The inverted system is referred to as an upside-down fork, or "USD" for short. This is done (i) to reduce unsprung weight by having the lighter components suspended, and (ii) to improve the strength and rigidity of the assembly by having the strong large-diameter "sliders" clamped in the yokes. On some modern sport bikes, this system is inverted, with "sliders" (complete with the spring/damper unit) at the top, clamped to the yoke, while the stanchions are at the bottom. The main advantages of the telescopic fork are that (i) it is simple in design and relatively cheap to manufacture and assemble (ii) it is lighter than older designs using external components and linkage systems and (iii) it has a clean and simple appearance that bikers find attractive.Ĭonventionally, the fork stanchions are at the top, clamped to a triple tree, (aka "yoke"), and the sliders are at the bottom, attached to the front wheel spindle. It may or may not include gaiters for protection against abrasive elements on the suspension cylinders. This is the most common form of fork commercially available. Over more than one hundred years of motorcycle development a variety of front fork arrangements have been tried, several of which remain available today.īMW's version of oil-damped telescopic fork, on a 1939 R12 TelescopicĪ telescopic fork uses fork tubes which contain the suspension components (coil springs and damper) internally. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This section needs additional citations for verification.