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Best gravel suspension forks - solutions to soak up the bumps and keep you riding comfortably

The best gravel suspension forks help you ride farther and faster with less fatigue

The best gravel suspension isn't there to turn your gravel bike into a mountain bike. There are some outward similarities but the two types of riding are very different and as such there are products meant to handle those needs. Instead of taking big hits and drops, gravel suspension forks are one solution to keep you riding longer and faster.

Look at the range of the best gravel bikes available and you'll see there's lots of strategies for addressing ride quality. The most obvious is just bigger tyres at lower pressures. It's for this reason that there's been a steady trend toward more tyre clearance and higher volume over the years. Along with higher volume tyres, there's tons of clever solutions that intentionally introduce flex into the frame or seatpost. Then, taking it up another level in complexity, there are a few companies who have options for suspension at the handlebars. Specialized has the Future Shock and Redshift has the Shockstop suspension stem. 

For those looking for even more comfort and capability, there's nothing better than an actual gravel suspension fork. Modern options are light and keep the geometry similar to what you expect. The point is to soak up all the little bumps that wear you down through the day. The tyre stays in contact with the road surface, you feel better, and you can ride farther and faster. If that sounds like a great plan, keep reading to see our choices for the best gravel suspension forks on the market. 

The best gravel suspension forks you can buy today

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

A gravel suspension fork is a big purchase and it's natural to stress about getting it right. MRP has you covered. First of all, you can customize the colours you want with a finish called ShredKOTE. It's a ceramic and polymer finish that is scratch, scuff, and chemical resistant with a matte finish. Then from there you can choose either 40mm or 60mm of travel. When it comes to the offset, the Baxter uses a replaceable flipchip so, unlike other brands, if you end up not liking the offset you can make a change later. Another amazing part of the ordering process is that you can choose to have the fork set for your weight as it leaves the factory. You can also choose the length you want the steerer cut to. Some of the options cost money but when you get the box and everything is exactly set to your specs and ready to install it feels very premium. No one else offers anything quite like the experience of the Baxter. The only downside is that the pricing is similar to the Fox option but there’s less compression damping options. 

Suntour GVX LO R 700

The Suntour GVX LO R 700 is the budget option on this list. It's less expensive than the competition and not by a little. The Suntour option sits at around half the price of the competition and sacrifices to get there might not be a deal breaker. The biggest thing about it is that you are adding a lot of weight with the difference between the lightest option and the Suntour being 444 grams. Set that aside though and you've got a great budget option. There's no tuning of the firmness while you ride but choose the LO option and it's the only choice on our list that gives you a remote lockout trigger on the bars. Suntour is also the only one that includes any kind of fender plus they've included mounts for a more substantial fender. It's also worth mentioning that the travel is adjustable through the use of spacers. 

Fox 32 Taper Cast Gravel Fork Factory

The Fox AX launched in 2017 as the only gravel specific fork on the market that looked like a traditional fork. That original fork did the job but had a lot of downsides and now Fox is back with the 32 Taper Cast. The new model represents a complete redesign and this time it started life with the gravel market in mind. What really sets the Fox option apart is how adjustable it is while riding. There's a compression damping adjuster with open, medium, and firm modes. In the open mode you can then turn a secondary dial for a total of 22 clicks of adjustability. Off the bike there's another 10 clicks of low-speed rebound adjustment. When you actually ride a fork that's set exactly the way you want it, it just feels the way you expect it to. The other forks on the list might be fine for you but if you want to be very specific about your setup, this is your option. 

Roxshox Rudy Ultimate XPLR

When it comes to well-known gravel suspension forks the two big ones are the Fox and this option from RockShox that's part of the larger SRAM umbrella. The reality is that in many situations they both ride very similarly but there's a heavy aesthetic difference. Fox has done a lot to move from a mountain bike fork to a gravel specific option but the Rockshox still looks a lot more streamlined. The stanchions are smaller and the taper is smooth with none of the exposed trussing of the Fox. It's also available in a lower 30mm travel, like the one we spent time with, and it's a slightly lighter package. When choosing between the two, the biggest difference is how much adjustability the Fox has. If that feels overwhelming the Roxshox Rudy Ultimate XPLR keeps things a lot simpler. Even adjusting the pressure is as simple as a single schrader valve connection. There is a lockout you can reach down and flip while riding but it does feel a bit cheap.  

Cannondale Lefty Oliver

Most people without a Cannondale would never consider the Lefty Oliver but it has some advantages. Initially arriving in the market on the 2016 Cannondale Slate, the single sided fork later got an update for the Topstone Lefty. At the time there were two variations available depending on which Topstone you bought but, in the aftermarket, the only option is the Carbon version. The biggest change for the updated version is a move to a quick release attachment for the brake, which must come off to remove the wheel. Not only is the design of the Lefty specifically meant to add stiffness over a traditional fork design but it's also among the lightest options and it has the shortest axle-to-crown of any of the gravel suspension forks. Although the Lefty looks a little weird, it's the fork we've spent the most time on you can't actually feel a difference when riding. They look weird but they are light and they work really well. There are some caveats to the weird look though. Anything that uses a fork mount, like a rack, will need special consideration.  

Lauf Grit SL

There is a lot to love about the Lauf Grit SL fork. It crosses over into many of the things we pointed to other options as the best at. It's got one of the shortest axle-to-crown measurements and it's far lighter than any of the other choices. Those aren't really what make its character though. Instead, the thing that makes the Lauf special is that it just works. There's no tuning, and no lockout, but there's also no maintenance. All the other options on the list use some sort of damper that will eventually need disassembly for maintenance. The Lauf has no moving parts and the glassfiber suspension never needs anything from the rider. 

Hot to choose the best gravel suspension fork for you

What does it take to install one of the best gravel suspension forks.

This isn’t a deep dive into how to install but you will want to have some very specific tools on hand. If you are worried about any of this, then that’s another point for the MRP Baxter and the “Ready to Shred Package.” You could also just take everything to a local shop but if you invest in quality tools it’s likely they will last a lifetime and it’s nice to know you can take care of everything on your bike. If that sounds like a good direction to go, you’ll need to make sure you have what you need and that means a way to cut the fork steerer and a way to install a star fangled nut. All the options listed here use the same tapered (1.125 - 1.5") steerer tube so you’ll want to make sure your bike works with that standard. Aside from tools, you’ll want to make sure that you have the correct size star fangled nut, a crown race, and a collection of a few headset spacers. Measure twice and cut once, you only get one shot. It’s also a good plan to leave the steerer tube a bit longer and add some spacers in case you want to adjust the height of your bars later. The tools we had on hand during our testing included Park Tool CRS-15.2 Crown Race Setting System, Park Tool SAW-1, Park Tool CSB-1, Park Tool HMR-8, Park Tool TNS-4 and the Unior Steerer Tube Saw Guide 1604/2PLUS.  

Can I install a gravel suspension fork on any gravel bike?

The biggest issue with installing a suspension fork on a bike that came from the factory without suspension is the axle-to-crown measurement. The phrase quite literally means the distance from the axle to the crown of the fork. A rigid gravel fork tends to be under 400mm while many of the gravel suspension forks are in the range of 430mm. That extra 30mm raises the front end of the bike, raises the bottom bracket height, and makes for a slacker head tube angle. How your particular bike responds to those changes is an open question but the fact that it happens is why Cannondale and Lauf are trying to get as close to the measurements of a rigid fork as possible. 

There's also the question of physical interactions with the downtube. Mountain bikes tend to make room for the top of the fork stanchions using a kink in the downtube. Gravel bikes don't because most don't expect to need to. A new gravel suspension fork might hit your downtube when executing a tight turn. As we've entered the second generation of the best gravel suspension forks, there is consideration for this in the design. Still, every combination of fork and bike is going to be different. 

Do you want suspension on a gravel bike?

This might be the biggest question to ask yourself and to answer it, you'll want to think about the type of riding you do. We've discussed it many times before but gravel cycling covers a huge range of riding both in terms of style and also routes. If you plan to be at the front of the elite pack in gravel races then the weight and loss of stiffness from a gravel fork will be a detriment. Similarly, if your riding is more all-road, with long portions of the ride covering paved roads, then a suspension fork might not make sense. On the other hand, if you drive to a ride, or have unpaved riding out your front door, then you might be faster with a suspension fork. 

