Mountain Biking - The Mono-fork

So I have vaguely seen these before at a glance somewhere some magazine some place, and I was out riding yesterday and passed a guy with one....I diddint see the make of his bike but it reminded me...why the hell would you want a mono-fork? This one was 2 shock tubes one behind the other.. one the right hand side of the headtube. The wheel mounted from the left with one nut closing the left side of the axle. I mean sure it is exotic and cool looking but from an engineering standpoint it is structurally inferior in my opinion...compared to regularly oriented forks. Anyhow it looked kinda like a Scalpel 29er. opinions? :crash:

I believe Cannondale is the maker of such forks.

If it doesn't technically "fork"...is it still a fork?

Weird...C'dale makes the lefty forks, but I've never seen a fork with two stanchions on one side.

Hrmm I dunno, If I see that dude again I will try and find out.

If it doesn't technically "fork"...is it still a fork?

Hmm...

I can't think of any benefits of them either, other than marketing? On motorcycles, some argue that using a single-sided swingarm allows for easier access to the rear wheel and tire without messing with chain tension, but even if that were the case (which it isn't necessarily), it wouldn't apply to the front of a bicycle.

I can't think of any benefits of them either, other than marketing? On motorcycles, some argue that using a single-sided swingarm allows for easier access to the rear wheel and tire without messing with chain tension, but even if that were the case (which it isn't necessarily), it wouldn't apply to the front of a bicycle.

faster flat changes, less weight (in the regular Lefty setup, not sure what this twin tube affair is...), and you don't have to worry about finding aftermarket parts.

I believe Cannondale is the maker of such forks.

Magura actually makes the Lefty, Cannondale just sells it. :D

why would you want a mono-fork?
So you can look down on the plebes with their ordinary forked forks. Fools.

Anytime you pay way too much for a questionable technology, you have to let the smug factor comfort your pain.

Magura actually makes the Lefty, Cannondale just sells it. :D

Really?!?! Do they outsource production to Germany and rebadge them in the states? Magura internals? Wonder why Magura doesn't market their own... curious...

btw - the Cannondale Lefty isn't a "fork", it's technically a strut.

The best is passing them on a hill, I get to say " on your lefty". They never find it amusing.