Mountain Biking - Inverted Forks

What's everybody's take on inverted forks? I'm thinking about a shiver for my FR, and I've heard mixed thoughts. Some say the travel at the bottom makes it more plush, and others say there is way too much flex.

My question to you is, what the heck is a Inverted Fork?

http://www.clubcivic.com/board/images/smiles/nopics.gif

#1 this should be in the mtb area
#2 an inverted fork is a fork like a shiver dc, xc, dorado dc, sc or a lot of the hanebrinks or stratos forks. they are usually seen on dh bikes and a little less so on freeride bikes as they are not as stiff as "normal" travel forks.

The wendy is an inverted fork. (check the link)

http://www.bombshellparts.com/products/04suspension_forks/04wendy.html

Shocks on a bike? That's what the pneumatic tire was invented for. It is amazing to me that folks clutter up a perfectly evolved machine with useless complexity and weight.

Dave

Inverted fork? Wouldn't the handlebars scrape on the ground? Wouldn't your hands get dirty steering with the tire? Doesn't sound very efficient to me! :0)

You would think that this design would prevent dirt from getting into the shocks and ruin the seals ...

yea, that can be a problem, but most of these forks come with sheild type guards for the stantions. else you can buy them aftermarket. i bleive go-ride.com sells them

you mean like the girvin?

Originally posted by hayneda
Shocks on a bike? That's what the pneumatic tire was invented for. It is amazing to me that folks clutter up a perfectly evolved machine with useless complexity and weight.

Dave


Mountain biking would hardly exist if there wasnt suspension.

ok, here's some info...since no one is answerin the question at hand in here

An inverted fork is the style that is used on most motocross bikes, because the as you say "normal" forks were to flexy for them. If you look at the suzuki rm's from 95-98 they use the standard/normal travel fork, but they then changed because they flexed to much at the middle. That's enough about motocross

An inverted fork keeps the oil at the bottom of the slider tubes so that the oil stays on the seals therefor keeping the seals well lubricated! Also since the fork is inverted it keeps dust and dirt from building as easily on the seals and working it's way into the fork and blowing out the seals.

Yes inverted forks are more vulnerable(spelling) to getting nicks and scratches on the stantion tubes, but if you use the fork gards it's alot harder to do so.

Most inverted forks do weigh a bit more than a standard dual crown fork.

It's really up to you. Decide what kind of riding you'll be doing and compare them all... No matter what kind of Dual crown fork you get they all work pretty darn good.

I myself do no use a inverted fork, I like the standard Dual crown fork on my bike.

So there you have some better details. And I tried to keep my personal opinions out of it, so that way you decide what is good for you.

:beer:

I could go on and on about them, but that's the very basics.

Originally posted by hayneda
Shocks on a bike? That's what the pneumatic tire was invented for. It is amazing to me that folks clutter up a perfectly evolved machine with useless complexity and weight.

Dave

:o I hope you're just kidding. If not, then you must be oblivious to freeriding, downhill, etc. Heck, suspension even makes a huge difference for XC.

BTW, the most important thing about an inverted fork is there is less unsprung weight, thus resulting in better sensitivity to small bumps.