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The Motion France damped, travel adjust, leaf spring suspension fork takes the movement out of brake dive

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There’s a new suspension fork on the horizon, and it looks like it will check off a number of boxes. Like all the boxes. If the new Motion fork from Motion France delivers on all of their claims, it will be a one size fits almost all fork with adjustable travel, no brake dive, and limited maintenance. On paper, the Motion fork seems like it could be a truly groundbreaking design, but there is one catch…

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One of the biggest benefits claimed by Motion France is the fact that their fork design eliminates diving of the fork under braking. Theoretically, that should leave more suspension travel available to absorb impacts even under braking which is highlighted in one of their videos. Whereas typical suspension forks try to manage brake dive through adjustable low speed compression, the linkage design of the Motion fork seems to accomplish this without damping.

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all photos c. Motion France

That’s not to say there isn’t any damping though – unlike other carbon leaf spring forks the Motion has a hydraulic cartridge hidden in the steerer which seems to just affect rebound and lock out. Utilizing an adjustment wheel on top of the stem, users can choose between 10 levels of rebound damping and also lock out the fork with the push of a button. The lockout is also adjustable with an allen wrench.

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Also adjustable is nearly everything else on the fork – wheel size, axle size, and carbon springs for different rider weight and suspension travel. We’ve reached out for clarification, but the press materials sent our way it seems that there is one main chassis that is then incredibly adaptable. There are three different chassis – one for 26″ wheels, one for 27.5″ and 26+, and one for 27+, 29″, and 29+. Then there’s the axle system which accepts 15×100, 15×110, or even 20×110. Just about the only thing that this fork won’t accept is a straight 1 1/8″ steerer due to the damping cartridge inside.

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Users can also swap out the carbon springs which can change the fork for different rider weights or for different travels. Depending on the wheel size, travel is adjustable through an incredible 100-170mm range. Supposedly, this can all be done without tools and should be pretty quick. As for the suspension itself, the carbon springs are only utilized in traction (pulling) rather than compression which Motion France says provides better small bump compliance and a progressive suspension rate. Carbon blades are chosen by rider weight, with spring width varying by 4mm from 20-40mm total widths. Sag is another thing that can be adjusted via individual wheel adjusters on the bottom of each fork leg. Even with everything going on, the fork has a claimed weight of 1850g, though it will only accept 180-200mm rotors.

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Motion France claims that their use of bushings instead of bearings at the pivots that are secured without bolts ensures a maintenance free construction. That same claim covers the sealed hydraulic cartridge for rebound. It seems crazy that they’re willing to state that a suspension fork will need zero maintenance, but if the pivots are pressed together without bolts and the cartridge is sealed, maybe there’s no maintenance that could actually be done. Given the lifetime warranty on the chassis and blades (5 year on the hydraulic cartridge), it seems they’re willing to back it up.

You have to admit, at this point the fork is sounding pretty good. The catch? Well, you can’t expect something that could be this ground breaking to come cheap, right? Available for preorder through Kickstarter, the fork starts out at the Extra Early Bird price of €1,250 (about $1400). That is half the price of the expected retail. Yes, the retail price is projected somewhere north of $2,700 (€2500). However, Motion France has been working on the Motion fork for a few years now, with some big partners in France including Michelin, Rotor, and more. We’re assuming that if the Kickstarter is successful, and the fork works as advertised, we’ll see more affordable versions down the pipe. But for now, the Kickstarter is looking pretty appealing…

Kickstarter.com 

Motion-France.com

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48 Comments
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Jerome Roy
7 years ago

the blades are nice, they should have a progressive compression curve.
On the Lauf, the blade double as guiding arms and pivots. Here the whole seems a bit complex… France has a history of parallelogram forks, Fournalès-Look, Hurricat…
Funny that on the video the telescopic fork seems to go faster over the log…

Brian M
Brian M
7 years ago
Reply to  Jerome Roy

I also noticed the wheel moves rearward while moving through it’s travel more so than a telescoping fork. Which would effectively feel like getting hung up over every obstacle? Check out 1:26 to see what I mean.

Craig Harris
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian M

The mechanism moves rearwards, but the axle doesn’t

Jami
Jami
7 years ago

Oct 25, 9:26am – Brim Bros Power Meter Kickstarter plug pulled- hundreds of customers lose over $218000+.

Oct 25 2:30PM – Super-Awesome-Tick all the boxes- Leaf spring fork available through huge Kickstarter campaign for the low low price of around 2 months rent!

