Gravel bike suspension for only £90!

Fitting a suspension fork to your gravel bike can cost a fortune, so how does this budget fork from AliExpress shape up?

SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below):

Putting a suspension fork onto your gravel bike can be a VERY expensive upgrade. Fox offer their 32TC for £500 to around £750 ($960), RockShox offer their Rudy Ultimate for around the same price, and even one of the cheapest options from SR Suntour will set you back about £400 ($510). I set out to find a cheaper option and once again AliExpress came to the rescue.

I bought a gravel suspension fork direct from China, from a brand called Kocevlo for just £92. With taxes and shipping, the total was £112.50 ($140), but it is still MUCH cheaper than anything the big brands offer.

It seems well built, with chunky 32mm stanchions, lightweight magnesium fork body, and aluminium steerer tube and crown. It weighs just over 1.5kg, offers 40mm of travel, and you can adjust the sag, the compression damping, and also lock out the struts.

Installation was a breeze, and I was honestly impressed with how much it has transformed my gravel bike. 40mm doesn't seem like a lot of travel, but it makes rougher terrain SO MUCH more comfortable, and lets you carry much more speed over challenging sections.

With the additional weight, the bike is slightly more sluggish on the flats compared to the solid fork, but it is well worth the sacrifice for the types of gravel riding I tend to do.

Kocevlo fork affiliate link:

Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:34 – Intro, cost, weight
01:55 – Installation
03:06 – Star nut vs compression plug
05:23 – Star nut install
08:47 – Post install bike weigh in
09:25 – Siroko sponsor
10:46 – Ride test
14:03 – Conclusion & my opinion
15:22 – Price vs other manufacturers
17:11 – EGR update
18:37 – Bonus wetland time

Intro roll:

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Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.

In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!

[refard]

The transition slowly begins as you lean more and more into MTB

[Gregory_tottie]

I can’t tell if I’m impressed with the continued dedication to cheap parts, or if you’re a mountain biker now. Either way: 🥖

[markk]

What a nice 90s Drop Bar Mountainbike. John Tomac would be proud 😉 🥖🥖🥖

[chazphot]

A little late now but you can definitely use the compression style plugs in an aluminium/steel steerer tube, just you can't use a star nut in a carbon steerer.

[alaricpaley]

I'm slowly watching all these gravel bikes turn into... 2010 era XC bikes

[KintroDDO]

That little blue ring helps you gauge the suspension pressure - push it right down and go for a ride, when you get home you'll be able to tell how much of the range you're using. Add or remove pressure accordingly.

[DandBGhostHunters]

Hi Luke, top tip for the future - instead of cutting down the brake pipe, you can carefully cut a slot in the olive and then twist with a flat blade screwdriver to crack and spread the olive. You then just use a new olive and keep all the hose length. 🥖

[Housecathst]

I’ve been fitting star nuts with a hammer for over 25years, never considered using a socket as a guide, that blooming brilliant🎉

[MrMrBorka]

Looking forward to the next carbon hardtail flatbar xc bike build! And the following full suspension 😅

[biamarconchi]

Thanks Luke, are you reading my mind? Every winter, to my wife's regret, I do a build/rebuild of a bike. Next winters project (2024-2025) is rebuilding urban commuter into a gravel bike...with suspension gravel forks. You have definitely convinced me to go ahead.

[wrcompositi]

6:45 Instead of a star nut, you can actually use the expander plug in an alloy steerer tube. (may need a piece of inner tube as a shim)

[jfkusa]

A little note as you begin to talk about suspension, damping makes you fast (controls your suspension) dampENing makes you wet. Very common mistake but you’ll be silently made fun of by snobby suspension nerds (no comment on how I know ;))

[martintramuntbikemallorcak]

I was beginning to forget why I moved to Mallorca years now I mind after watching your bonus!!

[Petro]

Was waiting for someone to review this 👌

[Bikey_McBeardface]

Just so you know for the future you can use an expansion plug in a an aluminium (or steel) steerer tube, as long as it fits/grips enough to set the headset preload, as it serves no other function you could even use one of those dodgy lightweight ones. Star fangled nuts are a PITA to remove/reposition if you ever need too as well so an expander is the better option IMO.

[doncrescas]

Love the "new dad has no energy to shave" look!

[Chris-hoki]

Been riding the Redshift stem and seatpost with 43c tires. This looks very cool for a budget shock. Any little bit of suspension will totally change your gravel experience. Yosemite Sam would be proud

[suhdud]

19:27 - I grew up watching the inbetweeners and hearing "knee deep" put a smile on my face.

[matt_acton-varian]

I take it that your ERX derailleur was a replacement from your original which failed after water ingress. If they've fixed that issue then the product development is working - that's great news for pwople who are considering an L-Twoo groupset in the near future.

[valmorell]

Please try a suspension stem next Luke. Much simpler upgrade, much lighter, no geometry change. In short, of great interest to a wider range of riders. Probably. 😊