FOX Racing Shox

36 Float 27.5 160 3Pos-Adj FIT4 Fork - 2016

If you're familiar with our glowing review of the 2015 model, then you might expect us to take exception with the changes that FOX Racing Shox visited on the 2016 36 Float 27.5 160 3Pos-Adj Fit4 Fork. You'd be wrong, but that's largely because last year's 36 Float pioneered the dual air spring that has since migrated to the rest of the Float line and, combined with the 2016 model's inclusion of FOX's fourth generation FIT damper, the result is a package that we're all too happy to say "yes" to once again.

For 2016, the steerer, crown, uppers, lowers, and Float Air spring are all unchanged, reflecting the fact that the rest of FOX's line of Float models are only now catching up to the 36. The chassis' weight loss and improved stiffness are two areas where FOX showed admirable restraint while brainstorming for the new model year. The dual-chamber air spring also returns unchanged; the fork's damper arm, however, got hit with the R&D hammer in a big way.

The new Fit4 damper adjustment system represents a change in functional philosophy. Fit4 toggles between Firm, Medium, and Open settings, with the latter of the three proving the most useful since it encompasses the range once divided between the old CTD system's Descend and Trail settings. Open also incorporates 22 adjustable sub settings so you can keep the new 36 Float's six inches of enduro-grade travel wide open in all manner of circumstances to take full advantage of the fork's high-riding tendencies, improved small bump compliance, and nearly bottomless travel.

The Medium setting is much firmer than the Trail setting was, handling duties ranging from fast trails to lumpy climbs, and the Firm lockout setting returns as the ideal platform for fire road transitions or sprinting for position during mass starts. The fork can also be dialed to ramp-up harder with internal spacers to customize the spring's compression curve.