First Look: Wren Inverted Fat Bike Fork | Bluto vs Mastodon vs Wren
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- There aren't a lot of options when it comes to fat bike suspension forks. Many would argue that while Rockshox was first to the market, the Manitou Mastodon perfected it. I've ridden a Bluto for years and a Mastodon a few times and they both have their pros and cons. The Wren Sports Inverted Fork had caught my eye with it's unique design, but I didn't find a lot of good information on it online. I reached out to Wren and they sent me the 110mm travel version to put to the test. In this video I give a quick overview of the Bluto and Mastodon and then talk about the proposed benefits of the Wren's different design.
Wren Sports Inverted Fat Bike Fork - bit.ly/3M0bizV
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#mtb #fatbike #hardtail
The Mastodon EXT model has nothing to do with the width. The standard and ext both use the same lowers. The EXT model has 20mm longer stanchions which gives it more clearance to the fork crown on full compression.
Thanks for clarifying that, that actually makes more sense in a lot of ways. I’ve pinned your comment.
To go even a step further, the stanchions aren't different, either. On the latest model (2021+ I think), you can convert back and forth between EXT and STD ride height simply by moving internal spacers. You can also adjust among 80-140 mm travel in increments of 10. Manutiou publishes a guide on how to do all of this. I reached out to them, and they sent it to me. The exception might be the OEM 150 mm travel version. I think that might have some different parts...
I have been riding fatbikes for 7 years now and my first one had a Bluto. I really abused of that fork but with regular maintenance it worked really good. Last year I got a Wren fork because I was riding harder and wanted to have more than 100mm of travel. I agree with you that it can take a couple of rides to tune the fork and adjust the front break cable but once you got it is an amazing fork, even when taking air and landing very hard I have not bottom it out at all and while riding in regular trails It provides a very smooth ride. Nice video and keep making that great content. See ya
I've spent time on all 3, and each has their benefits and issues. The Bluto was super reliable and simple to set up. The lack of tire clearance was the deal-breaker for me as a believer in 27.5x4.5 for snow. The Wren is so different and looks so cool that I really wanted to like it. I just could not get the air spring set up correctly. I'm fairly experienced and competent with suspension setup, but the fork would always bottom out way too easily. Even with a super firm, harsh setup, there was never enough bottom resistance. I sold it pretty quickly. I now have a Mastodon Comp, and it feels like a suspension fork should feel. It is finicky in the super cold, where you have to set up the fork at riding temps or risk losing travel from air migration. Otherwise, it is solid. Adjustable travel like the Wren, including bottom out spacers to convert from the standard to ext version and back whenever you want. This allows an increase in travel without raising ride height for smaller tires, or increased tire clearance with less travel. If Rockshox would make the Bluto with clearance for 27.5x4.5 tires, I'd probably ride that.
A Bluto with 34mm stanchions or somehow stiffened chassis and more tire clearance would perfect. I don’t really mind it as is, but the tire clearance is really annoying to me when it comes to 29x3.0”.
Bluetooth is horrible.
The Wren seems to be a very reliable fork, Ryan Van Duzer (YT channel creator) has ridden this fork on some epic adventures on a Priority 600 hardtail that has a Pinion gearbox. He literally rode the whole Continental Divide trail, Colorado Trail, and I believe the Baja of Mexico and he hasn't mentioned anything bad about the fork. He rides with a heavily loaded bike because he rides solo.
Amazing adventure! I just ordered one!
Riding a Wren for 1,5years now on Pole Tiaga. Before it was Bluto RCT3. There is a Universe of difference. Wren is MOAFF. Mother Of All Fatbike Forks. Great fork indeed. And on top of everything Kevin is a great guy.
Nice to hear some good input on these and I totally agree that Kevin is a good dude.
Nice! I just picked up a Mastodon (second hand, rare as fuck) but the Wren is the fork I'd go with over everything else. As I understand it these forks have gone through a fair few iterations, they weren't very highly regarded at all when they first came out, but Wren took all that into account and the reviews now are exceptional, and I can't wait to see yours. There's a good video by Graham Foot at Slam69 bikes about how to set them up. Fat bikes!
Good find on the fork! I’ve only been on a couple of rides with it, but this seems like a solid fork so far. I know there’s a lot of negative stuff out there on them but I’ve also seen a lot of really positive things from people who have had zero issues. Time will tell!
For the cable routing you could remove the rubber cable grabbers and just run the guides. this way the brake housing runs thru them when the fork is compressed and eliminates the cable bend.. that how i run mine and there's no cable rattling either.
No cable guides is a true head scratcher like wtf not
My Bluto forks were not spacious enough for my 4.8 and so I had to RIDE the rubber knobs off a bit first...
29x3"? I thought we were talking about fat tire bikes here...😄
Haha, my fat bike is my 29+ bike in the summer. Been using this fork this winter with 27.5x4 and 4.3 and it’s been 👍
@@RideYearRound yeah I was just joking. I ride 27.5 borealis with 4" cake eaters.
I'm still puzzled as if the wren is the same as the inverted bolany and some other weird name branded forks you see on Ali, the crown looks identical and internals are, from the vids I saw, pretty much the same.
Your intro made me feel weird, in Quebec where i live fatbiking had a huge rise about 8-10 yrs ago and it pretty much died and became a dorky things or some winter activity for tourists. It's starting to become more "cool" again but tbh with our long winters every mountain biker should get one...
Definitely not the same…the uppers are completely different, air is added via the bottom of the stanchion and not the top like on the Wren, and even the drop outs are different.
I’m surprised to hear that you have that impression of fat biking. It definitely hit a peak a while back, but I think it mostly just became its own niche with a solid base of riders, events, etc.
Just to confirm, I think you said the Wren fork can take a 27.5 wheel with up to a 4.5" tire?
Yep it should work fine.
@@RideYearRound Thanks! Any updates yet on your experience with the Wren??
I’ll have a review coming out in the next couple of weeks.
@@RideYearRound Did you ever post that additional Wren review, or did I just miss it??
Yes I did…czcams.com/video/1oH2dPm77pw/video.html
I see more people running a Wren now with very favorable reviews...
Yeah that seems to be the trend. I don’t know exactly when they made some of the changes/improvements but it seems like it’s in the last year or two.
Great video..new sub.. I like to build..