Trust's Prototype 213mm-Travel Electric Dirtbike Fork

Feb 2, 2020
by Mike Levy  
Whether you're a fan or not, there's no arguing that Trust's wild-looking Message and Shout linkage forks were some of the most interesting news on the tech front during the last few years. While traditional suspension companies send out press releases when they shave double-digits worth of grams or up the rigidity of their telescoping forks by single-digit percentages, Trust has carbon fiber linkage forks that are part praying mantis, part robot, and a whole lot of strange.

Yes, their performance is divisive, to say the least, with both Kazimer and myself finding some notable drawbacks when we reviewed the new, long-travel Shout and the original Message. That said, the handling benefits, and especially the calmness and consistency, that come from how the linkage increases the trail (the distance between the tire's contact patch on the ground and the steering axis) as the fork goes into its travel, are proven to me.

More trail will generally mean more straight-line stability, which helps when you're going really fast. And do you know what goes really fast? Dirtbikes.


400 [Failed to load instagram embed] https://www.instagram.com/p/B8EFFYunjX8/?maxwidth=1000

Dave Weagle, the guy behind a bunch of successful full-suspension designs and Trust's linkage forks, recently posted a Cake electric off-road dirtbike to his Instagram that has a 213mm-travel version of their mountain bike fork on the front of it. It appears to be aluminum, and it uses a similar looking linkage to what we're familiar with, although it's probably even beefier given the motorized intentions. ''The prototype Trust front end has 213mm travel and with the weight and speed of the bike, it's capable of some pretty impressive moves,'' Weagle said of the silver fork. ''The level of commitment you can get with the front tire is crazy. And that's considering it's using about the lowest traction front tire one could imagine.''

Could this be Trust testing a new downhill fork, or will we see their linkage suspension on the front of dirtbikes, electric and gas?

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech eMTB Linkage Forks Forks Trust Performance


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180 Comments
  • 272 13
 what in the absolute fuck
  • 26 5
 That about sums it up.
  • 4 5
 an electric motorcross.
  • 172 6
 Pinkbikers: "If linkage forks are so great, why don't we see them on motorcycles?"

*Linkage fork appears on a motorcycle*

Pinkbikers: GET THAT OUT OF HERE!
  • 61 65
flag carbonbootprint (Feb 2, 2020 at 21:11) (Below Threshold)
 @R-M-R: Big difference between seeing them on motorcycles and seeing a single prototype on a truly embarrassing electric moped. Calling this kook chariot a motorcycle is like calling an ebike a mountain bike, it’s anachronistic and objectively untrue. Why this nonsense is appearing on an MTB website is anyone’s guess, but do yourself a favour and peep the Cake website if you want a laugh. Things are the ebike equivalent of grampa’s orthotic footwear. Motorcycle lol....
  • 14 0
 @carbonbootprint: I get it, I'm just having a laugh at the Pinkbike naysayers. We're a vicious lot who make criticizing into a sport, even if we're not always serious in our criticism.

If I really wanted to demonstrate linkage forks on motorcycles, I would have cited better examples than this, including on current production models.

Good for dw and Trust for doing additional testing and creating such a classy looking prototype ... even if it's mounted to a prop from a sci-fi movie.
  • 22 8
 @R-M-R: it’s not a prop from a sci-fi movie. It’s IKEA getting their first motorbike... It’s a great concept but design just couldn’t be more Swedish
  • 13 1
 Why don't motorcycles have linkage forks?

*cough* R1200GS *cough*
  • 20 0
 It looks like Elon Musk and Dave Weagle's love child...
  • 3 0
 Looks like the Oblivion' s bike from the 2013 movie. Oh well that ever put you on
  • 2 1
 @WAKIdesigns: Ikea? What about Muji?
  • 3 0
 @fartymarty: Do not forget that " 's"
  • 2 1
 @fracasnoxteam: My bad,

Edit - Musk's
  • 1 3
 @carbonbootprint:
  • 2 3
 @R-M-R:
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: It reminds me a lot of the Philippe Starck designed Aprilia from the early 90s (much curvier obviously)
  • 1 0
 @fartymarty: Childs are happier now.
  • 1 0
 @carbonbootprint: What about the Sur-Ron?
  • 3 2
 Cool AF
  • 8 7
 perfect example as to what you may expect on our trail systems as E-bikes become more and more acceptable. This is the line we are sure to eventually cross.
  • 4 1
 @BoneDog: Exactly, it's the thin end of the wedge...
  • 4 0
 @fartymarty: Tesla had shares in Alta motors that made sweet electric bikes, they actually were quite competitive and not just experimental, entering the IOM TT, Pikes Peak, RB Straight Rhythm and others, and doing well, not something you'd see a Trust on, yet.

