Warning to all FOX Racing Shox Users and Customers

Nov 20, 2008
by Tyler Maine  
Source: Fox Racing Shox

It has come to the attention of FOX Racing Shox that certain individuals and / or entities are modifying FOX forks to accommodate mountain bike wheel sizes other than those having 26 inch nominal diameter. One such modification includes removing material from the lower leg cross bridge in order to fit a 29 inch tire in the fork. Such modification will ultimately separate the lower fork legs at the cross bridge (i.e. the weakened cross bridge will fracture) and may cause bicycle instability and crash that result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.DO NOT MODIFY OR MISAPPLY FOX FORKS

NEVER REMOVE MATERIAL from any portion of a FOX fork. USE ONLY 26 INCH WHEELS with FOX 32*, 36 and 40 bicycle suspension forks. Those FOX forks are designed and tested for use ONLY with 26 inch Mountain Bike wheels / tires. Use of FOX forks with any wheel other than 26 inches and/or alteration or modification of any FOX fork will subject the FOX fork to loads and forces it has not been designed or certified to meet and will void all warranties. The FOX 32*, 36 and 40 models meet CEN and ASTM testing standards ONLY when used with 26 inch wheels / tires and are not recommended or approved by FOX Factory, Inc. for use with wheels larger or smaller than 26 inches, either as original equipment or aftermarket.

DO NOT RIDE ON MODIFIED OR MISAPPLIED FOX FORKS

Proper forks are critical to proper bicycle handling and stability. Improper function or failure of a bicycle fork while riding can cause a bicycle to become uncontrollable and result in a crash. Use of FOX 32*, 36 or 40 forks with wheels larger or smaller than 26 inches, or any other modification, may cause crashes that result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. Never ride a bicycle that is, or appears to be, fitted with a FOX 32*, 36 or 40 fork that has been modified and / or fitted with any wheel larger or smaller in nominal diameter than 26 inches.

* DO USE THE RIGHT FORK FOR THE JOB

For those of you who want to ride on 29 inch front wheels with suspension, FOX offers the 32 F29 fork designed specifically for 29 inch wheels. The F29 is available in 80mm, 100mm or 120mm travel configurations and is ideal for tall wheel applications. The F29 is the only FOX fork available for use with 29 inch wheels and is clearly labeled “F29” on the right leg. The F29 should be used only with 29 inch wheels. As with all FOX forks, do not modify or misapply, or ride on improperly applied or modified FOX F29 forks.

DO CONTACT FOX

Do not modify any portion of a FOX fork and do not purchase or use any fork that appears to have been modified. Any FOX 32*, 36 or 40 model fork that appears to accommodate a tire larger than 26 inches in nominal diameter, such as 650b or 29 inch, should be avoided. If any doubt exists as to the originality or proper application of a FOX fork please contact a FOX representative.

