The Rise of Full Suspension — 1990s Breakthroughs

Summary

The 1990s marked the true emergence of full suspension mountain bikes, as brands introduced innovative designs that transformed off-road performance. These early platforms balanced travel, pedaling efficiency, and reliability, laying the foundation for the modern suspension systems used today.

Key Facts

  • Introduced: Early 1990s
  • Category: History
  • Also known as: Early Full Suspension Era
  • Used by / Found on: Trail, downhill, cross-country mountain bikes
  • Official website: Not applicable (historical category)

Overview

Before the 1990s, mountain bikes were rigid or front-suspension only, often struggling to maintain traction and rider comfort over increasingly aggressive terrain. Full suspension designs did exist in limited, experimental forms during the late 1980s—but it wasn’t until the early-to-mid ’90s that they became viable for mass production and mainstream adoption.

The rise of full suspension during this decade was driven by several factors: growing rider demand for performance on rougher trails, advances in rear shock technology, and the influence of mountain bike racing disciplines like downhill and cross-country. As terrain pushed the limits of rigid bikes, engineers began experimenting with four-bar linkages, elastomers, air shocks, and rocker arms—resulting in the first generation of bikes that could pedal efficiently while absorbing impacts.

Although many early systems were heavy or flex-prone, the breakthroughs of the 1990s helped establish the kinematic principles still used today: active suspension under braking, neutral pedaling response, and consistent traction. Names like Horst Leitner, Paul Turner, and Dave Turner became synonymous with this engineering shift, and brands like Specialized, GT, and Cannondale entered the suspension arms race.

By the end of the decade, full suspension had become not just viable—but essential—for a wide range of MTB disciplines.

Breakthrough Designs of the 1990s

1. Specialized FSR (1994)

Based on the Horst Link design licensed from AMP Research, the Specialized FSR was one of the first production mountain bikes to use a four-bar rear suspension with a pivot on the chainstay. Key innovations included:

  • Active suspension under braking
  • Minimal pedal feedback (anti-squat tuning)
  • Replaceable cartridge bearings

The FSR concept helped separate braking forces from suspension motion, addressing one of the key limitations of earlier single-pivot designs.

2. GT RTS and LTS (1992–1996)

GT’s RTS (Race Tuned Suspension) and later LTS (Linkage Tuned Suspension) platforms offered performance options for cross-country and downhill riding.

  • RTS: High single-pivot design with elastomer shock and chainstay-mounted pivot
  • LTS: Four-bar platform with rear triangle fully floating

GT riders like Nicolas Vouilloz and Steve Peat dominated early downhill races aboard these platforms, giving full suspension mainstream credibility.

3. Cannondale Super V (1993)

Cannondale brought aerospace engineering and oversized aluminum tubes to the table with the Super V series.

  • Large mainframe “delta” design
  • Coil shocks with linkage-driven leverage curves
  • Unique monocoque aesthetics

While polarizing in looks, the Super V was influential in proving aluminum could be used to support long-travel suspension without excessive flex.

4. Kona Hei Hei and Stinky Series

Kona’s early full-suspension bikes ranged from XC-focused (Hei Hei) to freeride (Stinky), often using simple, reliable single-pivot platforms with high seat tubes and large travel arcs.

  • Utilitarian, durable design
  • Excellent for North Shore-style riding
  • Used widely by freeride pioneers

5. Turner Burner (1994)

Dave Turner’s boutique aluminum full-suspension frames used four-bar systems with external shocks. Known for excellent ride quality and clean welding, Turner bikes influenced many high-end brands and were often copied by custom builders.

Impact on Frame Design and Riding Styles

The advent of full suspension radically transformed how bikes were designed, tested, and ridden:

  • Frame Geometry: Head angles slackened, wheelbases lengthened, and travel increased
  • Materials: Shift from steel to aluminum to manage the extra weight and flex
  • Shocks: Emergence of coil and air shocks with adjustable rebound and compression
  • Riding Styles: Enabled more aggressive descending and technical climbing
  • Suspension Theory: Designers began thinking in terms of anti-squat, anti-rise, leverage ratios, and axle paths

Trail builders also responded to what bikes could now handle, resulting in more demanding features and terrain.

What was once niche or race-only tech quickly spread to trail bikes, as recreational riders discovered the comfort, control, and confidence of suspension. The 1990s marked the point where MTB left its rigid roots behind.

Notable Implementations

  • Specialized S-Works FSR XC (1995): High-end race bike featuring Horst Link
  • GT LTS DH (1996): One of the earliest purpose-built downhill bikes
  • Cannondale Super V Raven (1998): Carbon monocoque version of the Super V
  • Kona Stinky (1998): Early freeride full suspension bike
  • Turner Burner (1994): Boutique aluminum full suspension trail/XC frame

Related Terms

See Also on BBB

References

  • Specialized Archives: FSR Development
  • GT Catalogs (1992–1998)
  • “The History of Full Suspension” – BikeRadar
  • Turner Bikes History & Geometry Archive
  • Cannondale Museum Archives (Super V Era)
  • Mountain Bike Action Magazine: 1990s Race Reviews
Scroll to Top