Suspension Linkage 101

Well this time I decided to write something that new Mountain Bikers will usually get confused. The names of Suspension linkages and what are their common difference. So here goes:

They are about 6 suspension designs (more coming),

1. Single Pivot

   This is the earliest full suspension linkage (before 4 bar and etc) it only has a single pivot, it moves in an arc when the suspension compresses which caused a few problems such as pedal kickback and etc.
   Famous Single Pivot designers: Cannondale and a few more which I forgotten.



2. Single Pivot Linkages AKA Faux Bar

   This bike has more linkages then single pivot but the rear wheel travel still moves in an arc, I believe its slightly better then a single pivot linkage because they could reduce the arc travel compared to single pivot but some riders disagree. Anyway single pivot linkage bike has a pivot on the seat stay and not on the chain stay. They are a lot of famous Faux Bar bikes.
   Famous SPL designers : Turner, Kona, Trek, Rocky Mountain and a few others which I forgot again.

3. Horst Link AKA 4 bars/true 4 bars

   Horst Link is owned by Specialized and they have licensed it to some companies like Nicolai, Titus etc, Horst Link is one of the best linkage in MTB industry, it has eliminated most of the problems of a single pivot or single pivot linkage bike and its rear wheel movement doesnt move in a arc. Another famous 4 bar is Ellsworth ICT, orginally created by Dave Turner (Turner bikes) but was patented by Tony Ellsworth, ICT is very similar to horst link but after a few slight tweaking, they manage to make ICT into their own patent, if Im not mistaken the difference between ICT and HL is HL uses a strut style shock linkage while ICT uses rocker style shock linkage. HL and ICT has a pivot on the chain stay. Another noticable true 4 bar is Rocky Mountain ETSX, really interesting concept and I suggest you to check on their website for more info bout their 4 bar, RM ETSX.
   Famous 4 bar's: Ellsworth, Titus, Specialized, Nicolai, Rocky Mountain and others.

4. Virtual Pivot Bikes

   Virtual Pivot is Mountain bike latest suspension linkage design, the advantage of this is the manufacturer doesnt need to pay Specialized or Ellsworth for their linkage and Virtual pivot linkage could be designed to have a different wheel path for each wheel travel progression, eg: from sensative to firm as the travel increases. VPP bikes is mostly recognizable by having a bar on the front portion of the bike rear triangle. Famous VPP tech is DW-Link, Santa Cruz's VPP, Giant's Maestro, BMC VPS.
   Famous company that uses VPP : Ibis, Santa Cruz, Iron Horse, Giant, Felt, BMC and etc.

Those 4 is the most commonly and available on the market now, below is a summarize of older linkage that are not commonly used anymore (dont get me wrong by thinking that this design are obselete, its just that its no more the rage in bicycle design because they are better and efficient design nowadays):

1. Soft Tails

   This bike doesnt have a pivot near the bottom bracket area, instead they replace it with a elastomer or some sort to make it bump absorbtion, the linkage mostly are used for XC bikes because XC doesn need too much travel, this linkage style died out because the travel is limited. Cannondale still make soft tails.

2. Monolink

   They are still a few companies that uses monolink, the reason why people dont really like monolink is because as the suspension absorbs bumps, the BB will move with the swingarm (monolink rear triangle is attached to the BB which connects to the crankset) making your leg bend more. If Im not mistaken, Mongoose, GT and Maverick uses monolink.

Well basically that is all the suspension linkage that are available in the market nowadays, they might be more but I cant remember any and I might make some mistakes so feel free to correct me and due to the advancement of Mountain Biking suspension likages, I will update the writeout as I find out more stuffs bout it and I will update this list again with ABP and some others ASAP.