I've been considering different rear suspension designs that meet these criteria:
Appearance: Maintaining a smooth line from the top tube to the rear swing.
Functionality: Creating a strong, secure, and movable joint between two round tubes (fork steerer and seat tube) within the limited space.
Here are some ideas I've thought of:
Option 1: Using a high pivot by drilling through the steerer tube and attaching it to a square tube connected to the seat tube, with the bolt serving as the pivot axle.
-This option may not be very secure or durable.
Option 2: Adding a square section over the steerer to improve stability, as two square tubes would provide larger joining surfaces.
-However, it's difficult to find perfectly fitting square tubing in two different sizes.
Option 3: Incorporating the upper half of a cylindrical strut over the steerer and utilizing its bushing as the joint.
-Unfortunately, there isn't enough space, and this option would add significant weight.
Option 4: Attaching a stem to the steerer to lower the pivot and create more space, reducing the pedal kick when the rear suspension compresses.
-However, lowering the pivot would cause the swing to move forward when activating the suspension, which is not feasible due to space constraints.
Now, let me share my solution. My father-in-law had a compact and sturdy scissor jack. Yes,
had. I cut it into pieces and modified the steerer and the jack to fit together.
Stable and compact joints
Let’s mix and match