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Wed 23 Sep, 10:01 am UTC

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Interbike: Cannondale debuts Simon suspension concept

By James Huang, Technical Editor

Cannondale's new Project Simon electronically controlled oil damper has been in development for a full five years – and yet it still isn't available to the public.  

In fact, it's still just barely out of the proof-of-concept phase and Cannondale won't even offer up a projected release date or target price. But if it's everything it's cracked up to be, it'll be more than well worth the wait and is far from just some rehash of Cannondale’s ill-fated ELO system (whereby you could electronically lockout the fork).  

The twin-tube Simon damper is extraordinarily simple from a mechanical standpoint, consisting of a single solid piston pushing oil back and forth through just one – yes, just one – orifice-style damper.  

A retractable pin adjusts the size of that port, however, and that pin is controlled by an ultra-fast acting Cannondale-exclusive linear stepper motor that can reportedly go from full-open to full-closed in just six milliseconds.  

So what, you ask?  The variable-size port and two-way oil flow means that that one circuit can produce a wide range of damping rates for both compression and rebound without the need for multiple shim stacks, valves, and ports

Add in the array of position and force sensors scattered at various points in the special Lefty chassis and some sophisticated software and what you get is a suspension fork that adjusts itself every two milliseconds based on current conditions and rider programming at any point in the travel range.

For example, want a highly linear feel?  Simon leaves the valve mostly open for lots of oil flow.  

Want a more progressive or abrupt bottom out? Simon gradually closes off the valve towards the end of the travel or leaves it mostly open until the very end of the stroke.

What about a stable pedaling platform?  Simon can keep the valve mostly shut at the top of the stroke but then open it up nearly instantly based on information delivered by the on-board accelerometer.   Reestablishing the platform after the impact can then be based on elapsed time (like the original Specialized Brain) or subsequent measured bump force (like the new Brain).

The main screen allows riders to easily swap between five main customizable program maps.:

The main screen allows riders to easily swap between five main customizable program maps.

And that's just the beginning. The on-board computer offers about 10,000 total possible 'maps', starting with five main modes: cross country, all mountain, downhill, lockout, and travel management (yes, the Simon damper can set top-out and bottom-out points), and each map 'family' is fully customisable via the intuitive on-screen interface.   

Even initial setup is remarkably user-friendly with guided prompts that ask riders for their desired overall feel and weight. The computer then comes back with a recommended pressure setting for the air spring and even compares actual sag with the target value. 

This quick-acting stepper motor is the heart of simon. :

This quick-acting stepper motor is the heart of Simon

The simple physical design and sophisticated surrounding software also yields other advantages.  With just one moving part, the stepper motor is estimated to last up to 30 million cycles before a replacement is needed and the software can be easily updated whenever improvements are made without actually having to do anything with the damper itself – with Simon, there are no shim stacks to swap and no needle valves to screw in and out. Moreover, the simple internal design should eventually be fairly easily transferable to a rear shock, too, with similar benefits and capabilities.

Currently, downsides are limited to battery life, system weight, and cost.  According to Cannondale design engineer Stanley Song, run time with the current Li-ion pack can be up to eight hours but as few as two, depending on trail roughness and rider weight.  

The high-capacity battery also adds a fair bit of mass though the 130mm-travel Lefty fork still weighs in at just 1,800g (4.0lb) – well in keeping with its competition. Cost is still to be determined but given the amount of development time invested, it's safe to say that Simon won't come cheap.

Will Simon change the face of bicycle suspension design as Shimano may be doing on the transmission side with its Dura-Ace Di2 system? Battery life will definitely need to improve and Cannondale admits there are still bugs to work out but our (extremely) brief test session at least suggests the possibility is there.  

If nothing else, we're dying to find out.

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User Comments

There are 31 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 30 of 31 comments

  • This is nuts! Electronic shifting, electronic shocks, what is next? Electronic braking. Maybe the electronic brakes will have an anti-lock feature preventing your rear wheel from skidding due to braking.

  • Hmm, with a generator that goes with all bikes, i.e. the rider I am surprised that this hasn't been investigated more. I know dynamo exist but you would put one onto your sub 8kg bike? A lighter, intergrated into BB perhaps generator would solve a lot of these problems,no?

  • I have a dynamo hub on my MTB and it only adds 400g.

  • If this system has the potential to be so clever, Cannondale could probably augment the battery power to use a built-in hub dynamo that only kicks in when the bike is rolling downhill whilst not pedaling via an accelerometer and/or inclination sensor This would provide battery top-up when speed and pedaling energy waste is not crucial...

  • I'd love to know what goes on in the Cannondale research center? Do they have really bored people who need to find stuff to do to keep their jobs or something? Hopefully they're busy developing cyclists airbags and side impact protection!!!

  • "Currently, downsides are limited to battery life, system weight, and cost..."

    ..and that it'll stop working at the first sign of cold mud water vibration crashes neglect etc etc... :-)

  • I think its great that cannondale keep pushing inovation and desin ideas like this !!

  • How long will be before our bikes are carrying tourer-style hub generators to power the plethora of electronic aids our bike will "require".

    Nice to see this sort of thing in devolpment but I will be keep to see if it lives up to the hype.

  • Well at least they're not designing more cars.

  • Regenerative braking would be an option

  • I have to say that I'm quite excited by this device. Bike design has been stagnant for so long, the bicycle is after all the most evolved machine ever built, so electronics could definitely be start of a totally new chapter.

    I look forward to the day that your bike warns you that your front tyre is losing pressure, your bank account is overdrawn, and then asks you if you'd like to play "Global Thermonuclear War".

