Would you ride a Lefty fork?

[xc62701]

I have heard lots of good and bad about Leftys. I am debating about what to do for next year's ride and I could have one of these on there. What do you think?

 

[JDurk]

Go for it! If using it on a race bike, very stiff and light. 29"?

 

[xc62701]

Yea I'm talking about getting a 29'er of course, but just experiences with Leftys are what I'm trying to grasp.

 

[Norm]

This one is kinda odd to me. A lot of people talk about the LEfty as if it were almost a religion. But only 2 people said yes, and that were if it were free.

 

[xc62701]

I have had more than a few guys I've raced with have lots of issues with them. Multiple leftys and multiple issues. Most of the guys that know them well say that in their experience, they work well when they work... So I don't know what the overall consensus is. I have been biased against them for years because of the problems I've heard of and I'm looking for a reason to change that thought. I'm curious to see what the outcome of the poll is.

 

[Chris(NJ)]

It just doesnt look right to me....I'm too worried that the wheel is going to fall off.

 

[gtluke]

do you worry that the wheel is going to fall off your car? Because your strut isn't a fork, it's a single support like a lefty.

I abuse the living hell out of my lefty and it's awesome. It's the best riding fork I've ever ridden, it's the lightest, and it's the most reliable.
When it does need service, it's super fast and super easy and super cheap to fix.

Other than cost, there are no downsides to the lefty, it's better in every measurable way. Better on small bumps, better on large drops than anything in the xc category.

 

[ArmyOfNone]

While the lefty does require a bit of attention I dont think that should detract you from giving it a shot. Back when I used to ride mountain bikes a lot 🙄 I thought they tracked better, felt smoother and stiffer than any of the other forks I have ridden.

 

[Maurice]

Haven't been terribly impressed to be honest. I rode one for a while and it was finicky. Never felt like I got the full travel either no matter the settings. Not a great feel either, a bit on-off (having ridden Fox forks will do that).

An upside, if it can be called that, is the ability to fix a flat without taking the wheel off the bike.

 

[Chris(NJ)]

do you worry that the wheel is going to fall off your car? Because your strut isn't a fork, it's a single support like a lefty.

I abuse the living hell out of my lefty and it's awesome. It's the best riding fork I've ever ridden, it's the lightest, and it's the most reliable.
When it does need service, it's super fast and super easy and super cheap to fix.

Other than cost, there are no downsides to the lefty, it's better in every measurable way. Better on small bumps, better on large drops than anything in the xc category.

But a strut doesnt hold the wheel on to my car.

There is no mechanical reasoning behind my statement, it just looks weird to me, so I'm biased.

 

[JerseyPete]

do you worry that the wheel is going to fall off your car? Because your strut isn't a fork, it's a single support like a lefty.

Nothing sexier than a Ducati or Honda VFR, but like a Lefty I can't afford that either. The design of the lefty makes sense to me. I think there was a video on this site showing how little it flexes and clean it holds the rim true.

 

[I Ride Bikes]

I am impressed by my lefty. The small bump compliance is awesome and cant be compared to a fork with bushings. It tracks exactly where you want it to. Its lighter and very easy to do the basic services on it. I would recommend one.

 

[Dr Superb]

I do, and i don't think i would ever ride a different MTB fork again. I just need them to develop a carbon rigid lefty for my supersix...

 

[Pampa]

I rode my 2006 Rush 1000 with a lefty for 4 years without doing anything at all to it, other than putting some air a few times during the last 2 years. One day it gave up and I then I sent to Cannondale for a rebuild ($125) and it was like new.

I've been riding w/ a Fox w/ Terralogic that I like a lot but I would look again at a lefty if I were to put together a light racing bike. Not sure why all this needle bearing adjusting business. Maybe the lefty I had had a different technology/mechanics? The only thing I missed on that fork was a remote lockout.

 

[The Kalmyk]

My vote makes it 10

 

[743power]

I would ride one, if I could get my front end low enough with it. That's my major gripe with them.

 

[Jeremy]

I would ride one, if I could get my front end low enough with it. That's my major gripe with them.

what If you use an adapter (project 321) assuming this is on a non cannondale frame, and a negative rise stem...

 

[gtluke]

But a strut doesnt hold the wheel on to my car.

Yes it does, that's why it's called a strut and not a shock.

 

[soulchild]

Go for it! If using it on a race bike, very stiff and light. 29"?

THIS

I abuse the living hell out of my lefty and it's awesome. It's the best riding fork I've ever ridden, it's the lightest, and it's the most reliable. When it does need service, it's super fast and super easy and super cheap to fix.

Other than cost, there are no downsides to the lefty, it's better in every measurable way. Better on small bumps, better on large drops than anything in the xc category.

THIS

While the lefty does require a bit of attention I dont think that should detract you from giving it a shot. Back when I used to ride mountain bikes a lot 🙄 I thought they tracked better, felt smoother and stiffer than any of the other forks I have ridden.

THIS

Nothing sexier than a Ducati or Honda VFR, but like a Lefty I can't afford that either. The design of the lefty makes sense to me. I think there was a video on this site showing how little it flexes and clean it holds the rim true.

THIS

I am impressed by my lefty. The small bump compliance is awesome and cant be compared to a fork with bushings. It tracks exactly where you want it to. Its lighter and very easy to do the basic services on it. I would recommend one.

THIS

I do, and i don't think i would ever ride a different MTB fork again. I just need them to develop a carbon rigid lefty for my supersix...

THIS

I rode my 2006 Rush 1000 with a lefty for 4 years without doing anything at all to it, other than putting some air a few times during the last 2 years. One day it gave up and I then I sent to Cannondale for a rebuild ($125) and it was like new.

THIS

My vote makes it 10

THIS

I would ride one

AND THIS

so I vote yes 🙂

 

[Dr Superb]

well, that pretty much sums it up.