Upgrading Your MOG: Adding a Suspension Fork for Gravel Adventures

Gravel bikes and the way they’re used are evolving, with riders pushing boundaries through larger tires and, increasingly, suspension forks. Whether you want or need 50 mm tires and a suspension fork depends largely on the terrain you ride and your priorities. It’s not just gravel riders seeking a pseudo drop-bar mountain bike who are opting for these changes; it’s also those wanting more confidence across varied terrain, thanks to wider tires, lower pressure, and 30–40 mm of front travel.

Fortunately for MOG owners, fitting the bike with 50mm tires is no problem, but what about adding a suspension fork? We’ve spent considerable time evaluating this on our bikes, and we’re happy to confirm that there’s no reason you can’t add a gravel-specific suspension fork to your MOG. It’s a unique way to enhance its capabilities, increase comfort, and open up more route options than ever before. In our experience, the MOG is a perfectly suitable chassis for a gravel-specific suspension fork.

The MOG’s stock axle-to-crown measurement is 395 mm, but suspension forks typically measure 415 mm or more. This change slightly alters the bike’s geometry:

• Slacker Head Tube Angle: Improves stability on steep, technical descents.

• Higher Bottom Bracket: Adds clearance for technical terrain.

• Subtle Handling Shift: Slightly slower handling, which aids stability at speed.

For the best experience, choose a fork with a 51mm rake. A shorter 45 mm rake can be effective, but it may introduce “wheel flop,” making handling less predictable. Similarly, 30–40 mm of travel hits the sweet spot. We don’t recommend using a fork with more than 40 mm of travel.

Adding a suspension fork will increase overall weight and compromise the aerodynamics of your MOG. Two things that have the potential to impact racing performance. Still, even with that, some elite-level athletes have decided that the positives outweigh the negatives, at least for certain terrain or events. 

If you’re intrigued by the idea of a suspension fork for your MOG, stick to 30–40 mm of travel and a 51 mm rake for optimal handling. The gravel world is expanding, and your MOG is ready to keep up.