Is the Lauf gravel fork all it's cracked up to be?
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- čas přidán 19. 03. 2020
- The latest in my quest to try out all the different options for gravel racing! In this video I ride some fun local gravel trails whilst testing out the unique Lauf suspension fork and discover something surprising about it.
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A great review. All the key points, thanks alot. Was on the fence about buying one, but this has given me more food for thought.
Came here for the fork review and can’t stop marveling at that awesome trail!
Hi Juliet, nice vid as always...👍 I'm using a Lauf Mtb fork on my 29er hardtail and i think that has been the best upgrade on this bike in the last 5 years...i just love it!!! It is lighter(at least in the mtb-world), stiffer aaaaaaaand mantainancefree...
Excellent review. Honest and simple. Well done. As always very enjoyable.
Much appreciated!
Got me a Lauf fork on my Monster CX bike. Can confirm everything Juliet says. Lighter than a regular suspension fork, but heavier than a regular carbon fork. If you get one knowing the limits of the fork, you will definitely enjoy it. Mine is the MTB version with 60mm of travel. Did the Chequamegon Fat Tire race and loved my setup with this fork. There was absolutely some bob on the climbs, but it just made the rest of the ride more enjoyable. Also, I love the polarizing look of the Lauf. My one big complaint is that it struggled a bit in slow, tight and twisty sections. Otherwise, a win in my book.
Lauf means leaf in Icelandic. Greetings from Iceland. Stay healthy
“ Lauf” in german means - Run or race or go quickly .
@@siriosstar4789 yes I know. But they are manufactured here in Iceland. Maybe they had both meanings in mind; leaf light and running
@@guyjonson6364 or maybe "leaf"spring? Which was the rear suspension on cars back in the day?! :)
I have one and think it is great and makes for a comfy ride.
Lucky you to see that Pheasant!
Yep. Agree. I got one in a Dirty Reiver related draw and rode with it in 2018. It was a bit (10s in 6 mins) quicker down the rocky descent vs 2017 & 16..... the rocky descent which apparently has now gone. If gravel was my main thing I'd get one - weight penalty isn't too bad for the extra comfort and security. Gravel isn't my main thing though, so I've even considered selling the one I've got, although I haven't needed to. DR itself pretty smooth though so a slightly wider front tyre would probably be almost as good. I'd buy flexy seatpost+double wrap+wide front tyre first if it was my money.
excellent review
Good vid .. cheers Chris & Sam
Juliet a great Vid again, thanks ! I expected the Lauff-Fork to be like you described. But one thing -- there will be no gravel events this year - sorry to say this we will have to get along with single or double persons experiences this year. Stay healthy .. Bollo
Thanks! I think it’s just what I needed to hear. Its a super hard one to justify and also considering the price tag(think it’s around £800).
what a beautiful fork!
compared to huge heavy shocks! : )
That is an unusual fork. I never seen that kind here in my country. It is cool.
I was looking to see if these were spongy. Thanks for the review.
The Lauf True Grit was the first gravel bike I ever rode and hence my introduction into gravel riding. Fast forward almost a year and I've become a full-blown addict here in Colombia! (to gravel that is..) ;)
But on what bike, that is the question? dit you get the Lauf?
Morning!
Also, digging the bar tape.
Thanks for the info on the fork. I'm thinking about one for my Warbird.
Dirty Reiver - smooth enough that you don’t need the Lauf
Tour of the CornFields - definitely use your Lauf. It was a CX race, but with many good rider chosing MTBs. Many fields with ruts close together that give you a continuous extremely hard shock, so much that I could not see anymore. But this ride was very different to most. Plenty of road section where you could catch back up to the MTBs, but uncomfortable unsprung
I was thinking about a Lauf for the Silk Road race. But I don't think I want squish when climbing THOSE roads. Maybe 2.4 at the right pressure will be better. Great video. Great review.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions 🤔🤔 Love the country around you and the wildlife 😁 Be careful checking out those Cool Assed Dudes Juliet 😂😂
thanks for the great video! What is your base bike - can't tell which Marin model it is?
A chap from the UK tried that Lauf on a 4000km trip across Australia and it performed alright as some of the roads there were a little bumpy..yes I imagine he liked it about 107%
Chris Hall I think
@@JulietElliottsChannel yes..you betcha
Stunning gravel bikes are in fashion in 2020 gravel bikes also in italy rock n roll music is a great combination with gravel bikes free spirit travel dreaming
I see many use it on the Tour divide
What do you think would be better for a gravel bike build a suspension fork or a suspension Stem?