Despite the fact that elite gravel racers are faster with a rigid bike, most people get faster when they are more comfortable and stable. A gravel suspension fork keeps the tyre in contact with the road surface and that in turn helps the bike feel more stable. One of the best gravel suspension forks will also mean that you have help from the bike in soaking up bumps. You'll experience less fatigue over the course of long rides and that will keep you moving longer, and faster.

Will the best gravel suspension fork eliminate bumps?

If you've ever been on a full suspension mountain bike the suspension is so amazing that there are times when even substantial bumps are almost undetectable. That's not the experience with a gravel specific suspension fork. The travel is much less and the focus is different. Instead of eliminating bumps they dull them. You'll still feel rocks and washboards but they won't rattle your body in the same way and the tyre won't skip on and off the road surface. Depending on your background, it can feel a little bit surprising the first time you experience it. 

How do we test?

As discussed above, gravel suspension forks can change the way a bike rides in unpredictable ways if the frame isn't designed for it. We spent time with the only full suspension gravel bike on the market, the Niner MCR. The bike came to market with the original Fox gravel suspension fork and had a collection of design details with gravel suspension in mind. We used this bike as our test bed so we could focus on the differences between the forks.  

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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. Height: 5'9" Weight: 140 lb. Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx

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Best gravel suspension forks 2024 – plus our buyer's guide

The best gravel suspension forks will help you soak up bumps and take on rowdier trails

Russell Burton / Our Media

Stan Portus

Warren Rossiter

Gravel suspension forks aren’t about clearing massive jumps, but instead increasing comfort and adding control.

Indeed, the best gravel suspension forks will eliminate vibrations and chatter over rough surfaces and, at speed, absorb high-frequency knocks to keep your handling in check. 

These forks are a growing category and there are now several options from big-name suspension brands, including RockShox and Fox.

As well as smoothing out your ride, gravel suspension forks with more travel will help you take on more demanding trails and transform your gravel bike into something a bit like a hardtail mountain bike . 

We are beginning to see suspension forks specced on the best gravel bikes and even gravel bikes costing under £2,000 . But these forks are typically aftermarket options to be added to a bike.

Our buyer’s guide to gravel suspension forks explains more, including how to fit them and how they may affect your bike's geometry. 

Keep reading to find out which forks impressed senior technical editor, Warren Rossiter, who spent 12 months and clocked up 1,000km putting them through their paces. 

Best gravel suspension forks 2024 

Rockshox rudy xplr ultimate .

• £779 / $799 / €869 as tested
• Pros: Construction; peerless performance; progressive
• Cons: Needs professional servicing

The RockShox Rudy XPLR Ultimate has been designed and built from the ground up. Its internals are the most impressive of the forks in our recent group test, with all-alloy polished and anodised parts, and quality construction overall. 

Setting up the RockShox gravel fork is quite simple. You only have to adjust the air-spring pressure and rebound damping. This is done using a small 2.5mm Allen key.

The sensitive initial stroke absorbs the impact on your bar from poor roads, dry trails or golfball-sized gravel and is far superior to relying on larger-volume tyres.

There’s also a significant improvement in control, with the fork’s supple, swift movement meaning you maintain tyre contact with the ground.

If you’re running a tubeless setup, the fork’s cushioning enables you to run lower pressures.

The compression ramps up progressively, so the fork never ‘bottoms out’ on big hits, despite having only 40mm of travel. It also makes the Rudy one of the best for riding out of the saddle, but it still has an almost rigid feel when grinding up the steepest climbs.

Even if some of its rivals may edge ahead in single elements, the Rudy offers the best combination of performance, handling, weight and price.

• Read our full RockShox Rudy XPLR Ultimate review

Fox 32 TC Factory

• £1,000 / $949 as tested
• Pros: Easy to set up; stiff; plush; big-hit response
• Cons: Doesn’t come cheap; best serviced professionally

The Fox 32 TC Factory’s 50mm of travel makes it one of the longer options available and with that comes Fox’s signature plush smoothness.

This premium Fox gravel fork gets the slick gold Kashima coating on the 32mm stanchions, seen on Fox’s mountain bike forks . There are also three settings – open, medium and firm – and rebound adjustment on the lower leg.

On gravel roads, the fork is supple and smooths vibrations with ease. This top-end Factory model offers on-the-fly adjustment within the ‘open’ mode, via a second dial inside the compression dial. 

While there’s no full lockout, the 32 TC in its firm setting avoids any bobbing or diving when you’re climbing or sprinting. The Fox also conquers jarring hits with composure. 

It’s impressively light for a longer-travel fork weighing 1,320g, which is only 20g more than the RockShox, despite having 10mm more travel. 

The lower leg’s hollowed-out rear is a clever weight-saving touch, but it means the bolts need a special tool for maintenance. The finish throughout is exemplary.

This is a brilliant option if you can swallow the expense and are looking for a fork to take on predominantly singletrack and more technical terrain.

• Read our full Fox 32 Taper-Cast Factory Gravel Fork review

KS GTC 

• £599.99 / $600 as tested 
• Pros: Well priced and well made; great on chattery surfaces
• Cons: Lacks precision on rebound adjustment 

The KS GTC is an excellent budget option with 40mm of travel. It’s well put-together and has great-quality soft seals, which you don’t normally find on lower-priced forks. 

From the first outing, it was clear this fork is all about removing chatter and improving comfort. Despite having the smallest-diameter stanchions on test, it was one of the stiffest forks, thanks to the thickness of the material used. This also accounts for it being one of the heaviest at 1,470g, even though it features carbon lowers and brake arch.

The rebound adjustment isn’t as good as others. It doesn’t have any clicks within the dial and takes a lot of turns to induce any real change when you want to increase the rebound speed.

On medium-to-bigger hits, the fork can make it feel as if you’re riding through oil. The fork didn't have any increase in stiction, but its action is relatively slow. 

Cleverly, the fork ramped up well through its progression, so it never topped or bottomed out.

Overall, the KS is very well made and performs well enough to compete with more premium forks. It’s a decent jack of all trades, which is what you want from a gravel fork.

• Read our full KS GTC review

Also consider…

We haven’t included the following forks in our pick of the best gravel suspension forks because they scored fewer than four stars in testing. However, they may still tick the right boxes for you. 

Cannondale Oliver Lefty

• £1,400 / $1,575 (plus wheel) as tested
• Pros: Class-leading stiffness; great response to bumps
• Cons: Needs pro servicing and dedicated wheel

The Cannondale Oliver Lefty is a single-sided inverted suspension fork . It's an impressive technical achievement combining a spring and damper in a single leg. 

The Lefty isolates rebound damping and compression, making the fork resistant to bobbing when sprinting or climbing out of the saddle, despite its impressive fast-bump response and plush action. 

There’s also a lockout on top of the leg should you want it super-stiff for riding on roads, and this is designed to blow off if you hit an obstacle. 

On light gravel roads, the Lefty feels super-smooth. On technical terrain, the fork performs impressively, even with its short 30mm of travel. The stroke ramps up progressively, never topping out or clunking at either end of its travel. 

At 55mm, the Lefty has more offset than all its rivals, so it will change the front end of some bikes.

The downside is its price and the need for a dedicated front wheel. It’s also a rather complex fork, and while keeping it clean will help, the service schedule means extra expense. 

Tester Warren would recommend the Lefty for pure performance, but he’d rather buy it as part of a complete bike.

• Read our full Cannondale Oliver Lefty review

Lauf Grit SL

• £900 / $990 as tested 
• Pros: Excellent vibration damping; low maintenance; lightweight
• Cons: Lacks control on technical trails

The Lauf Grit SL looks completely different from a telescopic gravel suspension fork, with its unique springs suspending the fork dropout and offering 30mm of travel. 

This design also has no internal moving parts, making it the easiest suspension fork to maintain, but that means you can’t tune its performance. 

Positively, it’s the lightest suspension fork available, weighing only around 400g more than a typical rigid carbon gravel fork.

On gravel roads and scarred tarmac, the smooth nature of the leaf springs working in unison is a dream for upper-body comfort and endurance riding.

The Grit SL’s constant damping works best when you’re seated in the drops or on the hoods. It suffers when you get out of the saddle, though, with the lack of rebound control and lockout meaning the fork bobs.

