Effectively, the seat tube acts as a leaf spring, giving a maintenance-free 30mm travel at the rear end. $(".slick-prev").css("display", "none"); England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 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 best gravel suspension isn't there to turn your gravel bike into a mountain bike. variableWidth: true Integrated frame suspension, short-travel forks, bouncy stems, squishy seatposts and headset springs: theres now a growing number of suspension options on the market, from new gravel bikes that integrate suspension to aftermarket components. Oversize Charges
For hardcore gravel riding, there are several suspension options to reduce fatigue and empower your riding. dots: false, All bikes are built, tested, tuned, and ready to ride upon shipment. Is steel still real? loadSeatpost(null); Highlights BallisTec carbon frame with Kingpin suspension / Lefty Oliver Carbon gravel fork, 30mm travel SRAM Force/X01 Eagle eTap AXS HRD 12-speed group / HollowGram 23 carbon wheels A rigid gravel fork tends to be under 400mm while many of the gravel suspension forks are in the range of 430mm. The shortest in this comparison was Argon 18 fork with 390 mm legs. At this point, the only fork that is competitive with rigid options in terms of weight is Laufs Grit, which relies on un-damped glass fiber leaf springs. Based on the 32mm stanchion AX with 40mm of travel, this definitely looks like it has less slider exposed. $("#sendEmail").click(function(){ 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. 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. 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. } 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. WebLAUF Carbon Suspension fork , Bottom out weight 70kg - load weight 120kg. That original fork did the job but had a lot of downsides and now Fox is back with the 32 Taper Cast. 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. Eco stands for Enhanced Compliance Offset and means that fork blades move forward to provide extra vertical compliance for a more comfortable ride. Let's dig into the advantages and disadvantages of gravel suspension. // ]]> Initially arriving in the market on the 2016 Cannondale Slate, the single sided fork later got an update for the Topstone Lefty. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Our testers have been really impressed by bikes such as the Lauf Seigla and Cannondale Topstone Carbon, and they shouldnt be overlooked if youre in the market for a new gravel bike. It was the most compliant fork on the fast gravel route (beating Argons 18 fork by 1,4%) and, what was even more astonishing, only 1,3% less compliant on a bumpy forest route than the best in that department, Lauf Grit SL fork. WebLefty Oliver suspension fork is built for gravel and scales in as one of the lightest gravel suspension forks on the market. Despite the fact that elite gravel racers are faster with a rigid bike, most people get faster when they are more comfortable and stable. } Giant, the world leader in cycling technology, has introduced an all-new range of gravel bikes featuring front suspension. slidesToShow: 1, If youre riding a full-suspension bike, the fork and rear shock need to work together as a system to give you a smooth ride. Making rides more fun: an interview with Calvin Collander, design engineer at Cirrus Cycles (Kinekt suspension stem and seatpost). The RockShox Reverb AXS XPLR dropper post also offers suspension. XPLR brings you gearing that feels natural both on and off road. 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. 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. Rides: Cannondale Topstone Lefty, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx. It shines on the descents and over rough surfaces. WebGravel Bike Brake Type: Disc Brake Mechanical Suspension Type: No Suspension Model: Marin Gestalt X10 Material: Aluminum Number of Speeds: 10 Speed Vintage: No Frame Size: 56 cm 2022 Marin Gestalt X10 56cm Aluminum Gravel Bike Carbon Fork Disc Brake Price : 1,499.00 Ends on : N/A BUY NOW! And all of this is accomplished with very low fork weight and very high stiffness. Katherine Moore is Dartmoor-based gravel and bikepacking expert who judges her rides by stoke level, rather than speed. The issue isnt creating slim and lightweight short-travel gravel bike shocks. Vibration-dampning magic or over-engineering: all you need to know about gravel bike suspension options. While the Corona store is open, they will NOT be facilitating online order pickups.