Thank you,

FOX Racing Shox

Posted In:
Press Releases


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103 Comments
  • 43 5
 whoever or whichever company is doing this are jerks and shouldnt deserve to touch fox forks
  • 20 0
 wow i am disapointed to the people who have done such things, like why ?
they have a f29 model that they can use why mess with other forks intended for 26" wheels?
  • 9 24
flag nouser (Nov 20, 2008 at 16:59) (Below Threshold)
 I know of a certain person how will remain unnamed that shortened the thinkness of the arch on his 40 RC2 to accomodate a 29 inch wheel. It's just so you can roll better over things while riding.
  • 26 3
 who in the hell thinks they are good enough to to any intentional damage to any fox fork "thou shalt not perform intentional damege to any fox product" its a bikers law
  • 14 0
 well at least the put something out there so when some idiot does get hurt they cant say "FOX didnt warn us not too" even though its just common sense....
  • 7 2
 y on eart would somebody ruin a perfectly amazing fork and trash it what morons. thanx fox for letting us no about this =)
  • 4 1
 anyone that chops out pieces of their forks is a complete retard and deserve to crash on them. you dont need that much common sense to see that cutting out something on your bike is going to weaken it.
  • 3 11
flag intenseseb (Nov 21, 2008 at 14:21) (Below Threshold)
 you will learn more skills on how to ride on a cyclocross than you ever will on a full susser
  • 1 1
 if u wanna just destroy a pair of fox forks give them to someone else instead.i would love some fox vanilla's on my bike.
  • 4 2
 it's common sense. if you're running 29's on a FOX fork that was meant for 26's, are you really going to be f*cking stupid enough to CUT PIECES OUT OF AN 800$ FORK? are you really going to do that, waste money, cut a fork that could've gone to someone with a brain, and put your life in danger? just so you can "It's just so you can roll better over things while riding." didn't think so. although if you did ever get seriously injured from that, i'd say you deserve it for doing something like that to a FOX fork. also, the little comment "you will learn more skills on how to ride on a cyclocross than you ever will on a full susser" is bullshit. the discipline where you learn the most, is trials. after that, i'd say street/park/DJ, then DH, due to the fact that you're flying into trees at 45km/h, AND then "cyclocross"
  • 2 3
 You should go back to riding a little kids bike. You, and most others obviously don't know anything about how a certain bike performs when used in combonation with modified parts. If any of you can tell me how to slacken a DHR, please, write on my noteboard. But I don't think any of you can, maybe 1.
  • 25 0
 Silly buggers shaving material off of a fork...thats just asking to have your teeth smashed down you throat... haha Beer
  • 17 4
 any other useful info fox want to share with us? maybe the fact bears prefer wooded ares in which to poop, or that the pope is in fact a catholic? facepalm. it's anti-darwinism is what it is. generally, if you're too stpuid to live, you probably won't. this is just ensuring there's another generation of retards out there, and no one loves a retard.
  • 10 0
 This is probably because some a$$hat filed down his fork, fork arch snapped and he ended up in the hospital, so he is now suing fox. Companies generally release statements like this if they have been sued.
  • 12 0
 extra negative props to me for mis-typing the word 'stupid'
Big Grin
*files fox forks frantically*
  • 8 0
 lol
  • 10 1
 what? dummy's if your going to shave down your cross brace you also have to drill it and screw a two by four to the back.....pfffft..idiots!
  • 1 0
 haha class
  • 13 4
 i know i gonna get negative props for this but i thought it was bad to use different parts of different forks together also. example: f100 lowers and 32 float uppers.
  • 7 1
 This sport of ours absolutely punishes the equipment, and when we take it past its limit it is always painful. Why would someone make their bike WEAKER? Especially knowing that it will only fail at a moment of extreme stress, i.e. when you are gonna eat shit bigtime.

