Rodeo Labs Spork 4.0
The demands of modern gravel and adventure riding are always increasing.
Rodeo Spork 4.0 is an all-new fork built from the ground up to keep pace with and stay ahead of rider’s needs. We’ve build 4.0 on everything we’ve learned over the last decade of constant adventure fork development and innovation.
Spork 4.0 boasts more tire and mud clearance, lighter weight, new routing options, new dynamo wiring configurations, and support for more powerful brakes. No other fork on the market combines all of Spork 4’s features, period.
Topping it all off, Spork 4.0 has an entirely new shape with a modern edge, while still looking at home on classic metal bikes and carbon bikes alike.
Spork 4.0 is the new leader in the adventure fork market.
Configure yours now, or read on below to get the full scoop on Spork’s new capabilities.
Details and Features
Customer Reviews
King Of Clearance
Tire trends are relentless, and tire size needs are seemingly always growing. With Spork 4 we planned for the biggest tires, just in case you decide you need them. For all around gravel riding, we find that a 40-50mm tire is the sweet spot. For fast, rugged racing and bikepacking, consider bumping up to 2.1 – 2.25 inch, or 54mm to 58mm. For the most rugged conditions such as chunky Icelandic Highlands or soft Baja sands, 2.4 inch or 61mm will help your bike float above it all. Spork 4 easily handles the entire spectrum of tire sizes.
700 x 2.4 (61mm)
Leave tire size constraints behind. Spork 4 easily and safely fits tires up to 700x61mm, with additional room left over for the elements.
700 x 2.0 (50mm)
There is no lower limit for how small of a tire you may run in Spork 4. We’ve run down to 700x32mm. A 50mm tire, shown here, fits comfortably and proportionally.
Improved routing options
Spork 4 has an incredibly wide range of routing options for your brake / shift lines, and it leaves all of the critical decisions to you. Thanks to it’s new “D” shaped steer tube, Spork 4 can accomodate fully integrated (hidden) brake line routing without needing big, bulky upper headset assemblies. With the void created by the D-shaped steer tube profile, it is possible to use standard headsets and stems while keeping your brake lines entirely hidden from sight. If you prefer semi-integrated routing through the headset, but not the stem, Spork 4 supports that as well (via our Quite Integrated Headset). Spork 4 also supports third party integrated system such as Chris King InRoute, Wolf Tooth, FSA, Ritchey, Cane Creek, Deda, and other brands. Spork 4 is backwards compatible with standard headsets designed for round steer tubes.
If you’re not into integration at all, and want to run your routing externally and traditionally, Spork 4 continues to support that.
The Spork 4 D-shaped steer tube makes it all possible
Our D-Shaped compression plug is supplied with every fork and is required in every installation.
Improved and innovative dynamo hub support options.
Spork 4 is available with pre-installed dynamo and wiring connector integrations that make installation and use of dynamo features dramatically simplified.
Son SL Self Connecting Dropouts
Son has created the SL Self Connecting system to improve ease of use and reliability of dynamo hub systems. A compatible Son SL hub is required and not included. Spork 4 is the only carbon adventure fork available at retail which allows compatibility with the Son SL Self Connecting system. When this option is selected during purchase, we install the Son dropout connectors on Spork 4 and run all of the necessary wiring out of the crown hole. If you would like to connect your dynamo accessory somewhere other than the fork crown, you are able to re-route those wires through the steer tube or elsewhere as you desire.
Magnetic wiring connectors
Spork 4 is available with optional magnetic connectors, making dynamo connections easier when connecting dynamo headlights and dynamo hubs. Instead of permanent connections or tedious plug installations, our magnetic connector option allows effortless connection and removal of your dynamo accessory. We will reach out to discuss your intended dynamo setup when pre-installing the connectors before your fork ships. Magnetic connections are stainless steel and have been tested across all weather conditions.
Support for larger brakes
As trips get longer, loads get heavier, and braking needs increase. Spork 4 now supports both 160mm and 180mm caliper / disc brake rotor installations, so you can slow yourself and all your gear down in time.
Fork Geometry
Spork 4 is offered in a 50mm rake / offset.
Spork 4 has an axle to crown of 405, which is 1cm taller than Spork 3. The additional height of Spork 4 allows for greater tire size and mud clearance.
Q: Is Spork 4 compatible with my bike?
A: Almost certainly yes, but let’s dig in a bit more to explain.