On rooty or rocky descents, the fork can feel choppy with the rebound of the leaf springs becoming overwhelmed. However, this third-generation SL does a much better job of coping with higher speeds than earlier iterations.

The Grit SL is all the fork you’ll ever need for fatiguing chatter and smoothing out rough surfaces. But look elsewhere for a fork to ride techy, lumpy singletrack trails.

• Read our full Lauf Grit review

• £950 as tested
• Pros: Highly customisable; well built; big-hit response
• Cons: Heavy

The MRP Baxter fork is available with either 60mm or 40mm travel, although the fork can be adjusted with the included volume spacers if you change your mind.

Set up with 60mm of travel, the axle-to-crown length is increased to 456mm, providing clearance for 50mm gravel tyres. 

Warren could set up the fork with more sag than its rivals, resulting in a fork that outstrips the rest on bigger hits and traversing rooty, rutted forest terrain. 

The downside is it didn’t soak up smaller bumps so well, and it didn’t smooth chatter as well as other forks. After adding a spacer to reduce the Baxter’s travel to 40mm, its chatter response and speed improved dramatically.

The Baxter is heavier than its rivals at 1,680g, but it handles its heft well. The fork has tons of stiffness to keep the handling tight and its stroke is silky smooth. It’s an excellent companion for twisty technical trails, with its big-bump prowess coming to the fore. 

There are three settings, which means the fork can be adjusted for different surfaces. Warren found himself using the three-position control a lot.

How I tested the best gravel suspension forks

Warren rossiter – senior technical editor.

As senior technical editor at BikeRadar and Cycling Plus I’ve followed the development of gravel riding since its inception.

I first tested a thoroughbred gravel bike in the early 2010s and since then I reckon I’ve tested over 200 gravel bikes, alongside countless gravel accessories and components. 

Gravel suspension is one of the latest developments in gravel tech, and I’ve been testing the forks in this group test since March 2023. 

It’s hard to put a definitive number on it, but I’ve ridden roughly 1,000km using the forks included here. Every fork was ridden on gravel tracks, towpaths and woodland singletracks with rocks and roots.

Above all, I was looking to find which forks offered comfort and control. But I was also looking to see how well the forks negated tiring vibrations, softened the edges of jolting rocks and roots, and handled bigger hits. They needed to maintain composure on climbs and tarmac roads, too.

To understand how these forks perform, I fitted them to several gravel bikes, including a Cannondale Topstone Lab 71, Lauf Seigla and Kinesis Tripster ATR V3. 

But I didn’t do this single-handedly. I had my riding buddies trying out the forks to get a second opinion and confirm my findings. I also took them to Full Factory Suspension where Finlay Paton stripped each fork down and offered his expert opinion on its design and build.

Best gravel suspension forks buyer’s guide

Why should you use a gravel suspension fork.

The best gravel suspension forks will help make your ride smoother and potentially minimise fatigue. 

Uneven surfaces can deflect the front tyre, which puts forces into the bar, snapping it left and right, and affecting your ability to maintain speed and navigate technical terrain. Continual vibrations also lead to premature fatigue in your upper body. 

If you can’t hold the handlebar because your arms are pumped and your shoulders ache, you’ll have to stop riding.

How much travel does a gravel suspension fork have?

Suspension gravel forks typically have between 30mm and 60mm of travel.

This is significantly less than mountain bike suspension forks , which can range from 100mm to 200mm of travel. 

But the limited travel on gravel suspension forks is for good reason. Suspension on gravel bikes isn’t about clearing jumps, it’s about adding comfort and control. 

How easy is it to install a gravel bike suspension fork?

Fitting a gravel suspension fork is fairly straightforward, though ensure your frame is compatible. 

All our test forks use a tapered steerer (widening from 11⁄4in at the top to 1.5in at the bottom). 

Most rigid gravel forks measure 395mm to 405mm from axle to crown (the junction where the two ‘legs’ meet).

The average gravel suspension fork is 435mm, so even accounting for 10-15mm of sag, the stack will be higher. 

Some modern gravel bike frames are suspension-corrected, but on older frames a suspension fork will add to handlebar height and slacken the head angle, changing the bike’s handling.

Suspension terminology explained 

While mountain bikers will know suspension tech and terminology like the back of their hand, gravel riders may not be so familiar.

This list explains the key suspension terminology you need to know.

• Damping: the process of controlling a spring (using a hydraulic or mechanical system) as it compresses and rebounds.
• Rebound damping: This controls how fast or slow a fork can extend (rebound) after being compressed when hitting a bump or due to rider input (compression damping controls compression speed).
• Binding: Friction caused by flex in the system that makes it harder for the fork to compress (when the narrow upper stanchions telescope into the wider lower legs).
• Stiction: Friction caused by the fork seals, dampers, bushings, lack of lubrication etc, can make a fork feel harder to compress and/or slower to rebound.
• Lockout: Controlled by a lever on the fork or via a bar-mounted
• remote, the lockout increases the compression damping to where the fork will hardly (if at all) move through its travel.
• Blow-off valve: This unlocks a locked-out fork if it hits a large bump: handy when you forget to open it or unexpectedly meet a rough section of trail.
• Progression: How much the suspension firms up towards the end of the stroke, when the spring rate – the amount by which the spring force increases per unit increase in travel – increases near the end of the travel.
• Fork rake: The distance of the front axle in front of the steering axis – an imaginary line down the midpoint of the steerer tube.

How else can you make gravel bikes more comfortable?

The best gravel suspension forks are a pricey investment, but there are other ways to make your gravel bike a bit more comfortable.

There are other cheaper forms of gravel suspension to consider. One option is to install a suspension seatpost to absorb vibrations while in the saddle. 

A less common option is a suspension stem. The Redshift Shockstop Stem is one example that scored well in testing. It absorbs bumps via interchangeable internal elastomers. 

Installing wider gravel bike tyres is the easiest way to bring a bit more cushioning to your ride. You’ll have to check the maximum tyre clearance on your bike, but many of the latest gravel bikes can fit tyres wider than 50mm. 

You can also optimise your gravel tyre pressure to minimise vibrations. 

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GRAVEL TUNED. SMOOTHER. FASTER. MORE CONFIDENT.

The lightest suspension fork FOX has ever built, the 32 Taper-Cast Gravel Fork greatly improves rider experience, increases control, takes the edge off extended gravel rides and dramatically expands the terrain you can cover.

MORE COMFORTABLE MORE TRACTION MORE CONFIDENCE

More comfort.

The GRIP SL is an incredibly light, short travel-specific damper that not only saves weight, but provides an unparalleled ride feel in its class. Riders experience a supple stroke in the early stages of the travel with an optimized pedal-to-bump efficiency as well as a smooth blowoff force in lockout mode to reduce rider fatigue. Learn more about the new GRIP family »

PURPOSE BUILT FOR GRAVEL

The 32 Taper-Cast features a sleek drop crown profile and new knob shapes that drastically improve downtube clearance, for fitment on all frame sizes and styles. A sleek, reverse arch design further improves fitment, decreases frontal area for better aerodynamics and provides stiffness through the arch matrix design.

KABOLT THRU-AXLE

The lightweight Kabolt thru-axle together with our tapered lowers makes the 32 Taper-Cast the lightest fork FOX has ever made. The incredible 1214g weight retains functionality such as integrated fender mounts, as well as 160mm and 180mm flat mount compatibility.

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GRIP SL The GRIP SL is an incredibly light, short travel-specific damper that not only saves weight, but provides an unparalleled ride feel in its class. Riders experience a supple stroke with an optimized pedal-to-bump efficiency, as well as a smooth blowoff force in lockout mode to reduce rider fatigue.

Performance Series forks retain the same black anodized 7000 series aluminum upper tubes as Performance Elite, except paired with a GRIP damper.

MATTE BLACK

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FIT GRIP Inspired from moto, the GRIP damper uses our FIT sealed cartridge technology combined with a coil-sprung, independent floating piston.

Grip allows excess oil to purge through specially designed ports at the top of the damper to maintain consistent damping and increase durability., fork builder.

All 32 forks have adjustable air spring pressure and rebound adjust.

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The recommended settings in this tuning guide are designed to be a starting point, in order to get you out on your first ride in as few steps as possible.