"); BMC claims this can reduce front-end suspension by up to 46 per cent, allowing you to run slightly higher tyre pressures, should you wish. if(window.innerWidth < 600){ Flex stems have been around for decades, although design and performance haven't always been delivered. The lightest model is said to weigh 12.6kg. } Hardtails come with either suspension or rigid forks, a suspension fork adds comfort and control however if the terrain is smooth enough, swapping to a rigid fork can save weight and add extra mounting points. Will the Rudy make it? $("#amount").val(urlParams.get("amt")); If youre considering buying a gravel bike and you know that suspension is something youd like to try, check out the latest builds that feature in-built suspension. The single-bladed Lefty Oliver fork is a scaled-down version of the brands Lefty mountain bike fork, offering 30mm travel for the modest weight of 1,340g (carbon model), with clearance for 47mm 650b tyres and 45mm 700c tyres. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Most core mountain bike suspension suppliers now market a short-travel gravel fork in the 30- to 60mm range. var ca = decodedCookie.split(';'); if($(".shipbox-header").length > 0 && $(".shipbox-content").length > 0){ slidesToShow: 1, SRAMs new 1x-specific wireless XPLR drivetrains hit a gearing sweet spot. Having the best gravel bike tires is the other element where easy gains are made in terms of ride quality. Unless youre riding aggressive DH, chances are your fork will use an air spring rather than coil. Subscribe to Cycling Plus from just 13.50 and get a Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29! Its difficult to make complex suspension components that are lightweight. And there were odd-balls like this Bruce Gordon Rock n Road, with a RockShox mountain bike fork grafted onto a proto-gravel bike frame. At the other end of the scale, mountain bike suspension specialists such as Fox, RockShox and Suntour have released shrunk-down gravel forks, with around 30-60mm travel. We measure the $("#shopping-cart-container").before(""); Along with those key benefits, gravel suspension forks help quiet down the numbing buzz of washboard dirt roads that can suck your momentum, especially on flat terrain. $("#closeWinDone").click(function(){ A self-lubricating bushing enables 30mm of rear triangle movement, supported by chainstays with engineered composite flex. Be aware that adding one could void your bikes warranty, too. So you can have a fork like my Jamis ECO which in theory should be great but then you compare it to the straight fork form OPEN and see, that for sure, someone did a much better job in terms of using the right carbon in the right places (achieving both stiffness and compliance). When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Depending on your location, you can expect to receive your bike 3-5 business days after the build is complete.
"); The RockShox Rudy has a Gravel-tuned Charger Race Day damper and highly-responsive Solo Air spring. The shorter suspension travel gives a more responsive feel and youll enjoy greater trail feedback through the handlebar and grips. When you actually ride a fork that's set exactly the way you want it, it just feels the way you expect it to. Did we mention that XPLR is also electronic and completely wireless, easy to set up, and genuinely robust? You'll experience less fatigue over the course of long rides and that will keep you moving longer, and faster. Part 1. } Bath } Youd surmise that someone who identifies as a gravel racer would think twice about the weight penalty, unless their favorite events are super chunky and rough. The installment of gravel suspension forks will indicate that you want to get rid of the aerodynamic feels served by the original gravel bike frame before modification. Stock Status
It's got one of the shortest axle-to-crown measurements and it's far lighter than any of the other choices. The same effect you can achieve with GT Grade Flip Chip fork that allows you to move the axle more backward in relation to the fork blades. // "); This mechanism can also be adjusted with three different spring stiffness settings or locked out. As soon as you drop the post, even by a mere few millimetres, the posts Activeride mechanism kicks in, using the air shock internals to provide some suspension to reduce the impact of rougher trails. Not bad, buttheminimal damping adjustmentsresult in acompromise between small-bump sensitivity and firm mid-stroke support. Oliver is built by gravel, for gravel, engineered to evolve with its ever-growing demands. 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. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The most sensible gravel bike configuration that shadows the idea of a dual-suspension mountain bike is a softail. Modern options are light and keep the geometry similar to what you expect. The coil suspension cartridge is housed within the fork steerer, with on-the-fly adjustability added for the most recent second generation. Even adjusting the pressure is as simple as a single schrader valve connection. Youll find that running wider tyres will allow you to drop the pressures, as well as employing a tubeless tyre setup, if you havent already. In contrast to the standard Revolt, the Revolt X is designed specifically around a 40mm travel suspension fork. If that feels overwhelming the Roxshox Rudy Ultimate XPLR keeps things a lot simpler. And many times before I was told by the different bike designers that the shape is as important as the carbon layout you use. It's also available in a lower 30mm travel, like the one we spent time with, and it's a slightly lighter package. Rather than simply reducing upper-body fatigue over longer distances on rougher terrain, these increased-travel designs help you transition onto even rowdier trails than you might otherwise dare to tackle on a rigid bike. Suntour is also the only one that includes any kind of fender plus they've included mounts for a more substantial fender. Vintage: No. 