Less weight with special plain bearings in the suspension fork

Problem

For the XC fork "Magura Durin Race" with 100 millimetres of travel (MD 100R), the developers were looking for a way to reduce manufacturing costs and weight without compromising performance. The guidance of the immersion tubes, usually solved by means of metallic bearings, offered the greatest potential for optimisation here. The challenge: to find a lightweight oil-resistant component that can withstand impact and edge loads and provide very good response without stick-slip effect.

Solution

In exchange with igus, the solution was found: plain bearings made of iglidur J plastic in special shape. They are around five times lighter than metallic bearings of the same dimensions. The iglidur J material is ideal for this application; it is media-resistant, resistant to edge pressure, impacts and shocks, and has a very low stick-slip tendency. Grooves fitted on the inside ensure that the fork oil can be transported from the oil sump to the upper bearing. And the performance? In the 26.7km Olympic mountain bike race in Beijing in 2008, the bearings passed the practical test with ease: Sabine Spitz mastered the tough course on her bike equipped with the Magura fork by a wide margin and won the gold medal.