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• France Tribe Sport Group [email protected] ph 33494541950
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ROCKSHOX RUDY GRAVEL SUSPENSION FORK

The allure of the open gravel road might be paradise for adventurous riders, but it still comes with its own set of tiny speed bumps. With so many gravel riders getting off-road, it was only a matter of time before we found our small-rock rhythm.

The all-new XPLR collection is designed specifically to make dirt road journeys extra efficient and more enjoyable. Suspension adds more comfort to take the edge off. It adds confidence and more control when the terrain gets challenging. And it means riding faster while maximizing your grip on rough roads. Built from the ground up to gravel, the new Rudy features enough travel to keep your ride comfortably in control when curiosity takes you off the beaten path. Matched with the fresh Reverb AXS XPLR, we’ve created a gravel specific design complete with built-in compliance to really open it up on new terrain.

Rudy XPLR is purpose-built for gravel. More grip. More control. Way more fun. Whether the gravel gets choppy, or the tarmac breaks up before you, Rudy shines when the road gets rough or the singletrack beckons. Rudy saves your body from taking a beating, you’ll ride faster, for longer, and be less fatigued. It even steers better with more precise control ensuring the front wheel doesn’t deflect off sudden hits.

Charger Race Day damper

The Charger Race Day damper is built to meet the needs of the world’s fastest cross country racers. It’s the lightest damper we’ve ever made, packed with race-winning performance and efficiency. Tuned to provide even more efficiency for the gravel rider, rock-solid lock-out, and plenty of comfort and control on the paths less pedaled. Charger Race Day is the perfect fit for Rudy.

Smoother is faster

Designed specifically for gravel and e-gravel bikes, RockShox’s new Solo Air spring redefines the way a shorter travel fork can take the edge off the road ahead. This all-new design remains sensitive and smooth through small chatter and resists harsh bottom outs with bigger hits. Solo Air helps save your wrists, hands, forearms, and sanity. Ride faster without worrying about the bumps ahead.

Put a fender in front of you

To those who don’t need a fender, we salute you. For riders who grind muddy roads all year long or need the occasional coverage, Rudy allows you to customize your fender needs to the region or season. Rudy offers full fender compatibility featuring our new hidden custom stealth stay bosses for a secure and seamless look. If a short fender is more your style, the sturdy 3-bolt premium RockShox fender looks great and fits right in place. The RockShox premium short fender will come with your new Rudy and also sold separately as a RockShox accessory.

Not just for looks

Strong, light, and plenty of style. What more could you ask for? The Rudy Ultimate features a machined and anodized crown that keeps the grams low while quality remains high.

Clearance matters

On the long unknown road to nowhere, tire clearance matters. Rudy puts space between the rubber and the bike, accommodating up to 50mm wide tires and all the mud they shed.

Rudy Ultimate XPLR

The new Rudy is a perfect match for your gravel bike. It’s energy-efficient for straightaways and offers enough travel to keep you comfortably in control when things get rough. Featuring all-new 30mm upper tubes built around the Charger Race Day damper (our lightest damper ever) and our proven SoloAir spring. Rudy offers precise steering, full or short fender compatibility, and the looks to make your road bike proud. Everything designed with the needs of gravel riders in mind.

• Purpose-built and laser-focused on gravel and e-gravel bikes • 30mm upper tubes are light and look the part • 30mm or 40mm travel options • Charger Race Day damper tuned for gravel needs with rock-solid lockout and a full range of rebound adjust • Solo Air spring perfectly tuned for shorter travel and efficiency over bumps • Short fender compatibility with a 3-bolt system • Full fender compatibility with custom stealth stay bosses • Lightweight machined and anodized crown offers a premium and durable finish • Maxima Plush damping fluid reduces friction and silences damper noise • Up to 700×50 tire clearance • Available in new Kwiqsand Signature colorway or Gloss Black • E-bike approved

Price: $799

Dropper revolution.

Like its forebear, the new Reverb AXS XPLR dropper post represents a paradigm shift for riding off the pavement. Most importantly, you no longer need to hold on for dear life. By getting the saddle out of the way, you can descend with pure confidence and control, keeping the bike nimble under you.

Built specifically for gravel

We could have made the current Reverb AXS a little smaller, but that wasn’t what gravel riders needed. The new Reverb AXS XPLR offers great performance and features all-new air only internals with built-in ride compliance called ActiveRide. Rock-solid when fully extended for max efficiency, new ActiveRide is there to take the edge off vibrations when you’re hammering it home. Tunable to a rider’s liking, ActiveRide engages the moment you dip into the seatpost’s travel. It’s there to soak up the small chatter from the road, meaning more grip and comfort while seated for the long haul. It’s a seatpost finally able to save your…

SRAM AXS compatible

Because working together takes us further. The new Reverb AXS XPLR dropper post is enabled by SRAM AXS technology, part of the ultimate personalized cockpit with next-level interaction, personalization, and connectivity across all AXS enabled components. Tap into the power of AXS.

Reverb AXS XPLR

The new Reverb AXS XPLR dropper post delivers more control, confidence, and fun on gravel roads everywhere. Getting the saddle out of the way means more room to move, saving you from awkward maneuvering and sketchy descents. We created an all-new design complete with lightweight air-only internals featuring built-in compliance we call ActiveRide. It’s like travel for your saddle. Enabled by SRAM AXS technology, Reverb AXS XPLR is part of the ultimate personalized cockpit.

• New 27.2mm Reverb AXS XPLR delivers more control, confidence, and fun for gravel • ActiveRide – Air only internals provide a fully rigid top-out position. With the touch of your AXS controller, you’ve got built-in compliance to ensure comfort and control over the roughest sections of gravel • Two travel options to choose – 50mm or 75mm • Saddle clamp options compatible with 7mm round rails, 7x9mm oval rails, and 7x10mm oval rails • Seat post length includes 400mm and 350mm (50mm drop only) • AXS Technology allows rider customization via the AXS Mobile App • AXS handlebar controls (drop or flat bar) • Shared battery with all other SRAM AXS enabled components • System is completely waterproof and dustproof to IP69K – take it anywhere • SRAM AXS battery and charger included]

Price:  $600.00

Www.sram.com.

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DIAMONDBACK HAANJO GRAVEL BIKE REVIEW

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Customer Reviews

It's no mystery that the bike industry and gravel riders specifically are skeptical of taking their gravel rides too much closer to the vintage hardtail mountain bike days. I was one of them. Being completely honest, this thing rips. I wasn't sure how long I'd keep it on. Was just scratching a curiosity itch. I can safely say this thing is staying on the bike for a while.

A good deal for the price. Need some more seat time now that the weather is improving. Debating whether to take my 4130 or 6061 on Ragbrai this year.

Have riden with this fork installed for many different rides. first ride used recommended air pressure , kept blowing through travel. next ride aired up ten psi, what a differance. loved it! this fork loves single track. For the price, cant beat it!

Great fork, improves the ride of the bike by an order of magnitude. I definitely recommend it.

State Bicycle Co. - All-Road Suspension Gravel Fork (40mm) Elevate Your Gravel Adventure!

👀 See What the Experts Have to Say:👀

• Bike Radar: "State Bicycle Co’s All-Road Suspension Fork offers budget bump absorbance"
• Gravel Cyclist: "State Bicycle Co. introduces the All-Road Suspension Fork @ $450 MSRP / $350 with a Bike"
• Bikepacking: "The State All-Road Suspension Fork features 40mm of budget travel"
• Video Review - ACE Bike Media: "ALL NEW Suspension Gravel Fork from STATE BICYCLE CO."

