Most any multi-link suspension is going to be slightly more amenable to a small chainring than a single-pivot, but it's not going to be completely agnostic. The chainline is still going to move down in relation to the instant-center, which is going to increase anti-squat from chain-tension. Because the IC usually isn't right there at the main pivot and close to the chainline as on a (low) single-pivot, the chainline moves relatively less on a multi-link, but it still moves. Even with high-pivots, you're still moving the chainline from the idler to ring away from the IC, which will increase AS.
Those bikes are definitely not completely agnostic to chainring size, but defintiely less finicky than simple single-pivots.
Sept. 26, 2023, 1:21 p.m. - Justin White
Most any multi-link suspension is going to be slightly more amenable to a small chainring than a single-pivot, but it's not going to be completely agnostic. The chainline is still going to move down in relation to the instant-center, which is going to increase anti-squat from chain-tension. Because the IC usually isn't right there at the main pivot and close to the chainline as on a (low) single-pivot, the chainline moves relatively less on a multi-link, but it still moves. Even with high-pivots, you're still moving the chainline from the idler to ring away from the IC, which will increase AS. Those bikes are definitely not completely agnostic to chainring size, but defintiely less finicky than simple single-pivots.