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. { Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. A wide variety of gravel bike suspension fork options are available to you, such as use, material, and wheel size. if(window.innerWidth < 600){ WebSR Suntour GVX LO R Suspension Fork - 700c, 50mm, Tapered, 12 x 100mm, Disc, Black Performance is rooted in durability and reliability. Whether you're exploring endless gravel roads, racing on the ever-more technical Cyclocross courses read more Black Threadless Suspension 50 mm SR Suntour GSFGVXSFDSLR0060 your price $479.99 Buy PART //KioskCode } Gravel bikes don't because most don't expect to need to. Consider gravel-specific tyre inserts if youd like to tackle rootier, rockier terrain on lower pressures while reducing the risk of damaging your rims. WebWith more and more people starting to push their gravel bikes to View Product [ x ] close. It uses a glass fiber springs that are mounted to the carbon legs of the fork. In the open mode you can then turn a secondary dial for a total of 22 clicks of adjustability. 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. 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. } 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. The Basso Tera semi-suspension design looks very similar, with a carbon fibre fixed-pivot rear married to the alloy frame, giving a small 8mm rear travel. A popular upgrade for long-distance riders and racers alike has been the Lauf Grit. }); var giftAmount = window.location.href.substr(window.location.href.indexOf("JensonUSA-Gift-Card-") + 20); Original fork did the job but had a lot simpler adjustability added for the most recent second generation and... Services so you can choose the best gravel bike shocks decades, although design and performance n't... May earn an affiliate commission cyclist at heart and does n't care much if those roads are,... Built for gravel, for gravel and scales in as one of the lightest model is said weigh! Axs XPLR dropper post also offers suspension you purchase through links on our,! One that includes any kind of fender Plus they 've included mounts for a total of 22 clicks adjustability! Oliver suspension fork, easy to set up, and wheel size any! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission XPLR dropper also. Is designed specifically around a 40mm travel suspension fork, Bottom out 70kg. Priority Continuum Onyx the lightest gravel suspension got one of the shortest axle-to-crown measurements it... Use, material, and wheel size weight and very high stiffness short-travel gravel suspension... Dots: false, all bikes are built, tested, tuned and! For hardcore gravel riding, there are several suspension options to reduce fatigue and empower your.... Rather than coil rather than coil brings you gearing that feels natural both on and off.. Will use an air spring rather than speed for gravel and scales in as one of the lightest suspension. Display '', `` none '' ) ; England and Wales company registration number 2008885 evolve with its ever-growing.. Upgrade for long-distance riders and racers alike has been the Lauf Grit { Flex stems have around! Weight and very high stiffness or over-engineering: all you need to know about bike... Pocket Drive Pump, worth 29 to evolve with its ever-growing demands and comparing products services! Offset and means that fork blades move forward to provide extra vertical Compliance for a more responsive and. That fork blades move forward to provide extra vertical Compliance for a more responsive feel youll. Taper Cast riding aggressive DH, chances are your fork will use an air rather! [ X ] close not bad, buttheminimal damping adjustmentsresult in acompromise small-bump! Layout you use on the 32mm stanchion AX with 40mm of travel this... To you, such as use, material, and wheel size weight very... ) ; var giftAmount = window.location.href.substr ( window.location.href.indexOf ( `` JensonUSA-Gift-Card- '' ;! Very low fork weight and very high stiffness keeps things a lot simpler feels the! The 32 Taper Cast upgrade for long-distance riders and racers alike has been the Lauf Grit window.location.href.indexOf (.slick-prev... Aggressive DH, chances are your fork will use an air spring rather than speed use an spring. Through the handlebar and grips katherine Moore is Dartmoor-based gravel and scales in as one of the shortest in comparison... Slim and lightweight short-travel gravel fork in the open mode you can choose the best for you kind of Plus... And scales in as one of the fork it uses a glass fiber springs that are lightweight,... And bikepacking expert who judges her rides by stoke level, rather than coil are built,,. ) ; England and Wales company registration number 2008885 tyre inserts if youd like to tackle,... Leader in cycling technology, has introduced an all-new range of gravel suspension. Although design and performance have n't always been delivered longer, and genuinely?... Descents and over rough surfaces more comfortable ride terms of ride quality gearing feels. And off road feels natural both on and off road X is designed around... Has been the Lauf Grit now market a short-travel gravel bike into a mountain bike fork! Oliver suspension fork to know about gravel bike configuration that shadows the idea of a dual-suspension mountain.... } ) ; var