FOX Podium

[Paulquattro]

Anybody splashed out or thinking about it
The last USD fork i had was a Magura Boltron and they were quite flexy and had a weird pull when braking hard
Would still like to try a pair just not at the current price point .

 

[Plyphon]

Heavy, expensive.

 

[Andrew8200m]

Dorado are great and likely won’t have as much flex due to the type of fork. Loads cheaper too. You also have the banging boutique Intend range. I’d take one of those over the fox just because.

 

[Zed. (Justin is short)]

Dorado are great and likely won’t have as much flex due to the type of fork

you're comparing single to twincrown forks

Loads cheaper too

UK prices....
Fox Podum (usd single crown, 'starting' Weight: 2695g)~£2200
Manitou Dorado pro (Usd twin crown, Weight: 2970g) ~£2149.99
I'll also add in Ext Vaia (Usd twin crown, Weight: 3195g) @ ~£2290

*weights from manufacturers websites, prices from internot*

You also have the banging boutique Intend range

I actually looked at these (nearly bought a secondhand example from ebay lastyear)

subject of sc usd forks.....

Manitou sc usd option from before it became fashionable....




I have Manitou Dorado's (& Mezzer forks / Mara dampers), both pairs of Manitou Dorado pro forks I have were bought in the last ~9 months from a German seller on Ebay, posted price ~£900 + import / vat of ~£300 so much cheaper than UK retailers

my mrs had a pair of Dorado's on her sworks Ksl after removing Ohlins rfx38's (dorado in for service so Ohlins begrudgingly refitted) and has Ohlins dh38's on her Commencial FRS.

She has just ordered Ext Vaia for her Intense M1 build so we will be able to compare

Rich.

 

[Andrew8200m]

you're comparing single to twincrown forks





UK prices....
Fox Podum (usd single crown, 'starting' Weight: 2695g)~£2200
Manitou Dorado pro (Usd twin crown, Weight: 2970g) ~£2149.99
I'll also add in Ext Vaia (Usd twin crown, Weight: 3195g) @ ~£2290

*weights from manufacturers websites, prices from internot*




I actually looked at these (nearly bought a secondhand example from ebay lastyear)

subject of sc usd forks.....

Manitou sc usd option from before it became fashionable....




I have Manitou Dorado's (& Mezzer forks / Mara dampers), both pairs of Manitou Dorado pro forks I have were bought in the last ~9 months from a German seller on Ebay, posted price ~£900 + import / vat of ~£300 so much cheaper than UK retailers

my mrs had a pair of Dorado's on her sworks Ksl after removing Ohlins rfx38's (dorado in for service so Ohlins begrudgingly refitted) and has Ohlins dh38's on her Commencial FRS.

She has just ordered Ext Vaia for her Intense M1 build so we will be able to compare

Rich.

Correct hence “type of fork” noting the difference without stating dual crown. They’re still USD forks, the tech is proven and they are very very plush and for about £1100 if you look hard enough are half the price. Not for all bikes and frames though.

As for Intend, I’ve ridden a set of Intends “Flash” and they were the single most buttery smooth and plush feeling fork I have ever had the pleasure of riding. Money bags mates have a use other than making you feel like you are poor apparently, you get to try all the shiny bits before buying yourself . At £2k ish though they are almost fox podium money but they are very boutique bling.

As you’ve mentioned though, you have the experience of ownership and there’s no going back even to the incredible Ohlins stuff so if Fox have indeed nailed them then the £2.2k may very well be worth it but I personally can’t see them being much better than the Intend of Dorado given what the reviews are feeding back. Wouldn’t mind a set though.

 

[Svarun]

Dorado are great and likely won’t have as much flex due to the type of fork. Loads cheaper too. You also have the banging boutique Intend range. I’d take one of those over the fox just because.

Agreed, why would you buy such a heavy and expensive fork from a company with proven dodgy QC when you can get an Intend for sameish of even cheaper... This fork makes zero sense to me.

 

[p3eps]

Agreed, why would you buy such a heavy and expensive fork from a company with proven dodgy QC when you can get an Intend for sameish of even cheaper... This fork makes zero sense to me.

