Haro Virtual Link – What is it?
Media praise for our patented Virtual Link suspension technology has been universal and unanimous. Mountain Bike Action has called Haro bikes with Virtual Link suspension the “one bike” to have if you can only have one bike. Mountain Bike magazine says our Virtual Link suspension “goes down smoother than your favorite beer.” Last year, Mountain Biking editors named the Haro Sonix their Cross-Country Bike of the Year. Mountain Bike Action’s Richard Cunningham wrote what is perhaps the best description ever of what our Virtual Link does and how it works:

“Haro’s Virtual Link is a new-school suspension design. The linkage utilizes acceleration at the rear tire’s contact patch to counter downward thrusts at the crankset to prevent suspension bob. The chassis looks conventional in profile, but this is an illusion. The bottom bracket is fixed to the swingarm, which eliminates chain tension from the suspension equation. The lower link actually pivots around the bottom bracket shell and the upper link is housed inside a tunnel in the frame where the shock passes through the seat tube. This novel design is engineered to allow the suspension to operate freely in the second half of its travel while providing a firm pedaling platform in the initial stage of compression.”

Bold claims from folks who make a living testing the world’s best mountain bikes. Why such high praise from the brightest and most experienced players in the cycling game? Quite simply, it’s all about the ride. Whether you choose a 120mm-travel Sonix or a 160mm-travel Xeon, Every Haro MTB with Virtual Link delivers confidence-inspiring performance without compromises.

Haro Virtual Link – Why is it Better?

Efficient Climbing.
Because there is no pivot between the bottom bracket and rear axle, there is no pedal feedback, pedal bob or chain stretch. The rear swingarm is the same structure you would find on a hardtail, so as you climb, pedal energy goes into forward motion instead of being absorbed by bob and frame jack.

Rapid Descending.
Haro Virtual Link suspension remains totally active over bumps, even under heavy braking and pedaling forces. As you flow down rocks, roots and stutter bumps, the bike’s suspension is working to isolate your body weight from the bumps. And because the chainstay length and chain never “grow,” applying the brakes only slows the bike down—it never alters suspension compliance or performance.

Better Balance.
Our Virtual Link chassis’ combination of aggressive head angle, medium-travel fork and short chainstays lets you carve singletrack like a slot car. Another reason why Haro MTB’s with Virtual Link technology are so well balanced is this: we set up every bike with more travel in the rear. Here’s why:

• 60% of the rider’s weight is generally over the rear wheel

• Because your arms act as natural shock absorbers, less front end travel is required to create a balanced ride

• Because rear suspension tends to compress or “pack up” over stutter bumps and obstacles, the rear end requires both longer travel and more “sag” (negative travel) to overcome this problem

Setups like our Virtual Link are nothing new to serious off-road riders—motocross and desert mechanics have dialed in motorcycle suspension like this for years. A quick ride on any Haro MTB with Virtual Link will confirm the veracity of our technology.

Setting Rear Shock Sag on your Virtual Link System Bike
Virtual Link’s suspension geometry dramatically reduces pedal-bob while allowing the suspension to remain active over bumps. This precision geometry is extremely sag sensitive. An out-of-range setup will significantly reduce suspension effectiveness. Sag must be set at no more than 20% of the shock stroke or 10mm for Sonix/12mm for Xeon.

To set up sag properly on your bicycle, you will need a shock pump. A floor pump will not work. Most bike shops carry shock pumps.

Here are some easy-to-follow instructions for setting the sag up correctly on your Virtual Link bike:

• If your rear shock has adjustable compression damping (like RockShox Motion Control or Fox Pro Pedal), make sure it is turned off (so compression is open).

• Sit on the bike with both feet on the pedals. It might be helpful to have a friend hold your bars, lean against a wall, or grab your repair stand/other stationary object to steady yourself.

• Give the seat a little bounce or two to break the air shock free and then let your weight settle on the seat (keep feet on pedals). Reach down and press the rubber o-ring against the shock body.

• Gently step off bike without bouncing on seat.

• Measure the distance between the shock body and the rubber o-ring. This amount of space is sag.

• If the amount of sag is greater than 10mm (Sonix) or 12mm (Xeon), add air pressure.

• If the amount of sag is less than 10mm (Sonix) or 12mm (Xeon), reduce air pressure.

• Repeat steps 2-4 until you achieve the correct amount of sag.

• If you turned your compression damping off, you can now turn it back on.

• Ride!

Although setting rear shock sag takes a little work, it’s a necessary chore on all full-suspension bikes. Setting your bike up correctly will dramatically improve suspension performance and ride quality. Just like your tires, air shocks lose pressure over time, so you want to make sure you regularly check your shock’s air pressure. You don’t have to repeat the sag-setting process outlined above before each ride; you can save time by writing down your air pressure now to use for the future.

Virtual Link Technology Discussion
Neal Saiki, the creator of Haro's Virtual Link System suspension platform used on our Sonix and Xeon mountain bikes, discusses what makes this technology so efficient on the trail.

Haro Virtual Link – What do Riders Have to Say?
These are just a few of the many positive comments about our Virtual Link you’ll read on forums like MTBR.com

“I have found my ‘one’ bike.”

“Incredibly efficient AND undeniably confidence inspiring. FUN! And now I don't have to decide which bike to take when I go to Moab.”

“Feels solid, suspension works great, brakes feel great. Shifts smooth. No pedal bob. Set the sag like it recommends. There is even the pedal damper that you can crank on to get so there is almost no movement, but even with it barely on, I still don’t have any problems with pedal bob. Was scared about full suspension so I always ran a hardtail, but I REALLY like this bike.”

“I wouldn't hesitate to rid this Haro on all-day epics.”

“The suspension design is great. Put the right amount of air in the rear shock and it powers like a hardtail.”

“With Haro’s Virtual Link I never noticed the power loss so prevalent in other full-suspension designs.”

“This is a great bike for cross-country riders who want a light bike for climbing, yet a robust full-suspension setup that can take technical downhill abuse.”

“This is the first full-suspension bike I have owned and I don't think that I could have gotten a better bike for my size and riding style. It's not a bike that everyone knows until you pass them on the trail. This bike is worth every penny I spent.”