Fox Float X2 Shocks Get Smoother w/ New Monotube Design

The Fox Float X2 shocks, each air and coil, get an all-new design utilizing a monotube shaft and new transverse compression damping circuit.

The aim? Make it smoother and stronger, and make it match on extra bikes, with out giving up any of the adjustability. Actually, delicate tweaks make it extra and simpler to regulate, too.

A mountain bike model of trophy truck suspension was the aim, retaining your tires on the bottom whereas the chassis floats easily above them. Fox thinks they’ve nailed it, calling the brand new Float X2 the definitive gravity shock, designed to pair completely with the GRIP X2 fork dampers that debuted in 2024.

What’s Monotube? Why does it Matter?

2026 fox float x2 rear shock shown on a mountain bike.

With the prior twin tube design, which fairly actually makes use of a tube inside a tube within the damping system, Fox primarily needed to make some internals smaller or burn up worthwhile air spring quantity to carry extra of the damping structure.

Switching to a monotube design gave them much more room to play with, so that they made the air spring shaft greater (1/2″ diameter, up from 3/8″) and extra sturdy. Which means it might probably higher resist lateral and torsional hundreds from the mounting factors, making it a stronger shock.

Stress Balancing is a part of it

It additionally gave them extra room for bigger pistons and diminished the variety of seals required, enhancing sturdiness. The elevated inside house additionally allow them to “stress stability” the system, balancing forces on both aspect of the mid-valve in order that it might probably react sooner, making the shock far more responsive.

Stress Balancing was an enormous a part of the improved efficiency of their new fork dampers, and now they’ve achieved an analogous really feel within the shocks. (For a deep dive on Stress Balancing, examine our protection of the brand new GRIP Dampers and our interview with Fox’s suspension engineer)

Trunnion shocks get higher air springs

The design allow them to decrease the compression ratio on trunnion shocks to match what’s on the eyelet variations. Oddly, with the 2nd gen Float X2, the trunnion model had extra constraints on air quantity dimension due partly to the dual tube design. Which meant the next compression ratio, which meant it ramped up sooner, making it much less doubtless you’d have the ability to use all your journey.

Now, they’ve the identical air quantity irrespective of which mounting type you want, so efficiency is identical throughout the board. And, throughout the board, the Float X2 has the identical air seal bundle as Float X, with a brand new quantity spacer association that enables 1cc steps.

The 4-way problem

2026 fox float x2 rear shock shown from various angles.

Efficiency apart, the design itself is an enormous deal as a result of it packages a dual-function rod via the primary air piston rod, permitting for unbiased adjustment of high- and low-speed rebound…one thing that’s by no means been finished earlier than. Fox says that is the first-ever 4-way adjustable monotube mountain bike shock.

New Transverse Reservoir Format

Externally, the foremost replace is a brand new transverse reservoir format. The prior mannequin aligned the exterior reservoir with the shock physique, which bundled the IFP into the identical tube because the compression damping circuits. In idea that made all of it extra compact, however the actuality was that it jutted downward (or upward, relying on shock orientation) fairly a bit, limiting body fitment choices.

The brand new transverse format helps it match round extra/bigger water bottles and vary extender batteries on extra bikes. Moreover, the IFP chamber is now separate, giving it extra quantity, which implies extra oil quantity for higher warmth administration.

Compression Damping is Higher, Too

internal damper assembly in 2026 fox float x2 rear shock. — Left to Proper: Full damping & piston assemblies; rebound damping circuit & air spring piston; compression damping circuit.

Fox additionally up to date the compression damping circuit. It has much more valves and shims, virtually 50 of them, which is about double the prior model.

They are saying it has extra constant, linear adjustments between clicks. It additionally has a broader vary of adjustment on the compression base valve. Mixed with the up to date pressure-balanced design, it claims to have elevated assist with out added harshness.

Higher Management Knobs

closeup details of control knobs on 2026 fox float x2 rear shock.

In whole, you will have 8 clicks of high-speed changes and 16 clicks of low-speed changes for each compression and rebound. And, as a bonus all management knobs are aligned in order that after they level straight alongside the physique of the shock, they’re centered of their adjustment, making it straightforward to see the place you’re at at a look.

New DHX2 Coil Shock

2026 fox float dhx2 coil spring rear shock on a mountain bike being ridden downhill.

The coil-spring DHX2 will get the entire identical damper and structure updates, plus just a few of its personal.

2026 fox float dhx2 coil spring rear shock.

The principle shaft is metal and likewise now 1/2″ (12.7mm) diameter. The coil springs are new with a matte black end choice in order for you one thing stealthier than Fox Orange.