Gravel bikes are road bikes for people who’ve grown bored of tarmac and find traffic too much of a nuisance. But with the adventure came washboard tracks, tree roots and aching forearms. Öhlins believes a suspension fork is the answer.
The GXF30 M.1 is the first gravel fork from the Swedish suspension specialist. It offers 40 millimetres of travel, weighs 1,249 grams according to the manufacturer, and costs 895 euros. It has been available since 21 October 2026 – though initially only as a limited launch edition of 300 units worldwide. To mark the company’s 50th anniversary, it features the iconic Öhlins yellow. This is hardly what you’d call understated.
40 millimetres will have to do
Öhlins hasn’t simply carved the GXF30 M.1 from a shortened mountain bike fork. The chassis and damping have been developed specifically for gravel bikes. The travel is fixed at 40 millimetres. Anyone wishing to have more or less travel at a later date would need to replace the piston rod assembly. That is why only this one version is available at launch.
The stanchions measure 30 millimetres. This is intended to keep the fork lightweight whilst ensuring precise steering. According to Öhlins, the chassis achieves a level of stiffness similar to that of the company’s own XC platform with 100 millimetres of travel. The narrower gravel hubs are designed to help compensate for the smaller tube diameter.
A comfort pad separates the GXF30 from a rigid fork, whilst there is a clear distinction between it and a mountain bike fork. It is designed to smooth out small bumps and stabilise the front wheel on loose terrain. For jumps, rough trails and heroic misjudgements, 40 millimetres is still not enough.
Three modes for the working day
Inside is the new FTX14 cartridge. This is a compact monotube system that Öhlins has retuned for the short travel. Parts of the piston and shaft design are taken from the current cross-country platform; the oil circuit and valves, however, have been adapted for the gravel bike.
The rider can adjust the compression damping at the fork crown. There are three charmingly named modes to choose from: Business, Grind and Sprint. When fully extended, the fork offers a sensitive ride; in the middle position, it’s stiffer; and in sprint mode, it locks out completely. The latter is recommended on tarmac and on long climbs – or whenever suspension travel mainly costs you energy and good spirits.
In addition, the behaviour in open mode can be fine-tuned. Öhlins promises a high level of sensitivity to minor bumps and sufficient resistance to harder impacts. Whether this proves successful remains to be seen in a test drive. Naturally, the press kit always drives a perfect line.
Does it fit any gravel bike?
No. The installation height is 445 millimetres. This means that, on a frame not designed for it, the fork may alter the geometry and handling. Before purchasing, you should therefore check whether the frame manufacturer approves a suspension fork of this length. Otherwise, the extra comfort could quickly result in a flatter steering angle and a higher handlebar position.
Öhlins uses the flat-mount standard for the brakes. A 160-millimetre disc is specified. Tyres may be up to 52 millimetres wide. With the mudguard fitted, 47 millimetres remain.
Tyre pressure depends on the rider’s weight. Öhlins, for example, recommends 80 to 93 psi for riders weighing between 55 and 65 kilograms. For riders weighing 75 to 85 kilograms, the range is 107 to 121 psi; for those weighing 95 to 105 kilograms, it is 134 to 148 psi. These figures serve as a starting point. Even the best table cannot account for personal preferences and luggage.
Who would benefit from the GXF30?
This is particularly true for riders who frequently ride their gravel bikes over rough forest tracks, stony paths and washed-out descents. In such conditions, a suspension fork can take the strain off your hands, improve contact with the ground and save energy on long rides. Greater traction could also be an advantage in fast gravel races.
On the other hand, it weighs 1,249 grams, requires additional maintenance and costs 895 euros. A good carbon fork is lighter, simpler and, even after years of use, still gives no indication that it needs servicing. Anyone who mainly rides on tarmac and smooth gravel will therefore want to own the GXF30 rather than actually need it. Some gravel cyclists go even further: for them, a suspension fork on a gravel bike is an anachronism. It’s as much of a stylistic mismatch as a pick-up bed on a Porsche. After all, the motto is: keep it simple, keep it light. In our view, a suspension fork only makes sense as an added comfort feature for those who want to take their gravel bike onto challenging terrain.
To begin with, Öhlins is selling just 300 yellow models through its Fast Forward programme. Further versions are likely to follow, although these have not been confirmed in the press kit.
The GXF30 M.1 bridges the gap between a rigid gravel fork and a lightweight cross-country suspension fork. It doesn’t turn a gravel bike into a mountain bike. But it might just turn a rough descent into one where you still have feeling in your fingers by the time you reach the bottom.
Öhlins GXF30 M.1: the specifications
- Suspension travel: 40 mm
- Riser pipes: 30 mm
- Damping: Öhlins FTX14
- Compression stage: three positions, including lockout
- Installation height: 445 mm
- Weight: 1249 g
- Brake: Flat mount, 160 mm disc
- Ground clearance: 52 mm, 47 mm with mudguard
- Price: 895 euros
- Market launch: 21 October 2026
- Initial print run: 300 units worldwide
- Colour: Öhlins Racing Yellow
About Öhlins
Öhlins builds suspension systems for people for whom ‘that’ll do’ isn’t precise enough. Motocross rider Kenth Öhlin founded the company in 1976 near Stockholm; two years later, Gennady Moiseev won the first World Championship title on Swedish suspension. More than 460 world championship titles followed. The yellow springs and golden fork tubes became a trademark in MotoGP, Formula 1 and rallying. Öhlins is best known for its finely tunable TTX twin-tube technology.
The brand entered the mountain biking scene in 2013. Its most prominent figurehead became five-time Downhill World Champion Loïc Bruni, whose Specialized team has been working with Öhlins since 2017. The manufacturer also supports other downhill and junior teams, as well as the BMC Factory Racing Team in cross-country. The range extends from lightweight XC forks to the DH38 double-crown fork and the TTX22 steel coil shock.
Öhlins has been part of Brembo since 2025, and in 2026 the brand will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The original philosophy remains the same: high performance is of little use if the suspension cannot transfer it to the road.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor