Bleed Valves

Low speed bleed valves control the flow of oil through the Double Barrel when the shaft is moving slowly (small bumps/ pedaling forces).  The movement of the piston does not produce enough pressure to open the main shim stack or poppet valves. Therefore, the oil is directed through the precisely metered needle valve openings in a restricted flow, damping the movement of the shaft and minimizing undesired suspension movement such as pedal bob.

Poppet-style Valves

High speed poppet-style valves open once the pressure from the oil flow is significant enough (larger hits). When the wheel hits a significant obstacle, the oil pressure builds up in front of the piston very fast, since the low speed passages are too small to handle the flow. The oil pushes open the high speed poppet valves allowing the suspension to move while absorbing the energy from the impact.

Shim Stacks

The main piston in the shock has both a compression and rebound shim stack which control the high speed damping characteristics for general suspension control (largest forces).  When the wheel hits a large enough bump, the oil pressure builds up in front of the piston and pushes open the piston shim stack, allowing the suspension to move while absorbing the energy from the impact.

The order in which the two high speed valves (poppet valves and shim stacks) open depends on the settings. Either way, this dual path valving enables the greatest control of damping characteristics for the high speed range for both compression and rebound strokes.

Check Valves

Separating all these components are check valves that allow them to operate totally independently. This unique valving is paired with a high performance coil spring available in two choices: titanium or steel. Both are available in spring rates perfectly matched to your weight, frame design and leverage ratio.

The active glide surfaces of all components are specially designed and manufactured for low friction, increased wear resistance, and long-term durability.

Moreover, the Double Barrel's unique pressurization system eliminates the risk of performance-reducing cavitation and also results in longer oil life. The design uses low gas pressure for lower friction, providing quicker shock response, increased traction, and longer seal life.