Then Harley bought Alta, and ruined the fun.
  • 7 1
 Dave Weagle has successfully designed 9 of the 2 best suspension systems ever conceived of.
  • 1 0
 @carbonbootprint: this comment made my day!
  • 3 0
 @carbonbootprint: its an electric motor cycle no need for the moped etc codewords you try to label emtb with.
  • 17 1
 @R-M-R: wow @ pinkbike f*cks.

See electric assist mtb THATS A MOTORCYCLE!!!!

See an actual electric motorcycle THATS NOT A MOTORCYCLE!!!


what the actual f*ck is wrong with you people?

Crazy pills?
  • 4 0
 @R-M-R: I'll definitely be using "kook chariot" from here on out. Thank you.
  • 1 0
 @motosinko805: It was @carbonbootprint who wrote it - and yes, it's great!
  • 1 0
 @reverend27: We're all very knowledgeable and important so we're making our valuable contribution to society, one PB comment at a time.
  • 3 4
 @reverend27 - nah rather lack of drugs... mental impotence
@excavator666: some of important people feel so important they feel the need to remind everyone how insignificant they feel...
  • 2 1
 @WAKIdesigns: Hey pinkbike, maybe something about co2 and electric cars in next post?
  • 1 0
 @Planetx888: I was actually thinking of buying an Alta Red Shift. I was so bummed when they closed up Frown
  • 1 0
 @R-M-R: Linkage forks have already been on motorcylces way back before when mountainbiking was even a thing...
  • 2 0
 @ATV25: I was paying attention to them for sure. Cake cycles has a) the actual stupidest name ever. b) no commitment to making their bikes competitive in any realm.

And then they named this above model the KALK...The Cake Kalk. I guess the marketing firm they hired said "hey guys, you cant call your bike the Cake Walk. Just change the 'w' to a 'k,' and it's all good."
  • 1 0
 @benmoosmann: Well aware of this!

@Planetx888: "Kalk" translates to "lime". Not sure that makes it any better.
  • 102 4
 Aw come on guys, it's only here on PB because Trust also makes mountain bike suspension.

*puts hand to earpiece*

hold on...wait...I'm getting word that Fox ALSO makes mountain bike and moto suspension...yes folks, I stand corrected, this DOES appear to be bogus mountain bike content. It appears Trust is getting desperate as they burn through investor cash. Stay tuned, more news at 11.
  • 6 1
 Lol’n here. A+
  • 20 2
 Next up, Maxxis new truck tires will make those muddy logging roads a walk in the park and we'll see how Hayes new front end loader brakes ensure builders have total control while constructing Slopestyle courses on the Crankworx tour.
  • 6 2
 Wasnt aware Fox make mx suspension, they make cruiser stuff.... so basically same same... Original Marzocchi still make pit bike and enduro suspension, none of that gets a press release on here. Clearly a desperate publicity grab as the only people who seem to have ridden these disgusting looking forks are paid reviewers or temporarily 'sponsored' instagram shredders
  • 4 4
 Exactly my thoughts. Trust is desperate because their linkage forks are freaking expensive and ugly and nobody wants to buy them because of those 2 reasons.
  • 2 0
 @Tripmo: Everybody knows Fox has a huge suspension line for various sports. I think it's cool and interesting that Trust is branching out and teasing what they're capable of. And yes--being in a recent start up that's going way against the grain is probably creating a need for more capital and press than a well-established giant... cut 'em a break
  • 5 0
 "THIS JUST IN: Ohlins announce a significant market share across nearly all motorsports"
  • 1 0
 @ctd07: Fox makes a ton of MX suspension as well as offroad suspension for trucks. Live Valve was on trucks before it was on mountain bikes, and the new Ford Raptor comes with it from the factory.

Fox apparel also makes MX stuff, Alpinestars makes race suits for all disciplines, Ohlins makes race car suspension, the list goes on...
  • 1 0
 @jsnfschr: I want reviews of Bell motorcycle helmets and Alpinestars SFI fireproof race suits.
  • 1 1
 Whether you like it or not they haven't been able to keep it in stock with every shipment selling out quickly.

So i doubt they are " burning thru investor cash".

