SRAM has just announced it has partnered with Perth based startup Dusty Dynamics to release the ShockWiz suspension tuning system, which was successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter in July 2015.
The ShockWiz is a small gauge that connects to your air spring and records pressure data at a hundred times a second to provide personalised shock tuning recommendations.
It works by determining the percentage of travel used, seeking events in the suspension like compression spikes or packing down of the suspension over repetitive bumps.
The automated suspension tuning system then compiles all of this information and makes recommendations about air pressure, rebound, high and low speed compression damping, bottom out control and compression ratio, which are displayed via the ShockWiz app on a bluetooth connected smartphone.
Being such a technical piece of equipment, and Dusty Dynamics being a small startup, the resources available to research and development were limited. So, ShockWiz inventor Nigel Wade got SRAM involved during the development process.
“We got in contact around the time of the Kickstarter and I flew to Eurobike to meet them,” Wade told BikeRadar. “SRAM loved the idea and became heavily involved in the development, and their engineers played a big role.”
Through their partnership, SRAM has helped to refine the mounting system for better compatibility with current forks and rear shocks on the market. Beyond the physical changes to ShockWiz, the proprietary algorithm for evaluating suspension performance has also been refined to produce an even better output.
“They’ve definitely done a lot of testing that we didn’t have access to, specifically in their facility in Colorado Springs. The resources that SRAM has added have allowed us access to a real lab environment, and up to that point we were only able to test on the trail,” Wade said.
SRAM loved the idea and became heavily involved in the development, and their engineers played a big role
The bane of many Kickstarters is once they're funded a lack of manufacturing knowledge can often lead to unexpected delays and costs. With SRAM’s input, the ShockWiz was able navigate these issues and find the right suppliers.
“If you need a component they know where to go to get it, and what questions to ask of the vendors. They have all that knowledge because they’re involved in producing such a wide range of products,” Wade said. “They knew what questions to ask, where there were going to be pitfalls, and helped us get it nailed down early.”
The units will be manufactured in SRAM’s factory in Spearfish, South Dakota and are set to begin shipping next year, though they’ll be branded as Quarq.
