Will electronic suspension make it to MX bikes?

KooyaKooya
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KooyaKooya
From KTM's website, we can read this about the 2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T suspension:

"
Semi-active suspension

SCU (Suspension Control Unit) adapts the damping rates in real-time to the riding surface and rider, based on the information provided by a set of stroke sensors and accelerometers. It also reads the vehicle load, making the suspension suited to different weights. The result: road-hugging handling all the way.

"

Considering all of the suspension woes from which the average MX rider suffers, could computer analysis and control be a viable solution?
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TripleFive 3/20/2017 9:17pm
3/20/2017 9:17pm
I think electronic suspension would face a similar set of challenges that make traction control unsuitable in MX/SX; namely, tracks that are extremely dynamic.
Heavyrider
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Heavyrider 3/20/2017 9:23pm
3/20/2017 9:23pm
I think Someday we will see electronic controlled suspension with gps, capable of changing setting based on track position.
KooyaKooya
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KooyaKooya 3/20/2017 9:28pm
3/20/2017 9:28pm
Sensors could certainly read harshness, and make an appropriate adjustment on the fly.

Sensors could certainly detect bottoming, and make appropriate adjustments on the fly.

The list continues.

The basic damping tech would probably have to evolve beyond the current shim stack setup, maybe to something centered around orifices that can change size on demand, but I don't see that as out of reach.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/20/2017 9:48pm
3/20/2017 9:48pm
Answer: Yes

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JB 19
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JB 19 3/20/2017 10:47pm
3/20/2017 10:47pm Edited Date/Time 3/20/2017 10:48pm
Magnetorheological suspension

Surprising it hasn't landed in works suspension yet.
kiwifan
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kiwifan 3/21/2017 12:00am
3/21/2017 12:00am
it wouldnt surprise me if KTM is working on this, isnt HRC also looking at more electronics in MX?
miketherider 3/21/2017 7:27am
3/21/2017 7:27am Edited Date/Time 3/21/2017 7:32am
The only thing the electronic suspension could provide IMO is adjusting for whoops vs corners. I know McLaren and others have developed sophisticated electronic systems, but they account for things like roll, yaw, and all sorts of angles and adaptors on 4 separate wheels/planes. What happens if you wheelie out of a rut? How will the computer adapt to hitting a poor line initially in a section and you adjust to a different line?

Xeno
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Xeno 3/21/2017 7:35am
3/21/2017 7:35am
I have already seen it on a dirtbike, but one that is not used for AMA racing. Electronic suspension is prohibited in AMA competition.
731chopper
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731chopper 3/21/2017 7:56am
3/21/2017 7:56am
I would not be a fan of this. I think we should be limiting technology more to control costs of the bikes and showcase rider skill but I know that probably isn't a popular opinion in pro racing.
stremme12
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stremme12 3/21/2017 7:58am
3/21/2017 7:58am
Wasn't there a rumor when js7 was with JGR they were trying some funky things with his suspension?
cslacker
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cslacker 3/21/2017 8:00am
3/21/2017 8:00am
Xeno wrote:
I have already seen it on a dirtbike, but one that is not used for AMA racing. Electronic suspension is prohibited in AMA competition.
And traction control was also prohibited. Until they changed the rule...
Yep
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Yep 3/21/2017 8:58am
3/21/2017 8:58am
Low claiming amount, even up the competition.
endurox
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endurox 3/21/2017 9:46am
3/21/2017 9:46am
BMW's has had esa for 10 years. Nice to adjust the dampening with the push of a button. Can adjust the spring preload also with the same button.
mx_phreek 3/21/2017 10:15am
3/21/2017 10:15am
I think kawi tried it on the shock in 98 in the beginning of the year on emigs bike and he struggled and they went back to a normal shock half way through the year and his results improved.
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ga_pike 3/21/2017 11:41am
3/21/2017 11:41am
I believe we will see it one day.

Of course, I really felt like we'd see hybrid conventional and upside down fork sets too... where one fork was conventional and one was upside down.
xplane
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xplane 3/21/2017 11:57am
3/21/2017 11:57am
The question is more like "when will" it make it to MX bikes. Even if you didn't have fully active suspension or even any adjustment while riding, it's obvious that electronically controlled magnetic dampers would have an advantage in terms of ease of adjustment. You could even do it from your android. That beats crawling around and counting clicks with screwdrivers.
KooyaKooya
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KooyaKooya 3/21/2017 12:17pm
3/21/2017 12:17pm
MX bikes have to be comparatively simple to other kinds of motorcycles. They have to endure much more abuse and have to perform under a much more demanding set of physical inputs. So whatever the technology, it will have to be small and light and intricate in a way that the SCU on the 1290 Super Adventure, or any other road-going motorcycle, doesn't have to be.

Traction control, start assist, etc are a very unobtrusive and easily integrated form of new tech: it's as simple as adding a few sensors, running additional data through the ECU, and cutting the ignition or FI to suit. Electronic suspension would be a much more burdensome and complex innovation. I don't see it happening.
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Skidaddle 3/21/2017 12:29pm
3/21/2017 12:29pm
No. It is great for cars and stuff that need two completely different settings.

Even for cars, its an expensive option that is unneeded and reaps massive profits.

You people freak the fuck out over a 30 year old throttle body and an injector and an airbox sensor. Magnetic suspension....lolololololololol.


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Dirty Points 3/21/2017 12:40pm
3/21/2017 12:40pm
cslacker wrote:
And traction control was also prohibited. Until they changed the rule...
Traction control is still prohibited.
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Skidaddle 3/21/2017 12:55pm
3/21/2017 12:55pm
cslacker wrote:
And traction control was also prohibited. Until they changed the rule...
Dirty Points wrote:
Traction control is still prohibited.
You can't have true traction control when you have different wheel speeds.

Maybe they are cheating and thats why we see so many endos now?
Dirty Points 3/21/2017 1:06pm
3/21/2017 1:06pm Edited Date/Time 3/21/2017 1:14pm
cslacker wrote:
And traction control was also prohibited. Until they changed the rule...
Dirty Points wrote:
Traction control is still prohibited.
Skidaddle wrote:
You can't have true traction control when you have different wheel speeds.

Maybe they are cheating and thats why we see so many endos now?
Sure you could. You could use a radar sensor, GPS, visual imaging, any number of other things beyond another wheel for your base metrics (also prohibited).

As you know, what the manufacturers call "launch control" isn't any sort of actual traction control, it's just a different power map from standard.

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