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Because a motorcycle fork doesn't have to be under 4 pounds for its intended audience. They can use thicker tubes, heavier materials and designs to make it stiffer without it being a market failure or affecting human powered performance.
I also have a Dorado on my current bike, tbh I don’t feel any flex but I’m not a pro. What I like about USD forks is that you always get the same feeling, like when you service the lower…They might be a little bit heavier than regular forks but the small bump sensitivity is on top of everything. There are some teams that are running Dorado’s at world cups and they got some good results. Like someone said earlier, it’s all about money. Fox/Sram have deep pockets, Manitou on the other side are a small brand compared with these guys. Keep an eye on EXT they will release a new DH fork next year and they will support a big factory team (that’s what I heard from the regional EXT distributor), the new fork might be USD based on the current EXT Ferro.
What bugs me the most is that there’s no detailed info about this fork, like price, what axle, what spring, how much travel, what adjustments, different versions, a2c, offset, weight, some comparison for rigidity (even if not so detailed - it would be enough to say “we made sure it’s the same as 38/Zeb rigid-wise”).
Mainframe looks exactly like an RM Altitude.
Considering a lot of the motorbike forks are shiny silver... Are the stanchions steel and chromed? Or do they use aluminium like on bikes?
Steel.
The flex near the axle is from bending moment, not torsion. It is comparatively easy to resist twisting of a material, as opposed to clamping a certain distance apart, and then resisting bending between those two points.
In fact bending (from one point) is one the more famous / infamous mechanical engineering problems for students.
Interesting how trials bikes aren't USD and it looks like a lot of them are Kashima.
Uuuuuum... No.
Fox/rs would have their own reasons for not developing a usd fork (including tooling/development investment). Fox actually developed a usd dh fork at one point, pretty sure minarr and maybe gee were testing it? Apparently great in straight line, not so much in hard cornering and the weight increase required was beyond what they were willing to sell. I did my thesis on the torsional flex in usd forks, built a jig to actually get some data on them too. While it wasonly a static (not dynamic) test, it did allow me to work out that a large degree of torsional flex comes more from the constraints between the components (ie twisting between stanchion and outer). This is resolved on traditional forks coz the lowers constrain the two legs of the fork from both twisting and flexing fore/aft individually. This constraining is the same idea that the cdale lefty, x fusion revel and to a degree dvo’s cta utilise, and one I’ve worked on myself. As for the widespread use of usd forks on motos, the fore/aft loads are significantly higher, as the fork is bolted to the front of a much heavier bike that goes much faster and hits things harder. However, the torsional loading of forks on motos and mtbs are actually pretty close to the same - they are all reacted by the rider (with maybe some small input from steering dampeners). The fore/aft strength requirements for a moto (massive outers, massive steel stanchions, bigger axle, etc) and the fact they don’t have to pedal the fork around means that more as a byproduct of other load cases they have significantly increased torsional stiffness compared to mtb usd forks and thus they don’t notice it. I have a pair of the new dorados (with the alloy outers) and while I prefer them to boxers, they were very much complete noodles. Now, not so much, I’ve found a better balance of fore/aft and torsional flex to suit my riding style and conditions and reckon they feel miles better than other traditional forks I’ve ridden. I don’t believe USDs will become widespread due to their either increased weight or complication to increase torsional stiffness to a reasonable level where traditional forks can achieve this very easily but guess it depends on what riders are ok comprimksing on. I’m personally keen to see what push have come up with!
K. That’s enough of USD fork talk here.
Back side of the new 38mm Marzocchi fork
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/throwback-thursday-foxs-upside-down-proto…
Gee rode it in 2011 and based off the article, it was Gwin who gave it a shot. Pretty sure the Syndicate was still on Sram kit back in 2011 when this proto was current.
Anywho as for USD vs. non-USD, i'll just leave this here again: https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/How-stiff-are-dual-crown-fork…
Sorry mate saw usd forks and got a bit carried away there, back to the main subject.
Ha, I believe a graph you came up with on the subject caused a stir with one passionate fellow.
Sorry yes back on track now team...
Huge discounts on Fox 38s here in Australia, better than half price in some cases. Are they simply overstocked or is there a new 38 coming?
Maybe the first to have the LMT damper (tho not sure if it's a damper or a tune...)?
Or they're trying to get rid of them before the new MZ 38 lands as it'll surely be cheaper.
Not the same market, kashima vs non kashima...
Most likely the proto Demo
wont be released until 2025. 2024 colorways "leaked"
Edit your post, it got broken a bit, at first glance it looks like you're posting pictures of the current/old demo saying it's the proto one
Looks like that NASA wheel tech has arrived!
(No valve stems)
I know someone mentioned that the Manitou Mezzer might get updated. Well, it's on sale for $660 on the Hayes site right now with low quantities, so I think that rumor might get verified soon.
The technology needed to digitally render valve stems is still decades away.
they're just having AI do the renderings now. at least the wheels are round.
yep, $999.... I don't even need one but that's an insane price.
I actually asked the same question, massive overstock is the response I got. Nothing new coming.
Everyone on here having a moan about USD forks not having any torsional stiffness, mean while Cannondale are like "Hold My Beer" and have been doing for like 25 years
Because the Lefty has three (used to be four) flat surfaces with needle bearings between them inside the housing. Which prevent rotation of the stanchion. Which is not the case with dual legged upside down forks.
USD forks are flexy because they don't have the bridge connecting the lowers that standard bike forks have. Take a standard MTB fork, cut away the bridge and it will be a noodle.
Back to rumors.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyRGqEJxmc3/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==
new Knolly Endorphin on Oct 18