Podium offers more sensitivity and a bit more grip, though it’s not as bombproof as the Fox 40.

Fore-aft stiffness is impressive, and torsional feel is comparable to the 38—any flex felt seems to contribute to traction, not compromise it.

At 2695g and $2,000 USD, the Podium sits near the top in both weight and cost:

1. Fox 38: 2381g / $1,249 USD

2. Zeb Ultimate: 2324g / $1,159 USD

3. Fox 40: 2745g / $1,849 USD

4. Push Nine One: 2790g / $2,250 USD

5. Intend Flash: 2350g / $2,263 USD

While not the lightest, the Podium excels in descending performance. It’s best suited for aggressive bikes, eMTBs, and riders who prioritize downhill grip over weight savings.

The Fox Podium is a bold entry into the inverted single-crown market. With elite-level performance, supreme small-bump compliance, and Moto-inspired build quality, it’s a fork made for serious riders with demanding terrain in mind.

For trail riders or weight-conscious builds, the price and heft might be overkill. But for enduro racers, bike park regulars, or high-end eMTBs, the Podium delivers standout control and precision that justify its cost.