#Antisquad line suspension full

Impact absorption as a characteristic is defined by two elements: the wheel-path and the wheel-rate. The main goal of a suspension system is to absorb impacts, or said differently, to absorb the energy coming from an impact to the rear wheel. The inherent compromise of suspension characteristics is the reason why suspension design is about finding the right balance for its intended purpose. If for example pedaling efficiency were completely isolated from everything else, a designer could optimize it perfectly – it would be easy, but this isn’t the reality. To understand suspension, we must first understand that impact absorption, pedaling efficiency and braking efficiency are related. The three characteristics of rear wheel suspension How do different designs influence pedaling? What happens to the suspension when braking and in what way does it handle impacts? It’s time to understand the characteristics of rear wheel suspension and how they define the handling on the trail. Before getting into suspension design it’s essential to understand the theory of suspension characteristics. Every suspension design aims for a certain purpose, feel and handling. The bike industry offers a very rich diversity of suspension designs, unlike, for example, motor cycles where the majority share the same design.ĭesigning suspension requires knowledge and experience. Frame designers and shock designers work hand in hand to create a system that works as a package.

The second element is the rear frame components that connect the rear wheel to the shock. First is the shock spring and damper, often called the shock. Suspension design works with two main elements. The characteristics of pedaling, braking and impact absorption define suspension design. Designers and engineers have created different suspension designs over the past decades, all with different riding characteristics. Independent of its purpose, rear suspension always works by the same principle a spring suspends the rider while a damper absorbs energy coming from impacts on the rear wheel. Rear suspension can have a number of different purposes, from improving comfort to increasing traction in rough terrain. Bikes with a rigid connection to the rear wheel are called ‘hardtails’, bikes with a suspended connection are called ‘full suspension bikes’ – this is the ‘rear suspension’.

#Antisquad line suspension full

Mountain bikes and E-mountain bikes can be separated into two groups, hardtails and full suspension bikes. Nowadays, the majority of mountain bikes feature a suspended fork, but what we are looking into, is the suspension of the rear wheel. Over the past decades, the development of suspension forks and frames has grown exponentially and set new standards in comfort, efficiency and the capabilities of bikes. No matter if you’re new to bikes and just curious, or if you are already very familiar with the topic of suspension and looking for some more, you will find what you are looking for right here! Hardtails and full-suspension bikes

In this first part, we guide you through the basic properties of rear suspension. Suspension design is a very complex topic, even basic explanations lead to challenging theories. To unlock the mysteries of rear suspension, we called on the expertise of Ruben Torenbeek, renowned engineer and designer of the RAAW Madonna, to bring you a two-part, in-depth examination of rear suspension function and design. Have you ever wondered what voodoo is being worked by the linkages at the rear of your bike? Do you know why a single pivot bike rides differently to a four-bar design, or why a VPP link climbs so well? Do you know why your suspension stiffens up under braking or why your bike bobs up and down while you pedal? It’s time to strap in and engage your inner nerd as we delve deep into the inner workings of the darker arts of rear suspension.