front suspension gravel?

[kwantani]

Any chinese makers offering front suspension gravel yet?

[00Garza]

If you search “gravel suspension fork” you’ll get lots of hits.
Look like a lot of Rudy knockoffs. Don’t know if there’s any long term reviews on them anywhere. Buy at your own risk.

Or do you mean a frame that is specifically designed for suspension?

[00Garza]

While on the topic of Chinese gravel suspension, I noticed state bicycle has their own branded suspension fork. I highly doubt they engineered and manufacture their own fork. Could this be a rebadged version of the Chinese gravel forks we see on Ali with a ridiculous profit margin?

[coffeebreak]

With State that is very much a possibility.

[00Garza]

The fork in question. Seems super generic. Like the kocelvo or Lutu gravel forks.
https://www.statebicycle.com/collections/frames/products/state-bicycle-co-all-road-suspension-gravel-fork-40mm

[jonathanf2]

I know a guy who spent $$$ for a quality suspension fork on his gravel bike. He struggled on the climbs due to the added weight. Now I seem him just take the MTB out instead.

With State that is very much a possibility.

At least if there are issues with rebranded components, I'm sure State will address problems directly.

[coffeebreak]

If you buy it with fully built bike you can get it cheap...for $350 lol. I am not sold on gravel suspension yet. Those stems with elastomers built in them sound like a better idea. Much lighter too.

[00Garza]

I’m more partial to the Lauf style of suspension fork, though I’m never used one. Just makes more sense being maintenance free and light weight. Can’t really tune it though.

[repoman]

Really wish someone made a lightweight gravel fork that had more like 60-70mm of travel. I believe the Fox TC32 goes to 50mm but that doesn't seem like it'd be enough if you wanted to get your bike in places where a sus fork would really make a difference.

[Crash217]

Really wish someone made a lightweight gravel fork that had more like 60-70mm of travel. I believe the Fox TC32 goes to 50mm but that doesn't seem like it'd be enough if you wanted to get your bike in places where a sus fork would really make a difference.

Pop the damper apart on just about any modern cartridge fork and install a bushing on the damper rod between the piston and top out bumper inside the damper cartridge.  That will reduce fork length/travel 1:1.   Some of the old XC forks are very light and very cheap on the used market. If you stick 30mm of spacers onto the damper rod of a 100mm fork it becomes a 70mm fork.  Forks are silly easy to service with only a couple of cheap "special" tools.

[s3si1u]

Really wish someone made a lightweight gravel fork that had more like 60-70mm of travel. I believe the Fox TC32 goes to 50mm but that doesn't seem like it'd be enough if you wanted to get your bike in places where a sus fork would really make a difference.

There are cheap gravel suspension forks on Aliexpress with 60mm of travel.
MRP Baxter is currently on sale for $495 and also has up to 60mm. I guess neigher of these options are lightweight, but the Baxter does come close to the Fox/Rockshox options in weight and is cheaper than these two at the moment.
I also find that if I hang around eBay long enough, a couple of used or B stock Lauf forks will eventually pop up at a good price. I've missed out on a couple by being indecisive. 

[s3si1u]

The fork in question. Seems super generic. Like the kocelvo or Lutu gravel forks.
https://www.statebicycle.com/collections/frames/products/state-bicycle-co-all-road-suspension-gravel-fork-40mm

Looks like the same fork sold by Onirii https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805465545123.html

[Scott1234]

Thinking about a suspension fork for my gravel build. Several options on Ali in the $150USD range:

Kocevelo fork, reviewed and made popular by Trace Velo, 40mm travel, 1590g weight, supports 48mm tires (he fit 50mm) and he really likes it.

Evosid Rudy, high shipping price, 45mm clearance, 60mm travel, 1633g, looks good.

Lexon 700C fork, 40mm travel, 1605g, looks like only 40mm tire clearance. Nice color choices.

Bucklos, 40mm travel, looks like true 50mm tire clearance, bit chunkier looks like the Fox32 a bit. Available in orange.

Suntour gravel fork, big step up in price to around $360US. 50mm clearance, looks like there are more choice 40/50/60mm travel but harder to find - only 50mm on Ali now. 

Any opinions? Overall looks like the Kocevlo.

[FullCarbonAlchemist]

Thinking about a suspension fork for my gravel build. Several options on Ali in the $150USD range:

Kocevelo fork, reviewed and made popular by Trace Velo, 40mm travel, 1590g weight, supports 48mm tires (he fit 50mm) and he really likes it.

Evosid Rudy, high shipping price, 45mm clearance, 60mm travel, 1633g, looks good.

Lexon 700C fork, 40mm travel, 1605g, looks like only 40mm tire clearance. Nice color choices.

Bucklos, 40mm travel, looks like true 50mm tire clearance, bit chunkier looks like the Fox32 a bit. Available in orange.

Suntour gravel fork, big step up in price to around $360US. 50mm clearance, looks like there are more choice 40/50/60mm travel but harder to find - only 50mm on Ali now. 

Any opinions? Overall looks like the Kocevlo.

The GVX performs really well, though the V2 (matte black, not gloss) needs high air pressure — PSI about your body weight in pounds — because it has a proportionally huge negative chamber for small bumps.

Adjusting travel is pretty easy. You just change the internal travel spacers.

I have two for sale, a 60mm V1 and 50mm V2, both are the 15mm axle model but there are adapters if you already have a 12mm wheel…

Running them on the CFR707 was an interesting experiment and rode well except the resulting slack seat tube angle was rough on my bad knee. I’m going back to a solid fork for a while.

[eeney]

Remember that if your bike isn't designed for suspension, then you need to consider the impact on drop, reach and geometry of the longer fork.

I've just fitted Fox gravel forks to my rig, Fox had them 66% off in Australia.  I went with the 50mm travel but the impact on bike setup was too much, so I swapped them for the 40mm version.  This still meant cutting 2cm off the steerer tube, so fully slammed. Anything longer would have increased the stack heigth too much for my liking ( I like my bike fit/setup just right ).

Forks almost add 1kg to the bike.  I can definitely feel it on tarmac, but once you hit the gravel the weight isn't noticable because of the extra grip and confidence, although I haven't tried it for long gravel climbs yet.