Andrew
Andrew
7 years ago
Reply to  Jami

These guys have other commercial partners and the price is probably intentionally prohibitive. I don’t think they’re trying to sucker anybody in with those prices. They’re looking for legitimate investment.

the biz
the biz
7 years ago

can’t wait for the inevitable cabal of people with too much money on their hands to buy these and claim they are the best thing ever

Clarke Colon
Clarke Colon
7 years ago
Reply to  the biz

We need those people. Remember when cell phones were the size of a small TV and cost $4,000? People with “too much money” bought them and the industry was off to the races.

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
7 years ago
Reply to  Clarke Colon

You honestly think there’s something here?

the biz
the biz
7 years ago
Reply to  Clarke Colon

you are comparing revolutionary communication technology to a bicycle fork.

Parbs
Parbs
7 years ago
Reply to  the biz

A bicycle forks better than a new phone

Lon
Lon
7 years ago
Reply to  Parbs

Haha, you’re in the right crowd.

Heffe
Heffe
7 years ago

This is great in a sentimental, nostalgic way; a return to the days of the AMP fork and all of the crazy/innovative designs of the 90s.

myke2241
myke2241
7 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

I was about to say the same thing. Oh the AMP days!

Frippolini
Frippolini
7 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

+1

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

checks calender…

Rider X
7 years ago

I always liked the AMP fork design, I think it had merit (a friend had one, and it rode well for the period). The problem was materials and small market share.

With the advancements in carbon manufacturing processes, it will be interesting to see how it performs.

Chasejj
Chasejj
7 years ago
Reply to  Rider X

AMP needed additional development and a real shock.
Lawwill Leader did that but was too heavy once single crowns went to Mag lowers and Aluminum stanchions.
The LL was a neat fork.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Chasejj

I think the AMP finally got a good shock in its last generation, the F4, which had around 90mm of travel and twin oil-damped shocks. It came too late, though. Not sure about the weight issue on LL- Rock Shox had been using mag lowers for a long time (since the MAG20, available around the same time as the LL) and uppers went to aluminum on the first Judys, which weighed around 3 pounds, not much less than the 3.5 or so of the LL.

Chasejj
Chasejj
7 years ago

Literally 10 guys will buy this in the US.
It is doomed as all these linkage forks are until they integrate it into a whole system F&R that performs BETTER than other competitive designs.
It just will not succeed for that reason as widgets like this are virtually worthless as soon as you pay for it when the initial PR hype goes away. Ask Leitner(AMP) and Lawwill(Lawwill Leader) , Bimota, and the myriad of other failed attempts.
BTW -This does not tick ALL the boxes.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Chasejj

IRD, Look, Lawwill, and USE all had short production runs, yes. Their forks didn’t suddenly stop functioning and become worthless because the PR wore off, though- they continued holding front wheels and absorbing bumps, something which has nothing to do with PR. AMP is a bad example of what you’re talking about- they made four forks over around eight years of production, and continued to supply spares for several years after production ended. Girvin/ Crosslink were produced in various iterations for around a decade. In a one decade time frame, you’d probably get a new fork (and bike) anyway. German Answer’s linkage forks have been around for over ten years now and are still in production. There have also been lots of telescopic forks that have disappeared from the market- Halson, Anti-Gravity, Paioli, Foes…

Jealous dude
Jealous dude
7 years ago
Reply to  Chasejj

Well my girlfriend’s saying she has a tick in her box over this.

Luiggi
7 years ago

I still don’t understand the hype on forks not compressing under braking. Anyone who has done DH or MX knows how to use that compression to enhance the bike’s stance when entering a corner at high speed. In fact, I’m counting on the fork to compress a bit to help me get the front wheel into the trajectory I want.

That was one of the few things which threw me off the inertia valve equipped forks, a la Terralogic. It was hard to get a positive feedback from the fork under circumstances such as the one describes above.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Luiggi

Maybe so, but when going down a really steep, challenging chute that requires braking and maneuvering, this fork is going to be better than one that dives: your fork will stay level in spite of braking forces, rather than diving and increasing your head angle.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Yup, you’re not really “counting on it”, you’re used to it.

Dinger
Dinger
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim

I am trying to get my head around how they’ve managed to prevent braking dive, while maintaining suspension action. Seems like mechanically countering the dive caused by brake load and forward weight transfer would also lock out suspension action.

monkeycyclist
monkeycyclist
7 years ago

The rider in the video is ruining those trails dragging that back tire all around. Who taught that guy to ride? Cool Fork, I’d be interested to ride that when they cost 400/600 bucks.

Local Dutchman
Local Dutchman
7 years ago

On motorcyles beautiful contraptions have been designed to eliminate brake dive and have all failed due to lack of feedback to the rider under braking.

