Horst-link (also known as four-bar) suspension is a popular rear-suspension design, named after its inventor, Horst Leitner. Used by Specialized, Norco and many other brands, the Horst-link design is marked out by a rear pivot located below and in front of the rear axle on the chainstay.
The positioning of the rear pivot in a four-bar design isolates the rear axle from the mainframe and offers manufacturers high levels of tunability of all suspension characteristics, as well as delivering predictable suspension performance.
Depending on the frame design, the four-bar layout also reduces the effect of braking forces on the suspension (anti-rise). It also increases control over the levels of anti-squat, relative to other rear-suspension designs, such as the single pivot.
Here, we provide an overview of the history of Horst-link suspension, its pros and cons, and round up five of our favourite mountain bikes that use the suspension, based on real-world testing.
The history of Horst-link
Coming from a background in motorcycle engineering, Horst Leitner began working on the problem of chain torque and its effect on suspension in the mid-1970s.
In 1985, he built a prototype mountain bike based on his findings, which incorporated the first Horst-link suspension linkage. By using a dropout fixed to the seatstay and a rear swingarm pivot below and forward of the rear axle, Leitner created a design that uncoupled braking and chain tension from the rear suspension.
Soon after, Leitner formed a company, AMP Research, that began building full-suspension mountain bikes designed around his linkage. The four-bar Horst-link was licensed by Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Turner, Mongoose and Titus Bikes – and imitated by many more.
Specialized later purchased the patent and used the Horst-link as the cornerstone of all of its full-suspension bikes, right up to its present-day designs.
At the time of its invention, the performance of the Horst-link was a step above the rest, forcing other mountain bike designers to up their game and accelerating the innovation of mountain bike suspension. That’s why we think that the Horst-link is among the few innovations that changed mountain biking forever.
The benefits and drawbacks of Horst-link suspension
The Horst-link design gained huge traction because of a few key traits that set it apart from the competition.
The pivot on the chainstay enables the designers of Horst-link bikes to optimise the anti-squat and anti-rise of the bike in different stages of the travel.
For example, designers can optimise the anti-squat (the measure of how much the suspension resists pedal-bob) around the sag point of the bike, where it’s most important, and minimise the impact of braking forces (anti-rise) deeper in the travel.
When compared to some other suspension designs, such as Twin-link suspension, the longer links of the four-bar design often deliver smoother suspension curves, which results in more predictable performance.
More pivots equal more maintenance, so those looking for the most minimal and trouble-free designs might be put off by the four-bar system. However, with quality bearings and sealing, there’s no reason why a Horst-link should be more bothersome than any other suspension design.
Which bikes use Horst-link suspension?
The tunability of the Horst-link makes it very versatile, and it's used on many types of mountain bike, from cross-country and trail bikes to enduro and downhill.
Specialized has used a version of the four-bar design on all its iconic FSR bikes, including the popular Stumpjumper Evo. Another example of the versatility of the Horst-link is German brand RAAW, which uses the linkage across its whole range, from the trail-focused Jibb to the Yalla! downhill race bike.
In fact, the design is so popular that it has been used or adopted by most of the biggest brands on the market. Trek’s ABP design is based on Leitner's link, and brands such as Norco, Pivot, Intense and Santa Cruz have all adopted the iconic linkage at some point.
5 of our favourite Horst-link mountain bikes
These are a selection of our favourite Horst-link mountain bikes, as rated and reviewed by our MTB test team.
Santa Cruz Vala
- £9,999 / $11,499 as tested
- Pros: Comfortable, grippy, supple, supportive suspension; Goldilocks geometry; lightweight; battery range; motor power and feel; spec choices; confidence inspiring ride-feel; lifetime bearing and frame warranty
- Cons: None
Senior technical editor Alex Evans called the Santa Cruz Vala the best bike he's ever tested. It is a highly impressive mid-weight full-power electric mountain bike and the benchmark performer in the 150mm-travel category.
Ditching the Santa Cruz’s iconic and long-standing Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension, the Vala uses a simple Horst-link to deliver suspension performance that is “immensely smooth off the top” with “loads of damper support” and an end-stroke ramp-up that is “is soft and gradual but incredibly effective”.
However, incredible suspension alone doesn’t make for a benchmark-setting bike. Thanks to its weight, geometry and build kit, the Vala is a true all-rounder with one of the widest performance bell curves of any bike we’ve ever tested.
- Read more: Santa Cruz Vala review
Marin Alpine Trail XR AXS
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- £5,225 / $5,399 / €5,945 as tested
- Pros: Impressive geometry; loads of geometry adjustment; great spec; incredibly capable descender
- Cons: Not as well-rounded as some; freehub is slow to engage
Overhauled for 2024, the Marin Alpine Trail enduro bike moved from a linkage-driven single-pivot design to a four-bar Horst-link suspension platform.
According to Marin, the move to a Horst-link design has allowed for reduced anti-rise (the effect the rear brake has on the suspension performance), improving chassis control when on the anchors.
While it might not be the sprightliest on mellower trails or the best all-rounder, the Alpine Trail excels with gravity on its side.
- Read more: Marin Alpine Trail XR AXS review
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YT Capra 29 Core 4
- £4,999 / $5,499 / €4,999 as tested
- Pros: Impressive spec for the money; incredibly consistent performance on all types of trail; confident at speed; maintains momentum well
- Cons: Shock tune could be lighter for smaller riders; some might prefer a shorter stem option
- Price: £4,999 / €4,999 / $5,499
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – especially if it works as well as the Capra’s tried-and-tested frame and Horst-link suspension. Remaining unchanged since 2023, the YT’s enduro bike delivers consistent performance, and calm and composed nature on just about every trail.
The four-bar suspension stays composed and stable while climbing, remaining active without bobbing.
Downhill, no matter the gradient or terrain, the Capra Core 4 simply gets stuck in and gets the job done with more flair and poise than most. It’s fun and seriously capable, composed and easy to ride straight from the off.
- Read more: YT Capra Core 4 29 review
Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15
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- £10,000 / $12,000 / €13,000 as tested
- Pros: Great geometry that’s easy to adjust; impressive suspension feel that can be altered easily; very capable and versatile
- Cons: Tougher rear tyre would up performance further; very pricey; Pro version rides just as well
At the heart of the latest iteration of the iconic Stumpjumper lies Specialized's tried-and-trusted FSR Horst-link suspension platform, dishing out 145mm of travel.
Specialized has a long relationship with the four-bar link, deciding to continue its lineage after exploring various other suspension layouts during the Stumpy’s design process.
The result is a seriously capable, fun bike to ride, both uphill and down. It’s a plus that it’s so tunable and versatile (benefitting from a chainstay pivot flip chip among other adjustments), making it a real jack of all trades and calling into question how many bikes you might need.
- Read more: Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15 review
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Amflow PL Carbon Pro
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- £8,999 as tested
- Pros: Great geometry that’s easy to adjust; impressive suspension feel that can be altered easily; very capable and versatile
- Cons: Tougher rear tyre would up performance further; very pricey; Pro version rides just as well
The newest contender for the lightweight motor throne comes in the form of Amflow’s PL Carbon Pro, which boasts DJI’s debut Avinox eMTB motor, delivering a claimed 105Nm of torque and a whopping 850W of peak power.
The Amflow PL uses a four-bar linkage system to deliver 150mm of travel, which remains calm as you spin the cranks when seated.
However, while the Avinox motor offers best-in-class performance with seamless integration and impressive power, the Amflow bike itself has room for improvement.
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