New Lauf Grit Gravel fork provides 30mm suspension travel for gravel and cyclocross bikes

Engineered Bicycles, a Bristol-based bespoke frame builder, will launch the unique Lauf Grit Gravel fork in the UK at the Bespoked show this weekend, following its international launch at Sea Otter this week.

The fork is unique in that it uses carbon fibre leaf springs to provide up to 30mm of suspension travel, with only a small weight penalty over a regular fork, and certainly a lot lighter than a conventional suspension fork. It also requires no maintenance and can be fitted to most gravel and cyclocross bikes.

- Review: Engineered Bicycles Gezel

“The Lauf forks are designed to maintain the lightness and reliability of rigid forks while offering absorption and traction in small bumps that conventional suspension forks can’t match,” says the company.

The unique leaf-spring fork first launched as a mountain bike product and the Icelandic company is now hoping to make a dent in the road market. It looks like the sort of product that could be well suited to the growing adventure and gravel bike market, especially following the launch of the Cannondale Slate with its Lefty suspension fork. 

The Lauf Grit Gravel fork combines carbon fibre lower legs with glass fibre leaf springs, and provides a claimed 30mm of travel, the same as the Lefty fork on the Slate. That should certainly be enough to take the sting out of the trail. 

The carbon construction means that the fork is light, coming in at a claimed 900g. That's heavier than a regular carbon road fork but considerably lighter than most suspension forks. Be warned, it does have a rider weight limit of 110kg.

There's clearance for up to 42mm tyres, or 2.1in tyres if used with 650b wheels. It's compatible with 12 and 15mm thru-axles and uses the latest Flat Mount standard and takes up to a 160mm disc. It uses a regular tapered steerer tube, with adapters available for 1.5in lower bearing headsets. 

Lauf has designed the fork to sag a little when you are sat on the bike, and the axle-to-crown measurement is 409mm with the 6mm of sag taken into account. 

Engineered Bicycles will be launching the new fork at Bespoked this weekend. Engineered founder David Fong says, “I was expecting them to feel smooth, which they do. And they take the sting out of even the rough stuff very well. But what impressed me the most was when I threw my Zondag ‘ cross bike down the local trails on 28c tyres I found I could attack the corners very hard. The front wheel traction is greatly improved meaning much better braking and more assured cornering. To me, they're a must have on any drop barred adventure bike.”

The Lauf Grit Gravel fork costs $790 and it ships in August and comes with a 5-year warranty. More at www.laufforks.com, and more if you attend the Bepsoked show this weekend and take a closer look at the fork.