forks look strange without the piece over the wheel ... does that not make them weaker ??

sorry for not being technical, i dont ride dh or freeride lol

 This is upside down fork and they don't have a bridge. This kind of forks are on most motorbikes. Google for other informations...

 is it me or does the stanchions have some sort of nitride coating

 @jackass2302 this style/type of fork is mostly used on motocross bikes !! if the fork had a bridge the wheel would hit off it because they compress from the bottom up and most other dh dj etc forks compress from the top down so the bridge is not effected !!and no this type of fork is stronger !! hope that helps you understand !!

 sry to blow your buble but the fork is actualy weaker since the bridge reduce flex of the fork. they use this style of fork since theres less unsprung weight making it easier to track the ground. they use it in mx for that reason but with 48mm stanchions tubes so it doesnt flex has much has a mtb version of it

 MX forks also have bigger front axles to gain more stiffness so it doesn't require a bridge,i think the dorado is the best to date DH inverted fork and their hex lock axle adds stiffness where it needs to be with out getting a bigger axle.Foes has a 30mm axle same like a MX fork to gain stiffness.

 yeah foes than dorado but like the older dorado or the shiver dc were suferind from awful flex

 The Foes fork is also used on their motorcycles

 for real O.O ? how much does this thing weight ??

 Yeah they have a 125cc MX bike,no weight released on that MX bike

  alright lol I didint even know that they had an mx but thx

 sniper... how do these forks have less unsprung mass than normal ones? the weight of no bride is compensated by the whole thing having to be bigger...but even that in comparison to the wheel mass is nothing...

inverted forks WERE for longer travel forks but it can be done now the right way up. now its nothing but a sales tactic, if there is one pro it is better lubrication as the oil is sitting on the seals, which is a con in another way as the seals will go quicker and when they do its gonna go all over your brake and hello tree!

 the damping and tall that stuff are in the top of the fork compared to the normal ones (how you called them) that are bellow and its because I read that in Racer X magazine (motocross) that they use it like that in mx cuz of the unsprung weight being less than a "normal one"