Hi what are the lauf forks like (besides ugly - all relative), will be going on a mountain bike that will see mainly road and fire track/ hardback, rider a Covid19 94kgs (usually 92kgs) will they cope with that mass?
Also what breaks, damage and horror stories are there? Might look to go second hand and would like to know potential risk?
Cheers
Apparently they are good for fatigue reduction but if you expect them to work as suspension, you will be disappointed. Not first hand experience, but there is a guy called John Climber on Facebook that regularly posts about his. He adds anyone and everyone as friends so you could tap him up.
As above he's a brand ambassador I believ.
Got the Lauf True Grit. The forks aren’t suspension. What they do is let your front wheel track the ground better. Think better steering, grip, cornering all round better confidence over bumps etc. On a gravel or CX it’s your tyre Width and pressures that provide suspension. Tubeless low pressures work just like MTB.
Would use forks on a MTB more capable for what I’d use a MTB for. Gravel CX Lauf is great.
One word, undamped. See them as a suspension stem rather than a suspension fork & you'll be fine.
I had (still have but not on a bike) some Lauf forks but swapped them out for suspension forks and am slightly regretting the weight penalty - bike was lovely and light previously but now just a bit meh. And if I am honest with myself the type of riding I do does not justify much suspension.
But I also have a 29+ rigid bike.
If comfort is what you want, go 29+. It’s cheaper and basically the same effect. If lightweight comfort (for mild terrain) is what you want, go lauf.
Cheap, light, comfortable. Choose two...
I know Johnclimber personally, I think he has Lauf forks on all his bikes including the fat bike.
As Rocketdog says, undamped, so really not ideal for rock gardens. If gravel or long distance rides like the TDR are your thing then worth considering. They do have a weight limit plus there's "light" and a "heavy" rated versions, can't remember the limit.
I've seen one set break - they snapped at the crown race - the owner wasn't sure whether he'd fitted them correctly. Not spoken to the guy since so don't know the final outcome.
I know Johnclimber personally
I did a few team MTB events with a guy called John Climber back in the mid 2000s, wonder if its the same guy, quite tall and was driving an ex-BT van at the time....
@footflaps - No, John's fairly short. He's not called "Climber" either, his real name is Moore, apparently he used it on UKClimbing because his real name was already taken and he's just used it on various forums since.
A few of the fat bike crowd have them - some really like them. There have also been issues with the leaf springs breaking / coming unglued but they have been dealt with under warranty. I think Lauf are now moving to a direct sales model but it might be for bikes only.
Cheers all....moves on past the lauf fork.....
Juliet Elliot was given one to review...
So I guess this kind of riding are within its limitations?
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/lauf-trail-rider-fork-2015.html
