Single Pivot
The simplest rear suspension design, where the rear axle traces a constant arc around a single pivot point.
Overview
The single pivot is the simplest rear suspension design. The rear axle is connected to the main frame by a swingarm with no pivots in between, causing the axle to move in a constant arc centered on the pivot point.
Design
The shock connects directly to the swingarm, a design made famous by Orange Bikes. The simplicity makes for easier bearing maintenance compared to more complex linkage designs.
The main limitation is limited control over the leverage curve — single pivot bikes tend to be fairly linear, meaning the suspension doesn't progressively ramp up resistance toward the end of travel.
Bikes Using Single Pivot
- Orange Phase
- Some older Specialized designs
See Also
- Linkage-Driven Single Pivot
- Horst-Link (Four-Bar)
- High-Pivot
References
The single pivot design offers little control over the leverage curve. True single pivot bikes are generally fairly linear in their suspension feel.1
Resources & References
Footnotes
-
Stott, Seb. "The ultimate guide to mountain bike rear suspension systems." BikeRadar, 02 October 2018. https://www.bikeradar.com/features/the-ultimate-guide-to-mountain-bike-rear-suspension-systems ↩