I recently did buy a Stumpjumper Expert new for 3000$. It has a 140mm FOX FLOAT 34 Performance Elite grip 2 damper and 130mm FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Elite on it. So I guess paying 1000$ for 40mm makes sense! 😁
After a few Hours today on my xc hardtail, i am all in for my next Ride on the gravel bike, total different style of cycling, bth, you have to have riden one once in your life and Not just hitting the Keyboard to understand. 😜
Once you start adding suspension to a Gravelbike, you might as well get a full-sus XC bike and install a set of Gravel tires. A Specialized Epic World Cup or a Trek Supercaliber, both with about 80/100mm travel, would make an excellent Gravelbike. My personal Gravel bike is 110/120mm travel Epic Evo with 700x47 Specialized Pathfinder Pro Gravel tires. I didn't really want that much travel but it was what I could afford when it was on sale. I would like to see Gravelbikes come with tire clearance for wider tires. A Gravelbike with lightweight fast-rolling 29x2.4(700x61) Gravel specific tires is what I would like to see.
I think there's a place for drop bar XC bikes like these short travel fork bikes. They're sure as heck not 'gravel' bikes any more with squish up front and riding on singletrack. Bikes like this are a response to mountain bikes, including XC bikes, getting more and more downhill trail oriented - like ending up with full suspension when it's not really needed, and one ends up overbiked on a smooth roller coaster flow trail.
The best gravel fork is a 80/100mm 27.5" mtb fork. You can get them for a fraction of things with the "gravel tax", and you get an actual usable travel. You can fit a 700x45c tire, and run a bit extra sag for a super plush feel. Minimal geometry difference, but improves most bikes off road, and most have lockout
@@JarosawTabor I have a SiD world cup 2019 27.5", it's listed at about 66mm of clearance for the 650 size. But that's with a bit of extra mud clearance included on the sides that you won't be using in a 700c configuration. In practice I can easily fit a 700x47c gravel tire on, because you don't need as much clearance on the arch as the sidewall, and there's much less tread. Basically you can do the math and subtract the rim size of 700 to 650 (622mm-584mm) and divide by 2 which gives a 19mm larger radius. So whatever tire you can run is just 19mm smaller. And then just account for tread and desired mud clearance as you would normally. So your 66mm tire -19mm is 47mm
Invested in the Rudy fork. Depends, If you call a gravel ride down a local canal path probably stick to a rigid fork. If you want all out performance on every grade of gravel and don't want to feel like you're shoulders and neck have been put through a mincer after 40 mile might be worth a think. Also Gravel specific forks are what they are "specific" Which means they won't completey knock the geometry out on the bike. So putting a gravel fork on your gravel bike isn't turning it into a mountain bike it's transforming it into something very capable in a multitude of different situations. You can't always pick the best line in a gravel race and most probably will have to put in 600 watts to get back on to the bunch if you don't. But when you have the option to take a not so good line to keep on the front wheels... Completely changed the ride quality and capabilities of the bike. In my eyes costly but definitely worthwhile if you're considering.
You ever road on white rock/limestone rock roads? I have a mix of that and gravel in the midwest and ive been thinking about it but also didn't know what it would feel like in the looser stuff when it's freshly dumped. That and F****ing washboards, how well does it soak those up for riding down hill on and powering up???
@nick9277 hi Nick sorry for the late reply. I thought it would lag uphill but I really couldn't notice any big changes. Going downhill is bliss, I was suffering with wrist pain as I don't hold back. Faster and smoother response. I feel more confident when sending. I would recommend the 40mm travel as not used the 30mm version. 👍
Can also consider some of the secondhand or NOS older hybrid forks available from the likes of Suntour. You may need to change lower headset to fit, but it'll save you a bit of money overall.
I'd love to have LAUF fork that's also compatible with 32" wheel, It'd smooth my ride as I find regular suspension isn't reacting fast enough, or requires mass dampeners for the same effect but they're dead weight for me considering same could be achieved with way less parts. But man they cost a kidney and a half, I'd love to get a Lauf if they weren't.
