It should be high in its travel, not bottom out when riding down steep steps and provide defined feedback to the rider on berms: These are the demands placed on an air suspension fork today. This is countered by the non-linear characteristic curve of this air spring, which is somewhat weaker in the mid-travel range.

Some fork manufacturers therefore use static air spacers to compensate for this effect, but this remains a compromise. The trade-off between spring travel utilization and characteristic curve increase in the mid-travel range remains. The ideal solution would be a large-volume air spacer that supports the characteristic curve in the lower to medium spring travel range, but reduces its volume with increasing pressure (spring travel).

This is exactly where the AWK (AusWeichKammer) comes in, technically just a second positive chamber with a floating piston and increased pressure level. The piston separates the two positive chambers, but allows interaction between the two positive chambers depending on the spring travel from around half of the spring travel. The air pressure in the AWK has a significant influence on the characteristic curve. In order to achieve a reasonable linearization, the pressure level in the AWK chamber is approximately twice as high as the pressure level of the main chamber. Adjusted in this way, an AWK-supported air spring produces a characteristic curve that is reminiscent of a steel spring.

The positive effects of this newly aligned air spring sound quite tempting: in addition to the almost linear progression of the spring characteristic curve, there is a defined force curve and the fork is higher in its travel, as well as improved response behavior. Also on board an AWK-tuned fork is an accelerated return to the SAG or negative spring and increased traction. Finally, the linearization allows the fork to be ridden with a reduced compression level. This noticeably reduces the holding forces, especially on fast impacts such as braking bumps or root sections.

The AWK system is available for the following suspension forks:

• Rock Shox Yari, Pike, Lyrik and Boxxer
• FOX 34, 36 and 40
• Cane Creek helmet

The fresh cell cure for the above air suspension forks is now available in Switzerland at a recommended retail price starting at 199 francs, distributed by Trailsupply.

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