hlins is the latest brand to join the growing gravel suspension market with its new GXF30 M.1 fork. The Swedish suspension specialists are applying their control creates performance philosophy to gravel with a fork that they say smooths rough terrain, increases grip, and inspires confidence without sacrificing efficiency or dulling the ride. The GXF30 M.1 has 40mm of travel, 30mm stanchions, and a new gravel-specific FTX14 damping system.We are not the first suspension company entering the gravel segment, but we wanted to do it with our own philosophy. Our objective was simple: improve rider comfort, increase grip on technical terrain, and provide greater confidence and safety on every ride. These three principles guided every engineering decision throughout the development process. The result is a suspension fork that allows riders to go faster while feeling more in control.-Terje Hansen, Engineering Managerhlins GXF30 M.1 Detailshlins says it didnt create this new fork because gravel became fashionable, but because they believe every off-road discipline benefits from suspension. As such, the brand set out to leverage its decades of performance suspension expertise into a new fork designed specifically for gravel riding. According to hlins, the GXF30 M.1 combines a purpose-tuned chassis and dedicated damping platform to achieve the ideal balance between comfort, efficiency, and control.40mm TravelSo far, most gravel suspension forks have been available with 30mm or 40mm of travel, and recently, some brands have offered even longer travel options, like the RockShox Rudy XL, for example. For its first gravel fork, hlins has chosen 40mm of travel as the sweet spot based on extensive engineering and field testing. They say that 40mm provides the ideal balance between rider comfort, pedaling efficiency, steering precision, and modern gravel bike geometry.They also go on to say that while changing the travel is possible, it would require replacing the piston rod assembly. Thats why the GXF30 M.1 will initially only be available with 40mm of travel. But it sounds like that possibly leaves the door open for other travel lengths in the future.30mm Stanchionshlins says that one of its design objectives was to build the smartest chassis. They say they targeted the stiffness of their 100mm travel XC platform, but at a much lower weight. With shorter travel, they say bushing loads are naturally lower, even with the smaller 30mm stanchion diameter. Likewise, the narrower gravel axle spacing also helps to create a torsionally stiffer chassis and further compensates for the smaller stanchion diameter.According to hlins, The result is a fork that delivers precise steering, exceptional front-end accuracy, and enough controlled compliance to remain comfortable through rough gravel, loose terrain, and muddy ruts.FTX14 DamperThe brand also tells us that it designed its new FTX14 Damper specifically for the gravel application. They say it doesnt rely solely on traditional shim-stack architecture; their engineers developed a monotube hydraulic system introducing a new valve philosophy designed to maximize damping precision within an extremely compact package. This system is claimed to provide excellent small bump sensitivity, responsive rebound behavior, and great support during larger impacts.hlins says the FTX14 Damper was designed to provide great traction over loose surfaces along with excellent control during high-speed compressions. It includes multiple compression settings, including a full manual lockout to maximize efficiency on paved roads or extended climbs. Overall, the gravel-specific design and tuning is claimed to provide a predictable performance that is easily tunable to find the traction and support you need to ride faster.Tire ClearanceGravel tires seem to just keep on getting wider, and hlins says it designed the GXF30 M.1 for modern high-volume tires. The maximum tire clearance without mudguards is stated at 52mm, and that goes down to 47mm with mudguards installed. That clearance will likely work for most riders, but might leave the bigger-is-better 55mm+ crowd a bit underwhelmed.Weight and Other DetailsThe GXF30 M.1 uses a flat mount brake interface, which is the road and gravel standard. It is designed for use with 160mm brake rotors to provide the optimal balance of braking power, integration, and weight. It has a 445mm axle-to-crown measurement. According to hlins, the GXF30 M.1 fork weighs 1,249 grams, which seems competitive with comparable options from Fox and RockShox.Limited Editionhlins says the first production run of the GXF30 M.1 gravel fork will consist of just 300 Limited Edition units. These will be available exclusively through the brands Fast Forward Program and painted in hlins signature Racing Yellow, a color that has become synonymous with five decades of racing success.Pricing and AvailabilityThe new hlins GXF30 M.1 is available now at the retail price of $995 USD / 895. As mentioned above, the launch edition is limited to 300 units worldwide through hlins Fast Forward Program. Head to the hlins website to learn more.ohlins.com