  
<div column 50% #rear>
----


===== Rear Shock Absorbers =====

The 1983 [[mcr:start|Skinner Descender]], which was also a pioneer in the use of [[tech:start#disc|disc brakes]], used a motorcycle [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_XR_series#XR_200|Honda XR200 Pro-Link]] shock, which had 16 compression settings and 4 rebound adjustments, which was originally made for Honda's 220 pound, 30HP "light weight" motocross racing motorcycle.  The 1983 bicycle built with those shocks weighed 50 pounds and was lucky to get 1/2 HP powering it.  Nonetheless, it was raced downhill and should get the prize as the first rear suspended mountain bike.
\\

The next //thirty years// of suspension development has been spent on seeking the [[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-short-turbulent-life-of-urt-suspension-mtb-history.html|sweet spot]] of where and how to pivot rear suspension to achieve firm pedaling, plush riding, balanced handling - along with being strong, light & cheap.
\\

----
=== Pre-Mountain Bike ===


{{radac.jpg?320|1980 Bridgestone Radac Fitness SE}}
\\
1980 Bridgestone Radac Fitness SE
[[https://www.bukalapak.com/p/sepeda/fullbike/roadbike/il6y9-jual-bridgestone-radac-fitness-special-edition-rare-item|bukalapak]]
\\

Front and rear suspension, with rear [[https://outspokincycles.ca/elastometer-suspension-work/|elastometer]] shock absorbers.


{{mcr:moto.jpg?320|1975 Yamaha Moto-Bike}}
\\
1975 Yamaha Moto-Bike
[[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/yamaha/40484|bmxmuseum]]
\\

Fully suspended BMX with drum brakes.  And those front forks are actually //[[http://pulpmx.com/2020/05/11/maxxis-tires-classic-ink-14-the-yamaha-moto-bike/|oil dampened shock absorbers]]//!  It was achingly close to being a decent downhill bike, but not really.


</div>

<div column 45%>

{{mcr:1983.jpg?300|1983 Skinner Descender}}
\\
1983 MCR Skinner Descender
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Descender.html|mombat]]

{{mcr.jpg?260|1984 MCR}}
\\
1984 MCR
[[https://patineto.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Vintage-MTBs/Brian-Skinners-Descender/i-KXn3BKw/A|smugmug]]
\\
In 1984, the MCR lost 20 pounds and became the //Skinny// Descender at 30 pounds.  Is that Aluminum?

{{sweet.jpg?360|Ibis Sweet Spot}}
\\
How to find the suspension Sweet Spot
[[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-short-turbulent-life-of-urt-suspension-mtb-history.html|pinkbike]]

</div>

<div column 50% #rear1>
----
==== Mountain Bike Specific Rear Shocks ====

By 1991 there were about ten manufacturers of fully suspended mountain bikes.  The following is just a sample of early design styles.
The evolution of rear shocks continues today.  Early shocks came close, but lagged in durability, weight, cost, and especially performance.
\\

=== 1985 Shuler Victor ===

Rear only spring.  1.5" rear travel.  No dampening.  Springs customized for specific rider weight.  28 pounds.
\\

Jerry Shuler would later make a similarly suspended //Rogg Mountain Bike// (1989), see [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Shuler.html|mombat]]. Jerry later founded //Boulder Bikes//, which are next on the list:

</div>
<div column 45%>
{{shuler.jpg?360|1985 Shuler Victor}}
\\
1985 Shuler Victor [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Shuler.html|mombat]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear1a>
=== 1988 Moulton AM-ATB ===

Leading link front, rubber bumpers rear and foldable for transport.  Partially made by [[kuwahara:start|Kuwahara]].  Arguably the first "mass produced, full suspension mountain bike."
\\

Shimano 600SIS (1986-87), which only has a 28T capacity.  20" wheels.  Only 361 AM-ATBs made between 1988 -> 1992.((See more at: [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1989_Moulton_ATB.html|mombat]].))


</div>

<div column 45%>
{{moulton.jpg?360|1988 Moulton AM-ATB}}
\\
1988 Moulton AM-ATB [[http://www.bicyclemuseum.com/?s=moulton|bicyclemuseum]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear1b>
=== 1989 Boulder Gazelle ===

Rear only spring.
Remote rear lockout on handlebars.
$2000.
2.6" rear travel.  First offered in 1989. See:
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Boulder.html|March 1989 Bicycle Guide]]
\\

The pic is from a 1990 Gazelle.  The 1989 did not have front suspension.


