DVO Suspension - Emerald Inverted DH Fork

[Hairy]

Yes I know that this is a lefty, but surely the square shaft concept could also be applied in addition to the supporting arch?

 

http://www.ppolnews.com/primages/Cannondale_Lefty.jpg

[nigelhicks]

ya i would think so - the square shaft style like cannondale use should work - but i wonder if they havent patented that??

[droo]

Girvin Flexstem now there was a classy piece of engineering!! It worked like a bomb ... dont know why it never took off!

 

http://mombat.org/192Flexstem.jpg

 

More control... snork... see why I'm suspicious of marketing-driven innovation?

[Hairy]

ya i would think so - the square shaft style like cannondale use should work - but i wonder if they havent patented that??

 

Simple ... triangular, rectangular or octagonal shafts then

[droo]

Yes I know that this is a lefty, but surely the square shaft concept could also be applied in addition to the supporting arch?

 

http://www.ppolnews.com/primages/Cannondale_Lefty.jpg

 

It could, but bear in mind that a lefty weighs about the same as a conventional fork largely due to the roller bearing system used in the square stanchion.

 

Also Leftys look silly.

 

[Hairy]

More control... snork... see why I'm suspicious of marketing-driven innovation?

 

You have to love their marketing and sales pitch .... sounds like the same school a certain site sponsor on the hub went to!

[Flowta]

Ya almost all new MX forks are inverted. But they weigh a ton in comparison. Not sure exactly what the issues are - but i recall all the inverted MTB forks have been plagued by problems with stiffness vs weight.

 

Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge on the subject can impart some wisdom!

 

In comparison to what? How do they compare to MX forks WITH an arch?

[nigelhicks]

In comparison to what? How do they compare to MX forks WITH an arch?

 

in comparison to MTB forks.

[Flowta]

in comparison to MTB forks.

 

I wouldn't say that's the best comparison.

 

Compare MX forks with archs against those without.

 

You wouldn't put the fork from your bike on the MX bike now would you?

[nigelhicks]

I wouldn't say that's the best comparison.

 

Compare MX forks with archs against those without.

 

You wouldn't put the fork from your bike on the MX bike now would you?

 

well you say that ... a mate of mine Paul Walton once put a set of 80cc MX forks onto his DH bike that he made from spare bike parts left over from our shop when we got bike returns with cracked frames. ... (he later went on to help with the design of the Mondraker and be Fabian Barels Manager and mechanic) ...

 

AND then i remember that Marzocchi took a Shiver DH fork and put it on an 80cc MX bike and raced it (only did that once if i recall) ...

 

HAHAHA so it can be done ...

 

No dude i know what you are saying .. and its not the best comparison - but the question was asked earlier that "If it works for MX bikes why wont it work for MTB" ... and this comes down mainly to the weight issue (As far as i understand it)

Edited November 13, 2012 by nigelhicks

[jimmy hardtail]

The problem with inverted forks is stiffness as there is no arch. DVO have a carbon arch attached to the bottom. Carbon is ridiculously stiff if done right. The advantages of upside down forks is less unsprung weight and supposedly better lubrication. So why isn't anyone making right way up carbon forks?

[DR ◣◢]

Always my 1st concern with inverted,the x-fusion lowers would get pretty abused on rocks

 

I raced with White Brothers UD150 for quite a long time. Bought them second hand off Mark Hopkins who also raced them for a while.

 

The lowers didn't have a single nick on them. Maybe I was just lucky.

[G00SE]

So why isn't anyone making right way up carbon forks?

 

Huh? Theres plenty carbon forks on the market!

[Guest Omega Man]

No dude i know what you are saying .. and its not the best comparison - but the question was asked earlier that "If it works for MX bikes why wont it work for MTB" ... and this comes down mainly to the weight issue (As far as i understand it)

 

MX forks are stiff because they are HUGE. I think the stantions on my YZ's fork wer 50mm. They are massively over engineered because weight is not that much of an issue. The bikes themselves are subject to minimum weight restrictions when it comes to racing. so for them the main thing is to squeeze more BHP out of the motor. When it comes to weight optimization it's more about the position of the motor in the frame. That sort of thing. Interestingly in Moto GP the main reason touted for the Ducati's handling woes was that the frame and swing arm were TOO stiff and the riders couldn't feel what was going on with the front wheel.

 

For us our bikes have no minimum weight restrictions and the motor is the oke in the mirror so weight is far more of a factor.

Edited November 13, 2012 by Omega Man

[Guest Omega Man]

On this. We think that MX is way ahead of us in tech don't we?

 

How's this. They don't have lock on grips. HA. And. The KXF 450 is only now coming out with and air sprung fork. in 2012. MTB has had air sprung forks for a decade.

[Behan]

On this. We think that MX is way ahead of us in tech don't we?

 

How's this. They don't have lock on grips. HA. And. The KXF 450 is only now coming out with and air sprung fork. in 2012. MTB has had air sprung forks for a decade.

 

MX Has grips that are held in place with wire, it works better and is more durable and reliable than a lock on grip. Break the lock on part, and your grip comes off, but break the wire and your grip stays on because its got 2 more left, and its usually stuck on the bar with glue.

 

Air suspension is a hard topic for MX bikes... Harder impacts mean higher pressures, which mean higher risk and thicker sealscartridge casings. All that makes for extra weight, and that would make it pretty close to the same weight as a oil fork. So there isnt really a point in going through all the effort. The rear suspension on most high end bikes works with nitrogen though...