But you know whatever to get some cheap broslap upvotes.
  • 1 0
 @jsnfschr: Maxxis does make truck and car tires already. They're actually pretty good too!
  • 87 19
 So, PB, are you opening the site up to any sport with tires? When is the new 450cc enduro shootout coming?
  • 15 0
 Nissan or Toyota? Find out here in 2025!
  • 75 1
 This is the real E-bike. Why waste my time pedaling when the bike has a motor.
  • 2 1
 Cuz here's pinkBIKE
  • 5 0
 250cc vs 300cc enduro topic ?
  • 2 0
 It used to exist, it was called chainslayer
  • 2 1
 New marketing campaign: “if you want your e moped motor non motor bike to not be a Buick you need this fork otherwise your normal telescope uppy downy fork suspension is Buick-y”. Doesn’t quite roll of the tongue but we’re working on it.
  • 74 13
 Holy shit now we need an actual dirt bike filter... PB is doomed.
  • 10 3
 Lol no... this is not a dirt bike
  • 1 1
 @HaggeredShins: I’d call it an E-DH!
  • 8 0
 @HaggeredShins: or a hipster dirt bike!
  • 1 1
 It’s probably Trust that are doomed
  • 30 1
 Clickbait title - there's no electrics in that fork at all.
  • 25 1
 Elon Musk's dirt bike?
  • 20 0
 In case of emergency break glass Smile
  • 1 0
 No, the Elon equivalent is Alta Motors. Also out of California, and also doomed!
  • 2 1
 Pedo bike
  • 13 1
 I don't love the bike but the fork actually looks pretty cool. Maybe because it's alloy it just looks a little more normal.
  • 2 0
 Can’t see it when you’re riding.
  • 3 0
 @unrooted: I dunno man they stick out pretty far forward.
  • 1 0
 It's more accpetable with double crown. That curvy slack top section on trust its just... fugly as feck
  • 21 12
 Are they just calling this ebike an edirtbike to cocumvent their own ebike filters?
  • 25 20
 Do you see pedals? Is it assisting human wattage input? NO. It’s a dirt bike. Different sport. I’m not a fan of mountain ebikes personally, but you’re just trolling.
  • 2 1
 @5afety3rd: lol
  • 28 13
 @5afety3rd: They both have a motor, so an E-bike is a motorcycle.
  • 14 22
flag 5afety3rd (Feb 2, 2020 at 19:09) (Below Threshold)
 @abzillah: you’re entirely wrong. It’s not a throttle, vastly less torque, nearly impossible to generate wheel spin off a line like a true motorcycle. Ebikes are neither bicycles, nor motorcycles, they are ebikes. And the above photo shows an electric motorcycle. Is a Tesla merely a golf cart?
  • 14 16
 @5afety3rd: actually you are clearly the one trolling. This is a mountain bike website. Not ebike, or edirtbike or e f*cking anything. Go ef*ck yourself.
  • 7 0
 Cocomvent?..You must really hate circumcision.
  • 2 7
flag abzillah (Feb 2, 2020 at 22:49) (Below Threshold)
 @5afety3rd: Yes, a golf cart is a motor vehicle; if you want to drive it on public roads, you have to get a DMV license plate for it, and you have to have a driver's license to drive it on public roads. There is a motor on e-bikes, thus a motor cycle.

DMV labels golf carts as a motor vehicle, yes, it's the same as a Tesla.

"Golf Cart (CVC §345) Definitions
A golf cart is a motor vehicle designed to:

