realskiers

Hmmm....interesting .  This is something I did not know, as I have never paid much attention to suspension designs, not ever having bought or had the need to research this.  A quick glance at Wikipedia just now taught me a lot.  It seems I have spent a lot of time on a Horst link bike and didn't even know it.  That is: my father-in-law's Norco Fluid One (another Canadian brand), which I ride when I visit him on Vancouver Island.  Great bike, built like a tank, sweet handling.  This is the only full-suss bike I have ever ridden that I actually had fun on.  You can blast through a gravel stream bed with softball- to cannonball-sized rocks and not even feel it.  Climbing energy for long hauls is a bit muted, but then he has heavy tires mounted on it, which don't help.  All-round great bike, though.  He has offered to sell it to me for a song, as it is a bit too large for him.  I think I might just do that.... 

Further, my brother just bought a De Vinci Dexter with a DW split pivot suspension design.  Very sweet bike; beautifully made.  Shame that it's too small for me, otherwise I would steal it for a weekend.  Compared all the other bikes he test rode, this one was the most responsive, best climber, least energy sucking of the bunch.  He loves it, and zips through the tight single track in his woods like a jack rabbit. 

You are right on -- Canadian companies do make some great bikes.  My wife's Opus hardtail is another example.  Super light, agile, quick acceleration, amazing climber, great frame build.  I will replace the fork eventually, as that is the only weak spot on the whole bike.  Otherwise a very sweet bike, and well worth upgrading its parts.

Rocky Mountain has apparently really upped it's fun factor in the past year or two, with their new rear suspension design (RSL series, using the 3D Link, I think....whatever that means). Supposed to be a big improvement over previous models, which felt pretty lame to me when I test rode one a few years ago.