Take A First Look at the Fork In Action:

Enhance your gravel biking experience with State Bicycle Co.'s All-Road Suspension Gravel Fork (40mm). This sleek, lightweight fork at 1600g (uncut) offers 40mm of travel for added comfort on rough terrain without compromising speed. With easy installation, "slack" geometry for stability, and an unbeatable price starting at $450, it's the ultimate choice for versatile and affordable gravel adventures. The 40mm travel strikes the perfect balance between comfort and speed. Enjoy enhanced cushioning on uneven surfaces without sacrificing your need for speed.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Ride Quality & Benefits:
• Improved Comfort: Absorb small bumps and reduce rider fatigue.
• Enhanced Traction: Maintain control on uneven terrain.
• Smoother Handling : Navigate challenging sections with ease.
• Reduced Hand and Arm Fatigue: Enjoy long rides in comfort.
• Increased Versatility: Conquer various terrains with confidence.
• Confidence in Descents: Stay in control on gravel and mixed surfaces
• Geo Changes for Enhanced Performance: Our fork, especially when combined with the headset lower, introduces a "slack" geometry that brings several advantages:
• Stability at High Speeds: Tackle downhill and high-speed rides with confidence.
• Improved Descending: Maintain control on steep, technical descents.
• Better Handling Over Rough Terrain: Glide over obstacles smoothly.
• Enhanced Downhill Performance: Excel in steep descents.
• MATERIAL: 6000 series / 7075 series alloy tubes w/ 6000 series alloy steer tube
• STEER:  1 1/8" - 1 1/2" tapered steer tube
• DROPOUT: 1 2*100 THRU-AXLE (M12 Thread Pitch)
• BRAKES:  Flat Mount Disc-Brake Interface
• Weight: 1600g (uncut)
• AXLE TO CROWN LENGTH:   440mm
• COMPATIBLE WITH 650B AND 700C WHEELS
• MAX TIRE SIZE: 2.3"
• DIAMETER OF FORK STANCHIONS: 30mm
• STEER TUBE LENGTH: 280mm (uncut)

What's Included:

• All-Road Suspension Gravel Fork (40mm travel)
• Flat Mount Brake Adapter and Hardware (brake caliper hardware not included)
• Thru Axle ( M12*P1.0*150mm. )

Compatibility Notes:

• Current 4130 All-Road owners will require EC44/40 headset lower

Check out the product manual here .

Risk-Free Purchase - State Bicycle Co. offers  FREE EXCHANGES*  -If this item doesn't work out, we'll send you a return label and exchange for free!  

Will this work with my bike? Check out our Parts Compatibility Chart to find out which parts will work with your State Bicylce Co. bike!

RETURNS & Exchanges: State Bicycle Co. proudly offers FREE RETURNS for EXCHANGES - please see details of our   Return Policy here .

SHIPPING:    Most in-stock items ship within  1   business day!   Tracking information is provided upon shipment. Learn more about our Shipping Policy

WARRANTY:   5-year Warranty on all bicycle frames 1-year Warranty non-consumable parts 2-year Warranty on Essor USA products

Warranty activated only after you submit proof of professional assembly .

SUPPORT:   We pride ourselves on having a friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Contact Us and we'd be happy to help you out in any way we can.

Newsletter subscribers are always the first to know...

Customer care, state bicycle co., want to shop local.

© 2024 State Bicycle Co..

Gravel bike suspension: Everything you need to know

For hardcore gravel riding, there are several suspension options to reduce fatigue and empower your riding

Gravel bikes are great, but even the best carbon or steel frames and forks can only do so much to mitigate terrain harshness. With the best gravel bike riders regularly venturing onto routes where corrugations are a reality and singletrack diversions are on offer, ride quality matters a lot.

There are a few ways that gravel bikes try and tame the harshness of rough roads. Boutique steel frame builders can weld thin-wall tubes in a manner that absorbs terrain vibration. The same principle applies to carbon-fiber frames – where composite engineers can orientate the fiber structure and layup for superior terrain absorption.

Having the best gravel bike tires is the other element where easy gains are made in terms of ride quality. Gravel bikes have evolved to a point where the frame and fork clearances are way beyond that of a CX bike. This allows for the use of 650b tires up to 2.1-inches wide if you want to maximize that low tire pressure benefit on a gravel ride.

However, despite clever frame/fork construction and larger volume tires, one of the best ways to increase comfort and control for gravel bike riders is by adding suspension.

Helping the handlebar

Specialized has been a strong proponent of the gravel bike movement and its Diverge range offers the Future Shock.

It is a wonderfully simple idea: add 20mm of vertical path, coil-spring suspension between the head tube and handlebar. Most gravel bike riders don’t require a lot of suspension travel, so a low-maintenance solution with 20mm of terrain absorption is ideal.

Specialized’s Future Shock is sealed within the steerer, and a dust and splash cover drapes over it, keeping environmental contaminants out.

Moving suspension action from the axle to above the head tube is not new. Flex stems have been around for decades, although design and performance haven't always been delivered. That said, there are modern versions of the flex stem from brands like Redshift that offer decent performance.

BMC has a similar positioned suspension design that places the 20mm of suspension action below the head tube. While this is similar to the Specialized Future Shock, because it's under the frame means it actually performs in the same manner as a traditional telescopic suspension fork.

Short travel forks 

Although early gravel bikes were of little interest to mountain bike suspension brands like RockShox, Fox and SR Suntour, that has all changed of late. As the gravel bike segment continues to grow and innovate, product planners at the anchor suspension brands have realized the marketability of short-travel forks.

There are now an array of options for those gravel bike riders who want the adjustability of a traditional coil- or air-sprung fork, with external configuration dials and switches.

RockShox has introduced the Rudy Ultimate XPLR , with an air-spring and top-dial lockout system. The Rudy Ultimate gravel fork is available with 30 or 40mm of travel.

Most core mountain bike suspension suppliers now market a short-travel gravel fork in the 30- to 60mm range. Fox has the 32 Taper-Cast , SR Suntour has the GVX and there is MRP’s Baxter, too. Even Cannondale produces a 30mm version of its Lefty fork, for gravel bike use, called the Oliver.

These forks are designed with an axle-to-crown height that doesn’t negatively influence the geometry of a gravel bike. That’s an important detail, as gravel bikes are mostly intended for rigid forks of a specific axle-to-crown size, that remains fixed and never sags.

If you are someone who doesn’t shy away from those occasional singletrack detours on a gravel bike ride, the short-travel air-sprung fork is a great option.

The low-maintenance leaf spring

If you like the idea of having suspension but don't want the added weight and service complications of a full suspension fork, Iceland’s Lauf has been a leader in low-maintenance designs for years.

The company works magic with advanced composites to create a fork that delivers 30mm of natural feel suspension action, without any oil compression circuit or air-spring.

Horizontal blades function as a traditional leaf spring system and they never require any maintenance. To prove its durability, Lauf has successfully tested its gravel bike fork design through 1.5 million compression and rebound cycles.

The Lauf forks are true fit-and-forget gravel bike suspension components, however by forgoing complicated valves and compression circuitry they don't offer any tuning potential for riders who wish to change the ride feel of the suspension.

What about the rear?

If suspension companies are designing gravel bike forks, what about the rear suspension?

The issue isn’t creating slim and lightweight short-travel gravel bike shocks. But rather, the complexity of frame design to enable their use. Shaping two separate triangles and joining them with links adds cost, weight and another layer of maintenance for gravel bike owners. 

Cannondale offers a dual-suspension gravel bike option with the Topstone. It has a carbon-fiber chainstay that can flex, paired with a seat tube pivot, making for 30mm of rear-suspension action.

The most sensible gravel bike configuration that shadows the idea of a dual-suspension mountain bike is a softail. BMC’s MTT rear triangle design, which is used on the URS gravel bike, uses an elastomer at the seatstay and seat tube junction. A self-lubricating bushing enables 30mm of rear triangle movement, supported by chainstays with engineered composite flex.

There are mountain bike-inspired suspension systems as well. Most notably the Niner MCR 9 RDO which uses a linkage-driven air shock to deliver 50mm of rear-wheel travel, truly blurring the lines between gravel bikes and the best lightweight mountain bikes .

Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born journalist who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his trail running. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. As well as Bike Perfect , Lance has written for MBR.com , Off-Road.cc and Cycling News.

Rapha Explore Shorts review – versatile gravel/MTB baggies

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The New Fox Taper-Cast Gravel Fork has up to 50mm of Travel

Previous Dispatch From Tue Apr 5, 2022

Collective Reward #117: Coffee Outside Starter Packs

Created in response to modern gravel bike designs, the fully tunable new Fox 32 Taper-Cast Gravel Fork is their lightest suspension fork yet. Check out all the details here…

Modern gravel bikes are more capable than ever, and those riding them are pushing well beyond what most of us imagine when we picture gravel roads. Within the last few years, we’ve seen gravel suspension fork released by Suntour, MRP, and Rockshox, so it was only a matter of time before Fox joined in with the announcement of the Fox 32 Taper-Cast Gravel Fork. It replaces the old 32 AX with new tapered legs, more tire clearance, and an optimized short travel air spring.

