Road bike maestro’s Colnago and the bespoke carbon weavers at Kestrel have
both signed on to licence the Specialized owned Horst linkage pivot system.

The 4 bar system uses a pivot on the chainstay ahead of the dropout to provide a more vertical axle path than a swingarm. Named after it’s originator Horst Leitner, the system was developed for car suspension
systems and has been used by Specialized for over 10 years, with several key parts being officially patented by Specialized in 1998.

Kestrel’s president, Kevin Kenney, told Bicycleretailer.com; “The design
works extremely well, is well understood and respected in the marketplace,
and has proven to be quite durable…This alliance enables Kestrel to
develop a lightweight, efficient full suspension bike without the
considerable investment and uncertainty in engineering a viable suspension
system”.
Mike Sinyard, Specialized’s president and founder added, “We want to support
the innovators, by working with them to develop the system and maintain its
credibility and success well into the future. Two companies with such
different backgrounds both choosing to use the FSR technology further proves
the innovation of such a system.”

The system is already licensed by several other companies, notably Giant and
Intense.