Cane Creek Brings Back the Short-travel Fork with the Works Series Helm

In 2019, Cane Creek launched their Works Series 130mm short-travel fork, the WS130. It was later replaced by the Helm MKII, which had a superior damper. However, the Helm MKII doesn’t offer a good way to remove positive air volume, so it performs better when set up above 130mm—namely, it doesn’t blow through its travel as quickly as it might when set up as a 100 or 120mm fork. The shorter-travel Works Series has a different air spring assembly with volume reduction for 100-130mm of travel. Cane Creek just released a limited run of the new Works Series Helm, a modular fork that’s available in four travel options: 100mm, 110mm, 120mm, and 130mm.

The Works Series Helm has 35mm stanchions, a 44mm offset, and a stiffer chassis to provide a more controlled ride. According to Cane Creek, it has clearance for 2.5″ tires, and at 1,995 grams (130mm w/axle), it’s 100 grams lighter than the Helm MKII.

It’s worth pointing out that the damper on the Works Series Helm differs from the one on the Helm MKII. Cane Creek designed a custom damper with shorter shafts and tubes, and it also has a “climb” switch with a firmer lockout than the Helm MKII. Travel adjustments include 10 positions of high-speed compression, 17 positions of low-speed compression, and 10 positions of low-speed rebound. Like Cane Creek’s Helm MKII, the Works Series’ travel can easily be adjusted in 10mm increments with just a few tools.

Each Works Series Helm fork is designed, built, inspected, tested, and packed at the Cane Creek facility in Fletcher, North Carolina. The limited run fork is available while supplies last for $,1099.99. Learn more over at CaneCreek.com.

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