A telescopic fork is like a Porsche 911. It might not be the best of concepts, but through years of constant development it has reached a very high level

Jason Moore
Jason Moore
7 years ago
Reply to  Local Dutchman

BMW has building motorbikes with a front fork that eliminates dives for decades. The GS is one if the most popular bikes in the history of motorbikes. I don’t think you can say “all failed.” It does reduce feedback, but plenty of riders like it, put up with it, or don’t know any better.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Jason Moore

+1 I see thos BMW bikes around the streets pretty often.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago

I can’t imagine this thing being very stiff at this weight. Yes its heavy but for the 1800g, and all those parts, its actually quite light and I’m sure, not laterally stiff at all. I love my Lauf, not the stiffest thing out there but for XC riding, its stiff enough and the low weight is a big win. It only has 60mm of travel compared to the much longer travel of this fork but nearly 2 pounds lighter, probably barely any less stiff, less than half the price and zero maintenance.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Why would it be any less stiff than a Lauf? It seems to me that this design would be actually stiffer. The Lauf’s axle is located on the back end of the rather flexible spring elements, whereas here the axle is right there on the fixed fork blades.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim

It probably is but this fork goes to 170mm travel. No way in hell is this gonna be as stiff as a 34 or 36mm fork. It’ll be stiff enough for marathon/XC, what a Lauf is designed for but this ways nearly 2lbs more.

Geoff
Geoff
7 years ago

To my knowledge the only way to prevent brake dive without using a clever damper is to change the wheel path so that it doesn’t move backwards through its travel. Looks like that’s what’s going on here too, USE tried a similar design years ago which did the same thing. Problem is that you want the wheel to move backwards through the travel, as this is how it absorbs impacts when you’re moving forwards, so these designs tend not to work very well at actually absorbing bumps…

Greg
Greg
7 years ago
Reply to  Geoff

There are two ways to achieve anti dive. One is by axle path, as you describe. The other is by caliper rotation, as this one does. If the caliper’s orientation about the axle is such that it rotates back as the suspension is compressed, the brake will add an extending force when applied (and the wheel is rotating forward).

asdf
asdf
7 years ago
Reply to  Greg

Fork dive is primarily to more weight on the front end of the bike during braking though (i.e. the rider is pushing down hard on the handlebars)… axle path has no impact in that situation. I don’t get what this fork thinks their doing.

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
7 years ago

This is the bike world equivalent of “building a faster horse” when what we need are faster cars.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Flatbiller

It sounds like what you want to say is we need entirely new stuff, and this fork is the continuation-improvement of an old standard product. In what way is this the continuation of an old/ standard product? It seems to me it’s another take on a niche product, the oddball linkage fork.

Lon
Lon
7 years ago
Reply to  Flatbiller

So you want a Honda MX motorcycle? 😉

Joseph Wilson
Joseph Wilson
7 years ago

Why the white short socks? Seems travel at or greater than 140mm would mandate baggy shorts. This will be interesting to follow…

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

That is one wild-looking fork. Another example of how new manufacturing techniques are allowig companies to experiment with wild new forms. 1850 grams is actually quite a lot for a 100mm fork, but it’s also rather light for a 160mm one. Sounds like a great concept overall, and I wish them luck. One thing I wonder about is the pivots and bushings- can they be easily replaced? I hope so. It’s also a shame they don’t take smaller rotors.

TimB
TimB
7 years ago

I’d like to sign up for a free beta version. I’m a mechanical Engineer and very experienced mountainbiker so I can give very good feedback and assist with development.

D-Con
D-Con
7 years ago

Less dive (by using the brake to extend the fork and resist weight transfer) and better small bump action (less stiction and a rearward axle path) sound great. The fixed – weight springs (vs air) and price less so. Still I’d love to give one a ride. The USE SUB was always interesting and I really wanted an Amp DH fork way back when.

Benedikt
7 years ago

I hope they’ll be at next Eurobike so I can test ride. Interesting stuff.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

Anybody notice that the disc brake rotor is not attached to the hub in the first photo?

Ol'shel'
Ol'shel'
7 years ago

The brake adapter looks especially vulnerable to fatigue, with such a long cantilevered section and no triangulation at the bottom where stresses are highest.

STS
STS
7 years ago

What a fugly design! I’m still refusing to believe there is someone bringing such a design to the market hoping that there will be enough people ready to show to the world that they don’t have any taste at all by mounting it to their bike.

UncaJohn
7 years ago
Reply to  STS

EXACTLY the same ignorant comments, have been written, at the early days of our sport (Mountain Biking), when the first suspension forks (and bikes) appeared!
This product is both an engineering marvel AND a beauty.

Axa
Axa
7 years ago

Very interesting as long as durability and function is as promised.
How is the lock out adjustable. Is it a compression dampening circuit switch with adjustable degree of dampening up to 100%. Or is it an adjustable auto release lock-down like the ingenuous launch control from DT Swiss? (Unfortunately that’s about all of what I liked about my EXM150)

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