I'm wondering how pivot placement (high, low, forward or back) affects the characteristics of a bike (pedaling particularly). I searched but couldn't find a satifactory answer. I don't know if this is easy to generalize.
single pivot placement
- Thread starter fireman
- Start date
Higher pivot = more rearward axle path, but also more pedal feedback (chaingrowth)
Lower pivot = more forward axle path, less pedal feedback
Lower pivot = more forward axle path, less pedal feedback
Basically, Wheelie is right...But here's some more 411 that may be of use:
http://www.titusti.com/suspension.html
http://www.titusti.com/suspension.html
IMO, the worst pedaling DH bikes are super high pivot like a super 8. They rode great but you can't pedal through the rough stuff. The best pedaling DH bike I've tried was my Balfa. Higher pivot than the S8 but it had a roller to eliminate feedback.
There is more to these bikes than pedaling though. The high pivot makes them good at square edged hits but they don't seem to manual or jump as well as a low pivot bike like a turner. Something about the low pivot make the rear end feel shorter than it is. Which is a good thing in my mind.
There is more to these bikes than pedaling though. The high pivot makes them good at square edged hits but they don't seem to manual or jump as well as a low pivot bike like a turner. Something about the low pivot make the rear end feel shorter than it is. Which is a good thing in my mind.
buildyourown said:
I don't have any experience to comment on your first paragraph but the second paragraph is a good explanation of what wheel path will accomplish, a high pivot means that the axle path is circular but at rest the axle is at some point below the pivot, so the wheel will move away from the cranks making the chainstays longer, I guess this would make the bike perform better over a square edged hit too because the force vector would more closely be aligned with the axle path. A lower pivot means that the axle path is still circular but will travel in the portion of the circle above the center, meaning the wheel will move closer to the cranks, shortening the chainstays, making the bike easier to manual.