lefty vs Conventional fork

[nandosguy]

Lefty pros and cons? Always used rock shox and fox but thinking about trying a lefty. Price? Performance?  Maintainence ?  strength? 

Tx 

[raptor-22]

Lefty chassis is stiffer in all directions. This allows the lower leg to track the trail better due to lower friction on running surfaces (bearings and Bush). It's the most proven upside down fork for bicycles on the market .

The damper and spring Is highly tunable and that allows you to dial it in .Most of the internal work is approved workshop only activities.

 

Things to watch out for are bearing migration if the fork is run with too low air pressure.

Older forks need a regular under boot squirt of oil

Older forks foam filter integrity is very important.

 

There is a short travel 650b version in the pipeline.

[Skylark]

I would love to have a Lefty fork, something about how it looks and rides just does it for me. More expensive initial outlay and maintenance costs though. If you can afford it do it!

[raptor-22]

Only thing to watch out for is the offset on the new lefty forks is longer. This could result in undesirable handling characteristics on some frames .Do your homework well before leaping.

[Mojoman]

I was told the lefty fork was based on the landing gear of a F16? Anyone know if this is true?

[G00SE]

I was told the lefty fork was based on the landing gear of a F16? Anyone know if this is true?

 

If it is true, are you saying the lefty is based on technology from the '70's?

[raptor-22]

The lefty is an evolution of the Cannondale moto double clamp upside down dh fork.

[nickc]

I was told the lefty fork was based on the landing gear of a F16? Anyone know if this is true?

 

I also read somewhere that one of the suspension engineers came from an aeronautical background and had previously worked on American fighter jets landing gear suspension.

[nonky]

If it is true, are you saying the lefty is based on technology from the '70's?

"Highway to the danger zone"....

[udxcob]

The Lefty is a brilliant fork, i have just gone from a Lefty to rockshox and was amazed how much the RS flexes. 

[raptor-22]

The only fork that could challenge the lefty for stiffness to Weight would be the rs-1

[nandosguy]

Thanks guys! I'm going to look out for one!  

[Eldron]

The most amazing feature of the Lefty for me is the low activation energy.

 

Conventional forks have a bit of stiction before they initially move - Lefty has far less and makes for a very active fork that has awesome small bump compliance.

[Fisan]

And weight? Aren't lefties supposed to be lighter than conventional forks?

 

I know everyone says how conventional forks flex more than lefties (single clamp vs double clamp stiffness), but what about wheelflex? I'm still not convinced that the cantilever axle is stiffer than a double supported one?

[raptor-22]

Cantilever has max stress atthe support so max deflection will be there as well .

A 20mm cantilever is stiffer than a 15mm simply supported beam supported at its ends

[Fisan]

Cantilever has max stress atthe support so max deflection will be there as well .

A 20mm cantilever is stiffer than a 15mm simply supported beam supported at its ends

 

But that's assuming that the one is simply supported while the other is not? But even so, looking at the rotational displacement (say, a lateral force is applied to the wheel), a "cantilevered" wheel with a stiffer, half-length 20mm axle will almost have twice the rotational displacement than a "simply supported" normal-length 15mm axle. And that's assuming that the axles are solid.