I think you're being a little obtuse here - I don't think anyone is saying all visually similar suspension layouts function the same.
That being said your examples are systems more like the previous generation layouts (both from RM and SC) and they typically do have pretty different leverage curves.
That's actually the piece I find most interesting.
Both brands had similar leverage curves before and after the layout changes.
If you look at the "new vs old" leverage curves in the article, that initial stroke digressive rate up to and just through the sag region is, ironically enough, exactly what Santa Cruz were also trying to eliminate when they moved from VPP3 to VPP4.
I'm not giving rocky a hard time, I see high end bikes kinda like F1 cars or airplanes, design approaches are bound to converge even if each manufacturer has its own flavor, and in the cycle each manufacturer learns and expands on the design iterations and each new design is built upon the shoulders of the industry's existing body of work. Pretty standard for design progress in any industry really, no reason to be defensive. People will be bound to stir the pot. Is SC move their chip to the frame side, same will happen there.
April 10, 2024, 12:47 p.m. - Kenny
I think you're being a little obtuse here - I don't think anyone is saying all visually similar suspension layouts function the same. That being said your examples are systems more like the previous generation layouts (both from RM and SC) and they typically do have pretty different leverage curves. That's actually the piece I find most interesting. Both brands had similar leverage curves before and after the layout changes. If you look at the "new vs old" leverage curves in the article, that initial stroke digressive rate up to and just through the sag region is, ironically enough, exactly what Santa Cruz were also trying to eliminate when they moved from VPP3 to VPP4. I'm not giving rocky a hard time, I see high end bikes kinda like F1 cars or airplanes, design approaches are bound to converge even if each manufacturer has its own flavor, and in the cycle each manufacturer learns and expands on the design iterations and each new design is built upon the shoulders of the industry's existing body of work. Pretty standard for design progress in any industry really, no reason to be defensive. People will be bound to stir the pot. Is SC move their chip to the frame side, same will happen there.