I am SOOOOOO glad that nearly all of you agree this is stupid. This is not like arguing about flourescent coloured bars and pedals and shit, this is serious. Good job FORUM! Good job Pinkbike!
  • 9 1
 Who in the right state of mind would think it's a good idea to file away at their fork? Some people's kids these days...
  • 3 0
 it wont be kids doing this.. can you think of any young ppl that ride 29ers? all the ones i know (very few) are like the single speed/ridged freaks thats do knee popping XC with no gears , you know the type geeky talks a lot of tech , actually knows f*ck all Smile
  • 0 0
 it seems you've been talking tech bigburd
is it possible you've implicated yourself in your own accusations?
its true. you know f*ck all
  • 1 0
 well, you seem to be a pretty "advanced" techie too, although, the "head tube angle" thing, bullshit. you are NOT SUPPOSED TO MODIFY STUFF, OR USE IT FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN WHAT IS WAS DESIGNED FOR! if kids are filing away at beautiful forks, then f*ck that!, they should have their bikes taken away! the headtube angles are usually set for a certain tire, although the comment "its not about the headtube angle you dolt. like a degree or two makes a difference" a degree or two makes a huge difference!. do this: take a meter stick, and have it level to something, nezt, take a protractor, and move the part of the stick CLOSEST to you a few degrees. if you did it right, you'll notice that the end of the stick moved WAY MORE than "a few degrees" now take this into consideration when it comes to bikes frames. a few degrees can make all the difference.
  • 0 2
 no it doesn't. you're dumb
  • 2 0
 bigtard by name bigtard by nature .The end
  • 8 1
 must be all teh xc's trying to get 29's on their bikes and too cheap just to go and but the 32 F29
  • 3 0
 i mean buy the 32 F29's
  • 8 0
 i just farted
  • 3 0
 Hahaha anyone who does that is a complete idiot. The fork is built the way it is for a reason, modifying bike parts is a road that most people should just stay away from. And by most people i mean anyone who isn't an engineer with a number of years in the bike industry.
  • 4 2
 A lot of anger out there you guys should get some lynch mobs going with torches and pitch forks all that good shit, but you might want to check yourselves runnin your mouths about BCD that guys knowledge of design is way greater than 99% of you turds and unlike most bike companies he tests his own creations.
  • 4 2
 "DO NOT MODIFY OR MISAPPLY FOX FORKS" I cant believe this even needs to be announced.

About BDC, he is just a guy doing what he loves, he is modifying his fork for his bikes (and takes responsibility).
  • 5 2
 Guys seriously, the arch on your Fox fork will break just fine by itself without shaving any material off it. Mine sure did...
  • 2 0
 I agree! Simple solution. Avoid using any FOX products to start!!!
  • 1 1
 see how a 29er wheel does on a 40 foot step down with a proper 29er fork. Never mind with a modified fox fork. Those longer spokes to me are more prone to flex and movement which in time will snap with metal fatigue. Lose the 29 get with the 26 and get some mons ridin done
  • 1 1
 see how a 29er wheel does on a 40 foot step down with a proper 29er fork. Never mind with a modified fox fork. Those longer spokes to me are more prone to flex and movement which in time will snap with metal fatigue. Lose the 29 get with the 26 and get some mons ridin done
  • 7 4
 so were not meant to run a 24" freeride hardtail with 36's? thats the perfect toy4 out of the question then eh?
  • 6 13
flag pbuser204015 (Nov 20, 2008 at 16:13) (Below Threshold)
 it says don;t use bigger than 26" wheels or modify your fork structurally
  • 3 0
 Obviously this notice is heavily focused on folks that are modifying forks in order to run their 29 inch wheels and that is simply dumb. Fox is stating that they build their forks around 26 inch platforms only, unless otherwise stated.
  • 4 1
 "Never ride a bicycle that is, or appears to be, fitted with a FOX 32*, 36 or 40 fork that has been modified and / or fitted with any wheel larger or smaller in nominal diameter than 26 inches."
  • 4 2
 'Use of FOX 32*, 36 or 40 forks with wheels larger or SMALLER than 26 inches, or any other modification, may cause crashes'
  • 4 11
flag cegik (Nov 20, 2008 at 20:30) (Below Threshold)
 so does that mean a fox cant be used with 24"?
  • 3 1
 having a smaller wheel wont negatively effect the fork in anyway , it's just Fox getting paranoid now about knobs who file down the arches on forks ... thats gotta be one of the most stupid things i have ever heard in my life !
  • 2 1
 well theres not many 24" specific forks out there so its your choice to run a 26" fork on 24" wheel, it just wont handle the same as a 24" specific fork. Fox dont want to be held responsible for anyone using their forks in the wrong way intended so say 24 and 29" shouldnt be used on 26" forks
  • 2 2
 Having a smaller or bigger wheel changes the head-tube angle and thus where stress will be put in the fork. While it will work The forks were not designed around those angles / stress points.

