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Fantasy
Edited Date/Time
2/28/2014 3:38pm
Do you think we will see adaptive suspension tech reach motocross any time soon? It seems to be pretty common now in supercars, but is the technology (like the magneto-rheological dampers in Ferraris, Corvettes, Lambos, etc) theoretically adaptable for this sort of use?
Also, do you think we will ever see active suspension that reads the track ahead of time and preemptively adjusts? Imagine a suspension system that learns the track as you go and adjusts to changes not just during the race but from corner to corner and jump to jump, a different setting every few feet.
Also, do you think we will ever see active suspension that reads the track ahead of time and preemptively adjusts? Imagine a suspension system that learns the track as you go and adjusts to changes not just during the race but from corner to corner and jump to jump, a different setting every few feet.
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This is cool....google bose suspension system
There's no question that motocross has to be the toughest test of any suspension system and that an active system is a great advancement.
It's just not there yet for an off-road application. I think we're getting pretty close with the processing power required and the miniaturization of the computers and necessary sensors, but the software (and testing) to make it work is nowhere near ready.
Who will be the first guy to to hit a set of whoops WFO on a bike that has suspension that will react independently and differently every lap? How bad will he wad it up the first time the system lets him down and the speed he's carrying is even higher than what they're hitting them at now? What happens mid race when the sensors get covered with mud and stop feeding the computer reliable data?
If Dungey lost faith in the air shock because it failed on the starting line, then how do you think any rider would react to an active system with even the most minor issues?
On pavement race tracks where the surface doesn't change as radically as dirt tracks I would be all for it.....not on dirt though.
But a while back I test rode the BMW R1200 GS ( wich is the size of a small car with only two wheels ) which has electronic suspension and traction control for ADB magazine and it was an amazing bike and those features works great on that bike on the dirt . If they keep working on it it may get there for MX but there is the problem of the wheel speed / revs data going haywire when your jumping... maybe a panic button or SX mode you can hit mid would work LOL
Suspension really is the biggest factor and advancing technology for performance.. On a 450, do you really think you need more power.. You don't need an exhaust, you don't need head work or fancy ignitions.. Get your suspension done.. That's why privateers go 450 class.. You don't need the motor work to compete.. Suspension is key.. That's why the pro's don't leave home without it..
Want More corner speed.. Use less brake! Haha There's so much Physics, geometry material science and forces involved we'd need a day and several chalkboards..
A great and highly technical off road editor once told me for all but the top top guys.. Don't worry about the bike.. Fix the rider!!
Speaking of active GPS adjustable suspension, check out this new Koenigsegg.
Koenigsegg One-1
"See, the One:1 was designed based on customer requests for an insane track car that could also be run on the road. Koenigsegg is doing this by having the suspension, GPS, and a cell phone app all work together. This is a connected car, but in a very different way from a Google car."
"See, Koenigsegg will be traveling with the development car to a number of race tracks and setting it up to conquer them. But how they'll be doing it precisely is with GPS. In order to have an optimal setup for each corner, engineers will adjust the car for sections of a track which they will then log into the GPS. When the car reaches those coordinates again, it'll automatically adjust. One:1 also uses the cell phone as kind of a data logger. So instead of staring at a G-meter on track and crashing, it logs the data and sends it to the One:1 app on your phone. That way you have everything after your run"
Only a matter of time. Used to be that carbon fiber was considered only for supercars and MotoGP bikes. I really believe this tech will make it into motocross bikes sooner than you all think.
Imagine suspenders based on a magnetic field.
Pit Row
I also don't think have evolved that much in the past 10 years to be honest. Even at the professional level.
It'll take a lot of juice to have an electromagnetic shock rebound quick enough to hammer some whoops, never mind absorb the impact of say Larocco's leap.
Springs (or air) perform the same task without the weight or performance penalty.
Thanks for the info...sounds like i have some googling to do.
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