Single Pivot: the simplest system
The single pivot uses one pivot that joins the swingarm to the frame: the wheel swings in an arc around that point. It is the most simple, reliable and cheap-to-maintain system. Its limit is not pedalling (that is a myth) but that it has less freedom to shape anti-squat and the axle path than multi-pivot systems. It is the foundation of the whole family of systems.
If you understand the single pivot, you understand 80% of the rest: almost all of them are variations that add pivots to it to gain fine control.
Picture a door: it swings around a single hinge, always the same arc. The single pivot is that, with the wheel in place of the door.
How it works
The rear swingarm is a rigid piece anchored to the frame by a single pivot. The wheel cannot take any path other than that arc. The leverage ratio can be shaped with the rocker that pushes the shock — but the axle path and anti-squat are tied to where the pivot sits.
Pros and cons (no marketing)
Frequently asked questions
Does it pedal badly?
No: it is a myth. Well designed, its anti-squat is adequate. Its limit is the freedom to shape complex curves.
How do I recognise it?
The swingarm is one rigid piece, with no articulated pivot between the main pivot and the axle. Even if it has a rocker for the shock, it is still a single pivot.
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