A suspension element includes a main body having an end cap defining an internal volume and a tubular element slidably engaged with the main body. The suspension element further includes a first piston and a flow control element. The flow control element is configured to prevent movement of the tubular element relative the main body in a direction. The suspension element may further include a locking member and a piston. The locking member may be configured to engage a barrier of the main body when the first piston traverses at least a predetermined distance towards the end cap. The locking member may be affixed to the tubular element and may fully surround the tubular element. Together the flow control element and the locking member are configured to prevent movement of the suspension element.

A vehicle height adjustment device includes a rear suspension, an electromagnetic valve control unit, and a weight estimation unit. The rear suspension includes a support member. The electromagnetic valve control unit determines a target movement based on an interrelation between the target movement and a weight applied to a vehicle, under which the target movement is set to an upper limit when the weight is larger than a predetermined weight, so that an actual movement of the support member reaches the target movement. The electromagnetic valve control unit determines the target movement based on a temporary weight. The weight estimation unit increases the temporary weight, even when the actual movement reached the target movement. The electromagnetic valve control unit decreases the target length, even when the temporary weight increased. The weight estimation unit estimates as the weight the temporary weight when the actual length has finally reached the target length.

A shock absorber includes a hollow rod, a suspension spring arranged outside the hollow rod, a spring receiver arranged to be displaceable with respect to the hollow rod and receiving a load of the suspension spring, an adjusting screw inserted into one end side of the hollow rod and configured to adjust a position of the suspension spring by restricting movement of the spring receiver to the one end side, and a shaft member which transmits a load received by the spring receiver to the adjusting screw inside the hollow rod. An insertion portion which extends in an axial direction of the hollow rod and into which the shaft member is inserted is provided on a side surface of the hollow rod.

A spring and damping arrangement for adjusting the spring rate and the driving position of a motorcycle includes a series circuit having at least one helical spring, an air spring unit, and a hydraulic actuating element. The spring rate of the air spring unit is changeable as a function of a force acting from the outside on the spring and damping arrangement, such that the driving position change resulting from the applied force is compensated by the hydraulic loading of the hydraulic actuating element, such that a defined driving position can be adjusted or maintained.

A spring and damping arrangement for adjusting the spring rate and the driving position of a motorcycle includes a series circuit having at least one helical spring, an air spring unit, and a hydraulic actuating element. The spring rate of the air spring unit is changeable as a function of a force acting from the outside on the spring and damping arrangement, such that the driving position change resulting from the applied force is compensated by the hydraulic loading of the hydraulic actuating element, such that a defined driving position can be adjusted or maintained.

According to the present invention, there is disclosed a torque impact mitigator including a hydraulic cylinder having a compression end and a rebound end. A piston rod mounted to the piston and extends out from the hydraulic cylinder through the first end cap. A compression spring is compressed when the piston rod is moved out of the hydraulic cylinder and in a relaxed state when the piston rod is moved towards a second end cap. Bores through the piston allow the passage of hydraulic fluid from the rebound end to the compression end of the cylinder. A relief valve is secured to the piston within the rebound end to momentarily reduce the pressure of the hydraulic fluid caused by an instantaneous hydraulic pressure increase due to the initial movement of the piston from the rebound end to the compression end.

Shock absorber having a main sheath and a main piston sliding inside the main sheath in a sliding direction (X-X), the main piston including a main rod coming out of the main sheath and a main head contained inside the main sheath, the main sheath being filled with hydraulic fluid, a secondary sheath fluidically connected to the main sheath and provided with at least one damping valve, where the secondary sheath is connected to the main sheath by a first and a second passage placed at opposite ends to the main head of the main piston, along the sliding direction (X-X), the secondary sheath including a control valve movable, according to a regulation stroke, between an unlocking position, in which it does not interfere with the first and second passages, and a blocking position, where it occludes the first and second passages so as to realize a selective two-way block.

A vehicle height adjustment device includes front forks, a rear suspension, a weight estimation unit, and a front wheel-side target movement amount determination unit. The front fork includes a front wheel-side suspension spring and a front wheel-side support member, which supports one end of the front wheel-side suspension spring, and moves toward another end of the front wheel-side spring to change the front wheel-side suspension spring length. The rear suspension includes a rear wheel-side suspension spring and a rear wheel-side support member, which supports one end of the rear wheel-side suspension spring, and moves toward another one end of the rear wheel-side spring to change the rear wheel-side suspension spring length. The weight estimation unit estimates a weight applied to a vehicle. The front wheel-side target movement amount determination unit decreases, a movement amount of the front wheel-side support member as the estimated weight increases.

A vehicle height adjustment device includes front forks, a rear suspension, a weight estimation unit, and a front wheel-side target movement amount determination unit. The front fork includes a front wheel-side suspension spring and a front wheel-side support member, which supports one end of the front wheel-side suspension spring, and moves toward another end of the front wheel-side spring to change the front wheel-side suspension spring length. The rear suspension includes a rear wheel-side suspension spring and a rear wheel-side support member, which supports one end of the rear wheel-side suspension spring, and moves toward another one end of the rear wheel-side spring to change the rear wheel-side suspension spring length. The weight estimation unit estimates a weight applied to a vehicle. The front wheel-side target movement amount determination unit decreases, a movement amount of the front wheel-side support member as the estimated weight increases.

A suspension system for a vehicle and method for operating the same includes a shock absorber housing having a longitudinal axis, a spring disposed around the shock absorber housing and a retainer collar disposed around the shock absorber housing. An actuator coupled to the retainer housing moves at least a portion of the retainer housing to move the spring in a direction corresponding the longitudinal axis.