Are Intend forks not all 35mm stanchions?

I looked at a set of their Edge forks, as they’re not much heavier than a Lyrik / Fox 36.
Decided against it, as I’d have to run the stanchion protection ‘wings’, which would then make them a lot heavier. Plus, the cost was about 2.5 times that of a 2025 Lyrik Ultimate.

 

[Svarun]

Intend have a whole range of forks with different designs, if anything they have too many models with too much overlap. Then you get sub-version of some forks with black stanchions, one piece uppers etc etc. Too confusing if you ask me. And yeah, they are pricey when compared to mass produced forks, that's what kept them in boutique segment.

But now you have Podium, a fork from mass producer with shoddy QC that wants to compete on price and performance with boutique, handmande German products with perfect execution and QC. Or PUSH Nine One for our friends over the Atlantic. I know where my money would go, but we will see how strong Fox's marketing is...

 

[Noelmonkey]

I have the podium on my slash+. So far so good. Very quiet active fork.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

Podium is crazy expensive for a rider of my calibre. And the idea of exposed stanchions that close to the dirt terrifies me.

 

[Andrew8200m]

I have the podium on my slash+. So far so good. Very quiet active fork.

2.5x better than a Zeb Ultimate 3.1? Or 2.5x better than the fox 38 factory grip x2 ?

I think this is the major issue with pricing on this fork when you look at what else is available even from the same brands. It isn’t just expensive for what you get, it’s comparatively (given how much motor cross bikes cost and how strong they are) an absolute p*** take on price. £2.2k… I’d expect a lot more when the boutique brands are coming up 20% cheaper.

Here’s hoping Santa Cruz start back dooring stock through Merlin or similar as they currently do.

 

[TonTonUB]

I'd really like to read test, versus Intend forks.
I wonder if DVO or Manitou will jump in the bandwagon, and release their own.

 

[Andrew8200m]

Seen in the wild (sort of) on a custom build at Specialized Infinity Cycles Durham. They look nuts, still plenty of flex in them though as I expect which I thought was slightly off putting.

£12k levo 4. Nom.

 

[boylagz]

 

[Noelmonkey]

Thoughts ?

 

[boylagz]

Thoughts ?

Only about 20mi on the fork, its awesome (best fork Ive ridden). Not sure if its worth the price difference from the 38 or the Zeb, depends on the rider/person I guess. Very supple and levels out big square edge hits and fast, rough repeated hits. Less fatigue, weight you dont notice while riding. Balanced on jumps. Most surprised me is how supportive it is while being so supple at the same time.

 

[Noelmonkey]

Only about 20mi on the fork, its awesome (best fork Ive ridden). Not sure if its worth the price difference from the 38 or the Zeb, depends on the rider/person I guess. Very supple and levels out big square edge hits and fast, rough repeated hits. Less fatigue, weight you dont notice while riding. Balanced on jumps. Most surprised me is how supportive it is while being so supple at the same time.

I’ve found I’m using 20psi more than I was on the 38 and pretty much got all compression on. Am actually using the rebound on this and I was wide open on my gripx2 38.

I need more time on the fork. So smooth.

 

[boylagz]

I’ve found I’m using 20psi more than I was on the 38 and pretty much got all compression on. Am actually using the rebound on this and I was wide open on my gripx2 38.

I need more time on the fork. So smooth.

I actually tried 95 psi (10 more than the max for my weight), and I found it too harsh, after a run down my usual test trail I immediately went back to 85 psi, haha. My comp settings relatively same as my 38 prior, but running faster rebound. Kept the vol spacers from factory.

 

[Jdof]

Almost a month with the podium. This fork is in a class of its own. Is almost unfair to compare with my 38 factory. The las time I felt a difference so great with a mtb was when I changed my 26 Blur LT with the 29 Hightower LT.
this fork rides very (very) high, giving the impression that you put too much air, until you hit a rock garden and the feeling is like noise canceling headphones, the rock garden been the noise. The rigidity is stupid. The fork superglue the tire to the ground.
The best upgrade in a lot of years of upgrades.