When it comes to mountain bike suspension designs, it might appear things are hopelessly complicated. Despite all the jargon and proprietary designs on the market today, there are really just three basic suspension types to understand. Single pivot Explaining how the most popular designs work, plus their potential advantages or shortcomings
Illustrated helpful guide to understand mountain bike suspension designs Bike Bros.
Every suspension design is trying to achieve the same thing: improve comfort and increase traction. There are other considerations too: pedaling efficiency, impact absorption, stiffness, weight, cost, reliability, and maintenance. Then, it all needs to fit within the constraints of a bike frame. Mountain bike suspension is designed around keeping the wheels in contact with the terrain at all times, increasing traction and also cushioning impacts from the trail. To achieve this, suspension designs have to deal with multiple forces, not only from the ground, but also from pedalling and braking. Discussing mountain bike suspension theory with the experts - MBR In an attempt to clarify areas of agreement and to highlight the differences in suspension philosophy we asked eight suspension experts the same questions. Skip to content » rfyti MBR MBR MBR is supported by its audience. The most simple suspension design is the Single-pivot, using a solid swingarm to connect the rear axle, main pivot and shock damper. Popular example: Orange Stage Single-pivot suspension design is characterised by a rear axle connected directly to the main pivot.
How to set up mountain bike suspension forks and rear shocks MBR
Suspension design works with two main elements. First is the shock spring and damper, often called the shock. The second element is the rear frame components that connect the rear wheel to the shock. Frame designers and shock designers work hand in hand to create a system that works as a package. Modern suspension designs out-perform old designs for 2 main reasons. 1)Durability - from the overall frame to the pivots and linkage, modern bikes are lasting longer and performing well for long periods, 2)The realization that chain-growth (aka anti-squat) is the key to suspension bikes pedalling efficiently without requiring heavy hydraulic da. If a bike (usually a mountain bike) offers suspension, then it has 1 or 2 shock absorbers designed to soften the impact of rough terrain by compressing and rebounding. Buying a new mountain bike? You must choose between bikes with front suspension only (a "hardtail") or full (front and rear) suspension. Some points of comparison: Mountain bike suspension is continually becoming more adjustable, from literally changing how many millimeters of travel a fork has, to how your rear shock will react to bumps of different sizes. Click into any review of a suspension component and you will hear references to rebound, compression damping, and maybe even spring rate.
5 Common Mountain Bike Suspension Misunderstandings Singletracks Mountain Bike News
The rebound adjuster on this set of forks sits just under the leg. Set both your fork and your shock in the middle of the range and make a lap of the car park. 2. Bend your knees and elbows and compress the suspension as hard as possible, but as your body extends fully, keep your limbs straight. 3. (1) The suspension needs to do a good job of absorbing bumps. (2) The less that pedaling forces affect suspension, the better. (3) Braking shouldn't affect the suspension, either. There are a few other considerations such as weight distribution, but in this broader discussion, those considerations are secondary to the three basic suspension goals.
Mountain bike suspension uses shocks that allow the wheels to move up and down a predetermined path. This movement absorbs bumps to help keep the tires in contact with the ground for better traction and control and reduces the impact on the rider, increasing comfort. All MTB suspension has a spring (air or coil) and a damper. All mountain bike suspension, whether fork or rear shock have 2 main functions which are performed by the spring and the damper. The spring primarily provides resistance while the damper provides the control of that resistance. There are two types of springs: air and coil. Air Springs.
Basic Mountain Bike Suspension Designs, Explained Singletracks Mountain Bike News
VPP suspension, four bar suspension. Which is best? Can Bruce and Spencer find common ground when it comes to full-suspension mountain bikes? In this episode, we debate the merits of VPP, Horst Link, Switch Infinity, and even single-pivot suspension designs. Plus, we trot out one of the wildest full-suspension bikes in our museum. The 5 Fundamental Rear Suspension Elements. Having analysed suspension design over several years and having knocked up several working prototypes myself, I consider there to be 5 fundamental elements that come together to create a good rear suspension 'platform' for a mountain bike.