The Fox 32 Taper-Cast Gravel Fork is equipped with Fox’s proven FIT4 or GRIP damper, maintaining the same tunability options found in their mountain bike fork lineup. It has a drop crown profile and new knob shapes that they claim drastically improve downtube clearance and widen compatibility. The new fork sports integrated fender mounts, 160mm and 180mm flat mount compatibility, and adjustable travel options up to 50mm. Here are some additional specs that Fox included in the press release.

• 40mm and 50mm travel options
• FIT4 and Grip damper options
• 12 x 100mm Kabolt axle
• Flat mount 160 and 180mm rotor compatible
• Max tire size 700c x 50mm
• Optimized for 700c – not 650b compatible
• 1 1/2” to 1 1/8” tapered steer tube
• 45mm and 50mm offset options
• Axle-to-crown: 435.5mm – 445.5mm
• Weight: 1226g

The Fox 32 Taper-Cast Gravel Fork costs between $769 and $949 USD, depending on model. See more at RideFox.com .

Related Content

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

The New MRP Baxter Fork Has Bottle Mounts…

New SR Suntour GVX Gravel Suspension Fork

RockShox Releases Rudy XPLR Gravel Fork and 27.2mm Reverb AXS

Complete List of Forks with Bottle Cage Mounts (Utility Forks)

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Interested in a Gravel Suspension Fork? Read This First.

Before you invest in a gravel suspension fork, read this.

Can I install a gravel suspension fork on my bike?

Before you can even consider what might happen to your bike if you install the suspension fork, you need to determine if you can even install the fork into your existing frame. The Fox 32TC and RockShox Rudy only come with a 1-1/8-inch upper to a 1-1/2-inch lower tapered steerer, so your bike will need a headtube compatible with that standard. (RockShox makes custom forks for Canyon that fit the Grizl’s1 ¼-inch to 1 ½-inch steerer, but those forks are not available aftermarket.

But even if you can physically fit a suspension fork into your frame, that’s not a guarantee it’s okay to run a gravel fork. A suspension fork is a longer lever, increasing the forces on the head tube beyond what the designers considered in the development and engineering of the frame. I first installed my Fox 32 TC test fork on a Trek Checkpoint 9.9 SLR , but when I shared a picture with someone at Trek, they wrote back and said, “We don’t recommend the use of a suspension fork on the SLR. This is due to frontal energy capacity of the frames – longer fork equal more energy in a curb-type impact.” So, you should check with the frame’s manufacturer to make sure your frame can handle the force of a longer fork.

Your existing front brake hose may be too short because a gravel suspension fork is longer than most rigid gravel forks. Unfortunately, you’ll need a new hose, which means you’ll need to fill and bleed your braking system and re-wrap your handlebars.

What will installing a gravel suspension fork do to my bike?

Assuming you clear the hurdles above, a suspension fork is longer than a typical rigid gravel fork, creating a few items to consider.

A longer fork raises the bike’s front end and changes its steering geometry. I’ll use the new Specialized Crux as an example: The stock fork’s axle-to-crown length is 401mm: The Fox 32 TC’s axle-to-crown is 435.5mm (40mm travel) or 445.5mm (50mm travel). Subtract about 20% travel for sag, and the 32TC is 26.5mm or 34.5mm longer than the Crux’s stock fork.

A 20mm increase in fork length reduces head angle by about one degree. Calculating this out a bit, a 54cm Crux has a 71.5-degree head angle, resulting in 67mm of trail with its stock fork (401mm axle to crown and 50mm offset). With a 40mm-travel and 50mm offset 32 TC installed, the Crux’s (with the fork at sag/ride height) head angle would go from 71.5 to 70.25 degrees, and the trail would go from 67mm to around 75mm. Use the TC’s shorter, 45mm, offset option, and the head angle remains the same, but the trail jumps to 80mm. More trail usually means heavier/slower steering and a more stable feel. If your head isn’t hurting enough, consider that a suspension fork’s length constantly changes as it cycles through its travel, which means head angle and trail also change as the fork goes up and down.

Steering geometry isn’t the only thing that changes when adding a longer fork. Increasing fork length will also raise a bike’s bottom bracket and lengthen its wheelbase, altering its handling. Add a longer suspension fork to your bike, and you can expect its steering to feel heavier and slower, and the bike will feel more stable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—you may even prefer the handling with the longer fork. And humans are adaptable: Your bike will feel different at first, but you’ll quickly acclimatize to it.

Fit also changes. A longer fork slackens the seat tube angle, increases stack, and shortens reach. Typically, you can offset reach and stack changes by removing a head tube spacer and dropping the stem or by changing stem angle and/or length. But these changes will not correct steering feel and bike handling.

How much do gravel suspension forks weigh?

The top-of-the-line Fox AX Taper Cast Factory weighs 1,265 grams. A RockShox Rudy comes in around 1,290 grams. That’s quite a bit heavier than a rigid gravel fork. Enve’s Gravel Disc fork, for example, weighs around 530 grams. That’s a 735 gram, or about 1.6 pounds, difference. That’s a lot. So if you’re very concerned about weight, you may want to sit out this first generation of gravel-specific suspension forks. But expect fork weights to come down with future generations.

How aerodynamic are gravel suspension forks?

We’ve not seen any definitive wind tunnel data, but gravel suspension forks have larger legs, larger crowns, and more frontal area than rigid forks, suggesting more significant drag. Perhaps someday we’ll see aero gravel suspension forks, but that day seems a long way off.

Can I mount anything to a gravel suspension fork?

Both the Fox and RockShox forks have fender mounts. But they do not have any rack mounts or mounts for a bottle or cargo cages. So if you want to carry additional cargo on your gravel suspension fork, you’ll need to use straps or clamps but be warned that they’ll mar the forks finish and may void its warranty.

What Gravel Frames are suspension ready?

You have a few options if you’re itching to get on a 32 TC or Rudy as soon as possible. One is to just shove it in an existing frame (assuming a compatible head tube), deal with the handling and fit changes, and hope the frame can take the increased load of the longer fork. That’s not a great option, though.

Another option is to work with a custom builder and have them build you a bike around a longer suspension fork. You’ll get a sweet bike, but an expensive one, and you’ll need to wait a while.

If you’re looking for a stock suspension-ready gravel frame, your options are limited. Ideally, you’ll want to find a gravel frame designed around a fork with a 420mm to 430mm axle to crown length. But I can tell you there aren’t many—I did a lot of research trying to find a suspension-ready frame to install my test fork into, and I dug up only a few options.

I eventually wound up with Otso’s Waheela C . Its rigid fork has a 420mm axle to crown length (47mm offset), which is 7mm shorter than a 40mm travel 32TC at sag. I’ve noticed little difference in fit or the steering feel of the bike with either the rigid fork or the 32 TC. This frame also has dropper post compatibility, excellent tire clearance, and adjustable geometry with chips in the rear dropout. I am absolutely in love with this frame with the 32TC on the front: I’ll post a review of the bike late this month.

Cannondale’s Topstone is another option. Again, no surprise here as some models come with Cannondale’s Lefty Oliver suspension fork (420mm axle-to-crown for the 700c-compatible fork).

Lauf’s True Grit frame is a more boutique option, though it’s designed around Lauf’s 30mm travel True Grit fork, which has a 412mm effective length (418mm minus six millimeters of sag), so adding the 32TC to this bike will raise the front end a bit.

Salsa recently launched the Stormchaser SUS, an aluminum bike that comes stock with a 40mm travel RockShox Rudy. Salsa sells this frameset, with 420mm axle to crown rigid fork, for $1,299.

And if you’re looking to go full tilt, Niner’s MCR full suspension gravel bike is, of course, suspension-corrected and suspension ready.

