Digit DATUM is a 140mm rear travel All-Mountain/Trail bike that utilizes the all-new ANALOG suspension system that matches four-bar suspension systems descending and pedaling attributes while delivering significantly reduced weight, carrying more water bottles, and offering improved reliability.
Veteran bicycle industry engineer and entrepreneur Tim Lane launched Digit Bikes in 2021 with a new suspension system called ANALOG. The ANALOG suspension employs an integrated Strut type shock absorber (INTEGER). Digit Bikes currently offers preorders of the Datum, a 140mm travel full suspension mountain bike, the first to run Analog Suspension’s Integer Strut Shock. Its 27.5″ rear wheel should be paired with a 29″ front wheel and suspension fork having 150mm or 160mm travel.
Based in Irvine, CA, Tim Lane Design has International Patents Pending pertaining to the DirtBaggies and Digit Bikes brands. Digit Bikes crowdfunded their launch with a Kickstarter campaign and, at the time of writing this, funding is 100% secure.
ANALOG Suspension
The ANALOG suspension was conceived from the realization that on most 4-bar suspension systems, the upper link undergoes large angular displacement, which can cause the linkage’s instant center to move wildly, and for the leverage rate to get all funky. This can cause the suspension’s behavior to change unpredictably throughout its travel, resulting in a loss of control for the rider. The slider in the ANALOG system does away with the short upper link parts yet functions like an infinitely long link. Doing so removes that angular displacement problem altogether. This helps keep the migration of the Instant Center under control throughout the travel. The suspension performance is thus controlled throughout its travel resulting in a predictable, surefooted ride.
Reduced free-play in the chassis because there are fewer pivots and bearings in the system. Using only three pivot sets and low leverage ratios minimizes the stack-up of backlash in the system.
There are no shock eyelet bushings, a common free-play, stiction, and maintenance problem area on most other suspension designs.
Significant weight saving – typically in the 200-600g range.
The Integer Strut is over 12″ in length – bigger is better.
INTEGER Strut
Much of the technology that makes the most highly regarded off-the-shelf shock absorbers’ special’ is intended to compensate for deficiencies resulting from having to squeeze performance out of the small space between the frame’s shock eyelets and make them adaptable for use on all different bikes models. The INTEGER Strut isn’t disadvantaged in these ways because there is no upper eyelet to limit its length and because it’s a bespoke match for the Analog suspension mechanism.
The Integer Strut has a longer air spring, tuned to match the frame’s leverage profile, and the damper holds more oil to resist overheating (fading) and allow higher flow rates through the damper piston (for improved control). As a result, the Integer’s damper can use a relatively simple, very reliable damper design to deliver the best, most reliable performance.
The Integer Strut and all the tools needed for a complete service
The Integer Strut is made of all metal parts and can be fully serviced without specialist tools.
DIGIT Bikes
We are starting our business making only frames – not complete bikes. This is because Covid-19 has shaken the bicycle industry supply chain such that sourcing components will cause unacceptable delivery delays compared with supplying just the frame (more than a year).
Current Status
Exciting times at Digit HQ: they are beginning to assemble the struts for their new Datum!
This video below shows the basic assembly steps of the strut and are the exact steps that will be followed for service.
Digit INTEGER vs. Standard Shock
Here’s how the strut measures up against a conventional shock.
{ 0 comments… add one now }