  • not for me. a bike is a return to simplicity, a monastic pursuit of leg power, stamina, and cogs rolling two wheels. a full suspension is a welcome addition but all this electronic gizmodo is just over-engineered excess. a bike and a good rider can do without it. the only people i will see on them are hopeless beginner and immediate riders with too much money and too little physical ability. let the schism in biking communities fracture further!

  • Could i link this up to my GPS so on my favourite trails it automatically adjusts the suspension and locks it out on the roads?!

    Maybe the power could simply come from the up/down motion of the forks, like the watches powered by wrist movement.

  • "This is nuts! Electronic shifting, electronic shocks, what is next? Electronic braking. Maybe the electronic brakes will have an anti-lock feature preventing your rear wheel from skidding due to braking."

    Like the modern car maybe we'll need computers to diagnose problems as well. Gets away from the simplicity and beauty of a bike IMO.

  • Bring on the CyberBikes!

  • I'm in two minds about this. I like the fact that bike are moving on and we can soon expect what will undoubtedly be an awesome ride from such high tech, but I can't help but feel that it's moving away from the simplicity of the humble bicycle. But then that would be hypocritical as my mountain bike is pretty high tech relative to what was being churned out 10 years ago

    Could be worse, could be a powabyke.

  • No matter what, I would LOVE to try this gadget from Cannondale, even I don't like Lefty forks...

  • ''Set sag, set rebound......go ride''

    Cannondale forgot the basics years ago.

  • At last, I was only thinking the other day how very awkward, time-consuming and a little undignified it was to simply turn the rebound adjuster knob on my forks.

    Now all I have to do is spend thousands and do it via a computer screen that I won't understand how to get too.

    This is the breakthrough we've all been waiting for.

  • I 'm in 2 minds about this as well: you see it sounds like a great idea, more fascinating innovation from Cannondale, seems like a fairly good implementation of it as well.

    ...but...

    ....I have studied electronics for the past two years at school, and even though that wasn't at a really high level, I can tell it's really frustrating trying to solder on (or repair) these tiny components. Essentially I think it's a really bad idea having sensitive components on an MTB.

    "...replaced after 3 million cycles..." what are they are defining as 1 cycle? one full actuation of the fork, or part thereof? 'cos if that's so, you'd probably use those cycles pretty quick!

    At this rate we'll have bikes that show us our bank accounts, manage, check our emails('cos even you phone can do that these days) and play 16, 000 songs...sigh....I wish we could tell all these people who are driving sometimes needless change, to stop and go do something better.

  • Progress can be good. How many cyclists (from the planet earth) would like the following. Iron frame and wooden spoke wheels ? Gear changes on the down tube ? Those funny rod actuated brakes ? Where do you draw the line about what is good progress. What takes away from the simplicity of the cycle ? Cycle computers and lights are all electronic now. They're not very simple. Anyway, if this development would help someone go faster along their favourite trail and that 's what they want then what's wrong with it ?

  • wattda!?!

    instead of investing on this "complicated" fork for 5 years...why not plant more trees and forests for mtn biking tracks/nature tripping parks....

    rigid fork is enough! it's the legs and the rider anyway!

  • fridge seal,

    modern electronics are not hand soldered.

    This whole thing will never reach production. It would cost Cannondale a fortune in warranties and recalls. Who needs it anyway?

  • products like this are just taking away any skill in mountain biking. i run a single speed hardtail with 140mm forks, and i enjoy mountain biking because it means i have to push myself and the bike to the limits to get the most out of it. things like this are just gonna make it so anyone can hop on a bike and win races, which i think is stupid. its gonna turn into who has the biggest bank balance to determine who can get down the trail quickest.

  • More to go wrong and that means less time on the trail. Personally, I would love to be able to afford it (and it will cost an arm and a leg if it gets to production) but like to just get on my bike and pedal it.

    The only thing that I carry is a GPS / HRM in my backpack for training. Already that adds to the time it takes to get out of the house! :)

  • I've something like this in my Citröen C5... It will be viable for bikes when the batterys become smaller and powerful.

    Otherwise, it should work in both front and rear suspension.

  • im all for innovation if it holds up to our riding conditions, i bought a jekyl 'elo' when it was released, electric lockout, what a bag of shite it was, 3 failed units & that was riding in Florida, i bought it back to england & one winter sealed its fate forever, i wish they would do away with the lefty, its just a marketing gimmick that is far inferior to twin stanchion, i felt the front felt unbalanced & twitchy, i have owned several cannondales & have had problems with them all, they don't call them 'crack'n'fail' for nowt!

  • The problem is getting a lefty serviced is not easy. It is a really cool design though from what ive been reading online. It turns out the valve is made by this Enfield Technologies www.enfieldtech.com company out of CT which specializes in really really fast servo valves. Has anyone heard any more info about a launch date or price yet?

  • Atleast it takes the attention off the new Konas that everyones slagging off!

  • Anyone who is saying they like the humble simplicity of the bike, and rides anything apart from a fixed gear fully rigid with no brakes (also preferably made from old fashioned materials), is a bit of a hippocrit IMO.

    If everyone raced rigid single speeds, you'd still see pretty similar results. If everyone races the modern day suspension systems you'd see similar results, expect everyones time will be quicker. If everyone raced on high tech automatic adjusting suspension systems like this, I'm sure the resutls would still be pretty similar, just as before, everyone would be a bit faster.

    I personally like the sound of that.

    Do you guys think everyone should still be driving around in cars going a max of 30mph with drum brakes and leaf springs?

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