RFLOXA Hawk31 Pro on My Surron: A Premium Feel Without the Premium Pain
November 5, 2024
My Surron’s front end was due for an upgrade.
The FastAce fork I’d been running was leaking oil (and once that starts happening, the ride gets weird fast). It turned progressively more springy and bouncy, and the front end stopped feeling trustworthy—especially when I wanted to push a little harder.
So I swapped in the RFLOXA Hawk31 Pro, an inverted fork with a progressive spring and a ton of tuning range. I installed it, set it up with a sensible baseline, then rode it on the street and got some off-road time on it to see if it’s actually the “best fork for the money” kind of upgrade people hope for.
First impressions: it looks and feels like a serious fork
Right out of the box, the finish caught me off guard in a good way. The triples look high quality, and the overall build feels premium in-hand—like something that belongs on a higher-end build, not just an “aftermarket replacement.”
It also comes with an upgraded front axle, and the axle setup is a nice quality-of-life improvement compared to what many of us are used to.
Install: mostly smooth, with one important gotcha
If you’ve swapped a Surron fork before, this is in the same general category—straightforward, but you’ll want to take your time.
A couple real-world notes from my install:
I initially installed it incorrectly (yep): the fork went on backwards at first, and I also had the triple clamp orientation wrong. Once I corrected it, everything seated up properly.
The axle design is different in a good way. You don’t need two axle nuts—just one. And the pinch bolts that clamp around the axle are located on the top rather than the bottom, which I prefer.
It did not come with a star nut. I had a spare star nut and installer kit on hand, so it wasn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s something you should plan for before you tear your front end apart.
While I was in there, I cleaned the bearing and applied fresh grease.
How I set it up before riding
When a fork has a lot of adjustability, I like starting simple.
I found the max range (counted clicks from full-soft to full-firm) and set everything roughly at the halfway point as a baseline. From there, I adjusted based on feel.
This approach won’t magically nail the perfect tune in one shot, but it gets you into a usable window fast—especially if you’re coming from a fork that was worn out or leaking.
On-road feel: immediately more planted than my worn FastAce
Even just rolling around on pavement, the Hawk31 Pro felt “dialed” immediately.
Under braking, the front end compresses in a controlled way instead of that vague bounce I’d been dealing with. The fork felt calm and predictable—more like it wants to track straight and do its job rather than constantly remind you that something’s off.
I’m around 130–135 lbs, and with my initial setup it felt like the preload and general support were already in a really comfortable zone for street riding.
Light off-road: smoother over small hits, supportive when it matters
I did some grass and bumpy terrain on street tires (not ideal, but it still tells you a lot about suspension feel).
Small chatter and little ripples felt noticeably smoother compared to my old setup. The fork didn’t feel harsh or spiky.
And when I pushed into bigger compressions, I could feel the progressive spring character: it stays softer early in the travel, then ramps up and gets firmer deeper in the stroke. That ramp-up is exactly what you want when landings and bigger hits enter the picture.
Stunting and front wheel control: rebound that helps, not hurts
One of the most useful things I noticed from more aggressive riding is how the rebound helps the bike.
Popping the front wheel up felt easier with the extra rebound support, and the fork stayed controlled instead of feeling like it was pogo-ing.
Also, something that matters way more than people expect: the front wheel continued spinning freely. With some aftermarket forks, if you clamp or tighten things just a little too much, you can end up with a front wheel that doesn’t spin as freely—bad news for balance and consistency. Here, everything stayed smooth and free-rolling, which helped the front end feel stable during wheelies.
What’s going on with the RFLOXA Hawk31 Pro (without getting lost in spec soup)
This fork is built around an inverted oil-spring damping setup with asymmetrical legs that operate independently. In practical terms, it’s designed to give you a smooth ride while still being responsive—and it gives you a lot of ways to tune it.
The adjustability includes:
High-speed compression damping
Low-speed compression damping
Rebound damping
Spring preload
It also uses an oil pressure bottom-out design to provide support near the end of the travel, which helps reduce that harsh “slam” feeling on bigger hits.
What We Like
The ride feel is immediately more controlled and confidence-inspiring than a worn/leaking fork
Progressive spring behavior makes it comfortable on smaller stuff while resisting harsh bottom-outs on bigger hits
Tons of adjustment range for riders who like to fine-tune
The axle setup and top-located pinch bolts are a nice design touch
It looks and feels like a higher-end component than you’d expect at this price point
Things To Consider
It doesn’t include a star nut, so plan ahead or you’ll get stuck mid-install
With all the adjustability, there’s a real learning curve—expect some trial and error to truly dial it in
The robust build may add some weight, which can affect handling depending on your setup and riding style
Final Thoughts
After installing and riding the RFLOXA Hawk31 Pro, it feels like a legit step up for anyone who’s outgrown basic forks or is tired of dealing with worn seals and inconsistent damping.
The biggest win for me is that “set it up and trust it” feeling: controlled under braking, smooth across small bumps, and supportive when you load it harder.
If you’re the kind of rider who’s willing to spend a little time learning the adjustments (or at least starting from a sensible baseline and experimenting), the Hawk31 Pro lands in a sweet spot: premium ride characteristics and serious tunability, without pushing into the most expensive tier.
Links
RFLOXA Hawk31 Pro (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK for 5% off): https://www.rflo-xa.com?aff=11
Fork Star Nut Installer: https://amzn.to/4eh1tv8
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
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Hafny Handlebar Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/3FVubmN
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Denlix Military Sling Bag: https://amzn.to/3LTKN2c
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/