Kinematics

Kavenz VHP16 | VHP18

If you like and understand data, then this is for you, all the graphs.

kavenz-anti-squat — The V3 of the Kavenz has a new position of the Idler Pulley, which maximizes the Anti-Squat (Green Graph). Bikes with High Pivot Points naturally offer excellent support under pedaling without the downside of pedal kickback when using an idler pulley to reroute the chain. But we went a bit further and optimized the Anti Squat throughout the gears and travel to achieve what we believe is perfection. Plenty of support when climbing but no Pedal-Kickback in DH gears! Aha, the 4-Bar XYZ bike we use for comparison is the top model of a big bike brand from Switzerland, which we consider one of the best you can buy.

kavenz-pedal-kickback — High Pivot Bikes don´t need as much Pedal-Kickback, so the Pedal-Kickback remains very low in comparison to traditional bikes (Grey Graph). You can not recognize any Pedal-Kickback in Medium and DH Gears. We achieve this through the dropping Anti-Squat curve. We did not want to throw to many graphics on you. But if you need to know it: 34/10 results in -2° Pedal Kick-Back, that means total freedom for your rear suspension. 34/50 results in 19° Pedal Kick-Back and 140% Anti-Squat in SAG Zone; this makes the Kavenz feel like an XC Bike. The Pedal Kick-Back displayed is relative to the ground not to the bike frame, so it shows the worst case. If you´d look at the isolated, you´d see even less Pedal Kick-Back.

The rearward motion allows the rear wheel to move away from, not against, obstacles. This Axle-Path enables the bike to keep its momentum when the terrain gets rough. If you compare to the grey graph, which is a 4 Bar 29er with equal travel, you see how vast the difference is. Unlike other HPP bikes, we did not go radical with the rear axle path to maintain the Anti-Rise value under 100% and avoid weight shifting. That keeps the suspension open and conserves the geometry if you hit your rear brake hard, which means traction and control.

Anti Rise is usually the weak point of High Pivot Point bikes, as too much Anti Rise results in a less active suspension and loss of travel and traction. The 4 Bar XYZ bike would rise when you hit the rear brake and steepen the geometry. A typical HPP bike would squat, which would stiffen up the rear suspension but give you a slacker geometry. A high Anti-Rise can be useful for DH racing where you know your lines and braking points blind. That's why we designed a bike that does not change the geometry under rear braking and keeps the suspension active but also prevents the rider's mass from shifting forward. We call that system VHP (Virtual High Pivot), and it makes you faster.

The suspension design generates 160 mm of travel using a 65 mm stroke shock, producing a 30% progression. In the beginning, the bike is very supple. The mid-stroke is designed to provide adequate support when you push and pump, but remain open enough to absorb big hits with no harshness. The end stroke does not increase further in the rate as most shocks feature some bottom out elements, and we want to make use of the entire travel.