Fox Racing Shox could easily rest on their laurels but instead sees ‘FIT’ to push things even further for 2010. We headed to Zaca Station in Santa Ynez Valley, California just before the Sea Otter Classic to check out the new lineup.

FIT dampers spread into the 32 range

The FIT (Fox Isolated Technology) cartridge-style dampers previously introduced on the 36 and 40 platforms are now littered throughout the 32 range for 2010 from the racer-oriented F-Series all the way through the coil-sprung Vanilla. 

By separating the damping oil from air, the new floating piston designs reduce the chance of oil cavitation – and the loss of damping performance that results – relative to the existing open-bath models while the reduced oil volume also helps shed 71g, too. Additional massages to F-Series chassis shave even more weight, now making the top-end cross-country forks truly competitive weight-wise at 1.43kg (3.15lb) for the lightest models.

Smaller diameter damper shafts afford lower-friction seals, too, while an expanding rubber bladder at the top of the cartridge accommodates internal volume changes without any extra o-rings, thus maintaining comparably low levels of friction as on the open bath models. 

The new cartridges also offer a wider range of low-speed compression damping adjustment than before as well as a more speed-sensitive shimmed rebound stack, and knob positions have changed due to the new internal architecture: rebound adjustment is now located at the bottom of the leg and lockout threshold adjustment on applicable models moves right up top.

Dropout options will include standard 9mm quick-release and stiffer 15mm thru-axles across the board – including on the revamped 29” model – and buyers can also get tapered 1 1/8”-to-1 1/2” steerer tubes on any 32, meaning that properly equipped riders can now have cross-country front ends with steering precision once only experienced with burlier trail bikes.

According to Fox bicycle division VP Mario Galasso, increased steering precision has gotten awfully popular, too: demand for the 15QR system introduced by Fox and Shimano last year has exceeded company forecasts by six-fold.

Those running rim brakes will also be happy to hear that Fox will continue to cater to them with cantilever boss-equipped lowers, too, but only for 26” wheels and on the shortest-travel models.

Other updates include new left- and right-handed remote levers, more linear spring curves for all air-sprung forks, lower friction on TALAS models as well as bigger and more ergonomic TALAS travel-adjust knobs.  Last year’s somewhat heavy-handed compression tune updates have also been backed off a bit to regain a plusher feel.