Birdy AXS: Multi-S Sealed Bearing Fork Pivot

If you have modified a bike suspension before, you would know that good pivots use sealed bearings to enable smooth rotation even when under load. On the Birdy AXS, the front suspension pivots use bushings instead of sealed bearings, as it is much cheaper to implement. However, I found that the rotation is not so smooth, due to the friction in the bushings. Any friction means that the suspension will be less responsive, as it has to overcome stiction (look out the suspension term on Google).

Most people upgrade the suspension of the fork, from the stock coiled spring to an air or coil spring with damper. In my case, I was happy with the basic coil spring design of the stock suspension. Besides, this gives the lightest configuration.

However, I was curious as to whether the pivots can be upgraded to be smoother. I came across this sealed bearing replacement for the front suspension pivots of the Birdy, thus I decided to give it a try and see if it really makes a difference. Note that this is different from the common ColorPlus pivots which is still a bushing, and is mainly just a cosmetic difference.

Front suspension pivot replacement for Birdy front forks, by Multi-S.

Titanium pivots! Price is in Renminbi, so it is quite expensive. Somehow still cheaper than ColorPlus pivots...

Laser etched information on the pivots.

Here are the parts for 1 pivot. Each set comes with 2, for both sides of the fork.

CNC machined part, with some description shown below based on what I think. 

Referring to the picture above, from left to right: Male screw thread tightens to other side of the pivot. Centre portion is where the sealed bearing will slide over. Right side shoulder with the short pin as the key slot to prevent rotation.

Tightens with a normal Allen key.

Other side of the pivot is mainly just a nut with a female thread.

Nicely machined and finished.

Sealed needle bearings to allow smooth rotation between the inside shaft (not installed) and outside cylinder face.

Many narrow and long needles act as the bearings with high load capacity.

One pair of the pivots, for 1 bike, weighs 56 grams.

In contrast, the stock pivot bushings are lightweight at just 22 grams, as they are simpler and made of aluminium.

In the next post, I will show how the pivot replacement will be done, and whether it is worth changing to the sealed bearings or not.