First Look: Wren Inverted Fat Bike Fork | Bluto vs Mastodon vs Wren
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- Опубликовано: 3 апр 2022
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
My Bluto forks were not spacious enough for my 4.8 and so I had to RIDE the rubber knobs off a bit first...
No cable guides is a true head scratcher like wtf not
29x3"? I thought we were talking about fat tire bikes here...😄
Great video..new sub.. I like to build..
Just to confirm, I think you said the Wren fork can take a 27.5 wheel with up to a 4.5" tire?
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.
I see more people running a Wren now with very favorable reviews...