With each passing season, the line between MTB and gravel is becoming increasingly blurred. Following in the footsteps of the SRAM XPLR ecosystem with its RockShox Rudy gravel fork, Fox is fighting back with its new 32 taper-cast gravel fork, or 32TC for short. While not Fox's first gravel fork, it is an entirely new fork design, not a modified version of the existing Fox platform like the Fox AX.

The fork, which claims to be the lightest in Fox history, is available in three performance models with 40mm or 50mm travel and different damper options.

Gravel suspension is not an entirely new concept at this stage, with established options such as Lauf and RockShox, but the longest travel option on the Fox 32 TC is 20mm longer than Lauf's Grit SL and RockShox's Rudy XPLR 10 mm longer travel. This would be the longest travel of any gravel fork on the market today.

While the Fox AX gravel fork was, for all intents and purposes, a modified cross-country fork, the Fox 32 TC was designed from the ground up for gravel needs. The name "tapered cast" means that the lower legs are tapered. Because this fork has less travel (by suspension fork standards, not gravel standards), the lower legs do not need to accommodate a telescopic upper and can be tapered and trussed to save weight. Weighing in at 1226g, it is the lightest fork in the Fox lineup, a few grams lighter than comparable RockShox forks.

The tapering of the lower legs allows the rebound adjuster to fit into the extra space in the lower legs for a sleeker profile.

The legs are air-sprung, with a choice of FIT4 or GRIP dampers and an air/oil bypass to allow full travel. However, there is no lockout. According to Fox, lockouts do not improve performance, but add weight, complexity, and confusion. gravel bikes have narrower clearances than MTBs, so to avoid contact with the down tube, the crowns are designed to be thinner and have smaller caps

The fork is designed with a thinner crown and smaller cap to avoid contact with the down tube.

If you decide to install this fork as an aftermarket add-on, you will need to make sure it matches well with your current setup. This is because the Fox 32 TC is 700c only and only available with a tapered steerer. This may put some riders off, but it fits modern gravel specs, and Fox expects the 50mm tire clearance (45mm with fenders using built-in mounts) to be sufficient for even the most dedicated wide-tire enthusiast.

When anchored, the 32 TC can run 160mm or 180mm rotors using a flipable flat-mount system; neither the 12mm through-axle nor the 100mm axle length will shock anyone.

The Fox 32 Tapercast comes in three versions: the Factory, Performance, and Performance Elite. The Factory is Fox's classic orange, while the Performance model is stealth black.

Prices range from 849 - 1,039 British pounds / 769 - 949 US dollars / 1,039 - 1,279 Canadian dollars / 1,039 - 1,259 euros.