40 mm for €809: the DT Swiss F 132 gravel fork smooths out your tracks

If your gravel rides always end up on broken tracks, roots or loose stone and you get home with sore wrists, this is for you. DT Swiss is expanding its suspension family with a new gravel fork, the F 132, with 40 mm of travel and a price of 809 euros. And there's more: the F 132 ONE, which until now you could only find fitted to Canyon bikes, is starting to be sold separately, according to Brújula Bike.

Two pieces of news in one that open the door to something that was rare not long ago: fitting front suspension to a gravel bike that left the factory with a rigid fork.

What the new DT Swiss F 132 gravel fork brings

The F 132 is made for gravel, not a cut-down XC fork. Its 40 mm of travel won't turn your bike into a mountain bike, and that's not the idea: it's meant to take out vibration and sharp hits on rough ground without losing the feel of a fast bike on good tracks and tarmac.

At 809 euros, it's an option for anyone who wants to make the move to suspension with a brand that has a long tradition in wheels and suspension. The source doesn't give further specifications, so before buying it's worth checking DT Swiss's official spec sheet for the exact measurements.

The F 132 ONE leaves Canyon

The other half of the news is for anyone who already knew the F 132 ONE. Until now it was exclusive to Canyon: if you wanted it, you had to take the bike too. Now DT Swiss sells it separately, which widens the options for any compatible gravel bike, whatever the brand.

It's also good news if you have a Canyon with this fork: finding spares or a replacement unit should be easier than when it depended on a single manufacturer.

Before fitting suspension to your gravel bike, check this

Going from a rigid to a suspension fork isn't just swapping one part. Before you dive in, go through these points with your bike in front of you:

• Geometry: a suspension fork is usually taller than a rigid one. That changes the head angle and the front-end height, and with them how the bike handles. Check that your frame is designed for, or at least allows, that change.
• Steerer tube and axle: make sure the steerer diameter, headset and axle type match your frame and front wheel.
• Front brake: check the calliper mounting standard and the disc size allowed.
• Tyre clearance: if you use wide tyres, check they fit with room to spare for mud.
• Frame warranty: some manufacturers limit which forks you can fit. Better to know beforehand.

If in doubt, a visit to the workshop with the spec sheet in hand will save you surprises.

And the spare rigid fork?

If you make the switch, your original fork doesn't have to end up in the storeroom. Lots of people who build gravel bikes are looking for a spare rigid fork or one to restore another bike, so you can sell it among the second-hand components on bicis.net.

And if, instead of adapting yours, you'd rather get a gravel bike that already comes with suspension, take a look at the second-hand gravel bikes: it's a good way to try the feel without spending what a new fork costs.

Whether you stick with the rigid fork or move to 40 mm, what matters is that the tracks keep calling you. And if your current gravel bike no longer suits how you ride, list it for free and let someone else enjoy it.