</div>

<div column 45%>
{{boulder.jpg?360|1990 Boulder Gazelle}}
\\
1990 Boulder Gazelle [[https://www.mtbr.com/media/1990-boulder-gazelle.1509060/|mtbr]]
</div>

<div column 50% #rear2>
----

=== 1990 Offroad Pro-Flex RF-1 ===

The //"first commonly available full-suspension mountain bike"//(([[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/ProFlex-Girvin.html|mombat]] October 1990 Bicycling review, which ignores the Moulton - which was not widely distributed.)).  Elastometer single pivot rear with an Offroad Flex-Stem on the front, which counts as front suspension.  $1500, 28 pounds, 2 inches of rear travel.


</div>

<div column 45%>
{{rf1.jpg?360|11990 Offroad Pro-Flex RF-1}}
\\
1990 Offroad Pro-Flex RF-1 [[https://www.flickr.com/photos/89346765@N07/8134565399/|flickr]]
</div>

<div column 50% #rear3>
----

=== 1991 Moots YBB ===

Less than one inch of rear travel.  Pivotless.  Pivotless suspension remains popular today, as it's light weight, durable, and cheap but doesn't offer much in the way of travel and damping.

Moots still [[https://moots.com/bike/routt-ybb/|makes]] these.  For //**$10,954!**//


</div>

<div column 45%>
{{moots.jpg?360|1991 Moots YBB}}
\\
1991 Moots YBB [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1239456-road-test-bike-review-1991-mountain-bikes-suspension.html|bikeforums]], Bicycling, April 1991
</div>

<div column 50% #rear4>
----

=== 1991 Manitou ===

Manitou simply stuck their successful front shocks on the rear, with two pivots.  Elastometer shocks.


</div>

<div column 45%>
{{travis.jpg?360|1991 Manitou}}
\\
1991 Manitou [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes/travis-browns-1991-manitou-bradbury|theproscloset]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear5>
----

=== 1991 Fisher RS-1 ===

Four pivots.  Front air-oil damping, elastometer rears.
Despite its name, the RS-1 did not use Rockshox RS-1's((However, the 1990 prototype RS-1 did use the RS-1 front shocks.  See: [[https://mbaction.com/throwback-thursday-mountain-bike-suspension-from-30-years-ago/|mbaction]]))  Note the very early use of disc brakes, using [[https://www.hopetech.com/history/the-nineties/|Hope]] disc brakes ((Hope discs have a spiral pattern of holes, while Pro-Stops, used on later RS-1's, used a slot pattern of rotor cooling.)) and their matching hubs.

Mert Lawwill's((The inventor of the [[lawwill:start|Lawwill]] Pro-Cruiser)) father's personal bike.


</div>
<div column 45%>
{{fisher.jpg?360|1991 Fisher RS-1}}
\\
1991 Fisher RS-1 [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1991_Fisher_RS1.html|mombat]]
</div>

<div column 50% #rear6>
----

=== 1993 AMP Research B-2 ===

The Horst Link, introduced with the 1993 AMP Research B-2, has been hugely successful and the four pivot design remains in production today.  The front shocks, not so much.  24 pounds!


</div>


<div column 45%>
{{horst.jpg?360|1993 AMP Research B-2}}
\\
1993 AMP Research B-2 [[http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/1993-amp-research-b-2.html|vintagemtbworkshop]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear7>
----

=== 1993 Yeti ARC ASLT ===

This design won many, many races and is very similar to today's designs.
\\

Manitou 2/3/RockShox hybrid forks both in front and in back, with a single [[https://risseracing.com/airshocks.shtml|Risse]] damper.  Low single pivot design in the back.

\\

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missy_Giove|Missy Giove's]] personal racing machine.


</div>


<div column 45%>
{{yeti.jpg?360|1993 Yeti ARC ASLT}}
\\
1993 Yeti ARC ASLT [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes/missy-gioves-1993-yeti-arc-aslt|theproscloset]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear8>
----

=== 1994 Kestrel Rubicon Comp Kamikaze ===

A downhill racer with **8"** of rear travel.  The 63t chainring didn't pedal out until 50mph.  The high seat was needed as downhill courses required a lot of pedaling in the 90's.  Was it possible to lower the seat??

