Right, I'm usually answer more questions than I ask, but after watching Santa Cruz's APP videos and reading some of their marketing speak, I've got a question.
They've designed their APP bikes (Nickel, Butcher) to mimic the VPP shock curves, which start off falling rate and then go rising rate. The falling rate part at the beginning of the stroke always made me scratch my chin - why? Why not just have a nice progressive rate all the way through?
Here is an example - Nickel vs. Commencal Meta 5.5.
Santa Cruz says thus: "What this means is that during the initial falling rate part of travel, the suspension is very responsive to bump forces - it uses more of the suspension for a given bump size. Basically, this feels like "more travel" than is really there."
I can understand that because it's falling rate, it will blow through the travel a bit quicker. But a progressive curve will start at a lower rate initially.
So which is better for traction and small bump absorption? Start low progressive rate, or start high and falling rate?
Anyone ridden two bikes with those linkages and can speak from experience?
(I'm considering a Nickel for my trail bike.)
They've designed their APP bikes (Nickel, Butcher) to mimic the VPP shock curves, which start off falling rate and then go rising rate. The falling rate part at the beginning of the stroke always made me scratch my chin - why? Why not just have a nice progressive rate all the way through?
Here is an example - Nickel vs. Commencal Meta 5.5.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r1pND-Pta7M/TE43wfF7OfI/AAAAAAAABi4/ka0qngtriR8/s512/Santa%20Cruz%20Nickel%202010_LevRatio.jpg)
Santa Cruz says thus: "What this means is that during the initial falling rate part of travel, the suspension is very responsive to bump forces - it uses more of the suspension for a given bump size. Basically, this feels like "more travel" than is really there."
I can understand that because it's falling rate, it will blow through the travel a bit quicker. But a progressive curve will start at a lower rate initially.
So which is better for traction and small bump absorption? Start low progressive rate, or start high and falling rate?
Anyone ridden two bikes with those linkages and can speak from experience?
(I'm considering a Nickel for my trail bike.)
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