Touring - Front Rack for MTB w/ Suspension...Is this rack legit?

I don't see anything on here about it is much cheaper compared to the $100+ Old Man Mountain front racks...

http://zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=751

Let me know what you think...

I don't see anything on here about it is much cheaper compared to the $100+ Old Man Mountain front racks...

http://zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=751

Let me know what you think...

I'd be dubious about using any kind of clamp on a fork leg. While the legs are robust, they can still be damaged. Damaged enough and you no longer have a suspension fork that functions by sliding one tube in another. The Old Man Mountain with the skewer mount isn't the best either but at least it's less likely to damage the fork. The Tubus Swing (http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-83.htm), while horribly expensive, is a bit better design and depends on the fork crown (a substantially beefier part on a shock fork) to carry the load. It also makes the load into sprung weight rather than unsprung weight which improve ride.

I'm not a big fan of front racks and suspension anyway. I'd much rather pull a trailer or use the Revelent Design (https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=3&ProductID=9) bags if I'm going to tour off-road.

+1 . Tubus Swing attaches higher and to the top of the fork,
so wheel has no extra mass attached to it.

Legit ? whose reg's, UCI? F1, NASCAR?

never seen this Zefal thing thru US distributors, you in France?

I don't see anything on here about it is much cheaper compared to the $100+ Old Man Mountain front racks...

http://zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=751

Let me know what you think...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/3203095425_d5329a83ce_z.jpg

I just pulled my oldest OMM rack from its frame to clean and rebuild the bike. That rack is ~10 years old and in perfect condition. I'll be rocking it in another 10 years since the design is totally versatile and it will fit on whatever bike I am riding at the time. I'm down to ~$10/yr for that rack and will likely see amortized costs of less than $5/yr and beyond. I can't say that about any of the cheaper racks I bought that have come and gone in my fleet.

Another option could be to buy a rigid suspension-corrected fork, with proper mounts for a front rack, like the new Surly Troll fork.

Hello, thanks for all the replies...

Money is an issue (when isn't it?) so I was unable to buy a touring bike and I'm converting my Jamis Durango.

The front fork can be locked so I'm not going to buy a rigid fork...

Not France, I'm located in the US and found a mess of them for cheap on eBay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zefal-Raider-Front-Mount-Bike-Rack_W0QQitemZ370421235426QQcategoryZ62131QQcmdZViewItem

I already ordered it, it can always be returned, I'll let you know what I think of it. I'll suck it up and get an Old Man Mt rack if this falls through.

thanks,

-B

The front rack from the second link is slightly different. You may not be able to put panniers with hooks for the upper rails (for instance Ortlieb Front Rollers).

The front rack from the second link is slightly different. You may not be able to put panniers with hooks for the upper rails (for instance Ortlieb Front Rollers).

I see... i'm new at this and haven't bought any bags yet...which kind would I have to get if this rack works out?

thanks!