Belva enduro fork is designed to strike a balance between stiffness and flex for electric mountain bikes

By Luke Marshall

Published: Tuesday, 26 March 2024 at 10:21 AM


Formula has unveiled the new Belva: a dual-crown enduro fork designed to meet the evolving demands of modern mountain biking.

It’s aimed at hard-charging riders seeking more control and performance than a 38mm single-crown fork can provide, without the weight penalty of a downhill fork.

With the continuous increase in bike capabilities and the rise in popularity of electric mountain bikes, suspension systems are under increasing pressure to deliver optimal performance.

In response, Formula has developed the dual-crown Belva, prioritising stiffness and long-travel capability to cater for the needs of the long-travel electric bike market and bike-park shredders.

Formula’s Belva is a long-travel dual-crown fork. – Formula

What you need to know about the new Formula Belva

  • Dual-crown enduro fork 
  • £1,590 / $TBC / €1,850 / $2,150CA
  • 170/180mm travel 
  • Single air spring, coil negative spring
  • Designed for 29in wheels 
  • 15x110mm axle 
  • 43mm offset 
  • Tapered steerer 
  • Double-butted 35mm stanchions 
  • Lightweight forged crowns 
  • 2,370g (claimed)

The Belva is intended to address a common issue in fork design by mitigating flex at the crown steerer unit (CSU), irrespective of stanchion size. This dual-crown setup centres stiffness around the head tube, eliminating associated creaking noises.

Formula Belva machined crown and direct mount stem
A machined crown helps save weight, while a direct-mount stem adds stiffness. – Formula

Built around the lower legs of the brand’s enduro single-crown Selva fork, the Belva is claimed to strike a balance between strategic stiffness and flex. Formula states this flex/stiffness balance enhances steering precision, while maintaining traction and comfort on the trail – a best-of-both-worlds design.

Formula emphasises this isn’t a toned-down downhill fork but instead a specific dual-crown enduro fork designed to provide precision and accuracy for ebikes and long-travel machines. As such, it’s comparable in weight to a 38mm single-crown fork (2,370g claimed), making it suitable for use on enduro bikes.

Formula Belva top crown and compression dials
The Belva uses Formula’s CTS valves, a lock-out dial, external high- and low-speed compression adjustment, and low-speed rebound adjustment. – Formula

Crafted with custom-forged crowns, lightweight 35mm stanchions, a 43mm-offset lockout lever, tapered steerer and 15mm axle, the Belva offers versatility for both uphill and downhill riding with 170mm/180mm of travel.

The fork utilises Formula’s Compression Tuning System (CTS), enabling riders to make professional-grade adjustments quickly and easily with everyday tools.

The CTS employs swappable compression valves to fine-tune the compression-damping curves of the fork trailside.

There are eight different CTS valves to choose from to achieve the desired fork feel.

Formula CTS valve comparison graph
You can swap the Belva’s CTS compression valves to tune the fork’s ride feel. – Formula

The Belva employs Formula’s single positive air spring with a coil negative spring for simple and efficient setup. Neopos technology, Formula’s compressible volume spacers, further enhances the riding experience by offering customisable end-stroke tuning and mid-stroke stability.