New Rear Suspension System

[Mungoman58]

At the 1st round of the MX1 World Motocross championships this weekend just gone Kawasaki had a new prototype suspension system on its factory KX250 developed by the Jan DeGroot Kawasaki Team. As you can see the shock is laid horizantally under the engine but still appears to use a similar linkage design to traditional linkage designs (except ktm's of course). To me the designs resembles the "push rod" style of suspension used in formula 1 cars and some other forms of racing cars as well as some very high performace cars.

Why would Kawasaki test this design? A couple of reasons. First of all, this would allow Kawasaki to increase air box volume and have a direct, straight path between the air box and the carburetor. The result would be an increasing power. KTM achieves a similar result with its offset, linkageless rear suspension. This design would also allow Kawasaki to lower the center of gravity and improve mass centralization to help make the bike handle better

However, the shock location appears very vulnerable and if it is to see production one would expect a skid plate of some sort to be added but even so I don't think we'll be seeing such a design on a production motocross bike anytime soon. Saying that though I think Buell road bikes (those mad sports bikes with harley motors) use a similar system.

[GStylEr]

Can you please explain the logic of how it works? I saw that on MTX and was told it wouldn't be a reverse system, but I stuggle to see how when the swingarm moved up the spring would compress. From the look of the linkage to me it looks like compressing the back wheel would pull the spring out or expand it?? So if that's not the case do they have a gear system in the linkage to swap the motion around or what? I'm rather confused by the logic of how the damn thing works.

[Mungoman58]

Well the way I see it, the only visable part of the linkage that you can see in the picture would push forward and compress the shock when the swingarm hits an object. I can't tell you exactly how it works because I can't see exactly what the linkage looks like and its inner workings as its hidden behind the swingarm crossmember

[MuLiShAkX#120mm]

i recon thats a crap idea if you hit a jump real fast and high and case it your f***d youl be up for a new shock and probably all that supports and all that

[Blue Haze]

I think the way it works is when the suspension compresses there is a rod through the centre of the shock that pulls through at the other end to compress the shock, Don't burn me if im wrong, just judging by the picture.

I think if they can apply a sufficent bash plate it would work really well. I like it :)

[Robbo66]

i dont mind the idea. whats wrong with it? it works doesnt it? exactly. but i like the current idea how all mxers have it now, works fine.

[GStylEr]

Hmmm yeah, indeed possible Andy. Personally I doubt it will stick around. Yes it lowers the centre of gravity, but at the cost of ground clearance. If they were gonna compensate they'd have to make the bike sit higher or the motor or whatever which would end up being worse than the old design since the engine's heavier than the shock. Could be a stayer for the MX gp's perhaps on factory bikes but yeah I doubt it will make production from what I see.