What type of rear suspension mechanism did Doug Bradbury's Manitou 1 feature?

Answer

Linkage-actuated rear suspension system

The Manitou 1, Doug Bradbury's pioneering production mountain bike from around 1979/1980, incorporated a sophisticated linkage-actuated rear suspension system. This mechanism was crucial because it allowed the bike to move beyond the simple dampening of earlier designs. By using linkages, the system could be engineered to manage the kinetic energy transfer more effectively between the wheel and the frame. This represented a tangible step toward modern suspension kinematics, aiming not just to absorb the immediate shock but to manage the wheel's path for better traction during demanding off-road riding.

What type of rear suspension mechanism did Doug Bradbury's Manitou 1 feature?

#Videos

The First Mass Produced Full Suspension DH Bike - YouTube

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