The increased rolling efficiency over the whole course would vastly outweigh the loss in a short sprint. but i could see a cable lockout being added to the point where the axel slides along the fork body.
I have a VAAST magnesium frame gravel bike that I just installed both the Lauf fork and the Redshift Stem (eeSilk seatpost) and it's AMAZING!!!!
Lauf fork looks space-age, but an early iteration to be improved upon. Any spring in (my) fork takes power from uphill climbs.
Beautiful gravel bikes are in fashion in 2020 gravel bikes also in italy
Solid review, Bike tech approved!
Thank you
Nice review, Don't mind the looks and love the idea of the comfort, possibly a fork for a very specific use👍Think a manly chap like myself would crush it 🤣🤣
hi mam!! mam i have a giant escape 3 n i want to transform it into a fast gravel adventure bike is it possible!!! gears are fine as it climbs really well so changing the handlebar to a drop will it make any difference in speed n handling will it b more comfortable for long rides
LMAO you are too funny! loved the comment on the dude's bike and leather jacket! and the "oops" before that point. I came back to this vid to recall your Lauf fork review. Was trying to remember how it was for daily use. I have a gravel bike and honestly I don't go on gnarly terrain. It's more of a general all road-off-road bike. Instead of 650b wheels..would the Lauf be a better way to go?
I appreciate your view point.
Just watched your beautiful bike build by Gee Milner, lucky you
Front fork looks interesting , just takes the buzz out of the trail like my RockShox Jett c
Stay safe please
appreciated your review-not-really-a-review of the fork, I'll be considering adding it to one of my rides - however.... Would you please tell me what bar tape that is?!? (I was paying attention to your fork discussion, I swear, but that wrap would look screamin'-mean on an old classic '91 Serotta Davis Phinney pro model I've got. Please, please share :) )thnx!
Since you used to ride a Specialized bike, how does the Lauf fork compare to the Future Shock? If given a choice, which one would you pick?
honestly, they feel super different, in my opinion the Lauf fork affects the feel of the entire bike more than the future shock where the affects are more isolated.
Juliet Elliott 👍👍 so which one is better while riding??? Cool 😎 question from the start 👍Bikerchickie👍
I think I’ll stay with my future shock Diverge
Juliet said they’re different. If she preferred the Spec Future Shock she couldn’t say so because of her Marin sponsorship. She didn’t say she preferred the Lauf. Draw your own conclusion! But I’m biased as I have the Future Shock!
First, thats fork dive you are experiencing, sag is how much the fork settles from your body weight. Second, that sound was chainsaw. Third, cool bird! Fourth, great video!, I have a Lauf on my Salsa Beargrease.
Ah, fair enough! True and true. Good stuff!
Specialized now has a adjustable lock out head suspension? Limited travel, but enough to be comfortable
how about only putting the 650b in the front to counter the longer fork, as it's slightly smaller?
Great video
Thanks Dan
Comfort is power.
The Lauf only looks weird at first. Used to seeming them on fat bikes and gravel/road bikes in the Midwest USA and the "weird" has wore off. For what they are intended for, they perfect. Get outside that and other fork options beat them.
How you like that Smith helmet with the Koroyd? Looking at that vs the Bontrager.
It's awesome. So much ventilation. Looks cooler than the Bont one too 😋
Helo From Indonesia. Fork can using pannier, from Thule ? Tks
You Tube only lets us give one thumb up at a time. I guess we are supposed to use the other thumb for typing. So thumb up it is. Maybe the person with the chainsaw should help clear the trail but I couldn't tell if the Lauf fork prevented a bunny hop by flexing too much on the front end. At least, that would be my excuse for not making it over the branch.
I would try the Lauf fork if given the chance and I am sticking with Dave's stockpiling bikes plan which includes one for every purpose (full suspension for technical trails, gravel for dirt roads/fairly smooth trails, gravel with a Lauf fork for washboard/rutted trails, fast road bike for smooth pavement, and backup road bike for when fast road bike hits pot holes and needs repairs.
That makes five bikes so far and I only have four so I guess I will have to buy a Lauf fork to keep up. However, it doesn't make sense to buy a fork without the rest of the bike to go with it - so five bikes it is (and a new matching jersey to go with it).
Thanks for the thumbs up!