Carry no more than two persons, including the driver.
Carry golf equipment.
Have no less than three wheels in contact with the ground.
Operate at a maximum speed of 15 mph.
Weigh no more than 1,300 pounds unladen (empty)."
  • 1 1
 @abzillah: Actually in your great state of California, and most other states, it's a limited LSV (low speed vehicle)/NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle) only permitted for use in neighborhoods with a speed limit below 35mph, much like how ebikes are limited in areas of use (although not due to speed) Where as a tesla is only limited by it's range and charging station locations. Highway use and the safety equipment mandated are a big part of that equation.
  • 13 4
 Fack outta here with that BS!
  • 1 0
 E bike or the fork?
  • 1 0
 An “Ebike”without pedals. @ButtermilkBar:
  • 12 3
 Cool motorcycle site, whats next, the new segway moto review?
  • 1 0
 Enduro segway with linkage suspension
  • 1 0
 an OFF Hoverboard
  • 6 1
 Why someone chose all the worst parts of a mountain bike and all the worst parts of a motorbike and combined them into the worst looking, most confusing and expensive thing is a question we'll never know the answer to. On top of that it's so ugly I actually feel bad for the people who build this disaster, they have to look at it when it's finished, day in day out, the sadness must be deep indeed.
  • 13 5
 That’s gonna be a no for me.
  • 8 1
 Trust... trying something at everything and hoping something sticks. I still like Buicks.
  • 9 3
 Something something something whinge, bitch, moan, whine...... Something something something trickle-down benefit from motorsport.....
  • 2 1
 EXACTLY
  • 4 0
 Am I the only one who thinks the design if the cake makes it look like the middle of the bike has been pixelated? Lean back away from the photo and it looks like the center of the bike was pixelated in post to hide the motor, then you realize it's not altered, it was just designed in Minecraft.
  • 7 0
 How does that fork look better than the shout or message tho
  • 1 0
 Because you only see it from a weird angle or maybe it's the dual crown
  • 1 0
 @emptybox: I think it looks much better because the legs appear to be parallel to the headtube. The most off-putting thing to me with their MTB forks is how the legs shoot so much farther forward than we're used to seeing.
  • 7 0
 This is one of the cooler ebikes I have seen in a while.
  • 5 0
 That electrocycle looks like it would fit perfect in the back of Tesla’s new pickup
  • 4 0
 Hey Dave, You selling the stock fork from that thing? Pm me, I'd like to buy it.
  • 4 0
 You could ride the cool transitions at your local golf course without alerting the neighbours.
  • 1 0
 I'm confused now. The article states that the axle path increases the trail, increasing straight line stability. I thought the axle was moving forwards (or at least not as much rearwards as telescopic forks) thereby maintaining front center and actually reducing trail. It is hard to view from this angle, but it definitely appears like at least for the initial part of the stroke the axle would move upwards so away from the steering axis. Can't tell what it would be like deeper in the travel though.
  • 4 0
 all fun and games until they do an e-bike fork...
  • 4 0
 Ya but look at the size of that dinner plate rear cassette lol!!!!
  • 1 1
 Seriously! What is the at, a 200 tooth ring.
  • 3 1
 We need a Kayaba SSS mtb fork, if you ride moto you know what I'm saying. The OEM standard that everything is based against, even my Showa A-kit wasn't as good.
  • 1 0
 I already have one I just ate dinner with it.
  • 4 0
 And yet still no room for a bottle cage
  • 2 2
 This looks nice, probably due to head angle of the dirt bike, since trust fork on 64 head angle looks kinda weirdly!

People using linkage dorks in cross country for ages( they have carbon springs instead od hydraulic dampers) i’m kinda shocked that none knows about them
  • 3 0
 "linkage dorks" Great autocorrect!
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: haha, nice catch!
  • 4 0
 Weren't the Godziek brothers playing with one of these recently?
  • 2 0
 Sam Pilgrim has been riding one as well. It looks like so much fun! Crazy exspensive though
  • 4 0
 Shocking, I just don't know who to trust anymore.
  • 4 0
 Dave go home, youre drunk
  • 4 0
 Next level rear sprocket size!
  • 2 0
 no one wants a trust fork..... No one wants a Lauf..... will be a great addition to "vintage mtb suspension form" in about 5 years.
  • 1 0
 You must be living under a rock, KTM Freeride E-XC and ZEro has been racing electric moto for a few years now! I’ve even seen them through Downieville! No complaints there! Why EBike when you can EMoto in same trails!
  • 8 4
 Fuck that.
  • 3 0
 Can I put my timbersled on it?
  • 2 0
 It’s featured on Pinkbike because the largest cog is bigger than rear brake disc.
  • 1 0
 It looks good but I'd rather Ohlins made the upside down fork, they usually run on that Cake bike, for DH. It looks stunning!
  • 1 0
 I kinda want to try an electric moto. Then I went to cake site. 13 grand! I could get any dirt bike I want fully outfitted for less than that. Crazy
  • 1 0
 You couldn't probably have made it more ugly if you tried.
Also is this a mountain bike magazin or what? I really don't care about this motorcycle bullshit.
  • 2 0
 It may called "cake", but to me it looks disgusting.
  • 1 0
 Now we know why its taken so long for the new EVIL bikes. Dave's been playing with this silly thing
  • 2 0
 When you trust the cake, you can also take the crust...
  • 3 1
 Lmk when there’s a DH pedal bike version...
That would be cool
  • 1 0
 It’s close enough for me!
  • 2 0
 $1300usd before the trust fork!!
  • 1 0
 Make that $13k
  • 3 0
 @enis: yep, fatter fingers, sadly not a fat wallet
  • 2 0
 This ought to get some attention on a Sunday.
  • 2 0
 And we thought Eagle gears looked ridiculous....
  • 2 0
 Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
  • 2 1
 Emtb’s: okay yeah cool..!