Evil’s Chamois Hagar seems like a natural platform for a gravel suspension fork with its mountain-bike-influenced geometry. But while the CH’s is built around a 428mm long fork, the stock fork’s offset is 57mm. With the Fox and RockShox gravel forks having a maximum of 50mm of offset, the Hagar’s already generous 93mm trail—typical gravel bikes have 60-70mm trail—will get even longer, and the result might be a gravel bike that’s too stable, and therefore feels sluggish. I did check in with Evil, and they told me that they’ve ridden the Chamois Hagar with suspension forks and not found the handling change detrimental. However, they did say that the size and shape of Fox’s crown doesn’t blend well with the frame, “These new gravel forks look like a toothpick sticking off the front of a Harley when mounted to the Chamois Hagar.”

Gravel Suspension Forks—Chicken or Egg?

There is a reasonably simple way to make it so replacing a gravel bike’s rigid fork with a suspension fork doesn’t alter its handling or fit and ensures the frame can take the loads imparted by a longer fork: Design the bike around a rigid fork that’s about the same length as a suspension fork. This is called suspension ready or suspension corrected geometry. At this moment, however, there are not many suspension-ready gravel frames.

Gravel suspension forks are, all things considered, a new thing—with unknown customer demand—and weren’t on most designers’ radar when their current gravel frames were in development. And because gravel suspension forks (mostly) didn’t exist, there were no specifications to design around. So, frames were planned around the shortest possible forks—just long enough to get the required tire clearance— which is the most efficient design for a rigid fork.

With the two most prominent players in bicycle suspension—Fox and RockShox—bringing gravel suspension forks to market, designers can take longer forks into account when designing their upcoming gravel frames. I suspect we’ll see several gravel bikes launching in the reasonably near future that either come stock with a 32TC or Rudy or have longer stock rigid forks so the customer can swap in a suspension fork without altering the frame’s fit and geometry.

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

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The Cane Creek Invert is a 990g Gravel Suspension Fork With No Damper

The Cane Creek Invert is an upside-down gravel suspension fork that’s been tuned specifically for fast gravel roads.

It has been designed by Cane Creek to be especially active over high-frequency dirt road chatter, which should smoothen out surface variations, and result in you enjoying bumpy roads that little bit more.

While the main purpose of the Invert is to improve the comfort and control of a gravel bike, it also has a better aesthetic compared to most gravel suspension forks available. The Invert’s thicker shape at the crown blends into the head tube, and the thinner shape at the bottom blends nicely into the dropouts.

Today, we’ll be covering all aspects of this unique carbon fork in a series of frequently asked questions.

What Are The Specs of the Cane Creek Invert Fork?

• Wheel Size: 700C
• Spring Type: Air
• Offset: 45mm
• Thru Axle: 12 x 100mm
• Weight: 990 to 1,113 grams
• Suspension Travel: 30 or 40mm
• Axle to Crown: 425 or 435 mm
• Steerer Tube Size: Tapered 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2”
• Brake Rotor: Flat Mount 160mm, or 180mm with an adapter
• Maximum Tire Width: 50mm (2.0”) with 6mm of clearance on either side

What is the Benefit of an Inverted Suspension Fork Design?

Inverted suspension forks can have a very high stiffness-to-weight ratio because the thickest and stiffest portion of the fork is located where leverage is greatest – near the head tube.

In addition, the seals and bushings are located at the bottom of the upper legs, which means they are always sitting in oil. This keeps things running smoothly, and the upside-down design also ensures that gravity can’t work any grit inside the sliding components.

There’s also less unsprung mass with inverted forks. This means that the section of the fork that’s constantly moving up and down is as light as possible, resulting in the fork being extra responsive to bumps.

An upside-down fork also has a better aesthetic for modern gravel bikes. Most gravel suspension forks look like trimmed-down mountain bike forks. In contrast, the Invert’s thicker shape at the top blends into the head tube, and the thinner shape at the bottom blends into the dropouts. It’s certainly more elegant than most suspension forks (except for the HiRide Sterra).

Aren’t Inverted Suspension Fork Stanctions Susceptible to Damage?

The stanchions are low to the ground and could be susceptible to damage should you fall sideways onto a rock. But the official word from Cane Creek is that they never had a single instance of scratching through the development process.

How is the Cane Creek Invert Fork Manufactured?

The structure itself is quite impressive.

To keep the fork less than one kilogram (2.2lbs), the fork uppers consist of a massive carbon fibre crown and steerer, which are both stiff and lightweight. The carbon components are then bonded to two aluminum upper legs post-molding. Aluminium is used in this instance to get the machining to the necessary manufacturing tolerances.

The fork lowers (stanctions and dropouts) are forged and machined out of single pieces of aluminium.

What is the Suspension Travel of the Cane Creek Invert?

The Invert has different suspension travel, depending on the model you choose: Cane Creek Invert CS – 40mm travel Cane Creek Invert SL – 30mm travel

Unfortunately, you must decide what travel amount you want at the time of purchase as both forks use different lengths of air springs.

How Much Does the Invert Gravel Fork Weigh Compared to Other Forks?

The Invert SL is 990 grams (2.2 lbs), which is just 470 grams (1 lb) heavier than a rigid carbon fork of similar length. With its longer travel and lockout switch, the Cane Creek Invert CS weighs in at 1,113 grams (2.5 lbs).

To put these numbers in perspective, here are some other suspension fork weights: Lauf Grit SL – 960 grams Cane Creek Invert SL – 990 grams Cane Creek Invert CS – 1,113 grams Fox 32 TC – 1,226 grams HiRide Sterra – 1,300 grams Rockshox Rudy – 1,317 grams Cannondale Lefty Oliver – 1,340 grams KS GTC – 1,385 grams MRP Baxter – 1,420 grams State All-Road – 1,600 grams SR Suntour GVX – 1,628 grams

Does the Invert Gravel Suspension Fork Have A Lock Out Switch?

The Cane Creek Invert CS has a button at the crown that engages a firmer suspension setting. This is not a hard lockout, it just firms things up a lot.

It’s worth noting that it’s not possible to add a climbing switch to the SL as the fork upper is different.

Why Does The Invert Have No Damper?

The Cane Creek Invert doesn’t use a damper as it’s (a) short travel, and (b) primarily designed for non-technical terrain.

Suspension dampers control the speed at which your front wheel moves up or down. They prevent oscillations and movements by dissipating energy from the spring inside the fork.

Dampers tend to be essential on long-travel suspension forks (eg. 140mm) but are not strictly necessary with short-travel forks. In fact, when a fork doesn’t use a damper, you (the rider) can function as the damper on moderately rough, non-technical terrain.

Our Comfort Lab tests consistently find that the least-damped products are usually the most effective at reducing high-frequency vibration over fast, repetitive bumps. This is because the spring can move up and down almost unimpeded when there is no damper, maximising rider comfort at the handlebar.

The best comfort-improving products we’ve tested include the Kinekt suspension stem (no damping) and Specialized FutureShock (minimal damping).

Can You Ride The Invert Fork On Singletrack?

The downside to not having a damper is that the fork cannot remove as much energy after bigger impacts. This alone makes this fork better for gravel roads rather than bumpy singletrack trails.

You can expect this fork to feel a bit less ‘planted’ on rougher terrain compared to a suspension fork with a damper.

Does the Cane Creek Invert Top Out?

BikeRumor reports that after bunny hopping over an obstacle the “fork rebounds at full speed” and that they could “hear and feel the top out”. It didn’t seem to be a big deal to them, but it was “definitely noticeable”.

How Do You Change the Spring Rate?

You can change the spring rate using a standard shock pump. Cane Creek recommends starting with 95% of your body weight (lbs/psi). That means a 200 lb rider would require 190 psi.

Are There Any Other Adjustments You Can Make?

There is no compression or rebound speed adjustment. But you can adjust the progressivity of the spring.

Three volume spacers can changed inside the fork depending on how quickly you want the firmness to ramp up before the fork bottoms out. These should be changed per the surface roughness of the roads you ride, and your riding style.

More aggressive riders will likely want more volume spacers for more progressivity.

What is the Price of the Cane Creek Invert Suspension Fork?

Invert CS with the climb switch and 40mm travel: US $1,199 / AU $2,034 / £1,200 / €TBC Invert SL with no climb switch and 30mm travel: US $1,099 / AU $1848 / £1,100 / €TBC

What is the Maximum Rider Weight?

You can weigh up to 113kg/250lbs and use the Cane Creek Invert suspension fork.

Does the Cane Creek Invert Gravel Fork Require Servicing?

The Invert requires regular maintenance like most suspension forks.

