Inverted front forks?

[wildpudding]

Hi everyone,

I am a little bit curious, what are the reasons why some bikes have inverted front forks? Are there any benefits with regards to handling etc? Or is it just bike manufactures trying to be different?

Thanks,

Stefan

[ZorsT]

It reduces unsuspended weight...... which helps with corners...... and stuff

[nudemetalz]

Inverted forks are generally a lot more stiffer due to be significantly thicker. The slider (narrower part) is a lot shorter then normal ones.

This aids in deflecting or twisting less under braking in racing conditions.


My 2c worth.

[WINJA]

It reduces unsuspended weight...... which helps with corners...... and stuff

REALLY , WHEN I SPLIT THE FORKS THE STEEL BITS FELT HEAVIER TO ME THAN THE ALUMINIUM BITS .
UPSIDE DOWN FORKS ARE USUALLY STIFFER

[Hitcher]

Yeah. They're stronger. And you need inverted oil to stop them leaking...

[nudemetalz]

And you need inverted oil to stop them leaking...

That's oil with bubbles at the bottom,. ay.....

[ZorsT]

REALLY , WHEN I SPLIT THE FORKS THE STEEL BITS FELT HEAVIER TO ME THAN THE ALUMINIUM BITS .
UPSIDE DOWN FORKS ARE USUALLY STIFFER

whoops, my bad

[TwoSeven]

As everyone says - stiffness. I have a problem with flex on my 600 using RSU forks. Sometimes under a decent amount of braking the forks bend far enough back that the wheel almost hits the headers. Pain in the ass.

[WINJA]

As everyone says - stiffness. I have a problem with flex on my 600 using RSU forks. Sometimes under a decent amount of braking the forks bend far enough back that the wheel almost hits the headers. Pain in the ass.

A GOOD FORK BRACE CAN STOP THEM WALKING

[thehollowmen]

I was explained it like this..

Think of a normal shock like a long fishing rod. If ya hold it by the thin end and get someone to give it a jiggle it wobbles a lot in your hands but if you hold it by the thick end the vibrations are well reduced to almost nothing.

So, it all depends on what end you want to stay still and what end you want to jiggle.. handle bars vs the wheel. That's why dirt bikes had upside down shocks first, the wheel had enough give to find its own grip.

Anyways...dunno if that makes sense to you, it doesn't to me when I re-read it.

I hear upright shocks are easier to make / service.

[cowpoos]

lighter unsprung weight,stiffer...externally tune-able

[Wolf]

That's oil with bubbles at the bottom,. ay.....

And water floats on it, I hear...

[Biff]

It's a fashion. Independent bikie type testers claim no difference in handling to rightwayupforks, alledgedly.

[Kickaha]

lighter unsprung weight,stiffer...externally tune-able

Exteranly tunable can be built in to any forks, I'd go for fashion as Biff said
(much as I hate to agree with anything he says)

[Marmoot]

the main reason is Bling factor to help sales.
"See, my bike is better than my neighbour's uncle's"

While doing that, they also discover extra stiffness.
"My stiffy is bigger than yours"

The bad thing is, if you smack your bike to something, the frame (in particular, the steering head part) is more likely to take a bend because the impact got transmitted to it instead of being soaked by normal fork which acts as a crumple zone......imagine, your fork crumpling....