Fox podium forks

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Hicksy 92

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Hi all , just wondered is there any one out there that have been running the podiums long enough to give a decent review , ie issues and good and bad bits , ive heard some have had seal leaking and hose clips breaking and the tightening up the bolts can be a pain , but I’m still keep looking at the dam things , I’m going to Australia later this year to see family and there lbs is selling them for the same price that a pair of fox 38’s would cost here , so I’m even more tempted, my lbs shop loves them but they would wouldn’t they . Would love to know your thought .
cheers
 
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Inverted forks have their advantages and disadvantages. I’ve been wrong before but the cost of those advantages at this time is simply not a good return on the investment. Unless they can get the cost down to the standard fork the offerings will be far and few between.
 
I have a Podium. Only 45 miles. So no details yet. No leaks, Fox support has been top notch. I think it’s magical. Since it responds so well to small bumps, turns are different now. Pushed it hard, it responded well to some very temporary abuse. This has given me a bit more confidence. If you meet a few parameters… it’s a cool toy.
Cost…...didn’t care
Weight…. Did not give a F&$@
The issues I’ve seen are 90% user error. The bleeders are there for a reason….
Technique so no oil escapes when changing pressures
Axle is temperamental, again technique and no issues…..
I was at a point where dad gets a new bike, a really cool one. I was at the end of a ten year line of new bike purchases for my family. So I built my dream machine. 170mm long travel Turbo Levo
I will not defend Fox, if I have a bad experience, I’ll be honest. But it’s to early yet……
I’m running 4 tokens and 78-80ish psi
I’d buy it again. This suspension setup is unworldly. (I’m a pretty fast lifelong rider, 175 lbs, 45 yr, good shape, experienced mechanic)
IMG_0021.jpeg
 
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Very nice 👍 You have a great combination for this style of fork. What I like about inverted is the system stays in the lubrication bath all the time.
 
Pizzman said:
I have a Podium. Only 45 miles. So no details yet. No leaks, Fox support has been top notch. I think it’s magical. Since it responds so well to small bumps, turns are different now. Pushed it hard, it responded well to some very temporary abuse. This has given me a bit more confidence. If you meet a few parameters… it’s a cool toy.
Cost…...didn’t care
Weight…. Did not give a F&$@
The issues I’ve seen are 90% user error. The bleeders are there for a reason….
Technique so no oil escapes when changing pressures
Axle is temperamental, again technique and no issues…..
I was at a point where dad gets a new bike, a really cool one. I was at the end of a ten year line of new bike purchases for my family. So I built my dream machine. 170mm long travel Turbo Levo
I will not defend Fox, if I have a bad experience, I’ll be honest. But it’s to early yet……
I’m running 4 tokens and 78-80ish psi
I’d buy it again. This suspension setup is unworldly. (I’m a pretty fast lifelong rider, 175 lbs, 45 yr, good shape, experienced mechanic) View attachment 169747
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Thanks for your reply, it’s the sort of no BS reply I like and hones, I’m with you was prepared to pay the price , I see they are down to around £1800 now in the uk and when I go over to oz I can get a set for £1400 , I agree with you about the weight , I think they track so much better at high speed decents, what has stopped me rushing out to get a set was folks talking about the axle and as I have to take the wheel off a lot for my van and camper van it could be tedious , but perhaps worth it . It’s nice to see your running it on the new levo , love that green really suits the bike and it’s as if the fork was made for the levos .
thanks again
 
nick.ccfab said:
Around 80 miles of xc I generated a small leak, I took it on another ride and so far it's not leaking again. 90 psi is pretty plush. If it starts leaking again I will be working with fox to get it taken care of.
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Gotta be honest, the fact that such a new fork design is leaking already is not encouraging. Been riding dirt bikes for 50 years and almost never have leaky seals. There's a trick that you may want to try. Use something like old film, a business card or sturdy paper and run it up along the seal. If there's some dirt up there, it will likely address the issue, but if the seal is bad or got tore on assembly, it will need to be replaced, but often it's just dirt lodged, but I doubt it.
 
