FOX Podium Inverted MTB Fork - Questions, Answers, Reviews

ballz
Posts
481
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
11/11/2025 11:55am
Mint wrote:
JKW appears to be leaking due to the massive scratches he has on the stanchions. I don’t think a RSU fork could hold its oil with...

JKW appears to be leaking due to the massive scratches he has on the stanchions. I don’t think a RSU fork could hold its oil with that much missing material.

jazza_wil wrote:
Even Phil Swift can’t help you now 

Even Phil Swift can’t help you now 

IMG 2243.jpeg?VersionId=bSTy01FIAIjRspehtmAF3m8jxl

With Intend, that's a sub-$100 fix including fees and shipping to the US of A, IIRC. One leg replacement is significantly cheaper than new uppers of RSU forks.

4
thomas1965
Posts
20
Joined
9/18/2020
Location
Burlington, VT US
11/11/2025 8:40pm

just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one was rubbing the podium stanchion. It sounds like the replacement one is also leaking now, thus he's back on a Z1 for the time being. fwiw, my podium hasn't had any issues with oil leakage, though I'm certainly not beating on it to the extent he is. On pricing for lower legs, idk how available those are retail yet but msrp from Fox is 263$ a leg for factory and 210$ for performance. It's weird really, after 2.5 seasons on my Intend the stanchions are still perfect, but in the ~4 months I've been on the podium I've put a good few scratches on the guards. maybe unpainted carbon just isn't as durable to light strikes as hard anodized aluminum, idk

5
jalopyj
Posts
108
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10/23/2023
Location
Concord, CA US
Fantasy
11/11/2025 10:08pm
thomas1965 wrote:
just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one...

just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one was rubbing the podium stanchion. It sounds like the replacement one is also leaking now, thus he's back on a Z1 for the time being. fwiw, my podium hasn't had any issues with oil leakage, though I'm certainly not beating on it to the extent he is. On pricing for lower legs, idk how available those are retail yet but msrp from Fox is 263$ a leg for factory and 210$ for performance. It's weird really, after 2.5 seasons on my Intend the stanchions are still perfect, but in the ~4 months I've been on the podium I've put a good few scratches on the guards. maybe unpainted carbon just isn't as durable to light strikes as hard anodized aluminum, idk

How's the podium stack up vs. your time on the intend?

1
jeff.brines
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1242
Joined
8/29/2010
Location
Grand Junction, CO US
11/12/2025 10:17am Edited Date/Time 11/12/2025 10:17am
thomas1965 wrote:
just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one...

just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one was rubbing the podium stanchion. It sounds like the replacement one is also leaking now, thus he's back on a Z1 for the time being. fwiw, my podium hasn't had any issues with oil leakage, though I'm certainly not beating on it to the extent he is. On pricing for lower legs, idk how available those are retail yet but msrp from Fox is 263$ a leg for factory and 210$ for performance. It's weird really, after 2.5 seasons on my Intend the stanchions are still perfect, but in the ~4 months I've been on the podium I've put a good few scratches on the guards. maybe unpainted carbon just isn't as durable to light strikes as hard anodized aluminum, idk

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it a touch funny because his is...

A) leaking (like all of mine)
B ) he's now pumping up the Marzocchi (like I did)

With his reach, I wonder if we'll see Marzocchi coil forks flying off shelves lol

2
Primoz
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4583
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
11/12/2025 10:33am

I managed to watch to get the info what he did with the zocchi (way to get those watch minutes, it dragged and dragged before getting to the point), but, maybe I missed it, I didn't catch the fact that his replacement was leaking. He only showed the gnawed stanchion. I did not expect that one after all the baiting at the beginning of the video. 

1
11/12/2025 10:54am Edited Date/Time 11/12/2025 10:54am
thomas1965 wrote:
just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one...

just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one was rubbing the podium stanchion. It sounds like the replacement one is also leaking now, thus he's back on a Z1 for the time being. fwiw, my podium hasn't had any issues with oil leakage, though I'm certainly not beating on it to the extent he is. On pricing for lower legs, idk how available those are retail yet but msrp from Fox is 263$ a leg for factory and 210$ for performance. It's weird really, after 2.5 seasons on my Intend the stanchions are still perfect, but in the ~4 months I've been on the podium I've put a good few scratches on the guards. maybe unpainted carbon just isn't as durable to light strikes as hard anodized aluminum, idk

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it...

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it a touch funny because his is...

