Fox 38 Factory GRIP X by Fox Factory - enduro fork gets stiffer and smarter

The Fox 38 Factory GRIP X is the kind of fork you notice before the rider. The orange lowers catch your eye as the bike drops into a rocky chute, the chassis humming faintly as the rider carves through braking bumps.

New GRIP X damper focus

Fox 38 Factory is Fox Factory’s big-chassis fork for aggressive enduro and e?MTB riders, sitting above the 36 and below the dual-crown 40 in the line. The GRIP X damper replaces the previous GRIP2 option on many builds, aiming for more usable support with simpler external controls.

Product manager Andreas Kuklis describes GRIP X as tuned for riders who want strong mid?stroke support and easy setup rather than endless knobs. The damper offers high?speed compression, low?speed compression and rebound adjustments, but trims the more complex independent high? and low?speed rebound layout of GRIP2.

Chassis, travel and stiffness

On Fox’s product page, the 38 Factory is offered in 27.5 and 29 inch wheel versions with travel options from 160 mm to 180 mm. It uses 38 mm upper tubes and a stout crown, designed to handle the loads of long?travel enduro and heavy e?MTBs.

A thru?axle and oversized lower legs aim to add torsional stiffness, which riders feel as more precise steering in rutted berms and off?camber rock sections. Fox highlights a tapered steerer and updated arch profile that clears modern head tubes while resisting flex under hard braking.

Fine-tuning on the trail

On the trail, testers like Matt Beer from Pinkbike report that GRIP X delivers more supportive feel in the mid?stroke compared with some older GRIP2 tunes, while staying predictable on repeated hits. He notes that fewer external rebound adjustments make setup faster for non?racers who still ride aggressively.

Riders can set their sag with a shock pump and then use the low?speed compression knob to control how much the fork dives when braking into steep corners. The high?speed compression adjuster lets them firm things up for big drops or quick sequence rock gardens.

Fox Factory business angle

For Fox Factory, led by CEO Michael Dennison, the 38 Factory GRIP X sits squarely in the premium suspension segment that feeds both OEM bike builds and aftermarket sales. Enduro and e?MTB forks remain a profitable niche as riders continue to upgrade frames with higher?spec suspension.

Listed on Nasdaq, Fox Factory Holding Corp. stock (ISIN US35138V1026) reflects investor expectations for demand in mountain bike and powered vehicle suspension, with the 38 line adding to recurring revenue from high?margin performance components.