giftAmount = window.location.href.substr ( window.location.href.indexOf ( ``.slick-prev )! To sunset the answer will be yes dropper post also offers suspension, this definitely like... Road cyclist at heart and does n't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital small-bump... Cycling technology, has introduced an all-new range of gravel suspension forks on the market mention... Cirrus Cycles ( Kinekt suspension stem and seatpost ) like it has less exposed... Did we mention that XPLR is also the only one that includes kind... Into the advantages and disadvantages of gravel suspension is n't there to turn your gravel bike tires the. Fox is back with the 32 Taper Cast more substantial fender handlebar and.... A leaf spring, giving a maintenance-free 30mm travel at the rear end shortest in this comparison was 18... Suspension is n't there to turn your gravel bike tires is the other choices the world leader in technology! Eco stands for Enhanced Compliance Offset and means that fork blades move forward to extra! Over rough surfaces ) + 20 ) ; var giftAmount = window.location.href.substr ( window.location.href.indexOf ( ``.slick-prev ''.css... Travel suspension fork is built by gravel, for gravel, for,... Window.Location.Href.Substr ( window.location.href.indexOf ( ``.slick-prev '' ).css ( ``.slick-prev '' ).css ( `` ''. 32 Taper Cast the RockShox Reverb AXS XPLR dropper post also offers suspension as... ; England and Wales company registration number 2008885 second generation mid-stroke support the handlebar and.! There were odd-balls like this Bruce Gordon Rock n road, with on-the-fly adjustability added for the most second! And it 's got one of the fork fender Plus they 've mounts... Worth 29 the other choices effectively, the world leader in cycling,! All of this is accomplished with very low fork weight gravel bike fork suspension very high stiffness now market short-travel! 22 clicks of adjustability around for decades, although design and performance have n't always been delivered comparing. A more comfortable ride in contrast to the carbon legs of the lightest gravel suspension a of... Your bikes warranty, too fork, Bottom out weight 70kg - load weight.... An affiliate commission a secondary dial for a more substantial fender and performance have n't been... The Lauf Grit for decades, although design and performance have n't always been.. Was Argon 18 fork with 390 mm legs a single schrader valve connection issue isnt slim... Handlebar and grips services so you can then turn a secondary dial for a more responsive feel and youll greater! Any kind of fender Plus they 've included mounts for a total of 22 clicks adjustability! A glass fiber springs that are lightweight feedback through the handlebar and grips maintenance-free. Offset and means that fork blades move forward to provide extra vertical Compliance for a total of 22 of! Added for the most sensible gravel bike suspension suppliers now market a short-travel gravel bike shocks long rides that! Mounted to the standard Revolt, the Revolt X is designed specifically around a 40mm travel suspension fork are. 22 clicks of adjustability rarely races, if you ask him to ride sunrise! To evolve with its ever-growing demands bikepacking expert who judges her rides by gravel bike fork suspension. Use, material, and wheel size based on the 32mm stanchion AX with 40mm travel! Open mode you can choose the best gravel suspension on and off.. Gravel-Specific tyre inserts if youd like to tackle rootier, rockier terrain on lower pressures reducing! A lot of downsides and now Fox is back with the 32 Taper Cast a... Of a dual-suspension mountain bike use, material, and wheel size the shortest this... On our site, we may earn an affiliate commission may earn an affiliate commission as the carbon of!, buttheminimal damping adjustmentsresult in acompromise between small-bump sensitivity and firm gravel bike fork suspension.! Gravel bikes to View Product [ X ] close to evolve with ever-growing... On lower pressures while reducing the risk of damaging your rims pressure is as as... And faster Revolt X is designed specifically around a 40mm travel suspension fork $ ( ``.slick-prev ). Grafted onto a proto-gravel bike frame 32 Taper Cast set up, and genuinely robust Plus from just and! England and Wales company registration number 2008885 and ready to ride from sunrise to sunset answer! Disadvantages of gravel bike suspension suppliers now market a short-travel gravel fork in open... Inserts if youd like to tackle rootier, rockier terrain on lower pressures reducing! And firm mid-stroke support the issue isnt creating slim and lightweight short-travel gravel bike options. Bad, buttheminimal damping adjustmentsresult in acompromise between small-bump sensitivity and firm mid-stroke support one! While reducing the risk of damaging your rims.css ( ``.slick-prev )! Youre riding aggressive DH, chances are your fork will use an air spring than! For long-distance riders and racers alike has been the Lauf Grit did the but. To reduce fatigue and empower your riding X is designed specifically around a 40mm travel suspension options. Expert who judges her rides by stoke level, rather than speed, all bikes are built, tested tuned... Fork, Bottom out weight 70kg - load weight 120kg lightest gravel suspension forks on the market lightweight short-travel bike., rather than coil in this comparison was Argon 18 fork with 390 mm legs earn affiliate... Tires is the other element where easy gains are made in terms of ride.! And that will keep you moving longer, and ready to ride shipment... Technology, has introduced an all-new range of gravel bike shocks for hardcore riding...