Besides FOX SAYS DONT DO IT!!!!
If you dont care about your warranty or safety do whatever you want.
  • 1 4
 its not about the headtube angle you dolt. like a degree or two makes a difference
  • 2 1
 the angles will be the exactly the same if its 24" both ends , so no there is no extra stress , unless you ride 24" front and 26" rear Razz
  • 2 0
 True 24's front and back would not change angles. I thought the 24 trend was over :p
  • 1 1
 Bigtard you are wrong. it does matter when the angle is changed to one the fork was not designed to be at you SNOW MEXICAN!
  • 1 1
 forks are designed for BIKES. bikes have many different head angles. it doesn't matter. but nerds will be nerds i guess
  • 2 1
 well judging by your past post "its not about the headtube angle you dolt. like a degree or two makes a difference " you aparnelty know f*ck all because this degree or two in the head angle will make the difference , as you can see by the props on your statement
  • 0 3
 no it doesn't. and because some stupid people don't agree with me means they're right?
no, otherwise fox would say you can only put their forks on bikes with 69 degree head angles. which they don't so, you just keep being dumb, and we'll all have tons of fun here on pink bike
  • 3 0
 Get over it your wrong and apparently not to bright. Frames are designed for a certain range of fork. My bike is made to work with 5inch to 8inch forks if you were to put a 24 on this bike with a five or 6inch travel fork it would be like having a 3 or for inch travel fork on it witch it was not designed for. I am no longer responding to you. Its does me no good to have a battle of wits with someone like you who is obviously unarmed!!!
  • 3 1
 whoever is going to file away their fork to fit a 29inch tire deserves to ride the fork, hopefully itll crack and knock some sense into them ...
  • 3 0
 There's a 40 with a shaved arch for sale on a few of the other forums for $750. LOL
  • 1 1
 If you silly 29 er black diamond types must stick to the 29 inch size why not use an upside down fork which has no arch to be hacked up. you should add some spacers in the fork to hobble the travel so as not to rub the tire on the crown and endoverendover. get yourself a dorado, shiver, or i think risse racing had a fork that might work. better yet put on a 26, then get out and do some FREERIDING
  • 2 0
 this is brillant! maybe ill drill speed holes in the downtube/headtube of my commencal tonight!

maybe file out the chain/seat stays so i can rock a 29 in the back? SICK
  • 2 2
 so what. the guy wants 29 inch wheels on his bike. i'm sure he can afford a new set of lowers if he wants to run normal wheels again. and i'm sure he's smart enough to check for cracks on his fork brace. regardless, that fork is never gonna catastrophically fail without being in a good crash, and it wouldn't have been BECAUSE of the fork brace cracking. You guys are f*cking retards. who cares?
he's not forcing you to file down your fork and run 29's is he?
  • 3 1
 Here's one of the people.
  • 6 2
 he is actually trying to mass produce that aswell, what an ignorant fucktard
  • 9 4
 judging by the quality of the carbon weaves on that headtube hes gunna die one way or another....fuctard. isnt it obvious that if you have to cut the center nobs on DH tyres and bodge your tubes together AND file down a thousand $ fork that you just shouldnt run 29" wheels on a freakin DH BIKE!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
  • 12 1
 Do you have any idea who BCD is? This gentleman made the very first VPP frame back in the 90's. He also knows a thing or two about carbon/fiberglass laying. He grew up around the stuff. He also built his first frame at the age of 12.

But I agree the whole shaving a fork thing is retarded.
  • 3 2
 I personally saw the guy from BCD race in Oklahoma... guy showed up on one of his bikes, with carbon bars, XT cranks, and some shitty manipoo single crown fork and absolutely dominated. the guy is stupid fast, and is really smooth. I don't agree with what he's doing, but the guy is smart and it works for him, but you won't see me cutting on any fork... besides filing down the disc brake tabs on my dj1 fork.
  • 2 1
 I'm kinda surprised to see BCD (Buffalo Composite Designs) do it too, but keep in mind that this guy really, really, really knows his stuff, and if he wants to shave his own things then thats OK, but he shouldn't be doing it and selling to others.

