Conclusion
Inspired by the Fox 38 and Rockshox Zeb, we originally suspected this hard-hitting group test might turn into a direct headto-head shootout between the two major players, with a few alternatives fighting over the scraps. In reality though, with prestigious brand Öhlins entering the 38mm fork fray in time to test thoroughly, and surprisingly potent performance from other smaller and cheaper players, the test soon became a much more multi-faceted affair.
Since Fox demands such premium prices, we thought long and hard about pitting the cheapest 38 fork (with a GRIP, rather than GRIP2 damper) against the Zeb, as they are the closest on price. In fact. Fox’s top Factory level 38 costs a whopping £1,349, which is similar to Öhlins top-end price tag, and makes the Zeb’s ticket price of £969 seem like a total steal in comparison. In the end, we chose the Fox 38 Performance Elite version as it splits the difference between the two.
In back-to-back testing at Bikepark Wales, Fox’s 38 clearly had the edge over the Zeb on the same tracks on the same day, to the point we started to think that our well-used Zeb might be in need of a service. To double check, we also repeated the test closer to home with a fresh Zeb and reached the exact same conclusion – Fox’s fork just feels more sensitive and slightly more composed.
For a lot of riders, the 38 will be out of budget, even in the cheaper GRIP guise, and in that case, we’d recommend the Zeb or DVO Onyx, which was a real contender in this test and totally delivered on a really demanding week’s riding in the Alps. However, if you’re looking at a brand-new complete bike rather than a fork upgrade, we’d go for a Foxequipped model every time.
On a tighter budget, Suntour’s Durolux offers a ton of control and adjustability and lets you dial-in your preferred ride feel, rather than riding around certain compromises – as you have to with the Marzocchi Z1 – especially if you’re a faster or heavier rider.