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Looking to simplify my everyday Southdowns xc/blue trail requirements. Do they cut out much small bump chatter any more than a Prong fork would? What are the advantages and disadvantages? I'm a 69 year old mincer, so not a hard hitter
How can it be snake oil? The wheel moves up and down, soaks up bumps. Nowhere near as controlled as a normal fork of course but that's not what they are trying to beat. The point about Lauf is how much lighter they are than normal forks - they only weight about 900g. It's not really an MTB fork - just a mostly rigid fork that takes the edge off rough trails.
I think the 'grit' version makes more sense with its 30mm of travel. By all accounts the longer travel one is a bit boingy.
Oh and you can also get luggage mounts to fit.
Mate of mine has the gravel bike version on his Warbird.
Looks erm, interesting but seems to do the job.
Simplify or make lighter?
If make lighter then get some. They do that well. But not sure a decent front suspension fork is that complex. In fact they look a whole lot ‘simpler’ aesthetically. I took mine off recently and replaced with a 130mm fork and it’s a much funner ride. The lauf bounced me about a bit too much.
But, on the crappy road sections of Kent it was great. So my next plan is to use it on an old 29er frame as a winter commuter that does a bit of off road but never does anything where I’ll get bounced off into the bushes
I took mine off recently and replaced with a 130mm fork and it’s a much funner ride.
They're in no way a replacement for a 130mm fork, not sure even they think that.
This guy seems to be doing alright on them!
Agreed. Definitely not meant to be a replacement, just saying they make for a better ride and the only real benefit I could detect was the lighter weight. And I’m a pretty crap rider so need the cushioning when I land front wheel first...
just saying they make for a better ride
On what kind of trail though?
They look weird. But more importantly, what's the music in the video? Sounds mid 90s but I don't recognize it.
The springs on the Lauf forks are made of military spec S2 glassfiber...
Urgh. "Military spec".
Unless it's been given to a couple of bored squaddies to fiddle about with for a few days and survived it's not 'military spec'!
what’s the music in the video? Sounds mid 90s but I don’t recognize it.
Siri says it's Jazz Club by Document One.
I’ve ridden a Lauf on my friends gravel bike a few times. To me they are a “less chatter” rigid fork rather than a suspension fork, with the advantages of zero maintenance and great mud clearance. Personally I’d just go for a limited travel suspension fork
JimW, thanks!
Jazz Club
Nice.
How about fitting a 3 inch tyre in your rigid fork instead?
If you want undamped suspension it needs to be of limited travel otherwise you will bob all over the trail.
How about fitting a 3 inch tyre in your rigid fork instead?
That's what I ride on the South Downs and it's great. So different from the rigid bikes I've had in the past.
I have wondered if putting an elastomer between the leaves to provide damping would help.
i know someone whos had a few. broken every one!