I got an Invert Gravel Fork 30mm CS on Specialized Crux. A special 45/36 degree headset bottom bearing is needed for this setup. Since Crux is not suspension corrected I opted for the shorter 30mm travel.
Good:
– Smooth and plush. Allows me to descend much much faster on chunky gravel. I start to really notice the hard tail of the bike in comparison.
– The look. It goes so well with Crux’s round tube especially in this paint. Looks like original design together. Beautiful!
To be improved:
– Bottom-out sound. I got 3 bottom-out during the ride (mostly bashing into rut in high speed descend). The fork gave a loud and clear clapping(?) sound when bottoming out. My hand and body does not feel anything but the sound is a little scary. I wish it has some bumper at the end of travel. (Update: setting pressure at 100% body weight instead of recommended 95% helped a lot)
– Climb switch operation. CS button takes more force to push than I liked. Opening up actually takes more force than locking it out which is kind of counter-intuitive. The only situation that I would use CS is on longer steeper road climb. But then locking it out raises the front end of bike by removing the sag which makes the climbing position less ideal. I wish I got the SL version without CS for save some grams.
– Geo changes. Not a fault of the fork itself but on a bike not geo corrected for suspension fork I can really feel the difference riding it. My 56 Crux is on the larger side for me at 5’10”. Increasing fork length from factory 401mm to 425mm made the seat tube angle too slack and I am out of saddle rail to push the saddle more forward to get to the position I wanted.
More tinkering:
– Larger rear tire? (p3,p4) I tried to put on larger tire (45 rs) in the rear and smaller in front (40 rs). This seems to help a lot. Less geo change. Tail of the bike felt less harsh. It felt like a more balanced bike. And I seemed to hold my power better almost everywhere and got a ton of PRs in my test ride. Why is it not more common to see such setup? (Bigger rear tire,smaller front tire with suspension fork)
by Direct_Comedian6365
12 Comments
Das sieht wild aus
Looks rad, I’d love this kind of setup if I don’t ultimately get a Lauf instead.
I want one.
What’re the pros and cons of invert vs standard fork and why’d you choose this?
Is it inverted to get more mud into the stanchions?
Looks awesome! I have a Rudy on my Stigmata and love having the suspension. Like you, I rarely lock out the fork – I may do it while riding pavement, but pretty much never on gravel/dirt surfaces.
Maybe additional volume spacers could help the clap-out
Back in my MTB days I thought inverted forks looked amazing, and now in my gravel days nothing has changed. If I were to go for suspension it would be these in a heart beat!! Best looking suspension fork IMHO
The clapping is just it celebrating you being rad enough to bottom things out 👏
Stated clearance is 50mm realistically how large of a tire can you run?
Let’s see. Bought a $1500 fork that doesn’t fit the bike “mostly for looks”. Has a sweet gravel bike but “I am not riding in mud” with it. Bottom out hurts their ears. I think the other sub is leaking.
That first pic is r/Bikeporn