While there are plenty of clever comfort solutions for the rear end of a gravel bike, the front has far fewer options. Among the aftermarket parts that do exist, like the Redshift ShockStop and Kinekt suspension stems, the Lauf Grit SL suspension fork stands out as a more radical approach to reducing vibrations.
The Lauf Grit SL is a leaf-sprung fork with an unmistakably unique design that tends to divide opinions, both for how it looks and how much it costs.
Thanks to Lauf, I’ll be putting the Grit SL to the test to find out whether it’s a genuine game-changer or just an expensive oddity.
How the Lauf Grit SL Works
The Lauf Grit SL suspension fork features a highly unconventional design. Instead of relying on a traditional damper, it uses glass fibre leaf springs that are bonded to the carbon fork legs. These springs flex in response to bumps, allowing for up to 30mm (1.2″) of vertical movement, promising a smoother ride on rough and washboarded roads.
Lauf claims the big advantage of this setup is its responsiveness. Unlike traditional damped forks, the Grit SL can react almost instantly to a rapid series of small impacts. That makes it especially well-suited to gravel riding, where you don’t need 100mm of plush travel – just something to smooth out fast, repetitive chatter.
But this benefit also comes with a potential downside.
Because the glass fibre springs can’t absorb or dissipate much energy on their own, that energy has to go somewhere. This led to criticism of Lauf’s original mountain bike fork, which some riders found too bouncy and difficult to control.
That said, this is a gravel-specific fork – and in this context, a bit of liveliness might actually be an asset.
Does It Work?
The Lauf Grit SL really does its job. As soon as you get out of the saddle, you can feel the subtle vertical compliance at work.
Despite offering just 30mm of travel, the difference in comfort is noticeable, whether you’re rolling over rough forest trails or flying down fast gravel roads.
And surprisingly, I didn’t experience the excessive bounce that some riders have reported.
Suspension Stem vs. Suspension Fork
The Redshift ShockStop suspension stem does a great job of isolating your upper body from road chatter. In my testing, it’s proven highly effective at reducing vibrations through the handlebars.
However, the Lauf suspension fork goes a step further. Not only does it enhance comfort, but it also improves front-end traction and stability. That’s because the fork suspends the front of the frame itself, meaning there’s more sprung mass. As a result, the front wheel rebounds less aggressively after hitting larger bumps.
The overall effect is a noticeably more stable and composed ride compared to what you get from a suspension stem alone.
Other Benefits To A Lauf Grit SL Fork
The tire clearance on the Lauf Grit SL is absolutely massive – I’m talking HUGE.
I was able to fit a 27.5 x 2.25″ Schwalbe Thunder Burt with room to spare. I’m confident that something like the 700 x 50mm Soma Cazadero would also slot in without issue.
Another big advantage is that the Lauf fork is completely maintenance-free. Unlike traditional suspension forks that require regular servicing, the Grit SL is ready to go whenever you are – rain, mud, heat, or cold. And unlike elastomer-based solutions, it won’t be affected by temperature swings.
One thing to note: Lauf recommends this fork for riders up to 110kg (243lb).
Changes To The Frame Geometry
The Lauf Grit SL fork has an axle-to-crown length of 409mm, or 403mm when you factor in its 6mm of sag.
If your current fork measures 380mm axle-to-crown, switching to the Grit SL will slacken your bike’s head angle by roughly one degree. That change typically slows down your steering response by around 10%.
The upside? The Grit SL features a 47mm fork offset. If you’re coming from a 45mm offset, that slight increase can help quicken the steering feel again, by about 2–3%, offsetting some of the geometry change.
My Gravel Bike Setup For The Test
I fitted the Lauf Grit SL to my Jamis Renegade benchmark bike for vibration testing. This bike was equipped with supple Soma Cazadero 42mm tires.
I tested the bike with the Lauf Grit SL fork and my Jamis carbon rigid fork. I also tested both scenarios with and without the Redshift ShockStop suspension stem.
I took readings at both 30 psi and 60 psi, the latter was to see what would happen if the tire deformed less.
You can see my vibration measurement procedure & outdoor test courses HERE.
