An air spring includes a sleeve, a jounce bumper, and a bump cap. The sleeve defines a chamber. The jounce bumper is fixed relative to the sleeve in the chamber. The bump cap is moveable relative to the jounce bumper from a first position to a second position in contact with the jounce bumper. The jounce bumper includes a valve moveable by the bump cap to a closed position when the bump cap moves to the second position.

A front fork of the present invention has: a cylinder in which a damper of one fork leg is connected to an outer tube on a vehicle body side; a piston rod connected to an inner tube on an axle side; and a piston valve attached to the piston rod and movably inserted into the cylinder. A variable throttle for extension-side damping force adjustment is provided in the piston rod. A stroke sensor has a detected element attached to the cylinder, and a detection unit that is attached to the piston rod and detects a displacement of the detected element. A variable throttle for compression-side damping force adjustment is attached to an outer tube on the vehicle body side of another fork leg.

A front fork of the present invention has: a cylinder in which a damper of one fork leg is connected to an outer tube on a vehicle body side; a piston rod connected to an inner tube on an axle side; and a piston valve attached to the piston rod and movably inserted into the cylinder. A variable throttle for extension-side damping force adjustment is provided in the piston rod. A stroke sensor has a detected element attached to the cylinder, and a detection unit that is attached to the piston rod and detects a displacement of the detected element. A variable throttle for compression-side damping force adjustment is attached to an outer tube on the vehicle body side of another fork leg.

A suspension apparatus includes: a damping device; an operating section; and a determination section. The determination section uses a base damping force determined based on a change velocity and an extension occasion adjustment value, or the base damping force, the extension occasion adjustment value and a zero occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of an extension occasion damping force. The determination section uses the base damping force, a compression occasion adjustment value and the zero occasion adjustment value, or the base damping force and the compression occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of an compression occasion damping force. The determination section uses the base damping force and the zero occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of a zero occasion damping force.

A suspension apparatus includes: a damping device; an operating section; and a determination section. The determination section uses a base damping force determined based on a change velocity and an extension occasion adjustment value, or the base damping force, the extension occasion adjustment value and a zero occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of an extension occasion damping force. The determination section uses the base damping force, a compression occasion adjustment value and the zero occasion adjustment value, or the base damping force and the compression occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of an compression occasion damping force. The determination section uses the base damping force and the zero occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of a zero occasion damping force.

The hydraulic damper 1 includes: a cylinder 11 storing oil; a piston unit connected to a rod moving in an axial direction and configured to move within the cylinder 11; an outer cylinder body 12 outside of the cylinder 11 and forming a communication path L through which oil flows along with movement of the piston unit; a damper case 13 outside of the cylinder 11 and forming a reservoir chamber R to retain oil; a damping force changer 52 external to the cylinder 11 and configured to generate a damping force by throttling flow of oil along with movement of the piston unit and configured to change magnitude of the damping force; and a joint piece 61 forming a channel 61R of oil from the communication path L to the damping force changer 52 and including an external valve to control flow of oil flowing through the channel 61R.

A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.

A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.