"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit)
06/11/2016 at 10:09 • Filed to: motorcycles, engineering, two wheels good
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"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit)
06/11/2016 at 10:09 • Filed to: motorcycles, engineering, two wheels good | 1
| 12 |
I’m wondering if it’s practical to have a single-strut fork for a motorcycle instead of the conventional dual-fork design. Typically associated with pedal bicycles and scooters, virtually every aircraft uses a single-strut design for their landing gear from the diminutive Piper PA-28 Arrow, probably the lightest and simplest aircraft with retractable landing gear on the market, all the way up to F-22s, 747s, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! what have you so that tells me it might be possible for a motorcycle. Or maybe just have two struts really close together and have it covered to look like one? The reason why I ask is because I’m wondering if the single-strut design would look better. Especially given huge monster cruisers like the Indian Chiefs and Harleys where the struts are only covered in even more chrome to look cartoonishly bad in proportions, but eh what do I know?
The Lurktastic Opponaught
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/11/2016 at 10:18 |
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They weren’t great on mountain bikes I’ve ridden in the past. The last time I rode a specialized with one was probably 10 years ago, and the fork had the ridigity of cooked pasta on even lightly technical single track. I don’t have motorcycle experience, but I (wildly guess?) that a motorcycle fork with only one strut would have to be massively well engineered (expensive) to avoid long term structural issues.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/11/2016 at 10:22 |
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Cannondale still makes one called the lefty. My unqualified opinion is that they are kinda dumb on bikes but cannondale seems to have it figured it out.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/11/2016 at 10:28 |
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It's feasible, but it means that you have to have a bunch of proprietary parts. Any custom wheels would have to use a compatible hub, making the wheel more expensive. Same goes for fenders, triple-trees, possible handlebars, etc.
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/11/2016 at 10:28 |
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http://www.gizmag.com/single-sided-f…
HammerheadFistpunch
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/11/2016 at 10:35 |
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Can it be done? Sure. The why needs to be addressed but the how is known
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/11/2016 at 10:37 |
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I’m shocked that you claim it hasn't been done. It seems obvious that it could be done.
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The Lurktastic Opponaught
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/11/2016 at 10:48 |
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Brain fart; I rode a cannondale with a lefty, not a specialized. Still wasn't a fan of its ridgidity even compared to a crappy old Indy fork on my winter beater bike.
TooLazyToNotBurner
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/11/2016 at 11:46 |
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I ride a lefty and it's great so long as you aren't looking at it. Super light build overall, and I can fix flats without removing the wheel. That being said, you can't shop around for a different vendor if you want a new one.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> TooLazyToNotBurner
06/11/2016 at 13:02 |
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At least now days if it takes a crap and you like your bike you can buy a standard Fox or Rockshox fork and it will fit in you frame just fine. My wife had a headshock cannondale for years.
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The Lurktastic Opponaught
> TooLazyToNotBurner
06/11/2016 at 22:46 |
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Thanks, it’s good to know they’ve improved. I’m in the market for a new dh plus bike this fall, I’ll give them another look. But that Santa Cruz Hightower I’ve been ogling is going to be hard to pass up.
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TooLazyToNotBurner
> The Lurktastic Opponaught
06/12/2016 at 08:53 |
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So many good bikes out there, and a lot of great tech still coming up. I'm considering a new XC bike now that the weight difference from hardtail to susp is not that much anymore.
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
06/20/2016 at 13:36 |
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The only production motorcycle I’m aware of with a single front swingarm is the yamaha GTS 1000 and AFAIK the single front arm/strut was too complicated and expensive rather than using two balanced, weaker struts.