Vibration Test Results
Bumpy Forest Trail
| Level of Vibrations (m/s²) | Vibration Difference Compared to Rigid Fork | |
| Rigid Fork | 6.1 | – |
| Lauf Grit SL | 6.0 | 1.6% Fewer Vibrations |
| Rigid + Redshift Stem | 4.7 | 23.0% Fewer Vibrations |
| Lauf + Redshift Stem | 4.5 | 26.2% Fewer Vibrations |
| Level of Vibrations (m/s²) | Vibration Difference Compared to Rigid Fork | |
| Rigid Fork | 8.45 | – |
| Lauf Grit SL | 7.5 | 11.2% Fewer Vibrations |
| Rigid + Redshift Stem | 6.45 | 23.7% Fewer Vibrations |
| Lauf + Redshift Stem | 6.0 | 29.0% Fewer Vibrations |
On the bumpy forest trail, the Lauf Grit SL consistently outperformed a rigid fork, but perhaps not by as much as you’d expect when it comes to vibration damping.
With tire pressure set at 30 psi, the difference in vibration between the Lauf fork and a standard carbon fork was just 1.6%. This suggests that most of the damping was coming from the supple Soma Cazadero tires, which likely have a lower spring rate at that pressure.
However, when I increased the pressure to 60 psi, the Lauf fork began to shine, reducing vibrations by up to 11.2% compared to the rigid fork.
And when I added a Redshift ShockStop stem into the mix (on both forks), the results were even more impressive. The stem alone brought vibration levels down by a massive 20 to 25%. It’s almost shockingly effective at smoothing out the ride.
Fast Gravel Road
| Level of Vibrations (m/s²) | Vibration Difference Compared to Rigid Fork | |
| Rigid Fork | 9.9 | – |
| Lauf Grit SL | 9.0 | 9.1% Fewer Vibrations |
| Rigid + Redshift Stem | 8.3 | 16.2% Fewer Vibrations |
| Lauf + Redshift Stem | 7.5 | 24.2% Fewer Vibrations |
| Level of Vibrations (m/s²) | Vibration Difference Compared to Rigid Fork | |
| Rigid Fork | 12.75 | – |
| Lauf Grit SL | 12.0 | 5.9% Fewer Vibrations |
| Rigid + Redshift Stem | 10.5 | 17.6% Fewer Vibrations |
| Lauf + Redshift Stem | 10.5 | 17.6% Fewer Vibrations |
The differences became more noticeable on the fast gravel road. At 30 psi, the Lauf Grit SL reduced vibrations by 9.1% compared to a rigid fork. With the Redshift ShockStop stem added, the Lauf setup improved even further, offering a 24.2% reduction over the rigid fork.
Once again, the ShockStop stem proved highly effective. Across all setups and both pressure settings (30 and 60 psi), it reduced vibrations reaching the handlebars by 12 to 17%. It’s clearly doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of comfort.
However, when tire pressure was increased to 60 psi, the Lauf fork’s advantage over the rigid fork dropped to just 5.9%. Why the smaller gain?
I suspect it comes down to how the system handles higher-amplitude vibrations. At lower pressures, the tire itself helps absorb some of the energy that passes through the fork’s glass fibre springs. But at 60 psi, the tire becomes stiffer and less capable of absorbing that energy, making the fork’s damping feel less effective overall.
Summary
I’ve grown to really enjoy the new feel of my gravel bike. In fact, I like it so much that the Lauf Grit SL fork is staying on my benchmark bike much longer than I originally planned.
That said, before considering the Grit SL, it’s important to factor in its price, US $990. At that cost, I wouldn’t recommend it as your first upgrade for improving comfort. A wider, more supple tire and a Redshift ShockStop suspension stem should be your starting point. They’re far more cost-effective and already deliver a significant improvement in ride quality.
If you’re still chasing more vibration damping after that, then the Lauf Grit SL fork becomes a compelling addition. Paired with a high-volume tire and the ShockStop stem, it’s one of the most effective setups I’ve tested for creating a truly comfortable gravel cockpit.
And beyond comfort, don’t forget the added benefits of improved traction, braking control, and stability on rough terrain – something only a suspension fork can deliver.
A few extra observations after extended testing:
The fork whistles in strong winds – yes, really. It’s a subtle sound, but worth noting.
Riding on the bar tops offers the least benefit in terms of comfort. The more weight you place on the hoods, the better the fork can do its job.
