Hi. I'm playing with the idea of linkaged front suspension and for that I made some models in Linkage, using rear suspension as the only way to study kinematics within the Linkage, at least for the most important things like axle path, leverage ratio, forces diagrams. But it's not that comfortable like it could be.
Do you think it would be viable for you to upgrade Linkage with this option for modelling the front suspension?
Pavol

Hi,
yes it's a planned feature, and I've been working on having basically two suspensions at the same time. It's just quite a big work technically.
It could probably create a good playground for designers, as top forks are so expensive, why not make an integrated front suspension to the frame?
It's hard to do it right though - looking good enough and be strong, while not using too many custom parts. But maybe you have good ideas.

Well, I'd be very happy if Linkage could simulate linkaged front suspension as properly as rear suspension is done with plotting the same qualities like axle path, path steepnes, leverage ratio, geometric and force proggresivity, anti-dive, ... and at this stage the front suspension wouldn't have to be integral part with mainframe like it is in Hossack's bike. Just staying with standard headtube.
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You're definitely right that it's difficult to do it right. I'd say it's even harder than designing a rear suspension as there are more restrictions up front and human perception is different via arms and hands than via legs.
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My intention is no revolutionary idea, just to design front suspension with as much vertical axle path as possible, low CoG, using standard shock absorber, ball bearings and materials (no proprietary shock, leaf springs or nothing like that), a suspension with consistent instant-center path and a proper leverage curve. And it really is not easy .
I think the Hossack style is not good for longtravel offroad suspension because there cannot be vertical axlepath without forward movement of an axle.
Forward axlepath seems to me as suspension lock, in my humble physical diagrams. But you can achieve whatever leverage curve you wish with shock absorber placed over the front wheel.

Another parameter that should get its graph is the normal trail since it seems to vary much more with linkage forks .