I get this question often. Here is my thinking:
First, what is single pivot suspension? On most mainstream bikes you’ll see multiple arms and links and pivots that control the movement of the rear wheel and the behavior of the shock. Do these work? Yes! They give bike designers very fine control of the bike’s behavior. They also allow the opportunities for patents, licensing deals and proprietary technology that you can only get from a certain brand. Very few riders are aware of what their suspension is actually doing. It’s funny to hear them wax poetic about antisquat, antirise and other things they don’t understand. But they sound cool.
Santa Cruz VPP design with all the pivots and pieces:
With a single pivot suspension system, one simple swingarm rotates on one simple pivot. The pivot is usually located near the top of the chainring. This moves the rear wheel in a simple arc around the pivot.
Mistress with one pivot:
Single pivots work well. Back when we had multiple chainrings, it was harder to get the ride you wanted with a single pivot. This is because the relationship between the top of the chainring and the location of the pivot has such an effect on how the suspension feels when you’re pedaling. Now that we have 1x drivetrains, this is no longer a concern.
Single pivots are easy to build. For a small custom builder, it’s all about being able to execute a quality bike that meets the user’s needs. Every extra pivot location or part introduces complexity — and delays and cost. When I started this project I consulted with one of the smartest and most successful suspension designers in the world. Many of you are riding his DW-Links. He told me in clear terms to stick with a single pivot.
Single pivots are easy to live with. If your bike too big for your travel case? Pull the rear triangle off very easily. Need some new pivots? Pop ’em out and replace ’em with standard bearings (there are two sealed bearings per side for a total of four). No special tools are needed.
A more complex design isn’t better. I’ve ridden most of the major platforms, and I was sponsored by Specialized for 20 years. Do those designs work? Yes! Have I experienced joy on those bikes? Yes! Do they make me faster, smoother or more joyful than a simple single pivot? No. They just make me seem cooler to the people who care about such things.
I believe in essentialism. What are the fewest number of skills you can master so you can enjoy a satisfying life on the bike? We focus on those. What’s the simplest possible way to deliver sweet, perfectly-fitting bikes to the fine people of MTB? I focus on that, which is a single pivot rear suspension.
Will I ever offer more complex suspension designs? Maybe. If you want a specific platform now, you can pay the $500 custom geometry consulting fee, then take the specs I give you to the builder of your choice.
Have fun out there and email me with questions.
Lee