<blockquote>
The long and slender swing-arm driving the rear suspension was laterally flexy, and it actually snapped during a race in 1994.
<cite>
[[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/five-vintage-full-suspension-bikes|The Pro's Closet]]
</cite>
</blockquote>


</div>


<div column 45%>
{{rubicon.jpg?360|1994 Kestrel Rubicon Comp Kamikaze}}
\\
1994 Kestrel Rubicon Comp Kamikaze[[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/five-vintage-full-suspension-bikes|The Pro's Closet]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear9>
----

=== 1995 Ibis Szazbo ===

The first Unified Rear Triangle (URT) suspension bike.  5" of travel.  An evolutionary dead end.


</div>


<div column 45%>
{{ibisss.jpg?360|1995 Ibis Szazbo}}
\\
1995 Ibis Szazbo [[http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/1995-ibis-szazbo.html|http://vintagemtbworkshop]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear10>
----

=== 1995 Dan/Ed ===

Just a big block of rubber by the square down-tube (the better to mount the block with.)  Belt drive with an internal hub.  To be fair, it's a very clean look.


</div>


<div column 45%>
{{daned.jpg?360|1995 Dan/Ed}}
\\
1995 Dan/Ed [[https://eatsleepdrinkbike.tumblr.com/post/105878834142/very-early-full-suspension-mountain-bike-full|tumblr]]
</div>

<div column 50% #rear11>
----

=== 1996 Moots DH88/Malcolm ===

The late 90's were a lost time in suspension design, with a lot of ideas tossed onto the dust heap of history.  It's better to highlight just a few standouts, for one reason or another.
\\


Obviously there's some wasted titanium here.  Perhaps to humorously emphasize the ludicrousness of the design.  It supposedly worked.  The rear is pivot-less at the bottom bracket.

</div>


<div column 45%>
{{malcolm.jpg?360|1996 Moots DH88/Malcolm}}
\\
1996 Moots DH88/Malcolm [[https://www.ebay.com/itm/114529287781|ebay]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear12>
----

=== 1997 Ibis Bow Ti ===

The ultimate in extravagant, pivot-less design.  Except that the shocks had a two way pivot as the thin wall titanium frame flexed so much.  $3500, frame only.  //**Five**// inches of travel.


The pic is a 1998.


</div>


<div column 45%>
{{ibis.jpg?360|1998 Ibis Bow Ti}}
\\
1998 Ibis Bow Ti [[http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/1998-ibis-bow-ti.html|vintagemtbworkshop]]
</div>


<div column 50% #rear13>
----

=== 1998 Cannondale Fulcrum DH ===

By this point downhill bikes are designed completely differently than their cross country mountain bike ancestors.  Weight is not an issue.  Pedaling uphill is not a thing.  And with race bikes, neither is cost.  Their designs are worth a look, as they're sooo pretty...
\\

The Fulcrum used three chains, and five cogs were in use at any time,


<blockquote>
Ultimately, the Fulcrum DH was too heavy, a headache to maintain, and too expensive. It was estimated that each bike cost $20,000-30,000 to manufacture. The Fulcrum DH had the potential to be further refined, but unfortunately, the program was canceled after just two years.
<cite>
[[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/five-vintage-full-suspension-bikes|The Pro's Closet]]
</cite>
</blockquote>

{{cannonb.jpg?200|1998 Cannondale Fulcrum DH}}
\\
Drivetrain Detail [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/five-vintage-full-suspension-bikes|theproscloset]]

</div>


<div column 45%>
{{cannon.jpg?360|1998 Cannondale Fulcrum DH}}
\\
1998 Cannondale Fulcrum DH [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/five-vintage-full-suspension-bikes|theproscloset]]
</div>


<div column 50% #s1940>
----
=== 1940 Randonneur ===
Suspension pre-history and of mountain biking in general.  Very early full suspension French randonneur.
\\

Steel frame with lugs and brass fillets.  Super Rapid 3-speed rear derailleur and shifters.  Wooden rims.  Front and rear spring shocks with rear pivots at both the bottom bracket and dropouts..
</div>
<div column 45%>
{{1940.jpg?300|1940 Randonneur }}
\\
1940 Randonneur
[[https://steel-vintage.com/products/original-prototype-randonneur-silver|steel-vintage]]
</div>