XC BRED. DOWNCOUNTRY READY.
The 34 SL brings never-before-seen XC capability into a full-width 34 chassis with up to 130mm of travel. Built for the most technical World Cup XC courses and demanding Downcountry riding, 34 SL adds more stiffness, more suppleness and absolute minimal weight gain from the preceding 34 Step- Cast fork.
UNEQUALED XC CAPABILITY
The 34 Step-Cast was a class-leading fork for its incredible weight, but demand for 130mm travel is growing with XC riders. We knew we could push the potential of the 34 chassis to give short-travel riders more capability than ever. The 34 SL uses a full 34 chassis (not step-cast) with a larger volume air spring to allow for a max of 130mm of travel if you need it, or if you want it. All at a weight that made sense for World Cup XC riders and weekend amateur racers alike.
REDESIGNED ARCH AND CROWN
Generatively designed and optimised by FOX engineers, the new 34 SL arch wraps around the lowers to increase torsional stiffness of the fork by 17% over the previous 34 SC. Cut-outs at strategic locations in the arch help minimise weight of the lowers.
In addition to the arch, the generatively designed 7000 series aluminium crown also contributes to overall torsional stiffness, with larger internal lightening bores and a black anodized finish (lighter than paint) to save even more weight.
MORE BUSHING OVERLAP
Bushings are Teflon-lined sleeves that interface the stanchions with the lower legs of the fork. There are two bushings in each leg, for a total of four in a fork. “Bushing overlap” refers to the distance between upper and lower bushings in each leg.
As the fork is loaded sideways (such as running over an obstacle on the trail), that bending force is translated from the lower leg to the stanchions through the bushings. Think of it as using a breaker bar sleeved over a wrench when trying to loosen a very tight lug nut. The more overlap you have, the less reaction force between the wrench handle and breaker bar. In suspension forks, this greater overlap reduces friction between the stanchions and lower legs throughout the stroke.
The 34 SL increases the bushing overlap by 20% over the 34 SC for a smoother feeling fork overall. Riders will notice additional suppleness at higher speeds when bending loads on the fork are at their greatest.
GRIP SL — CLIMB FASTER. DESCEND HARDER. RECOVER QUICKER.
In the world of endurance racing, every gram counts. With the GRIP SL, we created a short travel-specific damper that not only reduced weight but could keep up with the increasingly demanding World Cup XCO and XCM races. With an optimised pedal-to-bump efficiency, GRIP SL gives riders the lightest XC damper with unparalleled ride feel.
WEIGHT OPTMS’D
At 1475g (29” 130mm GRIP SL), the 34 SL is 100g lighter than our closest competitor. While there’s a roughly 50g weight gain from the 34 SC, the longer travel, increased stiffness and greater overall capability make the 34 SL the leader for modern XC and Downcountry riders.
TECH SPEC
- Wheel size: 29"
- Travel: 120MM &130MM
- Rake: 44MM OFFSET
- Axle: Kabolt SL on Factory Series and Perf Elite, Kabolt on Performance Series
- Rotor size: 180-230MM
- Air spring Float EVOL compliant
- Steerer: 1.5 TAPER
- Starting Weight: 1475G (FS 130MM GRIP SL)