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The RockShox ZEB and the Fox 38 are the two most popular enduro forks, and they were both completely redesigned this year. New chassis, new damper, new air springs, but we’re not here for the tech today. This article is all about how these two very similar forks actually ride on trails, and I’m here to help you figure out which is a better fit for you. So let’s figure out what sets them apart from each other, and why someone might pick one fork over the other.
Both of these forks were just released earlier this year, and while there are a few tiers of each fork, this article compares the highest end 2027 RockShox ZEB Ultimate, and 2027 Fox 38 Factory. I’m sure some of you remember the video Mike made comparing the original versions of these two forks back in 2022, but times have changed. Now, Mike has short hair, and he prefers driving cars instead of riding bikes, and Fox and RockShox have completely redesigned their flagship forks. We’ve gotten tons of emails and calls from customers asking us which fork is better for them, so I’ve been putting them to the test to figure out why you might want one fork over the other.
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I’ve learned that these are both fantastic forks, and this is kind of like comparing the latest Mercedes and BMW sports cars. They both cost a lot of money, the vast majority of drivers will never take them to their true limit, and there are tons of other smaller brands competing for their market share with great value products. But they’re the two most popular luxury cars out there, even if there are tons of other options, so they’re naturally pitted against each other. For all the same reasons, we’re keeping this comparison between just the RockShox ZEB, and the Fox 38. They’re specced on 99% of long travel bikes these days, and everyone has a strong opinion of which is better. Alright let’s stop wasting time and get to everything you need to know about these forks.
Specs/Chassis
The ZEB and 38 both use 38 mil stanchions, and are designed for long travel enduro bikes or big heavy ebikes. They both come in 160, 170, or 180 mil of travel, but the ZEB also comes in 150mm travel. Fox’s GRIP X2 damper has the classic low and high speed compression, and low and high speed rebound, while the Charger 3.2 damper has all the same, minus high speed rebound, plus the Adjustable Bottom Out dial, giving each fork four external adjustments to play with. Neither fork is necessarily easier to set up than the other, but Fox gives more in depth recommended settings for air pressure, rebound, and compression, which had the fork feeling great on my very first ride.
The biggest advantage of these burly enduro/freeride forks over a 36 or a Lyrik is their stiffness. Historically, the 38 has been the stiffer fork, but RockShox beefed up the new ZEB chassis, and I found them to be very comparable. The ZEB feels ever so slightly stiffer than the Fox 38, but neither fork is uncomfortably stiff, and both chassis are incredibly stable through the rough stuff. Neither rattle your bones, and both inspire confidence.
Air Spring
Funny enough, RockShox and Fox pretty much swapped air spring designs, and the ZEB now uses a tube in tube LinearXL air spring, while the 38 Glidecore air spring uses a more typical piston that touches the inner walls of the stanchion. As the name suggests, the LinearXL air spring is more linear than the Glidecore airspring when neither have volume spacers, but both are progressive enough for some desert hucks when you stuff them with volume spacers. So if you want the most linear air fork possible, the ZEB is a better option. If you like more progression and more bottom out support, both air springs can be set up that way.
The small bump sensitivity of both forks is phenomenal, but the ZEB feels slightly more active and happier to move into its travel. It’s actually a slightly heavier fork on the scale, but the ZEB feels like it rides a little lighter than the 38. It’s a little more fluttery and just slightly more sensitive throughout its travel.
When you run out of travel, the last line of defence in both forks is a rubber bottom out bumper. The ZEB features Adjustable Bottom Out, which allows you to change how much support that bumper provides, while the Fox 38’s bumper is fixed and not adjustable. Adding ABO makes the ZEB’s bumper more supportive than the 38, while removing ABO will make the ZEB’s bumper less supportive than the 38. I didn’t find a downside to adding all of the ABO, and it just made the ZEB slightly more comfortable when you run out of travel compared to the Fox 38.
Damper
Through high speed impacts, the GRIP X2 damper is able to control the travel more effectively than the Charger 3.2 damper. When both forks are set up with lots of compression damping and ridden at my personal limit, I found the 38 was better at taking the edge off big hits, and would save more travel for the next impact. That translated to a less fatiguing ride that let me push harder for longer on the Fox 38. But I really enjoy the completely silent operation of the Charger 3.2 damper. The 38 certainly isn’t loud, but silence is my preference.
Overall
Overall, it feels like the Fox 38 has a damper first design, leaning more heavily on the GRIP X2 damper to provide support. On the other hand, the RockShox ZEB feels like it has an air spring first design, and the LinearXL air spring is incredibly sensitive and supple. Long story short, both of these forks are incredibly high performers, and either are great options for anyone pushing their limits on a race course or just hitting the trails for a sunset ride. However, it’s my job to split hairs, so let’s split some hairs. In my opinion, the 38 is a slightly better option for riders looking for a fork that prioritizes all-out grip over comfort, while the ZEB is a slightly better option for riders looking for a fork that prioritizes comfort and silence over all-out grip.
Alright, there you go! That is the new Fox 38 compared to the new RockShox ZEB. I know we didn’t get as nerdy with the specs as usual, but I hope you enjoyed us getting straight to the point with how the forks actually perform on trail. Considering how impressive both of these forks are, you gotta remember that neither fork is inherently better than the other, but they definitely have their differences that make each of them a better choice for different riders. The choice really comes down to those relatively small differences that I mentioned, and you should also consider the aesthetics of both forks. Honestly, I’m a sucker for how my Sentinel looks with the full Kashima treatment, and that would certainly sway my decision. But the red ZEB looks pretty killer too! You really can’t go wrong with either of these new forks.
