rizetech

@sup3rc0w - not that it matters since obviously you have your opinion already, but I don't see how a seal/wiper popping up constitutes a fork "failure" - sure, it puts a stop to the ride, but is easily repaired and nothing is actually damaged... Do tell if there's more, but I see that as unfortunate, but nothing on the scale of something actually cracking/breaking..

Excuse my typo, "chain oil" = change oil. Figured that might be a logical jump, but I guess not.. The "roller bearings" only "go" if you never maintain the fork and allow them to get corroded. I have seen this happen a few times where they are COATED in rust because the boot got torn, and water got in. That's failure to maintain your equipment. And equivalent wear happens on traditional forks. Further, if you bothered to learn about the design you are criticizing, you would know that for the 2013 model year they updated the Lefty design to address the exact issue you are talking about. The needle bearings now have an oil bath and are protected by a bushing and seal at the bottom of the Upper Stanchion. Additionally, this updated design allows them to reset themselves, eliminiating migration issues. There is a VERY valid argument against the Lefty if your riding style demands a 6"+ fork, and the additional damping power available in traditional forks where there's room for more oil. There's almost no valid argument against the Lefty for the riding it is intended for: XC/Trail. If everyone that is hating is hucking 3' drops then just say "well, I huck 3' drops and prefer a traditional fork" = cool, have fun. But for the love of god, stop exposing your ignorance by attacking design features like you have an engineering degree - you don't. And you have obviously never even worked on a Lefty enough to understand how it functions.

I also wish that F1 cars were user serviceable. The lefty is a high-end piece of racing equipment. Many parts of it are user-servicable. Everything that you can do on a traditional fork, you can easily do on a lefty - replace seals, chain oil, etc. and the new ones even reset bearings themselves. However, replacing the bearings is best left to a very experienced mechanic or C'Dale because it's very difficult to get right and requires a lot of available parts. Much like replacing the BUSHINGS on a traditional fork, which I have rarely if ever heard of people doing at home...

I'm replying to this only because it's so stupid I actually can't ignore it. You have OBVIOUSLY never seen or ridden a lefty. The internals do not have any harsh square edges. The inner shaft has rounded "edges" to avoid the weakness you are describing. It is absolutely stiffer and more plush than traditional forks. It just is. The stiffness is a fact, so please quit arguing. The plushness is also widely agreed upon by everyone who has ridden one. Far from "overengineered" it DOESN'T need a 2nd side, doesn't need a 20mm thru-axle, and doesn't need an arch to brace against flex. It doesn't have bushings which wear and suffer from stiction, etc. You need to spend less time thinking and more time learning... The only way it will be outperformed is in the number of silly adjustments available on everyone else's damper in an attempt to make the fork feel as plush as a Lefty. Seriously, re-read your first comment about cramping everything in that leg... it's FINE. People are STILL riding 10+ year old Leftys, meanwhile the inferior bushing design on "traditional" forks has worn out the stanchions and they leak oil everywhere, flex like crazy and suck just as bad as they did when new. Ride one, come back, join the conversation when you've worked on them, ridden them, and ridden their competition.