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Message started by ThumperPaul on 08/19/24 at 07:01:11

Title: Upside Down Forks
Post by ThumperPaul on 08/19/24 at 07:01:11

With upside down forks being the ‘new’ thing and marketing tech rage, when will upside down forks be considered the right side up forks?

Personally, I’m not convinced that putting the slider end closer to the road grim is an improvement in design.

Title: Re: Upside Down Forks
Post by Dave on 08/19/24 at 11:03:25

There are advantages to having things upside down - any new motorcycle designed for performance or ride comfort will likely have upside down forks (provided it is not a retro bike).

The larger/thicker/heavier top tube is up top where it is part of the chassis - allowing the bottom "unsprung" part of the forks to be made much lighter. The front wheel/brake/fork assembly that is bouncing up and down can react more quickly when it is lighter.

The larger top tubes allow for more stiffness in the front end - with the normal forks the top tubes are smaller and less rigid.

The improved valve mechanism that controls the fluid dynamics is now stationary and not bouncing around. This is an advantage when you have electronic ride control stuff built into the forks.

Title: Re: Upside Down Forks
Post by ThumperPaul on 08/19/24 at 11:11:50

Thanks Dave. Best summary explanation I've ever read!

So when do we start calling them "right side up forks"? Since they are clearly right end up. 8-)

Title: Re: Upside Down Forks
Post by Graybeard on 08/20/24 at 08:20:03

I guess the engineers who design pogo sticks were just ahead of us a bit.

Title: Re: Upside Down Forks
Post by ThumperPaul on 08/20/24 at 08:49:05

5560736B7077736076120 wrote:

I guess the engineers who design pogo sticks were just ahead of us a bit.

It is kinda hard to believe they were being designed and engineered wrong for so many decades. What were they thinking? Did Japan not have pogo sticks back in the 60s? And what about all those brilliant engineers at Harley back in the early 1900s? Even BSA couldn’t get it right!

Title: Re: Upside Down Forks
Post by Ruttly on 08/20/24 at 09:06:33

While they are more stable , it’s appears weight distribution is also upside down. I’m ol skool I always thought they were weird. I’m sure the unsprung weight is lower too.

Title: Re: Upside Down Forks
Post by Graybeard on 08/20/24 at 09:55:38

The best I can understand it is
Ya have lower unsprung weight at the expense of a little higher center of mass.
And I say that hoping to not get corrected.