And Fox is also really (and properly, as they should) covering their ass. But remember, the 40 is designed to handle Rampage sized stuff, which nothing in a non-WC race course can compare to, so a National course likely won't exceed what BCD thinks and has calculated to be the tolerances of the remaining arch. I wouldn't do it, but other's can do as they please as long as they don't dump in on Fox if anything happens.
  • 6 2
 STOOOOOPID!
  • 0 1
 Just to clear the air, any modifications made by Push Industries are koshier in the eyes of Fox right? Just figured someone here would know.
um NO!!!!!!!! PUSH would not modity a fork or shock dimensionally. only the guts
  • 3 0
 i love fox shox!!!!!!!!!
  • 2 2
 omfg who ever is doing that is dead to me that is a sin in the mountain bikers bible, tho shalt not tamper with thy fox forks.
  • 1 1
 i can't even believe that fox has to create a release like this.... and for 29er's.... usually xc riders are a little smarter than that...
  • 0 0
 fox should make a rigid 29 fork basic tubes like old school bmx fork just longer an put a mad paint job on it with stickers and they will make bank
  • 1 1
 Just to clear the air, any modifications made by Push Industries are koshier in the eyes of Fox right? Just figured someone here would know.
  • 0 0
 i very much doubt it , if you get your forks pushed and they fuck up i very much doubt Fox will come to your aid
  • 1 0
 its obvious information but they just did it so the retards who would actually do it wont
  • 0 0
 I know there is a White Brothers dh fork that can handle 29". Rather get that.
  • 0 1
 to ruin a Fox 40 to put a 29er wheel in there, they deserve whatever comes thier way. WTF a 29er on Dh/FR bike...yes you are a dumb ass
  • 0 1
 who the hell is dumb enough 2 take the arch out? yoh those ppl must be KAK dumb. thats like taking a dump wen u kno theres no toilet paper
  • 0 0
 thanks for getting this info out there- i've seen a few mod 32's around seattle- sketchy.
  • 5 7
 This makes me want to vomit. I am so freakin frustrated right now I can't see straight. BCD cycles is a worthless joke and needs to be removed from existence. This is terrible.
  • 3 1
 your a turd. get a life
  • 1 1
 lol thats one of the stupidest modifacations u could do to a fork i think lol.
  • 0 1
 anyone who argues in favor of this in any way is of a lessor intelligence. face it your wrong and as dumb as anyone who actually did modify their fork.
  • 1 1
 stupid tits who want better roll and mor traction dont mess with any fox forks its stupid
  • 2 1
 Thats not good ill tell my riders that his components are invalid
  • 0 0
 I'm surprised to see BCD racing filing down 40s
  • 2 0
 Me too. Never thought they were that stupid.
  • 0 0
 does this mean lowering is bad too??
  • 0 0
 and yeah shaving your forks brace is incredibly stupid
  • 4 4
 29er wheels are for cross dressin fa**ots
  • 5 6
 I,m gonna shave some metal from my double suspension bike because i need to put a water bottle...
  • 1 1
 XC riders sure love to shave the weight..
  • 0 0
 check mtbr.com and you will find modified 36s and 40s.
  • 0 1
 check this out

bcdracing.com/psycho-billy-cadillac/oct08/AFG3%20058.jpg

thats a modified 40 for a 29r
  • 2 2
 on all fox products
  • 0 0
 some people are hopeless
  • 1 2
 JUST WHY? NO MORE SAID. JUST WHY?
  • 0 1
 MAN... why mess with a beautiful thing??? SIGH.
  • 1 1
 neeeeeeeerds!!!
  • 1 2
 29 rims are retatrted. Why would you mess with such a nice fork?
  • 3 0
 I'm sure the people that ride 29ers and 20" bmx and maybe even the 24ers think your retarded so its okay
  • 6 9
 who would do that?
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