ENVE has released its new GRD Gravel Road Fork onto the market, nearly one year after BikeRadar first spotted it at the 2015 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS).
Related: New ENVE GRD gravel road disc fork and seatpost spotted at NAHBS
As the name suggests, ENVE is pitching the new forks squarely at the burgeoning gravel and all-road arena – "cyclists seeking the pinnacle of all-road and inclement weather fork performance with an optional easy to install/remove full protection, carbon fender", according to the marketing spiel. The unidirectional carbon disc-brake fork retails at $750, with UK and Australian pricing to be confirmed.
The new fork comes fitted with an integrated carbon mudguard/fender, which can be detached. It requires no tools to attach and remove, with two U-shaped channels snapping into shallow channels at the fork tips and two further snap-to-attach points on the insides of the blade. BikeRadar's James Huang, who viewed the version at NAHBS 2015, described it as seeming 'impressively stable'.
The 382mm axle-to-crown length sits between Enve's Road Disc model at 367mm and its Cross Disc model at 395mm; the GRD weighs in at 450g according to Enve, though this is likely with the 'guard fitted.
It also features a tapered steerer tube with a 400mm length and 47mm rake, with clearance for 35mm rubber. ENVE has also opted for a 12mm thru-axle, and the Gravel Road Fork can take 140mm or 160mm disc brake rotors and includes a disc brake hose clip.
