Dave Weagle’s New Suspension System: SPLIT PIVOT
Friday, June 8th, 2007
This week, Dave Weagle, the creator of the World Champion and internationally acclaimed dw-link suspension introduces a new system to the cycling world.
The new system is called SPLIT PIVOT and features worldwide patent pending concentric dropout pivot technology never seen before!
Dave sent over some information on this new system, its a must see! Read more inside
A web site dedicated to the system, www.split-pivot.com, was launched earlier in May 2007.
Dave had the following to say about the launch of the new system:
“I’m thrilled to finally be able to show Split Pivot off. This has been something that I’ve worked on for quite a while, years actually, licensed to partners and talked to others behind closed doors, built prototypes, but nobody in the public has seen it yet. It’s so hard to keep something so exciting a secret for so long so I am glad that part is over. I think that riders are really going to enjoy this system. It allows for atypical pivot placement that works great for acceleration and bump absorption and the concentric dropout pivot lets me tune braking forces at the same time. Basically the Split Pivot bikes are a lot of fun to ride.â€
What is it?
Split Pivot is a worldwide patent pending suspension system for high performance bicycles, where traction, efficiency, maneuverability, and frame stiffness are important factors on the track and trail. Split Pivot’s [concentric dropout pivot] is the heart of this new design and provides performance that no single pivot can duplicate. Shaped by Dave Weagle’s competition proven engineering, Split Pivot is designed to offer a ride that will make you smile.
Cutout view of the dropouts
The Concentric Pivots
How does it work?
Split Pivot separates acceleration forces from braking forces in the suspension. The system reduces excess suspension compression due to acceleration forces, and at the same time reduces excess compression due to braking forces. Braking neutrality can be tuned independently of acceleration characteristics, and leverage rate curves can be tuned to meet the needs of the application. Shock layout can be vertical, horizontal, floating or even driven by a modifier link.
The system lends itself to ease of manufacture, and can be engineered to build lightweight frame structures without resorting to exotic materials or tube shapes. Featuring 12mm thru axle, QR 12mm axle, or 10mm vertical QR possibilities, plenty of stock wheels fit the design.
Bottom Line: Split Pivot can be engineered to offer a ride that will make you want to be on your bike more often.
Split Pivot will be available Worldwide in late 2007 and early 2008, details on brands and models to come soon. Prototypes are out there, keep your eyes peeled!
June 8th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
that certinly lowers manufacturing costs to produce a simple bike free of braking forces. I hope it translates into more affordable DIA bikes.
I also like a 12mm axle in more trail-oriented frames.
as long as the bushings are easily serviced, the SP design looks pretty awesome
June 8th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
What’s funny is I had always wondered why no one had a pivot there and how well it would work. Lo and behold here it is now.
June 8th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
edit: wrong link
June 8th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
The patent claims have nothing to do with this system.
June 9th, 2007 at 7:40 am
So this is essentially a horst-link moved further rearward?
June 9th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Pretty much that’s one way of describing it. Integrating a floating disc brake in the dropouts essentially.
Dave says
June 11th, 2007 at 11:32 am
seen the treks yet
June 11th, 2007 at 11:36 am
worldwide patent pending
im sure when we submitted a suspension design similar to this we were told by the patent attorneys that we could not patent a suspension pivot location
pretty soon after there were lots of designs out there very similar to our own
one other thing i never understood was copyright preceeding a patent
June 11th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Looks like the new Trek Fuel…
July 18th, 2007 at 9:34 am
I still can’t get whats the buzz on this really?
It is basically another single pivot multi articulated with an added fix floating brake arm( aka “Brake therapy”).
DW-Link was ground breaking. Split Pivot: Same dog, new tricks
August 12th, 2007 at 4:42 am
The buzz is that it is inexpensive to manufacture (compared to the precise manufacturing tolerances of the dw-link).
It gets around the Specialized Horst link patent nicely.
It’s a step forward compared to a simple single pivot or non-Horst four-bar design.
The question is, is he attempting to patent the pivot location, or the method of constructing such a pivot. Me thinks the latter.