Cane Creek recommends replacing the oil inside the fork every 50 hours of use. This can be done at home with a basic 12-notch, 46mm bottom bracket spanner tool (Race Face Cinch or SRAM DUB). The service procedure involves draining the oil and wiping everything clean, which supposedly takes minutes. Each leg requires just 5 ml of 15 wt oil.

Every 100 hours Cane Creek recommends a full rebuild. This must be done by Cane Creek, or at one of their service centres located all around the globe.

What’s the Warranty on Cane Creek Suspension Forks?

The warranty lasts two years from the date of purchase, and it covers materials and workmanship. Like other suspension products, by not performing regular services you can void the warranty.

Where is the Cane Creek Invert Manufactured?

Production parts are made in Taiwan before being sent back and assembled at their facility in Fletcher, North Carolina (USA).

What’s The Axle-To-Crown Length of the Invert Fork?

This fork is longer than many carbon rigid gravel forks.

The Axle-to-Crown (ATC) is 425mm for the Invert SL (30mm travel) and 435mm for the Invert CS (40mm travel).

If you install Invert on a bike with an ATC of less than 420mm, be aware that the fork will raise the front end of the bike, shorten the effective reach to the handlebars, and slacken the head tube angle.

If your bike has a very low ATC (less than 400mm), the Invert SL will affect your bike’s geometry less as it’s the shortest-length fork.

What Gravel Bikes Are Suspension-Corrected For the Invert Fork?

For a list of suspension-corrected gravel bikes, click HERE .

What Gravel Frames Fit the Invert Fork?

The Cane Creek Invert fork fits gravel frames with a standard tapered 1-1/8” to 1-1/2” fork. Most gravel bikes in 2024 are compatible with standard tapered forks.

When Will The Cane Creek Invert Be Available?

Cane Creek says the Invert fork will be available from June/July 2024.

• cane creek invert
• gravel suspension fork

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FOX gets RAD on prototype reverse arch, short-travel gravel bike suspension fork!

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Canadian mountain biker Geoff Kabush just shared the prototype reverse arch FOX RAD short-travel gravel suspension fork he’s been testing around Moab, UT. It looks nothing like the Fox AX gravel forks we’ve seen in recent years, but reminds us (and many of his fellow MTB pros) of decades-old mountain bike suspension designs from the likes of Manitou & RockShox. And with a key Answer patent set to run out this year, we have a pretty good idea on how soon this thing could make it to market…

FOX RAD prototype reverse arch, short-travel gravel suspension fork

We don’t know a ton of concrete details about the Fox R.A.D. prototype gravel fork, but we do know that Kabush has been riding in the Utah desert on his OPEN WI.DE. in an FKT attempt around the 100 mile White Rim trail loop and 140mi Kokopelli Trail . Most often completed on a mountain bike, Kabush seems to have opted for a lighter weight setup with 700x40mm Maxxis Receptor semi slick gravel tires … and this 30mm travel reverse arch Fox RAD prototype.

While we wanted to believe that R.A.D. stood for Reverse Arch Design, it is in fact the name of Fox’s prototype division Racing Application Development. That’s the same division that developed the Open Project that became the 40mm travel AX Adventure Cross gravel fork , but this is something altogether different…

Tech details

Without an official statement from Fox yet, Kabush’s close-up spy shot gives us plenty to work with, so why do we think this fork gets just 30mm of travel?

Based on the 32mm stanchion AX with 40mm of travel, this definitely looks like it has less slider exposed. If it is also 32mm stanchions, it seems like there is about 30mm of exposed tube between the main seal and the forged crown, which is angled to provide the fork offset.

Another standout feature is the dramatically tapered fork legs. Somewhat like a smoother transition version of Step-Cast , the legs appear to taper in several dimensions to a slim thru-axle dropout.

We can also glimpse on the non-driveside that it fits a flat mount disc brake. Based on the XTR rotor shaping we know it is a 160mm rotor, and it looks like caliper is in the lower position on the fork leg, suggesting compatibility with 160 or 180mm rotors.

Reverse arch patent?

Most notably of all though is of course the reverse arch design, which was always said to offer an excellent balance of stiffness at low weight, but isn’t that patented? Yes, but there’s the trick. Answer (which later included Manitou , now owned by Hayes ) filed their reverse arch suspension fork patent on October 17, 2001. That means, that US patent #6607185B2 is set to expire in October of this year.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Geoff Kabush (@geoffkabush)

That doesn’t mean that Fox is going to start selling you reverse arch gravel forks start this fall, but they could…

rideFOX.com

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com .

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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I wish I worked in marketing for Manitou when Fox releases this. I would build an entire marketing campaign around this.

Maybe it’s the angle of the photo, but the reverse arch looks like it can get really close to the downtube when the fork is fully compressed.

I think it’s time Cannondale, and Action Tec bring back their below the headtube suspension. I rode a Cannondale road bike in the mid to late 90’s that had 30-40mm of travel under the headtube, old timers certainly remember this design. I also had a custom steel Curtlo frame with the Action-Tec headtube shock, I can’t recall travel, 60-80mm I think, and it was awesome. Rock solid, light, and with steel fork legs and steerer, custom builders could easily incorporate it. This would be great for gravel bikes. Many of them have long headtubes anyway, so you’d lose very little to just doing it with a carbon frame.

Think that was their Silk Road model. Pretty far ahead of its time. Around 1998?

Never knew the name. I borrowed it on a group road ride, the only road ride I’ve done in 30 years actually. Ny buddy owned a Cannondale dealer and asked if I would go. He knew I was a mtbr and let me ride the bike. I’ve wanted one like it for years. Was seamless, light, and really worked well. Seems like a no brained for gravel bikes, and, fat bikes too. The Action Tec shock was solid as a rock. Would make a great fat bike system. Hanenbrink had a beach fat bike 30 years ago with a similar system.

I had a Cannondale XS800 cross bike that had 25 mm of travel with headshok. It was perfect for gravel. Rode it in Iron Cross in 2006. Just enough travel for bumpy rutted gravel roads and complete lockout. No proprietary front hub required. I sold that bike a couple years later and have regretted it ever since.

Other designs have shorter axle-to-crown heights. People are fickle, and they want their road-ish bike to look as much like one as possible.

Cannondale bring back Headshock

Yes! Absolutely! Amazing short travel forks- sensitive, supple, light, torsionally rigid, easy access lockout switch, upgradeable internals.

You don’t invest in tooling for molds if you don’t intend to bring the product to market. Now the Manitou haters are gonna have to pick their feet out of their teeth. It will be interesting to see if they take the reverse arch to their MTB line as well.

Ride a gravel suspension fork and you’ll see 30mm isn’t a whole hell of a lot for the weight you add. It isn’t worth it. Isn’t worth the tooling and all the other hassles.

How did Answer get their patent, as Pace in England produced RC35 reverse arch forks from 1992?

US patent most likely

All the Manitou fanatics will say l told you so! Its only a matter of time before the competition uses the reverse arch

DT Swiss has also been producing reverse arch forks for years…

do they sell them in the US where the Answer patent is valid?

Why not do a reverse arch, and a forward arch? That’s three times as many arches!

Look up Magura’s offerings from ten years ago Tony.

and before you know you’ll be rock’n 100mm….

Let me know when they release the Arch Deluxe.

While they’re using expired patents, they might consider copying Manitou’s awesome Hexlock thru-axle.

There’s at least ten bikes in Cannondale’s current range that have the HeadShock suspension. None of those are in the MTB, race or gravel lineups thouhg. Seems like a no-brainer for gravelbikes.

I used to work in Marketing for Manitou, this makes sense but they would only give you $20 to pull it off.

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ThudGlove – Short Travel – Black – .ST41112

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Protect your Thudbuster ST or LT with this easy-to-install neoprene cover for all-weather riding. Fasten it over the seatpost’s mechanical parts to keep pivots in prime condition, reducing maintenance and extending the life of the elastomers. The durable ThudGlove is built to last long like your Thudbuster, and its reflective patch enhances visibility for safer rides day and night.

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1 review for ThudGlove – Short Travel – Black – .ST41112

Fits like a glove!!

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Hello, we do not make a eeSilk post cover, the Thudglove ST will fit the eeSilk+, however, it is not specifically made for it.

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