Yeti has never been afraid to be 'out there' and although its Zero Loss and Linear Rail technologies employed on its 303 DH bike have been around for a few years now, Yeti is confident that they've finally got it sorted. Which, of course, raises the question of when and how Yeti will adapt the technology to shorter travel bikes?
Unlike every other suspension system out there, Yeti's employs train-like rails and floating pivots to ensure what it describes as an upward and rearward axle path, although it looks in truth to be close to vertical. This is what Yeti has labelled as Zero Loss technology, with which it claims to have eliminated the effects of pedalling and braking forces on the suspension action by "directing the force mostly perpendicular to the travel path of the vertical gliding pivot." For the 303 DH bike, it elicits 8.5in of rear travel with a roughly linear falling rate as the rear shock travels through its stroke.
Nothing is confirmed as to what applications Yeti will be tailoring the system to as yet, but with Yeti pro downhill racer Jared Graves performing well, it wouldn't be surprising if we were to see much more of this system in the future. Log on to www.yeticycles.com to find out more.