A) leaking (like all of mine)
B ) he's now pumping up the Marzocchi (like I did)

With his reach, I wonder if we'll see Marzocchi coil forks flying off shelves lol

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand because they're the same fork with different stickers.

My 36 Rhythm really lacked HSC but if Fox started putting stiffer tunes on the Z1 dampers I could see how it would be a lot better.

4
Outlawed
Posts
55
Joined
3/29/2023
Location
Vancouver Island, BC CA
Fantasy
11/12/2025 9:52pm
thomas1965 wrote:
just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one...

just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one was rubbing the podium stanchion. It sounds like the replacement one is also leaking now, thus he's back on a Z1 for the time being. fwiw, my podium hasn't had any issues with oil leakage, though I'm certainly not beating on it to the extent he is. On pricing for lower legs, idk how available those are retail yet but msrp from Fox is 263$ a leg for factory and 210$ for performance. It's weird really, after 2.5 seasons on my Intend the stanchions are still perfect, but in the ~4 months I've been on the podium I've put a good few scratches on the guards. maybe unpainted carbon just isn't as durable to light strikes as hard anodized aluminum, idk

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it...

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it a touch funny because his is...

A) leaking (like all of mine)
B ) he's now pumping up the Marzocchi (like I did)

With his reach, I wonder if we'll see Marzocchi coil forks flying off shelves lol

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand...

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand because they're the same fork with different stickers.

My 36 Rhythm really lacked HSC but if Fox started putting stiffer tunes on the Z1 dampers I could see how it would be a lot better.

Cannot offer anything more then anecdotal hand "dyno" experience but it sure feels "stiffer", I rarely ran the compression dial more then the 1-2 o'clock position on my Z1 as it made midstroke harsh during repeated hits/heavy chatter.
I will say that the Z1 coil grip2 configuration is amazing, the only real drawback is the limited coil rate offerings from Marzocchi.

2
11/13/2025 11:03am
thomas1965 wrote:
just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one...

just to clear it up, JKW killed his first podium due to user error, loading 2 bikes on a rack such that the pedal of one was rubbing the podium stanchion. It sounds like the replacement one is also leaking now, thus he's back on a Z1 for the time being. fwiw, my podium hasn't had any issues with oil leakage, though I'm certainly not beating on it to the extent he is. On pricing for lower legs, idk how available those are retail yet but msrp from Fox is 263$ a leg for factory and 210$ for performance. It's weird really, after 2.5 seasons on my Intend the stanchions are still perfect, but in the ~4 months I've been on the podium I've put a good few scratches on the guards. maybe unpainted carbon just isn't as durable to light strikes as hard anodized aluminum, idk

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it...

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it a touch funny because his is...

A) leaking (like all of mine)
B ) he's now pumping up the Marzocchi (like I did)

With his reach, I wonder if we'll see Marzocchi coil forks flying off shelves lol

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand...

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand because they're the same fork with different stickers.

My 36 Rhythm really lacked HSC but if Fox started putting stiffer tunes on the Z1 dampers I could see how it would be a lot better.

They're the same part number and same tune, the grip damper doesn't change much with different valving, it mostly only effects the resolution of the adjustment. The only real difference between the 2 forks is the shape of the lowers

2
11/13/2025 12:07pm
Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it...

Ah ha! That's what I originally inferred. I couldn't make myself go watch the whole thing so just assumed others were right. I just found it a touch funny because his is...

A) leaking (like all of mine)
B ) he's now pumping up the Marzocchi (like I did)

With his reach, I wonder if we'll see Marzocchi coil forks flying off shelves lol

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand...

Does Marzocchi use a different tune in their dampers because people seem to hate the 36 Rhythm but love the Marzocchi Z1 and I don't understand because they're the same fork with different stickers.

My 36 Rhythm really lacked HSC but if Fox started putting stiffer tunes on the Z1 dampers I could see how it would be a lot better.

They're the same part number and same tune, the grip damper doesn't change much with different valving, it mostly only effects the resolution of the adjustment...

They're the same part number and same tune, the grip damper doesn't change much with different valving, it mostly only effects the resolution of the adjustment. The only real difference between the 2 forks is the shape of the lowers

I guess that M arch really is the magic sauce 🤪


In all seriousness if the damper is the same and valving doesn’t change much it must be the coil spring does quite a bit of heavy lifting in improving that fork. Which I could see because the air spring on the 36 Rhythm is really bad. 

1

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