KSL said:
Gotta be honest, the fact that such a new fork design is leaking already is not encouraging. Been riding dirt bikes for 50 years and almost never have leaky seals. There's a trick that you may want to try. Use something like old film, a business card or sturdy paper and run it up along the seal. If there's some dirt up there, it will likely address the issue, but if the seal is bad or got tore on assembly, it will need to be replaced, but often it's just dirt lodged, but I doubt it.
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I remember they sell/sold fork wiper cleaners. Like a piece of thin plastic in a wave shape.
I hunch the fork is very susceptible to oil levels. Also use the bleeders religiously. Especially on top of steep climbs, when traveling in mountains. The internal pressure builds up fast. Pressure builds at the top, heats up on the bumpy ride down. Pushes on oil inside. Tap one on a descent, if it hisses there’s pressure.
I’ll Double down on, I’m not here to defend any purchase or company. Just to be part of the convo.
 
KSL said:
Gotta be honest, the fact that such a new fork design is leaking already is not encouraging. Been riding dirt bikes for 50 years and almost never have leaky seals. There's a trick that you may want to try. Use something like old film, a business card or sturdy paper and run it up along the seal. If there's some dirt up there, it will likely address the issue, but if the seal is bad or got tore on assembly, it will need to be replaced, but often it's just dirt lodged, but I doubt it.
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Reason your bikes 50 years ago didn't leak is they weren't inverted 🤣. Trust me, I know all the little tricks. I've been riding all my life also and I've blown out plenty of dirt bike forks. Im thinking it's because fox used the same seals from past forks. I've had great luck with skf dual compound seals in the past. Hopefully this will get addressed because it really is a great sturdy fork.
 
Pizzman said:
I remember they sell/sold fork wiper cleaners. Like a piece of thin plastic in a wave shape.
I hunch the fork is very susceptible to oil levels. Also use the bleeders religiously. Especially on top of steep climbs, when traveling in mountains. The internal pressure builds up fast. Pressure builds at the top, heats up on the bumpy ride down. Pushes on oil inside. Tap one on a descent, if it hisses there’s pressure.
I’ll Double down on, I’m not here to defend any purchase or company. Just to be part of the convo.
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Yes, lots of variables in play. I'm certain a PHd wasn't the person who assembled the forks or checked proper oil levels.
 
My concern with these is axle rigidity, as the loss of the bridge on a conventional fork lower means the axle has to take up the slack on an upside down design.
But then other marques (EXT? Although dual crown ) avert that concern with the balance from the central contact patch applying equal force both sides so I’m not sure my concerns ( if it was my money) are valid, but then again they kept the damping and spring forces separate where a motor bike has equal forces both sides with damping AND spring per leg. Not sure either if the podium required a bigger front axle to take the load of the missing bridge as said, and therefore a bigger hub?
The world of diminishing returns v £ beckons especially at my level, your level only you can judge. This and minimal gain in unspiring weight v the gain in progressive rigidity under compression pressure in braking on a machine that’s way less weight than the motorcycle application it was intended for im not sure many will see any gain at all for tye £ ..? Esp in a single crown design you’d loose the rigidity gained in the casting flexing surely. Personally I don’t get it but then who am I to argue 😆🤷🏻

But I’d certainly wait and see how the product feeds back as it’s so new, personally. Esp as it’s a single crown design in a traditionally dual crown application. If your landing 40 footers to a rolling stroppy like BK you’d be on dual crown anyway and be more concerned about snapping the head stock off the frame imo
 
I have a built 2005 crf 450x. Desert destroyer. Hundreds of fast hard desert miles. randomly would find leaky seals (not wipers). I just learnt to keep spares, I’ll fix and keep riding, I could do a seal in 30 minutes. Motion pro seal driver baby🤣
This is a bad sport to apply relative figure (cost) to a subjective feeling (is it better?) it’s more cost, and a great fork ( it’s a toy)
Opinions form like warts with YouTube and forums.
Anyone reading this thread, hopefully can separate people with experience on this platform, vs the Fox hate bandwagon.
 
