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Great questions- seems like you'd be on Team Hart. Danny was probably chasing those exact suspension attributes with his floating brake arm. When talking about brake squat, "stable" implies a fixed center of mass, which isn't a realistic assumption. Riders can move all around, and what you're suggesting is that a rider whose suspension isn't getting stiff then supple then stiff again from braking will be better able to shift weight to compensate for braking-induced mass shift. Fair point, and maybe you're right. I'd love to know what Danny and the Saracen team observed in their year of testing the...

just6979, great points. Yes, you're totally right that when your fork or rear end is extended, the suspension is in a part of its travel that yields a lower absolute spring rate. Totally. What I'm saying is that, when your rear wheel is unweighted, you still aren't generating enough compressive force on the suspension to make it absorb bumps, even with a lower absolute spring rate. For your example, yes, being in the backseat does make the front end of your bike harsh and unwieldy. If you imagine being in a near-manual position leaned way off the back of the...

Just6979, you perfectly described why the world’s fastest riders ride forks that are basically locked out, but still ride 30-40% rear sag like the rest of us. It’s not just that they like stiff suspension. Pros hate uncontrolled weight shift, but they love a loaded-up front tire that’s gripping when they brake.

I think you've accurately described the difference in ride feel between long and short bikes, but I don't think a 2017 bike is 2.5'' shorter in reach. That would mean a medium that's 460mm in 2021 would have been 397mm in 2017. That's not realistic. For instance, a large 2021 Santa Cruz Bronson has a 14mm longer reach than a 2017, with a front center that's 32mm longer. So it's better, but not mind-blowing.