RockShox has expanded its gravel suspension offering by introducing the new Rudy XL.
The new gravel fork increases the tyre clearance from the highly rated Rudy XPLR Ultimate to 2.25in/57.5mm. RockShox also upped the suspension travel to 50mm and 60mm options, both coming with a 45mm fork offset.
The Rudy XPLR Ultimate continues to be offered in 30mm and 40mm-travel options, and 45mm and 51mm offsets, with 50mm tyre clearance.
Since the original Rudy launched, we’ve seen a shift in gravel design. Pro riders are looking to ever-wider tyres, leading to many adapting cross-country mountain bikes to take advantage of the larger tyres.
That’s good news for bike designers looking to update their adventurous gravel designs. We’d imagine that would include Trek’s as-yet-unnamed new gravel bike we spotted back in June being ridden to victory in the Trans Balkan Race by Justinas Leveika.
- Best gravel suspension forks 2025 – plus our buyer's guide
- We predicted the future of gravel bikes in 2019 – what did we get right?
Ground-up new design
RockShox say the Rudy XL has been in development for two years. The new design combines the same slender (compared to mountain bike forks) 30mm stanchions, combined with a fresh lower with a new-shaped angular crown to maximise tyre clearance.
The increase in travel also means a small increase in weight from the 40mm-travel Rudy XPLR Ultimate's 1,300g to 1,370g on the new XL.
The fork also gains twin-bolt mounts for a new dedicated short mudguard/fender that's available separately for £22 / $25 / €25.
What’s inside?
The Rudy XL uses the user-friendly Solo Air Spring found on some models of Judy, Reba and Recon mountain bike forks. However, here the Solo Air Spring has been tuned for the shorter 50 and 60mm of travel.
The Charger Race Day 2 damper is only found on RockShox's premium lightweight SID fork range.
Like the original Rudy, the Rudy XL comes in two models. The range-topping Rudy XL Ultimate gets both the Solo Air Spring and the Charger Race Day 2 damper, and comes in a new bold Electric Red signature colourway.
The second standard Rudy XL gets the same Solo Air Spring but uses a cartridge-rebound damper with rebound adjust. Like the XL Ultimate, it comes in 50mm and 60mm-travel options and fits up to a 29x2.25-inch tyre.
What does this mean for gravel bike design?
Up until now, the range of gravel suspension forks available has maxed out at 50mm travel (Fox and MRP). RockShox has upped the game by not only increasing travel but also tyre clearance.
The increase in travel shouldn’t render the latest generation of gravel bikes, such as our 2025 gravel Bike of the Year, the Parlee Taos, or progressive-geometry bikes such as Mondraker’s highly capable Arid obsolete. It means the Rudy XL can be set up with more sag than a shorter-travel fork.
We will, however, see bikes starting to arrive for 2026, designed around these new dimensions. That could mean the current trend of riders adapting XC mountain bikes to drop bars becomes unnecessary and a short blip in the timeline of gravel suspension design.
Pricing
The Rudy XL is not available aftermarket; it’s destined for OE (original equipment) fitment on compatible gravel bikes.
RockShox has the Rudy XL Ultimate available from today in 50mm and 60mm-travel options, priced at £900 / $929 / €1,010.