Great video!!!, and how about the suntour GVX? Is a great gravel suspension a little bit heavy, I think suntour could improve the weight, but overall i am very happy with it.
I was also hoping for a review on it. Am looking at a YT Szepter and the cheapest one comes with the GVX32 S model. Funny enough, it has lockout, while the Rudy on the higher end model does not, only the one with the ultimate above it
I have the Lauf, MRP, and Fox forks in this video and like the Lauf with a Redshift stem and the MRP that allows me to run bottle cages and 50mm wide tires...
Yes. They are definitely missing out on a simpler, lighter Cane Creek option which probably works better. I have my Fox 32 AX compression and rebound dialed completely out and it proves the overcomplicated damping systems on mountain-derived forks are not overkill but the wrong solution.
You're kidding, right? Or are you riding the Marji route on a 'gravel' bike? Not once riding on Michigan gravel have I ever thought I needed suspension of any kind, even on 40 mm tires. To be fair, I also ride every mountain bike trail in the state rigid.
I actually can't believe how expensive these forks are. You can get a full on enduro fork, like the marzocchi Z1 for less than the cheapest fork on this list 💀
Because you can reach them with your hand and which of the multiple hand positions on drop bars would I want the switch (that's also not in the way for other hand positions)? Not sure if that's the answer, but it's why I wouldn't really want a drop bar remote lockout
Love how gravel bikes are repeating the evolution of '90s mtb... 30mm forks... frame bags... 45mm tyres (aka1.95")... slacker geo... longer geo... flex stems... suspension seat posts... Adventure/bikepacking aside, should we not just cut out the last 25years pain and expense and cut straight to 100mm full sus on 29"? Or should we look out for an Allsop Softride in '25? I"m gonna whack a set of drops on a Supercalibre...
Utterly ridiculous price considering I bought a super capable XC bike with 120mm air fork for less than the budget option. Madness, price-gouging and the perfect example of why the cycling (industry-owned) press is a huge part of the problem. Get real, people should not be paying the price of a holiday for a bloody short-travel fork.
Watching the guy getting air makes me wonder WTF bother with a gravel bike? That's what MTB's are for! Or just slap some drop-bars on your MTB and be done with it! I'll keep riding my gravel bike on ROADS...some of 'em...gravel. Maybe with a Redshift stem to soften the bumps?
why need to buy gravel for such road conditions? 😂 It's the same as trying to set higher suspension on Golf GTI and go offroad ))) MTB is the best choice
I considered all the options and double wrap handlebars should do. Cost of my new bike Triban RC520 was 20 euro more then budget option fork.
I recently did buy a Stumpjumper Expert new for 3000$. It has a 140mm FOX FLOAT 34 Performance Elite grip 2 damper and 130mm FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Elite on it.
So I guess paying 1000$ for 40mm makes sense! 😁
Let me check my crystal ball: "the best gravel fork of 2030: RockShox SID 100mm" 😂
no crystal ball needed, it's the best gravel fork already
The best gravel bike I’ve ridden is my Specialized Epic.
@@cgmlcsThe best gravel bike ive ridden is my Giant defy.
To be fair, that's what I'm running right now. Albeit in a 27.5 size to better fit a 700c gravel tire
After a few Hours today on my xc hardtail, i am all in for my next Ride on the gravel bike, total different style of cycling, bth, you have to have riden one once in your life and Not just hitting the Keyboard to understand. 😜
Once you start adding suspension to a Gravelbike, you might as well get a full-sus XC bike and install a set of Gravel tires. A Specialized Epic World Cup or a Trek Supercaliber, both with about 80/100mm travel, would make an excellent Gravelbike. My personal Gravel bike is 110/120mm travel Epic Evo with 700x47 Specialized Pathfinder Pro Gravel tires. I didn't really want that much travel but it was what I could afford when it was on sale.
I would like to see Gravelbikes come with tire clearance for wider tires. A Gravelbike with lightweight fast-rolling 29x2.4(700x61) Gravel specific tires is what I would like to see.
I think there's a place for drop bar XC bikes like these short travel fork bikes. They're sure as heck not 'gravel' bikes any more with squish up front and riding on singletrack.
Bikes like this are a response to mountain bikes, including XC bikes, getting more and more downhill trail oriented - like ending up with full suspension when it's not really needed, and one ends up overbiked on a smooth roller coaster flow trail.
The best gravel fork is a 80/100mm 27.5" mtb fork. You can get them for a fraction of things with the "gravel tax", and you get an actual usable travel. You can fit a 700x45c tire, and run a bit extra sag for a super plush feel. Minimal geometry difference, but improves most bikes off road, and most have lockout
Can you give examples? How it goes with 28" gravel tires (ususally 40-45mm wide)?
@@JarosawTabor I have a SiD world cup 2019 27.5", it's listed at about 66mm of clearance for the 650 size. But that's with a bit of extra mud clearance included on the sides that you won't be using in a 700c configuration.
In practice I can easily fit a 700x47c gravel tire on, because you don't need as much clearance on the arch as the sidewall, and there's much less tread.
Basically you can do the math and subtract the rim size of 700 to 650 (622mm-584mm) and divide by 2 which gives a 19mm larger radius. So whatever tire you can run is just 19mm smaller. And then just account for tread and desired mud clearance as you would normally.
So your 66mm tire -19mm is 47mm
Invested in the Rudy fork. Depends, If you call a gravel ride down a local canal path probably stick to a rigid fork. If you want all out performance on every grade of gravel and don't want to feel like you're shoulders and neck have been put through a mincer after 40 mile might be worth a think. Also Gravel specific forks are what they are "specific" Which means they won't completey knock the geometry out on the bike. So putting a gravel fork on your gravel bike isn't turning it into a mountain bike it's transforming it into something very capable in a multitude of different situations. You can't always pick the best line in a gravel race and most probably will have to put in 600 watts to get back on to the bunch if you don't. But when you have the option to take a not so good line to keep on the front wheels... Completely changed the ride quality and capabilities of the bike. In my eyes costly but definitely worthwhile if you're considering.
You ever road on white rock/limestone rock roads? I have a mix of that and gravel in the midwest and ive been thinking about it but also didn't know what it would feel like in the looser stuff when it's freshly dumped. That and F****ing washboards, how well does it soak those up for riding down hill on and powering up???
@nick9277 hi Nick sorry for the late reply. I thought it would lag uphill but I really couldn't notice any big changes. Going downhill is bliss, I was suffering with wrist pain as I don't hold back. Faster and smoother response. I feel more confident when sending. I would recommend the 40mm travel as not used the 30mm version. 👍
Why is the new Cane Creek inverted fork not in this comparison? 🤔
Finally someone says this!!!! A little patience would've been worth it so they can get one
Just get new Fox 32 gravel fork with 40mm for astonishing 370€- what a black friday deal. Going to instal it today :D
Using the Rockshux Rudy, paired with a suspension seatpost, super comfortable
Can also consider some of the secondhand or NOS older hybrid forks available from the likes of Suntour. You may need to change lower headset to fit, but it'll save you a bit of money overall.
nice hardtail bro
Can you pair a suspension fork with a 650b wheel in the front and a 700c wheel in the back on a non-suspension corrected frame?
Would also like to know what the 650b options are
I'd love to have LAUF fork that's also compatible with 32" wheel, It'd smooth my ride as I find regular suspension isn't reacting fast enough, or requires mass dampeners for the same effect but they're dead weight for me considering same could be achieved with way less parts.
But man they cost a kidney and a half, I'd love to get a Lauf if they weren't.
How about SR Suntour GVX fork?
That would've been nice to see
Great video!!!, and how about the suntour GVX? Is a great gravel suspension a little bit heavy, I think suntour could improve the weight, but overall i am very happy with it.
I was also hoping for a review on it. Am looking at a YT Szepter and the cheapest one comes with the GVX32 S model. Funny enough, it has lockout, while the Rudy on the higher end model does not, only the one with the ultimate above it
I have the Lauf, MRP, and Fox forks in this video and like the Lauf with a Redshift stem and the MRP that allows me to run bottle cages and 50mm wide tires...
