Eminent Cycles Onset ST Comp

Challenge

Traction is the promise that a full suspension design strives to deliver:  

The ability of two touch points (tires) to mirror the contours of the surface they roll on.  To achieve traction is to deliver it constantly, under all circumstances, regardless of speed, size of terrain, incline, decline, acceleration, or deceleration.  

Problem

A design’s ability interpret these nuances is encumbered by three competing functions: DESCENDING, PEDALING, AND BRAKING.  Because they can be opposing functions, designs are inherently biased and therefore compromised, resulting in: brake jack, pedal bob, or a harsh descending experience.  

Solution 

Descending:  

As the name suggests, AFS “floats” the shock between two “active” points (seat stay & chain stay).   This maintains shock alignment regardless of lateral forces, ultimately reducing shock bind.  Additionally, by moving the “typical” pivot point to the end of the seat stay, more direct force transfer is achieved, due to the longer lever arm.  Finally, AFS delivers an optimized leverage ratio that is both linear and progressive.  This provides “coil-like” small bump sensitivity, while still providing support deeper into the travel.

Pedaling: 

Depending on the Eminent model, AFS delivers anti-squat values between 125% and 150% (lower/enduro & higher/all-mountain) delivering a powerful pedaling platform, which will still actively track.    To further improve pedal efficiency, increased lateral stiffness is achieved by moving the seat stay pivot close to the axle and implementing angular contact bearings.  This ensures the maximum return on every pedal stroke.  

Braking:

The engineer has worked hard, optimizing leverage curves, force transfer, and anti-squat qualities.  One challenge remains: brake caliper placement. Typically options are limited to an active portion of the linkage.  This yields brake induced suspension movement, ultimately a traction compromise.  By employing an independently floating brake mount, AFS decouples suspension and brake forces (see video).    This delivers a falling anti-rise value well below 100%, without any influence on the other optimized (descending and pedaling) characteristics of the design.  

Result

We don’t believe traction is a 2 out of 3 problem solution.  The AFS is a fully realized, three part solution to a three part engineering problem, resulting in TRACTION under any circumstance.   Constant traction equates to predictability, control, confidence, and ultimately speed… and speed = FUN.

Experience AFS and ride… fully realized.