Can't deny, I'm a sucker for more bikes, I do like to have different options to suit what I'm riding.
What would you get if you could get one more?
@@JulietElliottsChannel Probably another gravel bike with a Shimano GRX group set. My Cannondale Topstone has Shimano 105 disc (as does my Cannondale CADD 13 road bike) which works fine but gravel specific tech is now widely available and is a bit lacking in my current collection.
I just finished watching your video and very informative I have a chance to buy a used one and it looks new for $400 US I might try it. If you get this I want to know your long term review about the Lauf Fork Thanks and you are awesome!!
Have you tried the Fox 32 AX fork for Gravel bikes, little heavier than the Lauf, but has a 3 stage lockout for climbing.
Hey, no, not tried one but I'd be up for it
What kind of bar tape is that?
I can´t watch the whole thing (too busy), at which minute does the Lauf gravel fork is cracking?
I reckon it's a great idea, would love to try one... but hey.. what is this... you made the change to the bling bar tape and didn't mention it...? Or is the bling for a different bike and you had this tape on earlier...?
This is a different bike entirely
@@JulietElliottsChannel Yes... I thought that was the other option... bling bar tape all the same and matching nicely with the logo!
Maybe u could also try the redshift suspension stem. Doesnt look that weird and my first impressions are great
I have one here to try next
Will you be running a slightly wider front tire, which is common with a lauf setup?
I've not considered that, I guess I could try it
Such an interesting fork but you can see already the next generation of gravel bikes will likely be full suspension which of course will seperate them further from CX bikes but move them closer towards XC bikes.
Im thinking they cut some cow horn handlebars down to make a flat bar bike. What would they call it....
Do the right and left move independently? Does it track well around turns on the road?
Both connected to the same axle, so functionally no. No twist that I could feel. It just seems like riding a slightly wavier terrain. Much better.
Not a bad little training loop that... how far around ?.
So it doesn't feel fiddlie. Great crack on. Btw that is some proper bar tape
Great video, thank you, but it beats me how that guy with the chain saw cut down the tree, got it on your path and brought you down with it, and also passed you in a leather jacket....
Is it possible to lock out forks when putting power down going up hill?
No, it isn't
Try the lauff with the 650b wheels, could be a killer combo, or not!
think it might be overkill
A friend has a Lauff fork on his Cube hard tail mtb. He gets a lot of sideways movement on the wheels. Has to replace wheel bearings all the time
Darren Elbrow I have a neighbour with a Cube road bike with thru axles. No suspension, obviously. The bike is less than a year old and his LBS has had to change the wheel bearings 4 times already because the back wheel doesn't quite sit straight. With a THRU AXLE. Cube won't admit that's it's a fabrication flaw, so he can't even get it fixed or get a replacement under warranty.
Bikerchickie that’s not the same as the Lauff fork issues
@@darrenelbrow5144 You totally missed my point.
Here it is: When you buy a Cube, you get what you pay for. I wouldn't assume that the Lauf fork is the problem on your friend's MTB.
Roadies: it feels so much softer with this suspension
Mountain bikers: what suspension
Sorry, it was a good video but i just had to make the joke.
"joke"
Rhinona Ryder lol
I had these forks steering felt awful lots of flex in the wrong direction so went for Niner RDO forks
I didn't have that problem when steering tho certainy, there is some flex present. I'm super light tho
How heavy are you, and what version did you use? I loaded down the 135s to 120(?), and it just gave a bit of sag.
How about Rock Shox Rudy? Which can be locked out at the press of a button. Then that's all eventualities covered.
It’s pretty weighty
Are you going to give a redshift stem a go as well by any chance?
Yep, I have one here and the seatpost too
@@JulietElliottsChannel a friend of mine loves the redshift stem. interested in your experience with it whenever you try it out.
@@JulietElliottsChannel great will be very interested to see what you think of both if them as they are more in my price range. Thanks for the videos keep up the good work. Regards Bill
With it raked out is the handling slower?
The rake counters the offset of the suspension. The axel is still in a normal position.
You'll no be doing the Dirty Reiver this year :( mibbes sign up for the Dukes Weekender?
I wonder if maybe they might put it on later in the year? Good idea about Dukes Weekender but I'm not sure about any events at all happening this year
@@JulietElliottsChannel This situation is likely going to last for at least the rest of the year.
That bird just about stole the show.
Fancy bird
Roasted and accompanied by rice and gravy, it would have.