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Pizzman said:
I have a built 2005 crf 450x. Desert destroyer. Hundreds of fast hard desert miles. randomly would find leaky seals (not wipers). I just learnt to keep spares, I’ll fix and keep riding, I could do a seal in 30 minutes. Motion pro seal driver baby🤣
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Only on occasion needed to use it. Sometimes, seals seemed doomed from the factory.
 
Hicksy 92 said:
Hi all , just wondered is there any one out there that have been running the podiums long enough to give a decent review , ie issues and good and bad bits , ive heard some have had seal leaking and hose clips breaking and the tightening up the bolts can be a pain , but I’m still keep looking at the dam things , I’m going to Australia later this year to see family and there lbs is selling them for the same price that a pair of fox 38’s would cost here , so I’m even more tempted, my lbs shop loves them but they would wouldn’t they . Would love to know your thought .
cheers
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I’d hold off if I were you until a 2nd model year comes along, Fox typically releases andcthen corrects thing in nect year updates. While out riding a couple months back a couple of Fox testers (yes, their HQ/development is nearby) strongly “hinted” “I’d wait on the fork for right now”.
 
Downhillr said:
I’d hold off if I were you until a 2nd model year comes along, Fox typically releases andcthen corrects thing in nect year updates. While out riding a couple months back a couple of Fox testers (yes, their HQ/development is nearby) strongly “hinted” “I’d wait on the fork for right now”.
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Agree with you, it's generally wise to avoid V1's and leave it to others do what is essentially consumer beta testing.
 
I’m seeing quite a lot of issues with this fork from reviewers. This is pretty concerning as usually new products are overly hyped in the beginning. I was excited to see this fork get released and was pretty positive I’d get one, but now I will definitely be waiting.

It seems like the big improvement in this fork is small bump sensitivity. I guess you have to ask yourself if that’s worth the hit in weight, cost, axle size for stock wheel, and what seems like high probability of leaks.
 
Brawwp said:
I’m seeing quite a lot of issues with this fork from reviewers. This is pretty concerning as usually new products are overly hyped in the beginning. I was excited to see this fork get released and was pretty positive I’d get one, but now I will definitely be waiting.

It seems like the big improvement in this fork is small bump sensitivity. I guess you have to ask yourself if that’s worth the hit in weight, cost, axle size for stock wheel, and what seems like high probability of leaks.
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Think I might be hanging on and wait to see what improvements they make next year or even have a look at the new kyb forks coming out, I’m not worried about the weight, the cost is what it is but like I said in my opening post ,I can get a set for the same price as my factory 38’s and the axle size is fine as I only need to swap the end caps on my hope hubs , but no one likes leaking forks .
 
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Hicksy 92 said:
Think I might be hanging on and wait to see what improvements they make next year or even have a look at the new kyb forks coming out, I’m not worried about the weight, the cost is what it is but like I said in my opening post ,I can get a set for the same price as my factory 38’s and the axle size is fine as I only need to swap the end caps on my hope hubs , but no one leaking forks .
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The kyb is worth waiting for id think. A company that knows “inverted” forks. Really they’d see our idea of a normal mtb fork as “inverted” lol.

Kyb is probably the best stock suspension in moto. Will be interesting to see how it caries over into mtb.
 
Pizzman said:
I have 1 short video in 30 years or riding🤣with nothing good in it really. Rest assured I made the desert around AZ (Boulders a TON) and SoCal a familiar place.
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Az riding in the open desert is hard to beat. I remember when in Phoenix we started our rides at 32nd and Bell.
 
Just want to let current and prospective Fox Podium owners know that I've spoken with Polisport about making a full wrap guard (not the partial OEM guard) for these forks and they've expressed interest. Gotta protect that fancy Kashima coating.
 
I have 3 Push 9.1 inverted forks - zero leaks over several years. On e-bikes and non-e.
Zero regrets. Best MTB fork I've ever ridden
 
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