Anti-Rise

Summary

Anti-rise is a suspension design characteristic that describes how braking forces interact with a bike’s rear suspension. Specifically, it refers to the extent to which braking causes a suspension system to compress, extend, or remain neutral. Anti-rise is crucial in shaping a bike’s braking feel, downhill control, and rear wheel traction under deceleration.

Key Facts

  • Introduced: Studied since the 1990s in multi-link suspension development
  • Category: Technology / Concept
  • Measured in: Percent — typically ranging from 0% to over 100%
  • Also known as: Brake squat / brake jack (colloquial variants)
  • Function: Describes how braking affects the rear suspension’s movement
  • Main effect: Influences how stable or active a rear suspension feels when brakes are applied
  • Related to: Instant center location, linkage path, and rider mass shift
  • Interacts with: Anti-squat, axle path, leverage curve, wheelbase

Overview

When you hit the rear brake on a full-suspension bike, a complex chain of reactions is triggered — weight shifts forward, the fork dives slightly, and the rear suspension has a choice: compress, extend, or stay neutral. The bike’s response in this moment is heavily influenced by anti-rise.

At its core, anti-rise is a suspension kinematic variable that quantifies how much a suspension’s movement is resisted or altered by braking forces. It’s measured as a percentage — with 100% anti-rise meaning braking forces exactly counteract the tendency of the suspension to compress due to deceleration.

Think of it as a balance point: too much anti-rise, and the rear end stiffens or even extends under braking, possibly causing skittish traction loss. Too little, and the suspension may dive or compress too much when brakes are applied, potentially reducing control.

Designers manipulate anti-rise to achieve a certain feel: planted and composed, or plush and active. Because it’s directly tied to the position of the rear brake caliper, swingarm trajectory, and instant center path, anti-rise is one of the least “tuneable” variables once the frame is built. It’s baked into the DNA of a bike’s suspension.

How It Works

Braking and Weight Transfer

When braking, a rider’s weight shifts forward, compressing the fork. This also lightens the rear wheel and introduces a rotational force around the bike’s center of mass — effectively trying to pitch the bike forward.

At the same time, the rear brake applies a torque to the rear triangle, as the caliper is mounted directly on it. The suspension system’s response to this torque — dictated by the swingarm design, linkage geometry, and brake mount location — is what defines anti-rise behavior.

Interpreting Anti-Rise Percentages

  • 100% Anti-Rise
    At 100%, the suspension’s tendency to compress under braking is exactly counteracted by the brake-induced torque. The result? The rear suspension remains dynamically neutral under braking — not rising or compressing noticeably.
  • >100% Anti-Rise
    The braking torque actually causes the suspension to extend slightly. This can give the sensation of a more extended rear end under braking — which may add stability in certain contexts but can also reduce rear wheel sensitivity on rough terrain.
  • <100% Anti-Rise
    The suspension compresses under braking, becoming more active. This improves traction and tracking but can make the rear feel more unsettled during hard braking, especially on steeps.

Many downhill bikes aim for 80–100% anti-rise in the first part of the travel, allowing the rear suspension to remain active without overly destabilizing the rider’s posture. Trail bikes may vary more depending on intended use.

Brake Squat vs. Brake Jack

Two common (though imprecise) terms get thrown around in rider discussions:

  • Brake squat refers to a bike that compresses under braking — a trait of low anti-rise.
  • Brake jack describes suspension extending or feeling harsh under braking — a potential effect of high anti-rise values.

Neither term is engineering-precise, but both point to the rider-perceived results of different anti-rise behaviors.

Frame Design Variables That Affect Anti-Rise

  • Instant center location: The imaginary pivot point defined by linkages directly affects how braking forces are resolved.
  • Link path: Systems like VPP, DW-Link, and Switch Infinity all plot different IC paths that shape anti-rise differently across travel.
  • Brake mount location: A fixed brake on a single pivot behaves differently than one on a floating link or brake arm.
  • Axle path: Bikes with rearward axle paths (like high-pivot designs) often need to carefully manage anti-rise to avoid poor braking feel.

Designers use modeling tools like linkage software to fine-tune how anti-rise varies through travel — often aiming for higher anti-rise early in the stroke, tapering off deeper to maintain traction on braking bumps.

Performance Characteristics & Ride Feel

The ideal anti-rise is subjective. Some riders want the rear end to stay planted under braking no matter what. Others prefer a more dynamic, traction-rich feel even if it costs some composure. Here’s how different anti-rise values feel on trail:

  • High Anti-Rise (>100%)
    • Feels stable and composed
    • Can cause rear suspension to stiffen or extend slightly
    • May reduce small bump sensitivity under braking
    • Often chosen for racing or high-speed terrain
  • Moderate Anti-Rise (~80–100%)
    • Balanced feel between control and rear wheel traction
    • Active braking without significant dive or pitch
    • Common in modern enduro bikes
  • Low Anti-Rise (<80%)
    • Rear wheel remains highly active under braking
    • Improves grip in loose or rough terrain
    • Can make rear end feel “looser” or less composed
    • Seen in bikes prioritizing traction over precision

Rider size and brake modulation habits can also influence how noticeable anti-rise behavior feels.

Notable Implementations

  • Santa Cruz VPP Bikes
    Use lower anti-rise in early travel for traction, with more stability deeper in stroke.
  • DW-Link Bikes (Pivot, Ibis)
    Tuned anti-rise curves that vary through travel, maintaining braking consistency.
  • Commencal Supreme DH V5
    High-pivot design with finely tuned anti-rise to match rearward axle path.
  • GT Force (LTS)
    Features medium-high anti-rise for aggressive descending control.
  • Specialized Demo
    DH bike with mixed wheel sizes and variable anti-rise for traction and stability.

Related Terms

References

  • Linkage Design Software: Anti-Rise Modeling Tools
  • Pinkbike Tech: “What Is Anti-Rise and Why It Matters”
  • Dave Weagle Suspension Papers and Interviews
  • Santa Cruz Bicycles Technical Whitepapers
  • GT Bicycles Suspension Platform Guide
  • Interviews with Pivot and Ibis Engineering Teams
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