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=1000Dave 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?
*Linkage fork appears on a motorcycle*
Pinkbikers: GET THAT OUT OF HERE!
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.
*cough* R1200GS *cough*
Edit - Musk's
Then Harley bought Alta, and ruined the fun.
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?
@excavator666: some of important people feel so important they feel the need to remind everyone how insignificant they feel...
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."
@Planetx888: "Kalk" translates to "lime". Not sure that makes it any better.
*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.
Fox apparel also makes MX stuff, Alpinestars makes race suits for all disciplines, Ohlins makes race car suspension, the list goes on...
So i doubt they are " burning thru investor cash".
But you know whatever to get some cheap broslap upvotes.
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)."
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
Also is this a mountain bike magazin or what? I really don't care about this motorcycle bullshit.
That would be cool
This contraption: get it outta here!!!
Linkage forks: get those outta here too..!!!!!
this is about motocross bikes not bicycles, p**s off