What are the differences between RST and Wren Inverted suspension forks?

[Scarecrow]

On the newest Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra 1000, the standard fork is an RST. The upgrade for the Wren Inverted adds $800. What are the main reasons for the Wren?

 

[MechaNut]

Just from poking around with Google for a bit it looks like the RST Guide is a relatively inexpensive basic suspension fork. The Wren Inverted is a heavy duty, long travel, and adjustable air-shock fork. Serious off-road MTB riding would probably require a fork like the Wren. Unless you are planning on doing some serious off-road riding, or just have money to burn, I'd probably say the Wren Inverted is overkill for a "daily driver".

 

[LimboJim]

That bike's specs don't seem to specify which RST fork they use, but the pics show the Guide model. Can't find any specs on RST Guide, even on RST's own website. Looks like 80-100mm of travel - my guess is that it retailed for under $100.

Wren's website, however, provides considerable detail on their inverted fork, offering up to 150mm travel and costing upwards of $1k (Biktrix doesn't specify which you'd get). The advantages are spelled out in marketing lingo there, but if you want to read a decent review: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/wren-inverted-fork-interbike-2018.html

IMO, pairing such a high-end fork with all the lower-end components on that model isn't worth the extra cash - it's still going to handle poorly compared to higher-specced eMTBs, especially with that ridiculously long chainstay.

 

[Feliz]

Upside down forks are a lot stiffer, kiss flex. Look at any good motorcycle.

 

[PDoz]

Upside down forks are a lot stiffer, kiss flex. Look at any good motorcycle.

The marketing department would like us to believe this...

The truth is, usd forks allow larger diameter legs ( and hence increased stiffness) for a given unsprung weight, but there are other ways to keep unsprung weight down - eg using lighter metals like magnesium instead of alluminium

Usd forks come with limitations - more prone to seal failure being the big one.

The two best suspended motorbikes I've ridden had conventional forks, but both were factory race bikes with e otic metals and sophisticated dampening stacks ( an isde winning ktm 200 with factory shocks, and a ktm 660 rallye)

I'm not convinced that particular bike has reached the stage where usd forks have a magical benefit, but you'd certainly notice the difference between the basic 32 mm fork and upgrading to something with 34/36 mm , more trave and a better dampening stack! The real question is, are you better spending those $ doing a direct replacement later if / when you decide you need it ( and perhaps deciding the $ are better spent on a better bike?)

 

[Feliz]

Okay, tell motogp it's all marketing. Of course that bike doesn't need need upside down forks, I never said it did. I laughed when I read the ad.
I have nothing against Roshan but he does come up with some odd hardware choices. I read a thread on another forum where he was soliciting ideas for putting together the best commuter bike which turned out to be the Stunner. It was funny actually.

 

[Scarecrow]

In Roshan's defense on the Juggernaut -- he told me it does NOT need an inverted fork. Unless I think it does. He offers them because some people insist on them -- not because he feels it's required. He is trying to serve a market while not judging why people make the decisions they do.

Same with the Quad-Piston Tektro Brakes upgrade -- he said the free Two-Piston version should be plenty. But I weigh 253 lbs, right now. The bike is heavy. So I'm trying to figure out if the extra stopping power is warranted for a 1000w ebike. He's offered the upgrade to me at a $99 fee -- giving me credit against the free version, plus another discount for the website problems I encountered last night and today.

 

[PDoz]

Okay, tell motogp it's all marketing. Of course that bike doesn't need need upside down forks, I never said it did. I laughed when I read the ad.
I have nothing against Roshan but he does come up with some odd hardware choices. I read a thread on another forum where he was soliciting ideas for putting together the best commuter bike which turned out to be the Stunner. It was funny actually.

I'm not arguing against the widespread use of usd forks, especially on road racing motorbikes like in moto gp, I'm just commenting that for DIRT use there are arguments for / against usd forks and there are still exceptional conventional forks used on factory race dirk bikes where the racers decide they would like to avoid the disadvantages of usd forks ( restrictions to turning circle +/- sliders more exposed and arguably higher chances of blowing seals)

I must admit, I struggle to type " conventional" when I'm referring to a set of factory "race right way up " forks that are made out of unobtanium, custom built for the racer and used to win an isde OUTRIGHT on a ktm 200 ....( admittedly this was 18 years ago, but the stock bike used usd forks - the racer had converted to conventional unobtaniums) For clarity, I haven't personally owned a motorbike with conventional forks for decades - but I'd have absolutely no hesitation buying a dirt bike that had QUALITY concentional forks fitted ( and I still lust after the ktm 660 rallye with conventional forks my mate owns...but $50 k is WAY out of my birt bike budget!)

More importantly, at a factory mtb level , we still haven't reached the stage where factory mtb riders are all swapping to usd forks? So I agree with you ( and by the sound of it Roshan) , on this particular bike the advantages of usd forks might be a marketing rather than real world benefit? Not that there s anything wrong with that - we all need to feel warm and fuzzy about our bikes.

 

[CodyDog]

What I found when researching forks was the basic RST fork is vey low end and inexpensive (heavy spring fork). This is the fork used on the Rad Rover.