Most traditional gravel bikes are designed around a 395mm axle to crown measurement, which is 1cm shorter than Spork 4. So, if you swap a Spork 4 onto a bike you already own, there is a good chance it’s going to raise your front end 1cm higher. If you have spacers under your stem you can offset a lot of this by removing a single 1cm spacer. The taller axle to crown will also ever so slightly slacken out your head tube, which very subtly relaxes the handling of your bike. In real world riding, both of these changes are very small, and most riders won’t be able to notice them. Those that can discern the difference will adapt to the new normal within a few rides.
For the sake of comparison, gravel suspension forks add between 30 and 60mm of axle to crown height to a bike when installed. In comparison to that, Spork 4 hardly changes the bike at all!
We’ve evaluated the feel of the fork in thousands of miles of real world testing pre-release, and are confident that Spork 4 is an excellent upgrade to nearly any modern gravel / adventure bike.
Additional Specifications
Additional Specifications
Max rider weight: 270 lbs / 122.5 kg
Max additional cargo weight: 27.5 lbs / 12.5 kg
Steer tube taper: 1-1/8″ to 1.5″ D-Shaped steer tube.
Steerer tube length: 330mm
Inner steer tube diameter: 23.3±0.2mm. D-Shaped steer tube.
Fork crown race: Carbon crown race is integrated into the fork. No crown race can or should be installed. 45 degree bearing angle.
Compression Plug: Rodeo Labs D-Shaped compression plug supplied and required. A star nut is not compatible with Spork and using one is unsafe.
Max headset spacer stack height between top of headset and bottom of stem: 40mm
Internal wiring: Wiring for accessories may be run from each dropout up and out of the three crown holes at the front of the fork. Wiring may re-enter the crown or remain inside of the crown and continue into the steer tube, exiting into the head tube via the brake line hole where it can continue into the frame, or out through the stem via the D-Shaped steer tube.
Axle length: 120mm total length.
Axle thread pitch: 1.5mm
Dropout Spacing: Non-boost 100mm
Axle diameter: 12mm
Brake Mount: Flat Mount native. 160mm / 180mm rotor with standard flat mount caliper mounting plate. Post mount possible with correct adapter.
Brake hose routing: Internal through fork leg. Not sleeved. Fully integrated routing supported.
Rack and fender Support: Standard pizza-style and porteur racks supported. Fitment varies by rack. Our crown bolt hole is non-threaded and designed for a through bolt and nut with nylon washers on each side to prevent scarring. Always use a safety lash to fasten the rack to the head tube in case of failure of the through bolt or fastening nut. Low rider racks aren’t supported by Spork 4 unless you are somehow able fasten them to the mid-leg eyelets. Many fenders will be compatible with Spork 4 if you fasten the strut to the lowest mid leg eyelet on each fork leg. Some problem solving may be required.
Testing / Certification: ISO 4210 MTB racing
Warranty: Lifetime to the original owner against defects in design / workmanship. Damage due to wear and tear, abuse, over torquing of bolts, corrosion, or neglect not covered by any warranty. Rodeo Labs forks and bikes are not certified for jumping because the spectrum of possible jumping scenarios is too wide to quantify and test for.
Crash replacement pricing: Yes, please contact us for pricing.
Please use nylon washers between the metal bolt / mount / washers and the carbon fork itself when mounting lights, racks, and fenders to the fork in order to help prevent scarring and damage to the fork crown area. A maximum of 5nm of torque is not to be exceeded when mounting a light or rack to the fork crown mounting point.
When mounting loads greater than the weight of a standard water bottle (cage + bottle) to the fork leg using the mid-leg eyelets, use 20mm M5 bolts in order to attach the cargo / bags through the entire fork eyelet. This dramatically increases cargo carrying durability.
Be sure to grease bolts well when using any fork eyelets in order to prevent corrosion between bolt and eyelet. Sized bolts will be very difficult to remove and can damage inserts.
Be sure to use washers on any bolts being attached to fork eyelets in order to prevent bolts from backing out during use.
Max torque on mid-leg eyelet bolts cannot exceed 5nm
Some cages such as those from Salsa have the potential to damage our eyelets and fork. When using Salsa cages or mounting anything to the eylets that has a textured metal finish, place a nylon washer between each mounting point / cage in order to protect the finish of the fork, and to raise the surface of the cage body away from the fork legs. Consider your cages and items that you mount carefully and consider applying heli tape or 3M clear film to interface points for the sake of protecting your fork. We are not repsonsible from scuffs / damage due to mounting items and scuffing / chipping the painted finish of the fork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Launching a new bike brings up a lot of questions. We’ve got answers. As we get more inquries on details, we will add them to this page. If you have a question of your own, just email us at bikes@rodeo-labs.com.
FAQ