Suspension

Rear suspension systems make a big difference on mountain bikes, but most such setups are a bit "much" for use on regular commuter bikes. The Type 57x bicycle was made with that fact in mind, as it features low-profile frame-integrated rear shocks.

When we see mountain bikes with unusual suspension tech, the weird stuff is usually in front. The Veli cross-country MTB has an unconventional rear suspension system, however, which is claimed to offer several advantages over traditional setups.

For six years now, Specialized has featured a mini front shock absorber known as the Future Shock above the head tube of its gravel bikes. The just-announced Diverge STR, however, also sports a new Rear Future Shock that provides 30 mm of rear suspension travel.

While there's no denying that having a rear shock can improve the mountain biking experience, it does add weight and complexity. The Rampage Innova cross-country bike offers an alternative, in the form of a simplified leaf-spring rear suspension.

Riding along rough roads on a gravel bike can make your hands and arms pretty sore, pretty fast. Cane Creek's new eeSilk handlebar stem is designed to help, by pivoting up and down to absorb vibrations.

California's Marine Advanced Robotics has made considerable progress on its remarkable Wave-Adaptive Modular Vessel since we first saw these wild suspension-legged spider-boats 16 years ago on a list of urban legends.

Back in 2016, we told you about a unique leaf-spring suspension fork for mountain bikes, known as the Motion. Its manufacturer has now applied the same basic technology to the simpler one-legged La City fork, which is made for commuter bikes.

On most full-suspension mountain bikes, the rear shock sits between the swingarm and the main triangle, with connectors at either end. The Datum bike is different and supposedly better, though, in that its rear shock slides into the frame's top tube.

Even though mountain bikers can manually adjust their bike's suspension, most of them don't constantly do so throughout each ride. That's where the new RockShox Flight Attendant system comes in, as it automatically adjusts the suspension as needed.

There's no motorcycle on the planet like this one. British company WMC has put land speed record holders on notice with a 2WD, hydraulically hub-steered electric motorcycle designed around a great big hole it says can reduce drag by nearly 70 percent.

There are already several suspension handlebar stems that incorporate a linkage, which allows the bars to move vertically relative to the steerer tube. The Hammerhead360 is different, though, in that the bars move relative to the stem itself.

We've already seen a number of suspension handlebar stems that help absorb shocks by moving up and down. The Flexx handlebar is different, though, in that the two sides of the bar itself are what do the moving.