This contraption: get it outta here!!!

Linkage forks: get those outta here too..!!!!!
  • 1 0
 A forks that "folds" instead of telescoping on this sort of origami bike fits well, I guess?
  • 2 0
 This is so damn bad ass!!!
  • 1 0
 fuckin car battery under the seat lol. looks like that touch of modern commercial that runs right away nugenix
  • 3 0
 No pedals = motorbike!
  • 2 0
 I f****** failed as an engineer. Here is my napkin in real life
  • 1 0
 That's what happens if you have a lot of money to spend on things only you may like
  • 1 0
 Fork looks amazing and I would love to try it. Seems like longer travel might be a better application for linkage forks.
  • 1 0
 213mm dual crown Eek I would imagine these will start showing up on the world cup circuit
  • 1 0
 I'm more interested in that 436T sprocket.
  • 2 1
 April Fools is still a ways off.
  • 1 0
 Would be a lot cooler if it was Cake’d in dirt and actually used.
  • 2 1
 Butt fugly hunk o’ shiit
  • 2 0
 Is it April 1st already?
  • 2 1
 why do i care?
this is about motocross bikes not bicycles, p**s off
  • 2 0
 new eagle?
  • 2 0
 50mph for $13,000??? Oof
  • 1 0
 I just want to know if that cog will fit on my cassette.
  • 2 1
 Its the next generation of e-bikes, now without pedals!
  • 1 0
 its a result of great engineering resorses and no f*cking idea
  • 1 0
 This fantasy, not place pinkbike))) Ahhaha))
  • 2 0
 Not pedal not place
  • 1 0
 Is it April First already?
  • 1 0
 Looks like fun, wouldn't own it, but I'd ride it
  • 2 0
 Cringe
  • 1 0
 Classic case of: Just because you can, doesn't also mean you should.
  • 3 2
 It's a lie
  • 3 0
 MMMmmm cake
  • 1 0
 @guiver: "Oooh cake"
  • 6 5
 Nope ~ not interested.
  • 6 8
 This would be an actual motor driven cycle, not an ebike. Not a fan. Not for mtb trails. Other then the mtb connection, not sure why it's on this site.
  • 15 15
 The pinkbike comment drama queens in full effect today. Settle down kids
  • 2 3
 Once again, EXACTLY
  • 11 2
 totally. Could end up being something that turns into a sick DH fork. It looks pretty rad and Trust is trying some new stuff that could, after a couple generations, be the best fork tech available.
  • 11 3
 Seriously. I’m usually all for shitting in ebike content but this isn’t an article about ebikes. It’s about a mountain bike fork manufacturer making a long travel version of their fork, which likely means a DH for is in the works.
  • 8 1
 @sino428: Thats what i saw it as too, if they can have a 200mm fork that can survive this contraption, it can survive on a DH bike.
  • 2 1
 @kiddlivid: Not to mention their axle to crown is shorter for the equivalent of more telescoping travel, keeping geo the same while adding more squish! The future of DH looks plush.
  • 1 0
 Trust Oblivion?
  • 2 1
 Looks like a Buick
  • 1 0
 POCake
  • 1 0
 I have trust issues.
  • 1 1
 OHH YESSS SOOO GOOD If you know you know
  • 1 0
 Side view please...
  • 1 0
 Drone strike...
  • 1 2
 The Sur-Ron Segment, as I call it, is about to be huge.
  • 2 0
 I highly doubt it. Maybe over the course of the next 50 years since people love their loud and polluting 2 and 4 stroke engines.
  • 1 1
 @beanandcheeseburrito: Oh man, I really think you're going to regret those words. Just the number of offerings popping up all around the globe should be enough writing on the wall.
  • 2 0
 @Chuckolicious: regret? Nah - this isn’t a serious topic or issue.
  • 1 0
 @beanandcheeseburrito: True that!
  • 4 4
 Die.
  • 2 1
 Don't be so dramatic.







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