Canfield Brothers Suspension has been developed from the minds of two brothers, Lance and Chris Canfield, over the last 10 years. Focusing on a parallel link suspension system, the brothers have been prototyping and producing the leading edge of this suspension system.
We intended to make a Rearward Arc wheel path Downhill frame with zero chain stretch, braking that squats or leans back for you and has an efficient pedal feel. The Formula One Jedi is the culmination of 10 years of development and prototyping.
We started with a 12″ travel frame the Big Fat Fatty Fat in 1999, the 2001-2003 10″ Fatty Fat, the 2004-2007 9″ Formula One, the 2008-2010 7.75″ Formula One Jedi and now the new 8.1″- 8.5″ Formula One Jedi. Canfield Brothers suspension feels so smooth because of our virtual pivot moving high to low and the efficient pedaling feel that allows you to pedal through bumps. Our braking is neutral and even leans back and gets low for cornering and steep riding.
After designing our downhill frame we decided to branch out into All Mountain and Freeride suspensions. With a couple of early models, the Lucky and Balance frames, we applied our knowledge of mountain bike suspension to these All Mountain/Freeride frames.
They became favorites of the customer who had them, but they had a main draw back when it came to the 22t granny gear. The main idea with Parallel link suspension is in setting up the chain line with virtual pivot under sag. The problems start when you run more than one chainring in the front using a front derailleur.
When you shift from one chainring (like the 22t to the 32t) you change your chain-line height over an inch. We found that when most frames are designed around a 32t chainring and the frame is in the 22t, the suspension is overloaded by the extra low chain-line to virtual pivot. This pulls the suspension to the top of it’s travel causing an inchworm effect under each pedal stroke.
To overcome this, we developed the “ONE” suspension. We developed a way to make the links have a mechanical lock under pedal forces so that the suspension doesn’t have to rely on the chain-line to pivot placement to prevent suspension bob under pedaling. This is the only parallel link suspension on the market that does this. In or out of the saddle the suspension doesn’t move in any of the front chainrings. From the 22t to the 32t (and even the 44t if you are running a triple), the suspension doesn’t have any movement under pedaling forces. The suspension is still active to bumps and the braking has a smooth, neutral feel for easy descending.