I have the Marin Nicasio + fun bike .
Dave has that and definitely looks good
sana all!
given its price and since its only 30 mm travel, wouldn't it be easier, lighter, cheaper and more convenient to get one of those suspension stems made by RedShift?
I have one here to try. I've not put it on yet but I will. I would imagine it would cushion your arms rather than affect the entire bike tho
My guess is the stem device could severely affect the handling and reduce the feedback of the bike if not done right.
No worries 😉 your mic did a good job of isolating you. Oddly every time you smile I loose track of what you are saying. Just means I’ve got to rewind a bit to get back on track. Which is something about a fork right?
lauf is icelandic for leaf right?
I didn't know that
I want!
This or Rockshox Rudy? I’m undecided. Please help!
Have you ridden the fork with the bike fully loaded for bike packing ?
No
the axle to crown length of the Lauf fork probably matched the rigid fork with you on the bike.
I probably should have got on it and checked but just based on how it felt, I'd assumed that isn't the case
@@JulietElliottsChannel their website says:
Axle to Crown
411mm (including 6mm sag)
The axle to crown on the Grit SL is slightly longer then on most rigid gravel forks, which is necessary to incorporate the 30mm travel. Combined with the 47mm rake the Grit maintains the steering characteristics of a rigid fork with 45mm rake and 395mm axle to crown.
( so if I get this right, it actually is 16mm longer when not under impact load)
Not carbon leaves. Glass fibre.
really interesting fork. next level, maybe? great review. fun ride. also, Reeves's pheasant.
thanks, glad you found it interesting.
First time I've seen one!
Great review. If you are looking for a 30mm suspension that doesn't bobble uphill you could try the Lefty Oliver from Cannondale. That runs with 650 wheels.
Cool, thanks!
The old GCN review of this fork a year or two back was interesting and very positive on the volcanic stuff they were riding on that particular video....they're an Icelandic company so it stands to reason that 30mm of travel is adequate on that sort of terrain....Is there a 650b version (fatter tyres etc) ??
I would've been well happy with 30mm of travel on my old '93 Kona hardtail MTB back in the day and would, obviously,drool for some of these on my gravel bike but, alas, my wages couldn't cope....bloody shame....
Obviously some sections you ride on are possibly more suited to an XC MTB but that's all part of the fun to keep your handling skills in good nick.....
As for changes in geometry with the new forks....longer and slacker means more stability......
Looking forward to a long term test and races etc (unless we get locked down, which would be a total pisser)....Great vid as always...
You need to work on your seated sprinting. :-) The Lauf fork isn't any different for out of the saddle sprinting than any other standard fork it will be mushy (but on a standard good quality fork you can lock it out). Then you have to ask this question: Are you really going to be think about all that during a race? I would think not. You will be going to be thinking of the win.
I'm sorry Richard but that's not correct, it 100% IS different to a rigid or locked out fork
@@JulietElliottsChannel depends or the age of the fork. I know my fox 32 on my 2014 Fuel EX 7 locks our completely front and mid with zero sag when in locked position. Solid as a rock they are. Trail position is nice for just about all types of riding and full open takes advantage of every mm allowed to bomb down those steep rough sections. :-)
Definitely a chainsaw !
Gravel bikes, LOL. Cross country MTBing all over again.
Is a xc bike too heavy?
Depends on the bike
Lovely! Really lovely!! Your affect effects my affect!
I hope to meet you! (I only look this old.)
MORNING 👋
If you were on your BMX bike you would have bunny hopped that branch!
20:20 when bike drooling sometimes is like stalking someone you like 😜✌️
looks like same forklenth to me
Thumbs up for the ditch chicken
Cracking blog Juliet 👍👍
Forks look pants 💩 sorry not for me Dave’s bike looks better and rides faster now definitely 😂😂😂. Interesting though 😂
Keep safe All 🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴♀️🚴♀️
Not sold on the look of the fork either but it rides super nice
I would have liked to at least see it ride on terrain that would be difficult on a roadbike.
afternoon .... i do prefer real suspension system :-) mtb or btt is my bike style !!!
Interesting review - hate to rain on your parade but .... in view of Covid-19, do you really think these races will take place in 2020?
No. I say that in the video, perhaps you missed that
looks like same forklength to me
Then you need glasses 🙈
5:26 dinner
What was it with the dude?😯😏🤔
Is that actually a gravel ride it looks rather tame for a pair of forks like that. 🤔