Friction (or lack thereof) in the Elevensix
Spend any time talking with me about suspension tuning and you will almost definitely hear me discuss friction, and why it (or more accurately the lack of it!) is one of the crucial factors in a suspension component. I’m not exaggerating when I say it is at least as important as the damping mechanism, and you could have the most refined damper in the world with “expertly” custom tuned valving but if there’s too much friction you may as well be riding a 5th Element shock from 2003! The only way to get a truly ground hugging feel with endless grip and superior comfort is by removing as much friction as possible so the wheel can respond to the slightest variance in terrain.
This is why Push paid attention to every sliding surface of the Elevensix to minimize friction. The eyelet bearings from my previous post are an important part by eliminating binding but there are several other factors at play here.
First is the body and shaft - this black coating is not the regular hard anodising you usually see, but a PVD (physical vapour deposition) process. Hard ano is very durable but doesn’t have great friction characteristics compared to bare aluminium which is why Push uses a PVD coating and has much lower friction while still super hard wearing.
The finish of every sliding part is very carefully specified and controlled too, as it needs to be nice and smooth, but not so much that lubricant can’t cling to the surface. It’s an important science that is impossible to spot with the naked eye but is crucial to getting the best performance
The seals used are carefully designed using low friction but long lasting rubber, and lastly the IFP (internal floating piston) has a larger diameter that is able to operate at relatively low pressures. This allows for less friction, less spring effect and faster damping response.
No other shock has this level of attention paid to the friction and the result is something incredibly smooth and sensitive for the ultimate in compliance!
More information here