What about the new cane creek gravel fork? Pitty you didnt test it.
Great summary - thanks
I bought the Fox TC32 today : 399 € (with delivery), at a german website. Thanks for the vidéo. 🇨🇵
what website ?
Aren‘t you missing out on the Cane Creek fork ???
Yes. They are definitely missing out on a simpler, lighter Cane Creek option which probably works better. I have my Fox 32 AX compression and rebound dialed completely out and it proves the overcomplicated damping systems on mountain-derived forks are not overkill but the wrong solution.
Intend Samurai GR as well
And the State Gravel Fork
And the Suntour GVX
What about the Hiride Fork?
No suntour GVX?
Why not just improve the old school canodale head shock suspension? Change to Carbon headshock supension is much more lighter than this ..
I own a Cannondale Topstone Lefty and it’s not enough travel for the dirt roads I ride in Michigan. Potholes and washboard overwhelm the lefty.
You're kidding, right? Or are you riding the Marji route on a 'gravel' bike? Not once riding on Michigan gravel have I ever thought I needed suspension of any kind, even on 40 mm tires.
To be fair, I also ride every mountain bike trail in the state rigid.
The comparison I want to see is the best vs a xc bike vs the fork your bike has now.
Velocycling reviewed a decent chinese gravel fork for £90.
I actually can't believe how expensive these forks are. You can get a full on enduro fork, like the marzocchi Z1 for less than the cheapest fork on this list 💀
@@nebnollock5198#trendy
do you mean tracevelo?
@@NP13000 My bad.
@@biggertree7063 no problem, for a second i thought i missed another channel doing aliexpress reviews :D
why are there no remote lock outs on these? Makes absolutely no sense :(
Because you can reach them with your hand and which of the multiple hand positions on drop bars would I want the switch (that's also not in the way for other hand positions)? Not sure if that's the answer, but it's why I wouldn't really want a drop bar remote lockout
@@Piplodocus you’d have to stop to reach for it, wouldn’t you?
If you're not racing, that's fine!
Love how gravel bikes are repeating the evolution of '90s mtb... 30mm forks... frame bags... 45mm tyres (aka1.95")... slacker geo... longer geo... flex stems... suspension seat posts... Adventure/bikepacking aside, should we not just cut out the last 25years pain and expense and cut straight to 100mm full sus on 29"? Or should we look out for an Allsop Softride in '25? I"m gonna whack a set of drops on a Supercalibre...
I’m still of the opinion that if your gravel bike needs suspension you should really just get a mountain bike.
I really don’t get suspension on a gravel bike, if you’re riding that sort of terrain wouldn’t an xc mtb be a better choice.
Utterly ridiculous price considering I bought a super capable XC bike with 120mm air fork for less than the budget option. Madness, price-gouging and the perfect example of why the cycling (industry-owned) press is a huge part of the problem. Get real, people should not be paying the price of a holiday for a bloody short-travel fork.
That budget fork is a snip at only 600 quid.
Gimme a good suspension stem over any of thesd overpriced monstrosities. If you need more suspension than that you really should be on a XC hardtail
Very subjective. Mixing price and technical criteria …
🎉
Just buy a hard tail and put curly bars. Done.
Watching the guy getting air makes me wonder WTF bother with a gravel bike? That's what MTB's are for! Or just slap some drop-bars on your MTB and be done with it! I'll keep riding my gravel bike on ROADS...some of 'em...gravel. Maybe with a Redshift stem to soften the bumps?
why need to buy gravel for such road conditions? 😂
It's the same as trying to set higher suspension on Golf GTI and go offroad )))
MTB is the best choice
MTB is incomparable to gravel bike. It's about distance, speed and elevation. The suspension is just for comfort and control downhill.
❤😊❤😊
Well this must be a fake test. Cane Creek just came out with “the world’s first gravel fork” so clearly none of these options exist.
First 💯
They don't even look right in the bush...what a scam