When Lauf released their short travel, carbon leaf spring forks, I’ll admit I was not only skeptical of the fork with its unique aesthetic but didn’t have an interest in trying one. However, for the long haul, multi-surface urban-to-dirt adventure rides we’ve been doing the last few winters, the innovative fork has grown in its appeal.
With a 485mm axle to crown length, the Lauf TR Boost fork is intended as a replacement for a 100mm XC fork. Featuring boost spacing, bolt-on through axle, 180mm rotor size, and 60mm of front wheel travel, the Lauf fork provides plenty of cush for light off-road use, but it’s that minimal 1,000 g/ 2.2 lb. weight that has our attention.
We’ve been testing the Enve carbon mountain fork on a 29″ MTB hardtail bikes and it’s transformed the bike into a rocketship on the climbs. A bit of extra give would be nice though, and the complete lack of maintenance from the leaf spring also has a ton of appeal.
At $990 USD, the TR Boost fork is a sizable investment, but for riders looking to transform their 29″ XC hardtails into all-day gravel crushers, it might be an ideal solution.
Learn more at LaufCycling.com or shop for one with retail partner Competitive Cyclist and support the site.
