Single front fork, why?

[Beebo]

I followed a bike this morning with a single front fork.

What is the benefit of this, is it just a fad?

It can't save much, if any, weight, and surely the single fork and the wheel hub have to be over engineered to take the higher forces. in the same way a convertible car is heavier than a normal car.

If it was any good wouldnt we all have one?

 

[col]

Lighter? unlikely as you said. Give me a normal set of forks, I wouldnt feel comfortable with a single. Must just be trying to stand out to sell? Cant see any benefit?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

It's the Lefty.

 

[Beebo]

Right I have now read that whole lefty thread, and I am still none the wiser as to why? It just seems to be more expensive and provide no additional benefit other than visual.

But seeing as the topic has been covered before i will leave it there.

 

[Cyclist33]

Not that I understand or agree with the "science" but I was told yonks ago that it's because the compression acting on each tine of a conventional fork will always be uneven as the bike is never wholly upright, but as conventional two-tine forks aren't differential, then the operation of the fork suffers, ie one side will always be over compressed and the other under compressed, around any given corner.

The "Lefty" or any other like the Headshock supposedly negates that as only one spring is taking the compression so there is no uneven stress.

Stu

 

[tyred]

It would make it child's play to fix a puncture or replace a tyre.

 

[Norm]

It would make it child's play to fix a puncture or replace a tyre.

I think that this is the main benefit.

As for not feeling "comfortable" riding one, have a look at each corner of your car (or bus or lorry or train or even aircraft) and ask yourself if you ever feel uncomfortable riding in one of them.

I think that bikes and motorbikes are about the only form of mass transport on which the axle is usually secured at both ends, either side of the wheel.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

single sided rear swinging arms increasingly common on motorbikes.

EDIT: LOL. My strida has single sided frame fork front and rear!

 

[TheDoctor]

Mike Burrows has long been keen on cantilevered wheels.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Checkout the Giant Halfway - Mike Burrows design http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/halfway.1/7851/45477/

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Nothing mechanically wrong with a stub axle or cantilever suspended wheel

The problem is more with perception
And adding front panniers....

 

[slowmotion]

It's a gimmick. A bit of fun.

 

[ufkacbln]

It would make it child's play to fix a puncture or replace a tyre.

Looks different.....and catches the eye. But then so does Russell Brand.

Russell Brand and punctures...

You evil bunch!

 

[ufkacbln]

The Halfway was redesigned with standard forks and rear triangle....... the later "normal" version sold better



PS.......... All trikes have single sided hubs!

 

[Doseone]

It's a USP for Cannondale. A friend of mine has one and loves it, but they just don't look right to me.