Quantcast

USD/Upside down forks?

konastab01

konastab01

Turbo Monkey
Dec 7, 2004
1,262
316
So a few years ago there use to be a host of companies making then, Kowa and Tech In in Japan where apparently great but as with loads of Japanese stuff it never comes across to Europe.

Tech-In has all but disappeared and Kowa doesn't seem to even have suspension on there site anymore, Bos have their USD on the website but there isn't much online about them or reviews of actual people using them. Ohlins also looked like they would but it never happened either.

Is upside down forks dead now compared to the conventional and if so who is still making them?!
 
englertracing

englertracing

you owe me a sandwich
Mar 5, 2012
1,657
1,143
La Verne
Because people see mx bikes with tripple clamps and 48-50mm steel stancions and think gee, that would be great on an mtb, not realizing that the lateral loads being 5 or 6 times higher dictate that the material size thickness required to handle these loads also result in the fork being just stiff enough torsionally and ultimately the trade off of just stiff enough torsionally for the additional lateral stiffness is worth it.
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,059
10,623
AK
englertracing said:
Because people see mx bikes with tripple clamps and 48-50mm steel stancions and think gee, that would be great on an mtb, not realizing that the lateral loads being 5 or 6 times higher dictate that the material size thickness required to handle these loads also result in the fork being just stiff enough torsionally and ultimately the trade off of just stiff enough torsionally for the additional lateral stiffness is worth it.
Click to expand...
Single crown USD is the best: Let's take away the ONE thing that makes these somewhat rideable.
 
konastab01

konastab01

Turbo Monkey
Dec 7, 2004
1,262
316
All the bigger names have been put out and I forgot about the Edge thats very niche and more up my street. Just seeing if there is any ive missed.

Ive still got a shiver DC and SC in my garage with the Sc being on a Yeti DJ which is a super fun bike to ride when I do!
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,059
10,623
AK
I used to have a set of a pair of shivers

invert.jpg


I would gladly ride 1993 Yo Eddy at the park before I put an inverted abomination on my bike again.
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
55,943
21,973
Sleazattle
kidwoo said:
that's a lot of shiverseseses


to be fair those two are literally the flexiest forks ever made. Not all of them sucked that bad.
Click to expand...
In 1996 or so I had a White Brothers SC90 that under certain conditions would shudder under braking. The wheel was visibly moving and inch or two at 30 Hz or so. Line choice was a mere suggestion.
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,059
10,623
AK
Westy said:
In 1996 or so I had a White Brothers SC90 that under certain conditions would shudder under braking. The wheel was visibly moving and inch or two at 30 Hz or so. Line choice was a mere suggestion.
Click to expand...
This looked cool as f*ck back in the day, but I can't think of a landing I've done any more sketchy, I damn near crashed and ripped my body open on the jagged rocks. Land slightly side-loaded and holy-F, you are in for a ride.
1929552_515561688478_1145_n.jpg


Yeah, you put an 8" rotor on these babies and your wheel will turn 30 degrees like in the picture just by hitting the brakes.
 
Last edited:
chris_f

chris_f

Monkey
Jun 20, 2007
390
409
I got that whole "Oh, I must have a cool-looking USD fork" out of my system with the Emerald. An agricultural boat anchor of a fork.
 
sethimus

sethimus

neu bizutch
Feb 5, 2006
5,317
2,414
not in Whistler anymore :/
new Intend Flash:

1586800058330.jpeg


www.intend-bc.com

Flash - Intend

Downhill/enduro fork
www.intend-bc.com www.intend-bc.com
  • 7 or 8" brake adapter included, possible for boost or nonboost
  • 243 mm steerer length
  • 180mm maximum stroke, reduction in 10mm steps.
  • 110x20 or 15mm axle. Same dropouts for both, 15mm reduction with 20to15 adapters
  • 20mm boost or nonboost (adjustable with different adapters)
  • 15mm boost, 15mm nonboost possible with 5mm spacers (not included)
  • only 29" version available
  • adjustable rebound and compression damping
  • adjustable air spring and progression
  • new Royal Flush Coating for extreme sensitivity
  • SKF Bushings D35 without collar (ohne Bund)
  • 2 Sag rings as main sag indicator and current sag indicator.
  • 2340g
  • 3 axle options: 20mm heavy (+80g), 20mm light, 15mm.
  • ATC: 180mm (591,5mm), 170mm (581,5mm), 160mm (571,5mm), 150mm (561,5mm), 140mm (551,5mm), 130mm (541,5mm), 120mm (531,5mm), 110mm (521,5mm), 100mm (511,5mm), 90mm (501,5mm), 80mm (491,5mm)…
  • 44mm offset possible (not changable after purchase)
  • max tire: 760mm diameter, 80mm width (see picture below, travel reduction with same axle to crown heigth for bigger tires is not possible) - tire clearance is already included.
 
manhattanprjkt83

manhattanprjkt83

Rusty Trombone
Jul 10, 2003
9,660
1,237
Nilbog
sethimus said:
new Intend Flash:

View attachment 143565

www.intend-bc.com

Flash - Intend

Downhill/enduro fork
www.intend-bc.com www.intend-bc.com
  • 7 or 8" brake adapter included, possible for boost or nonboost
  • 243 mm steerer length
  • 180mm maximum stroke, reduction in 10mm steps.
  • 110x20 or 15mm axle. Same dropouts for both, 15mm reduction with 20to15 adapters
  • 20mm boost or nonboost (adjustable with different adapters)
  • 15mm boost, 15mm nonboost possible with 5mm spacers (not included)
  • only 29" version available
  • adjustable rebound and compression damping
  • adjustable air spring and progression
  • new Royal Flush Coating for extreme sensitivity
  • SKF Bushings D35 without collar (ohne Bund)
  • 2 Sag rings as main sag indicator and current sag indicator.
  • 2340g
  • 3 axle options: 20mm heavy (+80g), 20mm light, 15mm.
  • ATC: 180mm (591,5mm), 170mm (581,5mm), 160mm (571,5mm), 150mm (561,5mm), 140mm (551,5mm), 130mm (541,5mm), 120mm (531,5mm), 110mm (521,5mm), 100mm (511,5mm), 90mm (501,5mm), 80mm (491,5mm)…
  • 44mm offset possible (not changable after purchase)
  • max tire: 760mm diameter, 80mm width (see picture below, travel reduction with same axle to crown heigth for bigger tires is not possible) - tire clearance is already included.
Click to expand...
this is a lot of words...
 
William42

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
4,012
771
Jm_ said:
With absolutely no description of the actual damping system.

Edit: They do have it on their website if you search around a bit.
Click to expand...
It uses a flex based damping system.

Not flexing shims mind you.
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,059
10,623
AK
konastab01 said:
Dont get why they dont have stanchion guards either.
Click to expand...
On the surface, I see some validity. It's pretty rare for something to swipe down there, especially at diameters less than traditional stanchions, especially when compressed, etc.

But then I think about all the **** like loading a bike in a car (because you don't want it to get screwed up by being outside), random rocks that you sometimes kick up with your feet and stuff, and so on. It's the stuff you don't plan for.
 
jstuhlman

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
17,313
14,123
Cackalacka du Nord
that fork's meant for flow trails bro. you don't want to see an image of my lowers on a bike ridden by a hack in a land where rocky trenches are teh funz.
 
konastab01

konastab01

Turbo Monkey
Dec 7, 2004
1,262
316
Jm_ said:
On the surface, I see some validity. It's pretty rare for something to swipe down there, especially at diameters less than traditional stanchions, especially when compressed, etc.

But then I think about all the **** like loading a bike in a car (because you don't want it to get screwed up by being outside), random rocks that you sometimes kick up with your feet and stuff, and so on. It's the stuff you don't plan for.
Click to expand...
I see what you mean, but its more from what you said below plus crashing. You never fuck your forks riding its when you crash that shit gets damaged.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom