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 When
Felt first set out to develop our new full suspension
design platform, we were more than aware of the challenges
that lay ahead. After all, fresh concepts are difficult
to prove, very expensive to develop, and existing patents
are fiercely protected. We knew no one would take us
seriously if we just licensed existing technology, so
a me-too product was never an option.
We started with a clean sheet of paper.
In order to succeed, we knew we would need to design
a package comprised of a very diverse blend of attributes.
Expectations riders have can seem contradicting at times:
They want more travel and greater durability, yet they
want lighter weight. They want their suspension to remain
active at all times, but they will not sacrifice any
measure of efficiency. They want it to be predictable
and consistent throughout the range of travel, and regardless
of gear selection. They want no bob, no pedal kickback,
easy set-up, and maximum tune-ability. And of course,
riders want all of these qualities to be wrapped up
in a design that is not only easy to understand, but
simple to service.
Needless to say, our engineering team had their work
cut out for them.
 While
there is no shortage of suspension concepts on the market
meeting some of (and a varied mix of) these demands,
we could not find a single system that met them all.
Our goal quickly became to develop the complete full-suspension
Experience for our customers. This Experience for the
rider would be all-inclusive; designed around achieving
a perfect balance of all of the qualities they dream
for their bikes to possess. In short time, we realized
that, from the long list of rider demands, all of the
qualities essentially pointed to the same two basic
elements:
These two elements would become the primary driving
force for the Experience that we would one day deliver.
Additionally, we knew we needed a suspension technology
that could be
applied to any type of bicycle; from XC short travel
racers to Endurance
and All-Mountain models, to longer-travel Freeride and
DH machines.
Luckily, we had no shortage of desire to make it happen.
 After
nearly three years of extensive testing, evaluation,
and R&D, a revolutionary and patented suspension
technology named Equilink is born. The magic of the
system lies within the red Equillink positioned vertically
behind the seat tube. This innovative yet amazingly
simple link counteracts weight transfer on its own,
allowing the drivetrain to do only what it was meant
to do; propel the rider forward. By equalizing the forces
of acceleration and rider input, the suspension remains
open and active while moving you forward with the greatest
efficiency.
Unrivaled
efficiency. No bob. No pedal kickback. Always predictable
and consistent. Active in and out of the saddle. Sensitive
to the smallest of bumps.
Tunability
is an option – not a requirement. No hard-to-find
sweet spot. Whether it’s initial set-up, on the
trail adjustment, pro-tuning, and servicing, simplicity
is what Equilink delivers.
Finally, a single suspension design platform that possesses
it all, and
one that can be applied to any riding discipline. Equilink
technology has
first been employed on our all-new Virtue series of
high-performance
Endurance/All-Mountain models delivering over 5"
(130mm) of amazingly
fluid and ultra-efficient travel. And you can be certain
than more applications
are on the way.
 Note
the red Equilink positioned behind the seat tube. This
equalizing link counteracts weight transfer on its own,
so that the drivetrain doesn’t have to.
As you pedal, the red link automatically pulls down
on the upper horizontal
link, which instantly negates and equalizes weight transfer.
The harder you
pedal (the more weight transfer you initiate), the Equilink
simply mirrors the
effort, keeping a constant state of equalization.
z By allowing the drivetrain to do what is was meant
to do (move you forward), we are able to maximize pedaling
efficiency while allowing the< suspension to remain
equalized,
1:: LIGHTWEIGHT
Equilink was designed to be virtually limitless in regards
to frame design. You will see no tubing interrupted
with pivots (which need to be beefed up to handle the
loads), no need for massive gusseting, no need for oversized
or complicated tubing formations. The Equilink system
is rather
compact in itself, enabling the frame to utilize very
simple, lightweight, traditional, no-nonsense tubing,
as exemplified on our Virtue series of endurance race
models.
2 :: COMFORT
z A comfortable rider can focus all his/her energy on
pedaling, rather than the distraction of constantly
shifting/adjusting the body position due to terrain
input.
3 :: ENDURANCE
Over time, efficient shock absorption conserves energy,
increasing power output.
1 :: SET-UP
At Felt we believe that riders should be able to set
up their bike quickly, easily, as they like, and without
a narrow window for error. Many
suspension bikes today require complicated, time-consuming,
and very specific setup procedures. Among them are a
very precise air
pressure/sag setting, limited damping settings (e.g.
firm, firmer or lockout), inertia valve settings, etc.
We believe a rider should not suffer a
poor ride or a bad day just because he/she was off by
a few PSI or a small click of a dial.
2 :: NO SWEET SPOT
Some suspension bikes are known for their "sweet
spot" when it comes to how the suspension performs
under certain conditions and
certain settings. Obviously, finding and adjusting your
bike to find this sweet spot can be challenging and
time-consuming. How nice would
it be to have a bike with a sweet spot throughout the
entire range of travel? So, if you happen to be "off"
by a few PSI, you don’t end up with
bobbing or pedal kickback; you just end up with a little
softer or firmer ride.
3 :: TUNE-ABILITY
We believe that tune-ability should be an option -
not a requirement. If a rider wants to try out a platform
valve shock, it’s no problem. If
someone feels they just have to have a lockout, feel
free. While the Equilink system was designed to offer
the utmost in efficiency without
these types of shocks, we recognize that they can indeed
change the ride characteristics and that some riders
may like to experiment with
what these types of shocks can offer.
4 :: NO SPECIAL SHOCK
Some suspension bikes are designed to be dependent
on one type of shock, made by one shock maker, tailored
to a specific rider
weight/size. This usually comes at a high price and
inconvenience, assuming you are able to get your hands
on one in your area. The
Equilink system, on the other hand, was designed to
accept any brand of shock, around conventional shock
lengths, without requiring
specific internal factory settings.
1 :: NO BOB
Equilink is the first bicycle suspension system to effectively
eliminate the use of the drivetrain as the primary mode
of counteracting weight
transfer (the cause of bobbing). Equilink was specifically
designed to neutralize the effects of weight transfer
without the direct use of direct
chain force, achieving a perfect state of suspension
"equalization". By keeping the drivetrain
independent of the suspension, it is allowed to
perform the job it was solely intended: to propel the
bicycle and rider forward.
2 :: PREDICTABLE & CONSISTENT
On most bikes, the level of anti-squat (or anti-bob)
can vary greatly, depending on which gear
combination you are in (because the amount
of leverage the chain has over the pivot
changes along with the gear selection).
For example, the large chainring/small
cog will produce very different results
than the small chainring/large
cog combination (and one can
imagine the many possibilities
in between). The typical result is
suspension that is inconsistent
and unpredictable. With the Felt
system, the red Equilink is employed
to do the work normally carried out by
the chain itself, resulting in stable and
consistent anti-bob characteristics in
any gear combination, at any speed.
3 :: NO PEDAL KICKBACK
Near vertical axle path ensures smooth pedaling circles
regardless of gear selection and terrain input.
1 :: IN/OUT OF THE
SADDLE
Equilink is not prone to shifts in spring rate, whether
the rider is seated or standing. Equilink remains active
when sprinting out of the saddle, hanging over the back
on a downhill, or seated on a long, slow uphill grind.
2 :: SMALL BUMP SENSITIVITY
The surge in popularity of platform damping or brain
shocks reflects the
amount of inefficient suspension designs on the market
today, especially
when it comes to small bump sensitivity. Platform shocks
are often
employed to mask inherent design inefficiencies. The
problem is:
When you over-damp a shock to hide rider-induced shock
movement, you can also stop the shock from reacting
to
smaller terrain-induced movement. At Felt, we believe
that
suspension should be active all the time, to pick up
the
small as much as the big, enhancing comfort, as well
as traction. We believe platform valving should be used
ONLY to smooth out unwanted shock movement due
to inconsistent (jerky) pedaling - not to counteract
bob caused by rider weight transfer.
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Bikes & Frames